Chapter Text
“...And no tinkering with any appliances at home either, you hear?”
“Sweet pea, I’m fine …”
“No, you haven’t slept for 3 days and you look like shit . You’re staying here and resting, and you will not set foot on the worksite until next week, got it?!”
Slamming the door of their shared apartment, Koleda leaves in tiny, furious strides that echo through the hallway, growing fainter with every step, eventually leaving Grace alone in the silence of their breezy living room. Despite all the angry bluster, there were snacks, water bottles, and a bento box gently placed on the counter table, betraying all the worried fussiness she liked to pretend wasn’t there. ‘That’s what I get for angering the President…’ Grace laments to herself, but still half-amused.
But really, all this was unnecessary. She’d only worked a few more… well, maybe a couple or several more… well, perhaps, a week’s worth of hours more than usual… And yeah, it was still only Wednesday , but there was a lot of work to get through!
Yet it still got to the point that Koleda had all but dragged Grace away from the workshop, yelling something about “taking care of herself”, “getting proper rest” and “violating health and safety ordinances”.
Ben seemed more worried about that last one...
Either way, despite the President’s best efforts, the mind of Grace Howard refused to operate on naught but its own pace, and all the poor mechanic could do while laying on her couch at home was think in excruciating, urgent detail of all the work she still had to finish: the schematics that needed drafting, the code that needed troubleshooting, all the data that needed collecting and parsing , and oh, even all the-
Enough. Much as she hated to admit it, Koleda was right. She had to slow down a bit.
Dejectedly, sluggishly rising from the couch, her gaze crossed through the sunny slivers of the outside world that leaked in from between the window blinds. “A walk might do me some good…” She murmurs while ruffling her disheveled hair, getting ready for a quick shower.
And now, she found herself in front of Bardic Needle, getting ready to pass the door’s threshold. She’d been here once before, on Belle’s invite, in a situation much like this one, when Koleda insisted she ( try to ) fix her sleep schedule. And just like then, the plan was to look for some new albums, something to help her relax and maybe, probably, though not too likely, completely forget about work for once!
Now, there were other record shops closer to her place, but before Grace knew, she’d already made her way down to Sixth Street, drawn, subconsciously perhaps, by the memory of a certain beautiful android lady. It’s not like she came just to admire Elfy, she had a legitimate reason for being there - Koleda’s orders, even!-… but still, a few little glances couldn’t hurt…
Entering the store, the sound of soft jazz enveloped her ears in a welcoming crescendo, and she could feel her nostrils gently take in the fresh scent of vinyls that mingled with the myriad perfumes of the houseplants draping from the wall; though Grace wasn’t the pickiest when it came to atmosphere, she could still tell this was quite the cozy space, and it instantly made her feel more at ease.
Her eyes briefly scanned through the stacked shelves and classy vintage decorations that popped against the backdrop of posters and album covers lining the brick walls, before swiftly settling on the counter as her gaze immediately locked onto a tall swatch of black and cyan; Elfy stood there, her sharp back turned to the door, intently listening to another customer ask for new music recommendations.
‘Ohh…’ Grace immediately lost focus. ‘Those sharp liiines, those golden shoulder plates…’ Within seconds, she could feel her cheeks heating up. Did she immediately lose her composure last time she came here as well? Maybe because she was so tired after all..? It hadn’t been this bad, had it? Well, maybe it had. Still, was she so starved of seeing that gorgeous robot lady, without even realizing?
Really, the why and how didn’t matter, because the moment Elfy opened her mouth and let out that hypnotic, lazy drawl, in a single instant Grace’s train of thought suffered its worst ever accident, the likes of which never before seen .
It was a catastrophic derailment.
That deep, metallic timbre resonated more beautifully than any melody the jazz band inside the speakers could conjure up, and for a moment, she stood stunned as if one of her own shock grenades had blown up in her face.
‘Just how can such a beautiful voicebank exist?!?’ she sincerely asked herself, slack jawed. ‘Her syllables carry so wonderfully, and it all syncs perfectly with her lips… what kind of incredible mechanisms hide beneath that shiny dark plating?’ It was fortunate the store owner was looking the other way, so that she couldn’t see the drooling mess that had just walked into her shop.
Gaze lingering a while longer, Grace reluctantly forced herself to turn and head further in, in her mind reciting ‘Right, right, I’m here for albums, not for staring!’. Approaching a box and rifling through the CDs absent-mindedly, she still couldn’t help but cast a few sidelong glances at the counter. She studied Elfy’s features from afar, noting her slender arms and flexible joints, the golden highlights contrasting against the beautiful alloy that coated her body, the fabric of her clothes that gently draped over angular metal… the cyan plates on her head styled as both hair and gramophone…
‘Such smart, genius design…’
Had she been built as such from the start? Or had she modified her own parts, composed her own self? had she reached beyond whatever intended purpose she may have had when she took that first hearty bite from the Forbidden Fruit, singing in lovely, lively, mechanical tones, “ I think, therefore I am ”? Grace lost herself in romantic speculation, the CDs on the box likely growing bored of her flicking through them endlessly in auto-pilot.
There was just something about Elfy that drew perpetual motion from the gears in Grace’s brain. She’d never felt quite like this whenever she looked at other machines… There was something so attractive , so alluring about her that went beyond simply an elegant construction. It didn’t feel like the doting, motherly admiration she had for bangboos and the company’s machinery, or the excited, heartfelt analyses she’d engage in when seeing prosthetics and body enhancements…
This felt… warmer … a warmth she wanted to dissipate in the cold touch of the android’s lustrous metal body as she seared every detail, every nut, every bolt, every gear and every wire into memory…
It felt almost…
…Sensual …?
…
Lustful.
Carnal …..
…Or, uh. Metal...?
“Hello there. Can I help you?”
Letting out a startled yelp and somehow managing to not jump out of her skin, Grace quickly turned, finding herself pinned down by two bright blue-green LED eyes and colorful silicone lips slanting upwards into a relaxed smile. “O-Oh! Hello!” She’d gotten so immersed in that murky sea of thoughts and feelings she hadn’t even noticed when Elfy had finished talking with the other customer and come over to greet her…
Hoping the heat on her face didn’t show as badly as how she felt it, she finally managed to string together something of a coherent reply: “I’m, uh, looking for something relaxing..? Something I can put on while I rest and decompress…”
Elfy lets out a gravelly chuckle, and Grace has to fight tooth and nail not to be dragged back to the depths. “Right. Sorry for startling you~”
‘keep it together, Grace Howard !’
“So, something relaxing, hmmm?” she pauses, arms crossed, and looks over the store, trying to recall whatever may fit the bill. Reaching over to a nearby shelf she flicks through some albums, then pauses and turns, asking, “Any preference for genres? What do you normally listen to?”
“Ah, nothing in particular. I, uhm, don’t really listen to music that often…” Grace wasn’t one to get embarrassed easily, but saying this, she felt compelled to look off to the side, her cheeks flushing, heating under that enigmatic gaze. Would she judge her for that?
It almost felt as if Elfy stopped to take her in for the briefest moment, before humming and continuing, “Nothing wrong with that. New melodies can only enhance life's harmonies...” Her eyes flicked up and down, looking Grace over. “I remember you. You came here with the video store manager a while back, no?”
“Oh! right! yes, yes I did.” Grace perked back up, suddenly focused on holding up her end of the conversation. “I was looking for the same then… I did ask Belle for suggestions, she recommended those, ah, lo-fi songs? Didn’t do much for me though…”
Once again contemplative, Elfy looks through more shelves, reminding herself of different genres that might fit the request. “ Bossa nova? Or maybe..? Hmm, where are those soul rock albums…? ” All the while, Grace observed in rapture, noting the flexible motions of her fingers, the smoothness of her joints, the sleek limbs combing through disks in effective yet attentive passion. She bit her lip. ‘Fuck. Her articulation is amazing… the way her joints just slide with no resistance, so well lubricated…”
Suddenly, a slender finger comes to rest poised on a particular album, and she turns her attention back to her silent admirer: “Say. How do you like what we’re hearing right now?” she gestures to nowhere in particular, drawing Grace’s attention back to the mellow jazz playing from the speakers. Honestly, Grace had completely tuned out of anything other than the sound of Elfy’s voice…
“A-ah, yeah! Something like that! It made me pretty relaxed coming into the shop.” Hearing this, Elfy plucks the vinyl she’d selected and waves it her direction, beckoning. She locks eyes with Grace, intense gaze burning bright with invitation. “Care to have a listen?”
///
Following Elfy deeper into the shop, Grace noticed that by now they were the only ones there. Outside, as Sixth Street's bustle died down, the evening sun shed the last of its light onto the asphalt, giving way to the street lamps and still-open shop fronts to become the only sources of brightness.
The two women finally came to a stop in a secluded little corner of the shop illuminated by soft lights, where a quilted red armchair was surrounded by potted plants and a phonograph rested on a side table. more vinyls hung from the wall, and in the back a well-loved acoustic guitar rested against a box of drawers which held even more records, if Grace dared guess.
Gesturing for her to take a seat on the armchair, Elfy waltzed over to the phonograph and placed the vinyl upon it, before setting the needle in place in a single, elegant withdrawing motion. “Wow. Do all customers get this kind of service..?” Grace wondered aloud while trying to maintain a steady voice as she took in the surroundings, gingerly sitting down as offered after some brief hesitation.
“Not all. But you mentioned wanting to relax, no? How could I be proud of my store’s selection if it couldn’t even soothe the worries of a pretty lady~?” Adding that last part, she looks back with a teasing grin, her eye’s mechanical lids folding into a coquettish glance. “Sit down and surround yourself with this blanketing, sweet sound. How about we chat a while?”
“O-oh! Thank you, t-that’s, very kind of you…” as the disk begins turning beneath the needle’s caress, Grace withdraws into her thoughts once again. ‘ Ohhh, I feel like explodiing! Keep it together. You’re sitting down with the most beautiful robot you’ve ever laid eyes on. Control yourself Grace!’
She observed as Elfy pulled up a wooden stool and sat down, crossing her legs with such lightness one could forget she was made of metal. ‘ Such fluid movement… she must have such beautiful hydraulics… I want to see them… to watch them move under my touch…’
“Say, I never did ask your name…”
“Ah! I’m Grace! Grace Howard. If I remember, you’re… Elfy, right?” Of course she remembered. Her name, her body, her presence, it was all engraved in the circuits of her mind and nothing could ever sand it down.
The phonograph’s sounds marched in rising complexity, a low bass joined by gentle trumpets and strumming guitars, evoking the same feeling as the track that played on the speakers earlier. Though, not that Grace would notice that, all focus set with bated anticipation on her conversation partner.
Elfy replies with an amused hum. “That’s right. It’s a pleasure, Grace~.” adjusting herself on the stool, she continues: “Been very stressed lately?”
Caught off guard by Elfy’s lingering cadence when speaking her name, Grace struggles to parse the question, and has to fight her thoughts from going completely haywire: ‘Shit, I can’t think straight. Can she notice how much I’m staring? If I get going about my job would I let it slip how I’d love to dismantle her…? Would… she agree to that? No, no, I can’t do that! That’s way too forwar- Ahhhh, but the way she’s looking at meee!! Her facial components do such a wonderful, incredible job at conveying expressions!! I could watch it forever~!’
“Well, I-I suppose. I’m, ah, somewhat of a workaholic…” Grace gives an awkward chuckle, furrowing her brows as she glances to the side, evading Elfy’s gaze.
“...And even though I love my job, it does worry the people around me…”
Elfy responds with a sympathetic, buzzy hum before the follow up, “What’s your line of work?”
‘Here goes.’
“I work in construction. Belobog Industries. Bit of an up-and-coming company, dunno if you’ve ever heard of us…”
“Belobog, involved in the Vision scandal a while back, no? I heard from a… friend.”
“Oh! Yes, yeah, that’s right, I’m surprised you know… A-anyway, I'm a technician there. Deal with, ah, machines and such…”
“Hmm~” Oh, that hum, metallic monotone ringing in her ears, it left Grace incredulous every time. “So you’re a mechanic? Quite fond of machines, then?.”
‘What an understatement.’
“Haha… I… guess you could say that. My classmates called me the ‘Iron Witch’ the way I preferred spending time with machines over people…”
“Quite the stylish title…”
Grace chuckles, this time more genuine. “Ha, somewhat deserved, honestly. It’s true I never could really figure out how people work… but with machines, I can lose myself studying them forever… Every part, every component is delicately placed with measured intention to make a magnificent greater whole, striving to its purpose… ”
Trying not to out herself by using Elfy as an example of a ‘magnificent greater whole’, Grace looks about, turning to the phonograph on the side table. “Take this phonograph! This child may look simple, but there’s so much to admire in it! The fact that it can meticulously read all the grooves on a disc and convert the mechanical vibrations into sound is nothing short of magical!”
“It’s such… such an intricate, such a beautiful process! And that I can observe, and witness it, and as a mechanic even take part in its creation, to me that’s just an absolutely indescribable feeling…!”
Suddenly snapping back to her senses, Grace notices she’s almost fallen off her seat and quickly straightens herself before moving back in the armchair, somewhat flustered. It’s normally other people that are bothered by her ramblings. Why did she get so self conscious suddenly? “Oh, ha, look at me, babbling on and on. S-sorry, when I get going on this topic I’m like a power drill with a broken ‘off’ button…”
Elfy watched her almost in a daze, chin resting on her hand, her segmented lids lowered in soft fascination. Finally, she lets out an amused hum, sitting upright in her stool. “Looks like we’re attuned to the same frequency~” her eyes lock with Grace’s, shining with a deep understanding.
“A-ah? Really?”
“Mhm. I could describe my passion for music the same way. A beautiful, intricate process… Every note drips with potentiality, ready to be molded into whatever the musician’s heart desires.”
“Huh. I see…” Grace follows along, carefully absorbing the information.
"When you put it like that, it really is similar. I've never thought about music like that."
"Glad I could enlighten you" Elfy hums with a light tone, happy with herself, before continuing, “To me, it's a sort of magic too. A boundless ocean of infinite flavors I could dive into and drift through in pure bliss, until every last one of my parts broke down into rust…”
That somber conclusion shoots a bullet of solid despair through Grace's heart. The thought of Elfy degrading into rust is too horrible to bear, even in metaphor; her mouth moved before she could think, and she interjected with an air of actual offense: “No!! Don’t talk like you’re just some scrap! I’ve never seen any machine built like you! Your body, your voice, you’re so breath-takingly unique that I’d give anything to preserve yo-”
Taken aback by the exasperated declaration, Elfy leans back, feeling her circuits overclocking as she processes every word just said.
Seeing this reaction, Grace’s words suddenly hitch in her throat, reason suddenly flashing back to her. Once again, she’s leaning forward, almost jumping off her seat. “I-I mean, you know- y-your form, the s-strong shapes - on a technical level, I mean, that sort of engineering, ah, it’s… ” the stammers trail off into mute syllables, desperate to claw their way out, yet held back by the the intense embarrassment scorching Grace’s face.
“I…” Elfy regains some of her composure, looking at Grace in perplexed curiosity as she replies: “I didn’t mean that quite so literally…”
Cursing her abysmal self-control, Grace squirms into the quilted cushion, as if it could suck her up and hide her away for eternity, never to face the outside world again ‘ Oh, you’ve done it now! Of course she didn't mean it like that!’
“R-right! Right, of course… sorry… for that…” she squeezes out an apology, glancing off to the side and awkwardly holding her hand to her arm. ‘A tic of hers’ , Elfy notes.
A sudden, heavy silence simmers just as the music stops playing. “Ah. The record’s finished.” Elfy remarks in her robotic monotone.
‘Ah… it’s over… I came on too strong… that was definitely weird! I can’t come back here now… ohh, just let me at least get a final look at all her perfection… I must carry it to my deathbed..!’
After stewing in the torture of her thoughts for another moment, Grace meekly cuts through the silence: “I ah, suppose I should get going now.” as she motions to get up from the armchair, she mutters a hushed, “Thank you… for the hospitality…”
Though before she can actually get her weight off the seat, a cold white hand grazes her own before trailing the length of the armrest. Looking up, she’s met with Elfy’s tall figure as she casts down a sideways, half-lidded glance. “You know,” the android speaks in a restrained tone “it’s been a while since I’ve gone in for maintenance… I’ve struggled to find decent mechanics lately…”
A prolonged pause.
‘Wait’ If Grace’s mind was a mess before, it was now more chaotic than even the most unstable reaches of Hollow Zero. ‘Wait, is she…? After I ran my mouth like that, too? Am I misunderstanding? No way, no way, noo, nope. Can’t be. Can it? She doesn’t want me gone?? Shit. Shit, what do I say? Wait, crap. Goodness gracious. It’s too much, I can’t handle this. Ohhh~ the way her hand slid away… can her digits detect touch stimuli? Heavens, she’s right in front of me. Ok. Ok. I have to say something. Pull yourself together. Is this an opportunity?? Ah~ I can’t believe it…!”
“I, uh,” Forcing herself to be normal about it, Grace struggles to meet Elfy’s gaze, which pierced her through with such sharp anticipation it could split an atom. “could take… a quick look…”
“Do you have your tools?” Elfy asks, matter-of-factly.
“...Yes ma’am.”
Her countenance shifting into a satisfied smile, Elfy takes Grace’s arm and without looking back, leads her to a staircase up into the upstairs apartment.