milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Agatha's back in the bar today, at the tables she set up before. The sign and items are all still there. Draping it in a blanket helped keep everything safe.

Well, that and the security system she added.

She's not keeping an eye out for customers at the moment. There's something more importaint on her mind.

In front of her is a slightly used camera, disassembled. Notes and schematics are spread out on the table around it, and there is much tinkering. She's humming an odd tune.

Fear.

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Agatha might not notice a certain Man in Black come over to her table. He's looking over the clanks with some genuine curiosity.

K waits until she looks up and then smiles. "Interesting tech."

[ooc: writing a (Milliways!) paper so must slowtime but wanted to tag because: Agatha!]

Slightly startled, Agatha passes her microwrench to the nearest clank and turns to him.

"Yes. They're my own creations."

"Really?" K nods, clearly impressed.

"They seem--," K leans in a little closer for a better look, "--almost sentient."

The clank also leans in for a closer look, peering at him.

"They are. They're perfectly capable of reasoning, problem solving, independent decisions -- and they're ideal lab assistants."

K's very amused at that, and holds still while the clank checks him out--though he's keeping an eye out for any poking screwdrivers or anything, in case the clank gets a little too curious.

"Don't usually run into robotics too much myself. Other than Baltian bodysuits." K glances at Agatha. "Shaped like dogs. The Baltians use them to get around. Baltians are only about this high." K holds up his hand to show about five inches tall.

"Most of the alien races that visit my Earth go in more for ships and weapons than cybernetics. Are most of the clanks on your world like these here?"

Nope, the little clank is sticking with a visual examination.

"Things like, ah, 'robotic' armour aren't unheard of, but they only tend to show up as surviving artifacts from Sparks who prefered to fight their enmies directly."

She blinks slightly at the mention of mimmoth-sized aliens.

"Clanks come in different forms. Most don't look anything like mine. Each Spark has their own style. While some stylistic traits can be observed, either through imitation or functionality, most designs are quite unique. We have ships and weapons as well, but with the rule against violence I didn't think it wise to build and sell guns. And ships are just too bulky."

She's thinking either the water kind of ship or airships, here.

"I'm guessing 'Spark' is the name for an inventor in your world? Not just any kind of inventor either, judging by these things." K risks a closer look at the clank.

Men in Black are trained to be perceptive: "There's just something different about this little guy, but I can't quite place it."

K reaches into his suit and pulls out a small box. It's completely jet black, and somehow the surface is shiny and light-absorbing at the same time. With a flip of K's wrist, the box opens to reveal a small control panel. A holographic display of greens and reds appears in the air right above it.

"I'd like to take a scan of him, if I could, so I can understand your technology better. I can promise you it won't hurt him. Do you mind?"

Of course, Agatha might have some curiosity of her own now....

The clank blinks, but allows itself to be examined.

"More than just an inventor, yes . . . it's complicated, and even those who have it don't fully understand what it is. The Spark is whatever it is that makes mad scientists what they are, to put it simply."

The clank looks nervous and glances to Agatha. Agatha is curious about the device. Also wary.

"Well. If you're certain it won't damage him. . ."

Beyond the initial 'Oooh, shiny!', the camera on her table will hold more lasting interest -- she prefers the type of gadget she can dig her hands into without worrying about it melting or creating a crater three miles in radius. Thus, the safety of her clanks takes priority.

"Not a bit." K even turns the scanner around to give the clink a closer look at the display. He suspects the little guy won't know what to make of it, but he hopes even a little more familiarity with the scanner will make the clink a more comfortable with K using it.

K turns the scanner back around and simply punches a quick succession of numbers. The holographic display shifts colors as several tables and graphs appear, monitoring various aspects of the clink's energy levels.

K studies the results for a bit with a slight frown of concentration, then nods, closes the scanner and puts it back in his suit.

"Well, there's definitely an unusual energy signature there, though I doubt I could tell you anything about it right now that you don't already know. Very interesting, though."

"Doesn't seem limited to your world either, since they seem to be working just fine here."

He nods to the camera. "What's that project there, if you don't mind my asking?"

The clank gives a slight heave of relief when the device is put away. You never know.

"I've been looking for employment since the tabs are being called in, and Mark Cohen hired me to assist with some of the technical work at his studio. We don't have cameras such as this where I come from, and I wanted to examine one more closely before getting started. It's a very clever design, but simple enough once you get a feel for it."

"So how long will it be before you build the universe's first ever camera-clank?"

Agatha considers this for a moment, then checks through her notes.

"It might take some time to confirm if certain sections are as compatable as my first estimates make them out to be, but I should be able to begin work tomorrow."

K doesn't grin very often, but he's doing it now. "Now that's something I'd like to see. Good luck on that."

He offers a hand to shake, "By the way, my name's K."

She shakes his hand, smiling.

"Thank you, K. I'll be sure to let you see once I'm finished. I'm Agatha Clay."

"Please do."

"Glad to meet you, Agatha. Hope to see you soon."

"And you as well, K."

With that, she turns back to fiddling with the camera. Social niceties tend to be overridden when she gets into the madness place.

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