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

[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.

[sentiences]

Even so. I feel . . . I need to know.

[jolting]

Sounds pretty human to me. [not that it's unreasonable for a robot to want these things, but still]

[sentiences]

Almost.

[ There are still lines in the sand. ]

[jolting]

Well, I know fairies and a giant and like I told you, I have a friend who's a werewolf. So it's all relative.

[sentiences]

Being both adds to my experience. I don't want to pretend I'm one over another.

[jolting]

I can understand that. So Dorian, anything you want to ask me? Seems fair.

[sentiences]

[ Dorian pauses, mulling it over carefully before speaking. ]

Your . . . creations. What happened to them?

[jolting]

I don't know what happened to the first one. The second was destroyed, though.