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To prevent human casualties.

[That said, things might get sticky depending on just how autonomous his automaton ends up being, but right now this is the goal. He doesn't necessarily expect the creation of a sentient being, even if he uses some of the principles he learned while developing the Hexcore, so perhaps that's a problem for later. If it ever becomes evident.

For now, he takes a little step back to observe, studying what would be its "face".]

I don't know. I feel like a mouth would be uncanny, yes? Especially if it doesn't move.

That's a much better way of explaining it.

[There's a fond smile on Alucard's lips, and it is because that determination is a return to form for Viktor and how he sees the world. But there's another implication in there as well, and it inches towards processing Jayce's departure. Not that he'd ever say those words out loud, Alucard expects he'd get the silent treatment for a while as a result.]

Not if you design it right. May I offer some experimental configurations?

It's the idea.

[The whole reason why he's doing this--to save lives. To make things better. It doesn't mean he's any less devastated, but Viktor is always looking towards the future. He needs to be productive towards some end. It's the only thing he knows how to be. The alternative is not something he wants to entertain.

Viktor passes over a fresh notebook page and a pencil.]

Of course.

Edited 2023-10-12 01:33 (UTC)

[Alucard takes the paper and pencil and just doodles for a few minutes. Different configurations of round eyes and mouth lines - no noses are included - erring towards larger eyes and smaller mouths to try and make the expressions less terrifying.

It is a first pass and not one especially exciting, but he passes the page back over to Viktor regardless.]

You're free to tell me that they're all nonsense, of course.

[Viktor watches Alucard with interest, observing the various iterations and taking some mental notes. He's still not convinced that a mouth that doesn't serve any function will make the design any more appealing, but it's nice to have outside input anyway. Makes him feel more collaborative.]

I'm not opposed.

[But he's not imagining that his creations will speak, at least not in the way humans do.]

You know me, I'm...function follows form. It should serve a purpose.

And you know me. The form should be pleasing to behold. It makes the function less intimidating, especially for something new.

[There's a light shrug, and he goes back to doodling a few other options, all running along the same line.]

I also realize this is probably too early in the development process to be speaking of aesthetics. Does it have any working parts yet?

[Viktor will collect the sketches to synthesize later, incorporating what he feels is appropriate and what he feels is superfluous. He does, at least, understand what Alucard means, even if he will always prioritize the functional over the aesthetic.

But all of this is preliminary anyway, as Alucard says. Viktor gestures towards the chassis.]

Mostly structural, at the moment. I can show you how it's meant to move, but the...intelligence that will operate it, eventually, isn't quite ready yet.

[There's more work to be done, with Hilda's power.]

I'd love to see the movements, just to get a sense of it. It might make me suggest a few updated face designs.

[But more importantly, since this is an active worksite...]

Where should I stand?

Just here.

[Viktor points to a spot on the floor, seemingly out of reach of the chassis’ long arms. While Alucard situates himself, Viktor clears out the welding equipment, swapping it for thick cables and wires and a control panel that he hefts onto the worktable. He works quickly, then steps back to where Alucard’s standing, remote in hand.]

Watch.

[Viktor pushes levers forward with his thumbs, and the chassis rumbles to life, arms lifting to mirror his inputs.]

Obviously I’m bypassing the internal controls. But when it’s finished, and active, it will be able to do this on its own.

[Alucard moves around as requested, knowing that lab safety is even more important when the experiment weighs....a lot, he's going to just go with a lot.

The movement is fascinating. His eyes go from Viktor to the experiment and back, making thoughtful noises. It absolutely reinforces his own opinion that it needs to look a little bit friendlier than present, but Alucard has decided that it is a discussion for further down the line.

He grins, outwardly expressive in how stunning this is.]

How long did it take for you to figure the controls out? They're quite refined.

Oh, the controls are the easy part.

[As in, it’s simple engineering. He understands how things move, and can recreate them in steel—-from there, it’s just powering them. Easy enough to do with the new magic available in Cadens.

Alucard’s expression doesn’t go unnoticed, and though Viktor’s is more subdued, he’s clearly proud that this is going over well. He raises the machine’s right hand, and has it give a little wave.]

This is all just mechanics. The next step will be the real feat.

[The wave cements it. It needs a face. It needs to feel like a friend.

Alucard considers this, and reaches out a hand. Can the robot high-five?]

Do you need a second set of hands in getting the second step completed?

Well, the second step is...magic.

[Not that he's daunted by the prospect, but it will be more complicated than simply making a piece of machinery move. And speaking of, Alucard extends his hand and Viktor moves the robot's to meet it. The touch is surprisingly precise and delicate, given the size of the chassis.]

We're going to bind a specific spell to it, that will hopefully give it the capacity to move on its own.

I'm curious who "we" is?

[It is a polite and mild question. Alucard genuinely is curious, but also he wants to be sure that it is no one sketchy. He has his biases.

Alucard withdraws his hand for a moment, then gently pokes the robot's palm.]

That is some remarkably fine control you have there.

Ah. Hilda. She's the one with the spell.

[Perhaps as least-sketchy as one can get! Just in case Alucard was worried.]

I'm well-practiced. [Which is a more diplomatic thing to say than the fact that he makes up for the other various deficiencies of his body with incredibly fine motor skills.] I imagine the construct will have something of a learning curve.

I'm starting to wonder if there's anything she can't do. Not that she'd ever admit to half of her skills.

[Like, Hilda is very good at Many Things and yet always downplays it??? It bothers him.]

It probably will, but maybe learning by weaning yourself off the refined controls might be the way to do it?

That's what I keep telling her!

[So, they're on the same page in that regard. Of course, he won't really know how all of this will work until they bind her Singularity-given entity to the chassis, but for now it's just fun to play around with. Viktor holds out the controls to Alucard.]

Do you want to try?

[It might give him an idea of how to tweak it.]

I don't know why, honestly. I've given up saying it outright, I just suggest additional projects I think she might be good at. That's a part of how she ended up doing project management at Old Public Hall. She's good at delegating.

[But enough of singing Hilda's praises for now. At the offer, Alucard takes the controls from Viktor's hands. Carefully.]

Walk me through how it operates.

She’s a talented craftsperson as well. A shame she thinks it so frivolous.

[Though, perhaps it’s only natural she feels that way, given Viktor’s generally lofty goals and high-concept projects. He could probably keep talking about this, but Alucard is right that they should move on. Once he feels he’s got a good grip, Viktor lets go and takes a step backwards.]

The levers are x and y axes. Just try moving them—gently. Get a feel for it.

[No better explanation than doing.]

Sometimes you can't argue with people. You just align them with opportunities and hope.

[Alucard can absolutely go on, but needing to focus on the controls is more important.

It takes a few moments for him to adjust to the weight first, and he ghosts his fingers over the controls before doing anything at all.

The y axis it is first. Alucard moves the lever sloooooowly. He expects the actual movement to be smooth, but this? This is seamless. The control glides, and that gives him confidence in speeding it up.]

Remarkable.

[The articulations of the chassis need to be as fine-tuned as possible, if he wants the magic that will inhabit this body to be able to control it with ease. Watching Alucard discover that for himself, well. Viktor can't help but be a little smug.]

It's easy, yes?

[He sounds proud--as he knows he should be.]

There will be more to it. Additional controls for the torso, the legs. Walking. But for now, this is the idea.

It is.

[Alucard moves onto the other axis, speeding up just a little bit further.]

It's interesting. Would all the controls be on the same axis, or would you need to vary it up a bit more?

There will be different controls.

[And the trick will be learning to use them all in concert, as Viktor is going to point out now. It comes naturally to him, but there might be a bit of a learning curve for everyone else, the construct included.]

Try to move both at once. You might find it more natural. Fluid.

How many levers? Or are you not sure yet?

[Both at once is...

nope.

Alucard tries, but the speed isn't something that he manages well. What ends up happening is flailing robot arms, followed by a slightly mortified dhampir.]

I hope these are sturdy....

A whole panel, if you can imagine.

[A control panel! For controls. Viktor is used to articulating multiple knobs and levers and buttons all at once (maybe even a foot pedal), but he's not going to begrudge anyone unfamiliarity, even as he takes a healthy step back.]

But it's only to make sure everything moves properly. Once the construct inhabits it, we won't need this anymore.

[Suffice to say, Alucard shouldn't feel too badly about a lack of coordination.]

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