milliways_bar | (no subject)

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New year. Same grumpy KARR.

The said AI can be found sitting not in his favorite spot near the back door, but instead by the Bar proper. It's a better spot for people-watching, after all. And judging by the occasional rapid scanner flick, that's what he's doing-eyeballing the crowd for anyone who he knows, or anyone who looks 1. provokable and 2. unlikely to be able to vent their frustration on him. Just because his attention is elsewhere, doesn't mean that he wouldn't mind being approached. If anything, he'd appreciate having someone to talk to.

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Have a Fran, KARR-that's-grumpy! Fresh out of her home world, yet.

"What, don't they have a parking lot anywhere?"
Trans Ams are cool, sure, but? Inside?

KARR's scanner brightens a bit as he's spoken to. Ooh, potential snark-fodder!

"Not that I'm aware of. And I can't say that being covered with snow and ice from sitting outdoors is particularly pleasant, either."

Doubletake.

Fran's going to be having a LOT of WTF moments today.

"...riiight." She peeks at the windshield, to see if anyone's in there. No luck. "Of course you can't say it. You're not covered in anything but..."

"But it's happened enough before for me to know that I don't enjoy it."

His scanner flicks more quickly as he watches her-it's always fun to see humans trying to figure the whole 'talking car' thing out. "And before you even ask; no, I'm not someone hiding and talking through a speaker or something similar."

"But you're someone?" Now she's peeking *under* the car, and hopes not to be run over.

"Of course. I am the Knight Automated Roving Robot-KARR, if you prefer."

He rolls back a few inches as she tries to look underneath. "Do you mind?"

"Mind what?" She straightens, eyeing him.

"Not getting so close to my undercarriage. I'm not fond of people I don't know looking like they might try to poke around under there."

His vision only goes so far-and it's not as good as it was. He'd rather be sure no one's trying to fiddle with things.

Fran tries to look innocent. "Would I do that?"

"I don't know. And that would be why I spoke up."

His scanner flicks rapidly again. "I suppose this means I ought to ask your name."

"Princess Anastasia of Vlodivostok. It's very nice to meet you, KARR."

"Mm. So why are you here, if you don't mind my asking? Did you just stumble in, get dragged in by someone else, die and got a surprise...?"

"D."

He pauses. "D?"

"Yes," cheerful.
"Where're you from, KARR? you're--an AI? I've seen a few of those, but they weren't quite so..." pauses, searching for words. "Independent."

KARR hrmphs a bit to himself. It's beginning to seem like she might be somewhat off in the head. But then he sees the opportunity to preen.

"Yes, I am an AI," he says, sounding pleased. "I'm glad that you're one of the few who can get it right the first time. And I happen to be from California, 1984." His scanner flicks briefly-he's interested in her mention of other AIs. "And you've met other AIs?"

"I'm from 1990," she looks thoughtful. "I think you might be from a more advanced Earth. The AIs I'm thinking of didn't have all that developed a personality, nor were they mobile."

Beginning to seem? Mun's been thinking that since she started posting for the silly girl. Karr's being tactful.

Believe it or not, KARR is capable of it, sometimes.

"So it might seem. As far as I know, there are very few universes with AIs on my level."

And he's proud of that fact.

"Do you know who designed or created you, then?"

"Of course. Wilton Knight and the technicians at Knight Industries. I was created as the prototype of the car of the future." He says it with more than a little pride.

"All that and modest, too." She grins.
Looks thoughtful. "What sort of work did they have in mind for you? Or do you get to decide, being self-aware?"

"I was decided for me. It was planned for me to assist my driver in pursing and apprehending criminals that normal law enforcement couldn't or wouldn't deal with, for whatever reason."

He coughs. "Unfortunately, I haven't had much opportunity to do so yet. I didn't have a driver for some time, and thanks to an annoying quirk of the timeline, I have to wait for everyone else I know in my universe to catch up to the point where I'm at. Then I can begin work."

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