Eloquent Divergence

Naming Day

The setting sun cast an orange glow, fighting for dominance between the blues and pinks and reds of the neon signs. The bright flashes of projected adverts.

Lynn wasn't sure why she was so nervous, shoes plodding on the broken cement. Maybe it was because this would be her first big purchase since he had left them.

Well. Lynn amended, doors opening for her. First big purchase since the house.

At that was a whole different bag of trauma she couldn't look at right now. Bracing herself, Lynn stepped inside, amazed. She'd never bothered to even browse for an android before. Lynn had a strict rule of not looking at what she couldn't have.

So she hadn't been sure what to expect of the little shop. Her mind had created something remotely sordid - greasy and oily. Parts hanging up like a chop shop.

The clean lines, ambient music, strong scent of clean and plastic had been a bit of a shock.

Bodies - androids she knew - were on display. Posed elegantly under spot lights, standing on displays, dressed as cleanly as the shop itself was. Smiling demurely, blinking. Watching. Dressed as cleanly as the store itself looked.

Lynn hesitated at the entrance.

It was overwhelming. It was unnerving.

The voice through the speaker announcing payment plans, new models, trade in options. The few shoppers loitering around the accessories hanging on the wall, an expecting couple perusing the models displayed.

"Can I help you?"

A voice broke through Lynn's paralysis. "Oh!" She inhaled sharp, jerking towards the shop attendant. "Y-yes." Fingers tangled, eyes darted. 

Why am I so embarrassed?

"I, uh." She pushed her dark brown hair off her shoulder. "I'm looking for an android." A pause. Lynn kicked herself. "Obviously." She amended with a derisive chuckle. "Why else would I be here?" Nerves were winning this battle.

To his credit, the store attendant - Bryce, his name tag read - kept his soft grin. "Of course." Smile widened as he stepped back to the shop counter.

Lynn followed.

"What tasks are you looking for your android to do?" A flier in his hands.

Lynn caught the way his eyes dropped to her bare ring finger. That was insulting. "I'm looking for help with chores, errands, my kids." She rambled, ticking off her list on her fingers. "I work full time and I can't seem to keep up with the house work."

As though she needed to defend herself.

"I see." Smile back in place, nodding slowly. "Well, we have a couple models that can help with that-"

"Oh!" A hand tapped his forearm, jerked back as he paused. "I-I am on a budget."

Brows furrowed for a moment. "Certainly." His smile back in place. "We have multiple options." Flier slid back into the stand, a printed slip of paper in his grasp.

It seemed oddly outdated in the setting.

"We have second hand models, payment plans, store credit options-" He paused, glancing at Lynn. "Do you have a trade in? We could use the-"

"I'm sorry." Her gaze dropped. "I don't. This would be our-my." Lynn corrected with too much emphasis. "My first purchase."

"I see." A pen scribbled through some text. "Well, I can show you our new to you options and go from there?"

Lynn tried not to feel embarrassed. Tried to fight the tangling in her stomach as she nodded. "That sounds good."

Bryce nodded, paper in his grasp. "Just follow me."