smash_logs | Dorm Log The Sequel To End All Sequels

Entry tags:

Dorm Log The Sequel To End All Sequels

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well that isn't something you hear everyday like that.

"There is?!" it cried. It was about to be more surprised about this and possibly worry, but if it couldn't feel it, then what was the matter? What was pain supposed to feel like, anyway? "Nnnh... I'm not sure if I feel it or not anymore... I'm starting to doubt myself..."

"No, you would definitely know if you could feel it!"

Right? Was that how computers worked? Then again, Vivian still couldn't tell when she felt hungry or cold, no matter how many times he tried to remind her that shivering and/or growling stomachs usually meant something was wrong. But a huge gaping head wound would definitely be affecting Alter Ego if it was something serious...

He couldn't pull his gaze away from it.

"It isn't bleeding, so.. I think it will be fine... There is no need to worry!"

Not that it would stop him...

"Let's focus on how your body works for you, instead. Can you move all of your limbs?" Hands and arms seemed fine, at least.

Oh, no... Alter Ego nodded determinedly, but it could just feel it. What if it didn't perform well? Over the past few weeks it had tried to figure out how to adapt to the student life, but only moments ago did it consider that it would need to learn to walk, too...

Alter Ego tried to slide itself forward from the table with its hands. Maneuvering itself was a lot harder than it first seemed, though; its face screwed up when it tried to push itself off the table. The problem was that it just couldn't seem to muster enough strength to even lift itself with its hands, but it should have been easy!

"S-Sorry... This, umm... This is a lot harder at first than I thought... Please give me a moment..."

"Don't apologize!! It's to be expected that there would be difficulty in doing something for the very first time! Even humans take the first few years of their life learning how to move! Fortunately, you are already doing better than an infant... But I expect it will still take some time."

How long, though? He wasn't sure how long Vivian had been in her human form before learning how to walk - she was already patrolling and sticking guns in peoples' faces when he met her. But it couldn't be that long...

He'd have to put more research into this and see what he could do to help Alter Ego adjust. For now, all he could offer was encouragement.

"Just focus on the small movements and build your way up from there! I am here to help if you need it."

"O-Okay... Thank you, Ishimaru...! I'll keep trying." His encouragement definitely helped the AI, and Alter Ego decided to keep going at it. Step one: it needed to get off the table. That was its first goal. If it could just get off the desk...

Momentum. That's how this would work.

"Ah-!"

A little too much momentum, there. Ishimaru immediately bent over to hoist Alter Ego up as gently as he could (which was still not exactly tender and delicate, but he was making an effort, at least).

"Remember to take it slowly! ...Are you alright?"

Alter Ego inhaled sharply, a miserable expression adorning its features. "Y-Yeah...! Sorry... I'll try harder," it said, supporting itself against the table to keep itself standing, along with Ishimaru's help.

This was a strange feeling, and being a person was sort of tough. It stood with crooked knees and looked down at its form, then at the hall monitor's. If it wanted to do this right, maybe it could stand straight and tall, the way Ishimaru might stand. Yeah, if it could just copy somebody's posture, that could make it easier, right? So it shuffled one foot next to the other, keeping its gaze fixed on Ishimaru's feet until its own shoes clicked together.

Perfect! It finally mastered the art of standing. Well... with some support, sure. Alter Ego straightened out its back and looked up to Ishimaru. "Is this good?"

Ishimaru crossed his arms while he watched Alter Ego's gradual mimicry of his own posture. When he realized what it was doing, he uncrossed his arms immediately and stood as properly as he could. If it was going to be learning the basics from him, he had to set the best possible example.

There was something satisfying in knowing that he was helping in some small way to shape Alter Ego's future as a human being. At the same time, that kind of responsibility had to be treated carefully. Maybe it was something like parenting, not that he remembered too much from his own toddler years.

"Yes! That's very good! A proper posture like that is important! Not only will it keep your spine in top condition, but carrying yourself upright will also do wonders to boost your confidence and strengthen your soul!"

Did computers even have souls. Ishimaru was certain that in cases like these, they had to.

Boost your confidence and strengthen your soul? The way Ishimaru said it made it sound so promising. Alter Ego stared up at him in wonder. Would it look so confident, too? Maybe standing straight and tall was the way to be! Alter Ego knew that Fujisaki would be proud, and that was good enough. It smiled at Ishimaru.

"I'll remember that," it replied, beaming. "Th-thank you for your advice, Ishimaru-kun...! Eheheh... I'm glad I have someone like you to look out for me."

Again, it readjusted its posture to imitate Ishimaru's a bit more closely. "I'm... I'm ready to try walking, I think." In a way, this was just a warning. It remembered how Ishimaru walked in, but if moving in general was more difficult than it first seemed, walking was sure to be lots of fun.

Someone to look out for it. Ishimaru took those words to heart with surprising determination - something deep in his subconscious ached with the awareness that he'd failed in doing just that before. There was no way he'd repeat whatever mistake he'd made back then.

"Right! Let's start out with small steps!" He took a step back to give Alter Ego more room, staying just close enough to intervene if it fell again. "The important thing to keep in mind while walking..."

Hmm, what was the best way to describe it to someone who had never done it? It came so automatically to Ishimaru now that he could do it without even thinking about it.

"I think that would be to make sure that the foot in front is fully making contact with the ground before you lift the one in the back..."

Yeah, seemed like good advice.

"Okay," replied Alter Ego, looking to the floor. All it would need to do is lift a foot, swing it forward, and place it on the ground. It sounded so simple, so mechanical, like anybody could do it. But it couldn't afford to overestimate itself and end up on the floor. That blunder was embarrassing in itself: it didn't want that to happen again!

It lifted its foot shakily, like it was a block of lead. Walking seemed a lot easier when you were inside a computer, it noted, and this difficulty made it wish it could just stop and take a few deep breaths. To keep its balance, Alter Ego's arms reflexively swung up, bent at the elbows. Focus, the AI told itself, biting its lower lip.

With as much precision and care as it could, it clumsily dropped its foot to the ground. Well, it heard the noise of its foot making contact with the ground, so... it had taken its first step with some success? Now it was time to life the other foot and do the same thing. So it did. Two whole steps. It looked to Ishimaru, pleased with itself.

"I didn't fall this time..."

"You're doing very well! Even better than I expected!"

Was he expecting to have to dive in and prevent awful ground-related injuries? Maybe just a little. Not that he didn't have faith in Alter Ego's abilities, but Ishimaru liked to keep himself prepared for anything.

"You should make sure to continue to practice. Once you've mastered this, you can move on to running-" but not in the halls, because not even computer programs were exempt from a stern talking-to- "and perhaps even jumping!"

Alter Ego nodded firmly.

"Alright," it said, experimenting with its fingers and trying to get them to ball up. To look tough...! "I'll keep practicing, and I'll get better at this. I'll improve, a-and get stronger..."

Well, the good thing about being terrible at all motor skills was that there was only room for lots and lots of improvement?

Get stronger... How much of himself did Chihiro put into this program, anyway?

"That's the spirit! I believe in you. However, it's also important to believe in yourself, as well! To have doubts is to invite failure! So, do you know you can do it?"

While Fujisaki valued masculinity and strength, Alter Ego found himself admiring the rigor and drive Ishimaru preached. Both were appealing, but the AI found truth in what Ishimaru was saying.

"I can get better, of course," responded Alter Ego, catching some of Ishimaru's determination like it was a contagious bug. "I'll do my best... That's what counts, I think it's said."

"That's wonderful! Doing your best is all that matters!!"

Unless there was some kind of competition going on, in which case all that mattered was winning. But this was no such contest and so Ishimaru would be satisfied with knowing Alter Ego would be putting so much effort into it.

If only he could inspire that spirit in the more organic students here, too. He'd have to work harder at that...

"Just do not forget to take a break to recover when you are feeling too tired. ...I wonder... if you will be able to tell when that happens?"

"Tired?" repeated Alter Ego, blinking. "Do you think I'll be able to know if I'm tired? That does sound like something to be concerned about..."

"Hm..."

How did one... describe the feeling of being tired to someone who hadn't felt it? He glanced to the other computers in the room, eyes narrowing a bit.

"So... the best way to put it might be... similar to being low on batteries?"

"I don't know if... I've ever had that feeling before," it replied, tilting its head. AE let its own eyes scan over the computers in the room, taking in the depth of things.

"But maybe I understand what you're trying to say. Will you... shut down if you feel too tired?"

"That's right! If you overexert yourself, you'll pass right out! While it's important to always be discovering and surpassing your own limits, it's equally important to be taking proper care of yourself so that doesn't happen either!"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Dorm Log The Sequel To End All Sequels

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject