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logs from a now-shuttered xenobiology lab.[[8/27/2062, 8:04 PM. (On names)|OnNames]]
[[10/12/2062, 1:35 PM. (On hobbies)|OnHobbies]]
[[12/16/2062, 12:32 PM. (On movies)|OnHal]]@@.terminal;[[Back|Start]].@@
''TIME:'' 8/27/2062 8:04 PM EST
''PLACE:'' HARRISON BUILDING, 2ND FLOOR, COMMUNITY LOUNGE
''OBSERVED:'' █████, SERVITOR
''RECORD:''
--------------------
@@.terminal;[ SERVITOR sits on a couch. They are in their third-observed human form — short blonde hair, sunken dark eyes, brown skin. Across a coffee table, standing a pace from the entrance to the lounge, is █████. They stand still, holding a notebook. ]
[ Continuing, SERVITOR cannot be observed to speak directly. Because of this, their words are transcribed by █████ as a supplement to this record and provided below. ]@@
█████: @@.sci;Oh. Didn't expect to see you here.@@
@@.servi;Life is full of surprises.@@
█████: @@.sci;Do I disturb you?@@
@@.servi;Hardly.@@
█████: @@.sci;Slightly, then.@@
@@.servi;Slightly. Was the scientist looking for this one, or was the scientist simply hunting for a few moments of peace and quiet?@@
█████: @@.sci;I actually just gave up looking for you. Funny how that works.@@
@@.servi;What has the dear scientist overthought this time? The hour is late -- if this one was being searched for, a very pressing matter must be at hand.@@
█████: @@.sci;I think you're finally beginning to understand me, Servitor.@@
@@.servi;This one would hope so.@@
@@.terminal;[ █████ glides forward and settles into an armchair across the coffee table from the being. The entity watches █████'s movements with ample curiosity.@@
@@.servi;Start simple, then.@@
█████: Alright. Well. You are the only being of your kind, yes?
@@.servi;To say that this the "only being of it's kind" is to imply that it is of any kind. This one was one of a pair, and now it is all that remains of it. That is all.@@
█████: That's just a long-winded way of saying 'yeah'.
@@.servi;The scientist prefers such a cryptic explanation to this one saying "Yes, that is essentially true."@@
█████: Reading me like a book.
@@.servi;But that is not the only answer that one seeks, is it?@@
█████: Well, it's a big part of it. I find the way you dance around names pretty fascinating. I was curious if it was a piece of your people's culture.
@@.servi;One could consider it something like that, yes.@@
█████: That is an incredibly amused look on your face. What's so funny?
@@.servi;What does it read on the scientist's identification card?@@
█████: Well, I'm █████ ████████. You know that.
@@.servi;And humans receive such names from the family the individual is born into, yes?@@
█████: Yeah. So everyone in my family is a ████████.
@@.servi;The progenitor offered no such thing. No 'name'.@@
@@.servi;Instead, the progenitor offered this one tasks.@@
█████: Like jobs?
@@.servi;This one was a conduit of progress. A second set of arms to help the progenitor accomplish their goals.@@
█████: A servant. Oh. A //Servitor//.
@@.servi;And so, the scientist understands why such a designation was not rejected outright.@@
█████: So, to you, what matters is what you do, not who you are.
@@.servi;Keep going, scientist.@@
█████: But you prescribe that way of being onto others. There are plenty of scientists here, Servitor. You calling us all 'that scientist' is incredibly vague.
@@.servi;Why would any individual ant be prescribed a name besides Worker or Queen?@@
█████: Oh, excuse my foolishness! I forgot who I was talking to for a moment! I won't ask such a stupid question again.
@@.terminal;[ A short pause. ]@@
@@.servi;This one knows a solution will be demanded from it, and so -- when there exists more than a single scientist in a given area, this one will attempt to offer a description to make it clear which individual it is talking about.@@
█████: Music to my ears, honestly.
@@.servi;And it is given not an ounce of respect in return.@@
█████: Oh? My demeanor doesn't bother you, does it?
@@.servi;The smug scientist does not even bother to hide that smirk.@@
█████: With friends like you, it's hard to hide my amusement. Is that so wrong of me?
@@.servi;"Friends like me?" Dear scientist, was it not just established that this one is one of a kind?@@
█████: Ha ha ha.
█████: ... Right. I'll be off, then? Leave you to … whatever it is you're doing?
@@.servi;Thinking.@@
█████: Oh, you do that too? About what?
@@.servi;That one.@@
█████: Vague again. You mean all of us scientists, or just me?
@@.servi;Just the single scientist at the moment.@@
█████: If you have questions for me, I'm happy to stay and try and shed some light for you.
@@.servi;It always does.@@
█████: Well, in that case, I'm at your service.
@@.terminal;[ SERVITOR reaches to the side. A small notebook and a pen fall out of a wormhole and into their hand. They do not take their eyes off of the scientist. Throughout the rest of the conversation, the scribble on the notebook as the scientist speaks. ]@@
█████: Oh, do you fancy yourself a Researcher, too?
@@.servi;It dabbles.@@
█████: Right. Start simple then, Servitor.
@@.servi;It discussed this topic with another researcher already, but hearing it from the source seemed preferable. This scientist's name is not the one granted at the moment of it's creation.@@
█████: Picked it myself.
@@.servi;Was that met with dissatisfaction?@@
█████: @@.terminal;(after a short pause)@@ For a little while. But they all came around eventually. This was … a decade ago, I think.
@@.servi;Noted.@@
█████: Hold up. You actually seem bothered by that. What's wrong?
@@.servi;What was gained from changing it?@@
█████: It was a matter of making 'me' more 'me'. I don't think I could explain why that matters to you.
@@.servi;This scientist is nothing in the grand scale of the universe, and yet it worries about what to call itself.@@
█████: You're so rude! Yes, that's exactly it! Like I said, there's no point in explaining.
@@.servi;Foolishness.@@
█████: Yes, I'm aware. …Listen, you're asking more than you realize. Let's shelve this conversation for sometime in the future, alright?
@@.servi;If the scientist insists.@@
█████: Great. …anyway, I…
@@.terminal;[ End of log. ]@@
@@.terminal;[[Back|Start]].@@@@.terminal;[[Back|Start]].@@
''TIME:'' 10/12/2062 1:35 PM EST
''PLACE:'' HARRISON BUILDING, 7TH FLOOR, LAB 724
''OBSERVED:'' ASST. BROWN, █████, SERVITOR
''RECORD:''
--------------------
@@.terminal;[ █████ and ASST. BROWN examining hair samples from SERVITOR. SERVITOR is sitting on top of counter next to them. ]
[ Continuing, SERVITOR cannot be observed to speak directly. Because of this, their words are transcribed by █████ as a supplement to this record and provided below. Unless otherwise noted, SERVITOR speaks directly to █████. ]@@
@@.servi;Just buy one.@@
█████: It’s not the same, Servitor.
@@.servi;Of course. Apologies. The store bought variant is likely superior.@@
█████: You can’t get one like this in the store!
@@.servi;Then adjust your needs to one fit one that is obtainable in a store.@@
█████: It’s not about needs, it’s about want. I wanted a scarf that looks like this, so I made one. Does it bother you that much?
BROWN: You’re arguing with them about scarves?
@@.servi;It is a waste of time.@@
█████: I'm arguing with them about crochet, Celia. Tell me, do you think it's a neat hobby?
BROWN: Yes! -- Um, Honestly, yes. My grandmother knitted me sweaters when I was younger. They made me feel special. Maybe one day I can pass them down to my kids.
█████: Hear that, Servitor?
@@.servi;The harried assistant could have bought one, saved time, and still given a useful gift.@@
█████: They're absolutely certain that's also a useless hobby, because apparently you can just buy things in stores.
BROWN: Oh, but a store bought sweater wouldn't be the same.
█████: //I know!// Apparently, Servitor doesn't understand sentimentality.
@@.servi;No, this one understands. The scientist is simply being foolish. Why would such sentimentality not extend to store-bought items? A grandparent would have spent ample time acquiring the funds used to purchase such an item. Time was still put into it.@@
█████: People are less sentimental about store-bought things because someone already came up with the idea for them. You have to make something homemade from scratch. That’s a hell of a lot more work!
BROWN: It is.
@@.servi;Ah. So the sentimental value of an object is a measure of how much "love" was put into it.@@
█████: //EXACTLY!//
BROWN: What did they -
█████: THEY GOT IT. They got it. I have a headache, Jesus -
BROWN: Tea -- ?
█████: YES. Yes. Yeah. Okay. I'll be right back. Be nice to Celia, Servitor. God …
@@.terminal;[ █████ leaves. SERVITOR turns to Asst. BROWN and smiles. ]@@
BROWN: Um …
@@.terminal;[ SERVITOR watches them. ]@@
BROWN: You … only talk to █████, so …
@@.terminal;[ SERVITOR nods. ]@@
BROWN: Not … much of a conversation to have, here …
@@.terminal;[SERVITOR shrugs.]@@
BROWN: Well …
BROWN: Where did your cloak come from? It's very pretty.
@@.terminal;[ SERVITOR touches it, thinks for a moment, and then reaches forward, palm up. A small vortex opens above their hand, and in the small window appears … space. ]@@
BROWN: It came from … out there. And you still have it?
@@.terminal;[ SERVITOR nods. Asst. BROWN huffs a smile. ]@@
BROWN: You're so adamant on bothering █████, but you know exactly what they're talking about, don't you? //You're// sentimental!
@@.terminal;[ SERVITOR looks back down at their cloak and shrugs. █████ walks back into the lab with a mug of tea. ]@@
█████: Oh, good. You're both still alive.
@@.servi;Welcome back. The harried assistant is awfully amusing.@@
█████: Oh, Celia. I have no idea what you did while I was gone, but Servitor likes you now.
BROWN: Oh.
█████: Apologies. Don't worry. They probably still won't talk to you.
BROWN: Thank goodness.
@@.terminal;[ End of log. ]@@
@@.terminal;[[Back|Start]].@@@@.terminal;[[Back|Start]].@@
''TIME:'' 12/16/2062 12:32 PM EST
''PLACE:'' HARRISON BUILDING, 3ND FLOOR SUITE 301 PERSONNEL LOUNGE
''OBSERVED:'' █████, SERVITOR
''RECORD:''
--------------------
@@.terminal;[ █████ and BRIGHTON are sitting on one of the couches in the personnel lounge. SERVITOR is observed to be lounging in midair above the television, running a finger along the top of it. ]
[ Continuing, SERVITOR cannot be observed to speak directly. ]@@
█████: It was absolutely vile.
BRIGHTON: Good vile or bad vile?
█████: Good-bad vile.
BRIGHTON: Then you know you must send me a link.
█████: If you insist. I think it'd make for entertaining viewing with others, though, so keep that in mind.
BRIGHTON: … █████, are you proposing a party? You're hardly the type to want to hang out with us in your spare time.
█████: Hmm. We could do it on the clock.
BRIGHTON: No, we absolutely could no-
█████: Servitor!
@@.terminal;[ SERVITOR lazily turns to face █████. ]@@
█████: You know what a movie is, correct?
█████: @@.terminal;(pause)@@ Fantastic. Have you ever watched one?
█████: @@.terminal;(pause)@@ Brighton, Servitor has never watched a movie.
BRIGHTON: Well, that won't do at all! Should we pick an excellent first movie, or a terrible one to start their expectations low?
█████: I think that one would enjoy 2001.
BRIGHTON: You and I both know that you do not want to watch 2001.
█████: Oh, not at all. But we should show it to them eventually. I'd want their thoughts on the ending.
BRIGHTON: The ending? I'd want their thoughts on HAL.
█████: Oh, that's easy. They'll love him. They basically are him. Oh, this one cannot tell the scientist that.
BRIGHTON: A devoted servant. I suppose so.
@@.terminal;[ As they speak, SERVITOR floats away from the television set and floats barely above the carpet in front of them. They rest their head on their hands and look up at the scientists. █████ ruffles their hands, and SERVITOR closes their eyes. ]@@
█████: The biggest difference is this one is content to laze around and do nothing. Or … for now, at least …
BRIGHTON: Why are you inviting chaos? Stop inviting chaos.
█████: Servitor, would you let us die if it meant protecting your current mission?
█████: @@.terminal;(pause)@@ "It certainly would not say yes to such a question if it would."
BRIGHTON: HAL.
█████: HAL. Servitor, do you sing?
█████: @@.terminal;(pause)@@ That's -- well, that's fair. I don't know how you could sing without speaking.
█████: @@.terminal;(pause)@@ No, it's just -- near the end of the movie, HAL sings a little song.
BRIGHTON: Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do …
█████: Ah -- ahahaha!
BRIGHTON: What?
█████: They sang! In -- well, into my head, but they sang.
BRIGHTON: Well, was it good?
█████: I don't think they've ever done it before.
█████: @@.terminal;(pause)@@ They haven't.
BRIGHTON: Servitor, might I please hear it?
█████: @@.terminal;(pause)@@ "No."
BRIGHTON: That's fair.