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"That is a cat, Veronika. Not a dog."
"It's a fucking piece-of-shit, killing machine, that's what it is. Why did you bring it here? Imma throw it out the fucking window!!"
Arturo sighed, rubbing his forehead in extreme irritation, "it's not even on. How can it kill us if it isn't working?"
Ace took a step back as thoughts swarmed through his head, "it-- it could be p- pretending! Or a bomb, it could be a bomb!! Get it out, get it out!!"
"Ooo, you think it could be a bomb? That would be exciting," she coos, pressing the thing against her ear. "But I don't hear beeping. And if it was motion activated it would have gone off by now. It would be cool if it was a bomb, but the most likely possibility is someone wanted a TV that could follow them around. See, because it's a TV on wheels. Its antennae are cat ears, and its plug-in looks like a tail. I already tried plugging it in, but it didn't work. So we're taking a trip to the market instead!"
"To see your mechanic girlfriend," Arturo finished.
"Yes and no. We are going to see if she's there right now."
"No fucking clue where you got this 'we' from," Ace complains.
"The 'we' came from her assistant, who works on Tuesdays. Arturo also needs to come so we don't get distracted and forget to pick up dinner."
He scoffed at Ace's brightened expression. "Fine. But no dawdling. And if you two start disgusting me with you swooning, I will leave you there, dinner or no dinner."
---
"You want us to fix it? What seems to be wrong with it?" the mechanic's assistant, Levi, asks, bending to give the machine a closer look. Veronika saw his eyebrows furrow as if he recognized it but couldn't place from where. He brushed some hair from his face with his hand. She caught Ace's hand twitching, as if he was so close to doing it himself.
He shuffled uncomfortably from beside her, nervously licking his lips, "It wouldn't turn on when we plugged it in."
Levi took the object in his hands and inspected it in slow movements. "There's no on and off switch?"
"Not that we know of. I did check on the way here," she said over Arturo's 'I told you so' glare. "Then I thought it might have been remote controlled, so I guess we're in the market for a new one. Can you tell us the model type so we could buy one?"
"Um..." he seemed hesitant, though Veronika couldn't place why. Levi set the robot down. "She would know. Uh, Teruko? You have visitors."
"Tell them to go away!" she called from inside the tent.
"I'd come out here," he replies, then giving Ace a sweet smile when he catches him staring. He quickly looks away, managing to look alarmed, confused, angry, and flustered all at the same time. Veronika giggles.
With some grumbling Teruko finally exited the tent, pulling a rubber glove above a metal plate that Veronika catches with her eye. It peaked her interest, followed by a flash of the word cyborg. But she didn't press her. Wouldn't. Not in front of other people, anyway. When Teruko caught Veronika's eye, she looked embarrassed. Probably because she told her most loyal customer to shoo. "Uh..." Teruko swallows. "How may I help you?"
"We adopted this off the side of the road," Veronika explains, patting the machine on the head.
Teruko tore her gaze away from her to eye it. With a look of alarm, she grabbed it and threw it onto the ground. Veronika heard it smash and break, especially when she added a couple stomps to prove her point.
Ace screamed, drawing the attention of anyone and everyone around them. He grabbed for Arturo. "AHH!! She's fucking crazy!!"
Arturo looked annoyed, prying Ace's arms off of him, "I knew it would be a mistake to come here. I told you so, didn't I?"
Even Levi seemed taken it back, "T- Teruko?"
"Terukoo..." Veronika had been starting to grow attached to her misplaced friend.
"Why would... why did you do that?"
"It was a Mono-bot," she huffed like that was all they needed to hear. Seeing she was met with blank stares, her hand went to rub the back of her neck nervously, "You know, Mono? As in The Tragedy?"
"Ohhh..." Veronika hums.
"Wha- you mean the thing Veronika used to obsess over? A robot from then?" Ace was practically trying to climb Arturo, who continued to defend himself.
"Well, a robot modeled to look like one. It doesn't matter. They were... evil."
"This is absurd," Arturo huffed, finally pulling Ace off of him. "The two of you are absurd. And ugly. Maybe you really were made for eachother. I'm going to go get dinner. Are you coming or not?"
"Um--" starts Levi. Then he winced like he shouldn't have said anything. "We could make you dinner? It's the least we could do after Teruko broke your... thing."
"No, thank you," he sniffed, haughtily turning his nose up into the air.
"Yes!" Veronika cheers on her and Ace's behalf. "Aww, come on, Arturo! Free dinner, plus we need more social reputation in this town."
He pinched the bridge of his nose, his chest rising and falling as he breathed indignantly. Veronika waited with wide eyes. She knew he knew she was right. It was the excuse Arturo frequently used to get them out of his space. "But what about breakfast tomorrow?"
"Ooo, good question. You get paid tomorrow, and we only have enough food for one more meal but... hm." She rocks on the heels of her feet as she thinks.
Dinner tonight was covered, but then that left breakfast and lunch. Breakfast or lunch? She knew Ace would probably force her to let him give up his meal for her, and he'd continue to do it until there was more than enough food for all of them. (The thought made her smile. He really does care, in his own way.) And, as they say, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Of course, there was the possibility of snacking, however the food they had left in the fridge wasn't snack-able. It was barely meal-able, but Veronika had the uncanny ability to make a meal out of anything.
While she was deep in thought, she missed the meaningful look Levi and Teruko shared. Teruko rolled her eyes, breathing harshly, "You could stay the night if you wanted. I'm sorry I broke your robot."
"We don't want to overstay our welcome," Veronika worries.
"I- okay, this might be weird, but- I kind of... want you guys to? I mean, whenever Veronika comes over she talks about you two. Besides I think out android us getting lonely," she added, embarrassed.
"Speaking of... I should go and start on dinner. If you don't need me anymore, that is," Teruko shakes her head to Levi's question. "If you want to, you can come with me? It's not that long a walk."
"We'd love to help!" Veronika bounces. She raised her hand, then linked arms with Ace. He grunted, but made no attempt to shove her off.
Arturo rolled his eyes, knowing he had no choice. At least his friends tolerable roommates would be there.
---
Their home looked like something that came straight from a graphic novel. It was a one story building-- something that could pass for a trailer. It was only a couple steps off the ground.
It was messier on the inside, with machine parts scattered all over the living room. An android sat on the couch. Its head turned towards them as they entered, "Levi Fontana and three guests arrive at five thirty two. Dinner in twenty eight minutes. Battery at seventy eight percent. Do you need me to take your coats?"
Ace moved behind Levi as the droid approached. She didn't look like a normal household droid.
"This is Rose, our android. Go ahead and introduce yourselves. I'll be in the kitchen." Levi gave them a smile as he headed into the connecting room. She starts to take off her shoes as Rose studied Ace.
"Ace Markey, jockey prodigy. Quit after a fatality involving someone from one of the opposing teams. Made a full recovery, but hasn't entered any races since. It is believed he will never go back to racing."
As she finishes her analysis, Ace shakes his head, "I fucking hate droids." He followed in Levi's direction.
Rose turned to her, extending a hand, "Veronika--"
"Grebenshchikova," she shook her hand.
"Known in the horror genre. Recent novelist! I haven't finished your book, but Teruko did last night and discussed it with me. Teruko recently asked; do you have a favorite color?"
"Um--"
"Do you prefer Indian, Chinese, or Thai? Have you seen Fear Street? Have you read Fear Street? Would you recommend-"
"Oh, wow. I'm very flattered, but I'm curious so I have to ask-- you look extremely realistic. Are you an escort droid?"
"Was an escort droid. I was re-programmed by Teruko. Would you like for me to show you around as we wait for dinner? Maybe we can play a game. I'm good at cards."
"Whatever," Arturo huffs.
Rose's head turns towards him, "Arturo Giles. Plastic--"
"Save it. I already know my life story."
"Yes, sir."
Rose was an absolute gem. It turns out she was great at cards... when she was awake. Apparently she had a faulty battery and Teruko told her she would replace it soon.
Dinner was ready by the time Teruko got there, five after six. Fried rice and chicken. Everyone ate, minus Rose who still sat at the dinner table and engaged in conversation. Veronika was completely blown away by the taste. It was a hundred percent better than anything her, Ace, or Arturo made in the past few months.
Teruko took a quick shower as everyone piled in Levi's room to watch a movie. Arturo and Rose took the chairs while the rest of them cramped on his bed. When Teruko joined them she found a place between Veronika and Levi's legs, resting her head on her thigh. Veronika happily fed her her own stash of M**e a*d I**s.
Teruko ended up falling asleep, exhausted from her work day. At the end of the movie, Levi carried her to her room. He pulled out the bed in the pull-out couch. Rose helped make their bed.
Arturo joined her when she laid down, but Ace was taking longer. Still in Levi's room, by the sounds of it. He wasn't there when she woke up the next morning.
Not that she was complaining. He was happy. She was happy. Even Arturo seemed to be happy. (Or, at least, in a good mood.)
Maybe they all could be friends after all.
Not that she was doubting anything.
Not anymore.