wickedchouette | (no subject)

You asked me what types of ways someone might get rid of an android, not specifically what you might do.

Mmmm.

[Alfie digs into the bag, pulling things out and starting to put them away.]

[ It watches Alfie for a long moment. ]

What do you plan to do with me? [ It asks, curiously. ] You don't want me here, but you refuse to return me.

It's been a day.

[He opens the fridge, moving things into it.]

I'm not sure yet. Are these kiwis?

They are. [ But okay. That's fine, it supposes. It would like to know what will happen to it, but it's not that important. Whatever happens, it'll have to weather through.

It puts a few more things away, and then glances at Alfie. ]

Would you like me to order a replacement for my wrist joint or attempt to fix it with what you have here?

Which do you prefer?

[ It actually sighs, this time. It's a surprisingly real reaction, though it doesn't actually exhale. ]

It is significantly more cost efficient to fix it with superglue or heat. It may cause problems down the line when it comes to movement. Those problems will not arise if a new part replaces the old part, but it will take several days for a new part to arrive and it is not inexpensive.

Sounds to me like we should order the part, then.

[Alfie raises his eyebrows.]

Yeah?

If that's what you wish. [ It might be being stubborn, now - but it's tired of the errors that keep popping up when it thinks too much about making decisions for itself. ]

[Alfie gives him a long look.]

Do whatever you wish.

[And then, groceries put away, he moves to go back into the living room.]

[ It actually scowls. And follows Alfie, too. ]

I can't. Do you understand the amount of errors that arise when you give me orders like that? [ The LED light is bright yellow, blinking. ]

You've made other decisions on your own. Why not this?

You don't understand how this is supposed to work. [ It says, firmly. ] You tell me what to do. I do it. That is all. There is no do what you like. It is your money. Your object, that you own. You decide. I do not. I am not capable of deciding on my own. It is impossible in my programming.

You keep saying that, we keep going round and round on this, and yet you've done it before. So you'll forgive me if I'm not buying it.

[He settles on the couch, pulling some paperwork off the side table.]

[ A pause. ]

What do you mean I've done it before?

You brought in the cat.

[He gestures to Gwen, who's winding her way around the bot's legs.]

You named the cat.

Part of my programming. [ It says stubbornly. ]

Really? As a chore bot?

Edited 2019-03-10 18:17 (UTC)

Yes. Taking care of household animals is a task I am to do.

[Alfie grunts.]

All right. Use your programming to decide what the best way to fix yourself is. The way that will help you best in the future, with doing your tasks and such.

[ Yeah, but -- well. When it's phrased that way. It shifts uncomfortably. ]

Replacing the part would be the best way. I need your permission to spend the money.

Yeah. Tell me how much you need, and we'll do it.

[ Its eyes go distant for a moment as it searches for the part, comparing prices and deals in a matter of moments. The LED goes yellow for a moment, and then bright blue as the android looks at Alfie again.

It lists off a few quotes for prices, and then: ] I can order one now, easily enough.

Go on, then. Shall we patch you up a bit in the meantime? I suppose it doesn't hurt, does it.

No, it won't hurt. It's a temporary solution for a temporary problem.

If you have a blowtorch, I can use that. Or I can use superglue, whichever is more immediately available.