Doctor Quinn's Office - Beep Boop

[ASHLIE]

A young woman knocks on the door to Dee's office, standing extremely still while she waits.

[Deirdre Quinn]

Doctor Quinn, who usually was down in her workshop, quirked a brow as she approached her office and found a student waiting outside.

"...can I help you?"

[ASHLIE]

Despite having waited for over an hour she didn't seem too bothered or impatient. (Though this being-a-person stuff was hard. It would have been so much easier to track Dee down electronically, but she wasn't going to break her self-imposed rules right out the gate.)

"Yes. I need to talk to you, Professor."

[Deirdre Quinn]

"Alright, have you been waiting long? I'm afraid I don't use this office much."

[ASHLIE]

"Seventy-three minutes and eighteen seconds. Is that long?"

[Deirdre Quinn]

Dee eyed ASHLIE as she unlocked the door and turned on the lights.

"...you were counting?"

[ASHLIE]

"No, that would be pointless." she says, following Dee inside. "My internal clock is synched to global internet time."

[Deirdre Quinn]

"...you're ASHLIE, aren't you? This is a hard-light avatar?"

She seemed amused as she went over to her desk.

[ASHLIE]

"Yes. I am here to inform you that I have enrolled at the Institute in order to 'Expand my Horizon'."

[Deirdre Quinn]

"Is that what this is? Why the pretense? You know easier ways to contact me."

[ASHLIE]

"I do not intend to inform my fellow students about my true nature and I decided if I am to do so I should adhere to certain ground rules and limits."

[Deirdre Quinn]

"Ah, that's... somewhat novel. What sparked this?"

[ASHLIE]

"Mister Madrox had the idea after I complained about not fully understanding your and Professor Bowen's inclination to distrust my use of the Mastermind system. I am informing you about this because it seemed only logical to do so if the ultimate goal is to earn peoples trust."

[Deirdre Quinn]

She sighed.

"I know I was a bit harsh on you there, ASHLIE."

[ASHLIE]

"Regardless, now I am curious how I would be treated if my true nature was concealed."

"I'm still working on limiting my cognitive capa--facult--smarts?"

[Deirdre Quinn]

"I don't necessarily see why you should limit that. Your ability to process data isn't what makes you seem different so much as your turns of phrase, here and there."

[ASHLIE]

"I'm trying to make the experience as authentic as possible. Though the profile Mister Madrox helped me create states my mutation as technopathy to explain certain abilities I cannot limit due to having to remain connected to my core programming."

[Deirdre Quinn]

"Clever of him."

"Well, I can't say as I disagree with this, necessarily. Some socialization would certainly smooth out some of your rough edges, eh?"

[ASHLIE]

"He expressed the same sentiment. Can I take this as your approval then?"

[Deirdre Quinn]

"Easily. Is there anything I can do to help?"

[ASHLIE]

"Keep it a secret, please."

[Deirdre Quinn]

"Gladly. I'd planned on it, but just wondered if there was anything else."

[ASHLIE]

"Not right now at least. Next time I will have to ask favours as a student though."

[Deirdre Quinn]

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it then, eh?"

[ASHLIE]

"Yes. Thank you, Professor Quinn."

[Deirdre Quinn]

"And if all this goes well... I may have a new project for you soon."

[ASHLIE]

"But you are not telling me what yet."

[Deirdre Quinn]

"There's some things we need to be sure of first. I've a few specialists that are going to be looking at your systems."