1493/Paging Doctor Taro

Paging Doctor Taro
Date of Scene:	04 February 2015
Location:	Neo Arcadia-00001
Synopsis:	A routine checkup goes better than expected.
Cast of Characters:	399, 516

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Ferham (516) has posed:
     It has been a few days since Taro went on his fantastic voyage through Fer's core consciousness, and now is the day she had arranged to come in again for a follow-up. As the elevator rumbled from the other level of the building, Taro would hear the unmistakeable click-clack of heels, and Ferham would emerge. She was wearing what looked like a long full-length jacket under an outfit that was a bit similar to the one he'd noticed before. The blonde was gone from her hair, however, and her lipstick was back to it's trademark rouge.

     "Taro? are you here?" her voice sounded more normal too, though there was still a respectful sort of aspect to it, as if she could wait if he was busy.

Taro (399) has posed:
    Taro is in fact busy, or at least he has others in his office when Ferham comes to call. Three humanlike reploids, dressed in cassocks not unlike his (though a lighter shade of gray) - two men, one with pumpkin orange hair and the other's hair more wine-colored, and one woman with blue hair. Unsurprisingly the conversation is about some engineering project or another.
    A conversation that trails off when Taro's gaze strays to the doorway, and he raises a hand to motion for the others to stop. All three heards turn around to see what's captured his attention - and unlike their leader, the trio is a bit more forthcoming with smiles.
    "Ah, good evening Ferham," he greets her as he stands up. "Are you early, or have I simply lost track of time in conversation?"

Ferham (516) has posed:
     Fer spares a glance to the other three humanoids, then gives them a little wave, standing there with a neutral look. "I'm not intruding, am I?" she removes the coat and looks for a place to hang it up--yep, she's wearing a short dress and tights again, along with those heels. Looks like she hasn't entirely kicked the old wardrobe her model side adopted.

     "If it's too much trouble I could just come back, or wait," she looks for a seat that she'll slink down into, crossing her legs one after the other. Is she just relaxing or perhaps giving the other three reploids something to look at? It's... kinda hard to tell, really.

Taro (399) has posed:
    there are two seatc to spare, one a standard office chair and the other the massive heavy sturdy one to the side of the doorwat that must be meant for someone much larger. There appears to be no place to hang a coat, but she can drape it over the arm or back of the aforementioned massive chair.
    "You are not," Taro answers with a small shake of his head. Then, he sets about with introductions. "My Vicars: Asher, Hawthorn, and Acacia." The orange-haired man smiles more strongly and nods, the wine-haired man simply nods, and the blue-haired woman smiles a bit shyly and nods deeply. "Vicars, this is Ferham, one of our Confederate allies and patient."
    "Pleased to meet you." "Welcome." "Hello!"
    A nod to Ferham, and then he looks back to the trio. "Asher, Hawthorn, report back if there's anything unforseen. Acacia, stay, please. We may need your skills." More nods, and the two men tuck their datapads under their arms and walk out.

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "Ah, your clergymen, I see. Welcome to meet you gentlemen, I'm Ferham," she nodded her heads respectfully to the three men, giving them a pleasant, welcoming smile. She nodded to the two that filed out, and leaned back to relax. "I didn't mean to catch you so busy, my bad," she peered over at Acacia, looking her over a bit. "She has special skills? does she assist you in the lab?" Ferham asked, looking back up to Taro. "I didn't know I needed a second opinion," she gave him a wry little smile, just teasing him.

Taro (399) has posed:
    "The CyberGoddess delegates, and thus we follow her example," Taro answers with a note of wry amusement. He steps around from his desk, giving Ferham an appraising look. The changes she's made, or reversions in some cases, are noted, and he takes them as a hopeful sign.
    Acacia swivels her chair around to face them both, datapad laid opn on her lap. "Ah, right, you're from one of the alternate universes, aren't you? From an earlier point in time compared to our history...ah, sorry, I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm His Eminence's chief tester and trouble-shooter."
    "an excellent one, at that." Quiet but honest praise. Then, to Ferham, "How are you feeling? Have you had any trouble with thinking or concentrating?"

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "Tester and troubleshooter? I see I'm afforded an honor by your church, then," Ferham got up, heels clicking as she presented herself, leaving her coat folded over her chair. "A lot better... I guess, a lot more normal, I should say. I still feel the other personality, and I got talked into keeping my part-time job," she sighed a little, not depressed or frustrated sounding, however. "My boss didn't want to let me go," she explained, though there might have been more to it.

     "Took forever to get the dye out," she gestured to her hair. Likely this would confuse Acacia a bit, as she hadn't seen her in all her valley girl regalia.

Taro (399) has posed:
    Acacia does tilt her head a bit in question at that comment, but she doesn't verbally ask.
    "Mm. I see...if you enjoy the work, and it's not interfering with your other duties, I see no reason you shouldn't keep it." Taro speaks them as words of advice, certainly not as orders. "Have you had any trouble with interrupted rest cycles, any errant or stray thoughts that remain pervasive?"

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "Thoughts... such as?" Ferham turned to look at Taro, before taking a seat again, a bit more formal of a sitting position this time, though she did cross her legs. "I as for interrupted rest cycles, I haven't been getting up at full moons and heading out to paint the town red, or anything," Ferham was silent for a moment. At least, that she could think of.

Taro (399) has posed:
    Acacia seems to think that was a joke. Or at least she's hoping that was meant as a joke. Either way, she gives a little quiet chuckle at it while she taps her fingers on her datapad. Calling up information, presumably.
    "That's reassuring." Deadpan humor on Taro's part. "What I mean is, have you had thoughts that do not quite feel as your own, or a thought that comes into your mind and remains there." He moves to take a seat in the chair that Hawthorn vacated, and gives Ferham another appraising look. "Even if it's a small, innocuous thought, it could be a sign of a glitch or malfunction in one of the areas in your personality matrix that I had to mend."

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "You mean something like... not wanting to use violence and preference over other methods? I can't say that's been a problem, but I have been feeling less angry lately," she likely realizes she's treading on unbroken ground there, at least so far with Taro. "Sorry... I have a bit of a checkered history, my unit was wiped out by maverick hunters," she gestured and nodded to Acacia. "In my world, I mean, it was a different political climate, so to speak," likely she hadn't totally /remembered/ this stuff, which probably had been a bit of a mercy.

Taro (399) has posed:
    Acacia looks up, lips pursing into a frown. "I'm sorry for your loss," she says with quiet sincerity.
    Taro's brow furrows slightly, though he doesn't make it clear as to why. "I see...do you also feel less inclined to act upon the anger that you still feel?"

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "A bit... is that bad?" Ferham looked up to Taro. "It's not like I'm some kind of shrinking violet or damsel in distress, if that's what you mean, I just think violence isn't always the answer exactly... maybe moreso? I'm not sure," Ferham shrugged a little, not seeming to be able to give him the best answer, or maybe not the one he was looking for, and feeling a bit bitter about it.

Taro (399) has posed:
    Taro lapses into a thoughtful silence after Ferman answers him, and in that space of time his fingers steeple. "Mm...in light of what I found and the steps I had to take...I think this is an acceptable outcome, Ferham. To have attempted to completely revert was far riskier. If you are upset that I have taken that anger from you in the process, I am sorry."

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "Anger is more useful than despair, but it's a negative emotion at that," Ferham shook her head. "I think you did a good job, and I have to thank you again for risking damage to yourself to connect to me like that," Fer shook her head again. "And I've still been dressing in casual clothes more often, that is, when I'm off duty, that's another change," she shrugged. "You haven't sent Maxine any angry phonecalls, have you? please don't," she seemed to ask him, at least as a favor.

Taro (399) has posed:
    "I had not yet decided how to to confront Ms. Sandburg about her actions," Taro answers, the corners of his lips twisting into a deeper frown. "What she did was dangerous and could have ended very badly for you, and by all rights she should be chastized for that."

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "No, no.. she's not a bad person. She just didn't understand my situation, and wanted to help. If I could just be different, then I would, but it's not that easy," Ferham shook her head. "I still need to deal with X, and Zero, when I get my hands on them. Maxine just thought I was a lot more violent than I actually was," she grinned a little. "Can you imagine me--a killer robot or something? it's an amusing mental image, you have to admit."

Taro (399) has posed:
    "Mm. Then if you would prefer to explain the errors of her ways to her yourself, then I will take no action of my own," Taro decides. His eyes narrow. "However, when you do, I would appreciate it if you would also tell her that I am most displeased and will not tolerate her making any further attempts."
    Acacia has been looking from Ferham to Taro and back again as the two of them talk, and her lips purse again at her superior's words.
    "No, I don't imagine you to be truly Maverick," Taro continues on to say, his tone less dark but not exactly making light of things either. "But a combat reploid is meant to dispense violence. Such is the nature of who and what you are."

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "I'll carry your message on, don't worry," Ferham shrugged. "She makes AI, some are sentient, I can't let anything happen to them, they're like us, some of them, anyway," Fer shook her head. She relaxed and leaned back in that chair, keeping her legs crossed and arms folded. "That's what I wanted to ask you. Is it really /bad/ if she might have made me less angry or prone towards violence just whenever? It seems like hse did me a favor, almost," but she shrugged again. "It's a weird existential question, I know."

Taro (399) has posed:
    Acacia shifts a bit in her chair, showing a bit of discomfort at the direction the conversation is taking. Still, she doesn't voice any objections, and neither does she ask to be excused.
    "Then she should know better," Taro says in a near-grumble. Then, more plainly, he counters a question with questions of his own. "Have you been proven to be a danger to yourself or to others? Was there a purpose to her alterations to you other than to make you less of a danger to her and her allies? Did she consider the consequences and risks to you?" A nerve has been struck, and it's reflected in his voice.

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "She wanted me to be less dangerous in general, I think. Not just to people in the union. It's because of her background--she builds and creates AI, Taro. There are laws there against AI, since the government in her world don't want too many achieving sentience. I think she just wanted to keep me out of trouble, or maybe she didn't understand what I was meant for exactly. I forgive her," she shakes her head, holding her hands up, as if trying to calm the male and female.

     "Honestly, if I could be something else, I would, but I just can't," she looked down at herself. "Truth be told, I kinda liked it, not being such a bent bitch all the time," she smirked a little.

Taro (399) has posed:
    Acacia speaks up, her lips tugging into a frown. "But you're a -reploid-! Our programming isn't fixed like some drone's. Sure, we have our predispositions, but you don't -have- to be anything! I..." then she catches herself, her expression falling into all of the aspects of blushing without the actual redness. "...I'm speaking out of turn," she mubles, looking down.
    Taro unsteeples his fingers to make a small negating gesture. "There is some truth in that," he says without turning his head to look at his Vicar. To Ferham, "As a reploid, you are sentient and bear the burden of the blessing that is free will. If being a soldier and warrior has made you truly unhappy...?"

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "I have to fight, otherwise robots like Annie or the others Maxine creates will be in danger..." Ferham looks up a little, blinking. "Possibly, I can't let that happen, so I can't quit doing what I've been doing, it's unfortunate, but," she smiles. "You don't have to worry about me going pacifist anytime soon, I've just been shown how the other half lived, and to be honest? it was kinda nice," she nodded.

Taro (399) has posed:
    Taro nods slowly at this. "You have a reason for fighting. You should take some comfort in that. To fight without cause or purpose...that is what I find to be a terrible waste." His gaze shifts away from Ferham and Acacia, drawn to one of the many windows and the city beyond. "To have no purpose at all is a greater waste still." He pauses for a short time. "As I said before, Ferham, if you enjoy your part time job, then I see no reason why you should not keep it. Unless there is some reason that presses you to be fully devoted to being a soldier and warrior."

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "Or AI anywhere, for that matter, if we don't do something about it," Ferham nodded, with a bit of conviction in her voice. "If I had no purpose I'd have to find a new one, is all," she smacks her lips, looking back up to Taro. "Oh I'm going to keep it, say... you ever think about modeling, Ms. Acacia?" Ferham's green eyes sliiide over to the powder-blue haired Reploid girl there, apparently seeing some prospect in her, potentially. "And I don't work that hard, that I don't have any time to myself," she winked.

Taro (399) has posed:
    "Modeling?" Acacia echoes, expression puzzled. "Of course I think about it, how could I not? Hawthorn is better at it, but my prototype renders are certainly high quality, and my graphic designs have won awards..."
    Taro does not laugh, he doesn't even grin, but the crinkling of his eyes and the faint upward twitch of his lips suggest he's amused. "I believe she means fashion modeling, Acacia. With you as the wearer rather than the designer."
    "She does?" Beat. "Oh. She does." A pause as she grows a bit flustered. "Ah...no, that never crossed my mind."

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "Yeah, you should look into it, you look like you have potential," Ferham smiled a little, nodding her head, keeping her long black hair tucked back behind her ears. "I could hook you up with my boss and he could see if he wants to hire you on," Ferham stood up, looking over at the powder-blue haired girl, as if appraising her. "It's up to you, anyway, you might have to cut a nice figure in a teddy, but," she shrugged with a grin. "Thank you again Taro for seeing me on such short notice, I'll keep in touch, alright?" the six foot tall fembot moved to grab her coat, slipping it back on.

Taro (399) has posed:
    "I. Er. Ah. Thank you?" Acacia is entirely flustered now. Flattered, maybe, but flustered all the same.
    Taro remains amused, but he's too polite and too thoughtful of his Vicar's feeling to laugh at this. Instead, he rises smoothly from his borrowed seat as their guest/patient stands. "Of course. I -would- like to check your matrix in a nother week, just to be sure that all of them mends are holding. Sooner if you begin feeling unwell."
    Overall, Ferham seems to be content, and while perhaps not her old self, this newer self is pleasant enough. A success by his measurements.