[OPEN] Maybe someone should call an exterminator...

[ding_bots_are_done]

Who: Agatha Heterodyne, some dingbots, and you
Where: The Pisces apartments, and possibly also the other apartments via the teleporters.
What: Agatha has built herself some small assistants. They've gotten bored and are wandering around unsupervised.
Warnings: Precocious little robots. Potential mutilation of household appliances.
OOC: Let me know in the subject line if you want the Dingbots, Agatha, or both.


[Agatha has been busy since her arrival in Hinoto-Ri. The first order of business was to build a more reliable death ray. But, as she preferred to work with assistants, she'd built a handful of dingbots before she started in on the project.

This is all well and good, but while she is occupied with tests and adjustments on her new gun, the little dingbots decided to make a few new friends. And then those dingbots decided to go exploring.

By the time Agatha looked up, she was facing a single dingbot. The rest of the room is littered with parts and tools, but all the other dingbots are nowhere to be found. ]


Oh, no....


[So, those who live in the Pisces apartments may have noticed the tiny clanks rushing about. They can be found poking around rooms, exploring the greenhouses, and perhaps even trying to be helpful by fixing or improving any small appliances they might find.

If not the clanks, perhaps you might see Agatha, wandering the apartments, peeking around corners, peering into rooms, and checking behind potted plants. She's clearly looking for something. Those with sharp eyes may notice the dingbot in her pocket.]


Ugh, why do they always run off like this?

Comments

[unbroken_chain]

Kotoha had set some time aside in her schedule today to explore the Pisces greenhouses in hopes that at least one of them had something that the Libra complex didn't - a varied diet is important, after all!

That is definitely the reason, not simple boredom.

Currently, she's hunkered down on her heels, staring curiously at a dingbot as Tesla hovers behind her.

[ding_bots_are_done]

[The little dingbot stares up at her, curiously blinking it's large single eye.

After a moment, it raises it's small arm and waves at her.]

[unbroken_chain]

Kotoha returns the wave, then extends her hand to the little bot.

"Would you like a lift?"

[ding_bots_are_done]

[It regards her carefully, and then climbs up on her hand. A ride would be great. It'll be able to see things better from up there too.]

[unbroken_chain]

Kotoha stands up carefully and transfers the dingbot to her shoulder.

"Oh, right - this big guy here is Tesla."

The Magnezone buzzes in greeting at the introduction, spinning its magnets as it does so. Kotoha smiles to herself before heading down the the hallway to the stairs.

"We were about to go check the seventh floor greenhouse - that cool with you?"

[ding_bots_are_done]

[Except the when she turns around to head out the door, there are three more tiny robots standing in the doorway. They look up at her for a moment, then they all raise their little arms in a childish 'pick me up' gesture.

Because why does that one get a ride when the rest of them don't?]

[unbroken_chain]

...that's not creepy at all.

Kotoha pauses briefly before crouching down and scooping up the dingbots - she'll assume they can work out shoulder-riding privileges by themselves.

And with that, she starts walking, Tesla hovering behind her.

Do you want Agatha to show up eventually or just adventures with dingbots? I'm cool either way.

[ding_bots_are_done]

[There is a series of happy clicking noises from the tiny clanks. They made a new friend~

They can work out the riding privileges. Sort of. There may be just a little pushing and shoving as they jocky for the best positions.

And if she has very sharp eyes, she might notice one or two more of these things lurking around in the hallway....]

Let's have Agatha show up!

[unbroken_chain]

Kotoha does, in fact, have sharp eyes. It's not hard for her to pick out the dingbots lurking around with her peripheral vision, but she very carefully doesn't react.

"Hm. I almost thought you were Steel-types at first, but I guess you're just regular robots, huh?"

o7

[ding_bots_are_done]

[They blink their single eyes at her in confusion. Then they make some clicky noises at one another. One of them is clever enough to make some ticking sounds and then point at her magnezone.

Kotoha may also notice a young woman at the other end of the hall. She's looking up at yet another dingbot that is hanging from an air vent.]

Alright, I know you want to help, but whatever you're trying to do can wait. I still have to find the others...

[unbroken_chain]

Kotoha very faintly shakes her head in response to the ticking and pointing, a small smile on her face.

"It's complicated."

And then she notices the girl at the end of the hall. Her first instinct is to wave, of course, but with the dingbots on her shoulders she just pitches her voice to carry.

"Hello! Are these yours?"

[ding_bots_are_done]

[Agatha whirls around in surprise just in time for the dingbot above her to fall right on her head.]

Ow!

[Rubbing the sore spot and looking very embarrassed, Agatha musters up a smile. The offending clank climbs into one of her pockets.]

Hello....

[But the little dingbots on Kotoha's shoulder wave to their creator and her smile brightens.]

Hey, you found some of them! Thank you!

[unbroken_chain]

It doesn't take long for Kotoha to reach Agatha and hand over the dingbots.

"Interesting little guys. You build them yourself?"

Agatha

[dontcallmeerky]

[Well, Erk's an obliging type, so he'll heading over to see if he can help when he spots her looking around. Agatha, have a teenager in medieval-ish clothes wandering over to you.]

Excuse me, miss? Did you lose something?

[He tucks the book he'd been carrying into a pocket of his cloak. Reading while walking is a bad habit anyway, he knows.]

[ding_bots_are_done]

[Agatha straightens up from where she'd been trying to peer behind a potted plant in the hallway and smiles.]

Yes, I'm afraid I have. Have you seen any small clanks wandering around by any chance?

About the size and shape of a large pocket watch?

[She gestures with her hands to try to give him a better idea of the exact dimensions.]

[dontcallmeerky]

I'm... not sure, but I doubt it. I haven't really been looking. What does 'clank' mean, in this context?

[He's not entirely sure what a pocket watch is, either, so he's a little confused when she indicates something somewhat larger than the wrist device that everyone else seems to refer to as a watch. But he'll start with the more specific one.

Besides, the gestures are enough to give him an idea, anyway.]

I could help you look for them, if you like.

[ding_bots_are_done]

Oh! Right, I forgot.

[She taps her forehead in frustration as she realizes her mistake. Crap, what did they call clanks in this world?]

Um, I think they call them 'robots' around here. And I would really appreciate the help. Thank you.

[dontcallmeerky]

... I apologize, but that doesn't really help me much. The world I come from isn't quite as, ah, advanced as this one.

[Cars still kind of freak Erk out.]

At that size I imagine they get into a lot of things... What do they like? It could be worth finding that and seeing whether it's attracted any of them.

[ding_bots_are_done]

My world is... more advance in some ways, but less advanced in others. It's kind of strange.

[They have vehicles like cars in Agatha's world, but idea of mass producing something like that just seems weird.]

They're designed to fix machines. And to build more of themselves. But they're also kind of curious, so they wander a lot.

[dontcallmeerky]

So they're... little machine creatures?

[If they build themselves, that makes sense, right?]

Hmm... well, there are all those things in the kitchens of the apartments, that might attract them. [That's a rather worrying thought, actually, considering at least one of them heats up and can probably catch fire...]

I suppose I can try my apartment first, at least. Just how many of them are we looking for?

[ding_bots_are_done]

Ooh, good idea! There's probably a lot of things in the kitchen that interest them.

[She does look slightly sheepish when he asks how many.]

Well.... there could be anywhere from five to about a couple dozen...

[dontcallmeerky]

[That's... quite range there. He pauses a moment, then just sighs.]

Are you not sure how many you lost, or do they build more that quickly?

[This is going to be fun, he can already tell.]

In any case, my apartment's as good a place as any to start. Ah, I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself. I'm Erk. It's a pleasure to meet you...?

[ding_bots_are_done]

They reproduce fairly quickly, so it depends on how much they been doing that versus how much time they're spend on exploring and fixing things.

[Her tone is slightly apologetic. She really should have remembered to lock her door.]

I'm Agatha. Agatha Heterodyne. It's nice to meet you, Erk.

[dontcallmeerky]

It's nice to meet you as well, Agatha.

[Well, at least she's actually taking responsibility for it instead of just shrugging it off and letting them run wild. He's known people who would've been worse about that.]

Shall we start with my apartment then?

[ding_bots_are_done]

[She nods. It's as good a place to start as any.]

Sounds good to me. Lead the way.