Post by Kumoko Joro on Jul 5, 2020 18:10:27 GMT -4
It all began with a single wish. On a rainy morning, Kumoko had been unusually sad. It was right after she woke up from a lovely dream. She had a boyfriend, who appeared as a faceless figure without a shirt on. The two were cuddling together. Nothing inappropriate, just a nice quiet wholesome snuggle session by a fireplace. The spider-headed girl assumed the location was the young man's house, because she had no idea where she was. But she did not question it. She was happy. She was safe. She was in love.
At least in dream land. But sadly, this was now reality. And that fact made itself painfully clear when the spider girl woke up faceplanting on the floor. Owww. After remembering what her dream was, Kumoko began to sob silently. She had no idea if Honey was asleep or awake, but she did not want to be a bother in case her roommate was still there. I'm alone. I mean not literally, but... Kumoko had no idea why this was the random thought of the morning. A reminder that she was not in a relationship. Others were happy with someone, but not Kumoko. Would anyone fall for a clumsy mess with a spider for a head and far more worries and insecurities than was ever necessary? Kumoko doubted that.
Who would ever like someone like me? Who would ever find someone like me cute, or adorable, or pretty? Sure, there were a few who told me that before in the past, but I doubt they were being honest with me. Probably lying to try and make me feel better. I do appreciate the gesture, but still...
Tears began running down the poor girl's face. I'm ugly. I'm hideous! I'm basic and boring and whiny and stupid! Who would ever want to go out with me?! Doing her best to stay as silent as possible, Kumoko grabbed several of her plushies and began to hug them as tightly as she could. I wish I could hug someone. I wish I could be hugged. But I don't want to bother anyone. It would just be weird to ask for hugs. And who would even want to hug me anyway? The soft insect-shaped plushies did help comfort and console the lonely spider girl a bit. At least you guys won't leave me. At least you can't tell me I'm ugly. At least you won't be able to tell me to go away.
But they could only help so much. They were plushies, after all. An ant, a bee, a butterfly, a mantis, a rhinoceros beetle, a dragonfly, and a ladybug. But none of them were human. None of them could hug her. None of them could console her, tell her that she was wrong, that she was a bright and beautiful young lady both inside and out, and that she need not worry about such things right now. That she would find someone someday.
I wish you guys could move. I wish you could hug me back just like I could hug you. But that's impossible. I can't make you plushies move. I can't. I can't just build a moving friend. It's just not possi-
"...Oh."
Right away, Kumoko began to lightly smash her head on the mattress. Wow, I feel really stupid! The girl was a member of Support Studies! She worked with technology and made all sorts of gadgets all the time! Surely she wasn't so stupid as to forget that! She very well had the skills to build a functional robot! Sure, Kumoko had not actually tried it before, but in theory, she had all the tools and skills she needed to get it done. Even if I'm destined to be forever alone, I can at least do this! I know I can! I just gotta not forget that I'm not nearly as dumb as I think I am! I can do this! ...I think.
And thus, the girl left her dorm room, filled with an unusual amount of vigor and energy. She was gonna build herself a robot!
Over the next couple of days, Kumoko would work on her project. After classes were done, Kumoko would go take her laptop and head to the library, where she would study up on some additional information she would need. She was no expert at programming an AI, but she wanted to at least read on the basics. In the absolute worst case scenario where she could not get that part down, Kumoko could always just visit one of the members of the Robotics Club and ask for assistance.
But unless she absolutely needed the help, Kumoko wanted to try her best to do this herself. She wanted to feel accomplished. She wanted to not feel useless. I can do this. I can do this!
After reading up on the basics of building and programming an AI, it was time to get working on the robot's blueprints and design. Kumoko could handle this part herself. After all, her drawing skills were decent. She already knew what she wanted the robot to look like. So after a couple of hours of sketching, Kumoko finally got something she was completely satisfied with.
And now for the fun part: Gathering all the materials needed, and actually building the robot itself! Kumoko was very careful as she built and crafted each individual piece of her creation. She wanted everything to be just right. From the camera used to function as eyes, to each individual leg that would provide both movement and balance, to the outer shell that would protect the robot from any light forces. Everything had to be done with absolute precision and perfection. Even the tiniest mistake, and the whole thing could come apart! This was why Kumoko double-checked, triple-checked, quadruple-checked everything to make sure all was functioning as intended.
Of course, the robot would need a name. Kumoko wanted to give her new robot baby a sweet, wonderful, and fitting name! She had thought about it throughout the time she had spent working on this robot. There were some reasonable name suggestions she had come up with. After thinking about it, she decided to go with a reference to one of her favorite stories of all time. One that her foster dad introduced her to and one the two bonded over throughout her childhood. And that name, was Charlotte, named after a certain spider that once helped out a pig. No relation to a certain prawn senpai, of course.
After several long weeks of hard work, it was finally done! Inserting the AI chip inside the robot's core before closing the lid, Kumoko could finally turn on her new robot buddy and see it in action! Aaaahh, my baby is finished! I'm so excited! It looks so wonderful!
Seeing its eyes light up and its head turn toward the spider girl, Kumoko's eyes began to water. Omigosh, it actually works! Setting the robot down on the floor in her dorm room, Kumoko excitedly began to speak to the robot. "Hello! I'm Kumoko! I'm the one who created you!" Afterwards, the insectoid robot spoke in what sounded like a feminine robotic voice.
"Hello, Kumoko! I am designated as Computerized Heroic Artificial Relay Laser Optic Terrain Traversing Entity, or C.H.A.R.L.O.T.T.E. for short. It is nice to be able to converse with my creator. How do you wish for me to address you as? Is your given name sufficient? Or do you wish for me to call you Creator, Master, or perhaps Mother?"
Omigosh, it's so precious and beautiful! Awwwwww! Smiling, Kumoko answered back to the robot. "Just my first name is fine." The robot responded. "Understood, Kumoko. Do you have a task you wish for me to carry out?" Still crying tears of joy, Kumoko nodded, crouching down and outstretching her arms. "Yes. Please walk over to me and let me hug you!" The robot responded in its monotone yet warm robot voice. "With pleasure, Kumoko!" And with a scuttle, the insectoid robot moved in close and jumped up to Kumoko's arms. Even though Charlotte was made of metal, it was still far better than a lifeless plushie. The robot could hug back! Or at least attempt to snuggle.
After a hug that lasted several minutes, Kumoko finally let Charlotte back down. "Was that sufficient, Kumoko?" The spider girl nodded, smiling cheerfully as she did so. "Yes, you did very well, Charlotte." It was as though she had hugged her actual child. "I am pleased to be successful in carrying out your orders, Kumoko!"
Alright, now to figure out what to do. Maybe more robots could be built! Who knows, maybe Kumoko could have a whole family of robots to join her and Charlotte. At the very least, she was not feeling down like on that day. Now Kumoko felt like she could do anything. The sky was the limit! "Okay Charlotte, I want you to follow me to the cafeteria!" The robot nodded. "Understood, Kumoko." And with that, Kumoko joyfully ran out of her dorm room, with her new companion following closely behind her....
...Only to start running around in circles and repeatedly run into the wall.
Whoops, that's not supposed to happen! Running back to Charlotte after noticing what the robot was doing, Kumoko gently picked it up and held it in her arms as though it were a baby. "There appears to be a glitch affecting my motor skills." Kumoko smiled. She knew now what she needed to do. "Don't worry. We're gonna get that glitch fixed up. Soon, you'll be operating normally with no issues. Let's go get you patched up, Charlotte!" Charlotte moved its head in a nod, while still attempting to move its legs due to its glitch.
"Understood. Let us go, Kumoko!"
At least in dream land. But sadly, this was now reality. And that fact made itself painfully clear when the spider girl woke up faceplanting on the floor. Owww. After remembering what her dream was, Kumoko began to sob silently. She had no idea if Honey was asleep or awake, but she did not want to be a bother in case her roommate was still there. I'm alone. I mean not literally, but... Kumoko had no idea why this was the random thought of the morning. A reminder that she was not in a relationship. Others were happy with someone, but not Kumoko. Would anyone fall for a clumsy mess with a spider for a head and far more worries and insecurities than was ever necessary? Kumoko doubted that.
Who would ever like someone like me? Who would ever find someone like me cute, or adorable, or pretty? Sure, there were a few who told me that before in the past, but I doubt they were being honest with me. Probably lying to try and make me feel better. I do appreciate the gesture, but still...
Tears began running down the poor girl's face. I'm ugly. I'm hideous! I'm basic and boring and whiny and stupid! Who would ever want to go out with me?! Doing her best to stay as silent as possible, Kumoko grabbed several of her plushies and began to hug them as tightly as she could. I wish I could hug someone. I wish I could be hugged. But I don't want to bother anyone. It would just be weird to ask for hugs. And who would even want to hug me anyway? The soft insect-shaped plushies did help comfort and console the lonely spider girl a bit. At least you guys won't leave me. At least you can't tell me I'm ugly. At least you won't be able to tell me to go away.
But they could only help so much. They were plushies, after all. An ant, a bee, a butterfly, a mantis, a rhinoceros beetle, a dragonfly, and a ladybug. But none of them were human. None of them could hug her. None of them could console her, tell her that she was wrong, that she was a bright and beautiful young lady both inside and out, and that she need not worry about such things right now. That she would find someone someday.
I wish you guys could move. I wish you could hug me back just like I could hug you. But that's impossible. I can't make you plushies move. I can't. I can't just build a moving friend. It's just not possi-
"...Oh."
Right away, Kumoko began to lightly smash her head on the mattress. Wow, I feel really stupid! The girl was a member of Support Studies! She worked with technology and made all sorts of gadgets all the time! Surely she wasn't so stupid as to forget that! She very well had the skills to build a functional robot! Sure, Kumoko had not actually tried it before, but in theory, she had all the tools and skills she needed to get it done. Even if I'm destined to be forever alone, I can at least do this! I know I can! I just gotta not forget that I'm not nearly as dumb as I think I am! I can do this! ...I think.
And thus, the girl left her dorm room, filled with an unusual amount of vigor and energy. She was gonna build herself a robot!
Over the next couple of days, Kumoko would work on her project. After classes were done, Kumoko would go take her laptop and head to the library, where she would study up on some additional information she would need. She was no expert at programming an AI, but she wanted to at least read on the basics. In the absolute worst case scenario where she could not get that part down, Kumoko could always just visit one of the members of the Robotics Club and ask for assistance.
But unless she absolutely needed the help, Kumoko wanted to try her best to do this herself. She wanted to feel accomplished. She wanted to not feel useless. I can do this. I can do this!
After reading up on the basics of building and programming an AI, it was time to get working on the robot's blueprints and design. Kumoko could handle this part herself. After all, her drawing skills were decent. She already knew what she wanted the robot to look like. So after a couple of hours of sketching, Kumoko finally got something she was completely satisfied with.
And now for the fun part: Gathering all the materials needed, and actually building the robot itself! Kumoko was very careful as she built and crafted each individual piece of her creation. She wanted everything to be just right. From the camera used to function as eyes, to each individual leg that would provide both movement and balance, to the outer shell that would protect the robot from any light forces. Everything had to be done with absolute precision and perfection. Even the tiniest mistake, and the whole thing could come apart! This was why Kumoko double-checked, triple-checked, quadruple-checked everything to make sure all was functioning as intended.
Of course, the robot would need a name. Kumoko wanted to give her new robot baby a sweet, wonderful, and fitting name! She had thought about it throughout the time she had spent working on this robot. There were some reasonable name suggestions she had come up with. After thinking about it, she decided to go with a reference to one of her favorite stories of all time. One that her foster dad introduced her to and one the two bonded over throughout her childhood. And that name, was Charlotte, named after a certain spider that once helped out a pig. No relation to a certain prawn senpai, of course.
After several long weeks of hard work, it was finally done! Inserting the AI chip inside the robot's core before closing the lid, Kumoko could finally turn on her new robot buddy and see it in action! Aaaahh, my baby is finished! I'm so excited! It looks so wonderful!
Seeing its eyes light up and its head turn toward the spider girl, Kumoko's eyes began to water. Omigosh, it actually works! Setting the robot down on the floor in her dorm room, Kumoko excitedly began to speak to the robot. "Hello! I'm Kumoko! I'm the one who created you!" Afterwards, the insectoid robot spoke in what sounded like a feminine robotic voice.
"Hello, Kumoko! I am designated as Computerized Heroic Artificial Relay Laser Optic Terrain Traversing Entity, or C.H.A.R.L.O.T.T.E. for short. It is nice to be able to converse with my creator. How do you wish for me to address you as? Is your given name sufficient? Or do you wish for me to call you Creator, Master, or perhaps Mother?"
Omigosh, it's so precious and beautiful! Awwwwww! Smiling, Kumoko answered back to the robot. "Just my first name is fine." The robot responded. "Understood, Kumoko. Do you have a task you wish for me to carry out?" Still crying tears of joy, Kumoko nodded, crouching down and outstretching her arms. "Yes. Please walk over to me and let me hug you!" The robot responded in its monotone yet warm robot voice. "With pleasure, Kumoko!" And with a scuttle, the insectoid robot moved in close and jumped up to Kumoko's arms. Even though Charlotte was made of metal, it was still far better than a lifeless plushie. The robot could hug back! Or at least attempt to snuggle.
After a hug that lasted several minutes, Kumoko finally let Charlotte back down. "Was that sufficient, Kumoko?" The spider girl nodded, smiling cheerfully as she did so. "Yes, you did very well, Charlotte." It was as though she had hugged her actual child. "I am pleased to be successful in carrying out your orders, Kumoko!"
Alright, now to figure out what to do. Maybe more robots could be built! Who knows, maybe Kumoko could have a whole family of robots to join her and Charlotte. At the very least, she was not feeling down like on that day. Now Kumoko felt like she could do anything. The sky was the limit! "Okay Charlotte, I want you to follow me to the cafeteria!" The robot nodded. "Understood, Kumoko." And with that, Kumoko joyfully ran out of her dorm room, with her new companion following closely behind her....
...Only to start running around in circles and repeatedly run into the wall.
Whoops, that's not supposed to happen! Running back to Charlotte after noticing what the robot was doing, Kumoko gently picked it up and held it in her arms as though it were a baby. "There appears to be a glitch affecting my motor skills." Kumoko smiled. She knew now what she needed to do. "Don't worry. We're gonna get that glitch fixed up. Soon, you'll be operating normally with no issues. Let's go get you patched up, Charlotte!" Charlotte moved its head in a nod, while still attempting to move its legs due to its glitch.
"Understood. Let us go, Kumoko!"
