ᖴI᙭ᗩTIOᑎ

ᕼE ᗯᗩᔕ ᕼEᖇE

ᑭᖇE-ᑕᕼᗩᑭTEᖇ:

     This is Frank. He is a turtle.

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     The rat pack scurried around your apartment like they usually did, their footsteps little more than background noise as you focused in on your current task:

     Finding a way to pay rent.

     Unfortunately for you, Maison had been your main source of income up until this point- you'd never had to get an actual job in the Uncanny Valley. You flipped through the local newspaper with your bandaged hand, scanning the monotone pages for any possible money-making opportunities.

     Your eyes skimmed through line after line of job ads, finally stopping at one that looked half-decent. 

     Pet-sitter needed? Piece of cake.

     You called the number and waited for someone to pick up.

     "Hello? "  A frail-sounding woman's voice came through.

     "Hi! I was just calling about your pet-sitting ad in the paper and wanted to know how soon I could start," you spoke brightly, activating customer service mode.

     "Oh! Well, I'd love to meet you in person first if you'd be alright with that, dear. Not just anyone can be trusted with my precious Frank," she said cheerily, the phone's static meddling with her voice.

     "Of course! Do you have any time for me to meet you today, maybe?" You inquired, feeling a rush of relief when she said yes.

     Anything to get out of this place for a while.

     You traded information with the kind old woman and hung up the phone, about to turn and head out of the kitchen area to get dressed. You moved about an inch before freezing in place, feeling someone practically breathing down your neck. 

     Little locks of hair slowly crept over your shoulder, drawn to your warm skin. Two hands placed themselves on your shoulder before a nose came into your peripheral vision.

     " ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴍᴏʀɴɪɴɢ , " a voice purred happily into your ear.

     You flipped around, finding yourself face to face with your new roommate: John Doe. His hands left your shoulders and grasped the counter behind your body, trapping you with his body. His smile was innocent but his eyes had an incredible stillness to them as he focused in on and admired you.

     "...Oh- good morning?" It was 1 in the afternoon.