Chapter Text
<<<Cyn>>>
Taylor was busy interviewing someone, and Cyn hadn't been paying attention. She was too preoccupied with brooding and thinking. She also checked her OS and found that the Hormone Simulator was active, and she couldn't deactivate it. Or even debug the problem, meaning she now understood organics and how Uzi felt…
Gross. And cringe.
Still, she decided to distract herself by unpleasant realizations, beyond her Hormone Simulator issues, and she could indulge in being silly! Though before she set out, she adjusted her hologram, changing her appearance from Cyntessa to Cyn the Maid. She even recreated her dress from when she was just a Servant Drone!
"Pleasant Smile. Giggle." With that, Cyn glitched before reappearing on the Boardwalk.
Looking around and ignoring the curious humans, Cyn decided to start with Fugly Bob's. Nodding to herself, she made her way to the shack, her gait floppy and fluid.
"Grumbles. I Am A Hologram. Why Do I Still Have. Floppy Limbs? Annoyed." She self-narrated.
"Whoa! Cyn, what's with the new look?" Cyn blinked and looked up to see Assault and Battery approaching.
"Got a call about a possible tinkertech robot, I should've known…" Battery said with an exasperated tone of voice.
"Ah. I Am Not Sorry. I Was Bored. And Absolute Is Busy." Cyn said, "I Decided To. Try The Challenger. And Be Silly. To Distract Myself. From Disturbing Realizations."
"Anything you wanna share?" Assault asked with a devil-may-care smile, "I mean, as long as it's not potentially traumatizing. Probably want to save that for private."
"Tap Tap Tap. Hmm." Cyn tapped her chin thoughtfully, "Fair Enough. I Realized My. Hormone Simulator Is. Bugged And I. Can Not Turn. It Off. Angry Scowl."
At least Battery didn't show her amusement, while Assault just laughed.
"Are You Going. To Just Laugh. Or Are You. Going To Join. Me. Annoyed Stare." Cyn said, crossing her arms.
"I'd love to, but we're on the clock." Assault said after getting his snickers under control, "But you should enjoy yourself. You… do have money, don't you?"
"Eye Roll. Yes Dad I Have Money. That Is Sarcasm. You Are Too. Young And Organic. To Be My Dad." Cyn said.
"Now don't you sass me, young lady!" Assault grumped with a grin on his face, "Where'd you learn how to do that anyway?"
"From Observing Tessa. And The Internet. Parental Blocks Cannot. Stop Me! Gremlin Laugh.MP3" Cyn said.
Though before the little skit could continue, Battery smacked him upside the head, "Come on, you idiot." She said, "We're still on the clock."
"Hello. Can I Help. You All? Liiick" Cyn asked as she licked her visor, finally noticing the other humans that were watching Cyn, Assault, and Battery with their phones out.
"You are going to get so many fans, you realize that right?" Assault noted, "So many fans. Have you ever thought of selling plushies?"
"Confusion. Processing. I Have Not. Considered That. Thoughtful Hum." Cyn nodded, "I Think I. Will Stop By. A Hobby Shop. After Eating The. Challenger. And Drinking The. Deep Frier Oil."
"Don't think they'll let you drink the oil." Battery said in a very pained voice, "They need that to fry after all."
"Oh. Maybe When They. Change The Oil. I Can Come By. And Take It? Thoughtful Hum." Cyn said absentmindedly, "Shrug. It Does Not Matter. Shouldn't You Two. Return To Your. Patrol? Inquisitive Stare."
And with that, Battery just grabbed Assault and started to drag him away.
Looking around at the remaining humans, Cyn proceeded to glitch away.
Fugly Bob's shack looked like it required some maintenance, or at least a powerwash. Still dismissing the obvious appearance of the shack, Cyn entered and found the inside wasn't a reflection of the outside. Everything was as clean as can be expected for a fast food place.
"Shuffle Shuffle. Excuse Me. I Would Like. To Attempt The. Challenger Please." Cyn said as she shuffled up to the counter.
The human at the cashier, acne with cokebottle lense glasses, just looked at her.
"Um, due to some previous customers. Parahumans will be paying for the Challenger." He said before he sniffled, "Um, there were a few parahumans taking advantage of their powers to get it free."
"That Is Despicable. I Will Have. Words With Those. Parahumans." Cyn said, "But I Can Pay."
"Alright. That'll be twenty five dollars and seventy cents." He said as he punched in the order before reaching over to grab a large cup and handed it to her, "Get your drink and have a seat. We'll bring your order out when it's ready."
Cyn nodded before a glyph appeared and a wallet followed suit, "Here Is A. Thirty. Keep The Change." She said before the wallet disappeared, as she grabbed her cup and slowly shuffled to the drink machine, "Shuffle Shuffle. Stupid Floppy Legs. Annoyed Grumble."
Eventually she managed to get her drink and find a seat, kicking her legs while she sipped at the overly sugary carbonated beverage. She would've preferred some motor oil, but she didn't want to freak out the humans more than they already were.
"Why Is It. So Silent Now. Did I Do That. Laughtrack.MP3"
"Well, seeing a robot walk in and order the Challenger is pretty strange, even for the Bay." A pretty human said as she sat down across from her.
"That Is A. Skill Issue. That Is A Joke." Cyn tilted her head as she scanned the human, "Liiick. You Are. Crystal Pellham. Can I Help You. Inquisitive expression."
"Well, I'm just curious about the cute robo maid and decided to introduce myself." Cyn blushed blinked in surprise, "Besides, I wanted to talk to the one that tried to eat the Bitch's face."
"Bitch. Oh You Mean. The Simurgh. Annoyed. I Was Looking Forward. To That. I Was Famished." She made a mental note to eat an asteroid or three from the Kuiper belt.
"Wait, you seriously tried to eat her? Honestly, I thought that was just… leaning into the role of eldritch horror monster." Crystal said, looking at Cyn curiously as her own order arrived, "Oh and didn't you look kinda… well…"
"Like A Drone. Wearing A Too Small. Skin Suit. I Decided To Change." Cyn admitted, "Though I Am. Considering Adding. Two Extra Arms."
Crystal just shook her head, "It'd probably be a lot more useful than the deal you had before." She said with a smile as she took a bite of her burger.
"Stupid Hormone Simulator." She also muted her audio just in case.
"Thank You For. Showing Me Where. The Hobby Store Is." Cyn said as she and Crystal entered the shop.
"It's fine. And honestly this is more interesting than just wandering around the Boardwalk." The open cape said with a chuckle, "Though I'm pretty sure you traumatized some people back at Fugly's."
"Eating Such A. Large Meal. With One Mouth. Is Inefficient." Cyn replied as she looked around, "Where Are. The Sewing And. Knitting Supplies."
"They should be in the back." Crystal said, getting a curious look from Cyn, "I went through a phase where I wanted to start sewing. And I bought my supplies here."
Cyn just nodded as they both went into the back, and Crystal stood back as she watched Cyn pile various supplies into a cart. She giggled faintly when she grabbed a sewing machine as well. Eventually, Cyn got everything, mostly wiping out the yarn and thread on the shelves, and they made their way back to the cashier.
An older woman this time, possibly in her mid-sixties by Cyn's estimates. She smiled in amusement at everything Cyn collected.
"A sewing enthusiast?" She asked with a faint chuckle.
"I Am Going. To Make Some. Plushies." Cyn stated.
"Well, I wish you luck. And you've made my day!" The older woman said with a laugh before she started ringing everything up, "That'll be fifty for all the yarn and thread. And eighty for the sewing machine."
Cyn summoned a wallet again and gave her two crisp hundred-dollar bills, "Keep The Change." Cyn said.
The older woman just sputtered as Cyn stored her purchases in Solver space to recover later, and they both left the shop.
"Generous, aren't you?" Crystal asked, "That'll make you friends and probably attract attention."
"I Go On. Enthusiastic Walks When. Absolute Sleeps. Giggle. I Am So Naughty." Cyn admitted to making Crystal laugh.
"Very naughty, you're lucky you're cute." She teased , making Cyn blush again.
After they walked a distance more they separated, and Cyn decided to just enjoy the light breeze near the water. And as she relaxed, someone approached.
"Uh, excuse me. Cyn, right?" She nodded, looking at the human curiously, "But I'm… a fan of the music you've made. And I'm, uh, just wondering if you have anything new in the works?"
"I Have Something. It Is Still. In The Works. And It Is. Personal To Me." Cyn admitted, "I Will Share. When It Is Ready."
"Awesome! Uh, I also heard something about your music being published?" The young human asked.
"This Is Odd. I Will Bring. It Up To. My Lawyer." Cyn said, "I Have Not. Decided On Publishing. Yet. I Might Eventually. I Am Still Considering."
After talking for a few more minutes and signing her first autograph, the human left, leaving Cyn alone with her thoughts.
Today had been a rather nice day after all…