maskormenacelogs | JUNE CATCH-ALL (last one!)

[ It's no secret that Rusty is particularly vulnerable when it comes to anyone who will tolerate his presence, even moreso for anyone who compliments him. He's a weak and lonely old man, and easily manipulated because for all of his foul attitude, he's still human; he still desires human contact (of a sort, at least; Dio doesn't quite count as human) and conversation that doesn't consist of beeps and bloops once in a while.

Dio's managed to satisfy all of his requirements quite satisfactorily, so he invites Dio in to show off something he hasn't shown off since his two apprentices were ported out: his horrifying assembly of government-mandated weaponry he's been tinkering away with in his laboratory. He texts Dio the address of his lab and gets to work shining and tidying the place up. It just wouldn't do for a potential benefactor to see the space as anything but spic and span, after all... which mostly culminates in him putting all the trash on one table in the back and covering it with a tarp, but he has no staff! Geniuses aren't meant to clean!

As Dio approaches his laboratory, he'll be greeted with a place that looks to be little more than an enormous warehouse with a sign proclaiming VENTURE INDUSTRIES on top of it, as if to make things look more impressive than they actually are. He couldn't afford anything better, but hell if he's going to let that horrible upstart Stark outshine him. ]

[Dio was 100% ready for this. He knew next to nothing scientifically, but unlike a great deal of other vampires and other immortals over a century in age, he was absolutely and thoroughly fascinated by it and surprisingly quick on the uptake one he got his hands on an object.

As such, it was a no-brainer that he'd want to stick close to a man like Rusty Venture, who touted technological advancements unlike what this world has even seen, and who didn't let ethics or morals get in the way of his studies... at least not while he had access to the materials he needed, which Dio was happy to provide.]

Hm. Understated. I like it.

[He was happy enough to dole out praise for now, but really he wanted to SEE.]

But I'm not here to marvel at your storefront, my good Doctor. Show me the goods! [Just get to business. He wanted to see he death machines and strange experiments! The more it was an abomination against God, the better!]

Of course, of course. Please, come in.

[ The insides of the lab are even less impressive than the outsides. The floor's all concrete, the walls unadorned, the tables made for utility rather than style and sparse, sparser than Rusty would prefer. He knows what a lab's supposed to look like, and this isn't it. There's no flair to it, no pizazz, and god knows Rusty likes him some pizazz.

But what it lacks in style, it makes up for in function. Lined along the back of the lab, there are several tanks with odd, biological looking masses floating inside them, as eerie as ever, and along the front is an assortment of weapons, including guns with large barrels and attached to tanks, towering bulbous metal bodies upon spindly legs, a set of heavy looking boots, grappling hooks and more. Beyond that, there's plenty of metallic debris strewn across many of the tables, projects in the making but not yet perfected. ]

It's not a lot to look at, I'll admit, [ Rusty says, though it pains him to admit even that, ] but there's no questioning the quality. Helper! We have a guest! Come on, now, do your job!

[ Helper comes whirring from out of a backroom, arms flailing through the air as usual. He fixates his gaze on Dio and lets out a curious little chirrup. ]

[Thankfully for Rusty, Dio Brando was a man of wealth and status(not yet, but it wouldn't take long with his less-than-legal means), and he also had a taste for the extravagant. If Dr. Venture turned out to be someone he'd like to invest in... Well, he'd be getting upgrades more often.

And it sure did look like this would be an interesting business venture for him, Dio lighting up as he noticed the horrid bio-masses floating in tanks.]

It's a little under-decorated, but that's not what I'm here for... [He was about to ask about three hundred questions about everything he can see before the robot is called and comes out, making all sorts of... noise.]

Uhm. Something you made, I presume? What is the protocol for manners when meeting an artificial intelligence?

Oh, no. The ones I make tend to be non-sentient. [ And Helper is a big reason for that. He's a sweet robot, but his capacity to feel emotion hinders him, and that's putting it kindly. The poor thing has been through the wringer due to his own stupidity. ]

I've made adjustments to him, of course, but Helper here was originally an old family heirloom. My father made him. And the proper protocol is whatever the hell you feel like, though he'd appreciate it if you'd tell him whether you'd like some tea or coffee.

[ Helper chirrups happily in confirmation, waving his arms again. ]

He likes feeling needed.

[That's very smart of him, honestly. Dio didn't like the idea of creating anything with emotions. Not as efficient, and what would you make a robot for if not for efficiency?]

I see. [Dio raises his brows, leaning toward the robot a little, as if scrutinizing it. Him. Whatever.]

I'm really more of a whiskey guy, but tea is acceptable.

[He didn't drink much that wasn't alcoholic these days, which happens when the only sustenance you needed was blood, but what Englishman could turn down tea when offered? That's not how he was raised.]

Have you made any more recently? Of the non-sentient variety? And what kind do you usually make? [Please say death robots. With flamethrowers and buzz saw hands or lasers or something.]

You heard the man, Helper. Whiskey for him. Coffee for me.

[ Helper beeps again before spinning and wheeling off into the small kitchenette he has in the back. That'll take him a while, Rusty thinks, which will give him plenty of time to show off. ]

Well, I do have a number of government contracts. As you might imagine, they're a bit more interested in weaponry than they are in the sort of robots like Helper over there. More destruction of life, less assistance.

[ That's fine by him. His father had a mind for things that could help people, but Rusty's always been better at making shit that's really, really good at destroying other shit. He wanders over to the line of covered robots and grabs a stepladder to whip the tarp off of it. ] I present to you: the walking eye! A multi-functional war machine, to put it lightly, capable of destruction and surveillance alike. [ He pats the side of it, almost fondly, then slowly makes his way off of the stepladder with the sort of caution of a man who can seriously injure himself from a little fall. Once he's dragged the stepladder and tarp away, he roots around in a messy drawer to produce a plain black remote control. He pushes the joystick forward, and the walking eye lurches forward, its spider-like legs skittering across the concrete floor in a way that's distinctly discomforting. ]

I've made quite a few of these. Just in case, or so they say.

[Yes, excellent. Dio's smile widens a little in satisfaction at being given his... second drink of choice. If anything, Dr. Venture knew how to cater to people of his stature.]

Those are the superior type of robot, I must admit.

[Destruction was high on his list. After all, he had assistance more or less in the form of his Stand. Sure, it had a 10 meter range that it couldn't go out of, but it was controlled much more directly.

Dio stood up a little straighter as the doctor unveiled 'the walking eye', his lips parting slightly, clearly impressed. Destruction AND surveillance. It is a little big for his kind of surveillance... for the most part... but the destruction he is pointedly curious about, and he lights up a little as he watches it lurch to life.]

Oooooh, what can it do?

Oh, it can do plenty. There's not exactly enough room here for any decent sort of field testing, never mind a proper target, but I think we can work something out. Helper! The training dummies! And hurry it up with those drinks!

[ Helper comes whizzing out of the kitchen with the proper drinks on the tray (thank god, Rusty thinks to himself, because he cannot have Helper embarrass him any more than his mere presence already does) and sets them down on the table before wheeling over and dragging two training dummies behind him with what looks to be a gargantuan effort. Rusty watches passively, fiddling with the controls of the walking eye all the while.

Once Helper's through, he doesn't get a thank you until he whirrs, wheeling up to Rusty and Dio and beeping urgently at him. Rusty gives him a quick pat on the head. ] Yes, yes, well done getting drinks. And onto the demonstration!

[ Just as Dio was hoping, as the Walking Eye skitters over to one training dummy, a panel opens up and a nozzle comes out. Rusty hurries over to the other side of the lab - he's not trusting Helper with this one - and grabs a fire extinguisher before pressing another button as a blast of fire escapes from it. As soon as its done, Rusty sprays the dummy with the fire extinguisher. ]

It has a flamethrower attachment, of course. Now, some may say that it's a simple thing to do - and it is! But the conservation of fuel while still making sure it's lightweight enough to move quickly enough to be of any use is quite the puzzle, let me tell you.

[Not enough room or a proper target. That was a shame. Dio did want to see what it was capable of, and that certainly made him want to see it more.

He turns to grab the offered drink, just watching as the robot wheeled himself around, grabbing some dummies out for the demonstration. And of course it seemed to beg for validation. Dio could see why he'd be a little bit exasperated at such a robot. What use was there for a robot with enough emotion to need to be praised?

Well, that wasn't important. What was important was that he had a glass of whiskey which he brought up to his lips to sip at as he watched the Walking Eye get moving and absolutely torch one of the training dummies. Both brows were thrown up as he was absolutely excited about this. YES, FLAMETHROWER!]

I imagine that's why others don't have anything like it. How spectacular! Yes, what other kinds of weapons does it have?

[He was very much like a kid seeing his first really cool robot, which it kind of was, but Dio just happened to be over a century old. Were there lasers? Saws? Guns? Who knows. Dio was hoping for explosions, but they were inside a lab and that'd probably not go over very well.]

And what's it's mobility like?

Well, it won't be winning any races, if that's what you mean. But it's certainly mobile enough to manage its way across some interesting terrain. Originally, these were war machines, of course - for whatever's going on in the Middle-East, and there's always something going on in the middle east. This baby can traverse hills and deserts just fine, even with all that nasty sand, so pavement? Pshhh. No problem.

[ It's almost too easy to fall back into his salesman's patter. It's almost relaxing doing it, in fact. It's familiar like an old pair of shoes, and it always has made him feel more in control of his life than he really is, which is to say, not at all. He keeps talking as he moves across the lab again, grunting with the exertion of shoving a massive shield (on wheels! He's just a weakling, that's for sure) behind the training dummy. ] I haven't - the foggiest what this government intends to use them for, but asking questions isn't in my job description. There.

[ He gets out of the way, pushes a button, and an artillery cannon ejects from the Walking Eye's body, raining bullets on the target. It's not the most accurate thing in the world, he can admit that much, but who can argue with that spread? It's delightful. ]

Machine guns. Three of them, one on each side. A simple enough addition, perhaps, but when you're facing down fire from all sides, only the most enterprising will make it out of there scot free.

[Dio kind of liked it, being pitched the idea of the robots. He definitely was already sold on the screaming metal death machines, but hearing about their abilities was more than enough to entertain the vampire as he stood beside Dr. Venture, his arms folded aver his chest.

As the bullets spray from the machine, Dios absolutely lights up. What this man lacked in physical strength and social skills, he more than made up for with a killer robot.]

What a wonderful beast. Truly marvelous! As long as there is enough raw destructive power, it should manage well enough, but that does beg the question- How impervious to damage is it?

[Dio could certainly just test it himself with a punch, but he'd hate to break it in one move if it wasn't able to withstand it.]

Oh, and is it only directly remotely controlled, or is there a way to give it instructions to set out upon?

Now, now, don't get too ahead of yourself. We're not quite done.

[ And with that, Rusty demonstrates the laser, again against the laser-resistant shield. There's not much he can say about this one; it melts through the test dummy like a hot knife through butter, which is what one would expect from a proper laser, and oh boy, has Rusty ever had plenty of experience with proper lasers. That done, he strolls back to where Dio is and grabs his drink, leaning against the table. ]

It's made of bulletproof metal, of course. It's not impossible to destroy, but you'd have to get close to it first, certainly. And its remote applications, are... [ He frowns. This one's difficult, but artificial intelligence almost always is. ] Let's say it's a work in progress, hm? It can take orders for wanton destruction perfectly well, but I wouldn't send it out into a field of your allies.

[Dio was absolutely like a kid in a candy shop with this thing. Something he'd only ever seen on television, and even then it had just seemed like an impossible dream. Killer robots!!!

Dio nurses his whiskey, seeming to enjoy the taste enough, or maybe just too transfixed by the demonstration to really care about it. He smiles at the whole thing. The demonstration of the laser(how destructive!) as well as the explanation.]

Right, that makes sense. Being able to discern friend from foe is something that a true, thinking mind does better. And yet you have to take care when it comes to programming thinking into a robot, otherwise they run the risk of emotion and will.

[Which could be good or bad, but Dio preferred his subjects to have a little less willpower... and he was pretty sure he couldn't hypnotize a robot.]

It looks amazing. I love it.

Is this the only thing you are working on for now?

Precisely. You can make a man into a killing machine, but you can never truly control him. Unless you have mind control powers, naturally. [ Orpheus could probably do it, only it would be a atrocity unto God and Satan and the Spirits themselves and an imposition on the beautiful and twisted nature of the human soul and an insult to the very existence of the dark magicks themselves, you villain. Ugh. Fuck that guy. Rusty could use him some mind control powers.

He kind of misses the old bastard anyway. ]

Anyway! [ He claps his hands. ] I can't say I'm surprised that you appreciate fine work such as this - and it, of course, takes a refined palate to see the potential in it. My other experiments are fairly basic. Lasers, hoverboots, flamethrowers, that kind of thing, [ he says, flapping one hand at Dio. ]

All of that nonsense you see in tanks behind you is a work-in-progress. Nothing yet, but given adequate motivation, it may yet become something.

JUNE CATCH-ALL (last one!)

DIO

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