Pouring out my (candy) heart to you - OTA

[gobacktoheaven]

Aaron liked Valentine's Day just fine - it wasn't like he was some V-Day version of Scrooge or whatever. Plus, hello, candy store owner. Of course, not everything sold as well as the chocolate bunnies and hearts. Anyway, V-Day was gone and it was time to clean house. Candy corn, Peeps, and of course those nasty little chalky hearts - it all had to

Comments

[machinechild]

Alissa's attention is shifted as she's walking down the street because of the music and then because of the man's actions. She approaches and tilts her head. "What are you doing?"

[gobacktoheaven]

Aaron turned, smiling as he recognized her. "Alissa, hello. I'm throwing out this Valentine's Day candy. Now that it's over, no one is going to buy it, so I'm getting rid of it."

"How are you doing?" He remembered meeting her last year - an actual cybernetic organism, not that you'd ever know by looking.

[machinechild]

She wonders what the humans in the future would think about the waste of food. Someone like Kyla would probably detest it. It seemed like a logical step to her. It would not be profitable to have the product take up shelf space if it wasn't going to sell.

"I have been learning how to skate." She answers. "Leoben gave me skates for Christmas."

[gobacktoheaven]

"Roller or ice?" Aaron asked. "I tried to learn to roller skate when I was younger, but I was such a klutz that it was all I could do to stand up."

[machinechild]

"Ice." Her forehead wrinkles. "What is 'roller'?"

She knows she could look it up, but Aaron's here to explain so she doesn't.

[gobacktoheaven]

"The skates have four small wheels each, instead of a blade." Aaron explained. "The skating surface is an area of smooth floor instead of ice, but the basic ideas are the same. Are you enjoying it?"

He wondered if she was capable of enjoyment in the human sense.

[machinechild]

"Roller skate seems terribly inefficient." Skates, as she's discovered, are streamlined for speed.

At his question, she thinks about it. "It... is not unpleasant." Alissa considers it some more. "I enjoy improving my ability."

Sometimes it worries her that she might be feeling too much pride in that.

[gobacktoheaven]

Aaron nodded. "This Leoben - he's your friend?"

She clearly had advanced social concepts in her programming, no doubt to blend in better.

[machinechild]

She's never referred to Leoben as a friend, but she considers the definition and realizes he may well be one.

"Yes... I think he is." Alissa's not happy with her answer. It was too non-committal. She nods. "Yes, he is."

[gobacktoheaven]

"It's good to have friends." Aaron said, tossing one last bag of candy hearts into the dumpter. "Care for some chocolate hearts - I've got plenty of them."

[machinechild]

Alissa knows that chocolate is an indulgence, but there are studies to suggest that cocoa is helpful to the body and so she uses that to justify her want of it. She nods.

"Yes, I would." She pauses, to think. "I should pick up one for Leoben. He would do the same for me."

[gobacktoheaven]

"Easily enough remedied, come inside with me." Aaron said, leading the way. He put together a small bag of the chocolate hearts, offering it to her. "Oh the house."

[machinechild]

She takes the bag, but looks confused. "'On the House?'"

She doesn't understand the phrase.

[gobacktoheaven]

"That means I'm giving it to you, free of charge." Aaron explained. "On the house means, at the expense of the establishment."

[machinechild]

Alissa files the phrase away. She smiles and it's a better smile than before, but still a little stiff.

"Thank you. I will enjoy these."

[gobacktoheaven]

Aaron smiled, nodding. "You're very welcome. Hopefully, you and Leoben will enjoy them."