#artificialperscn

"Oh, do not fret, Max," Sebastián offered as warmly as he could. "Any friend of Agus is a friend of mine... Although I am sure you two aren't exactly friends anymore."

It was said with grace, with some sense of complicity too. While Sebastián had absolutely no clue about this man's true identity, he knew enough from Agustín to offer the kindest welcome he could.

It had been a very odd couple of weeks. Now, it wasn't unheard of that a bodyguard caught feelings for their client, or that it seemed to be reciprocated. The novelty was probably the fact that his client was supposed to be a machine...

Not that Agustín's lips could tell the difference, because he had made sure to kiss Max countless of times whenever nobody was watching. For a loner with a broken heart, he surely fell for this Synthetic as if gravity was his best friend.

Their routine seemed even more fun now that they shared this secret, even on days like that when they had to stay late at the office. The sun had long set by the time they had finally made their way to the streets, keeping whatever kind of small talk seemed appropriate while he escorted Max home.

That's where things went a bit south.

"We're being followed," he warned, using his water bottle for a feint so nobody could tell he had caught on the man behind them. "Forget the alley, we take the park. Open spaces."

The instruction was clear, knowing Max would listen to his security advice. Taking shortcuts in that situation could be potentially dangerous. All his feelings aside, he knew how to do his job.

Which was probably what forced their enemies' hand. Halfway through their walk through the park, another man crossed their path. Clearly he had something in his pocket, and that was alarming enough. For someone to be that bold in a public place it meant they were either amateurs or truly unhinged.

Geo had never left the house before without a task. He was nervous. Even knowing he was one of a kind in his looks, being custom built, that didn't rid him of any fear of being found out.

His owners would be gone for a few days, a supposed romantic getaway. No androids are allowed at their destination. He would be completely alone. It means he had the perfect opportunity to surprise Max on Valentines Day no less!

He dressed nicely, but not too nice, not wanting to stand out. He put on his best button-up shirt, cardigan, slacks, and shoes. He adjusted his tie as he waited, hoping Max would answer soon.

"I feel like unethical is hardly enough t'even cover the thought of doin' that to a person." Ashe sighed out as he poured himself another glass and took a slow sip of his whiskey. "Feels like some kind of terrible experiment that's guaranteed t'go wrong."

~🔥~

"Sooooo...are you like a new Doombot?" The fiery male uttered with a tilt of his head, eyes squinting at the other as he scrutinized this...synth, that was in front of him. A bite of some beef jerky as he then used said piece to point towards Max. "Or are you one of Reed's new creations? Oh are you the new and improved H.E.R.B.I.E?"

This February, New York has been absolutely brutal with dangerously low temperatures and snow that has turned everything ~briefly~ glowing, crystalline white. The sun had struggled that morning when she was on her way to work and her face ached with the smile. But eventually the cold in tandem with hours of treating the city's forgotten brings aching joints and a stiff back and a little less wonder at the still falling flakes. But it isn't the snow, the fairly quiet night and surprisingly low traffic that casts faint glowing pools of colour that catches the nurse's eye. Instead, as she passes by one of the neighbourhood flower shops, it's a stark pair of figures. The man she knows is tall, he has at least a foot on her, and as far as she can tell, has not moved a muscle since she'd come by nearly twelve hours earlier. The second figure is the one that concerns her the most. The man's dog is gorgeous and such a good companion, sitting quietly beside him. Anyone else might let this go. But Beth isn't just anyone. She unwraps the hand-knitted scarf from around her face and neck, and approaches the pair slowly, trying to be as non-threatening as possible. Not hard to do when you're short and fine boned and weigh probably less than the dog. She holds the scarf in between two small hands, ready to offer it to either man or beast as needs it the most. Words whisper soft as the fog creeping up from the exhaust vents and from out across the bay. "Uhm, excuse me...sir...but...ah....how long have ya been here? Wha' I mean is...d' ya need help? Mebbe ya lost or somet'ing?"

Logan is not a man to stand aside when someone clearly needs help. So when he stumbled on the sight of someone being harshly assaulted, the ghost of his tags dangling around his neck burn as he stepped in without hesitation. The authority comes back like an old friend, the fury makes his spine harder than iron.

He can handle two ignorant lowlifes.

The scuffle seems to start with little effort, gaining their attention through fierce action rather than words to join any blood on the concrete. Fists would be the only thing these men understood. He knocks the first one's teeth in, a shake of stinging knuckles and he bruises the other's cheek and jaw with the same fist. Of course, he'd take a couple hits himself and that's ok, but he needs them to know.

"You get the hell outta here." He all but growls as he brings one forward, who isn't limping away. "If you've got any sense left, you won't make me use you for target practice. Now get!" He growls again with a vicious shove, baring his teeth. Watching them stumble away with their tails between their legs is a bit too satisfying.