That's right. If I shock you accidentally I apologize, it happens when I-- when I feel a little unsteady. I've got a better handle on it now than I used to but. Y'know. You might not want to get too close.
[That he has a better handle on it because he got some of his blood semi-forcefully removed from his body is still a thing he kind of dances around thinking about.]
[ Electricity, huh? Penny nods. She's got plenty of reasons to be careful around electricity. ]
I assure you, I will be careful.
[ Even so, she doesn't move back. Now that she knows this guy isn't going to pass out (not from a fever, at least) she can turn her attention to the more pressing issue at hand. ]
But we should stay together regardless. This place is unfamiliar to me, but it's most likely very dangerous.
That's sensible, given... [He waves a hand descriptively, then runs it backward through his hair. It's already messy from a mix of stress and static and now it's messier. It's fine.]
... everything. About Trench.
[Part of him, the part of him that is now hard-wired to seek out danger, is having a blast. The rest of him is sort of dragging along behind in its wake.]
You think we ought to pick a direction and start walkin'? Won't find a way out otherwise.
[ When Fiddleford asks his question Penny turns to scan their surroundings, both visually and literally. Nothing immediately jumps out at her, however, so after a moment she looks back to Fiddleford and nods. ]
I believe so. Any direction should be sufficient, so long as we keep moving.
[ Which she'd really like to do! The buzzing is starting to grate. So barring any further protests from Fiddleford, she'll start to walk towards the hallway that seems the least ominous, which in this case means 'widest'. And as she does: ]
My the way, my name is Penny Polendina! What's yours?
[Oh. He totally forgot to introduce himself, what with all the other things swirling around in his head. Bizarrely he still feels a little embarrassed, like bad manners remotely matter at a time like this. Still. He pushes himself away from the wall and follows after her.
He really does not like the way the carpet smells or feels, for the first time, is glad he's wearing boots.]
Dr. Fiddleford McGucket. Doc's fine if you want somethin' shorter. I ought to apologize in advance, Miss Penny, because I will forget your name and you'll have to remind me. I'm no good with names.
[Basically his only chance at not forgetting is to keep saying it every sentence or two, and that can also come across as fucking weird.]
And you're a...?
[He means 'what kind of creepy magic blood do you have' but he really has no idea how to phrase that in a way that doesn't feel impolite.]
[ Doc, huh? Something about that doesn't quite click with Penny, but maybe she can warm up to it. For now: ]
It is a genuine pleasure to meet you, Doctor McGucket! I promise I won't be upset about any forgetfulness on your part.
[ His next question gets a pause and a blink out of her, though there's no real hesitation before she answers. ]
I'm an android, though I may not be a type you're familiar with. But... how could you tell I wasn't human?
[ Her knee joints are obviously robotic upon close inspection, but she's used to most people assuming they're prosthetics. But if that's how Fiddleford had noticed, why hadn't he outright asked if she was an android?
(It doesn't occur to her that he's asking about her blood type.) ]
It takes a second to really click because he's processing things a little slow right now, but when it does, instantly his entire demeanor changes like someone just flicked on a light switch. He still looks like shit, make no mistake, but now he looks like shit and he's excited.]
[ In hindsight, it makes more sense that he would be asking after blood type, but her time spent with Rin and Hayato has had a considerable influence on her perspective. She's gone from being forced into anonymity, to everyone knowing that she's an android whether she wants them to or not, and now back into anonymity that isn't mandatory. In the process she's learned to be more aware, for Rin and Hayato's sake, of the likelihood of someone realizing the truth unexpectedly.
Fortunately, unlike Rin and Hayato, Penny doesn't have a problem with admitting that she's not human. And while she's not entirely sure what to do with Fiddleford's clear fascination, she doesn't feel anything even remotely resembling discomfort in response. So she perks up in response to his comment, because while she can't exactly be proud of herself for passing as a human so well... ]
Thank you! My father designed me to blend in when humans as much as possible.
[ Talking about Pietro's achievements comes a little more easily. ]
He did an incredible job. I've created all sorts of mechanical whatsits that could move on their own and do rudimentary tasks without bein' directly told, but never one that could really think for itself. It's possible, sure, the human brain's just a big old bundle of electrical connections, but the complexity of it... gettin' it to fit in such a small space...
[He realizes, several sentence too late, that maybe he's coming on a little strong. If the whole point is that she's practically indistinguishable from a flesh and blood human then it must be awkward to have someone standing there marveling at how she isn't one.]
Sorry. I don't mean to go on about it, it's just this is my area of expertise so I get excited. I hope I haven't overstepped.
[ Fiddleford is coming on a little strong - but it's been so long since Penny's heard a middle-ageish man go on excited nerdy ramble about robotics that it's actually kind of comforting right now. Certainly better than listening to the lights buzz above them.
Thus, she's quick to shake her head when Fiddleford makes his apology. ]
Not at all! My father is the same way when he's excited.
[ Considerably less jittery, but still!
But speaking of jittery, they really shouldn't just stand around talking - but she also knows that talking can be useful in keeping people calm. So... ]
We should look for a way out... but maybe you could tell me about some of the robots you've made?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
That's right. If I shock you accidentally I apologize, it happens when I-- when I feel a little unsteady. I've got a better handle on it now than I used to but. Y'know. You might not want to get too close.
[That he has a better handle on it because he got some of his blood semi-forcefully removed from his body is still a thing he kind of dances around thinking about.]
no subject
I assure you, I will be careful.
[ Even so, she doesn't move back. Now that she knows this guy isn't going to pass out (not from a fever, at least) she can turn her attention to the more pressing issue at hand. ]
But we should stay together regardless. This place is unfamiliar to me, but it's most likely very dangerous.
no subject
... everything. About Trench.
[Part of him, the part of him that is now hard-wired to seek out danger, is having a blast. The rest of him is sort of dragging along behind in its wake.]
You think we ought to pick a direction and start walkin'? Won't find a way out otherwise.
no subject
I believe so. Any direction should be sufficient, so long as we keep moving.
[ Which she'd really like to do! The buzzing is starting to grate. So barring any further protests from Fiddleford, she'll start to walk towards the hallway that seems the least ominous, which in this case means 'widest'. And as she does: ]
My the way, my name is Penny Polendina! What's yours?
no subject
He really does not like the way the carpet smells or feels, for the first time, is glad he's wearing boots.]
Dr. Fiddleford McGucket. Doc's fine if you want somethin' shorter. I ought to apologize in advance, Miss Penny, because I will forget your name and you'll have to remind me. I'm no good with names.
[Basically his only chance at not forgetting is to keep saying it every sentence or two, and that can also come across as fucking weird.]
And you're a...?
[He means 'what kind of creepy magic blood do you have' but he really has no idea how to phrase that in a way that doesn't feel impolite.]
no subject
It is a genuine pleasure to meet you, Doctor McGucket! I promise I won't be upset about any forgetfulness on your part.
[ His next question gets a pause and a blink out of her, though there's no real hesitation before she answers. ]
I'm an android, though I may not be a type you're familiar with. But... how could you tell I wasn't human?
[ Her knee joints are obviously robotic upon close inspection, but she's used to most people assuming they're prosthetics. But if that's how Fiddleford had noticed, why hadn't he outright asked if she was an android?
(It doesn't occur to her that he's asking about her blood type.) ]
1/3
2/3
It takes a second to really click because he's processing things a little slow right now, but when it does, instantly his entire demeanor changes like someone just flicked on a light switch. He still looks like shit, make no mistake, but now he looks like shit and he's excited.]
no subject
[The accent has doubled in power, which is how you know he's being really normal about this.]
I couldn't tell... [He says it again, more quietly, with a clear air of appreciation. Like it's something wonderful.] That's incredible.
no subject
[ In hindsight, it makes more sense that he would be asking after blood type, but her time spent with Rin and Hayato has had a considerable influence on her perspective. She's gone from being forced into anonymity, to everyone knowing that she's an android whether she wants them to or not, and now back into anonymity that isn't mandatory. In the process she's learned to be more aware, for Rin and Hayato's sake, of the likelihood of someone realizing the truth unexpectedly.
Fortunately, unlike Rin and Hayato, Penny doesn't have a problem with admitting that she's not human. And while she's not entirely sure what to do with Fiddleford's clear fascination, she doesn't feel anything even remotely resembling discomfort in response. So she perks up in response to his comment, because while she can't exactly be proud of herself for passing as a human so well... ]
Thank you! My father designed me to blend in when humans as much as possible.
[ Talking about Pietro's achievements comes a little more easily. ]
no subject
[He realizes, several sentence too late, that maybe he's coming on a little strong. If the whole point is that she's practically indistinguishable from a flesh and blood human then it must be awkward to have someone standing there marveling at how she isn't one.]
Sorry. I don't mean to go on about it, it's just this is my area of expertise so I get excited. I hope I haven't overstepped.
no subject
Thus, she's quick to shake her head when Fiddleford makes his apology. ]
Not at all! My father is the same way when he's excited.
[ Considerably less jittery, but still!
But speaking of jittery, they really shouldn't just stand around talking - but she also knows that talking can be useful in keeping people calm. So... ]
We should look for a way out... but maybe you could tell me about some of the robots you've made?