[Open Post] ..only want to glean the purpose..

[lanselos_du_lac]

Since they learned of Shen Yuan's death, things have been subdued; rightly so, Lancelot reasons. He has done what he can to be a support for those he loves, and to keep his own worry and anxiety at bay. He worries about how they are all doing, about whether or not they are safe, about what he can do to make anything better -- which often feels like nothing. It's unsettling, and he wants to stay settled and present for them, so he determines to find a way to be so.

As has always been the case for him, being outside helps. The weather is warming and true spring is settling in. (He has difficulty keeping track of what time may be like back in Britain¹, but he suspects that it is early summer there. If so, then he supposes that means he is another year older, which is a strangely hopeful thought.) And so, after his lunch with Susan, he heads back out -- he might ride, or walk through the woods, or explore the lake. Whatever keeps him out in the sunshine, under the sky.



^{1: He has not quite realized this yet, but he has generally stopped thinking "at home" when he means Camelot, or Britain in general. That this place -- no, these people -- have become home in so short a span is something he has to take by degrees, lest he worry about what it means for his relationship with those he left behind there.}

Comments

[aflashbastard]

Noo-boh nods and blinks his eyes a few times, happy to have found a good friend.

"I think he likes you," Crowley tells Lancelot, in real tempting-snake-in-the-garden-of-Eden tones. He pauses for a moment to really sell it. "You know, he needs a home, you obviously get along well... Why don't you take him home with you?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot laughs, "Ah, no, I think Susan would not appreciate that. Nor would the cat, most likely. If I was still on my own... perhaps."

[aflashbastard]

"Susan appreciates technology," Crowley says, with a shrug. "She seemed thrilled when I gave her my phone."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I am not certain this counts as 'technology'."

[aflashbastard]

Dah-way! Noo-boh exclaims, interrupting Crowley, who looks mildly impressed that Lancelot knows what technology is after not knowing what paperwork was.

"I'm sure he's got wires and all the other fiddly bits inside, but I suppose the question is, is he just technology?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Clearly not," simply.

[aflashbastard]

"I don't know, AI is pretty realistic these days." If Crowley was still concerned with staying in Hell's good graces¹, he would wish that he had invented ChatGPT. That one's all down to humans, though.

¹An oxymoron: it doesn't exist.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"What's that?"

[aflashbastard]

"It's... artificial intelligence. Pretend... I'm technology. But I have the capability to learn, like Noo-boh here. The more you talk to me, the more I learn about what you like, how you speak, your sentence structure, everything. To the point where if someone -- say, Susan -- asks me a question about what I'm doing today, I can say," and here is a frankly, not terrible impression of Lancelot, "Lady, I have sword practice."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot gives him a very mild look -- he feels perhaps he is being teased -- but he only says, "So this is how Noo-boh functions?"

[aflashbastard]

Crowley opens his mouth to tell Lancelot that Noo-boh is not an AI. Not even close. He pauses. He closes his mouth again. Well. He kind of... no. Is he? Crowley tilts his head.¹ Really considers it.

"Got it in one," he finally says, a touch weakly.

Ay-way, Noo-boh agrees, and it may be commentary on Crowley's mental state.

¹Think kombucha girl meme.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I see," frowning a little as he thinks. "She may indeed be curious about him."

[aflashbastard]

"Then here," Crowley says, offering him Noo-boh, who blinks up at him quite cutely (and mechanically). "You should take him."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot takes Noo-boh, holding him awkwardly. "I'm not so sure."

[aflashbastard]

"Look," Crowley says, gesturing at how Lancelot is holding him. "You're a natural already."

Noo-boh Tah Ee-day! Noo-boh says, flicking his ears.

"See? And he's happy about it."

[lanselos_du_lac]

Uncertainly, Lancelot says, "Well..."

[aflashbastard]

Crowley raises an eyebrow at him. "Well? What's the hold-up?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"If Susan is displeased, I shall return him to you." Which is only part of it -- Lancelot has no idea what to do with Noo-boh, or how to care for him.

[aflashbastard]

"Sounds like a deal to me." Crowley solemnly extends a hand for Lancelot to shake.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot gives Crowley a very skeptical look, but then he does reach out and shake on it.

[aflashbastard]

"Great," Crowley says, which should do absolutely nothing to help dissipate Lancelot's dubious feelings. "Noo-boh's going to have a great time doing... whatever it is you do with you. You'll be a good influence."

Noo-loo! Noo-boh says brightly.

[lanselos_du_lac]

He can't help but feel that something's gone slightly wrong, but this does seem to be settled. "I doubt he'll be very interested in swordplay, and I should not like to take him around the horses," a little shrug, "but I suppose we shall find out."

[aflashbastard]

"Don't mess it up," Crowley warns him, quite helpfully. "He needs a good role model in his life."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Won't he miss you?"

[aflashbastard]

"Let's ask him, shall we?" Crowley looks down at Noo-boh.

Lay-lah doo? Noo-boh asks.

"Nah," he tells Lancelot. "He'll be fine."