✫ 004 [video]

[sciencelizard]

[It's been a while since Alphys was on the network just on her own- she doesn't tend to get on video in front of a bunch of people except for emergency situations (like when the Null flooded the city last year). But now the feed starts with her hands pressed over the camera as she arranges her phone, pulling back after a few seconds to show her more in frame. Seems she was still setting up the recording. She's sitting at her desk in the Lab, the chalkboard behind her blank, giving a little wave.]

So uh, h-hey there, Hadriel! This is Alphys. Or well, I'm Alphys. Dr. Alphys, but just Alphys is fine, uh--

[She pulls at some papers on her desk to try and make herself look busy. Why is doing announcements so hard?]

Anyway! So some of you might, uh, know me in that I run the lab here. Kind of. I help run it with a lot of people! But uh, m-my specialty is actually in mechanical engineering, and uh, more specifically robotics. And uh, I've noticed recently there are actually a lot of robots here? All of a sudden?

[She waves her hands in front of her, palms out from her chest.]

Not that it's a bad thing! And I, uh, totally want to help- I've done repairs on plenty of robots here before and I have some, uh, s-spare parts and stuff like that, but... I was wondering if anyone else has experience in, uh, that sort of thing? I used to know a couple of people, but I think, uh... just about everyone's gone home.

[Alphys looks down for just a moment, her head spines wilting, before she perks back up with her trademarked lopsided smile.]

So uh! If anyone knows anything or just wants to lend a hand or is a new robot and needs something just let me know!! I'm down at the lab! So! Yeah! Bye!!!

[And then there's a few more seconds of her grabbing her phone and just kind of squeezing it until the feed cuts. Might've been nice to know where the lab is, but. She tried.]

[ooc: Please feel free to put action prompts in here of characters coming down to see her as well!! Just trying to keep it all in one space.]

Comments

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[completelycrazy]

[Newt is heading to the lab in like ten minutes but he's lazy, so. Sorry Alphys, you're on speakerphone while he makes coffee. And is also eating something and not bothering to swallow before he talks.]

Hey, I'm still here. Hermann was the robotics guy, but I know a thing or two about mechanical engineering. Are we, like, the new clinic for androids now, or something?

[Please say no.]

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[sciencelizard]

[Like this isn't somehow the norm for them. It's a little easier to talk about the issue when it's him at least.]

K...ind of? Maybe?

[Sorry Newt.]

I was already helping Oscar when he got damaged, and helping Rey and Nick sometimes, but now-- now we have like s-six more robots and someone has to help them! I can't not do everything I can, you know?

[completelycrazy]

[There's a grumbly sigh on his end. He doesn't like it, but he'll cede that it makes sense.]

Right. Six? I met that, uh, the big one. You know the one.

[Starscream. Impossible to miss.]

Who are the others? I can help out. Not on or around Door Day, though.

[Alphys should know the drill by now. Newt's busiest days in the lab are Door Day and the few days following, since that's when he does the bulk of his collecting and dissecting.]

[sciencelizard]

[See, this is why she likes you, Newt. Gotta do the right thing!!

Meanwhile, she starts counting off on her fingers while she talks, carefully filing through the information she's supposed to omit.]

Well, yes, t-there's him. Oscar, who I've uhm, helped before. Mettaton's back again too, somehow, which I didn't, uh, expect? At all. And I don't have to repair Nick and Rey a lot but uh-- there's just more of them showing up than there ever has been. We should be prepared.

[completelycrazy]

Mettaton? He's your friend from home, right?

[The name sounds vaguely familiar.]

I'd wonder if the influx of robots was indicative of anything, but it's probably not. The Door's too random for that.

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[unknowable]

I don't know anything about robots, but I'm good at fixing stuff. I might be able to learn.

[How different can it be? Ok, pretty different. But Adam likes Alphys, and he likes feeling useful, so he might as well offer.]

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[sciencelizard]

[She brightens up when he answers, quick to reply.]

Right, y-you worked on cars, right? Did you ever make parts or f-fix like, dents and stuff? I can work on the code, but uh, building parts takes a long time.

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[unknowable]

I fixed dents all the time. We mostly ordered parts, but for some we'd rework secondhand parts.

[You've gotta get creative sometimes.]

I could try to help out with that.

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[sciencelizard]

[Honestly, the more he talks, the more Alphys looks excited.]

That would be amazing! I'm sure you can help out. Even just salvaging current parts and fixing up broken material would help out so much. The more stuff we have, the less we have to ask the Gods for.

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[unphase]

[the video opens on a fifteen year old girl, sitting in a chair with her legs crossed at the knee]

It's nice to meet you, Dr. Alphys. My name's Tinya Wazzo.

I don't know anything about robotics, but I'm willing to learn if you'll teach me.

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[sciencelizard]

[She's never spoken to this girl before, but it's possible she's another new arrival. Who knows. As much as she was hopeful for someone with a bit of experience, beggars can't be choosers.]

Have you ever, uh, w-worked on anything mechanical before? Like, uhm, a tv, or a video game console...?

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[unphase]

[she's new and from a technological wonderland.

she wrinkles her nose slightly] That's all way too low-tech. I've helped reconfigure our holoprojector, though.

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[sciencelizard]

[Alphys can't help the way her eyes go wide.]

O-- Oh! Ohmygosh.

[Okay maybe this is more than she thought,,,]

I, uh-- well, if you know technology at all, t-that might work! I've, uh, never even heard of that stuff and I've been helping. Though sometimes the tech here can be, uhm, v-very different.

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[writtendestiny]

I know a little about robots. I spent a lot of time in the Cybertronian clinic in the place I was before here.

[She won't say their names yet. It still stings to think too much about them.]

I helped sometimes. With things they needed small hands for. I think I'd like to do something like that again.

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[sciencelizard]

Cybertronian?

[That's not a word she knows. Obviously some sort of electronic thing- it's got cyber right there in it- but it's foreign to her.]

I mean, a-anything helps, really-- the more people with any kind of expertise, the better.

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[writtendestiny]

They're... aliens? [That word is a little foreign in her mouth - one she'd learned while in the Box, and one of the reasons she isn't openly staring at Alphys.]

Robots, the height of buildings sometimes. They weren't made by people, they-- [Ahh, what's that word...] ... developed that way, on their world.

[She smiles, small but genuine.]

Are you meeting people in the lab now, or only taking names?

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[sciencelizard]

[She nods, semi-understanding. She wouldn't consider herself an alien, but that is kind of what happens when people are from all kinds of other worlds.]

Oh, that's-- oh. An entirely cybernetic race?

[Probably thankfully, she gets taken out of her thoughts with the next question, since she could be on this all day with follow-ups.]

I mean, uh, I wasn't planning on like, i-interviews or anything! But I'm, uh, at the lab now if you want to come over.

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[lemontree]

A doctor and a builder? [ Robotics isn't anything she knows, but Dany can at least understand the gist of what Alphys is saying. ] You're very accomplished.

[ Had Alphys told her about all that during their last meeting, at the feast? If she had, Dany can't remember. ]

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[sciencelizard]

[Oh jeeeez it's the pretty woman from the feast, keep it cool, Alphys, keep it cool--

It's pretty impossible to hide the blush on her face, but at least she's talking in response to this.]

Well, I-- it's a d-doctorate, so like, a higher study? I don't really, uhm, I don't heal or anything! Though I guess this makes me look like I'm a robot doctor, hehe...

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[lemontree]

[ Dany just smiles faintly, chuckling a little at the explanation. ]

Are there "robot doctors" in your world?

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[sciencelizard]

It's not really, uh-- r-robot doctors, it's more-- uh-- sure!!! Sure yes it's that.

[God she tried so hard.]

Mostly I uh, design and build them. Not really repairs. That was my major anyway.

[Text]

[such_a_teez]

I'm hardly in need of such services, and I'd only slow you down instead of lending a hand. Still, it's kind of you to offer your services. I'm sure in a place like this such a gesture will be greatly appreciated.

[Text]

[sciencelizard]

gosh i hope so
i mean not that it hasnt before im just like
im?? one person??? lmao
there has to be someone else here w some knowledge
and maybe they didnt know someone needed it so
im sure people will come help
when they know its needed

[Text]

[such_a_teez]

Lmao? Can you explain, I'm not sure what that means.

I wish I could assist more. But if I hear of anyone who might be of use to you and your cause I'll send them your way. That also goes for those who might be in need of your assistance.

[Text]

[sciencelizard]

omg do u not know text lingo
its rly important if youre gonna be here
it means youre laughing!!! really it stands for laughing my ass off (wow typing that out is weird)
but you say it when youd be laughing if you werent texting
have you never texted

oh right you asked me a question THANK YOU!!!!!
ill do my best =^o^=
(thats an emoji btw)
(its a cat face bc i like cats)