[Entrapta lets out a whoop as the steam bellows. Swirling tendrils of white against her own purple coils. Fishing out a recorder with a tendril, she leans in to poke at a vent. Displaying even more precision then was probably expected. You know - considering it's hair.
What's it made of, anyway?]
Day 1 of Rex Visit - Note to self, more sound amplifiers in robots!
[ The vent is nastily hot to the touch, so hopefully the poke is not lingering. Rex is happy to let her examine the machine in as much depth as she likes- he's got a keen eye trained on her for a lot of reasons. He'd love some insight into how a mind like hers works- scientifically, that is, not like such burning questions as 'Why does she like tiny food?' He doesn't believe it when people say he's a genius- he just thinks he's good at trickery. It'd be so great to be a real genius like her.
He's also taking notes, his tapped on a pad, just ideas to look at later. Maybe he could have some sort of neural system connected to a series of small robots. Or repurpose prosthetic limbs into extra limbs! ]
It doesn't speak itself, but I did make sure it has speakers. For relaying ultimatums and intimidation, playing back instructions for evacuations. That sort of thing.
[ And because playing death metal full volume over the battlefield is just cool. The music he has in his ears right now though, just loud enough anyone standing right next to him can hear, is Anamanaguchi's Endless Fantasy. She just has that vibe, to him. ]
I use a process of heating and cooling magic to temper the metals and- [ Yeah you know what, this is just a quick technobabble burst. Mysticbabble too. Basic take-away from it all, Rex is great (but not amazing like her) at tech and great (or fantastic like a master spellcaster) at magic, but better at making them work seamlessly together. Nexialism- it's what he does. We now return to actual dialogue now he's back to speaking understandable English. ] ...And also it can make really good coffee, but that was just integrated to test how fine I could get the temperature control.
[Fortunately that's what the gloves are for! Entrapta's been through enough shocks, scrapes, and burns that she rarely takes them off. Who knows what opportunities could be missed with that waste of time?
Maybe there's a standard model of Genius. Expectations of a leader, a Princess. They shatter upon hitting this ballistic force. The inventor flits frantically from idea to idea. A blur of constant motion, ponytails moving interchangeably with her other limbs. Her enthusiasm needing a vent as much as the steam.
She nods along with Rex's exposition. Dropping observations here and there, bobbing along with the music. Catchy! Then - ]
COFFEE! Perfect! Let's go - Watch your head, Moltonne!
[Onward into the breach! Or, you know - her castle/lab!]
[ He appreciates both her listening and her additions. Everything she says has him adding notes, because she really is very good at what she does. Probably the best in the world. Scratch that, he decides after a particularly brilliant addition, absolutely the best in the world. There’s so much to learn from her!
Being kind of messed up Rex doesn’t think that they’re two friends with similar interests which they clearly are, but as him being a leech on her and Entrapta deserving way better than how he’ll treat her. Which is very nicely, he just thinks of that as a trick instead of... being nice. I SAID he’s messed up.
Moltonne ignores her, but looks at Rex in a faceless ‘should I’ look, which he confirms with a wave of a hand. ]
So is there anything in particular you’re focussing on at present?
[ Rex stays quite close, not noticing his robot is falling further and further behind. It keeps stopping to admire the cute pictures. ]
[Which is good! The staying close. Because there are a lot of booby traps. Just. So many.
It's not like Entrapta exactly has a healthy sense of relationships. People are great! But also so slow. Blinking along in confusion about things as basic as a poly-vortex biosphere. It's a struggle. Slowing all her words to a crawl while all her mind wants to do is run.
And she doesn't have to with Rex and it's nice and she's actually humming. The same song leaking through the headphones.]
Well, there's always the First Ones projects but until I get more samples - Oh! You like kittens?!
[This is to Moltonne, who has paused in front of a painting of... yup. Robotic kittens tumbling adorably in some wire.]
[ Rex is astoundingly patient, so he doesn't usually have Entrapta's problem of frustration when dealing with anyone less intelligent than him (i.e almost everyone he's met, she's one of the exceptions of course). But it is very refreshing to not have to think of a lesson plan for his allies. He thinks of her rapid mind and just as fast mouth as a positive thing. It means he gets to hear more- learn more. Rex can't learn everything, but no matter what the topic he can find something to add to his ever-growing skillset. See, he may not be a Princess, but he is a chosen one. He's got to prepare himself for some great catastrophe which is annoyingly vague.
By now the album is up to the very appropriate Meow, which features especially relevant and deep lyrics. ]
Wait, what does it-
[ Too late. Moltonne, and its learning AI, has taken the previous acknowledgement from Rex that it was okay to listen to Entrapta to its heart. CPU. Whatever. One giant metal hand prods the painting. Rex, being the cautious planner sort he is, would really have liked to know what would happen first. ]
[The floor drops out from under them. Unless the others react different, the trio are sent rocketing down a slide. Entrapta whoops with glee.
There are six entries to the lab. This is the second-or-third-less-deadly! There's even a nice pile of cushions right at the bottom! (After having learned from Adora and Glimmer's last visit.) Entrapta throws up both arms in triumph.]
[ Rex is kind of bad with surprises. Not in a 'screams and panics' kind of way, but in a 'this wasn't in my plans, give me half an hour to take it into account' kind of way. So he's pretty much perfectly frozen in place for the entire descent, but his mind is whirling.
At least he has enough wits to realise the very serious issue with using this method of transport with a spikey robot so heavy its name mentions its weight.
Just picture a camera focused on Entrapta as she celebrates, then a nice slow camera pan over to Rex on his back with both hands raised so he can cast a barrier above him, Moltonne suspended atop it with its spikes slowly causing cracks. Hold that for a second or two and-
Okay, he rolls free and the robot hits the pillows with a thunderous crash, cracking the floor and sending cushion stuffing everywhere.
He has a slightly wobbly mouth, wide eyes and a shaky stance for a bit. Then straightens up, pats himself down and starts breathing again. Pokerface returns. ]
...I'd revaluate 'complete'. But 66.66% recurring isn't bad for a first try. Maybe an inclination adjustment based on weight.
[ Oh, that's a little tickly- Rex's laughter is ten times as spooky as his face, so even the quick chuckle sounds like something from an evil overlord. A very 'I've got you now my pretty' laugh and he covers his mouth with his fingers when it slips out. Thankfully it doesn't last long. ]
Barrier spell. I couldn't get the shield generator small enough to fit in my coat, so I studied the principle and replicated the result with magic.
[ He watches Moltonne get up. It's a slow process, needing to get onto all fours first and taking a bit to get the balance back on its feet. Who can blame the thing, it's so heavy.]
...Maybe I should add righting mechanisms. Just a pair of sturdy rods to extend from the shoulders, maybe.
[Since Entrapta's laugh can lean towards the ' mad scientist cackle,' Rex's sounds perfectly normal! Flicking the last feather from his nose, she grins. Then swings across the lab.
Screens light up automatically. Wreathing her in white.]
Anyway, here we are! Snacks should be coming in a minute!
[ He'd been able to mention that he doesn't have the resources for rocket thrusters, but was cut off from that last hair swipe. He tries again but the screens all come on and he finally takes the chance to look around properly.
For the first time since they've met his eyes light up, not nearly so bright as hers, but there's a twinkle in them despite how dark they are. He does a slow few steps, the sort that starts forward but turns into backwards as he spins. ]
You probably get this a lot, but I never want to leave.
[ He just kind of assumes she has loads of friends who want to spend all their time with her- because obviously she's awesome.]
[It's neat that Rex has said that! Makes Entrapta feel curiously warm, in fact. In a way that has nothing to do with any of the venting machines present. Hm. Maybe she should install more cooling fans, just in case?
But it's confusing. She can't make the connection to what he's talking about. It doesn't even occur he believes she's popular. It's just - completely outside any consideration of the facts.]
[ There's a moment of just staring at each other there. That's a surprise. She's so pleasant! Maybe this is just another of his 'grew up in a shack in the mountains' moments. Is he weird for wanting to hang out with her in her[ ] super cool lab?
[ Let's just set aside the weird social gooey stuff that's for weirdoes. Let's have a giant robot make us coffee, then make a doomsday weapon or something fun like that. ]
[Entrapta's grown up... not spoiled, exactly. But with every resource one could possibly want. Safe in a castle. Allowed to follow her own whims as far as they may spin. Someone's managed to instill basic socialization in her, but that's about it.
She's weird. She knows that. She's okay with that.
But it's nice having someone to be weird with!]
YEAH!
Don't tell the kitchen staff though, they only give it to me once a week!
[...Oh no...]
Let it blow,let it blow, can’t stop it anymore, let it blow,let it blow, it’s breaking down the
[ He thinks about how this could be a bad idea, but only briefly. It can’t be that bad! He lives on caffeine! I mean he sleeps roughly every 4-5 days and has a nearly sugar free diet, it will surely have the same result. ]
Our secret. You’ll want eye protection for this.
[ He gives the order to his giant robot and away it goes- doing its best to make the process of producing the blackest coffee ever made look cool. It might succeed, considering the fiery display involved and the blasts of steam. He pops on his handy hazard mask for it.
Donk. Donk. Two mugs, gently steaming. His mug is black, with white lettering in a dripping font that says ‘NO SLEEP.’ ]
I don’t have any sugar or anything.
[ He fully expects her to have some in her pocket or something. ]
[Entrapta's own mug is absolutely perfect. Digging out some spare nutrient resources (*cough* Pixie sticks *cough*) she drizzles them in. Then comes a deep swig - and her ponytails unfurl horizontally.]
WOW! You weren't KIDDING thisisGREAT!!!!!
[The exclamation points are practically visible now.
Just then there's a cheerful "Ding!" and a robot comes bustling in. Carrying a covered tray. It looks for all the world like a butler. Front panel painted a perfect white. As though daring a spec of dirt to think about landing on it.
Entrapta bounces over. Forcing the ButlerBot (?) to step neatly aside. Dodging the splashing of coffee.]
[ Oh no, it's adorable. It's like she's going Super Saiyan, except somehow worse. He watches her go through the explosive increase of energy even by her standards calmly from over his mug, sipping his coffee (bitter and dark as he is) slowly. It's only when she whips around to address the new arrival that he cracks out a mildly distressed expression. Ut-Oh. Has he made the classic mad science mistake of unleashing a monster more powerful than he?
The ding of the robot coincides almost perfectly with the start of In the Basement on the album that has been their musical background for their meeting so far. ]
Hmm. Are all your staff machines?
[ He's recomposed his deadpan by now and holds a hand out, making a fist like he's a catching an annoying fly- in fact he's just cast a small spell to catch the sloshing of coffee, hovering in the air as a small sphere. If she stands still for more than five seconds, he'll slop it back in her mug. No need for it to go to waste. ]
Nope! Three aren't! I've offered them enhancements but they're not interested!!!!
[The coffee will have to follow Entrapta around for a bit as she scoops up the tray with a hair tendril.]
Besides I can't program a baking program NEAR as impressive as LOOK!!!!! TINY SHEEP!
[She happily produces the snacks for inspection. Holding still for those precious five seconds.
A fleecy spun-sugar flock of sheep grazes on a field of colored marshmallows - green and blue and pink. The effect is something like wildflowers. Along the edge are slightly more conventional selections. Cheese, crackers, and the like. Just in case this new guest doesn't run on sugar!]
I'm not sure we're qualified to tell the difference, honestly.
[ Rex carefully shifts his fingers about as she bounces around, making sure she doesn't end up getting a faceful of hot coffee, but once she stops there's the 'plop' of it settling back into the mug. He might have to invest in a lid for her, if they're going to do this regularly.
He kind of surprises himself with how badly he wants it to be a regular thing. ]
This seems a wildly inefficient manner to prepare food in. [ She likes robots, guess what, Rex has a robot soul. ] But maybe we could work out a 3D printing meth-
[ Rex stops mid-sentence with his mug halfway to his mouth to stare at the cheese.
Rex loves dairy. He audibly swallows. ]
...od.
[ Science. Friendship. Cheese. He seriously never wants to leave. He has to think of a sinister plan to mean he can stay here forever. Maybe trick her into marrying him. ]
The border between Genius and Insanity is really more like a guideline anyway
[That's called "making friends," Rex. Not EVERYTHING has to have a Sinister Origin!]
Maybe!!! But efficiency seems to be one of those things that baking won't co-exist with! It's completely its own process. If I ever find my way back to the kitchen I really should study it more!
[Popping a sheep into her mouth, Entrapta hums happily. Absentmindedly taking another gulp of the coffee. She's starting to hear colors and see sounds, is that normal?!]
Besides! Where else would they work? It's miles and milesfromanywhereelse phew! Is this a typical response to coffee?!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
What's it made of, anyway?]
Day 1 of Rex Visit - Note to self, more sound amplifiers in robots!
no subject
He's also taking notes, his tapped on a pad, just ideas to look at later. Maybe he could have some sort of neural system connected to a series of small robots. Or repurpose prosthetic limbs into extra limbs! ]
It doesn't speak itself, but I did make sure it has speakers. For relaying ultimatums and intimidation, playing back instructions for evacuations. That sort of thing.
[ And because playing death metal full volume over the battlefield is just cool. The music he has in his ears right now though, just loud enough anyone standing right next to him can hear, is Anamanaguchi's Endless Fantasy. She just has that vibe, to him. ]
I use a process of heating and cooling magic to temper the metals and- [ Yeah you know what, this is just a quick technobabble burst. Mysticbabble too. Basic take-away from it all, Rex is great (but not amazing like her) at tech and great (or fantastic like a master spellcaster) at magic, but better at making them work seamlessly together. Nexialism- it's what he does. We now return to actual dialogue now he's back to speaking understandable English. ] ...And also it can make really good coffee, but that was just integrated to test how fine I could get the temperature control.
no subject
Maybe there's a standard model of Genius. Expectations of a leader, a Princess. They shatter upon hitting this ballistic force. The inventor flits frantically from idea to idea. A blur of constant motion, ponytails moving interchangeably with her other limbs. Her enthusiasm needing a vent as much as the steam.
She nods along with Rex's exposition. Dropping observations here and there, bobbing along with the music. Catchy! Then - ]
COFFEE! Perfect! Let's go - Watch your head, Moltonne!
[Onward into the breach! Or, you know - her castle/lab!]
no subject
Being kind of messed up Rex doesn’t think that they’re two friends with similar interests which they clearly are, but as him being a leech on her and Entrapta deserving way better than how he’ll treat her. Which is very nicely, he just thinks of that as a trick instead of... being nice. I SAID he’s messed up.
Moltonne ignores her, but looks at Rex in a faceless ‘should I’ look, which he confirms with a wave of a hand. ]
So is there anything in particular you’re focussing on at present?
[ Rex stays quite close, not noticing his robot is falling further and further behind. It keeps stopping to admire the cute pictures. ]
no subject
It's not like Entrapta exactly has a healthy sense of relationships. People are great! But also so slow. Blinking along in confusion about things as basic as a poly-vortex biosphere. It's a struggle. Slowing all her words to a crawl while all her mind wants to do is run.
And she doesn't have to with Rex and it's nice and she's actually humming. The same song leaking through the headphones.]
Well, there's always the First Ones projects but until I get more samples - Oh! You like kittens?!
[This is to Moltonne, who has paused in front of a painting of... yup. Robotic kittens tumbling adorably in some wire.]
Press it, go on!
no subject
By now the album is up to the very appropriate Meow, which features especially relevant and deep lyrics. ]
Wait, what does it-
[ Too late. Moltonne, and its learning AI, has taken the previous acknowledgement from Rex that it was okay to listen to Entrapta to its heart. CPU. Whatever. One giant metal hand prods the painting. Rex, being the cautious planner sort he is, would really have liked to know what would happen first. ]
no subject
There are six entries to the lab. This is the second-or-third-less-deadly! There's even a nice pile of cushions right at the bottom! (After having learned from Adora and Glimmer's last visit.) Entrapta throws up both arms in triumph.]
YEAH! Kitten Slide 2.0 Test complete success!
[Test?!]
no subject
At least he has enough wits to realise the very serious issue with using this method of transport with a spikey robot so heavy its name mentions its weight.
Just picture a camera focused on Entrapta as she celebrates, then a nice slow camera pan over to Rex on his back with both hands raised so he can cast a barrier above him, Moltonne suspended atop it with its spikes slowly causing cracks. Hold that for a second or two and-
Okay, he rolls free and the robot hits the pillows with a thunderous crash, cracking the floor and sending cushion stuffing everywhere.
He has a slightly wobbly mouth, wide eyes and a shaky stance for a bit. Then straightens up, pats himself down and starts breathing again. Pokerface returns. ]
...I'd revaluate 'complete'. But 66.66% recurring isn't bad for a first try. Maybe an inclination adjustment based on weight.
no subject
At least she has the grace to look sheepish. Rubbing at the back of her head. ]
Oops! Good point!
[A few coils of hair wind over to brush feather's from Rex's jacket. And hair.]
That was neat! Shield generator?
no subject
Barrier spell. I couldn't get the shield generator small enough to fit in my coat, so I studied the principle and replicated the result with magic.
[ He watches Moltonne get up. It's a slow process, needing to get onto all fours first and taking a bit to get the balance back on its feet. Who can blame the thing, it's so heavy. ]
...Maybe I should add righting mechanisms. Just a pair of sturdy rods to extend from the shoulders, maybe.
no subject
[Since Entrapta's laugh can lean towards the ' mad scientist cackle,' Rex's sounds perfectly normal! Flicking the last feather from his nose, she grins. Then swings across the lab.
Screens light up automatically. Wreathing her in white.]
Anyway, here we are! Snacks should be coming in a minute!
no subject
For the first time since they've met his eyes light up, not nearly so bright as hers, but there's a twinkle in them despite how dark they are. He does a slow few steps, the sort that starts forward but turns into backwards as he spins. ]
You probably get this a lot, but I never want to leave.
[ He just kind of assumes she has loads of friends who want to spend all their time with her- because obviously she's awesome. ]
no subject
[Entrapta swings around. Looking honestly puzzled.]
I mean, I never want to leave! Did you mean me?
[It's neat that Rex has said that! Makes Entrapta feel curiously warm, in fact. In a way that has nothing to do with any of the venting machines present. Hm. Maybe she should install more cooling fans, just in case?
But it's confusing. She can't make the connection to what he's talking about. It doesn't even occur he believes she's popular. It's just - completely outside any consideration of the facts.]
no subject
[ There's a moment of just staring at each other there. That's a surprise. She's so pleasant! Maybe this is just another of his 'grew up in a shack in the mountains' moments. Is he weird for wanting to hang out with her in her[ ] super cool lab?
No. It's the others who are wrong. ]
Then I guess it's just the two of us.
[ Which is fine too, he guesses. ]
...Do you want coffee?
[ Let's just set aside the weird social gooey stuff that's for weirdoes. Let's have a giant robot make us coffee, then make a doomsday weapon or something fun like that. ]
Do You Wanna Build a Doombot~
She's weird. She knows that. She's okay with that.
But it's nice having someone to be weird with!]
YEAH!
Don't tell the kitchen staff though, they only give it to me once a week!
[...Oh no...]
Let it blow,let it blow, can’t stop it anymore, let it blow,let it blow, it’s breaking down the
[ He thinks about how this could be a bad idea, but only briefly. It can’t be that bad! He lives on caffeine! I mean he sleeps roughly every 4-5 days and has a nearly sugar free diet, it will surely have the same result. ]
Our secret. You’ll want eye protection for this.
[ He gives the order to his giant robot and away it goes- doing its best to make the process of producing the blackest coffee ever made look cool. It might succeed, considering the fiery display involved and the blasts of steam. He pops on his handy hazard mask for it.
Donk. Donk. Two mugs, gently steaming. His mug is black, with white lettering in a dripping font that says ‘NO SLEEP.’ ]
I don’t have any sugar or anything.
[ He fully expects her to have some in her pocket or something. ]
THE HORDE NEVER BOTHERED ME ANYWAY
WOW! You weren't KIDDING thisisGREAT!!!!!
[The exclamation points are practically visible now.
Just then there's a cheerful "Ding!" and a robot comes bustling in. Carrying a covered tray. It looks for all the world like a butler. Front panel painted a perfect white. As though daring a spec of dirt to think about landing on it.
Entrapta bounces over. Forcing the ButlerBot (?) to step neatly aside. Dodging the splashing of coffee.]
YAY! Snacks!!!! HI CARSON!
[Okay. Carson, then.]
We have created something terrible.
The ding of the robot coincides almost perfectly with the start of In the Basement on the album that has been their musical background for their meeting so far. ]
Hmm. Are all your staff machines?
[ He's recomposed his deadpan by now and holds a hand out, making a fist like he's a catching an annoying fly- in fact he's just cast a small spell to catch the sloshing of coffee, hovering in the air as a small sphere. If she stands still for more than five seconds, he'll slop it back in her mug. No need for it to go to waste. ]
By Terrible you mean Great
[The coffee will have to follow Entrapta around for a bit as she scoops up the tray with a hair tendril.]
Besides I can't program a baking program NEAR as impressive as LOOK!!!!! TINY SHEEP!
[She happily produces the snacks for inspection. Holding still for those precious five seconds.
A fleecy spun-sugar flock of sheep grazes on a field of colored marshmallows - green and blue and pink. The effect is something like wildflowers. Along the edge are slightly more conventional selections. Cheese, crackers, and the like. Just in case this new guest doesn't run on sugar!]
I'm not sure we're qualified to tell the difference, honestly.
He kind of surprises himself with how badly he wants it to be a regular thing. ]
This seems a wildly inefficient manner to prepare food in. [ She likes robots, guess what, Rex has a robot soul. ] But maybe we could work out a 3D printing meth-
[ Rex stops mid-sentence with his mug halfway to his mouth to stare at the cheese.
Rex loves dairy. He audibly swallows. ]
...od.
[ Science. Friendship. Cheese. He seriously never wants to leave. He has to think of a sinister plan to mean he can stay here forever. Maybe trick her into marrying him. ]
The border between Genius and Insanity is really more like a guideline anyway
Maybe!!! But efficiency seems to be one of those things that baking won't co-exist with! It's completely its own process. If I ever find my way back to the kitchen I really should study it more!
[Popping a sheep into her mouth, Entrapta hums happily. Absentmindedly taking another gulp of the coffee. She's starting to hear colors and see sounds, is that normal?!]
Besides! Where else would they work? It's miles and milesfromanywhereelse phew! Is this a typical response to coffee?!