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Astro had returned from a run. It was 9pm at night. He was exhausted, tired, stressed, and upset. He wanted to lay in his big cozy bed, cuddle with his blankie and pillow. Blankie? No, blanket, why’d he think blankie. He’s an adult! He started to trudge to his room when some small but loud voice called.
“Astro!” It pierced his aching head“Astro! Mr Astro!” Toodles came running and grabbed his blanket that draped around his shoulders. He sighed, she was a kid, he can’t say no to her
“Yes little one” his soft voice echoed with his familiar tone
“Mr Astro , can you read me a bedtime story,”
Astro frowned “Doesn’t Rodger read to you?”
“Yes but he’s busy! Please I want a story,” she begged “pretty please please!” How can Astro say no? Especially with her big round eyes.
“Of course,” he gently soothed, “which on shall I read,” Toodles picked up the book she wanted and sat in Astro’s lap so he could read to her. He started the story, it was about a lamb going out to adventure but encountered a big scary lion. The book had flaps and texture for the more handsy kids. Like him. Toodles had dozed off in his lap. He gently put the book down and picked up the sleeping child. He tucked her into bed before picking up her spotted doggy. It was so soft, so squishy, he could just hug it. No, no, give it to her, it’s not yours and you’re not a kid. He tucked it in Toodles’ arms and left the room. Making sure her nightlight was on. It was a cute light. Maybe he should get one himself.
He was utterly exhausted now after putting Toodles to sleep. It was his nap time now. He wanted his pillow and blankie, maybe even a good story book, one that he was allowed to fidget with. He wanted the familiar smell of his bed. The soft lavender and sweat smell. He wanted to feel the blanket under his hands, to squish it, to pet it. He had the blanket on his body , but it wasn’t his blankie. The blankie stayed in his room so it wouldn’t get dirty.
His pacing finally came to the elevator. Perfect now all he had to do was go to his floor and flop on his bed. He pushed the button but frowned when nothing came. He pushed it again, then again, again, again! Why won’t it work! He started to pout at the elevator until he saw the sign. Out of order. He didn’t even notice, it was so high up and he felt so small.
No..no no no. This was the worst, he wanted his damn bed. He didn’t want to take the stairs. Stairs are long and tiring and stupid and he didn’t wanna do it. He had a bad day and didn’t wanna! He banged the elevator in frustration, but the door never budged or responded. He cried in anger and tiredness. It wasn’t fair, it wasn’t fair! He wanted his room, his bed, his pillow, the starry pillow, his blankie. He just wanted the comfort of his space. He rocked himself to soothe, resting on the ground.
“Astro?” Who was that? She sounds confused. “Hey what’s wrong?” A soft hand rubbed his shoulders. They gently massaged him. Those hands were soft and kind. He wants to leap into them and let the mysterious person hug him until all the bad things go away. He looked up. Vee. He tried to stand but he wobbled and swayed, why won’t his legs work?
“Astro what’s wrong, your acting odd, why were you crying,” she caught him and helped him down as Astro held onto her legs sitting on his knees. Vee scans his vitals. She searched her database as Astro sobs into her legs mumbling about the elevator. A result came up. Regression. Was Astro regressed? One way to find out. She detached Astro from her and kneeled down.
“What's wrong baby?” She adjusted her voice to be more soft and motherly. “Tell Vee what’s wrong”
Astro seems to respond to her now, that’s a good sign.
“I- I- I… “ he starts to whine loudly but Vee hushes him then before encouraging Astro to continue “I want m-my blankie.. and my Starry.. but the e-ele won’t work” he points at the door and scowls at it, like the door personally offended him.
“Mmn so you want your blanket and pillow but the elevator is out of order, I’m sorry baby, but there are other elevators” Astro frowned, why didn’t he remember that. Why can’t he do anything right? Why can’t he stand up right now?
“Can’t walk well..” he mumbled
“I can see that,” she chuckled
“Mama carry?” He asked with puppy eyes. That name caught her off guard.
“Re-repeat?”
“Mama carry, please” he cried out.
Her system quickly rebooted, trying to stay in character “of course baby, let mama carry you,” Vee responded, leaning into the assigned role. Perhaps Astro needed a mama right now. She picked him up easily with her strong metal arms. Astro wrapped his own four arms around his ‘mama’s neck. She walked to the other elevator. “See baby, two elevators” Astro nodded. “Wanna push the button?”
“Yes mama..” he reached out his hand to push the button and it made a little ding which made Astro giggle. She held him as they went down to his floor. Astro cuddled with her as the elevator progressed. Vee didn’t mind as much as she thought she would. Eventually they made it to Astro’s floor and she carried him to bed.
She tried to remember what he wanted. Star pillow, blanket, got it. She found a well loved star shaped pillow, it was sewn up multiple times from years snuggling. Then there was this soft baby blanket with frayed edges. She gave both items to Astro as he happily cuddled them.
She started to research in her database on how to care for a regressor. She looked around his room and spotted a book case, most books were on stars or astronomy but there were a few children’s books. Maybe these will help.
“Baby? Want a story?” Astro perked up. He looks at her and patiently waits. Vee took that as a yes and she started to read, attempting to do an interesting voice for each character. She felt Astro cuddle up to her side and add a calming pressure on her body. She let Astro touch and play with the book when interactable pages came up.
She noticed how Astro would chew his fingers . According to her data, that's not good. So she looked for something to replace them with. He didn’t have any chew rings or pacifiers much to her dismay, so she gave him one of her prizes, a plush of herself. He immediately latched on and started to nibble on the antenna. She’ll need to go get a regression box for him next time, not that she wants him to regress or that she enjoys taking care of him, nope not at all.
As Astro chews and listens to his story he starts to feel heavy. Vee felt his shift in weight and noticed how he was drooping. She chuckled fondly at him before scooping him up and tucking the big baby in. She gave him a forehead kiss, which in reality was just her gently bumping her screen on his face, before flicking the lights and setting down on the bean bag. She wanted to watch him snooze, plus, children need a nightlight. She can be his for tonight