Gotta have that DCA Au eh? Lemme think...
Emotional Support Human!AU
Its the future 10 years from now! Universal Benefits are a Global Standard, Millionaires no longer exist (once you start making over $999,999.99 any money over that goes into the public fund and you get a star named after you), and Progress is being made on reversing ecological damage. π₯³
HOWEVER! π²
Pretty Much Everything is Automated. Or in the Proccess of Being Automated.
Not that You have ever been able to graduate college or gotten past being a cashier in the 40+ years you've been alive. π (You're not about to waste time and money fighting to get a ND diagnosis if theres no tangible benefit)
Although your experience in retail has left you with a particular set of skills π you've been working with and assisting automated checkouts for years, but with customers no longer violently abusing the kiosks, and AI becoming less prone to hallucinations, you're not really needed anymore π your UBI is pretty good, but you've wanted to work with robots your Whole Life! π€
Which makes you a perfect fit for a new job opening at Castle Daycare, a nearly fully automated childcare facility staffed by an advanced two phase AI system!
All you have to do is be an extra pair of hands, diffuse conflicts (aka let people yell at you. Lol, like anything scares you anymore π) and walk the AI through any hallucinations. (Easy peasy! The self checkouts would see customers that weren't there all the time and ring up foods that didn't exist)
And its a great Gig! The DCA is funny, smart, super competent at taking care of kids, the Moon phase was a bit intense at first but once they decided you weren't a threat you got along great! And they care So Much... Your heart gets a little fluttery... (you reaaaaally hope this doesn't trigger a crush π so annoying. And with biometric scanners you wouldn't be able to hide it like you always do π°)
But their hallucination is... A problem π unlike the kiosks this hallucination is the same every time, and kinda cruel. They describe it as a woman in a patched together rabbit costume. Moves wrong, sounds wrong, carries a chefs knife and at worst triggers "Seige Mode" which locks down the daycare and authorizes use-of-force.
They've broken windows trying to get at her.
Theyre learning to trust you though, if you cant see her, or don't respond to her, shes not there. You promise. You may look fluffy, but youre strong enough to deck anything that scary with the nearest table.
(you of course have PTSD from all the apocalypses and economic meltdowns and undiagnosed autism)
...You really cant say no when they ask you to stay π£π
(slice-of-life, domestic, Trauma healing, and they were roommates, near future sci-fi)
"The 40+ years you've been alive" I've Only Been Alive Half of That, But I Feel You.
