Video...ish-thing;

[lostsymmetry]

[The MID post comes in as "video", but there's nothing moving on the screen. Just a static blue shape that calls to mind mangled geometry-- or an extremely corrupted logo of some kind. It comes with some cheerful male answering-machine speech...]

<Welcome to Domesticon warranty and recycling depot #127. This is the automated system ad-->

[...which cuts off mid-sentence. The words that continue are in recognizably the same voice, but have a much broader range of inflection and no hint of the mechanical echo from before.]

Sorry about that. Still, ah, working out a few bugs. But hey, it's nice to see this place up and running again! Within, you know, standard deviations.

As we're proceeding with our latest pit stop, I thought I'd advertise my local functions-- to our new department heads or anyone else who can make use of them. I've been installed as the ship's Workshift Coordinator and given access to adjust crew scheduling at need. Since I'm sure the changes made by our new management caught a few people by surprise [*cough*, the half of the crew now on cleaning duty]... well, feel free to call if you need anything. Or just chat up your nearest terminal.

...

While I'm on the line--any thoughts about a name? [There's an odd note to the mainframe's voice. Hopeful? Hesitant? Embarrassed that the pod crab got there first? He should be. Dork.] Current options include Hank, Blue... maybe Morely.

Open to suggestions.


[[ooc: For those who missed the memo, he's talking about the job changes made here and here. The mainframe's isn't in charge of the actual assignments (though people are welcome to complain!), but he can alter your character's shift times and other handwavy goodness.]]

Comments

[lostsymmetry]

[Oh, he's fully aware what Venom could do if he compromised the crew. Or inconvenienced them. Or bothered Venom in any way at all. Really, that knowledge that his survival, identity, and capacity for sentience are dependent on not getting on some human's bad side?

...that's what it means to be AI. The mainframe knows better than anyone.]

Nope. <All Domesticon products are provided with sufficient information to serve their tasks.> And, not a lot more.

I've picked up a lot since coming here [aaand, in those thirty years without maintenance back home], but as far as my core programming's concerned? Not a priority.

[alterplex]

[ As long as the Mainframe doesn't jeopardize the stability of their current situation (for a given value of stability), Venom won't intrude on his autonomy (as much of it he may have) or his prerogatives; it's not a priority of Venom's to do anything except keep this ship upright while he finds ways to return to his homeworld, and if his roommate isn't actively plotting the demise of every member here, then Venom has no reason to feel negatively about him, terminal or no.

Venom knows what it's like to be an automaton. He's also a man without a name, working on someone else's directive— he's not one to judge. ]

A priority. [ He parrots, as measured as usual. Not without a hint of questioning. ] Do you get to choose the terms of your own priorities?

[lostsymmetry]

...

[Isn't that a loaded question.]

I didn't program myself. I'm not sure what you're asking.

[Or rather, what answer might be safe.]

[alterplex]

[ Alright, now Venom actually takes it upon himself to breathe a chuckle. It's so soft that one might mistake it for a hitch in the audio. ]

I'm asking you if you have hobbies.

[ Priorities, preferences, hobbies. That last one is probably the most harmless, and less loaded.

Probably. ]

[lostsymmetry]

[...yeah, as the one programmed by a company that viewed personal opinions as cause for recalibrating, that clarification isn't nearly as reassuring as Venom might think.

Still, the mainframe's not stupid, and if this guy were looking to wipe him, he's got enough reasons already. Evaluatory statement: likely, but not necessarily in a bad way. And sounding human has some benefits.]

Oh. Sure.

Gotta keep from shutting down somehow.

[alterplex]

[ If sentience was the baseline qualification for wiping, Venom would have put a bullet through the Mainframe a long time ago; suffice it to say that being able to converse with his roommate about idle things won't invoke Venom's ire.

That said, he can tell that the Mainframe wants to tread lightly on the issue of his own... selfhood? Man, this is complicated. ]

And they're something you understand to be 'hobbies'.

[ So, again: preferences. Priorities. The Mainframe has a good understanding of what they are, huh. ]

[lostsymmetry]

They are.

[They're both treading lightly, aren't they? It's not hard to tell what Venom's circling around. It's the reason for his interest that the mainframe isn't sure of.]

Is that uncommon where you're from?

[alterplex]

...Artificial intelligence was still a developing technology.

[ 'Artificial' being the crux of that phrase. ]

Wasn't exactly being put to use for peaceful purposes, either.