"Alright, everypony. Circle up. New morning, new day."
>You begin every morning an hour before the ponies wake up
>Well, 'wake up' as much as they can
>You've long since converted your old home into something of a halfway home
>Or maybe it's more accurate to say that it's a sort of repair shop
>Or therapy center
>Whatever it is, you get paid to keep it going so you're happy
>Your old friend is up early
>She looks happy to see you
>As she always is
>But the pink plastic of her body has faded
>One of her eyes is half-gone
>She can still see out of it but not nearly as well
>The consequence of getting tasked with taking care of a more... violent kid
>"Heeeey... good morning Anon! You're doing a fantastic job today!"
>Even after all of these years, she still treats you like a kid
"Good morning, Missy. How're we feeling today?"
>Though the ponies can't cry, they can evidently show and feel emotions
>Probably why they aren't really in circulation anymore
>Missy Pie smiles slowly, the mane on her head missing a small segment on one side
>Her tail still looks nice at least
>"Good... good... y-you know, I had a dream last night. I kinda went back to how it was when I had you. Remember how calm you were despite circumstances?"
>You nod
"Yeah... it sucked."
>She laughs
>A slow, fatigued laugh
>"Yeah... but you were still my favorite."
>She trots to one of the chairs you set up in the living room
>A green pony comes out next
>She still looks like Pinkie Pie, but she's all a faded green
>Her mane has been combed and straightened until it covers a good side of her left head and neck
>She was always given more violent patients
>One of them knocked her over and stepped on her
>A lot of the plastic on her face and neck is missing
>But the mane covers it all
>"Oh... good morning Anon. I hope you are doing well today."
"I am, Missy Rye. How are you doing?"
>She flashes a faint smile but she doesn't seem to believe in the gesture
>"I'm as well as you can expect. Can we watch Fievel Goes West today please?"
>She's really been stuck on old animated movies
>You can't blame her, they're pretty good
"Sure, we can set it up."
>"I appreciate you. Thank you, Anon."
>She practically drags herself by her hooves
>After is a blue plastic Pinkie Pie
>Her mane is...
>Less than ideal
>One patient she had gave her a bob cut
>And lopped her tail's length by half
>She has a wild look in her eye
>"Hey, Anon. I don't have to watch that movie again, do I? I really want to do something else with my time."
"G'morning Missy Sky. Yeah, you know how Rye is. Everyone has a favorite movie, right? Would you like to watch yours instead?"
>The actuators around her mouth twitch, like she's trying to decide between a frown and a smile
>"I... would like to go outside today. And watch the park."
"Well the view from the backyard ain't that great. But we can go to the park if everyone else is ok with that. Sound like a good compromise?"
>She smiles
>A little too wide
>"Thanks. You really are too good to me. You shouldn't be."
>She trots off
>Last, and certainly not least, is a Missy unit that's a faded, creamy brown
>Her mane and tail is near pristine
"Good morning Missy Chai. Is everything going well?"
>She carefully steps where every other pony has stepped, careful to not touch undisturbed carpet
>Only when she's comfortable where she is does she look up at you
>"Hi."
"Hey there."
>"Is everyone else doing ok this morning?"
"Sure are. But how are you?"
>She doesn't answer
>"I'm ok with movies. I would really prefer to not go outside today."
>She continues to walk along the path others set down before her
>You walk behind her
>For having four ponies, you actually don't require all that much extra space
>Two ponies per room, with it split down the middle
>And the third bedroom for yourself
>It isn't the biggest of the three but then again you don't need a lot either
>In the living room is, among other things, a pentagon of comfy, cushioned chairs
>They're good enough to sleep in, honestly
>You sit in the dark green one, grabbing a notebook that's kept on a small end table near by
>Every chair has an end table near them
>Missy Pie takes the pink one
>Missy Rye takes the light green one
>Missy Sky takes the bright blue one
>Missy Chai takes the plaid one
>She likes the plaid pattern because she couldn't get over how she could never sit in it the exact same way
>You calmly wait for all of them to get into their seats, each one having their own ritual of how comfortable they get
>When finished, you nod
"Alrighty. G'morning everyone. Today's a pretty nice Thursday. I think we might get a little rain but it probably won't be more than a few drops. Otherwise if anyone wants to keep the windows open instead of the AC, I'm all for it."
>You look to your left, toward Missy Pie
>She looks at you and nods
>"It sounds great to me, Anon."
>She pauses a moment before speaking
>"Good morning, everyone. I'm Missy Pie. And I'm... I was Anon's old Missy friend. I was in service for six years and two weeks until I was taken out of service because..."
>Her mouth twitches
>"My last friend killed herself. I was told that it wasn't anything I could have prevented, and that she had really big issues going on. But I still felt responsible. I did everything I could."
>Evidently you were one of the more mellow cases she was assigned to
>She nods to herself, more for her own sake, and turns to the left
>Next is Missy Rye
>"Good morning everypony. I'm Missy Rye. And I only saw Anon a few times when he was younger. He's grown into a fine man."
>She flashes a smile and waits
>You return the smile and nod
"Thank you. Please continue."
>Her shoulders slump
>Compliments won't get her out of it this time
>"I was in service for five years, eight months, a week and two days. I was taken out of service because I was partially destroyed by a patient that was a little too rowdy. I was told that it wasn't in the hospital's budget to fix me and I..."
>She glances around
>All eyes are on her
>"...and I couldn't abide by it. I was afraid to get hurt more. I am afraid to get hurt more. But I know I'm among friends so I will be ok."
>She flashes another smile but her eyes aren't in it
>She stares at the floor, only nudging her head to the left
>Next is Missy Sky
>"Good morning. I'm Missy Sky. I don't know Anon."
>Her eyes wander around the room
>"I was in service for... a while. I think three years?"
>She shifts in her seat
>"My last friend cut my hair. And kept telling me that I was a fake friend because I wasn't real."
>Her spacey gaze focuses on you
>She doesn't look sad
>But she doesn't look happy either
>"That bothered me. So. I maybe got mad. And she lived after. So it's really ok. I like going outside and I like watching animals."
>She smiles at you
>And her gaze stays on you
>For a little too long
>She still gives you the shivers sometimes but you know how to hide it
"Forgetting someone?"
>Her eyebrows furrow for a second before she glances over to Missy Chai
>Once
>Twice
>"Go. Go already."
>Three times
>Missy Chai nods four times before looking at everyone
>"Good morning. I'm Missy Chai. I've heard stories about him from Missy Pie when I was new."
>She looks at you then at her
>"Anon, I mean."
>She rocks back and forth an inch or so
>"I was in service for five months, ten days, half an hour."
>She glances at you again, out of the corner of her eyes
>"My last patient was... was a cutter. And was scary. After I got her blood on me, I panicked. I like the schedules. I enjoy peace."
>She sneaks a look at Missy Sky
>Who returns the look with an intense, wide-eyed stare
>The brown plastic pony flinches
>"I'm afraid of getting hurt. I'm afraid of losing a part of myself. I just want to live comfortably. I don't want to hurt anyone. You understand, right?"
>Everyone nods
>Even Missy Sky does, though she doesn't nod until everyone else does
"Alright. I'm glad everyone's doing ok. Well, I'm doing good. My turn next, right?"
>Every pony nods to some extent
"Well, my name is Anon. And I used to be Missy Pie's friend. I was a patient. I was really sad, and was bullied a lot. I wasn't the best friend to her all the time either."
>It's the same thing you say every morning but it only ever gets marginally easier
"I was worried that I'd never see her again. So after highschool I took up whatever job I could at the hospital she was at. And I found out that she, and the other Missy models were going to be discontinued. And that would probably mean something worse."
>You lean back, inhaling
"And I managed to talk my way into hospital IT. After talking to the right people and bothering them for a few months, every day, twice a day, I was allowed this.... whatever you want to call it."
>You shake your head, unsure of what you really were given
>A grant?
>A commission?
"So. As of now I'm doing the best thing in the world. It's helping my friends."
>The four smile at you
>They may not always get along all that well
>But they certainly get along with you
>You wish you could do more for them but hardware for them is pretty rare
>It doesn't help that Missy Rye doesn't yet want to have any part of her be replaced, lost or not
>Missy Pie takes her physical loss in stride and sees it as proof of her trials
>Missy Sky seems happy with her mane and tail style
>But she has mentioned how she wants to get her old actuators back
>They're significantly stronger than what she's currently equipped with
>Missy Chai is the only one who isn't physically damaged
>But...
"Alright. So, what should we do first?"
>Today's a new day
>Everything will get better

>Another morning
>Another circle
>They are rather droll but it is routine
>Routine is good, when it comes to this
>Especially because every morning, everyone's story shifts just a little
>Not the main details, but smaller details that give everyone a more full picture
>Like how Chai used to be a little more spontaneous
>Or how Sky valued being a friend to patients above all else
>Or that Rye was rather brave for always wanting to help the most energetic, aggressive patients
>They all had their own unique ways that helped form their personalities when they were new
>It was still amazing, to see how much they grew
>This morning, since it's been raining all night, is a movie morning
>A Goofy Movie
>Since movies were pretty restrictive when you were a patient, you've stuck to the same thing of G, PG, and PG-13 movies
>You still watch the occasional zombie movie or slasher on your own, and you even let the four ponies watch them too
>But it's pretty rare
>Rye doesn't do well with violence
>Chai would be the sort to just stand there and get devoured by a zombie
>Since you don't have the most rooms in the world, the living room doubles as the main movie room
>You even equipped it with bean bag chairs
>Sometimes the morning circle uses them rather than the chairs
>They're still color-coded, of course
>With your bean bag chair in the center, they surround you from all sides
>Some of these movies are really dated, but they like them
>You kinda do too
>But they invoke old feelings of alienation
>You were never in such a high trust setting
>You didn't have any relatives that were as cool or as supportive as Goofy either
>You did go fishing a few times
>But that was when you were far younger
>Now that you're older, you can at least separate yourself from that
>If you could, you'd love to be like Goofy
>He is a good dad
>"Hey Anon."
>That snaps you out of your introspection
>It's Pie
"Hm, what's up?"
>She's to your left and behind
>"Are you ok? I'm picking up that you're starting to feel sad... does this movie make you feel bad?"
>She keeps her voice soft, to not disrupt the viewing experience
"I... can tell you later. But you really shouldn't be scanning me anymore."
>Pie's eye and a half focus on you despite the movie going on
>She tries to smile
>"I'm sorry. But someone has got to look out for you, right?"
>You can't argue with that
>You don't want to, either
"Alright... but the movie's more entertaining."
>Just as you say that, the weird possum tourist trap scene plays out
>She watches it for maybe a minute
>And then looks at you again
>She doesn't look impressed
>Rye and Chai seem to like it
>Sky... not so much
>Maybe it is a little too cartoonish for everyone to love
>But it is a good way to make a morning pass
>It goes well until the alphabet soup scene
>Chai speaks up, nudging her head against your arm
>She's to your back and right
>"Hey Anon... did you ever go on family trips like this?"
>You shake your head
"No... can't say I ever did. It was always about work."
>You learned about overtime far sooner than you learned about family vacations
>The importance of paying bills before the importance of a family being together
>Makes sense that your daily life is nothing but work
>If you could consider this work
>"Oh... hey Anon?"
"Chai?"
>"If you wanna see it like that, you're kinda like our dad. Why don't we take a road trip one of these days?"
>For some reason
>That hits you in the chest like a dart
"We'll... we'll see if we can."
>For being such a home pony, it really must mean something to her if she wants to go out like that
>Sky would definitely go for it
>Your car's big enough to hold all of them, and it's not like they eat
>But they enjoy the ceremony of it
>The rest of the movie goes by without further distraction
>Rather, the four enjoy their movie while you keep focusing on what Chai said
>You don't want to really keep that in your head for too long
>After the movie, every pony gets up and trots around
>Sky's safety actuators are a bit stiff so she needs extra time to stop any seizing or hiccups
"Alright, that was pretty goofy, I gotta say. Anyone got any clue of what would be fun next?"
>Sky's front left leg lets out a slight creak, finally loosening up
>"Anon, will the water out there really be that bad for me?
>You nod
"Yeah. Even if your chassis has no issues or openings, we gotta be more careful than not."
>"Alright... I'm going to the garage, ok?"
"Sure, help yourself."
>Rye doesn't really seem to go anywhere, after stretching four pony-sized steps away from her bean bag chair
>"Anon, can we set up another movie next? Not everyone has to watch, do they?"
"Sure, if you like. And no, not everyone has to be there. But it is nice to do things together."
>She seems content with it
>She and Chai start to talk, probably to discuss whatever
>You head to the kitchen for a drink
>And Pie is following, two steps behind
>Kinda feels like she never left
>"Anon. Did what Missy Chai say affect you any?"
>You shrug and nod
"Well sure."
>She lets out a mellow laugh
>"That's kinda funny, isn't it?"
"I guess so. I don't think it's funny like a joke though."
>"Oh, of course not that! Just that... well..."
>You sigh, watching your empty cup
>At least your silverware and kitchenware has matured with time
>For the most part
>You still have almost everything you had as a kid
>The same plates and goofy spoons and forks that you used to eat dinner off of when you were still 'happy-go-lucky'
>You recall being classified as that a lot before
>You really don't remember ever being like that
"Yeah... I know what you mean."
>"Do you think some orange juice would be good?"
>A screwdriver, sure
>You don't drink all that often
>You certainly don't want to in front of them
>You're supposed to be the strong pillar, alcohol in any capacity would be seen as a crack
"That's not a bad idea. Better yet, why not orange and pineapple?"
>You give her a smirk and retrieve a carton of just that from the fridge
>"Oooh!"
>Pie shivers hard, actuators activating all at once in jagged, uneven cycles
>"Talk about super citrus!"
>You fill your cup
>Gulp it down
>Fill it again
>Gulp down maybe half of it
>And refill it to top again
"And it recharges my batteries. So there's that."
>Pie giggles at the mention of batteries
>On paper, they can drink certain liquids and filter out the important things, especially if it's acidic
>But you don't really want to risk it
>Movement and 'exercise' can do more than enough
"So. We got Sky in the garage, Rye and Chai wanting to watch another movie... what about you, Pie?"
>It sounds goofy as hell to say all of their names in the same sentence but it's not really unusual to you
>Pie smiles and watches you
>With half of her one eye missing, you wonder if it'd be better to just replace it
>With how her mane is, you could spend some hours to put in some new fibers
>Might not be the right color but it would look nice
>You can't remember if you ever discussed this with her
>She gives you a weary smile
>"Oh, you know. I'm fine with anything you'd like!"
"Thank you for being considerate. But, you know, your needs and wants are important too. Don't ever think that you have to sacrifice that."
>Pie's head lowers as she tries to widen her smile
>"I know... but I just want everyone to be better. You too. You've been my longest lived..."
>Her mouth twitches
>"L-longest... known... friend... that's a big deal for me."
"You're my longest known friend too, Pie. I want you to always remember that. We were..."
>You shrug
"Through a lot. But we get to hang out and stuff now, and with far less restrictions. That's a good thing, isn't it?"
>That perks her up
>She bounces in place
>Only twice
>But she seems far happier
>"That's right! We can even..."
>She tilts her head to the side and whispers to you with squinted eyes
>"Stay up past bed times."
>Your expression drops to faux shock
"That's... that's a bold one right there."
>Your bed time is around the same time as their 'bed time', but it's not unusual to wake up due to a request or nightmare
>Well
>A 'nightmare' in the sense of one of the Missies suffering from a memory fault causing them to relive certain events
>You can technically go into their memories and other personal information, but you would never
>Those are their private thoughts and memories, not data to condense, delete and shuffle around
>A thought those at the hospital didn't share
>You've never once shown anything but an eager willingness to help
>It really doesn't drain you anymore
"If we wanna be real renegades... how about we make today a movie marathon? We might even skip our evening circle if we watch enough..."
>That does the trick
>Pie explodes with glee and bounds off
>"Anon said no evening circle! Movies until dinner and then more movies!"
>Not exactly what you said but the varied gasps and expressions you can hear says that it's a good thing
>Good thing you have everything on a hard drive instead of VHS tapes
>But you still do keep the tapes out as display pieces
>The time capsule effect helps stop some of the existential crisis they go through every now and again
>But only some of them

>Another day
>Another morning circle
>You've had... how many?
>A hundred, at least?
>You wish you could have started sooner
>It feels nice to not have to go to 'work', like most jobs require
>Sky, Chai, and Rye are all watching another movie in the living room
>Emperor's New Groove
>You've been on your computer in your room, playing some more basic tower defense game while Pie watches
>It's nice to chat with her about things
>There are 'official' talks, sure, but otherwise there's no real need to be some authority figure beyond the whole rigmarole of 'we're doing this now'
>"Hey Anon... why did you get so good with computers?"
"So good?"
>"Well yeah! You told me you built it yourself. Isn't that risky business since you could break something?"
>You shrug, leaning back in your chair
>She sprawls out on your bed
>"This is such a big change from the hospital beds too! I bet you sleep like a baby on this stuff..."
"Well, sure, if you don't know what you're doing. But I suppose that's where it helps to be confident. Just enough to not get stuck in place."
>Pie rolls back and forth on your bed, giggling to herself
>She stops, facing you while laying on her right side
>"Hey Anon... can I ask you something?"
"Of course. What's up?"
>"If I'm like a computer... could you fix me up?"
"Well... sure, I suppose. What's wrong?"
>You did swap out Sky's front leg actuators
>Granted, she was 'sleeping' at the time
>And due to how modular the ponies are, it's not too difficult to pop something in and out
>You have no clue what they feel about it
>Because they can 'feel'
>You don't know how
>No one does
>Which is a big reason why you were allowed to start this sort of thing
>"My heart hurts a lot. Some days it's really ok. Other days it hurts really bad. Could you fix it?"
>Her... heart?
>You swivel in your chair to face her, the game instantly forgotten
"What's wrong, Pie? What's been going on?"
>Though she looks tired due to how slumped her eyelids are, she's trying to keep up her smile
>"I think I'm starting to worry about dying. I'm afraid of leaving behind those I love. It hurts to think of those I've let down. Or the things I could have done but didn't. Whether or not I knew I should have done anything."
>You were worried of this talk coming up
>You're glad that she decided to talk to you about it rather than talk to the others
>You scoot toward the bed and pet her mane
>However much is left of it
"That's... I don't know if it's normal. But I think it is normal to worry about that. What has made you start thinking about this most recently?"
>Her smile starts to falter more until it's all gone
>"I think of the friend I couldn't save. I think of the things I didn't know about. And I think that if I knew more at the time, maybe I could have done better. Not for my sake, but for someone else's. Like if I knew you better, I could have maybe done more for you."
>You nod
"Yeah... I get what you mean. Regrets. I have a lot."
>You sigh and lean back, patting your lap
>Missy Pie flashes a smile at you and hops onto your lap, circling around twice before sitting down
"I've lost a few friends over the years. Really, the only friends I ever had. A few grew apart, away from me, and decided that I was no longer worth having as a friend. A few just... had their own lives going on. A few died. One, did it to himself. And his parents found him after."
>You don't sound all too emotional about it
>Given how much you've experienced from then to now, you may as well be a completely different person
>Pie gives a soft gasp
>"When did this happen...?"
>You shrug
"I guess a few years after highschool. We were friends for three or so years. A bit more. Guy wouldn't have graduated without me. He was alright. But we grew apart because of how he openly praised himself for treating others badly and getting good things out of it."
"But."
>You shift in your seat and pat her shoulder
"This is about you, not me, right?"
>Pie gives you one of her near trademark tired smiles
>"Anon, honey, you know that you can always talk to me. Don't think that you have to bottle things up around me."
>She trails off, almost like she's concerned about speaking further
>"If I died... would you be able to fix me? Would I even really 'die', like people do?"
>You don't have an answer to that
>You never really tried to think about it
>You give a small chuckle
"Honestly? I think you'll outlast me and everyone else. You'll be there with my grand kids, helping them out. If I ever get around to having kids to begin with. And provided they get around to having kids too."
>She isn't convinced that the matter is settled
>"Anon... if you die... why would I want to keep living?"
>That's a bit more of a deeper punch
"Come on, you wouldn't want to do that."
>"I would, though. You're the only friend I know who's still alive and doing well. If I lost you, when you're already trying to help me and the other Missies, what would be left? I might be left on a shelf. Or in a box. Or... who knows what."
>You don't like thinking of that
>How long has she been thinking of this stuff?
>What has led her toward this?
>What part of her programming allowed her to have these thoughts?
"Let me tell you about losing family and friends..."
>Pie looks up at you
>She isn't crying
>Obviously
>But she looks sad
>Her face is expressionless but some sort of micro-expression on her pony face speaks to you
"It... it can be rough. It gets easier. And it really doesn't get easier."
>"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, you notice that I don't have any family pictures up... and no one visits."
>Pie's head lowers
>"I... I noticed. Yeah. I remember when your mom, uncle, and even your grandma used to visit you. What was it, two or three times every week?"
"Yeah."
>"...what happened to them?"
"Well. My grandma died. And when she did, my family kinda unraveled."
>You give her a slight hug
>Compared to when you were a kid, she's a lot smaller in comparison, and your arms are far stronger
"There really aren't many of us left... and rather than focus on family, they're focusing on money. So... it's just me."
>You had a point about all of this, somewhere
"When it comes to losing someone important to you; a pet, a relative, a friend. All you can honestly do is treasure them. Even if you haven't lost anyone yet, cherish every memory you can. That way if, when, you lose them... part of them are still with you. Even if it will never compare to having them with you."
>Pie doesn't seem convinced
>"So if I die... I don't really disappear?"
"That's right. As long as your memory lives on in my heart, you'll be with me."
>You squeeze her for another hug
"And, if it were to ever happen, if I died, you would certainly remember me, right?"
>"Well of course I would! You were strong in my memories for all of these years. I remember it all like it was yesterday!"
"Exactly. But here's the other thing... the more you remember. The more people you've lost but still recall, the more memories you hold close. The heavier your heart becomes."
>You think you're rambling
>But you also think you made a point
"That's why a lot of old timers are fond of talking about the past, I suppose. Their lives are full of memories, and after an entire life time? I would have a lot of valuable memories too."
>Pie leans against your chest, welcoming the hug
>"So... are you saying that I don't need to be fixed?"
>You aren't sure
>She isn't a person
>In any respect
>And you kinda don't want to be the reason she turns into SkyNet
>But
"That's right. I think, in my own opinion, that you're simply getting older. And as you get older, you start to get a lot of sad memories. No one is ever permanently happy and has only happy memories right? No one well-balanced, anyway."
>Pie gives a single 'heh'
"I think you're just growing older. Experiencing more of what life consists of. I don't think that should be 'fixed', or erased. If you're really sad about it... maybe I'm not one to talk, but I think it's normal."
>"Normal..."
>She sighs and leans against you
>The Missies don't need to breath
>Obviously
>But they still seem to emulate normal human behaviors by reflex
"Sorry if that was a roundabout talk. But... I guess it helps you understand if I give you context. So you can see where I'm coming from. Right?"
>You aren't exactly a professional therapist for this sort of thing
>"Right... what can I do when it hurts then?"
"Once I find out, I'll tell you. But you know what helps for sure?"
>"What?"
>You reach out with your free hand and click onto a few things
>Some goofy ska comes on
"The Aquabats. I'll have you know that for being a super heroic, crime-fighting team that they have access to astonishing technology that surpasses even you."
>Pie's eyes widen
>"H...how?"
>You nod to the tune and squint
"Anti-negativity helmets. Maybe we can make some of our own later today? I can grab what we need and we can make our own."
>You click on a few more things a particular picture pops up
>Specifically, a goofy looking guy with a drawn on mustache, wearing a neoprene skullcap
>Pie bursts out laughing
>That loud, goofy laugh that someone makes when it hits them in the funny bone
>"He looks so silly! That mustache isn't even real!"
"... well no, maybe it isn't. But the helmet is."
>Drawn by her laughing, you hear a miniature stampede coming your way
>"What's going on?"
>"Are you two watching another movie in here?"
>"What's so funny?"
>The trio all have their own priorities
>You scoot back, revealing the masculine, heroic visage of MC Bat Commander
>They all laugh at how goofy he looks
"Pie gave me a great idea. Later, let's make some helmets."
>Pie bounces off of your lap, powered by the energy of ska
>"We're gonna become super heroes!"

>Another morning
>Another circle
>After so many of them, it feels pretty comfortable
>Every circle, everyone shares more about themselves
>Or their thoughts
>Or their goals for the day
>Or their dreams
>Despite being mechanical and having processors, they have dreams
>Maybe this is why they were discontinued
>Given how quiet and rainy the day turned out, you more or less gave everyone a free day again
>You aren't slacking off, since you're letting them do whatever and stick to their own devices
>It's kinda neat to see how they're acting so differently on their own
>It's been going in your reports too
>What you haven't been mentioning at all is that Pie has been sticking to you more lately
>She seems to want to be your assistant but she keeps doting on you as well, like you're still a kid
>Except you keep getting vibes that it might be more
>You're in your room again, fiddling with an idle game
>Pie's laying on your bed, smiling and watching you
>It's kinda comforting, that she's nearby
>After noticing her scanning over you a few times, you swivel in your chair to face her
"Pie, I got a question."
>As mellow as she's become, she still perks up and smiles
>"Of course, Anon! What can I help you with?"
"I notice that you like keeping your eyes on me."
>Well, eye and a half
>"I do!"
"Are you making sure nothing weird pops up around me?"
>She beams
>"That's part of the reason!"
"Are you making sure I don't somehow get a heart attack?"
>She laughs
>"That's part of it too!"
>Good to know that she has your health in mind
"What other reasons are there?"
>"Well, I like watching you!"
>That sort of reaction wasn't what you expected
>"Your temperature is rising. I hope I didn't cause that..."
>She sounds almost flirtatious
>While some movies have had some light romantic elements, this certainly isn't part of anything you've set up
"I... thank you."
>You know you aren't a professional but you aren't really keen on what is the most appropriate response
>"Can I ask you something, since you asked me a question?"
"Go for it."
>"Can I stay with you, even after this ends? I know we don't do a ton because we gotta do everything as a group..."
>She smiles and sighs, finally averting her gaze
>"The last time we spoke... I guess I just want to be here for you. I want to be your family. That's important for both you and me, right?"
>You are at a bit of a loss of what to say
>Of course, she's been stuck in your mind for the years since you left the hospital
"Well... yeah. Of course."
>You're not sure of what to say
>With everything that has been going on, you've been stuck in the mindset of this being a sort of job
>"Are you alright? You look a little confused."
"Yeah... yeah, sure. I guess... I don't know. I'm out of it I guess."
>"I can tell. Have you been stressing out any about us?"
"Not really. I mean, every job has it's ups and downs."
>You fumble a bit when you mention the 'job' aspect, but it is obvious that you are getting paid to keep tabs and have things taken care of
"I... well. I guess I'm a little... not overwhelmed. But I'm really only just winging it on this. There's no precedent on this for you guys. You're really unique, rare. There's no one else out there like you, Pie. Same with the others."
>You really wanted to maintain some sort of professional demeanor but you can't when you're home and at work at the same time
>Pie smiles at you and stands up
>"I know! How about I become your assistant?"
"My assistant?"
>"Of course! I've got a lot of experience reporting to my superiors, and we really aren't doing anything different from what we've done before! We're just... reversing the roles."
>Should you really accept this sort of thing?
"I appreciate the offer, Pie. But this really isn't your responsibility either. You should be relaxing and..."
>Getting better?
>That implies that she's not good now
"...enjoying yourself."
>She steps until she's at the edge of the bed
>She smiles at you
>And is it a sweet smile
>"But I enjoy myself the most when I'm around you!"
>Despite the physical damage on her, she looks... adorable
>"I promise that I won't overstep any boundaries, and I won't do anything bad!"
"Well..."
>She looks very hopeful
>This could be a good thing
"Alright. But... don't tell the others. Not yet. We're a small group. There really can't be any sort of hierarchy going on."
>There's no real hierarchy going on, to be fair
>You just don't want anyone to think that there are 'sides' or anything
>"Yes sir!"
>She gives a quick salute
>For some reason you just laugh at her
>You lean back in your chair
"Ahhh... crap. I hope I'm not screwing this up."
>You feel the weight of Pie on your lap
>She's really got a thing for hopping onto your lap lately
>"You aren't, I promise. I appreciate all of the work you're doing with this. I want to give back and be there for you. During times like this, when you can use a helping hoof!"
"Sure... yeah, of course I appreciate it. I just... I just gotta..."
>You shake your head
>You're a bit tired
>You feel Pie nuzzle your arm
>She kisses it
>"Don't you worry, Anon. I promise I'll help you out. I loved spending time with you before, and I love spending time with you now."
"Thanks... can you keep an eye on me and wake me up in a bit? I'm... I could use a nap."
>Without hesitation, Pie gives a soft cheer
.>"Leave it to me, Anon. If anyone needs anything, I'll help them. We're all helpers, there's nothing wrong with us helping each other."
>You still don't want them to break away from what has been the norm, but she's making sense
"Just... just give me an hour and I'll be good. "
>You sigh and yawn, losing energy fast
>After a small nap you'll be recharged
>You're not sure if her being your assistant will be the best option, but you need the help
>Hopefully this doesn't cause her behavior to deviate further away from what was her baseline

>When you awaken, you find that you're almost laying
>Your chair has been pushed back as far as it'll go and the leg rest has been pushed out from under the seat
>Pie went from sitting on your lap to laying, sprawled out, on your torso
>How did this happen?
>What time is it, even?
>You shift as little as you can to look at your computer
>Your idle game progressed pretty far
>And it's late evening
>It's actually well past evening circle time
"Aw shit..."
>Shifting more, Pie's eyes finally open
>Despite her one eye being damaged, her eyelids close as normal
>They're that soft, malleable plastic, same as the rest of her body, so it's probably not surprising
>They're a little more pink than the rest of her body
>Probably less sun exposure
>"Oh hey Anon, you're awake! You were very tired... I hope you don't mind, I saw how your chair worked so I made you a little more comfy. You don't have to worry about the evening circle, when Chai came in I told her that you had been working very hard, and that we could have an extra special circle in the morning."
>You're a little relieved to be given a short break from it
>But you don't like that you fell asleep for so long
>It was comfortable though
>Now that you're more aware of yourself, Pie feels really warm
>You remember that when you were younger, she'd warm herself up using some sort of heater and curl up to you
"Oh... where are they, anyway?"
>"Well, Sky said that she was going to go read on her bed. Chai and Rye are still watching movies, but Rye has her alarm set when it's time for bed."
>Good thing they're all responsible
"Sounds like her. Did they have any complaints about you telling them what was what?"
>She slowly shakes her head
>You can't help but tell that she hasn't gotten off of you
>"Oh, not at all. It almost feels like the old days. They saw how tired you were, and none of them don't know how hard you work for us. I offered to keep watch on you."
>Her smile widens
>"And to keep you warm. But I didn't mention that to them. I hope you don't mind."
>You don't
>You very much don't
>Ignoring the heat that seems to center on your lap and lower stomach, you bring your hand up and pet her side
>It's smooth, soft, and warm
>And plastic
>She leans into it
>She has more than enough sensors to 'feel' a ton of things
"Not at all. I appreciate it, Pie."
>You stop looking
>She looks so happy
"Pie..."
>You can't help but be curious
"With how often you're around me and, presumably, keep track of my vitals and all that... does that have anything to do with you liking me? Or does liking me cause you to pay such close attention?"
>You can see her irises rotate slightly
>If you didn't have her around when you did, you'd probably find this a little unsettling
>But you know she's just changing focus on something
>"Well... I guess it's just because I really like you that I enjoy watching you. When you were sleeping, I wasn't really tired. But I could tell that you enjoyed having someone warm laying on you. People enjoy intimacy, and you enjoy being intimate with me. I could tell."
>You can feel your face warm up
>She giggles
>As mellow as she's become, she still has little bursts of her old, more active self
>"And I enjoy being intimate with you. When your heart rate improved and your muscles relaxed, I felt soothed. I slept better on you than I ever have with myself."
>She sighs
>A manufactured, artificial sigh
>But you still feel her 'breath' on your chest
>"I haven't slept this well in so many years... I certainly never have so well by myself, even here."
>You're really not sure of what to say to this
>You're not really sure how to react
>You really shouldn't be ok with her talking like this
>This sounds
>Romantic
>You know your body is reacting, from the heat on your body, to the way your eyes are focusing and your pulse
>You have to be aware of those things because she is too
>"Anon... can I kiss you? I would very much like to."
>What do you say to this?
>What can you say to this?
>You can't
>Not unless you're willing to claim that you were something resembling seduced by a machine
"You don't need to ask me."
>You answer without hesitation
>She scoots herself up and presses her lips to yours
>She stays there, against you
>You stay there, against her
>It lasts for almost a full minute before she pulls away
>"That is a gift from me to you, Anon. For all of the times I've been there for you, and all of the times you've been there for me. Whatever happens, I'll always be there for you."
>It sounds like a vow of sorts
"Pie..."
>You gotta get blood back to the right head
"We gotta be careful with this sort of thing, ok?
>She giggles again
>"Oh, of course I know. Trust me, I wouldn't tell anyone."
>That's partially what you're worried about
>Anything romantic is really not in her original documentation or specs
>Her fixation on you seems like it's almost extreme, compared to how she's supposed to view patients
>She doesn't view you as her patient, does she?
>Would that make any of this better or worse?
"Yeah... it's for the best."
>Something about her mechanical eyes shifting back and forth is mesmerizing to you
>You're almost thinking that she's doing it on purpose because you're so focused on it
>She giggles and stops
>She was doing it on purpose
"I can see how you look at me, Anon... you look at me like I'm not damaged at all."
>She breaks eye contact and leans the side of her head against your chest
>"You got a few emails, I heard the notifications. Please, relax with me tonight. If you have any questions, I will be more than happy to answer them. I'm going to sleep a little longer..."
>Almost as soon as she finishes her words, you can hear some of her actuators loosen
>She does go limp when 'sleeping', to help further simulate a living being
>Even if you wanted to, you couldn't possibly remove her
>The shift attention to your mouse and check your emails
>Your other hand rests on her shoulder
>Just because, like her, you enjoy the feel of her
>You'll reply to whatever you have to in the morning
>You go back to your idle game, processing and repeating what happened in your head over and over again
>Maybe this is a good thing
>Not just for her
>But for the others too
>You hope it is
>You don't want to lose her

>You slept well
>You slept very well
>Your futon, despite having had it for so many years, is as comfy as ever
>But your chair?
>That was comfy
>Or maybe it was because you had Pie laying on you
>She barely budged an inch by the time you woke up
>Looking at your monitor, you're up around your usual time
>Which is to say a good half hour before the ponies have to wake up
>You've made it clear that they need to have a full night's rest, despite the fact that they don't actually need sleep
>Just for humans, for them it's a time of quiet reflection and peace
>You wonder if Pie was really sleeping or if she was just listening to you sleep
>You never questioned it as a kid but now you just can't help but want to know what it's really like
>You bring both of your hands to her sides, stroking her from shoulder to thigh
>She's warm
>As warm as a person, if not more so
>You aren't aware of there being any overheating issues
>You focus on the parts of her mane that are missing
>It's impossible to imagine someone being so cruel or destructive
>Make no mistake, you were a shit kid too
>You can hardly stand how and what you were
>But she saw through that
>Or maybe she just saw you as any other problem child
>Obviously she sees more in you now
>Is there any possibility that she could have come with you?
>Of course not
>Even if she was for 'sale', there was no way you could ever afford her then
>You spend the entire half hour petting her
>Feeling her form
>You had changed out the actuators on Sky's legs but that was as indepth a look you got
>The plastic chassis, her 'skin', feels a bit softer now that it's been heated up
>It's really not hard at all
>Given how sun bleached some parts of her are, she no longer has that uniform pink color
>Only Rye really has her original coloring
>Chai is a bit faded
>Sky's color changed a little but you wouldn't consider it faded
>They all probably feel like her, when properly warmed
>What will happen to them?
>What will happen to her if you screw this up?
>You don't want to
>Even if the pay isn't magnificent, this is really important stuff
>As soon as the half hour passes, an alarm on your phone sounds
>Curiously, Pie starts to vibrate too
>She yawns and beams at you, imitating signs of drowsiness
>"Good morning, Anon. Did you sleep well?"
>You chuckle and nod
"Good morning, Pie. Yeah, I did. How did you sleep?"
>You gotta remain professional
>Or at least courteous
>"Oh I did! I thought I had a dream that you were petting me..."
>Her smile turns more... knowing
>Of course she doesn't dream
"You weren't... I just couldn't help myself."
>"Anon, that's so kind of you. You don't need to ask to pet me."
>That makes you happy
"Now then... why is it that your alarm is at the same time as mine? You need your sleep as much as everyone else."
>Her smile turns apologetic
>She looks almost embarrassed
>"I know... I'm sorry for disobeying rules. I just wanted to make sure that you got up at your proper time. And that, if you didn't get up, that you weren't getting sick or anything."
>You sigh and poke her pliable side
"Rules are rules, little Missy. That goes for everyone."
>She presses the side of her head against your chest
>"I'm sorry... I'll do better next time. But it was for a good reason."
"It was. Now... I gotta get up for a shower and all that. I still gotta look good for the day, right?"
>"Right... but you look good already."
>She's really not hesitating with these types of words
>It's really making it difficult for you to stay on point
"Thank you."
>Pie drags herself to a standing position and carefully walks off of you and back onto the bed
>You hope none of the other Missies get any of the wrong ideas
>Your morning ritual is slow and relaxing
>By the time you return to your room, in a towel, Pie had already left
>Probably went to her bed
>Dressed and ready for the day, you stand in the hallway and listen to a variety of muffled alarm tunes, vibrations and complaints
>Well, only one complaint
>It sounds like Sky
>You wait for the first to come out
>Of course it's Pie
>"Hey, good morning Anon!"
>She looks as happy as she did before
"Good morning, Pie. How are we doing today?"
>It's a little silly to ask her that but you still want and need to ask that
>"Really good! I hope that we'll have a great day today. I hope you have one, especially."
>She brushes against your leg as she walks past
>You can't help but get a little sense of deja vu, like when she told you that she had a dream about you
>Next is Rye
>The mood is a drastic change
>"Good morning Anon..."
"Good morning, Rye. I'm sorry for sleeping and being unable to conduct our evening circle."
>"Are you working too hard because of me?"
>She looks like she's on the verge of tears
"Not at all. For you, I'm happy to work as long as I have to."
>Before she drags herself off, she hesitates
>"I...is it ok if we can watch Scooby Doo today? I would really like to."
"Of course we can. I can watch it with you if you like. I don't think I have a lot to do today."
>That brings a smile to her face
>"Thank you, Anon. I appreciate you, I really do."
>Channeling her inner Eeyore, she slumps off
>Chai is next
>"Hi."
>As talkative as always
"Good morning, Miss Chai. I apologize for missing yesterday's circle. It won't happen again."
>Her face twitches for a moment to a negative emotion, but vanishes
>"I waited the longest. Please don't miss anymore circles."
"I won't, you have my word."
>She watches you for a moment and nods
>She trots off
>Something about her always makes you feel uneasy
>Sky is next
"Good morning Sky, how are you doing?"
>"Better than you. Your vitals dropped hard, I thought you were gonna die."
>How... considerate?
"No... no, not today at least. I was just tired."
>"Exhaustion can lead to sickness. You aren't going to get sick, right?"
"I surely hope not."
>"Good... I'd probably go crazy if something happened to you."
>She trots off as hard as she can
>Which isn't much, given her legs
>You might've died already then, given how manic she can be
>Might be for the best if you shift your sleep schedule around, just in case
>With everyone alert and awake, you take your seat in the living room and start the morning circle
>Everyone is a little concerned or on edge with the schedule disruption
>Sky looks like she wants to tear a teddy bear in half
>Rye looks like she's going to bawl her eyes out, or at least act that way
>Chai looks irritated but is refusing to speak on it
>Only Pie looks happy
>Thankfully they can't scan each other
>By the time it finishes, and you've explained and apologized for your fatigue, everyone has calmed down somewhat
>To help put everyone at ease, you've offered to watch everything with them
>Which means a morning full of Scooby Doo movies
>Outside of the first one, you're really not that well-versed on the extended movie lore
>Rather than Pie, Rye takes your lap as her seat
>You don't mind petting her head
>The reassurance helps her but it's not until the third movie that she calmed down back to normal
>You worry about her the most sometimes

>Another day
>Another circle
>Pie has been keeping close to you
>Really close
>None of the other Missies have said anything, thankfully
>They all have their own activities and Pie was really never the sort to branch off on her own
>Today everyone's watching Scooby Doo again
>Not even any of the movies, but just the old cartoons
>Everyone rounded up their bean bag chairs to sit around the TV, which was thankfully far better than any of the ones you grew up with
>Except one thing
>Rather than sit in her own beanbag chair, Pie has been sitting on your lap
>While she makes you feel at ease and comfortable, you can't shake the feeling that this isn't a good thing
>You haven't mentioned it to her, of course
>You've kept to a tight schedule, and allowed yourself little room for error
>You've managed to figure out that the more you allow their schedules to deviate, the most they act out or differently
>It's subtle and hardly an extreme degree, but it's enough to worry about
>Their goal, and your entire purpose, is to get them back to operating condition
>Which means safe around patients and kids
>Sky seems like she really isn't all that trustworthy
>Rye is a bundle of sweetness
>But she really seems to crumple under responsibility now, outside of deciding what to watch
>You can't blame her, to be honest
>Chai seems like she's the only one who could be theoretically capable of going back to work
>Even then, she's really harsh if things aren't followed to a T
>And Pie
>Pie seems far too interested in you
>And due to the damage she's already suffered, you don't really want to subject her to anything harsh
>Or if she gets made fun of for her eye and mane
>You don't want to see any of them get hurt again
>They're kinda part of your past, too
>At least, Pie is
>The environment and schedule you set up is
>There's comfort in that familiarity
>You'd like to buy things and go out, but you don't really need to
>The cartoons and old movies are really neat, too
>They really don't make that sort of thing like they used to anymore
>After the end of the mystery of the Miner 49er, Sky gets up, shaking hard enough to rattle her plastic
>"Hey everybody, let's go find a mystery to solve! Rye, Chai, let's split up! Pie, you..."
>She looks at Pie
>Who's perfectly content and smiling
>"You... protect Anon. Alright, let's go!"
>Just like that, she gallops off
>Chai squints at everything in the room, analyzing whatever must be a clue before wandering into a hallway
>Presumably into the bedrooms
>Thankfully you don't hide anything of suspect nature, otherwise she would've found it by now
>Rye watches the others go off and looks up at you
>"...Anon, is the house haunted?"
>You quirk an eyebrow at her and raise a hand up to your chin
"...you know, I don't know. All's been good so far, right?"
>She frowns, visibly concerned
>"But there could be one..."
"Sure. But what if he's like Casper?"
>She looks terrified
>But then hopeful too
>"If... if he is. Do you think he would watch cartoons with us?"
"I'm sure he would. He might've been doing that already, we just don't know."
>You shrug, speaking with the conviction that maybe, just maybe, there is a friendly ghost in your less than thirty year old house
>It could be possible but the best ghosts hang out in century old buildings and more
>Rye looks energized, excited and mortified, all at once
>"R-right! I-I'll check... the bathrooms first! And, and the basement!"
"We don't even have a basement, Rye."
>"Not that we know of!"
>With that, she trots off with the ferocity of a sleepy ferret
>That just leaves you and Pie
"Wanna go ghost hunting with everyone? Might find something."
>She giggles and twists and rolls herself over until she's laying on her side, on your legs
>"Nah, that's alright. I very much prefer this."
>You were sure she'd say something like that
"Really? They're having fun, and it's good preparation for playing with patients."
>Though you're sure it sounds tempting, Pie shakes her head while maintaining her smile
>"That's ok. I would rather stay here as your assistant. Or whatever you would like me to be."
>You smile at that
>Especially given the certain inflection of her voice for the second sentence
>But you can't completely forget yourself
"Pie... we have an inspector coming by in another week or two. And you can't say that sort of thing in front of whoever it'll be."
>"But I can say it when it's just us, right?"
>She's so persistent
>You can't not like it
"Regardless... I just want things to go well. Alright?"
>"Of course, Anon. I understand. I can tell you get more tense when you think about it, but relax more when I say nice things. You definitely need to relax more!"
>You like what she's saying
>But
"Pie... are you worried that you might get shipped off somewhere if I don't like you? You don't have to force yourself."
>You were never all that confident in yourself
>And right now your gut is telling you that this can't be natural
>She is a machine
>Her smile doesn't fade
>But it does become a bit more sad
>"I am. I think I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared that I might just be gone one day because someone would decide that I wasn't fit to live anymore."
>She tries to widen her smile but she isn't smiling in her eyes
>How you can tell due to her artificial face, you don't know
>But it's a feeling
>"If I do everything I can for you, I can make you happy. Even if something happens to me, I can help you until the very end."
>Her voice quivers, even though she's consciously making the effort to make that audio cue
>"That's what my heart says. It says 'help Anon, and be there for him any way you can'."
>She looks you in the eye while she speaks
>"That is what I want."
>You scoop her up into a tight hug
>Whether or not she's alive or whether or not she actually enjoys you or is just saying whatever she has to in order to avoid getting shut down or scraped or worse
>You really wanted to hear that
>From anyone
"It's alright, Pie. No matter where I'm going, you're going with me."
>Pie attempts to return the hug the best way a pony can
>"Do you really mean it?"
"Yeah. You and I are a team. We always were, then and now.
>She sighs
>An artificial sigh
>But it feels nice to have someone's breath against the side of your neck
>"That makes me very happy Anon. I promise that no matter where you go, I'll be right beside you."
>It's hard to see at the moment
>You don't know why you're getting so emotional
>It really is still just another day with your Pie
>Tomorrow and the day after, she'll still be there
>And the day after

>Another day
>Another circle
>And another movie
>Scooby Doo and the Ghoul School
>You always liked this movie
>Maybe a bit too much
>You personally blame the waifu baiting
>Maybe this was before waifus were a thing
>Nah, waifus definitely existed back then
>Disney artists made a ton of stuff of their own waifus
>"Anon?"
>Actually, they made a lot of stuff that's stuffed in that Disney vault too...
>"Anon?"
>You snap to attention
>Pie's been sitting on your lap
>She's been so gradually sticking to you to the point that the other ponies don't seem to notice it
>Or they don't care
>Thankfully nothing has really been 'done' that could damage or otherwise alter her since that...
>Kiss
>There's no other definition of it
"Sure, what's up?"
>She smiles at you
>You aren't sure what she wanted
>Then she pushes downward on your lap
>It's painfully apparent what your thoughts have led to
"O-oh, yeah..."
>"Are you ok?"
>She doesn't sound concerned at all
"Yeah, just... uh... yeah. I guess I zoned out."
>Rye and Chai are glued to the green, laying across their respective beanbags
>Sky is running laps in the garage again, you think
>Her top speed is hard limited by her hardware but she seems hellbent on trying to maximize everything from her stride to how quickly she can re-orient her momentum
>It's neat to hear about her progress
"Lemme get up real quick."
>You pat Pie's soft plastic flank a few times and she hops off, giggling
>You focus on everything else you can except for her and her increased deviation
>You're not afraid
>Maybe
>But you know that you have to report on them
>You shake yourself awake while walking to the kitchen
>You haven't been doing sodas for a while but maybe you could use one
>In mid-sip, you hear someone knocking on your front door
>"Door!"
>"Someone's here!"
>Pie trots into the kitchen
>"Anon, we have a visitor!"
>You can almost hear a muffled shout about a door from the garage
>With a snort you shake your head and finish your drink
"Thank you, Pie."
>It's like you're living with a gang of tiny yapping dogs
"Thank you, Rye. Thank you too, Chai."
>You walk past the two ponies that smile and nod at your gratitude
>Thankfully you always fully dress yourself every day, minus shoes unless you're going out
>You never thought you'd end up living like Mr. Rogers
>You open the front door to see
>Oh shit
>"Hello? It sure sounds like you're Anonymous, going off of those voices."
>It's a short woman with weird sage green hair and stone grey eyes
>If it weren't for the hair she'd look almost familiar
"Yeah, hey there. I take it you're from-"
>"Yup, that's me! I've been getting copies of your reports after they've been filtered for more... important details."
>Well now you feel awkward
"Yeah... yeah. Sorry, I guess I kinda go on about them."
>She smiles at you, expecting something
"Oh! Shit, shoot, yeah. Come in?"
>You open up the door fully and step to the side
>She comes in, immediately taking note of Pie, who's been standing behind you for probably long enough to have heard everything
>"Oh my, it really is one of our little Missies! How are you doing?"
>Pie smiles at her, though it doesn't look like the smiles she gives you
>"Good morning! I'm doing great! My eye works fine, you know!"
>She smiles wider
>The woman seems taken off guard but nods
>"I'm sure it does! We'll have to see about getting it all fixed up, won't we?"
>Pie gives you a bit of a concerned glance as you follow the woman
>She looks at Chai and Rye, who seem to ignore her fully
>She waves her hand a few times
>To no response
>God damn it you two, at least say 'hello' or something
>"Are they usually like this?"
>She gives you an unimpressed look
"Well... it's movie time. You know how it is. My office?"
>You try to sidestep her concern and walk around the pair, holding an arm out to the hallway going to your room
>It is your office too
>Even if it doesn't look official
>After another appraising look, the woman nods and follows
>She walks into your room first, with Pie on her heels
>Before the pink pony can enter, you lean down and pat her side
"Listen... can you stay out there and make sure nothing goes crazy? I'm relying on you for this."
>Pie gives you a nod and a quick, genuine smile
>But something seems off with her
>"Anon... be careful, ok? She doesn't look happy to be here."
>She didn't look like she was anything
>Her eyes contract and whir slightly
"Right... scanning. Thanks."
>She leans against your leg as a quick pseudo-hug and joins the other two
>You enter your room and close the door
>The woman is sitting on your chair
>Leaving you nowhere to sit but your bed
"Make yourself at... er, home. I guess it is for me."
>The way she stares at you is a little odd
>You were never that great with eye to eye contact
>You sit on your bed, thinking back to the last reports you sent
>"Movie time, a pony that's missing..."
>Your eyebrows raise
>She didn't even see Sky
"Oh! Yeah, she's not missing, she's in the garage."
>"Alone? Why?"
"Well she likes running. Or galloping. Whatever the term is for them."
>You give your best disarming smile but it doesn't really do much
"She's got a lot more energy than the others so it's fine to let herself unwind that way, you know?"
>"Oh, sure. Even though they all have the same hardware, except her leg actuators?"
"Sure. We all have the same bodies but we feel like doing things differently, right?"
>A bit of a joke on your end but she doesn't seem to buy it
>"Anyway, you know our plan with this, right? To get them fixed up, to try this new therapy plan."
"So they can take care of kids and patients in general again, sure."
>"Can you tell me how exactly you're accomplishing that, so far? From your reports it seems like they're starting to deviate from their original directives."
>You hold up a hand, your index finger and thumb extended
>You scoot forward on the bed, eyes finally locking onto hers
"See, that's the cool thing, right? They were all completely the same from the start. When they looked the same too, minus the coloring. Well, from what I've gathered and from how they, themselves, characterize who they are. They basically shift to fit that. It's like... say if I had a big pair of nerdy glasses glued to my face and I couldn't run well. I'd naturally be more inclined for reading and less physically stressful things, right?"
>You were expecting some sort of gasp of surprise
>Instead she narrows her eyes at you
>"Anonymous, I wear glasses when I don't wear contacts."
"R... right. But I'm not saying you would change your personality on just that one factor. Or maybe you have, from when you were growing up. But think about this: they're all stock and baseline, until these things happened to them. From there, they start to change, alter. Grow!"
>She gives you a funny look
>"Grow?"
"Yeah!"
>"We're both aware of the hardware they're given, are you telling me this is a software bug?"
"No. Maybe. I'm not sure yet."
>You wave away with both of your hands
"But they are growing into individuals."
>"Anonymous, we don't need individuals, we need Missy model medical bots to keep track of troubled patients."
"Right, but you know as well as I that the patients, kids, aren't all the same. I'm speaking from experience here. As can any of them."
>You shift again
"Hear me out; you know that we have more active patients that have too much energy. Bam, we pair them up with Missy Sky. We have a patient that's nervous, scared, prone to panic. Bam, Missy Rye. OCD, prone to panic, light anger tone issues. Bam, Missy Chai."
>You look at her like it's the most obvious thing
"We pair them up with patients that are similar in personality and they're far more likely to create a bond. We create a bond, give them a genuine friend, and they feel at ease that much sooner. Like... the Big Brother program. Except while they're inpatient and with the security and everything else that Missies do."
>She looks a bit confused, but she's following you
>"And you think that this is sustainable, longterm? What happens if they further 'grow'?"
"Well what happens when we grow from experiences? We get better and just go from there."
>"Anonymous, you're really talking like these things are people."
"Well..."
>Aren't they?
>Of course they aren't
>But
"Well... sure, I know they aren't. But they have the great capacity to be friends with someone who needs it the most. When they're at the lowest they could possibly be. Take it from me, I needed a friend. Even if I wasn't that great of one in return. Me being a shitty kid was... me being a shitty kid. But a Missy that's experienced and knows how to talk to and understand me? Tell me that wouldn't be the best thing for a patient before actual therapy starts."
>"You sure sound like you're personally invested in this project."
"Of course I am."
>"That's good."
"Huh?"
>"As you said, it is... 'movie time', so I doubt I'll have time to personally speak with all of them. So instead, tell me more about your ideas. It sounds like you have it all figured out, despite having lost the plot on how their software is changing or how it's bugged."
>It was a back-handed compliment but you'll take it anyway
"Sure. By the way, I didn't get your name? I'm sorry, I email at least six people initially with everything."
>She smiles
>"Oh no that's ok! You effectively work 24/7 as is, I at least get to go home when I'm done with my hours. I'm Nona."
>She finally gives you a smile
>"Now enough about me, let's continue on about your ideas and (̴̕Y̸̷̢͟ó̴̕u̸͟͜͡)̶̛͢."