X marks the spot

[zen_navigator]

Who: Dirk and OPEN
What: Productivity is the enemy of something or other. Map making.
Where: Out and about
When: Day 95

In an effort to get a better idea of the lay of the land, Dirk has made a rough map of the town, complete with all buildings, pathways, and obtrusive foliage. Like most of his projects, however, Dirk's map has quickly transformed into something obtuse and oddly managed. His current project is cameras. If he can mark down where every camera is, he hopes it will reveal where there aren't any cameras.

He's assuming for the moment that all of the buildings are wired, so he's starting outside.

Starting in the early afternoon, Dirk works his way across the town starting near the lighthouse and eventually working his way back through the town. He's trying to be systematic about his recording, but it's hard to be systematic when some of the cameras are so easy to miss. He climbs a few trees with his red pen tucked behind his ear, he peers up into the eaves of buildings, he checks under benches and around shrubbery, and he's filling up his map with small red triangles.

Comments

[zen_navigator]

Dirk's step falters just a bit at human mating rituals, because that was really not what he was expecting from Daneel when he'd mentioned research. History, maybe, or the migratory patters of local birds, not mating.

He just manages to keep his pace, and looks over at Daneel, eyebrows raised. "Mating rituals." And then it clicks. Ned had said that he and Daneel were dating, hadn't he? Daneel must be doing some research of a more personal nature. Dirk's not sure that romance novels are the best place to look for realistic dating advice, or himself the best person to help find them, but if that's where he wants to start...

"...Anything in particular you had in mind? Specific facets of the...dating experience?"

[thezerothlaw]

"The physical act itself is clear enough," Daneel says. Dirk's surprise doesn't escape him, but neither does he comment on it. "What I am not clear on is appropriate romantic behaviour and facets to a relationship. My experience with this is very limited, and as people are different, so too must relations be. I require more variations from which to draw my knowledge."

And romance novels are the best place he knows to start, because going around asking intimate questions of people in relationships would be uncomfortable -- for them, if not for him.

[zen_navigator]

"You could always ask around. Delve into the romantic ephemera of the local population for insights." Where Daneel might have problems intruding or asking intimate questions, Dirk has no such qualms. It rather seems like the next logical step, to him.

"Though, considering the variety of the local population..." [He pulls a face, suggesting that they are very varied indeed.] I'm not sure how much of it could be applied to Ned. This is about Ned, yes?" He'd had a talk with Ned earlier, but he's not sure how much of that conversation got related back to Daneel. Suffice to say, he's aware that they're a couple.

[thezerothlaw]

"I do not wish to embarrass or discomfort people by asking such questions," Daneel says.

He hadn't expected Dirk to know what he was speaking of, not such particulars of his quest. Still, he's not exactly surprised, either. Word does travel. He's never especially make a secret of it, and nor does Ned, to his knowledge.

"I am indeed thinking of Ned. Have you spoken with him, in that case?"

[zen_navigator]

"I have, indeed. He mentioned you were an item when we ran into each other the other day. Out in the forest." Whoops, hope he's not getting Ned into trouble there. He had mentioned that he wasn't really supposed to be out there. Oh well. "He quite saved my life from a nefarious species of mushroom."

It had been a good talk, actually, with Ned. He hadn't expected to ever meet someone else who'd dated an artificial intelligence. "I think he may be interested in assisting me in my work." He frowns just a little, considering their captivity and, therefore, limited scope of his possibilities beyond figuring out just what is going on at the Cape. "Should any work present itself. There's certainly plenty to investigate."

[thezerothlaw]

The forest? That's worrying. That's the last thing he wants anyone to be, much less Ned in particular, at least not without someone who can properly provide protection in Daneel's absence.

"I hope you took proper precautions," Daneel says. "The forest can be exceptionally treacherous. Were you prepared to defend against a large predator?"

If he were capable of asking pointed questions, that would be one, but he isn't, and it isn't.

"What is your profession?"

[zen_navigator]

Dirk knows concern when he hears it, and he's quick to elaborate. He's not interested in lying to Daneel at the moment, but a more complete picture wouldn't hurt. "We were near the edge. He happened upon me investigating the area and warned me off. We did a little exploring, but it didn't last long." He shrugs. "I don't make a habit of carrying large weaponry around with me. I'm not particularly interested in a mauling, even if it would get me closer to understanding what I'm up against here. Which I very much suspect it would not."

He clasps his hands together behind his back, one hand still holding his half-finished map. "I am a private investigator. A holistic detective."

[thezerothlaw]

Daneel gives a small sigh, worried. Brief, on the edge of he forest... perhaps that's acceptable.

And detectives? He approves of detectives.

"You are not affiliated with any particular government or law enforcement organisation?" That's okay. Neither of those are here. The term "holistic" in this context is slightly confusing, but he'll let it pass, for the moment.

"Investigation is valuable here. I'm glad that Ned may be able to help you, but I do not wish for him to come to any harm. I do not wish for anyone to come to harm, more accurately, but Ned's well-being is... important to me."

[zen_navigator]

"I shall keep him safe as a babe in arms." He will, right up until the point when it is convenient to do the opposite. He likes Ned, but Dirk likes himself more.

Considering, he adds, "You're welcome to come along, if you like." Daneel is interesting to him, and so far hasn't presented himself as annoying, intrusive or obstructive, so he'd like to spend some more time talking with him.

[thezerothlaw]

If he likes. That's still sort of a novelty. If he comes, too, he might be able to better ensure Ned's safety, or Dirk's own.

"I will gladly come," Daneel says. "I have some experience assisting in detective work. On several occassions I helped plainclothesman Elijah Baley investigate a murder."

Even if he's already been invited, he'll still offer up his qualifications.

[zen_navigator]

Well, if he's going to be professional about it Dirk's not sure if he wants him along. "I think you'll find that my methods are quite unlike any traditional police work you may have been a participant in in the past."

It's not that far to the Library and they soon reach the doors. Dirk yanks the door open to allow Daneel in.

[thezerothlaw]

Daneel enters, though it's strange for that courtesy to be extended to him.

"How might your methods differ? I would not wish to interfere with the process that you find successful. That would not be productive."

Surely not. He knows partner Elijah's methods, but certainly they were not the same as every member of the police force. They had been good, after all, but they had been his own. And Dirk... well, Dirk is not partner Elijah. That is very clear.

[zen_navigator]

"The police tend to stick to a formulaic approach to crime solving." Which is to say, the normal, sane way. Dirk obviously disapproves of such things.

As they walk inside, he props himself on the edge of a table to sip while he explains. "My approach is more holistic, as I said. Holistic as in 'of the whole'. It's the principles of quantum mechanics applied in everyday use. Because everything in the universe is fundamentally connected, all I must do is follow one thread, no matter how tangential, and I am invariably led to the solution to the crime."

[thezerothlaw]

Daneel considers this, even as he approaches a likely looking bookshelf. He's not convinced that quantum mechanics can really apply in investigative situations.

"I'm not sure that this logically follows," he says, cautious about offering a contradiction. "While I do not doubt that truth can be found by investigating apparently inconsequential details -- and indeed, I have seen partner Elijah come to the truth of something by focusing upon a fact that would seem to be irrelevant -- that does not mean that any tangent will lead to a productive solution. How do you determine which tangent is worth following?"

[zen_navigator]

Dirk isn't stranger to people not believing a word of what he has to say, so he goes on to explain without much fuss. "I..." He thinks about this one for a moment. He hasn't really ever been asked how he manages to solve his cases. He just does. "I use my intuition. My delicately attuned faculties, my intelligence."

"Up until my capture, I also had a business partner. I found it helpful to have someone to-" He makes a vague flailing hand gesture. "-bounce ideas off of, to voice my theories to in order to gain better understanding of them myself. The mind does not exist in a vaccuum, Daneel, as I'm sure you know."

[thezerothlaw]

"So if you are uncertain, you have a partner whom you ask questions of to clarify the situation. This is what you want Ned for."

It sounds... very reasonable, put like that, and Daneel can't deny that some good might be done this way.

"I was unaware that quantum mechanics had applications like this, but if Ned wishes to help you, then he should." He's giving his blessing, Dirk. "I only ask that you keep him safe, as he has become very important to me."