...And also these.

[thespaceopera]

[ Calibration Rooms ]
( for N-Z characters )

Before you post your topcomment, please:
1. Check the first letter of your character's name as its written in our tags. A-M names go to the other post, and N-Z names comment here.
2. Make a note in your topcomment if anything especially triggering or graphic might show up in the Calibration. If you're not sure if something's worth noting or not, we suggest listing it anyway, just to err on the side of caution.
3. Put your character's name (it can be shortened or different from the tag, this time) in the subject of your comment. This will help visitors find you easily, and help us update the list below.
4. Post your comment! It's fine if everyone's Calibrations end up looking and reading very different from one another. As long as you're having fun and following our guidelines, you're good to go. :)
5. If you have any questions or concerns during Calibrations, you are welcome to send them towards the mod team at any time, as always.

ROOMS BY CHARACTER

N - Q Nami Natasha Romanoff Nelkeila Tarid Nux Nyssa al Ghul Octavia Blake One Peggy Carter Phèdre nó Delaunay de Montrève

R - U R. Daneel Olivaw Rapunzel Remy LeBeau Riku Robin Redbreast Rogue Santanico Pandemonium Shawn Hunter Stefan (Alesci) Salvatore Steve "Orion" Rogers Steven Quartz Universe Souji Seta Stiles Stilinski Syeira Tadashi Hamada Tekhetsio

V - Z Vash the Stampede Vima Sunrider Vision (The) Wanda Maximoff Wrath Yamanaka Ino

Comments

[dancingmd]

[She nods, slowly.]It's a disconcerting - violating, even - experience at first. We're used to our privacy, to having a buffer between us and everyone else. So it scares us, to have our minds read like that, especially when there are those who do deliberately - unlike the robot in your old story - use their telepathic or empathic senses to hurt people.

[She takes his hands and gazes at him with intense earnestness.]

But I trust you and I know you would not do that. I hope you trust me too, because I'm not going to let anyone harm you, whether it's for being a robot or for being empathic, or both.

[thezerothlaw]

[Daneel looks down at their clasped hands, mildly surprised, but he squeezes her fingers gently. He's certainly not about to turn her away, and the gesture is more than appreciated.]

You are very kind, Dr. Crusher. I'm not certain what it is I've done to deserve this consideration, but I thank you.

[dancingmd]

[She smiles, both at his surprise and the appreciative squeeze.]

It's the right thing to do. Besides, we're friends, aren't we?

[thezerothlaw]

I... yes, I suppose we are.

[dancingmd]

[Mulling over that "I suppose," she gazes at him for a long moment.]

You're not used to humans saying that, are you?

[thezerothlaw]

No, I am not. Partner Elijah said it to me, but it is generally not a thing robots are thought capable of. I disagree on this point, but few would take my opinion on this matter.

[dancingmd]

Your opinion matters to me. [She squeezes his hands again before letting go.] As long as you believe we're friends, and I believe we're friends, then that's the important thing.

[thezerothlaw]

Then, as you say, we are friends.

[This triggers a memory: there's Elijah Baley, and Giskard nearby, and a coldly beautiful woman with tight blonde curls. She looks at Daneel with an expression that is equal parts curious and bitter.

"Partner Elijah? Is that what you call him?"

"Yes, Dr. Vasilia," is Daneel's calm response. "My choice in this matter -- the Earthhman over you -- arises not only out of Dr. Fastolfe's instructions, but because the Earthman and I are partners in this investigation and because--" He pauses, just as he had to Beverly just now, "--we are friends."

"Friends? An Earthman and a humaniform robot?" Vasilia is nothing short of mocking. "Well, there is a match. Neither quite human."

"Nevertheless, bound by friendship," Baley interjects, sharply. "Do not, for your own sake, test the force of our--" And he pauses, too, sounding vaguely surprised about how he finishes the sentence: "--love."

The memory fades.]

[dancingmd]

[The memory elicits another soft smile from Beverly, though there is a brief flash of displeasure with this Dr. Vasilia for her dismissal of both Elijah and Daneel. What truly matters here, however, is the bond between the two of them. It's gratifying to know Daneel has people who love him at home.]

Elijah seems like a good man.

[thezerothlaw]

He was. I often think of him, and consider what he would have done when I am not certain which action is the best to take. He spoke to me of humanity as a tapestry. I believe he was only trying to soften the blow of his death for me, but I think he may have been more right than he knew. He was often... intuitive.

[dancingmd]

A tapestry? How so?

[thezerothlaw]

Individually, one man or woman will affect those 'threads' immediately near them, but nothing greater. Humanity, however, is a grand picture. A collection of small threads bending a certain way will affect the entire picture, for better or worse. The goal, of course, is better.

[dancingmd]

[She nods thoughtfully.]

I suppose it is an apt analogy... We're each just a small part of the bigger picture. Though knowing that doesn't make it hurt any less when one of your threads is cut and taken from you.

[thezerothlaw]

Indeed. Still, though I have long since outlived partner Elijah, as well as anyone else I met on Earth in that time, I am enriched for the experience. It is better to have known him and lost him, than to have not at all.

[A pause, because it always feels slightly wrong admitting something like this about a robot.]

The same is true of friend Giskard.

[dancingmd]

I understand. I feel the same way about my husband.

[Slight flash of embarrassment as she realizes the implications inherent in that comparison.]

I would never trade away the time I had with him, no matter how brief it was.

[thezerothlaw]

Then my interpretation is not unique. I am glad.

[Fortunately, he's not embarrassed about implications. Probably his classification of 'love' is different from hers, but it's still love, right?]

[dancingmd]

[Sad smile.] No, not at all. Though... right after I lost him, I don't know that I was as capable of seeing things that way.

[thezerothlaw]

[Something flickers across one of the windows screens, but there is only sound.

A man's voice, a new voice: "Is he still alive?"

Daneel's voice, answering, and faintly hoarse: "He was alive when I left."

There's a pause, a silence, then the man's voice again: "He isn't now. He saw you and then -- let go."

The memory is silent again. Daneel tilts his head, listening.]

There is a... reaction, when the Laws are in conflict. The pathways of the positronic brain are hindered. It is difficult to walk, to move, to speak. Perhaps it can be likened to pain, or illness, or in some cases, shock. When partner Elijah died, I experienced that far more strongly than I ever have. It took me some time to recover enough to leave.

But even then, I cannot imagine not having known him.

[dancingmd]

[Her brow knits with sympathy.]

That sounds familiar.

[Hesitation and then finally she asks what she's wanted to ask for a while now.]

Daneel... do you like hugs?

[thezerothlaw]

[He lifts his head to look at her, puzzled.]

Hugs are a form of tactile communication, and they are... pleasant, for this reason.

[But initiating one himself is... strange. He extends a hand, palm out, to clasp her hand or pull her into a hug, as she wishes.]

[dancingmd]

[Relieved, she steps towards him, arms open. It feels so ... instinctual for her in a moment like this, talking about the passing of loved ones, to offer a hug. Because, sometimes, a hug can say a lot more than words can, but she hadn't been sure how he would receive one.]

[thezerothlaw]

[Daneel returns the hug, very gently. The number of hugs he's received is quite small, but this... is nice. After a moment, he judges it appropriate to withdraw, and he does, slowly.]

Thank you.

[dancingmd]

You're welcome. If there's any time you want or need one, it's okay to ask me.