Algorithm (D2 EA, Open, near Talentala)

[Jane Doe]

The phone number is quickly stored to the bioroid's internal memory as well, and their eyes then meet the woman again. The smile is still there, but it's... odd. Uncertain, maybe confused.

Eye for art. The sentence flashed on the display, then each word seemed to go one way, dance and swirl around. Did they? Did they even know what an 'eye for art' was?

Or art at that?

They knew... something happened whenever they looked at the Talentala. Something in their wiring. Something deep down. They... felt something?

Was that feeling? Was that an error?

"Oh... I don't think I do?", the android answers with a chuckle of sorts, the synthetic voice still pleasant and soothing, but the doubts clearly seeping through. "I... really enjoy looking at it, though. It makes me feel..."

Their voice tapers off, the expected complement to the last sentence never arriving.

Perhaps the sentence wasn't meant with a complement at all?

Jane waits for a few seconds to see if Lina is going to continue and then nods
"Well, that's the whole point of art right? To make us feel things. That and decorating a space I suppose. I'm no great art aficionado myself so we'll probably make a great pair."
Leading the two Talentala bound.

"Why don't we look at a few bits and pieces and if you want you can tell me what they make you feel? Or you don't have to say anything, sometimes art makes us feel personal stuff."

[Lina (NAG Mk3-19)]

Jane waits for a few seconds to see if Lina is going to continue and then nods
"Well, that's the whole point of art right? To make us feel things. That and decorating a space I suppose. I'm no great art aficionado myself so we'll probably make a great pair."
Leading the two Talentala bound.

"Why don't we look at a few bits and pieces and if you want you can tell me what they make you feel? Or you don't have to say anything, sometimes art makes us feel personal stuff."

#19's artificial eyes seemed a bit uncertain at Jane's words. Was that the whole point? Feeling? They weren't even sure they understood feeling exactly...

But ultimately they nodded, smiling again, and followed Jane towards the Talentala.

Another nod followed her words as they got there. "Hm. If it wouldn't trouble you, miss Jane... may I ask you what they make you feel?"

[Jane Doe]

#19's artificial eyes seemed a bit uncertain at Jane's words. Was that the whole point? Feeling? They weren't even sure they understood feeling exactly...

But ultimately they nodded, smiling again, and followed Jane towards the Talentala.

Another nod followed her words as they got there. "Hm. If it wouldn't trouble you, miss Jane... may I ask you what they make you feel?"

"Not at all. I always feel it's easier to think out loud. Hmmm, let me see."
Jane rubs her chin as she regards a large piece depicting a large gathering of Quechua people in a faux colonial style.

"This one makes me feel....community, warmth, wellbeing. Where I grew up was very different, but families were the same."
Looking over
"What about you?"

[Lina (NAG Mk3-19)]

"Not at all. I always feel it's easier to think out loud. Hmmm, let me see."
Jane rubs her chin as she regards a large piece depicting a large gathering of Quechua people in a faux colonial style.

"This one makes me feel....community, warmth, wellbeing. Where I grew up was very different, but families were the same."
Looking over
"What about you?"

Community. Wellbeing. Warmth?

The words registered, and something like image searches - or sound searches, or chemical sample searches - followed naturally. Memories? Free associations?

(Were those feelings?)

"Ah.", they said. Once, twice, thrice. It was odd to see so much hesitation from a bioroid, but... perhaps it made sense, asking for something like that?

Many people. Mountains. The original people from the area. An emulation of a XVII or XVIII-century style

But that didn't seem like a good answer. They were facts. Or, well, analyses, rather.

"I... imagine a... a past. One I.... couldn't have", they finally answer. "Couldn't have had, even, I guess. But... one that might have been pleasant."

Another look at the piece, the glowing eyes darkening and brightening up again almost cyclically. "It's... almost as if I see a past and imagine a future."

Their eyes kept at the wall for a few seconds longer, then turned to Jane.

"That does not make sense, does it?", they asked with an apologetical smile. "This is..."

Difficult? Subjective?

Frightening? It made them feel.... exposed, maybe?

The oddest part is it wasn't a bad feeling at all. They often felt that way when they visited... and it made them come back, again and again.

[Jane Doe]

Snip

Jane had been listening with interest, her head cocked slightly and she answered Lina's question with a chuckle
"Just because you weren't personally there doesn't mean you can't feel what it would have been like, or an approximation. Maybe it's even more important for folks who never got the chance to feel like that?"
There's clear sympathy in her tone.

"I'm sorry about your past though, I can only imagine how hard it would be to grow up without family."