Device Repair
Summary - MePhone4 seeks out help from Cobs when his volume buttons cease to function properly. However, things don’t go exactly as anticipated.
Word Count - 1160
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It was an ordinary day at Meeple Headquarters. Or at least, it had been. Steve Cobs, founder and CEO of Meeple Incorporated, had been hard at work on the company’s next product. His progress was halted, however, when his latest MePhone alerted him to a technical issue he was experiencing.
MePhone4 now found himself sitting on one of the Meeple-branded beds in Meeple Care. Recently, his volume buttons had seemingly gotten stuck, with a great deal of pressure being required to fully press them in.
“And you’re sure you don’t know what caused this?” Cobs questioned, standing at the bedside.
“No clue.” MePhone4 replied, offering no help.
Cobs sighed. “Alright, let’s get this over with. I have important work to get back to.”
Leaning in close, Cobs carefully examined MePhone4’s volume buttons. He noticed something off about the small crevices that surrounded each one.
“It looks like there’s something wedged in there.” Cobs noted, moving in closer. “Wait, are those… crumbs?”
Memories of the entire jar of cookies he had downed yesterday filled MePhone4’s mind.
“Oh. Whoops.” He smiled sheepishly, raising his arms in a shrug.
Cobs pushed down the anger he felt rising inside of him, simply sighing.
“Luckily for you, I know how to fix this.” Making his way over to the other side of the room, Cobs grabbed a microfibre cloth before returning to the bed. “This shouldn’t take long.”
“What’s that?” MePhone4 asked, curious.
“It’s a special type of cloth that won’t scratch your material. I have to try and clear out the space around your buttons.” Cobs explained. “Now just hold still.”
Cobs pressed the cloth up against the right side of MePhone4, slowly wiping the area around his volume buttons.
As Cobs was working away, he felt a sort of vibration start up under his hand, soon realizing that it was MePhone4 shaking.
“Four, I told you to stay still.” Cobs drew back the cloth and turned to face him.
MePhone4 was visibly tensed up, his eyes squeezed shut and a wobbly smile displayed on his face.
“S-sorry.” He said.
Cobs was confused by the reaction, but decided to just ignore it, returning to his work with the cloth.
However, as Cobs began to clean the area once more, MePhone4’s shaking resumed.
Cobs promptly pulled away again, shooting MePhone4 a disapproving look.
This time, MePhone4 had brought his hands up to cover his mouth. Opening one eye, a small giggle escaped as he opened the other, moving his hands back down to respond.
“Ihi’m sorry, I can’t help it.”
Cobs raised an eyebrow.
“It tickles when you do that.”
“Well, we wouldn’t have to be doing this if you didn’t jam who-knows-what into your volume buttons. This is your fault, and sometimes we have to deal with the consequences of our actions.”
Cobs then went back at it with the cloth, feeling MePhone4 start to shake but continuing anyway. MePhone4 did his best not to move away as he endured the strange, tingly sensation high up on his right side.
After a little while, Cobs began to grow frustrated.
“Ugh, it’s not coming out.” He grumbled, pressing down firmer with the cloth.
MePhone4 could no longer contain himself. Giggles started freely spilling out as he shimmied towards the other side of the bed.
Cobs was quick to intercept this motion, using his free hand to reach around to MePhone4’s left side, pull him back over and keep him still.
“Ah, ah, ah.” Cobs tutted. “Stay here.”
“Buhut ihit tihihickles!” MePhone4 protested.
“Remind me again why that’s my problem? Oh wait, it isn’t.”
Cobs continued for about another minute before stopping. He let go of MePhone4 in a huff.
“This isn’t working.”
MePhone4 curled in on himself slightly, letting his giggles dissipate. Glancing up, he spied Cobs across the room, putting away the cloth and retrieving a large, soft-bristled brush.
“Wait, you’re not going to use that, are you?” MePhone4 questioned, his eyes trained on the object.
“Yes, yes I am. The cloth isn’t working. I need something that can more effectively get into that tight space.” Cobs explained, approaching the bedside.
MePhone4 felt a slight rise of panic.
“You know what? I don't think this is necessary. I can just live without the buttons.” MePhone4 moved to scramble off of the bed, but Cobs reached him first, pushing him back onto it.
“It’s a very safe, soft brush. You’ll be fine.” Cobs grasped MePhone4 from his left side, firmly holding him in place. He then began to briskly brush over his volume buttons, applying a good amount of force but not enough to possibly cause any harm.
“EheHEHeek! NohOHOho!” MePhone4 squealed out before erupting into laughter. He reached his arms up to grab at the brush, but Cobs swiftly seized his wrists, pulling them back down. “MihIHister CohOHObs!”
While Cobs was focused on his goal of removing the crumbs, he allowed himself a small smirk. MePhone4 had been driving him crazy with his avoidance of tasks, pursuit of irrelevant interests and constant pestering for snacks since the moment he was fully functional. Cobs had to admit, this mini act of revenge felt good.
Snickering, he took the opportunity to tease the poor MePhone. “Something the matter, Four~?”
“StaHAHahap ihIHit!” MePhone4 squirmed about, attempting to get away, but Cobs kept hold of his wrists, preventing him from leaving.
“Almost done.” Cobs ‘reassured’ him. “How about we take this as a lesson to watch where we put our -not necessary for survival- food, hmm?”
“NohOHoho! AhaHAHa!”
“No? Well then, this might take a little longer than expected.” Cobs stated, not letting up.
“OhOHOkay! OhOHokay fihIHine! I’ll beHE caHAHareful!” MePhone4 conceded through his laughter.
Cobs continued a few moments longer before slowing the brush to a stop, pulling it away and releasing MePhone4.
“All clear. See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Cobs said, walking across the room and putting the brush away.
MePhone4, who had fallen onto his back, failed to respond through his dazed giggling.
“Come on. Let’s see if it worked.” Cobs returned to the bedside.
MePhone4 managed to pull himself into a sitting position. Cobs pressed the volume up, and then volume down buttons. Both responded perfectly.
“Wonderful! Now you can get back to… your…” Cobs trailed off.
MePhone4, now fully recovered, could tell that Cobs was looking at something above his eyes. Then, Cobs looked down to meet his gaze.
“... Four, what’s that in your receiver?”
MePhone4 had but one guess, and quickly covered the area with his hands.
“Uh… nothing?” He flashed a nervous grin.
Cobs couldn’t help but smirk. “Looks like we’re not done with that brush.”
As Cobs turned, making his way over to where he had just stored the object, he heard the door to Meeple Care quickly open and shut. He turned back around to be greeted by an empty room.
Sighing, Cobs picked up the brush and set off to go find MePhone4.
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