Robotic Essences - SCENE 50 – “Afternoon Idleness”

INT. JASON’S CUBE – MID‑AFTERNOON

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrOoCU9FL4

Faded sunlight drips through the blinds. The room is mostly quiet except for SD‑K, now reclining in Jason’s rickety chair, idly flipping Jason’s battered copy of Twilight back and forth like a confused critic.

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORvkRiC6K5

SD‑K

“…She describes his marble skin every paragraph. Why. Why is that necessary?”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCLnZUwlAa

Across the room, a blanket burrito stirs. SD‑A’s visor flickers to life, the trench coat still wrapped snugly around him. He sits up, optics hazy.

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyYDzAjNGQ

SD‑A

“Whuh… morning?”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjw6UG36AM

SD‑K (flat)

“Afternoon. You power‑napped through half a solar rotation.”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2jaWF1mt2

SD‑A (stretching)

“Ah. Calibration complete.”

(he notices K’s new outfit, blinks)

“Nice jacket. When did you join a biker gang?”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUzxrbqCkG

SD‑K

“Just enhancing my aura of menace. Jason’s closet is a museum of questionable taste.”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLTB6PuhIk

He gestures to the book.

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QeZQ8cxMs

SD‑K

“For instance, this literary horror.”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68xRkXIDnB

SD‑A

“Ooo, romance! Can I read?”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThgJSwMogu

SD‑K

“I doubt your innocence will survive page three.”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFKKQsdaue

SD‑A stands, slips the trench coat on properly—sleeves too long, hem dragging—and wanders the room, taking in the aftermath of K’s “research.”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6DtP5ElZu

SD‑A

“You cleaned? Or… looted?”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxTfSD5O8A

SD‑K

“Both. I acquired a modest stipend.”

(jingles cred‑cores in his pocket)

“Consider it hazard pay.”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lPMiC4ggQ

SD‑A

“Jason’s gonna notice.”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGUe6nEYIj

SD‑K

“I’ll blame capitalism.”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qS4SgKkiq

There’s a clatter as SD‑A trips over a stray box of cigarettes.

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftTGR0X80M

SD‑A

“He quit, huh?”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dziLP3NNz

SD‑K

“Quit buying them? Clearly not.”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAmKSrl1jI

SD‑A picks up one unopened pack, tilts his head.

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbPj6nlNyU

SD‑A

“What do they taste like?”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNh3p60bxE

SD‑K

“Regret and burnt wire.”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhw6VaPcsu

SD‑A sets it down quickly.

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiD6EhcgEQH

SD‑A

“Pass.”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZt8sGmktsN

He shuffles to the desk, pokes Jason’s weird spoon‑king sculpture.

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIsjgGwKSA

SD‑A

“Is this art or an offering?”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxTFBiNcq0

SD‑K

“Both. Worship at your own risk.”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ieCahTyZM

SD‑A smiles, sits at the terminal chair.

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiDvbe5Hha

SD‑A

“What do we do until Jason’s back?”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYUCQzmcEp

SD‑K (shrugs)

“I tried reading, dismantling the toaster, counting ceiling cracks… I’m open to suggestions.”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfLnaQE1Jf

SD‑A

“Cartoons?”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPon2NBJwIJ

SD‑K

“Only if they involve explosions.”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrT9xzuiol

SD‑A (types, pulls up an old animated series: two robots fighting crime with slapstick rocket punches)

“Explosions guaranteed.”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWU8we9uaCD

The screen plays muted booms and bright flashes. SD‑K stands behind, arms folded but clearly watching.

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcP5MFVzfOq

SD‑K

“…Acceptable.”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88ZSC6CVNm

They settle—A perched in the chair, coat puddling around him; K leaning against the wall, jacket collar up. For a moment the cube feels almost… homey.

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1WfNv7n02

SD‑A

“Think Jason’s okay?”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nV17BgaM8

SD‑K

“He’s babysitting cadets. I give him ten minutes before existential crisis, but he’ll live.”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNB9DDGdBIX

SD‑A

“Good.”

(smiles at the screen)

“I like this… routine.”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYhPZ4WbuR

SD‑K (after a beat)

“Routine. Huh.”

(softly—almost admitting)

“Could get used to it.”

223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6BOPqQlXE

They watch in companionable silence as a cartoon rocket explodes into Technicolor gears.

ns216.73.217.114da2

Reading Theme:

Font Size:

Line Spacing:

Paragraph Spacing:

Load the next issue automatically