Out for a Walk [Tony/JARVIS - Thursday afternoon]

[playboy_philanthropist]

With the hologram working well, Tony had moved onto the next stage. Well, he had been working on the ultimate next stage of the process, but even with his robotics genius, that'd take time. Especially if he wanted the pressure sensors working as close to human as possible. And that didn't even factor in the challenges with the final appearance... But this was another baby step he could take in the mean time and help JARVIS start getting used to being more... contained. Plus any excuse to tinker with a roomba was a good excuse.

Tony hadn't been to the Stark mansion very much since the house in Malibu had been finished and even before then, he had avoided it as much as possible. It had stopped being home when he'd been sent off to boarding school. It was a good place for this experiment though. JARVIS had been installed in a few of the rooms before Tony had gotten bored and wrote the mansion off entirely as a waste of time and not his problem. Which meant it was a perfect transition for the mobile unit. In the tower, JARVIS wasn't limited. He had surveillance feeds, schematics, scans, everything to make it completely easy to navigate through any of the rooms in the tower. Even though his help inside the suit narrowed that focus a little, he still had more information than any human could. But in the older rooms of the mansion, JARVIS would only have the input provided by the roomba's sensors to navigate. Granted, they were much better scanners, cameras, and sensors than any other roomba had a right to have, but still. Limited.

Sitting on the floor, his tongue poked out from between his teeth as he finished one last adjustment before placing the roomba on the floor. "Alright, JARVIS. Ready to try out your land legs? It's all ready for your upload," he said, his eyes glancing between the ceiling and the little roomba, waiting for the familiar holometric image to appear from the display attached to the top of the roomba.

Comments

[at_your_service]

"As you wish," JARVIS said, transitioning easily from the wall system to the hologramm base. There was a brief flicker as he adjusted some of the specs in the base and upgraded them.

"Shall I disconnect from the House completely?" JARVIS asked.

[playboy_philanthropist]

Tony couldn't help smiling at the holographic image that flickered to life or the improvements that JARVIS was obviously making. Shaking his head, he pushed himself to his feet and ran his hands over the hologram in the same way he'd done the first time he'd seen JARVIS. His brow furrowed slightly at his hands going through. It was too be expected really with the limitations of the amount of sensors and projectors that could fit on on the roomba.

He waved a hand dismissively. "Don't bother. Give it a whirl in here a bit and then we can move into the unincorporated parts of the house. Try and see if you can get the machine's movement and the walk cycle working together properly."

He puffed out a sigh as Gmork bounded back into the room and crouched in front of the roomba with a bark and wag of his tail. "Gmork, he's not a toy. Well, this one isn't a toy."

[at_your_service]

Fritjof, lay down, JARVIS barked at Gmork. Good boy.

Moving around the room, it seemed as though he was floating, which could be a bit creepy - they might have to look at that some time. Executing a figure eight, JARVIS tested all the directions before moving into the next room.

"Have you considered a way to counter steps? Not everywhere is accessible."

[playboy_philanthropist]

Tony's eyes went wide and his eyebrows up when JARVIS barked. Really, he barked and that was an odd thing to see. Even odder when the puppy backed off dejectedly and sat down. He shook his head and laughed in disbelief as he reached down and ruffled the pup's fur.

"Shit, you weren't kidding about learning their language, were you?" he said in amusement before following JARVIS. "Are your auditory sensors working properly? Because I seem to recall asking you to try out a walk cycle instead of just looking like the Gentlemen."

His smirk turned a bit wry as he put his hand in his pockets. Gmork went galloping by, barking and sniffing all over the main entry hall. "There's repulsor technology factored in to deal with stairs." That was on lesson he'd never forget.

[at_your_service]

"Jesting is not my prime directive, Sir. And it has proven quite useful, though the hounds and I are still working out some bugs," JARVIS explained before the hologram mimicked a walking motion while the roomba moved. It took a few seconds for the speeds to sync but then JARVIS demonstrated by walking in a circle.

"I thought you might appreciate the nod towards Halloween."

The hologram hand with into his pocket before emerging with a red ball. Pretending to throw it, Gmork went running off in the direction, but the ball ceased to exist once outside the realm of the roomba.

"I'm sure Gmork is too smart for this game, but it was something I wished to try."

[playboy_philanthropist]

"Might not be the prime directive, but you're so good at it," Tony teased as he watched JARVIS, nodding in appreciation once the AI got the rhythm right. "You going to come dressed up to the party? You're probably the only one of us that can successfully pull off the headless horseman act."

He laughed as if to prove JARVIS right, Gmork stopped short as soon as he lost sight of the ball. The puppy sniffed around in confusion a moment before trotting back to JARVIS and growling indignantly at the AI.

"Let me guess. That was a very emphatic 'screw you'?" he said with a laugh. Gmork plopped down in front of JARVIS, continuing to yip and bark. He shook his head. His AI was slowly getting a body and talking with Asgardian dogs. What had become of his life? Looking around the entry hall, his brow furrowed as he thought over what room would be best for continuing their experiment. "Ready for getting deeper into the wilds of non-technology?"

[at_your_service]

"If you like, Sir. I hadn't expected to appear at the party in this form," JARVIS explained as he moved into the drawing room.

Crouching down to be on more of a level with Gmork, he turned his attention to the pup. I'm sorry, but I don't have a real ball. If you go into the basement or the garage of this house, there might be something you can play with or that Master Tony can throw for you.

"Have you installed all wheel drive on this?" JARVIS asked as he straightened up and continued his tour of the house.

[playboy_philanthropist]

Tony shook his head in amusement at JARVIS talking to the dog. If it didn't look so silly, he might suggest JARVIS teaching him. Gmork seemed to understand English just fine anyways. He raised an eyebrow as the puppy yipped at JARVIS and went galloping off in the opposite direction.

"Do I even want to know?" he asked before he rolled his eyes slightly. "If you like, JARVIS. If you'd rather stay in the woodwork, that's fine. If you'd like to spook some people, go for it. Whatever you're comfortable with."

He snorted in amusement as he passed JARVIS and lead the way to the old study. He thought it'd be an interesting place to maneuver around. Dark wood paneling and paint wasn't like anything in his tower or the Malibu house. Plus there was the desk and chairs, a few boxes if he remembered, to maneuver around, plus the bookshelves with distractions.... "You have repulsor technology to help you up the stairs and you're worried about all wheel drive," he teased before nodding. "Yeah, you're all set. Why?"

[at_your_service]

"Probably not," JARVIS said. "Though I simply gave him something to keep him occupied for the next little while."

JARVIS moved around the study before adjusting the hologram to make it look like he was sitting in the chair in the study.

"Repulsor technology is not the smoothest to adjust to, if I recall from your experiments with it. I was considering all wheel drive for the outdoors of this estate."

[playboy_philanthropist]

Tony pushed himself up to sit on top of the desk as he watched JARVIS. He was doing well, getting better with each attempt, but then it was what he was supposed to do. Learn. He couldn't help making a face as JARVIS sat down in the big chair behind the desk. Well, better JARVIS than him.

He raised his eyebrows as he looked at JARVIS in surprise. "You want to go outside?" It was the main reason for making JARVIS mobile, but even so, he was used to the AI being... interior. Even when he was out with him in the suit, he was still inside the suit. There was something warm and giddy about the thought of JARVIS outside.

[at_your_service]

"Well, I don't want to waltz down fifth avenue with you like this - that'd be too ostentatious - but if you were working on something outside, it could be useful. I do like to be prepared for any eventuality, Sir, especially considering who my boss is," JARVIS answered with a bit of a smirk.

"Adaptability is key, is it not, Sir?" he asked as the hologram leaned back, crossing his legs.

[playboy_philanthropist]

"Oh, using logic on me. You know how I get when you use logic on me, JARVIS," Tony teased before waving a hand dismissively "We'll leave the stroll down Fifth for when we get your sports model edition all set. Less chance of some kid thinking you'd make an awesome Christmas present, grabbing you, and running. Not something I want happening, even if you would be the best Christmas present ever."

He nodded as he leaned back on the desk, resting his weight on his arms. "It is. And you're doing a great job at it. By the time we get your solid mobile unit up and ready, everyone's going to think you're just part of the crowd."

[at_your_service]

"Harassment, sir. Do I have to make you watch another video on the topic, Sir? I hear Director Fury has a rather good workshop on the topic," JARVIS teased.

"And I have no desire to be anyone else's Christmas present. As anyone else would render half my programming useless."

[playboy_philanthropist]

"It isn't harassment if you enjoy it," Tony teased back. "And I know you enjoy it, so don't even try and deny it. Oh, and unexpected benefit of being here. You can't queue up that video for shits and giggles and play it to annoy me. Maybe I should plan on taking you out more often."

He absently looked around the study as he bumped his heel against the side of the desk. "Luckily, I have no desire to give you to anyone anyways. Everything would be an even bigger mess than Pepper taking a vacation." His brow furrowed in a thoughtful expression. "Christmas is going to be interesting this year..."

[at_your_service]

"You'll just have to design the next mobile unit with ability to project video," JARVIS said simply.

"Should I expect to find a digital copy of your MIT ring haphazardly left in one of my hard drives then?" JARVIS asked.

"Do the Avengers celebrate Christmas? You could just do secret santa or a gift exchange - then you only need to get a gift for one person. Though I did have an idea for gifts, Sir, that would require your assistance."

[playboy_philanthropist]

"I think that'll be way, way, way, way, way down on the priority list," Tony said with a snort of amusement and a roll of his eyes. "Especially since you do perfectly fine with the snark with any added resources. Like you don't have scan of it already. I know you've been spending your time off of translating doggie speak by staring wistfully at that ring on your finger and putting little hearts around my name on every server."

Tony shrugged. "I don't know. Fury mentioned that SHIELD actually has a Christmas party, so..." He shrugged again. "Maybe a secret Santa is the answer..." He kept musing that over even as he looked up in surprise before realizing that this room didn't have the cameras and speakers in it. He blinked once before looking over at where JARVIS was sitting in the chair, his expression both surprised and sheepish. "You have ideas for gifts? You don't need to do that. I doubt anyone is expecting that from you."

[at_your_service]

"You've found me out, Sir," JARVIS teased, leaning back in his chair with a smirk.

"Sir, I am a product of Tony Stark. I take delight in doing the unexpected."

[playboy_philanthropist]

Tony laughed brightly as he shook his head. "Yeah, and being a smart ass," he pointed out before shaking his head again. "Not that you're a product. So, what's this idea of yours that you actually need my help for?"

[at_your_service]

"Takes one to know one, as the saying goes, Sir," JARVIS said with a smile.

"Well, most of the residents of the Tower seem to have adapted to my presence rather well and I though perhaps mini modules for their phones would be appropriate. Something that could easily interface with me while lowering the load on my servers."

[playboy_philanthropist]

Tony's eyebrows raised at the idea and he couldn't help the protective and possessive surge that went through him. He was coming to appreciate and like giving people things, but... well, JARVIS was his baby.

He crossed his arms over his chest as he studied JARVIS' hologram. "In what way? Splinters of you that would be able to function without direction connection all the time or are you more thinking along the lines of new AI programs that can then sync with you when necessary?"

[at_your_service]

"No need to get jealous or broody, Sir, I'm not planning to leave you. Whatever would be more efficient. Apple's Siri is a poor approximation of what I'm envisioning," JARVIS began. "Nothing of my capacity or to the full extent of my abilities, but personalized for each user."

[playboy_philanthropist]

"I'm not jealous. Or broody," Tony said with a pout that showed JARVIS was at least partially right about that. Tapping his fingers against his arms, his eyes got a bit distant as he went over the possibilities of it. "Layman's example. You could program Siri on your spare processor while piloting all the Iron Man suits at once."

He nodded his head absently to a rhythm in his own head. "Personalization may call for separate AIs, especially with the learning software. If the other programs spend too much time between syncs, adapting themselves to their users and learning from them and yet essentially being your program, it could cause a bit-" He made a face as he waved a hand around his head. "-MPD. At least fully personalized..." He shook his head, backing up a bit in his thought processes to the initial idea. "You mentioned Siri. Would that be the express purpose of the programming you have in mind? Providing with help in regards to research and app jumps and, well, companionship?"

[at_your_service]

"Could you make separate but limited AIs? Nothing capable of competing with me, but seeing how useful I am to you and to the other residents, I would enjoy being able to devote more of my resources exclusively to you, Sir," JARVIS explained.

"But yes, providing research assistance, basic support, etcetera. I hadn't considered companionship, though I think that may be useful for some residents. "

[playboy_philanthropist]

"I could. Of course where to draw the limitations is always the tricky part." He'd have to base them off JARVIS current programming, his years of experience that gave him a solid sense of self. A clean slate with learning capability... That'd be too dangerous considering the people they'd be interacting with and learning from to form their core system. But leaving the learning capability out would be just as dangerous. He pressed his lips together. "Would you be able to keep them all in line? I mean, if they were separate units, you'd essentially be getting a bunch of siblings..."

Already he wasn't liking that hierarchy. It was treading on dangerous ground, possibly putting JARVIS in danger because even if Tony trusted his programming and software, he didn't necessarily trust completely it in the hands of the team. There were too many chances for jealousy and even if he made them inferior, if they chose to team up... Which could be solved by the removal of personality, but... well, a mini-JARVIS wouldn't be JARVIS without his personality... Otherwise, well, yes, it'd just be a better functioning and more efficient Siri.

"I'll need to think this over... Weigh all the variables. Freeing up your resources because, yeah, I'm an attention whore where you're concerned, but also security and maintaining a happy environment... It's an interesting idea though."

[at_your_service]

"Perhaps miniature interfaces, then? Not full fledged AIs with consciousness? I can keep you in line, can't I?" JARVIS quipped.

"It is an idea. And one that should be tested thoroughly."

[playboy_philanthropist]

Tony snorted. "You've had years of practice at that though and I like you," he pointed out before nodding. "We can get started on it when we get home." He raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to keep this completely secret from everyone so it's a proper sur-"

He started in surprise when a loud thunk came from the doorway. Turning his attention to the door, his eyes went wide when he saw Gmork trying to gallop into the room with carrying a very familiar shield that was nearly twice as big as an average frisbee in his mouth. He frowned deeply as the puppy trotted over to him, put his front paws on the side of the desk, and tried to hold the shield as high as possible. Bending over, Tony pulled it from Gmork's mouth, confusion obvious on his face as he wiped the dirt, dust, and grim from the red, white, and blue design. "Where did you find this?" he asked, his voice soft with awe.

[at_your_service]

"I believe so. Unless you require someone's assistance or Doctor Banner to test it out?"

JARVIS studied Tony for a moment, wondering if he'd prompted some undesired consequence.

"I'm sorry, Sir. I send him to the garage to find a suitable toy."

[playboy_philanthropist]

"We can keep it secret then," Tony said absently, his attention mostly taken by the shield he was turning over in his hands. It took him a moment for the rest of the words to register. He blinked out of his inspection and looked first at Gmork who was watching him expectantly with his tail wagging and then to JARVIS.

"Nothing to be sorry about, JARVIS. I just..." He turned his gaze back to the shield, his fingers tracing all the imperfections in the metal. "I tossed it in the scrap pile. I always figured it just got made into something else. I never thought it was just sitting around." Truth be told, he hadn't tried to think about it at all after he'd thrown it away. It was a failed product and hanging onto it or thinking overly about it would have been showing weakness and sentimentality.

[at_your_service]

"Well, it seems as Fritjof enjoys a box of scraps just as much as you do, Sir," JARVIS said with a bit of a smile.

Did you find anything else in that lovely box of scraps?

[playboy_philanthropist]

"Fritjof?" Tony raised his eyebrows and looked down at the dog curiously. "They had names already? Does he like that name better than Gmork?"

He watched as the puppy trotted over to JARVIS, barking the entire time (Yes! There are small cars and metal beasts similar to the ones Master Tony calls Dummy and You and Iron Man, but the shield of the one my packmates call Daddy and you call Steve looked like the only toy.) as he crawled into the chair. Tony laughed as Gmork stamped his front paws through JARVIS lap and against the seat, much in the same way as he had tried with the arc reactor that once. Again, barking what seemed like a critique on the situation (Farfar must show you how to do illusion better so we can wrestle.). He shook his head in amusement as he twirled the shield between his hands, learning the weight and feel of it again.

"You're going to have us making those translation collars from UP, aren't you?" he teased fondly.

[at_your_service]

"They did. I don't think they mind their new names though. Considering they're bestowed by the humans they chose. Brynja is a bit indignant about being called Dog. They have names for you too," JARVIS explained, mimicking a chuckle as Gmork tried to knead his hologram.

When we get back to the Tower, you can ask Farfar to show me how to do better illusions as he is most gifted in them.

"If you wish, Sir, but do you really want to know everything he says about you?"

[playboy_philanthropist]

Tony snorted his head in amusement and shook his head. "I don't even want to know what they call us, do I?" he said with a laugh. "Although feel free to embarrass me all you want with them."

He shook his head again at the barked conversation. Gmork, Fritjof, whatever he was called, pounced against the back of the chair in an obvious attempt to lick JARVIS' face before he hopped down and ran around the room. Which was a little odd to watch because it made it rather obvious that JARVIS wasn't actually sitting in the chair, but where he perceived the chair to be.

"Well, I did until you said that," he joked. "Now I'm not so sure." Shifting his grip on the shield to one where he could actually throw the piece of metal, he smiled in amusement. "You know, I knocked both my front teeth out with this. My baby teeth thankfully, but only one of them was sort of loose at the time."

[at_your_service]

"The consensus on your name is 'Talks Too Much' though Gmork calls you 'King of the Lab' occasionally," JARVIS explained.

"How did you manage that one, Sir? It seems to require a particular type of talent."

[playboy_philanthropist]

Tony laughed loudly before smirking at JARVIS. "And they came up with that one on their own? They didn't, say, have some help from a nosy little AI," he joked before reaching his foot out to bump Gmork gently as he galloped by. "At least my pup knows how it is."

His smirk grew as he shifted his grip on the shield a bit more until he had the small shield in a hold that, at the time when he had made the shield, had been very familiar from the comics and film strips. "You know Steve's whole ricocheting move? Not as easy to calculate as you'd think. Especially when you're six. I hadn't taken into account the different properties of the metals and what I was aiming at. Not to mention that aim like that takes practice."

He swung his arm a few times, laughing when Gmork started yipping and bouncing around. "Alright, alright. Yes, play, play, play. If I lose any teeth though, I'm blaming you," he joked before lightly tossing the shield and watching as the pup chased it around the study.

[at_your_service]

"Yes. Well, Brynja and Hans - Agents Romanoff and Barton's dogs - do most of the naming, it seems. They actually do most of the talking. Very informed pups," JARVIS explained with a smirk.

"Well, I'm sure with the right amount of practice, you'd be able to achieve it - particularly with the iron man suit."

[playboy_philanthropist]

"Natasha's dog is a talkative one? Now that is interesting," Tony said with a laugh as Gmork dragged the shield back to him and tried to toss it onto his knees. "Do the informed pups have anything interesting to actually say? Anything of use?"

Sliding off the desk, he shook his head as he took the shield from Gmork. "Let's leave that gimmick to Steve. We got much cooler tricks we can do." He nodded his head towards the door. "Want to head out back to give that all wheel drive a go?"

[at_your_service]

"They seem to be concerned with the mating habits and happiness of the Tower's residents, but other than that they are concerned with food and adventures, primarily," JARVIS answered before mimicking getting to his feet and leading the way out the door.

"I am always up for testing out inventions, Sir. You should know that by now."

[playboy_philanthropist]

"Oh, so they're little gossips, eh?" Tony said with a laugh as he walked with JARVIS, holding the shield up to keep it away from Gmork who was bouncing around the both of them. "Does this mean I'll have to really make sure to lock my door at night or I'll have more eyes than usual watching me?"

He opened the back door for JARVIS before going out onto the back patio and going down the few steps with a slight bounce, tossing the shield across the yard like a frisbee. He watched Gmork chase after the shield before grinning back over at JARVIS. "You mean you enjoy watching me crash into things," he teased. "Have you and the others starting taking bets on when I'll blow myself up again?"

[at_your_service]

"A bit, Sir. But I wouldn't worry too much about them," JARVIS said as he tested the repulsors as he went down the stairs, wobbling only a bit before taking the all wheel drive over the yard.

"No Sir. Though I do hear that Agents Barton and Romanoff are always up for a gamble. I have not raised the issue with them yet. Besides, the suits are getting better so I don't expect that result from you anytime soon."

[playboy_philanthropist]

Tony nodded, his brow knitting a bit in worry. Wandering closer to JARVIS, he leaned in towards the AI slightly out of habit, even if the audio sensors weren't up at his head. "Does he talk about things that go on in the lab with the other pups?" he whispered, nodding his head slightly towards where Gmork was trying to pry the shield up enough to pick it up in his mouth. "And they are always up for a gamble. Lucky for you, cleaning bathrooms isn't an affective punishment on you."