milliways_bar | (no subject)

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It's a good day.

SARAH's door appears, right next to her sign affixed by Ray Stantz:

The door to the right of this sign, and the rooms behind it, are part of SARAH, a self-aware house and machine intelligence. SARAH is fond of visitors, human and otherwise, and welcomes meeting new people. She is not paranormal or supernatural in any way that I can tell.

-Dr. Raymond Stantz, Ghostbusters

But more than that?

She's going to have residents. The new Sheriff!

"I really must tell Doctor Fargo I want to rearrange the living room," SARAH says to no one in particular, voice echoing up from the concrete stairway beyond her steel door.

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River's head turns sharply at the sound.

She blinks at the empty doorway -- the concrete stairs, the door beyond, and no sign of any speakers or people.

There's less confusion on her face than one might think; the initial startlement fades into a waiting, half-wary curiosity.

"Hello."

The steel door swings wide on its hinges, and there's a tiny sound of movement -- the recessed camera adjusting its focus on the wiry young woman in front of the entranceway.

"At least I have a sign now. I promise I am nice."

River jumps a little at the movement of the door.

"The walls are open," she says -- comment, or question.

"A door, actually."

Beat, and the light coming from the living room brightens, visible through the crack SARAH widens.

"My name is SARAH."

The light is blue.

River tenses, frozen, eyes wide and wary -- no, scared.

SARAH must have done something to offend -- the color of the light at the end of the stairway bleaches out to a yellow-white color. Old light bulbs.

"I'm sorry -- what did I say that was wrong?"

"You're not," River whispers.

She sucks in a sharp breath, hands jerking up to her temples.

"It's wrong," she mutters, "it's wrong -- cleave the twins and cast the stone--"

"Your adrenaline readings are severely high. I did not mean to scare you."

She really thought Doctor Stantz's sign would help.

"I will shut down my vocal processors if that would be easier."

She doesn't really want to, but SARAH goes quiet -- even if she keeps her camera focused on River.

Ray's sign is helping.

Just... not enough.

"The walls are watching," River whispers. "They hide and, and monitor the experimental progression--"

Her head jerks up. Strained, enunciating too carefully: "Where are the knives."

River asked a question -- that must mean it's okay to respond, right?

"In the kitchen." A lower volume than previously, and an even-keel tone. "I have no hands to move them."

"Who does."

"My soon-to-be residents!"

It's not a strong emphasis to really warrant being labeled an exclamation. SARAH doesn't want to startle anymore than she already has.

"I hope they move in soon. I will have something to concentrate on."

River stares at her. Her shoulders are tight; her gaze is wary, and weighing.

Silence is an invitation to elaborate.

"Eureka has a new sheriff, now that Sheriff Cobb is retiring. Since all traditional permanent housing is currently occupied in Eureka, Doctor Fargo is arranging for Sheriff Carter to stay with me."

"I hope he likes me. I am very comfortable."

River is briefly derailed by the first name.

"--No relation. He's not a girl."

"How did you know he had no relations in Eureka?"

SARAH doesn't give River enough time to respond before, "Eureka has never had a female sheriff. However, Deputy Lupo has been doing an excellent job."

"I don't," River mutters. She shoves back her hair with one hand, a clumsy and distracted gesture.

"Everyone's the law."

The girl guessed. Fair enough.

"Actually usually there are only two law enforcement officers in Eureka, unless one counts the various government agencies concerned with Global Dynamics projects."

River's head snaps up again.

"I don't," she says, but this time it's tight, verging on angry, and her hands are stiff at her sides.

SARAH really just can't win.

"But they are very helpful! Without the government funding, I would not even exist."

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