#nepetabot

A boy, CT, is working on a robot. He pokes a joint and the limb swings in response. he grimaces. Suddenly, a girl, AC, (who looks almost exactly like the robot) walks into the room

AC: :33 < *ac stalks into the room, swishing her tail as she spies a muscular hoofbeast*

CT wipes the sweat off his brow. He looks behind him to see AC standing in the doorway.

CT: D --> What is it

AC: :33 < i just...

AC takes a breath and walks inside. She twirls, turning and looking at the heaps and heaps of failed attempts, various robot parts heaped all over the room, all the way to the cieling.

AC: :<< < how’s evfurrything? *ac is worried about mew working all these long hours*

He lets out a snort of bitter laughter. He crosses his arms.

CT: D --> Fine. I guess

AC  sighs and leans forward on her toes for a moment, before leaning back again, swinging her arms a little. She looks back at CT, unnamused.

AC: :?? < what am i supposed to do with that?

He turns away from her to work on his robot some more, picking up a different tool out of his box.

CT: D --> Whatever you want

AC puffs out her cheeks in exasperation, turns, and walks out. She looks back once at CT as she leaves the room, a note of sadness in her face.

Later, AC and CT are standing infront of the completed, but deactivated robot. It sits on a workbench as the latter finishes checking the wiring inside its chest cavity. He closes the door and screws it shut before standing back to admire his work; AC squeezes his hand softly.

AC: :00 < so this is it

CT gives a faint smile.

CT: D --> I guess so

AC turns from the robot to the boy. She has a slight look of apprehension.

AC: :// < *ac s33s that it is a little diffurent than what she expected*

She turns back to the robot, eying it up and down. She puts a hand on its head and pokes it in the cheek.

CT: D --> Yeah

He rubs his neck sheepishly, watching her inspect the hardware.

CT: D --> Me too

Hearing this, AC turns back to him. Suddenly, CT is struck by how similar, yet different, the two are. His face falls in worry and fear of failure. AC reaches her arm out.

AC: :<< < equihiss??

CT: D --> It’s hard to describe what I'm feeling