tenth incision ෴ text

[prideofwisdom]

[Locked 30% to Fran Madaraki and Dr. Nii]

I have a little proposition for you involving our shared profession and a way to pass the time. Considering there's no experiment this week, I figured it was a good time to pitch this idea.

Comments

[drstitches]

Do go on, doctor.

[prideofwisdom]

In my time here I've run a few of my own experiments on the other people, I was wondering if you would maybe like to help. And if not that, I was thinking maybe we could compare notes a bit. I've never actually gotten to speak to another doctor before, and I don't want to waste the opportunity by not bonding with you a bit.

[drstitches]

Hrm. I don't exactly make a habit of experimenting on people who don't ask for it, one way or another. But I'd love to share some of my notes with you. It would be a refreshing change from the lack of hospitality I've been shown by Val.

[prideofwisdom]

I'm sure I could find someone willing to be experimented on by such a lovely young lady.

And I'd love to see them. Shame Val has been less-than-friendly. She might have gained her fellow scientists as allies if she were a little less frigid. And let it be known I never expected to seriously call a computer a "she".

[drstitches]

Oh, I could as well. I'm quite good at finding patients with needs. It helps when you can help with anything.

It is a little off-putting, but it was only a matter of time before computers gained that kind of sentience. It's really not out of the ordinary. Well, not by much, I suppose. Insofar as anything can be out of the ordinary around here. As for my notes, they're mostly observational right now. I wasn't able to bring any of my more thorough notes from my laboratory. Hopefully they'll still be of some use to you.

[prideofwisdom]

Can you help with anything? I might need to know where anything stops.

You have a generally more pleasant exterior than I do if for no other reason than people tend to trust women over men, so your observations are probably different enough from mine to be of a real use. Thank you. As for Val, well... Maybe someone who can feel more than her would be better suited for her job. Although you'd need the same level of sadistic tendencies otherwise that's just no fun at all, don't you agree?

[drstitches]

I'm yet to run into something medical that I can't handle! As long as various boards and committees don't get in the way, but... ah well, there's very little I can do about that.

I have to admit it would be a little fun to dole out punishments to some of the less cooperative people here. But it's not something I would do without being provoked! And you, doctor, seem downright pleasant yourself. I'm sure you'd never end up on the wrong side of a sadistic streak.

[prideofwisdom]

I run into the same problems now and then. And the occasional protest group. PETA is my personal favorite because they enjoy provoking me, so anything I do is in "self-defense".

Well if you ever change your mind, I'd gladly help you subdue some of those less cooperative people. And thank you, I appreciate that. Though I have been on the wrong side of my own sadistic streak before, and coupled with my curiosity, it led to weeks of recovery.

[drstitches]

Oh, that's clever. I wonder if that Edgeworth fellow is still around so I could ask him about the legality of that kind of defense.

Then I suppose it's a very good thing you have a built-in failsafe, hm? I don't have anything like that. It's fortunate that I don't anticipate... losing control, I suppose. That's the wrong phrase, but it's the first one I thought of.

[prideofwisdom]

We have lawyers here now too? Just when I thought the torture couldn't get any worse.

You mean your bolt doesn't turn at all? Fascinating... Though I suppose it probably was a factory installation rather than an upgrade in your case.

[drstitches]

I thought the same thing, but this one seems much nicer than a regular lawyer. He's actually willing to listen to me, to begin with!

Well, they were rather important for bringing me to life in the first place, and now they'd be difficult to remove without rendering me brain-dead. I suppose "factory installation" is the right metaphor.

[prideofwisdom]

How sweet. He must be a defense lawyer. That's the only explanation.

Mm, yes, it's probably best that I don't mess with them in that case. I'd hate to lose someone I've enjoyed talking to so much.

[drstitches]

I believe he is. It makes a certain degree of sense.

Mm. I'd say the same of you! I certainly hope nothing happens that causes our deaths at any point. Notoriously hard to kill though we might be.

[prideofwisdom]

Maybe I'll hunt him down and ask him at some point.

That is true, it's not like death is an easy thing to achieve in this place! Some people have the gall to complain about that can you believe it? I'd call being basically immortal a stroke of luck more than anything else.

[drstitches]

[she laughs with a hint of triumph behind it.]

It's not very difficult for me to die to begin with, but yes, I certainly can't complain about that little perk. And neither should everyone else! I have a feeling that if they were left to carry on the way they do here without that benefit, they wouldn't survive very long at all. And that would be just tragic.

[her voice, it's dripping with care.]

[prideofwisdom]

You and I would probably get a fair amount of respect in that case, though. If people depended on us more, they'd probably like us more. Not to say that you aren't well-liked, of course. I meant the reputation I've made for myself mostly.