Srs Bsns Interview.

[smart_house]

The steel door arrives in Milliways silently, just as it normally does.

When the door swings open, an echo of a concerned "Zoe, will you please put away your shoes before the visitors arrive?" carries up the concrete staircase.

There's no audible reply.

Eyerolling is blissfully a silent activity.

Comments

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

"There are currently no other pets at home. This will be the Carters' first cat, to my knowledge.

"Eureka has some of the finest veterinarians in the United States, in my universe. Plus I keep up-to-the-minute readings of all lifesigns at home, so I am able to know if a problem is developing."

SARAH pauses, in case Zoe wants to throw in anything.

[felon-spice.livejournal.com]

"Um, well, I had a goldfish when I was six," Zoe says. "I won it at a carnival. But... I kind of overfed it."

Probably not helping, but it's her only pet experience.

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

SARAH adds quickly: "I have already begun programming regulated and measured feeding patterns, and am working on having a litterbox installed."

Jeez, Zoe.

[bprd_agent_red]

Red makes a little note then stops writing suddenly and looks over at Zoe after the mention of the goldfish.

"Overfed it? Was it fat or dead?" He eyes her critically then asks, "How old are you now?"

Before his concern gets the better of him SARAH's input comes in and fixes things.

"So you're gonna feed and look out for the kitten ?" He asks SARAH.

He likes the monitoring thing she mentioned. Kittens are crafty and curious so it's good to know she can keep track of one.

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

"Yes.





"Zoe is here because I thought I would not be taken seriously because I am not human."

[felon-spice.livejournal.com]

"I'm fifteen," Zoe replies indignantly. "And I'm only responsible for giving the kitty snuggles. SARAH will be taking care of everything else."

[bprd_agent_red]

Red snorts and shakes his head, "I feel better knowin' it's you and not the fish-killer there."

So much for polite. He's still being cordial with SARAH though as he strokes his goatee and pulls up another card.

"I got just one last question for you, SARAH. Have you ever been haunted? Inhabited by any spirits, poltergeists or demons or had any episodes of possession, cursed by any wandering gypsies, or found any portals into unknown realms in your uh, self? Not counting Milliways, of course."

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

Very flat: "Only fish-killers."

Not-polite with Zoe means not-polite with SARAH. She's not programmed to hold the simulation for long, though, and goes back to her pleasant if flat tone for the question.

"I have never been haunted, and know of no supernatural creatures living here. Doctor Stantz could verify this for you independently if necessary."

[walking_napalm]

Liz, who has been watching this last exchange with something of a resigned face (she rolls her eyes at nothing in particular), steps up for self-assigned task #2.

"Ray Stantz? He seemed pretty reliable," she says. When in doubt, distract with cuteness: "I have some pictures of the kittens, if you guys want to see." She sits up; pulls a couple Polaroids out of her back pocket and bypasses Hellboy to offer them to Zoe.

The kittens are a pile of ten-week-old orange tabby furballs with one gray-and-brown one thrown into the mix. In one picture, the littlest cat is crawling all over his sister, nipping at her ear; in another, an orange-and-white kitten is sitting on a pile of records, staring into the camera with her head tilted inquisitively. There are several more shots of the kitten-pile at large.

[felon-spice.livejournal.com]

Even a teenager as cynical and jaded as Zoe has to squee over the kittens.

"Aww, they are so cute!"

[bprd_agent_red]

Hellboy makes it pretty clear that his eyerolling is for Liz. He thought this was going rather well and he was doing pretty good so her jumping in was totally not needed. Of course, that's just his opinion.

Actually, it's SARAH's defense of Zoe that sells him. As they look over the pictures he reviews his notes, chuckling to himself because one has a stick figure of Manning being eaten by an end table, and nods.

"All right, I think I'm good. I don't think we'll need to call Ray in here, place feels pretty clean to me and I'm sure you'll let me know if any problems turns up." There's a pretty clear 'You Better let me know if anything turns up' in his voice right before he finishes his soda in one long chug.

Crushing the can he tucks the note cards away into his coat, "I'll bring 'em by, seems to me they'll have a good home here."

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

"I do not predict any problems occurring. Thank you both for coming to visit."

[felon-spice.livejournal.com]

Zoe smiles. "Thank you," she says, getting up so she can show them out.