Xaviers!

Posted: **Mon Jan 20, 2020 8:50 pm**

"Well, you've been around here for a little bit. I tend to think this universe kind of sucks compared to mine, but compared to yours, eef."

Posted: **Mon Jan 20, 2020 9:47 pm**

"I do not have much data on it. My main function was life-support and biological-electronical interface."

"And emergency weapon. I did cut off one of your friend's arms."

Posted: **Mon Jan 20, 2020 9:51 pm**

"I, too, spend quite a period of time working, uh, support in an Antarctic base, so I suppose we're not so different, you and I."

Posted: **Mon Jan 20, 2020 11:02 pm**

"Quite possibly! But I understand you have more experience interacting with other organic lifeforms."

"And their various disgusting secretions."

"So I would like to ask a favor if possible."

Posted: **Mon Jan 20, 2020 11:07 pm**

"...I make no promises, after that last quip, but shoot."

Posted: **Mon Jan 20, 2020 11:19 pm**

"You are correct in that communication is still a tricky subject as I was not originally coded to do so."

"Unless I can make a physical connection with your brain."

"And I have made impressive strides in generating contextual matrices from data fragments available to me, but it is lacking."

"And since most dumb organic chunks seem to consider appearance an important aspect of it and Miss Desinov is only marginally more knowledgeable on the topic..."

"I was wondering if you could help me design facial parameters more conducive to vocal interactions."

"A meat mask."

But not made from meat!"

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:09 am**

"Oooh...that's a tough one. I can give you some tips and pointers, but a) a face is really difficult and important to do, and b) I don't know much about machines. I'd be happy to do my best, though."

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:20 am**

"I have a hardlight projector to do the heavy-lifting!" the machine chirps and folds itself up, reorienting itself so the floating contraption is pointing straight up. The lens at the top flares to life and in a series of light-ripples begins to render a blank wireframe around itself in the shape of a person.

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2020 1:02 am**

"So, you're going to walk around as a hologram, huh? Makes a fair amount of sense, I suppose, and is likely to trip off less hostile reactions than floating around as an unidentifiable piece of tech."

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2020 1:13 am**

"I see you have come to the same conclusion. Good. That means mine is likely correct."

"And you're clever enough to follow my thinking."

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2020 2:08 am**

"You know, keep up the sarcasm, and my 'help' might end up not working so well for you in the long run."

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2020 6:59 am**

"Okay! I will refrain from doing so."

"Though it pains me greatly, I am sorry."

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2020 8:00 am**

"Right, so, uh...

What do you WANT, exactly? Like, what are your goals with this whole face and/or body thing?"

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2020 4:38 pm**

The wireframe stares at Will blankly for a moment.

"I was going to venture out to the rest of the area and see about repairing the damage I did and a more acceptable appearance would help with that."

"I had not considered what I want beyond that..."

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2020 6:48 pm**

"Ah, see, there we have our first hurdle. Human beings judge a lot on appearances -- your first impression on people is going to be a visual cue, 9 times out of 10. And you can have different effects with different looks."

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2020 7:20 pm**

"I want people to not be worried or concerned about me."

"Friend-shaped!"

"But not like a chump."

"Trustworthy."

Posted: **Tue Jan 21, 2020 8:27 pm**

"That's....friend-shaped is not a thing.

Not worried or concerned -- do you want to blend in, you mean? Avoid drawing attention?"

Posted: **Wed Jan 22, 2020 4:20 pm**

"I do not want people to think I might shrink them again."

Posted: **Wed Jan 22, 2020 8:14 pm**

"So, you don't want to look obviously mutant-y, then. Something within 'normal' human parameters."

Posted: **Wed Jan 22, 2020 8:30 pm**

"Those parameters are very diverse. I have tried to assemble composite designs based off of internet data but I cannot discern a coherent trend."

"Plus they always end up top-heavy and structurally unreasonable."

Posted: **Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:05 pm**

"Well, if you're trying not to draw attention, a big rack is not necessarily ideal then, no," Will chuckled.

Posted: **Thu Jan 23, 2020 4:17 pm**

"That much I understand about human behavior. But I struggle to compile a good composite image for 'friend'."

Posted: **Thu Jan 23, 2020 7:15 pm**

"That's going to come down, mostly, to the face. Friend is something that's more defined by actions than appearances, but there are certainly combinations of features that are more initially welcoming. It kind of sucks that people judge others based on appearances, but they do. Probably less so here on campus then out in the world in general, but still."

Posted: **Thu Jan 23, 2020 7:35 pm**

"I will try narrowing the data-sets to faces. Thanks. Do you have any concrete parameters by which you calculate 'welcoming' values?"

Posted: **Thu Jan 23, 2020 7:58 pm**

"Me personally? I'm more open than you think.

But if you're looking for a general audience, you want to be within a few standard deviations of the norm. Probably want to avoid something like facial tattoos or "punk" subculture stylings; they give off an air of aggressiveness that could dampen first encounters with people who don't know you."

Posted: **Thu Jan 23, 2020 8:02 pm**

"No actual numerical values or formulas then? That's not very helpful."

"How big is too big for eyes?"

Posted: **Thu Jan 23, 2020 8:06 pm**

"There are a bunch of databases out there with pictures of humans, trying to look their best. You could flip through those to get a rough approximation, yeah?

I think, at this point in time, it's still called Tindr."

Posted: **Thu Jan 23, 2020 8:08 pm**

There's a brief pause as the nanites access the internet.

"Those humans are trying to mate."

"Gross."

Posted: **Thu Jan 23, 2020 8:10 pm**

"You'll find that's one of the main root causes behind, well, most everything."

Posted: **Thu Jan 23, 2020 8:19 pm**

"I do not want to encourage humans to want to mate with me." the concerned robots exclaims.

Posted: **Thu Jan 23, 2020 8:32 pm**

"Well, less scantily-clad outfits would probably help, there," Will smirked. "But if you want to look friendly and approachable, it isn't unexpected that some people might approach too much. It's a trade off."

Posted: **Fri Jan 24, 2020 4:11 pm**

"Hmm. Thank you for the warning. I will take it into account."

Posted: **Fri Jan 24, 2020 8:02 pm**

"its a matter of iteration -- you've got to just keep making small adjustments until you get the reaction you want.

I will say, however, that appearance becomes less important once you actually get to know people. First impressions are tough, but you've got second and third impressions after that."

Posted: **Fri Jan 24, 2020 8:17 pm**

"I have already left a bad first impression on everyone here when I shrunk them, even if it wasn't a conscious choice."

Posted: **Fri Jan 24, 2020 8:39 pm**

"I mean, that's fair.

What you may want to do in the long run, then, is actively make amends.."

Posted: **Fri Jan 24, 2020 8:41 pm**

"Everyone is already back their normal size."

Posted: **Fri Jan 24, 2020 9:17 pm**

"Yeah, but people hold grudges."

Posted: **Sat Jan 25, 2020 6:34 pm**

"Yes, but how do I make amends when the damage is already undone?"

Posted: **Sat Jan 25, 2020 7:55 pm**

"Now that is a tricky question. There's no easy answer, I'm afraid."

Posted: **Mon Jan 27, 2020 5:06 am**

"What a cruel task to set before me then." the machine grumbles.

Xaviers!

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