Robotic Essences - SCENE 73 – "A Promise, A Vacation"

INT. JASON'S CUBE – AFTERNOON

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The lazy golden light of the afternoon drips through the dusty windows.

The cube, cluttered as usual, hums with a strange, easygoing energy.

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Jason sprawls on the couch, one arm thrown over his optics, half-napping.

A sits on the floor nearby, fiddling with the battered texter Jason gave him days ago, occasionally sneaking glances to make sure Jason's still there.

K occupies himself on the other side of the room, poking through some ancient board games they rescued from the fridge, looking deeply unimpressed.

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It’s been a strange adjustment—Jason actually staying put for more than a few hours.

But he’s keeping his promise.

Three days off. No patrols. No HQ calls. No Maglev rides straight into explosions.

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Just... this.

Him.

The cube.

And the two weirdos he somehow ended up calling family.

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JASON (groaning into his arm)

"...This is the first time I've taken more than one day off since, like, my fifth body frame upgrade."

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A looks up from the texter.

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A (gently)

"You needed it. You still need it."

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Jason snorts, rolling his head to the side to squint at A.

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JASON

"Yeah, yeah. 'Rest or else,' huh? Is that an official order from Commander Worrywart?"

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A’s optics flicker slightly, but he nods.

Jason tries not to smile too much at that.

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Across the room, K flips the lid off an ancient, battered UNO box, sifting through the dusty cards.

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K (flatly)

"These are all sticky. I think something died in here."

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Jason waves a hand lazily.

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JASON

"Welcome to the cube. Everything's either sticky, broken, or cursed."

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K (deadpan)

"Or all three."

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Jason chuckles quietly.

The easy flow of conversation, the warmth despite the mess—he didn’t realize how much he missed... this.

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Just being.

Not running.

Not fighting.

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A leans back on his hands, tilting his head.

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"...We should do something. To celebrate."

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Jason raises an eyebrow.

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JASON

"What, you wanna throw me a 'Congrats For Not Dying' party?"

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A (serious)

"Yes."

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Jason blinks.

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Then barks out a laugh that startles even K into looking up.

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JASON (grinning)

"Alright. Fine. But only if I get a crown and a parade."

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K tosses a UNO card at him without looking.

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"Your funeral."

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Jason catches the card lazily, still grinning.

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The cube hums with the sound of the old ventilation kicking on, the texter buzzing with some notification A ignores, the lazy rhythm of a life Jason didn’t realize he was starting to crave.

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Outside, the city rumbles on—chaotic, broken, alive.

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But in here?

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Here, things are... okay.

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At least for now.

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FADE OUT.

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