Self-sustaining tech... [his gaze looks distant for a long moment, before he settles back into himself.] ... that would be really helpful back home. Guess it doesn't matter if there isn't enough ambient magic to supply it, though. Is your world... sick? [he isn't sure how else to word that, but it's straightforward enough, he supposes.

straightening up a bit, val lays a hand over swooce to pet it. when he strokes a particular spot where the head meets the thorax, the bot powers down, retracting its feelers, wings, and legs. val rolls it over and opens a panel on its stomach to reveal one such faintly glowing amethyst. he pops it out, takes it in his hand, and begins to charge it; his hand radiates violet energy that appears to be a tiny, contained electrical storm, which is then pulled into the crystal. after a few seconds, he stops, and the amethyst glows all the brighter for it.]

Guys like us prefer demonstrations, right? [he laughs, once, friendly as anything as he puts swooce back together.] The most complicated part is concentrating on how I want them to act as I'm Infusing it. Theoretically, I could just will them to headbutt everyone constantly, but it's a little more helpful of them to grip things for me.