[videro]

[made-of-science.livejournal.com]

[Vitalia is attempting to keep several small potted plants away from a small party of the new robotic overlords (some of whom are carrying the shards of ex-potted plants). This is fairly difficult with only one arm available.]

Oh dear... These automatons certainly do make a nuisance of themselves, don't they? I've lost several specimens to them now! I shan't begrudge anyone their efforts at progress, but I do wish their creator would be a bit more responsible with them. Honestly!

I've overheard some of you saying you could reason with them... Might I request a bit of assistance from you? I'm afraid I've met with no success in my attempts at discourse.

Comments

[made-of-science.livejournal.com]

[There are fewer pots in her grasp, and more shards and dirt on the ground, than before.] Oh, thank goodness! I'm nearly at my wits' end!

[She attempts a curtsy. It doesn't quite work without the skirt-lifting.] I am Vitalia Ruiz Asención, and I'm most pleased to make your acquaintance. [Particularly since you're hopefully helping her with the metallic menace here.]

[manymasked]

It's nice to meet you too. I can't promise anything, but I'll do my best.

What exactly are they doing to the pots, if you don't mind my asking? I mean, are they trying to take them and then grabbing them too hard, or actively smashing them, or what?

[made-of-science.livejournal.com]

I... [She hadn't bothered to take notice.]

I suppose it's the former. They do seem more, er, curious than destructive. [That, at least, Vitalia knows she can identify.]

[manymasked]

Okay, thanks. That's good, I think — I mean, if they were destructive it might be harder to get them to listen, right?

[turns to the robots, adopting the sort of firm-but-kind voice one might use with a toddler] We have to hold things gently, okay? Gently. Like this.

[and then to Vitalia again:] Um, would you mind letting me hold one of those for a second?

[made-of-science.livejournal.com]

Oh, er... all right... [She leans in a bit closer to give easy grabbing access; a studied look at her right side would reveal that there's some mass missing in there, leaving her unable to hand a pot over.]

Do be careful with them, won't you?

[manymasked]

I will, I promise. It's just easier to demonstrate if I have something to demonstrate with.

[She takes the top pot gingerly and holds it out for the robots to see — or rather, so they can see how she's holding it. She puts on an exaggeratedly bright smile.] Like this — good! [Then she squeezes the pot... only a little, though. She's probably not strong enough to break it with her bare hands, but she's not taking any chances. Adopting a sterner tone and a frowny face, she goes on.] Like this — bad. Pot breaks. Crash!

[She repeats this demonstration a few times to drive the point home.]

... I wonder if they're getting this at all.

[made-of-science.livejournal.com]

[At any rate, they seem interested. One holds up a potshard questioningly.]

I couldn't tell you. They do seem to be paying attention. Perhaps that's something.

[manymasked]

Mm, it's good that they're listening. I wonder if it might help if we found them something less fragile than a pot to practice on.

[To the robot with the pot shard:] When you do this- [she squeezes the pot again-] that is what happens. [she gestures to the pot shard] And that's bad, right?

[made-of-science.livejournal.com]

[It looks at the pot. It looks at the shard. It puts the shard down. And then reaches for the pot.]

[Vitalia sighs.] Perhaps I should sacrifice that one. One more specimen to start over with won't make much difference, I suppose, and if it can help teach them not to break them...

[manymasked]

Well, if you're sure it's all right.

[She extends the pot towards the robot, holding her breath a bit as she waits to see what will happen.]

[made-of-science.livejournal.com]

[There's a tense moment as everyone- including the other robots- peers breathlessly* at the exchange. With careful precision, the reaching robot takes the pot. It manages not to shatter it, though it does slightly injure the exterior. Vitalia lets out a breath. The robot lets out a happy vwip-PING! noise.]

Well, that... that certainly seems to have helped. Thank you so very much, Minako!

[*Granted, the robots would be breathless in any situation, lacking a respiratory system.]

[manymasked]

You're welcome — I'm glad I was able to help. I have to admit I felt a bit silly doing all that.

[made-of-science.livejournal.com]

[And now the robots are excitedly passing the pot among themselves.]

Well, it achieved the desired effect, in any case. I'm sure I would never have been able to manage on my own!

[manymasked]

Well, I'm interested in the robots and how they learn. I mean, I'm not a scientist or anything, but one of my close friends back home is a robot, so I'm curious about how the robots of other worlds compare.

[made-of-science.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see... I'd never encountered anything but the machinery in the laboratory, and that certainly doesn't learn. For someone to make a machine that can think is quite an achievement!

[manymasked]

It is pretty amazing. I can't claim to know anything about how it works, but it can't be easy.

[made-of-science.livejournal.com]

Indeed! Merely working with actual living tissue is difficult enough without having to replicate so many of its functions mechanically.

[A thought strikes her] Your friend... she isn't here, is she?

[manymasked]

No, unfortunately she's not. — Well, maybe I shouldn't say "unfortunately". I don't know whether she'd want to be here.

[made-of-science.livejournal.com]

Ah... [The news is a relief.] It doesn't seem like a bad place to be, though I do rather object to being brought here without so much as a by-your-leave.

[manymasked]

Mm, there are definitely worse places to be. But someone who feels that they have something important to do at home might object to being stuck here.

[made-of-science.livejournal.com]

That is rather rude, yes. One would think a simple invitation would work much better for a gathering such as this.

Though I suppose I wouldn't be able to be here in that case... [Sadface!]

[manymasked]

You couldn't have come if you'd been invited?

[made-of-science.livejournal.com]

I don't think Papi would allow it. He's very worried about my safety, you see. I'm sure he's quite upset that I'm missing.

[manymasked]

Oh, I see. That must be hard, knowing someone at home is worried about you but not being able to contact them and tell them you're all right.

[made-of-science.livejournal.com]

A bit... but I'm certain he'll figure out a way to find me. He's quite a brilliant scientist, you know! So I'm not too concerned, though I do miss him.