[Day 4 - Late Afternoon] Expo-Exp(l)o(re) (Barre Civic Centre)

[Priya Khatri]

It had been a rather long few days at the New Angeles Expo but Priya was at least glad that it was coming to an end. She had to exercise her smiling muscles more times than she would have liked, finding herself having surprise friends in places she didn't even recall. With all of this over, she could at least look forward to returning to her own environment. At least there she knew the people who were trying to get a favour out of her.

She found herself distancing herself from the Haas-Bioroid exhibit, in which sports hoopers and memory thingamajigs seem to have taken the centre stage from the bioroids and Network security that the company excelled in. It was a curious corporate decision but she didn't have much say in the matter. She stopped by at one of the refreshment kiosks to get herself a coffee. It was admittedly staffed by various Levy University students who were hoping to get their foot at the door through any means.

[Leo Knight]

It was perhaps fortunate that, not being a public figure, Leo did not have to smile. His smiling muscles were very underdeveloped. Atrophied was only a slight exaggeration.

It was also a universal truth that corporate workers were powered by coffee, going back years and years and years. Leo might not have been a regular office worker, but that didn't mean he didn't subsist on the same caffeine delivery system as everyone else.

"Ma'am." He acknowledged the vaguely familiar woman in line with him, nodding. A moment later, and he frowned at her, noting her appearance. Obvious corporate worker of some importance. His eyes flickered this way and that, looking for her security.

[Priya Khatri]

Sandra Song

"Here's your coffee, sir!" The very eager and bright smiling attendant at the kiosk would present Leo with the coffee that he ordered. From what he could see, there was a clear business card that was cleverly slipped into the sleeve itself. "I'm Sandra Song, by the way! I'm in the last year of my program in finance matrices. Enjoy your time at the expo!"


Zeus 2R5T1X

Priya's security escort did linger around. While Zeus didn't stand close enough to be imposing on others, it was hard to miss the very obviously large and mechanical bioroid that was standing among the crowds.

Priya would nod back and acknowledge Leo after making her order. "And sir, good afternoon. I see that much of the expo's excitement had really taken a toll on you, or maybe you're finding yourself already missing the excitement already on the final day?"

[Leo Knight]

Sandra Song
"Here's your coffee, sir!" The very eager and bright smiling attendant at the kiosk would present Leo with the coffee that he ordered. From what he could see, there was a clear business card that was cleverly slipped into the sleeve itself. "I'm Sandra Song, by the way! I'm in the last year of my program in finance matrices. Enjoy your time at the expo!"

"Thanks," kid, Leo mentally added. "And good luck." He really meant it.

Priya would nod back and acknowledge Leo after making her order. "And sir, good afternoon. I see that much of the expo's excitement had really taken a toll on you, or maybe you're finding yourself already missing the excitement already on the final day?"

Strangely satisfied, Leo let his awareness of the combat droid drift into his secondary awareness. But certainly not out of his mind entirely.

"Something like that." Leo said in his gravelly voice, sipping at the coffee. "Mostly I like to keep my edge. Where would the corporate world be without this?" Half-smiling, he raised his cup. "Although I guess R&D would figure something out."

He glanced around through narrowed eyes. "I don't know if I'll miss the excitement. But it's been a learning experience, anyway. Lotta new tech coming out."

[Priya Khatri]

Priya would give him a momentary smile at the same that he gave her. "Well, coffee is generally considered old-fashioned nowadays, it seemed. From what I've seen, corporate types seem to have moved on to other things like guzzling cans of Diesel mixed with vodka, taking a constant stream of stims, or relying on some sort of inner-self-empowerment life coach on speed dial. Coffee is good, however, simple and to the point," she nodded once in appreciation.

She would pause for a moment and extend her semi-mechanical hand. "I don't think we've been formally introduced as of yet. I am Priya Khatri, of Haas-Bioroid R&D, actually."

[Leo Knight]

Leo shrugged. "Guess I'm old-fashioned, then. Or maybe I'm just not in the right corporate circles."

Nodding, Leo extended his hand as well. Also semi-mechanical. "Leo Knight, Weyland. Security." They shook. "Oh, did you work on the vehicle? Or the... memory scanner?" His rough voice held a bit of skepticism for that second one.

[Priya Khatri]

There was a look of hesitation on Priya's part when he mentioned that he was a part of Weyland but they shook hands nevertheless, she wasn't going to forget her manners there. She did look slightly amused by both questions. While a part of her could have potentially felt insulted by the guesses, she assumed it was more a genuine mistake than anything else. She did allow herself a small chuckle on the question.

She took her head as she took the coffee from Sandra, ignore what she had to say about herself and much of the girl's disappointment. "No. I suppose I was rather vague about what I do, I'm actually in Network Security, building architecture and ICE development. I'm sure many have found their way into your company. I won't bore you with the details but it is nowhere as obvious as a stylish hopper or a memory scanner, although the latter does have something relating to what we do when it comes to programming bioroids."

[Leo Knight]

"Oh. Yeah." Leo grimaced. "I don't know much about that stuff. I mean, they've both got security in the name, but it's entirely different departments." He shrugged, a little awkwardly. Nadia was somehow involved with that stuff, but that didn't help him understand it any better.

He took a sip of the coffee. "So do you have a project here? Or just viewing? Like me." The cup lingered at his lips, concealing his expression. Not that there was much to see if he hadn't been.

[Priya Khatri]

"Yes, I suppose different departments. In a way, we do build bioroids but our bioroids only exist on the Network." She said as she gave a gesture toward one of the holographic standees that detailed a time and a place where attendees can view a bioroid fashion who to showcase all of the latest and upcoming models. It seems that androgenous bioroids have become a growing trend.

"Just viewing, much like yourself," she nodded once at the question. "My sort of project doesn't exactly see the light of day except on the Network and the least amusing part of it. I think I sort of prefer it that way, let the people who love the attention take the credit with all of their flashy ideas. But, I am reminded that opportunities like this are supposed to allow you to meet new people and make friends. Everyone seems to think so, it seems everyone is coming out of the woodwork and treading you like a long-lost friend."

She tilted her head slightly toward Sandra's direction, who was already working hard in making a coffee concoction for the next expo attendee. "Does the experience wear you out or do you take like a duck in water, as they say?"

[Leo Knight]

Leo frowned, his forehead creasing. More. His face was already lined, highlighted with a few scars. "Bioroids that only exist on the Network? I thought bioroids were constructed out of artificial materials. Is your thing some sort of program...?" Leo was a bit fuzzy on some of the finer points of technology.

He chuckled without humor, following the look at the barista. "They all work so hard." He said in his gravelly voice. "Hoping for their big break. Who knows? Some of them might make it."

He looked back to Priya. "Neither. It doesn't wear me out, but..." Leo took a sip of the coffee. "I don't know. It's just another thing."

[Priya Khatri]

"The bioroids most people see are but they are able to exist in many forms, both physical and digital. However, I think people fail to realize that a larger percentage of bioroids are actually just artificial constructs, programming that exist as a complex list of functions and binary raw information that are sampled by brain scans from us. Even before putting that programming into robotic bodies. we've been putting them into use into computers as 'AI', so to speak. What we do in Haas-Bioroid is apply that into the Network as ICE, protection software and such." She mentioned, finding it surprising to explain this to someone who worked corporate but there were many levels and complexities found in any megacorporations.

"I suppose where I came from, hard work and commitment translate into success. I never had to try to draw out favours with smiles and such. It's a bit of a rarity, I know." She nodded.

She brushed some hair behind her ear and took a sip of coffee. "What would you rather be doing. I'm talking about not work-related."

[Leo Knight]

Leo frowned. "I guess that makes sense. There's no reason that a bioroid really has to be in the shape of a person." In a lot of ways, Leo was behind the times on technology. The time that he'd been contracted to destroy a server came to mind. Had that been an intelligence? Well, what was one more killing, really.

Once more, Leo smiled without humor. "I don't know. Really, I don't. Like you said, hard work and commitment. That's been my life..." He trailed off, shaking his head, covering his confusion with a sip of coffee. "I guess I like it quiet. Maybe somewhere with a good book. I don't know."

[Priya Khatri]

Priya narrowed her eyes curiously on the other man but eventually relented with a few nods. She supposed that talking to someone to another megacorportion would warrant some defensiveness. Then again, there are also many several people who are very dedicated and married to their job. "Ah, I see. I'd like to think of myself the same way in many aspects. Some days, my work consumes much of my day and I catch myself stopping myself from working on top of working. But still, works eventually. Running. Badminton. Sometimes a movie. The amusement park seems nice. Do you read on your PAD or do you spend the extra credits to get actually printed books?"

[Leo Knight]

"Badminton? What's that?" Leo frowned. Was that a sport, or was it that one board game?

He shook his head. "My PAD. Well, one or two books. I'd already read them on my PAD, but I guess I wanted them..." Grimacing, Leo shrugged. I suppose it's sentimental, but we all get like that a bit from time to time, I suppose." After a moment, his lips curled up, just a little. "Although I haven't been to the amusement park since I was a kid."

[Priya Khatri]

Priya raised a brow at Leo questioningly, wondering if it was a serious question. She supposed that video games were so popular that it's really taken over everything sports-related. "It's an athletic sport or a game. Do you know tennis? It's much like that where rackets are involved with a net in between and you use a shuttlecock instead of a tennis ball. The rules are a bit different too. You should consider it."

"Not a fan of Magic Wonder World? They would have you believe that everyone but you has gone there already, incite a little fear of missing out. I don't blame you, it is a bit too popular. They're even building a location in Mumbad, I heard." She gave a shake of her head with a sigh.

"Books aren't a bad hobby. You could always consider going the extra mile and start on a book collection. That would be truly old-fashioned of you." She said with a faint smile on that note.

[Leo Knight]

Leo's eyes narrowed just a bit at the look. He wasn't uncultured, he was just comparatively poor! It wasn't his fault so many stores discriminated against the poor. "Huh. Okay." He shrugged. "Sure, why not." He wasn't going to consider it.

"Hah. Got me figured, huh?" Leo chuckled dryly. "Yeah, doesn't sound like my type of place. It's not that I avoid every popular place, but I just need a good reason to go there. Fear of missing out isn't one, not for me." Although he knew that was how a lot of corporations worked.

"I think I'm a bit old-fashioned." Leo said, sipping his coffee. "It's why I take my caffeine like this." He studied her again through narrowed eyes. "You got a book collection, ma'am?"

[Priya Khatri]

"I wouldn't assume that I know you entirely." She gave a small shrug of her shoulders on that note with a short chuckle. "Especially, when I just met you, Mister Knight. But, you've made apparent that you are choosy of your sports and you don't attend many parties. I wouldn't assume that you're an introvert like myself. Maybe it is something you hide very well?. I can't be too sure about that."

She would look at Leo questioningly on the matter before answering. "I don't, unfortunately. Most of my books are kept on my PAD, it's just much easier to access them with a passive overlay window at any time than needing to fiddle with pages in your hands. I almost think that book collections are something that is kept by academics and scholars, even they probably keep them as a status symbol. That said, I do think the idea is cute."

[Leo Knight]

Leo shrugged. "Maybe. I'm not much of a people person. I guess that's like being an introvert." He didn't comment on the rest of what she said, though.

Another sip of the coffee, slurping audibly as the liquid level dropped; only a few sips remained, from the feel of it. "Oh good. I was just thinking I needed a cute hobby." Leo said, deadpan. He chuckled roughly. "But it does sound like you do a bit of reading? I'm always looking for new recommendations. Or is it mostly work stuff, like we talked about?"

[Priya Khatri]

Now that Priya got a better look at him after a few moments, it was perhaps a bit hard to believe that a man with cybereyes could be a bit in the dark about technology. However, she supposed that she had her company to thank for making cybernetics so 'plug and play' with the masses that anyone could just about get them without knowing the fine details about them. She would nod at the question. "Oh, I do some reading. Obviously, there is some work stuff involved...but for leisure at well. Mostly non-fiction, documentary tales, and bits of 'true' crime. I've been recommended to a few works of James Rye by some colleagues as of late but I imagine that only because he's part of the committee...and they probably want me to get some books signed if I ever see him around."

[Leo Knight]

"True crime, huh?" Leo said. He tossed back the rest of his coffee before casually crushing the cup, tossing it in the nearest disposal unit. "That's the sort of thing that goes into a murder or a bank robbery, and follows the stories of everyone involved, right?" Once more, he smiled without humor. "I wonder if that would be too much like work for me. Security and all." Well, sorta.

"Huh." He grunted. "That doesn't exactly sound like a recommendation. Which one is he?" Leo's cybereye flickered as he went back through images, searching on his PAD.