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[roboticists]

"Are you looking for Miss Aura Blackquill? She's not here to take your communication but I'm Clonco! I can help!"

Comments

voice;

[cardboard_journalism]

... Kahk-kahk-kahk... She hooked up her robot to the message service? Or is it just the likeness...

[she wasn't sure if it was actually recording, but she would at least leave it like it was]

Miss Aura Blackquill? Myriam Scuttlebutt here, we met the other day, briefly? Before the trouble started over new years? And your robot, too... kahk-kahk.

I've started a modest little publication here in Cerealia called The Cerealia Times. I wonder if you've happened to glance at it? The first edition debuted yesterday and a number of respectable businesses stocked it! Feedback has been streaming in ever since!

[the nervousness left her voice, replaced by pride when she started talking about her newspaper]

I'm writing a number of articles on various issues and wanted to ask: would you be interested in being interviewed? Specifically for your opinions regarding science and technology. You're clearly more than qualified, as a roboticist involved with space exploration background, and I'd like to get your viewpoint. More than the network, you can reach a lot of people through the printed word! Sss, sss, sss!

If you're interested, give me a call back with a time and place! I'll come to you, even!

[slight pause, then she added]

--And, bring your robot! I promise I won't touch it, but it'll make for a great photo!

[end message]

voice;

[roboticists]

Oh, it's you.

[ She considers the request briefly. ]

Fine then, I can do an interview for you if you want. I normally don't do interviews but since you made me laugh, I'll make an exception.

voice;

[cardboard_journalism]

... [whatever, she'd take it!]

Excellent! Name a time and place, wherever you're comfortable! I'll come to you! Sss, sss, sss.

Someplace science-y would probably be the best. You know of any good... science-y places?

voice;

[roboticists]

I would say the entirety of Cerealia is rather "scienc-y" but whatever Miss Box. We can meet near the HoloGM. It's the one with the panels that change colour every hour according to the time.

[ Do you really know what you're getting yourself into, Myriam? ]

Re: voice;

[cardboard_journalism]

Perfect! Would there be any problem if I headed out there immediately?

[No.]

video;

[shacklebreaker]

Hoy, Clonco. Tell Aura I would like to speak with her.

video;

[roboticists]

[ And here is Aura, her hair down and looking like she was Not Dealing With The World Today.

She raises an eyebrow to Simon, waiting for him to speak. ]

video;

[shacklebreaker]

[It's an expression he's all too familiar with, and therefore doesn't go ignored.]

... If I've called at a bad time, I shall leave you be.

video;

[roboticists]

No, you made the effort to call me.

[ She takes a sip from her "I LOVE CERES" mug, trying not to be too conspicuous about it. ]

video;

[shacklebreaker]

[That... sure is an interesting mug.]

I won't badger you with small talk. [Heaven knows they both detest it.] I merely wanted to check on you. How are you adjusting to Cerealia?

voice;

[psycholawgy]

[ The night of phase ii of the event, Athena decides to call Aura. It's not something she willingly does, but she has no other choice at the moment. ]

Hi, Clonco. I was wondering if Miss Blackquill could help me with, um, Widget.

voice;

[roboticists]

"Widget...? Okay! I will go look for her."

[ There's a pause and before another voice comes on the line, more sarcastic and drawling. ]

Did Princess break her toy?

voice;

[psycholawgy]

I didn't break him, [ Of course she has to be defensive about this. :T ] but he's been saying things that I've never even thought about.

It started yesterday, the same time when toasters and hairdryers were going haywire.

voice;

[roboticists]

... I don't understand. Widget is a self-sufficient modular AI. It's not meant to be affected by changes in Cerealia's network unless those bastards hacked it when you came here.

[ There's the sign of rising anger in Aura's voice. She doesn't like the idea of anything that she assisted in making going haywire. ]

voice;

[psycholawgy]

Eep.

[ She falls silent for a few seconds, taking deep breaths to compensate for her lack of words. ]

I don't know if they did, but that's very probable. This is the first time he's done something like this, though.

... Please help me?

text;

[psycholawgy]

[ HELLO AGAIN... ]

Mr. Mosley said the spring cleaning is done, so everything's back to "normal" now.

text;

[roboticists]

You could have called again. I've lost all urge to eat little girls.

text -> voice;

[psycholawgy]

S- Sorry, I just wasn't sure if you were busy or not.

voice;

[roboticists]

Never mind that. You want Widget back at full functionality, yes?

voice;

[psycholawgy]

Yes, [ and a little softer-- ] please.

[voicemail] 1/29

[cardboard_journalism]

Hello? Kahk kahk kahk... Miss Blackquill?

This is Myriam Scuttlebutt, editor and reporter for the Cerealia Times again.

I've got something I'd like your opinion on. Some details I'm not exactly comfortable communicating through the system like this. Can you spare a moment?

Get back to me with a time and place. I'll come to you!

[roboticists]

[ Aura calls back. ]

Do you not know how to do encrypted voice calls or do you really want to meet me?

[cardboard_journalism]

Kaaaahk kahk kahk! I'm aware of the malefactions of a mysterious hacker or cracker about!

...and what I want to show you isn't something on a CERES-device thing.

[roboticists]

... Oh alright. I guess I can meet you in McCeres. Me, this time. Rather than Clonco.

[audio->action?]

[cardboard_journalism]

Thank you!!

Be there in... ten? No, fifteen!

[end call, and she'd... take off right away.]