NETWORK - Help Wanted/Offered

[outofthepast]

Who: Nick Valentine
Username: valentine
Warnings: Discussion of robot parts and the repair thereof, robot existentialism + objectification

Hey folks, it's Valentine here. Now that I've had a taste of nitty gritty fieldwork, I think it'd be prudent of me to take a few precautions. I'm looking for a good mechanic. And I'd prefer not to involve ADI at this point, so please don't suggest I just consult with the Technology department. Let's keep this one on one for now.

The parts are proprietary and you won't have seen them before, so I need a quick learner. Advanced experience is a plus, but I've done just fine with regular Joes and Jills up to this point. The absolute most important qualification, though, is that you let me buy you a drink and have a chat with you first. Amateur transhumanism philosophers need not apply, thanks.

I'm willing to either pay or trade what you think is fair. Favors, errands. Maybe I can teach you something.

You know what, let's make that a general offer. Even if you're not a mechanic, I'm happy to teach what skills I can to anybody interested. Want to learn to shoot a gun? Use a computer? Make a theory corkboard? Swing dance? Hit me up and let's make it a date.

Really, I can't stress enough how much extra time I've got on my hands.

Comments

[outofthepast]

Nothing. I'm sure they're all fine, trustworthy people.

[cardinalrule]

thEN why,not askfor their help?

[outofthepast]

Do you trust the ADI Medical department enough to let them dissect you piece by piece?

[cardinalrule]

iF THEY WanTED TO RUN SOME TESTS i WOULDn'T SEE ANY REASON TO SAY NO.

[outofthepast]

Well for me, "tests" is likely gonna involve getting taken apart.

[cardinalrule]

tHAT MEANS, YOU"REMECHANICAL IN NATURE,,CORRECT?

[outofthepast]

Correct. 100% steel and circuits.

[cardinalrule]

ReaLLY? HOW DOES THAT, WORK? HOW DO YOU FUNCTION?

[Robots aren't exactly common in the Boiling Isles.]

[outofthepast]

Ironically, you're asking the wrong guy.

I've picked up on some of it after living in it for so long, but they didn't stick the owner's manual on me when they threw me into the trash chute.

[cardinalrule]

thAT"S,BIZARRE. iF YOU'RE GOING,TOBE,MADE BY SOMEONE, YOU WOULD thINK THEY"D AT LEAST makE SURE,YOU,KNOW HOW YOU FUNCTION. iN CASE REPAIRS ARE,NEEDED.

dID THEY THROW YOU OUT,OR ARE YOU EXAGGERATING?

[outofthepast]

They must have. The first thing I can clearly remember is waking up in a pile of garbage. There's some flashes of things before that, white rooms, some kind of test chamber.

So it's always seemed to me I didn't pass muster, somehow, and they gave me the boot.

[cardinalrule]

[Well, that's just a great thing to hear, that Nick got thrown out before he even had a chance. It sends a terrified tremor through Hunter's bones, and he's very glad they're using the text function.]

yOU WerEN"T EVEN GIVEN THE CHANCE TO ShoW YOUR USEFULNESS? tHAT CAN"T BE RIGHT. yOU SHOULD HAVE,AT LEAST BEEN ABLE TO WORK TOWARDS GETTING A CHANCE.

[outofthepast]

If I did, I don't remember it.

It's all for the better anyway. I wouldn't want a "chance" to work for the Institute. I'd like to know what about me was a "failure," but as far as being useful to those creeps, they can go kick a deathclaw nest.

[cardinalrule]

WhAT?

WHY,WOULDN'T YOU? THEY MADE YOU,, THEY'RE THE REASON FOR YOUR ENTIRE EXISTENCE. WHY WOULDN"T YOU WANT TO STAY WITH THEM?/

[outofthepast]

[Oof. Hitting a synthetic nerve there, kiddo.]

Because they're a bunch of amoral, murdering bastards who thoughtlessly ruin people's lives.

[cardinalrule]

[This is all kinds of personal for Hunter.]

iT SOUNDS LIKE YOU"RE EXAGGERATING. THEY CAN'T BE THAT BAD.

[outofthepast]

You know, it's the sort of thing you're not really gonna understand if you haven't lived in the Commonwealth a while.

But yes, they are that bad.

[cardinalrule]

oH.

IS THERE anY DOCUMENTATION HERE THAT i COULD READ?/ ABOUT THE cOMMONWEALTH,I MEAN.

[outofthepast]

Probably not. It's 200 years from now, and in a different dimension.

If you're curious I'd be happy to answer what I can for you, at least. I've lived there over 70 years now, and probably longer than that.

[cardinalrule]

oH. THAT"S, DISAPPOINTING. yOUR REALM SOUNDS INTERESTING.

wOULD YOU MIND IF I WROTE UP A LIST,OF QUESTIONS?

[outofthepast]

Sure. Be happy to answer what I can.