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"That's not what the instructions say," Fox said critically, rotating said instructions in front of him.
Behind the mountain of MDF and duraplast that would eventually become cabinet or something, Thorn's head popped up.
"I told you not to look at the instructions!" They said, outraged.
"Wait," Fox blinked. "You were serious?"
"Yes!" Thorn screeched, face scrunching up. They stood and marched over to where Fox was sprawled lazily on their couch. They snatched the instructions from him, balling up the flimsi and tossing it over their shoulder.
"It's not the experience I'm going for," they declared – their hands settling on their hips as they scowled down at Fox.
"The experience?" Fox repeated slowly. "Thorn, we're building furniture."
"Have you never seen a holo-com?" They said, rolling their eyes. "That's what people do. You build it without the instructions, shout a lot and then when it collapses, you build it again. With the instructions that time. It's fun!"
Fox stared up at them.
"You're insane," he said eventually.
"Look can you just–" Thorn huffed. “Can you just do it? Please? ”
“Fine,” Fox stood. “I don’t get why you even care so much –”
“Because it’s what people do,” Thorn exploded. “And we’re people now so we should be able to do it too!”
Fox stared at them.
“We’ve always been people, Thorn,” he said softly.
“I know that,” Thorn said with a sigh, all the fight draining out of them. “I know! But now everyone else knows too and… can we just do what the happy people on TV do? Please?”
“Sure,” Fox said, squeezing Thorns bicep. “Let’s do what people do.”
“Why do the instructions make this even more confusing?”
“Why the fuck would you buy a discount version of an already discount furniture brand?”
“We’ve been legally recognised as sentient for like two months, Fox. I’m still fucking poor you asshole.”
“Oh my Gods I hate you.”