#a.i artificial intelligence

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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Happy ao3 is back up and Alice in Mechaland Update Day to all those who celebrate.

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Alice in Mechaland

An A.I Artificial Intelligence/Gigolo Joe fanfiction by sarsa

She saved him from death's door at the eleventh hour, calling him a man, not a mecha. Calling his kind, people, not machines. Insisting above all that he owed her nothing, and filled with hope that one day he would understand the chance she wanted him to have.

This journey that started with a boy named David, leads to an evolution within a late generation lover bot's mind that comes full circle at the end of days when he realizes the complexities of love and the human condition is something that mecha's can learn, that has ripples that extend until the end of days.

And the love began with a woman named Alice.

Chapters

13/?

Chapter 1. Savior at the 11th Hour: Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV

Chapter 2. A Glimmer

Chapter 3. A Free Agent

Chapter 4. Those Magic Changes

Chapter 5. Query Query

Chapter 6. Tuned Up

Chapter 7. Curiosities

Chapter 8. The Story of David

Chapter 9. Selfish Desires

Chapter 10. Sleep

Chapter 11. One Small Step

Chapter 12. When You See A Guy Reach For The Stars...

Chapter 13. What Does It Mean To Love Her?

Chapter 14. TBA

Misc.

Alice in Mechaland Spotify Playlist

Writing Twitter - I try to update the status of chapters being written and little musings and headcanons and musings! DMs are open and I'm always down to chat!

Musings Tag - tag used for musings, headcanons, general yapping about joe, alice, joe x alice, the movie etc.

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Is it it taking me forever to write this chapter? Yes but I swear I'm cooking.

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okay the good news:

Originally chapter 14 was pushing 8k words and not even close to what I was going to consider 'done'. I decided to just Stop Doing That, because there was a perfect bit to end chapter 14 and use what I have written after that as a jumping point for chapter 15.

I've done that, tidied up the last paragraph so chapter 14 is, ready to post.

But. AO3 goes down in about an 1hr15 for 20hrs. SO.

I will be posting chapter 14 tomorrow when AO3 is back up (it's like a Reward.) that gives me some time to just go back and double check typos/wording/etc. it IS still a beefy chapter, and I think doing this will help me get over the weird writer's block I get sometimes when I'm writing a chapter and i have like stuff planned so I just. Keep writing.

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Alice In Mechaland Chapter One, Part IV Savior At The Eleventh Hour

Alice continued with out the slightest hint of discomfort, smiling as she took down her ponytail, and rolling her neck to stretch it, "If you'd like, I can get your clothes dry-cleaned tomorrow. I uh, might have some clothes for you to wear, but- they're probably not anything you'd want to work in, so- I can grab you some things. If... you want to stay that is." "I... am. I do - I think." he followed after her, "But you don't have to do that, I should have some units still stored in the bank-"

She laughed, shaking her head with a wry smile, "Uh, still working on that actually, friend. Getting the banks to unfreeze your accounts, and your agency to release you from your contract has been more of a hassle than getting the cops to free you. Ironic, because your agency was perfectly fine to let you rot in a jail cell or worse, but now that you're free... well. Those are the... other 'issues' I mentioned before. But- I promise, I'm working on it, and everything should be resolved soon, so, you don't need to worry!" He moved in front of her, pale green eyes looking over her, studying every inch of her face for any tell, any possible subtle note that could reveal to him what game was being played- "What is the catch?" he asked finally, head tilted as he looked at her carefully, "I know I asked you before, and you answered but there is always, a catch... I simply wish to know, so it does not catch me off guard." "There's no catch," she replied, giving a small indignant huff, "You need help. I want to give it. That's all there is to it, I'm afraid. I realize it's odd for a human to give a shit about you, and you're not wrong to mistrust my intentions. But- I do care. I have no intentions of tricking you, or stabbing you in the back- or worse. I'm sorry if it's so confusing... I just want to help you, you deserve to be treated just as any other man." Just as any other man-

"N-Now, if you don't mind... I am... quite tired," she said, offering an apologetic smile as she moved past him, "So I'm going to catch some z's, but I'll set my alarm for early. We can go grab you some clothes and drop off your suit at the dry cleaners. I've got some errands I need to run anyway, so does that work for you?" He nodded slowly, though made no attempt to turn and look at her- "Yes. Well, if I am still here in the morning, of course..." He paused, waiting for her answer, waiting for some sign- "...I hope you will be," she said softly, voice as unrelenting and without any trace of hidden motivation, "I know it's strange, and I know despite being programmed to trust humans, you're probably deep down wondering when the other shoe will drop. And you should be wary - especially after all you've been through. It's on me to show you that I don't mean you any ill will, trust is... earned, not given. But I do promise you, Joe. I just want to help. Really. I'm happy I was able to get to you before the worst happened." And then her door was closed gently - and he turned to look at where she had been standing, eyes gazing at the now empty spot before turning to look into the room she had offered up to him to rest his wires in. The moon was in the window, bright and shining unto him just as it had in the forest with David in what had seemed like a lifetime ago. Real. He wondered in the back of his brain, if the woman behind the closed door was real just as the moon was now - perhaps - under the light of this real moon, his troubles were truly over. The thought was odd - foreign to him even. From the moment of his inception, he knew what he was, what his purpose was, and the irrefutable fact that one day he would become obsolete and thrown away. He had told David as much, hadn't he? So why did he now feel an unfamiliar feeling settle into his wires - unable to name what exactly it was?

After a moment, he turned to walk into the room that would be his, settling down in the chair beside the neatly made bed- eyes looking up into the night sky outside the window.

He had much to think on.

Chapter One: Part I || Part II || Part III || Part IV Next Chapter Masterpost

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Alice In Mechaland Chapter One, Part Three. Savior At The Eleventh Hour

Her apartment was, shockingly, normal - all things considered. Modest, with no mecha servants to be seen. A relatively simple TV, couch, table. Even the kitchen showed no real signs of extreme comfort that most humans had grown accustomed to in the age of mecha. Though he could tell from the outside that the apartment complex she lived in was likely expensive to rent, it was clear that the woman who had saved his head wasn't one to live the luxurious life that so many others in Rouge did. 

He slid into the apartment after her, eyes still wide and unblinking as she switched on the lights, offering him a small smile, "It's um, not much. But it's home! I know you  likely don't sleep, but there's a spare bedroom down that hallway. You can rest- or just, you know... uuh? contemplate things, recharge? Is that okay to say? You've had quite a few days so..." she turned to face him, hazel eyes looking over him carefully, studying his worn suit - the smudges of mud and grease from the Flesh Fair "If there's anything you need, anything at all -Just... let me know. I'll do my best to get it for you." He nodded slowly, still eyeing how quaint her apartment was for one described as a 'mecha-fucker', half expecting some manner of robotic servant to jump out at him, before turning on a swivel to look at her with a genial smile, "Can I not persuade you to allow me to take me into your bed?" he asked, tilting his head to the side as music began to softly croon out of him, before he took her hand into his, twirling her around and into his arms. "I- um..." quickly, she disentangled herself from his arms, brushing her skirt off with a faint dusting of color across her cheeks - clearing her throat before getting back her ability to speak coherently, "L-Like I said, Joe- I don't- it's not- it's not that I don't appreciate it," she smiled at him gently, moving forward to brush at his lapels, "But, uh- If I were... to ever, actually, a 'fuck a mecha' as so many people accuse me of already," she looked up at him, moving to rub a smear of dirt off his face, "I'd want it to be their- your- choosing. I know it's... in your programming to offer but I just..." her voice grew soft, "I'd want you to do it for your own reasonings, not just because it's what your programming is telling you to do for me. Right now, this is just... what someone in some factory programmed in with a bunch of one's and zeros. But - I know you're capable of breaking out of that. Deciding what you want and for yourself. I'm sure you are grateful, but there's more than one way to show your thanks, you know? I hope you're not offended... I don't mean to be rude, declining like this. But I didn't free you just so I could have sex with you." He watched as she pushed herself off him with the same sweet smile that made him... was it uneasiness? Was that the feeling settling deep within his circuits? It was unlike any of the smiles that his clients had ever given him and it settled into his wires like the heaviest of weights upon him. He tilted his head swiftly again, cutting the music and crossing his arms as he stared at her, green eyes unblinking as he contemplated her words. Chapter One: Part I || Part II || Part III || Part IV Masterpost

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Alice In Mechaland Chapter One, Part Two: Savior At The Eleventh Hour

"I've many questions, but first-" he said as they moved into the bustling city of Rouge,  "You insisted on calling me a man, not a mecha-" he moved in front of her, walking backwards with seemingly little care as, avoiding the passerby's who called Rouge home with ease, "Who are you exactly?"

"I told you. My name is Alice, and I'm a lawyer. And, I suppose you could call me a 'mecha rights' activist." she responded patiently, offering up a small shrug, "I um, do my best to help... people. You. People like you- ugh I hate even saying it like that, I don't mean to other you, so to speak. You're a person as much as I am, and you deserve the same rights. And, god- you were obviously framed. There were fingerprints, the husbands DNA, everywhere. Not to mention the goddamn security footage in the hallways and outside the hotel. Honestly, it had all the hallmarks of sloppily planned murder by a spurned lover- grossly so. Your client had been dead for hours before you even showed up. But per fucking usual, it was easier to blame the mecha then do even the smallest bit of actual police work-" "Mmm..." Joe stopped abruptly- moving to grab Alice's arms as she nearly tripped from how quickly he had halted. He took a moment, leaning in closely, faces inches apart, "And then... you decided to help me. Because you have a soft spot for mechas. What was the term he said again? A... mecha-fucker?" were he capable of feeling an emotion such as embarrassment - he may have cringed from the term - well versed as he was with the type in his line of business. And yet, despite her near frothing rant in the streets - he didn't quite believe the stereotype applied to the strange woman in front of him that had saved his neck from the chopping block. Frankly - he almost wanted to apologize for even accusing her of such a thing.

But Alice simply shook her head, a blush crawling to her face again- "Please, it's- it's really not like that. I just- I don't believe in... the cruelty that mankind has stooped too. Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it and all that. It's even worse when you consider mankind gave birth to you all, and this is how we treat the children of mankind as a whole? I can't stand it-!" the words came out as a near yell- causing Joe to take a step back, head tilted as he studied her face. Alice paused, embarrassment overtaking her face after the small outburst. She took a moment, a hand covering her mouth and hazel eyes looking at him silently for a moment before she wiped at her mouth sighing, "Sorry... I can get a bit heated.  My point is, just because you're a mecha doesn't mean you don't deserve due process and all that fun human shit. You've just as many rights as any other creature on this godforsaken rock." He stared at her, unblinking in the neon lights of Rouge City, face unreadable as the shadows and lights cast about his face and she shifted uneasily on her heels, before he broke into a raucous bout of laughter, hands clapping together-  "Well then, however can I pay you back for your services? Did his words ring true?" A genial grin spread across his face as he leaned close- simulated breath tickling her lips, "Free of charg-" She shook her head, laughing herself now as she ducked beneath his arms, "No. Not that I haven't heard of your famed services, Gigolo Joe... but, I would-" she paused, taking a moment and looking at his face carefully - and he felt... odd- under the scrutiny, wanting to take a step back and hide. There was no danger - it was not fear that he felt, just an odd feeling he could not place as she studied him, becoming uncomfortable with the thought that he could not logically put words to how he was processing the interaction.  "I don't want to take advantage of you. Or your programming. I know, I know that sounds... weird, coming from an orga," she said finally, eyes twinkling  in the lights of the never-ending nightlife of Rouge City, "But, my reward is simply... knowing I helped you. That's all. I don't need anything else," she beckoned to him, smiling gently, "Now, did you want a place to stay or not? It might be best for you, there's still some issues that need to be resolved outside of your immediate legal troubles." He stared at her again, simply stared, unblinking at this curiosity of a woman, thinking back on his words to David only days ago. They hate us you know. But now he was faced with one who did not, one who seemed to have no ulterior motives. Clearly not one of the mecha freaks, who jumped at any chance to take advantage of mechas in their fetishistic fervor.

I don't want to take advantage of you. What human had ever said that to him? It was almost absurd hearing such words from an orga - he was built for the sole purpose of being used, his purpose in life was to live as a comfort to humans. And yet... He took one step forward, towards that ever gentle smile... taking her hand in his to let her lead him away. Chapter One: Part I || Part II || Part III || Part IV

Masterpost

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Alice In Mechaland Chapter One, Part One: Savior At The Eleventh Hour

An. A.I Artificial Intelligence/Gigolo Joe x OC fanfiction by sarsa Masterpost of Chapters Original A/N 03/03/2020: yeah I have absolutely 0 explanation as to why I am obsessed/fixated with this movie or why I decided to write a self indulgent fic to give Joe a happy ending. (Well I say happy but it's, not totally happy WHOOPS.) I stopped questioning myself a long time ago. If, for some reason, someone out there enjoys this. well, then. I did a good job at least. will it be finished? hell if i know. like i said, totally self indulgent fic, is it mary sue? idk i don't care i wrote what i wanted to write i've written like 9k words already, and i'm gonna split what i have up into chapters! hurray! Updated A/N 7/27/24: tl;dr, crossposting the fic to tumblr. dunno if this will gain it a wider audience or not, idk. but surprisingly this self indulgent incredibly niche fic is one of my most popular fics on AO3 so why not! It's still unfinished, (and plenty more to go.) but I hope if there's any new readers - you love it as much as I love writing it. Also, due to the chapters being as long as they are - they will have to be split up into parts. Apologies for that, Tumblr is dumb. I've tried a hundred million ways to post just the (1st) chapter in its entirety and it just. won't. so, apologies!

He was sitting in the cold, (not that he could feel it of course, being that he was made of nothing more than wires and gears,) police station, idly tapping his feet against the concrete floor whilst whistling. He knew, deep down-  as many creatures did at these pivotal moments, that his life was nearing it's end, the handcuffs on his wrists harsh reminders of the inevitable fate that befell all mecha. In the back of his mind, he only wished that perhaps... David had fulfilled his purpose, and that he had helped the young mecha in his pursuit of the Blue Fairy. 

His own purpose was about to be forever extinguished. 

So Joe, also known as Gigolo Joe to the many patrons of the lover mecha, sat there, unblinking and resigned to the fact that he now knew, no matter how much he had tried to run, it would eventually catch up to him. He had escaped it once at the Flesh Fair, but fate did not slow down for mechas. It was always inching, crawling behind them, waiting to catch them and devour those who had dared to be created by man's hand. 

The door swung open, and his pristine face swiveled to look at who was entering, who would be the one to hand down his sentence (death) without a single ounce of pity or wherewithal to question the circumstances on which he had been condemned.  "And I am telling you, to release him into my custody. He's not the murderer - the police in Haddonfield have the right man locked up and with a full confession. I don't see what's so hard about this."

If he had the capacity, the desire to blink in surprise, he would have, but instead he simply cocked his head exactly nine degrees to the right, and stared blankly at the blonde-haired woman who was arguing with the police man, and despite her diminutive size was able to keep up with the burly man's steps. "Again, if you do NOT release this man-" "You mean mecha?" "...this MAN, into my custody, immediately, you are going to be so miserable with the amount of paperwork my firm's going to bury you in," she moved to stand between the officer and Joe, crossing her arms and tapping her heeled boots impatiently, and he could smell, drifting from her, the most delicious scent- and he could name the perfume instantly - Dior, he thought after briefly going through his list of common perfumes worn by women, before his eyes moved to her blonde hair. Had he not been handcuffed to the table, he swore he would have lifted a hand up to touch it gently. "Look lady, you want to be responsible for him? Fine. You're right, he hasn't murdered anyone. But he still stole-" "You'll find that my partner has already paid for the fines, next? Or can we stop this inane back and forth, and I can leave with him? Or is it your goal to be benched and investigated for gross incompetence?" The officer scoffed, looking away - disgust apparent on both his face and in his tone, "Oh begging your pardon, miss. Sorry we didn't do our due diligence over one fuckin' mecha," he moved swiftly, clearly done with the woman, taking out a set of keys and unlocking Joe's handcuffs roughly and pulling him out of the chair before pushing him over, "Here you are, one fuckbot at your service, keep him out of trouble, you mechafucker. " The police officer offered one last laugh as he left, "I'll let YOU explain to him what happened, not my fuckin problem anymore. Weirdo..."  The woman watched as he left, nostrils flared with clear annoyance, jaw clenched, clearly attempting to stop herself from saying anything incendiary to the cop. As soon as the door shut with a SLAM, she spun on her heels to face Joe - her face that once held fury and contempt for the officer, became one filled with an apologetic look, "Sorry about that, some of these guys can be real jackasses for no reason. Um-" her hand extended out to him, a shy smile crossing her face, "My names Alice Capulet, lawyer with Capulet Law Firms here in Rouge City." Joe tilted his head, taking the offered hand and shaking it, before bringing her hand to his lips to gently kiss the top of it as he maintained eye contact with the woman, "Why?" he asked simply, no other words or questions came up- just confusion settling in his wires as he was confronted with this Alice, who had just argued for his freedom so vehemently. He watched as the telltale sign of an emotional response to his hand kiss rose to her cheeks, blood coloring the skin as she flushed, pulling her hand away and rubbing it nervously with the other.  "Why what?" "Why did you save me?" he asked, "As the police offer so crudely put it, I am just... a simple 'fuckbot' though I admit, I would have preferred my actual name, and perhaps a more suitable moniker. Lover mecha, Sex worker. I am what I am, and I hold no shame... but-" he smiled, doing a small tap with his feet, and extending his hand out to her, "I am... the best at what I do, and none can take that from me. But I am... just a mecha. So, why?" A laugh was his response, as she shook her head, offering up a small smile, "...How about I answer as we get out of this place?" she asked, moving towards the door,  "You've been released into my custody, and you don't have to come with me... you're free to return to your work, if you'd like. But, if you'd like to... recharge so to speak, I've a free room in my apartment." She beckoned him forth - this Alice - holding out her hand which he took, gently into his as she led him out of the room and back out into the free world, as a free man.  Chapter One: Part I || Part II || Part III || Part IV

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