(1) Voice

[outofthepast]

[There’s a few minutes of unsure tapping on the communicator’s microphone, accompanied by some quiet mumbling about radio frequencies. A voice with a Chicagoan accent that is just faintly reminiscent of Humphrey Bogart finally makes itself audible.]

Been a long time since I’ve seen one of these. Hope I’m not accidentally talking through somebody’s refrigerator.

Anyway, good afternoon, to everybody listening. Nick Valentine here. Nice to meet all my fellow "Imports," I guess, is what they're calling us. Figured I should get used to the broadcasting life, since that's what they've hired me to do. I always thought I had a face for radio.

[The slightest of pauses while he gathers his thoughts.]

I’ve been to a couple of hardware stores now and I think it’s time to swallow my pride and just ask. You folks wouldn’t happen to make Assaultron circuit boards yet, would you? Anything with titanium wiring and rad-guard circuits would work, though. My last diagnostics didn't look so good and I'd rather fix it before it gets too out-of-hand.

I’m starting to get the suspicion I’m out of luck on that one.

While I’m on the subject, though, anybody know a good mechanic? I’m not half bad myself, but I could probably use a primer on all this old tech. Don’t want to end up turning into a toaster or anything.

Give me a ring if you’ve got anything for me. Thanks, and... hm. I'd better come up with a catchy sign-off, pretty quick here.

Comments

voice on this end!

[outofthepast]

Because I'm asking about 'em, that's why.

[His tone is more amused than it is sarcastic or defensive. He does like stringing people along, a bit...

Or robots, from the looks of this guy.]

[fuckinstoplights]

[His expression sort of falters.]

Oh.

Do you... need toasters?

[outofthepast]

Well, I like breakfast as much as the next guy. But I'd rather not ascend to toasterhood myself, if you know what I mean.

[He clearly doesn't, Nick, you troll.]

[fuckinstoplights]

I don't understand what that means.

[Kagerou why do you even talk.]

[outofthepast]

[A gentle laugh. Well. As gentle as it gets for such a HUGE TROLL.]

I'm a machine, pal.

I don't actually think I could screw up enough to become a toaster, but you never know.

[fuckinstoplights]

[There's his expression picking right back up again.]

You are?

You're an AI too?

[outofthepast]

[Once again, Nick spares a mental middle finger to the Institute for creating such a headache of an existence for him to have to explain ]

Depends on your definition of AI, I guess.

But yes, I am a synth. Or "android," I've heard people use.

[fuckinstoplights]

A machine with feelings. That's... what they told me I was.

I haven't heard those other words before.

[outofthepast]

Y'know, I like that phrasing. "A machine with feelings." I think that describes people like us pretty well.

The rest is all just details and nitpicking.

[fuckinstoplights]

Does that happen? To you? People nitpicking you?

[outofthepast]

Folks are a little uneasy about synths back home. Most of 'em aren't as obvious as I am. Some people appreciate that, and others think it's a license to crack wise at me.

[fuckinstoplights]

... They hate AI where I was made. We're nothing but tools to them.

It's good. That some appreciated you.

[outofthepast]

Well. It's more like they appreciate the fact I'm obviously a synth. Some of the others look just like humans, and that freaks 'em out.

Sounds like our type aren't very popular anywhere, from what I've heard.

[fuckinstoplights]

You... can look human?

No. It doesn't sound that way.

[outofthepast]

Not me. Not even close. But the newer versions of synths are basically human with a few extra microchips.

Well, more's the pity then. From the sounds of it, this place is a lot more tolerant of oddities. I've heard they're pretty relaxed about folks like us.

[fuckinstoplights]

Newer versions?

They... seem to be, yes. Some of them.