open-ish

[jolting]

who: Victor Frankenstein + You?
what: catch-all for March
when: various places
where: March
warnings: I have no idea, but it's Victor, so it might get creepy/morbid/idek

Hospital | Shopping | Want to do a thing but it's not listed? PM me here

Comments

Questions; Dorian

[jolting]

[Victor sent Dorian a message asking the robot to meet him at a coffee shop. He's been forming an ever-growing list of questions he wants to ask, though he's already made the commitment to stop if the robot shows any signs of discomfort or distress.

He orders his coffee while he waits]

[sentiences]

[ Dorian doesn't take long. When he approaches, Dorian waves before taking a seat. ]

Hello, Doctor. I hope you were not waiting long.

[jolting]

Not very long at all. Thank you for seeing me, Dorian. I just want to clarify that you don't have to answer any question.

That said, I'll start with something easy: your designation number. Does that mean there are over a hundred robots like you in your world?

[sentiences]

[ Dorian considers this. ]

I'm not fully aware of my company's workings and they've long gone out of business. I believe they're just numbers to differentiate. Since each one of us are different and they didn't really believe in quantity.

[jolting]

The company that created you went out of business? So then, what do you do if part of you is damaged?

[sentiences]

[ Dorian's smile is bittersweet. ]

If it's physical, the damage can be repaired by our robotics expert at the station. If it's a unique part, then I will be retired permanently.

[jolting]

That sounds... awful.

[sounds like what could happen if someone in need of a transplant couldn't find a matching donor. Which sort of segways to his next question]

Your exterior resembles a human. Do you have other human parts?

[sentiences]

[ Dorian doesn't comment on the awfulness of it. After all, it happens to all machines. ]

Internally? No. I'm a complete synthetic.

[jolting]

[that isn't exactly what he asked, but he'll move on]

But are there other robots that look human the way you do?

[sentiences]

[ Dorian probably has an idea, but he usually doesn't give out those details immediately. Just to keep people on their toes. ]

All of us look human. Even robots without synthetic souls like mine.

[jolting]

Okay, I'll bite. What the hell is a synthetic soul and why do some robots have it while others don't?

[sentiences]

[ His reply is calm and evenly paced. ]

A synthetic soul is a kind of programming that gives me my individuality. But I'm an old model. I'm not manufactured or produced anymore. The latest robots no longer possess souls of any kind.

[jolting]

So would you say that the synthetic soul gives you some measure of free will?

[sentiences]

I like to think so. I don't know how far it extends but I believe I am myself and still am.

[jolting]

Cogito ergo sum. [he's forgotten his coffee. He sips, but it's gotten cold and he just pushes it aside]

So are the Laws of Robotics an actual thing, or was that just Asimov's imagination?

[sentiences]

I am familiar with Asimov's work. Of course, we're meant to protect humans first over everything else. That's a directive. But I am capable of finding better solutions than simply being a shield.

[jolting]

That's good to know. [a pause]

Were you given the name Dorian from the start?

[sentiences]

[ Dorian's brow furrows. ]

I've always been Dorian.

[jolting]

Okay. But I guess what I mean is, why that name? It seems to be a logical leap from the letters DRN, but there was more thought into it than that?

[sentiences]

[ His confusion grows. ]

Not all of us are called Dorian. If there was more thought involved, I'm not aware of it.

Whether my name has significance or not, only the people who made me can say.

[ And Dorian doubts they knew. It just felt right to be Dorian. ]

[jolting]

Names only gain significance by what you do with them. I'm a good example of that.

[he did manage to turn "Frankenstein" into a pretty damn significant name, even if it became known as something other than his original intention]

[sentiences]

That comes from action and consequence. I'm afraid I'm not quite there yet in terms of memorability.

[jolting]

Surely you've performed actions that would make you memorable, Dorian. Hopefully in a more positive light than me, but still.

[sentiences]

I'm a cop.

[ "The people you help will remember you". ]

What I do matters but . . . I'm never sure.

[jolting]

No one's ever really sure. All you can do is make the most of the time you have.