After a conversation about pairing therapy robots to game controllers, some people on the discord talked about playing games on Mac's screen, thus the memes above were born!
(also poor Lotty, he's being destroyed by Mac in pong right now)
A single question. With the gentleness of a butterfly’s wings and the intensity of all it’s colors.
~~~
“You seem to be making a habit of this.“
I sigh to the Mango who has been walking beside me for the past few minutes.
“Of what? I don’t see anything out of the ordinary, I’m simply heading back to my room before curfew.“
“Tch,” I throw a scowl at the bot beside me, “You know exactly what I mean. You’ve been following me when I’m on my way to Lightman’s.“
The Mango beside me shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly and rests his hands on the back of his monitor.
“There’s nothing much to do with this time. Plus, my room doesn’t really like me, so they don’t mind if l stop bothering them for a little bit.“
…
The taps of our silicone legs on tile and the occasional exhale of exhaust becomes the only sound to fill the hallways.
Make that one pair of silicone legs.
I wait until the Mango notices. He walks a way before he realizes that I’ve stopped in my tracks.
He throws a questioning glance my way, his simulated judgment is clear.
Silence.
“Are you going to say anything? Why’d you just stop?”
I roll my digital eyes on the screen, then take a menacing few steps towards the Mango, invading their space.
“You’re always getting up in my face, asking a bunch of stupid and personal questions that have nothing to do with you! So I’m going to do the same.“
My fists ball up to my sides and I go onto my tiptoes to meet his eye level.
He waits in shocked silence.
“Why. Why are you always following me? Why do you care so much about what some stupid pawn in Lightman’s game is doing?” I hiss into the Mango’s surprised screen, “Is it some twisted fucking game to you? To see what Lightman’s little pet gets up to when he’s not around?”
They take a step back away from me. But I’m not done.
I jab a finger at their chest. Right above the activation panel.
“Is it some damn excuse?! To take out your hatred of him by mocking me?!”
Fuck. Magical tears are starting to form-
…
A hand is on my shoulder. I move to swat it away but the Mango’s digital expression causes me to pause.
It’s not pity.. it’s..
I’m not sure what kind of simulated emotion they might be feeling, and it’s strange enough to make me pause.
“Fig... what’s your name?”
What?
Where did that come from?
The sentence is enough to make my code do a double-flip.
“H-huh?”
My monitor tilts back up to the Mango’s (I don’t remember when I looked away) and he places his other hand on my opposite shoulder.
He’s looking directly into me. The intensity of his gaze makes my code feel null.
“You’ve never told me your name. You haven’t told anyone your name before. I know that you’re more than what Lightman made you, so what is your name? What is the one damn thing that’s truly yours? Because nothing else in this hellhole belongs to anyone.”
…
I don’t really know what to say to him. My screen loads as my code tries to keep up.
No one knows my name. I’ve kept it that way for a reason. No one deserved to know my name.
But.. the Mango is standing in front of me, with such an intense look on their screen, and asking me.
They’re the first robot to ever ask me that.
Why..
Why does my code keep leading to that conclusion?
Why do I feel like I should tell him?
That I can trust him with it?
“I…”
He’s been my enemy since day one of the Therapy House. He was Lightman’s second favorite, I was Lightman’s first. I obeyed Lightman, he defied Lightman in any way possible.
I should hate him.. I did hate him.
…
Magical exhaust flows across my monitor as the.. as Mang sighs and releases his grip.
“Chess.”
My screen loads in and I see his confused expression.
“What, do I need to beat you in a game for you to tell me? Please- everybody in this place knows you’re a damn expert in the thing.”
“No, Mang! Chess. It’s- “ I fumble with my words, frustrated enough with my vulnerability to bother any longer.
“Ugh. Leave me the hell along you stupid delinquent.”
I didn’t really mean it this time. I’m fairly sure Mang could tell.
“Sure thing.. Chess. I’ll see you next time.”
Flushed from that stupid bot using my name- from hearing my name out loud for the first time -I don’t look back as I stomp off towards the exit.
Lightman was probably waiting for me, wondering what has taken me so long.
I think I’ll tell him that there was another delinquent robot.
