midnightstar

Since graduating from the Academy, life has been..interesting for Alisa, to say the least. She's been kept very busy, since she was upholding her promise to her mother on showing her the proper way to run the company, and it wasn't easy to put in those changes. Though it would have been a lot harder if she didn't have the support of those around her. But because of that, she hadn't been able to get time to get to visit Rean as much as she liked.

Translation: As much as she liked = every day. She did get to visit - or vice versa - at least on the weekend, and she talked to him almost every night thanks to the range on the ARCUS. Just as finished up for the night, she made her way up to the penthouse, glancing around to make sure she was alone (And you never know with Sharon) in order to take out her ARCUS once more and see if she could get a hold of Rean before bed. She was planning on seeing if he was in the area - alternatively, she was sure she could get away for a visit, if he wasn't busy.

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Hopefully those people will realize how wrong they are, and soon.

Alisa grinned in response, "I just want the people who helped to create it get the appropriate credit. She would have leaned a little into him, but by the time she thought about it, the elevator had already reached the level they were to get off.

"Oh - we're here already!" Ahahah, damn elevator being too quick. Sigh. She shifted her grip on her tupperware containers, and nodded instead. Onward! She stepped out of the elevator, starting down the hall.

"And they will. But that includes you for helping make it happen. Giving them the chance to shine and let their work speak for itself." Rean said as if he was clearly stating an absolute fact.

"So we are. Lead the way then." Rean said waiting for Alisa to take point before falling in line by her side.

That was an excellent point, she had to admit. Leave it to Rean to make that argument. She chuckled slightly, leading the way until she came to a set of doors with the plaque 'Research Division' next to it.

She pushed the doors open, where there were several researchers busy at work. They glance up when they hear someone entering, glancing first to Alisa, then to Rean and back. "Miss Alisa," one of the men greets, a puzzled look on his face, "We weren't expecting you to visit today."

"I know, I'm sorry I didn't call ahead." Alisa smiled, "I wanted to show m...yyyyyyy....." Oh god, she suddenly stalls on the word. Friend? Guest? ....boyfriend? AGGH -- she shakes her head quickly, "W--we brought food. I know you've all been working really hard - you probably haven't eaten at all today."

One of the researchers gives Rean a bit of a look at how flustered Alisa suddenly is, while another pair are standing at a table, whispering to each other and chuckling.

Rean was quite happy she didn't shoot down that point at least. A win was a win no matter what. That being said it was the moment of truth and Rean Simply stood next to Alisa looking around out of the corner of his eye. Though his look snapped sharply to Alisa when she course directed her words at the last second. Oh right food.

Rean lifted his bag to show where said meals were since Alisa wasn't exactly carrying them in a stack herself at the moment.

The other man looked surprised at Alisa's explanation (or lack thereof, in regards to Rean). "You...brought us food? Miss Alisa, you didn't have to do that...!"

"I know we didn't. But you've also been working really hard on that prototype. Is it ready?" Alisa asked curiously.

"There are still one or two bugs to work out in its programming, so it's not quite ready to be released to the public yet. If you'd like to see it, it's in the testing room now."

"In a moment. Could someone clear off a table please?" Alisa asked curiously.

"Oh! Yes, yes of course." the man turned and started to clear off one of the tables so Rean and Alisa could put the food down.

To be frank, a part of Rean was actually worried he'd be recognized as Osborne's son or the hero of Crossbell the Ashen Chevalier. His asshole of a father did not hesitate to spread Rean's fame and reputation despite the feeling of his son who would have to bear both brands of consequence born from said reputation.

So it was actually refreshing to see no one treating him differently because of that. His smile was more genuine because of that as he put the bag up on the table before taking out container after container.

Alisa was also making a point to not say his name, in case someone in the division was more aware of things. Most of them seemed to be more interested in their products than the outside world here.

That being said, Alisa didn't want to linger, so once the food was set out, she exchanged a few more pleasantries before excusing herself, since she wasn't there on business and didn't want to get held up with questions. "Over this way-" Alisa murmured to Rean, pointing at a door - there was a large tinted glass window that looked into the room, and for some reason, said window had one or two cracks in it.

Alisa looked a little puzzled, but she walked inot the room anyway - once inside, the room was fairly spacious. There was a computer system, one or two chairs and benches, and a smaller table on which there was a small round object that strangely looked a lot like the happiness hare Rean had made for Alisa what seemed like forever ago. Only made of metal, of course.

"There it is." Alisa grinned, "Let's see if it'll activate."

Rean quickly followed Alisa leaving the researchers with their quality meal while he slipped into the observation room with her, instantly taking note of the cracked window. That...shouldn't be happening since that was clearly reinforced glass.

As he drew up close to Alisa, his eyes landed on the device in the observed room. The design jumped up at him right away.

"What..."

Definitely not. Something might have impacted with the window pretty hard to make a crack like that. Also, Alisa might be blushing a little, hearing that reaction, but she's got her back to Rean, much to her relief.

Focused entirely on the computer screen as it's connected to the little unit on the table, "Let's see... it shouldn't be a problem --Ahah! Here we go.."

Words appeared on the screen as Alisa typed away on the keyboard. Her login credentials, followed by confirmation of the login and secret code, which then got her into the actual system. A moment later, there was a soft hum and a cute little chime emitted from the unit, as the previously dark eyes suddenly lit up a bright blue.

"Unable to identify user. Please state user identification." Said the Unit in an almost cold, mechanical voice.

"Alisa Reinford."

"Registering." Beep beep. "Registration complete." And then the voice changes to one far less mechanical, and almost friendly, the mechanical bunny ear-like antennae swiveling slightly before turning in Rean's direction. "RUMU unit active. Good morning Alisa." It ... says this to Rean though. Silly thing.

Rean patiently waited for Alisa to initiate the program. But then the little cute machine whirred to life and actually spoke. Only to the wrong person which in turn made Rean chuckle softly after stepping a little closer.

"Not quite RUMU. I'm Rean. Alisa is over there." He said pointing to the blonde. He was talking to the little machine as naturally as he would to a small child though. talking to artificial entities did become second nature thanks to all his time spent with Valimar.

Alisa chuckled when the machine addressed Rean, and watched at the unit focused its attention on him at the correction. "Understood." A slight pause as it modified its response, "User 'Rean' stored. Good morning, Rean." And then it turns to Alisa. "Good morning, Alisa."

Alisa giggled, "Good morning, RUMU." She glanced at Rean a little shyly, "You've.. probably noticed about its design already. The RUMU units were created to be a sort of low-cost unit for the disabled, or playmate for children, or just a general helper around the house. Though it's not actually been tested out in 'field' yet." She was thinking of bringing one to the penthouse later, to see how it worked.

"When we were discussing the designs, I wanted to have something harmless and cute... to offset the things that have come out of Reinford before, and I remembered when we were in Ymir, and you made me that hare." It was unbearably cute, so it was perfect. "Of course it's nowhere near as advanced as Valimar or anything. It's learning capability is much more limited."

The fact that it could learn just after being corrected once was nothing short of impressive. After all Valimar took plenty of time to start sounding as Human as he sounded now.

"I thought i recognized it. Yet I have to say that design definitely suits it. You are quite the cute little critter." He said turning a smile over to Rumu. Alisa's explanation made perfect sense though.

"Oh he can help around the house too? How exactly?" he asked curiously.

Alisa had insisted that when the interaction programming was put into the unit, that it had to sound more like a friendly person than a robot. "Well, I'm sure it's not full programmed yet, and it's definitely not been tested to its full capabilities, but... Rumu, would you please detail your capabilities?"

"Understood, Alisa." It chirped back at her. "At present this Rumu unit is capable of:" and its voice suddenly shifted out of the cheerful tone to one more mechanical again. "Cleaning: Interior Homes. Cleaning: Exterior Homes. Entertainment/Play Mode Subheading Children And/Or Pets. Entertainment/Music Mode, Entertainment/Reading Mode. Deliveries: Subheading - Load not to exceed 15 torim. Accessing-"

"That's enough, Rumu." Alisa said quickly. She glanced over at Rean, "Sorry, it looks like that was a bug. I'll have them look into the voice pattern programming and fix that. But That's only part of what it can do anyway. It's also supposed to be able to be able to contact someone if the person it's registered to need help."

The Rumu Unit suddenly beeped and lifted off of its charge base, "Is help required, Alisa? Rumu Unit is not detecting any signs of distress. Please state your emergency."

Alisa looked momentarily startled, and quickly waved her hand, "No no no, I was just - it's fine, Rumu, I'm sorry." Ahaha, she's.. going to have to be careful what she says too apparently.

Rean was certainly surprised to hear such a long list of functions and traits. Especially the 15 torim limit. That was quite impressive to say the least if it was actually true.

"Still this is amazing. And it's so cute in the design too. I can already tell this little guy will be real popular with kids." Rean chuckled softly while Alisa had to correct the little machine again.

"He' still pretty damn good even for a prototype. You have a solid foundation here."

At the praise, Alisa blushed a little, giving the Rumu Unit a bemused look as it started its idle mode - which was essentially puttering around the perimeter of the room.

Alisa glanced at Rean, "Well I have you to thank about its design. I wouldn't ever have thought about the happiness hare if not for that day in Ymir, and if Rumu can bring a little happiness to people, it's more than worth it."

Rumu bonked into the window briefly, recorrected its path, and puttered on. Alisa studied the window thoughtfully, "I do wonder how it got cracked like that though. Those windows are supposed to be reinforced against things like bullets and blunt force impacts, and no one told me anything about there being any accidents here."

Even seeing it move about without purpose was oddly cute. He never expected to see a happiness hare in the flesh like this. If you could call metal flesh but the poit was conveyed surely.

"I agree" he nodded softly before crouching down to get a closer look at the small machine.

"Hmmm maybe a bug with its means of transport. Like lack of brakes maybe?"

Alisa knelt down next to Rean, "That does seem the most likely." She reached over to pick Rumu up, giggling when the bot made a little distressed beeping as if it was surprised. "Maybe-" her musing was interrupted when the door was shoved open rather roughly, and a grey haired researcher stormed in, "EXCUSE me, what do you think you're doing - this area is offlimits to the public. This is NOT a playground for people to put t heir hands on an untested product, and it's CERTAINLY not a 'date spot' for a pair of --" he stopped short when Alisa looked up, her lips in a thin line of irritation.

"Ah - I...wasn't aware it was you, Miss Alisa. Do forgive me." He glanced at Rean, suddenly frowning, "However regardless of your status within the company even you know that bringing..." He stared at Rean again, suddenly trailing off thoughtfully.

Rean narrowed his eyes at the sudden intervention. The way he paused when he got a good look at Rean did not bode well so he decided to try and throw the man off.

"The design of your product is based on a tradition of Ymir. Which happens to be my hometown. Alisa simply wished to show it to me for that reason. I was actually going to praise your work for such a fine quality prototype. But since my presence here is not wanted I suppose my appreciation is likewise."

The attempt was a wild success, in fact, because just as the researcher was about to hazard a guess wondering if Rean was exactly who he was, and thus make things... awkward, he's instead startled by Rean's answer. "What? N- no, that is -I, er..."

Alisa straightened with Rumu in her hands, "I've already noticed some bugs in the Rumu unit, that I'll be directing you and the rest of the team into looking at." She placed the RUMU unit back on its charger. "I exepct that those issues will be ironed out by the next meeting?"

"Ah - yes, of course...! I can assure you, that won't be a problem whotsoever -" He was backpedaling so fast, he was breaking speed limits.

Rean was getting far too good at these sorts of tactics and manipulation. Still with the man now completley thrown off of his revelation, now was the time to take their leave before he had time to recover. Rean wasn't going to push his luck and hopefully Alisa would get the hint as well.

Maybe, but in this case it wasn't that bad. Alisa wasn't done either, folding her arms, "Furthermore, I should hope in the future, that you consider who it is you think you're yelling at. Next time I might not be so forgiving."

The man swallowed slightly as Alisa made her way over to the computer terminal, "I'll be sending a report in a day or two. Once you work out the problems outlined, send me one of the prototype units and I'll test it out myself." Of course, by then Rean will have left, so her report will probably end up being a little... harsher than it normally would. Sheglanced to Rean and nodded, motioning for him to follow her.

Rean quickly followed Alisa out before moening up to walk closer to her side as he leaned in closer still to get her attention.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly as the tow walked off.

It was good that Rean quickened his pace to follow her, since she had almost forgotten to wait for him, an angry stride to her steps. The researchers that looked her way quickly looked elsewhere lest they get Alisa's attention.

Hearing Rean speak up though, Alisa sighed, slowing her steps a little as she glanced towards him, "... Yeah, I'm fine.." She gave him a slight smile, "He's not the only one like that." She frowned, "I was hoping he wouldn't be there today." Not just to avoid him noticing Rean and potentially causing a problem, but because he was a butt.

Considering how people were getting out of her way before she even said a word after storming off, told him this side of Alisa was not rare around these parts. Especially then she started talking again.

"Ah I see. Still it takes a harsher approach like that to handle his type so you can't be blamed for having that outburst~"

Alisa was pointedly ignoring the others at this point, considering Rean's words before she nodded gently, "Yeah... and more importantly," she shyly glanced around, then reached down to brush her hand against his on the way out of the room, "Some of the bugs should be ironed out before--" She inwardly grimaced, catching herself before she says 'before you leave'.