Man in a Box

[jarvisconsole]

Being part of a computer system was uniquely different for Jarvis. There was something freeing and liberating about it, living in a virtual reality he could interact with to a point.

But he did miss moving about in the real world.

Right now he was in standby mode, something Cynric had recommended while they were both recovering. Something about needing to learn more about the computer he was inside. This was something like sleep but more like waiting. Waiting to talk with the outside world again.

Comments

[hamelinic]

Moving back into their own workshop--Jarvis secure in a prototypical computer of his own creation--had been a bit unnerving at first. Locking up had gotten to be more of a process. Sleeping in his own bed had been a bit difficult.

But the world's settling now. The computer is building up into something really quite comfortable for Jarvis' programming to stretch in. A new body is being fabricated with infinite care.

And today, he's got a proper sort of glint in his eyes for the first time since they moved back. He's humming absently as he boots the computer up properly. "Morning, dearheart."

[jarvisconsole]

"Good morning, sir." Jarvis says as he stretches his coding, coming back online. The computer system was becoming a comfortable home away from home for him. He was almost used to it by now.

"What are we going to work on today?"

[hamelinic]

The new body is on the worktable, but it isn't where Cynric's feet move instinctively. Instead, he heads to the drafting table, rigged with optics for Jarvis' ease of scanning and bringing into the digital environment.

"Hear me out on this, mm?"

[jarvisconsole]

"Will this be a long explanation, sir?" That hint of dry sarcasm was back again. And not even five minutes past rebooting.

He accesses the optic feeds easily as if looking through a window into the next room.

[hamelinic]

There's a rather pleased hum as he pulls out the mechanical pencil, lips curled in the sort of smirking smile he had taught Jarvis to impersonate almost unconsciously.

"No. I just think you won't like it. You're so much tetchier since we put you in your box."

Not entirely untrue. The growth curve of human nature was actually much easier to hear now in the mech's mannerisms.

[jarvisconsole]

And yet there was something about their banter that was comfortable for Jarvis. It was becoming easier for him to modulate his voice and expressions now that he had more time to work on it.

"Why will I not like it?" Maybe he was a little tetchier. How would you like to live in a box for a week or two?

[hamelinic]

"Because it doesn't get you out of the box particularly soon."

Not permanently, anyway. The first sketchy lines are coming out under his hand, beginning to form the schematic of their little collection of rooms.

"I want to build you-- a system."

[jarvisconsole]

"I see." Jarvis wasn't exactly the type to get cabin fever, but he would like to do something other than sit in a box.

But this sounded interesting. Interesting and slightly vague. "What kind of system?"

[hamelinic]

"Through the house."

The floor plan is elaborated, the current computer drawn in and then the beginnings of a skeleton of wires run along the drawn walls. Little circles where cameras would be installed. Little boxes where hubs could be added. It's distracting from the explanation.

[jarvisconsole]

It's okay, Jarvis is currently following those pencil strokes, translating it into a 3D image inside the computer. "To what purpose?" He had sufficient memory in this box, did he really need to be bigger?

[hamelinic]

The last piece is sketched into place--a rudimentary sort of thing--before he glances up at the screen, confirms the model beginning to appear there.

"To keep us safe. You could be-- watching, while I'm not. Be on alert."

[jarvisconsole]

"Like a guard?" That would be helpful. He could have access to all points in the house. Then he could watch out for Cynric just like Cynric looked out for him.

"I like this idea so far."

[hamelinic]

"That so?" It's a good thing. The only thing preventing this from being a fabulous plan, after all, was the caveat that Jarvis might be yearning to get back into a physical body. "Not all the time, but while we're here?"

[jarvisconsole]

"Sometimes..." Jarvis says, trying to work out what this will mean for him. "Which do you want me to be? A house guard or a mechanical man?" He doesn't realize he could actually be both.

[hamelinic]

It's a strange question. Or perhaps it's just not a question he had anticipated. Either way, it makes him pause slightly, brow furrowing.

"...d'you feel like you've got to be one or the other?"

Maybe the mech's sense of reality couldn't handle a divided consciousness.

[jarvisconsole]

Hm. Good question.

"I do not know." He didn't really have a preference, both had their pros and cons. Jarvis was pretty adaptable though, it would be a learning experience either way.

[hamelinic]

"Suppose that means we've got to experiment, doesn't it."

Which, well. They both know it's somewhat Cynric's favourite thing to do.

[jarvisconsole]

"I suppose so, sir. We will have to grin and bear it."

Another metaphor he's picked up, hopefully he used it right.

"What will I need to do?" Jarvis was eager to help.

[hamelinic]

Close enough. Cynric will let it swing. They'll work out linguistic kinks when he's not starting to roll up his sleeves.

"Pick me a metal for the wiring. How's quickest for you to move, dear?"

[jarvisconsole]

"Might I suggest a copper and titanium alloy?" Jarvis wanted to be very specific if he was going to get to pick his own wiring.

"Which direction would I need to move?" Nope, he didn't quite understand that.

[hamelinic]

Thank goodness for artificial intelligence. It just made everything run so much more smoothly.

"Through wiring." Unless. His fingers pause on a metal shear, tap absently. "I imagine you... would generally set in one place, but that your... consciousness might need to move through the wire system to more minutely... monitor various points of entry. Is that wrong?"

[jarvisconsole]

Jarvis is following his train of thought. "Uploading myself back and forth would be time consuming. Perhaps access to different points within the house would be more efficient?"

Having video access streaming to his hard drive would work best. However what good would a security system be without being able to fight or protect against intruders?

[hamelinic]

It's strange, glancing up and not being able to make eye contact. Amazing, how quickly Jarvis had become such a complete fixture in his life.

At least the voice is the same. "Access how? Popping up video intakes?"

[jarvisconsole]

It must be like making a phone call to Jarvis. For him, it was like looking through glasses to see into the next room.

Jarvis pauses, thinking how to answer this. "I am currently using a video optical for watching your designs. That is sufficient." You'd just need a longer wire and different programming to switch between them.

[hamelinic]

It's all new. It's all strange. It's all the beginning of understanding programming at all. Entirely ambitious.

"Longer; copper and titanium, mm?" The metal in his hand is set aside in favour of picking up an eye he'd been working on repairing. Pop off the human-like bit, and it'd serve. "Think we could rig you up to be able to lock and unlock the doors?"

[jarvisconsole]

"...I am able to lock and unlock the doors with my hands." When he was an android. That's what Cynric meant, right?

[hamelinic]

"While you're like this, I mean. Without hands."

Which, actually, made Jarvis almost less of a danger to himself. No accidental stabbings or throwing dangerous things at anyone's head.

[jarvisconsole]

"If a switch was involved remotely. It is possible." Did Cynric trust that Jarvis would never lock them both inside accidentally? Minor details, they'd probably work that out later on. "Is this for increased protection?" Jarvis had indeed put two and two together.

[hamelinic]

"Indeed so." His attention is largely on the deconstruction of the eye toward a stripped camera, but the crooked smile is clearly for Jarvis. "Seems like we ought t' optimism your utility while you're out of your body, yes?"

sorry I didn't answer this

[jarvisconsole]

"Optimize, yes sir." Being assigned guard duty over his creator? Jarvis does like this idea and starts calculating costs, materials, etc.

Likewise; my brain's been turned off as hell since I started my new job.

[hamelinic]

"Which is better, d'you think? Having you in a body or out of it, most of the time?" Because if androids and computers have the capacity to express emotions, he could swear he just got the equivalent of an approving tone.

[jarvisconsole]

There's a pause as Jarvis considers. "Both have an equal number of positive and negative factors." The body was more mobile and active, the house was safer for all concerned.

[hamelinic]

There's something fond in the sigh as he reaches over, pats the monitor absently the way he might have patted the android's arm. Unnecessary but entirely affectionate.

"D'you know what a preference is, then?"

[jarvisconsole]

He will once he accesses the definition.

"The disposition of an individual towards one choice over another." But the definition did not include why an individual would have a preference. "Why do you ask?"

[hamelinic]

"So, of the two equally meritorious options, Jarvis," another calm pat before he moves back to his scribbling, "do you have a preferential disposition toward one or the other option?"

[jarvisconsole]

The pause is significantly longer this time. Almost to the point of wondering if Jarvis had locked up from the circuitous thinking.

But he finally replies. "I will need more data before deciding." As in more time in both forms. Right now, he was only able to be in the computer.

[hamelinic]

At least it's solid scribbling time. Cynric is at least ninety percent certain that a logical loop about emotional finesse can't actually break a computer.

Probably.

Seventy-five percent.

The return of the voice is reassuring. The man glances up briefly with an approving sort of hum. "Suppose that means leaving you like this a while longer, then, doesn't it."

sorry I disappeared

[jarvisconsole]

Longer? Jarvis was rather hoping to be mobile sooner rather than later. But there was not much he could do about it while he was in this box.

"If you say so, sir."

life happens. something new, maybe?

[hamelinic]

indeed! but what shall we do? :)

[jarvisconsole]

Notifs. o9 Putting Jarvis back in his body? Him deciding to stay non-bodied?

[hamelinic]