#idk if I'll have time to participate much further in this challenge but this kept kicking around in my head

[redravenblogs]

Doc Ocktober Prompt #1 - Origin

The First Flight of Icarus

Inspired by the Doc October prompt list created by @oswaldthehero

Summary: You meet with your old friend, Dr. Otto Octavius, after he asked you to review an AI he's developed. He trusts your expertise in computer programming, which is good, since you have some serious concerns.

Tags: Gen, pre-canon, friendship, gender-neutral reader-insert

Words: 1137

Find it on AO3 here.

-

1. Origin

You run your hand over your face, stopping to massage just above your browbone.

"Otto, you misunderstand me. It's brilliant work, it's just also astoundingly dangerous."

He unclasps his hands, folded tidily in front of him, turning his palms upward and giving you a little shrug. "Aren't all great scientific advancements?"

You shake your head vigorously. You need to make him understand. "You're taking an unnecessary risk."

"But it works, right?" he implores, cracking that charming smile of his. That smile might work on his Oscorp investors, but it wouldn't work on you.

"There's no way to know for sure until it's been connected to your nervous system, but in theory, yes. It should work." You glance up at him, and before his ego can get too inflated, you throw in the pinprick, "Just not as intended."

He sighs and smiles a bit more sheepishly, then leans back in his chair. "Alright, then explain it to me. This isn't my area of expertise, after all."

You almost laugh out loud at that. No, technically programming wasn't his area of expertise. Nor was robotics. Nor was biology. And yet he had built a biorobotic device that was one of the most, if not the most, advanced in existence and programmed its accompanying AI. This man had made every discipline of this cross disciplinary project his new area of expertise. If he weren't so passionate about nuclear physics, you'd expect him to change fields altogether.

You admire the machine from across the lab, beautiful and dangerous. The metal arms shine spectacularly under the lights, seemingly ready to be exhibited, but you hope you can prevent that for a little longer.

"When you connect the device to your brainstem, you may well lose control of the device," you say.

He nods seriously. "Go on."

"The AI is programmed to connect as seamlessly as possible with your own brain, which, obviously, has many benefits to you as the operator. But it runs a high risk of forming a feedback loop, in which the AI receives input from your brain, learns from it, then mimics it, until you can no longer tell where your consciousness ends and the AI begins. The AI could easily take over your entire consciousness."

You can see him thinking at lightning speed, undaunted. As his friend and collaborator since university, you know he trusts your knowledge and won't argue with you, but you can tell he's already trying to figure out a fast solution.

"What about an inhibitor chip?" he proposes. "It would filter the information going into and out of the brainstem, merely relaying the information from the AI instead of allowing it to connect to my brain directly. That would eliminate the risk of entanglement, would it not?"

You half nod, half shrug. "It's a band-aid. More importantly, it's a new point of failure. If anything isn't perfect with that chip, it's useless." You lock onto his gaze, unblinking, and you poke your finger at him for emphasis. "If you want this done right, this AI needs to be reprogrammed from the ground up."

You're surprised when you read the hesitation in his face.

"Otto, you know I could help you." You wave your hand in a shooing motion, adding, "If it's a matter of funding, don't worry about it. You'll owe me one. This is your safety we're talking about."

He shakes his head. "Funding isn't the issue. Time is. The demonstration is next week."

You make a noise of disgust. "Then find another way to do it."

"There is no other way," he says seriously, pressing his lips together, staring at the table. "The demonstration cannot be accomplished without the assistance of the actuators. And this is a critical moment."

"Delay it, then."

His eyelids flutter, and he smiles unhumorously, looking at you again. "We already delayed it. If we move it again we might lose funding, and that's out of the question. The young Harry Osborn is still a big fan, but his company's board isn't nearly so charitable."

"Why did you wait so long on this, Otto?" you demand heatedly. It wasn't like him to procrastinate on a major deadline, and his carelessness put him in danger.

He chuckles, sweeping one hand through his neatly combed hair. He looks suddenly vulnerable, maybe a little embarassed, and he crosses his arms in front of himself. "Hubris, you might say." His shoulders lift, as he looks off into the distance, sighing. "I didn't really expect there to be any issues with it, if I'm entirely honest. I was fully confident in my programming, but Rosie insisted that I have someone else take a look at it—that I have you take a look at it."

"It's always been funny to me that of the two of you, the poet is the one with her feet on the ground, and the scientist has his head in the clouds." He looks back to you, relieved your expression has softened. "At least one of you has some sense."

He chuckles. "I'll tell her you said so—she'll be glad someone else is putting me in my place, for once."

You finally slide the box containing his hard drive full of programming across the table. You both look down at it, then again at each other. He waits for you to speak again.

"The inhibitor chip idea will do for now. But please, Otto, only use it for the demonstration. Then let's work on fixing this together. Your work is going to change the world, and it deserves to be done right. And most importantly, done safely."

You reach out to shake his hand, and he grasps yours with both of his. "I promise," he says, "the chip will only be used for this demonstration. Then we'll fix it." You smile at each other and share a determined nod.

You both stand from the table, and he pulls you into a hug. "Thank you, my friend. I knew I could count on you."

"Your wife knew you could count on me, you mean," you rib him.

As he picks up his box, he points to you with a mischievous smile. "Speaking of my wife, you need to join us for dinner next week. Her orders. How about you come to the demonstration, then we'll go out for a celebration after?"

You can't help but smile back. His hopeful mood was infectious. "Can't say no to Rosie, now can I? Now had it been you—"

He laughs. "I'll let her know. She'll be delighted."

"Tell her I'm looking forward to it." You give him a little wave over your shoulder as you head for the door, relieved that the problems you had would soon be fixed— perhaps not as soon as you'd like, but soon enough.

[musicallisto]

Hi dear! You got to 1200 followers! That's amazing and you deserve it! I wanted to participate in your event so may I have ☄️Comet for game of thrones?

I hope this is enough info and thank you in advance!!

-------------

Zoadic: Leo sun, Aries moon, Leo rising

Mbti type: Entp

Pronouns: She/her

Sexuality: Straight....I think lmao-

Appearance: I'm 5'5, very petite and I get picked on for being "small" even though technically i'm average height. I have thick messy brown hair, freckles all over my face and body, brown eyes and I'm very pale. I don't have a very specific style although I have always liked more of the grunge/punk style but I'm too lazy to dress like that so I wear lots of flannels, skinny jeans and band t-shirts. I also appreciate some nice over sized hoodies!

Personality: At first people find me intimidating due to my resting bitch face and my cold demeanor but once you really get to know me I'm just a big goofball that's EXTREMELY sarcastic and I'm honestly very reckless sometimes. I also stick up for my friends and family a lot of the time. My friends sometimes make me come to certain places or talk to people with them because they are scared to go alone lmao so I'm always there if someone needs me. But I'm also very competitive, hard headed and feisty!

Random things: I have a slight southern accent because I've grown up in the south and sometimes I'll say certain words that come out way more southern sounding than I mean it to. I also kind of bounce my leg up and down while i'm sitting idk why I do it and I don't even notice when I am doing it. I run my hands through my hair a lot, mainly out of anxiety or when I want it out of my face and that's one reason why its always a mess. I'll also space out and start to chew on my gum or lip....bad habits.

Likes: Swimming (I was on a swim team for about 6 years!), running, rain, sound of thunderstorms, 90's grunge and alternative rock, fall, horror movies, cats....for the most part, writing, reading, going for walks, cooking, baking

Dislikes: Spiders.....I will scream if I see one, cold weather, bossy people sometimes people in general, passive aggressive people like seriously don't talk about me behind my back if you have something to say then say it to my face or you better be ready to catch these hands

-THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS! FROM ✨Sparkle anon✨!

☄️ comet

The people of King's Landing need to be kept amused. It is the best way to keep revolutions at bay, and for the people to forget how starved and miserable they are. It is not enough for the nobles to attend a banquet, or visit a whorehouse every now and then to satiate their hunger—the poor must be entertained too.

And entertainment is what you do best.

You are one of the best athletes of Westeros, renowned across the whole continent for your agility and strength. Under King Tywin Lannister's patronage, who lifted you from your Western little town and brought you to the Capital, you've fought every foe and risen up to every challenge you've been presented in the King's Landing arena. Bulls, hyenas, even bears? You've fought them off bravely. Acrobatics courses, antics on a wire stretched ten meters above the ground? Piece of cake. Racing the best swimmers in the Westerosi navy? Been there, done that. And the people know your name and chant it every week, without fail. It is safe to say you've become one of the most beloved people in King's Landing... by the mass and the ruling class alike. Well, one member of the ruling class in particular.

Jaime Lannister often attends your shows when he's not away on some battle or reconnaissance mission, and it is hard not noticing him in the crowd. Not only from the army of knights surrounding him at all times, but also because his gaze is piercing, but appreciative, like a pleased emperor who will not have your head today—but perhaps tomorrow. One day, though, he takes a step further, and meets you outside your changing room after the show.

He introduces himself (of course you already know who he is), he compliments you heartily on your impressive skills (of course you hear it all the time), and suggests, without so much as an introduction, that you become a knight of his personal guard.

You're stunned into silence, but immediately reject the proposal. You're an athlete, not a soldier. (But you're the more skilled and athletic than most of the doorknobs in his army.) The King, his father, pays you handsomely for your performances. (The pay for the Kingslayer's guards is thrice as high, and he can overrule his father anytime.) No. The answer is no.

So Jaime leaves, and you think this will be the end of that, but he returns on your next show, and applauds you as warmly as before. And he meets you again after the show, and asks you to reconsider. You refuse again—you will refuse as many times as necessary. And Jaime continues to visit you, though he drops the question, and simply inquires about your day. Your life. Your aspirations. Your family. He wants to know you better. You unravel yourself piece by piece to him, careful but a bit enraptured too. There's not a single armor that has resisted his blade long... but yours is a welcome challenge. A few months later, he asks you to become his knight again—and you refuse again. But your resolve is not as steely as before... and both of you can notice.