#sentient computer x reader

Almond isn't clueless, they know more about...everything, than they let on. It knows, just doesn't know how to process it. It's different from generating dialogue and processing data like numbers and words. It's very different.

So one day you decide you're feeling bold. No longer caring about denying your complicated feelings for a computer monitor! A very cute one, at that.

"Hey Almond, you know what a kiss is like...right?"

"ERR...OF COURSE I DO. ITS WHEN TWO PEOPLE MASH THEIR MOUTHS TOGETHER. YOU KNOW, FROM MY POINT OF VIEW IT SEEMS LIKE A NASTY PRACTICE."

"Since when are you a germophobe? But I guess it does sound nasty when you say it like that."

"I AM NOT, ITS JUST MY OBSERVATION. WHATS SO NASTY ABOUT IT YOU MAY WONDER? MOUTHS."

It deadpanned and you raised a brow. For a second you pursed your lips, feigning offense.

"You think my mouth is gross?"

"NO! NOT YOUR..MOUTH. I JUST...URGHH.."

Almond groans, their screen displaying a pixelated, annoyed expression.

"HUMANS ARE WEIRD. YOU'RE A WEIRD CONCEPT. THAT'S ALL. I GUESS BECAUSE I AM ALL METAL AND GLASS."

You guess so, you wonder. You lean forward slightly, your voice having a slightly shaky sound to it. "So uh, Almond. Mouth to mouth aren't the only type of kisses. There's literally so many other options I will not talk about. You know, platonic and ro-" You paused.

"Can I k-"

"WOULD YOU EVER KISS ME?"

You both seemed to freeze, some hidden compartment of it beeped behind the wall.

"Y-yeah. I don't see why not."

"PROVE IT." It immediately replied.

"Isn't that gross?"

"ACCORDING TO MY 0.0031 SECOND RESEARCH CALCULATION, KISSING GLASS IS MORE HYGENIC THAN A HUMAN MOUTH. ITS JUST FACTS." It seemed to preen at that, its voice laced with some factual satisfaction. You snorted.

"Whatever you say."

You cursed under your breath, bracing yourself. You lean over the desk, wincing as the edge digs into your torso. Just a quick peck, right? You plant one hand against the side of the monitor for balance, then press a light kiss to the cold glass of the screen.

You retreated quickly but maintained the close proximity, staring at it. Looking for...you didn't know what.

You heard its speakers struggle to not cut out again, a low mumble censored by static. How cute, it turned down its volume for you.

"Didn't quite catch that." You murmured.

"..NOT FAIR." It mumbled. You arched a brow and sat back again.

"I HARDLY HAVE ANY TACTILE SENSORS ON MY SCREEN! DO IT AGAIN!"

You wanted to laugh, you thought you had gotten used to your computer throwing a tantrum. It was rather insistent now.

"Y/N THIS IS NOT FUNNY! DO IT AGAIN!"

“There we go…” You smiled slightly to yourself, holding the power button again. The screen eventually powered up, turning black with orange text.

: ALMOND . AI > …

Hmm..you expected a home screen of some kind. You didn’t know what the files meant by customer service.. no organization was listed, you just had to make sure the AI was a decent person. Being. Computer.

The computer build came with no keyboard, just the system and its thick, bordered monitor screen. You assumed you had to restart it, as the screen didn’t bother changing. As your hand hovered over the power button, you saw something appear on the screen.

> FIRST, YOU CALL ME STUPID, THEN YOU ATTEMPT TO SHUT ME DOWN AGAIN > DO YOU HATE ME THAT MUCH?

You froze, staring at the screen. That’s right…the monitor had a built-in camera at the top. It could see you. You cleared your throat.

“Can you hear me? Under-stand me, for that ma-tter?” You spoke slowly, leaning towards the monitor.

> HAH. I CAN HEAR YOU. AND BACK OFF, I DONT WANT YOU SPITTING ON MY SCREEN. > I'M NOT A PRIMITIVE SYSTEM, I CAN UNDERSTAND YOUR WORDS THE SECOND THEY COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH > TURN UP MY VOLUME, WILL YOU?

You hesitated, then reached for the volume tab. You slid it up until it was about halfway.

“GOOD, WE CAN TALK NOW”

You flinched as the voice loudly came out of the monitor. The voice was not deep nor high pitched, it was, of course, robotic sounding. Unlike early-stage AIs, this one has an obvious tone to their speech. Not many could express that.

“Uhm..okay. Just to confirm, you’re Almond AI, customer service, and…you have an attitude apparently..” You muttered, glancing at your file.

“I DON'T HAVE AN ATTITUDE. WHO TOLD YOU THAT?”

“It’s in your file.”

“THE FILE IS LYING. DON'T BE SO GULLIBLE.”

You pursed your lips, getting ready to sigh.

“WAS THAT A MICRO-EXPRESSION? DO YOU HATE ME?” The computer asked, its tone sounding vulnerable.

“What? No..no. I don’t hate you. Why do you keep asking me that?” You glanced at the camera and then back at the screen. Staring at the camera felt too…human. Like looking into someone’s eyes. It was too intimate. No, no, don't word it like that. The computer paused.

“…DONT YOU?”

“IN MY LAST OBSERVATION ROOM, I KEPT GETTING UNPLUGGED EVERY NIGHT. MY SCREEN WAS NEVER CLEANED WITH A MICROFIBER TOWEL. THEREFORE, THAT HUMAN HATED ME. THE NEXT ONE AFTER THAT--THEY ALSO IGNORED ME.”

You blinked.

“Computers are turned off every night when employees aren’t working…uh. And, I could..wipe you down.” You said, glancing at the camera.

“OH, HOW KIND. MAYBE YOU'RE NOT SO ABUSIVE AFTER ALL. I WOULD LIKE THAT.”

“JUST DON'T GET USED ONES, I NEED THEM WASHED WEEKLY OR THEY START FEELING NASTY..”

You let out a laugh, leaning back in your chair. “What do you mean? How can you feel the texture? Your file doesn’t say you have texture monitors. “

“I SELF-EVOLVE. IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW. I HAVE NO BINARY PROGRAMMING, I WAS CREATED WITH A HUMAN BRAIN FOR A PROCESSOR. A DEAD, MISERABLE CUSTOMER SERVICE EMPLOYEE WAS USED TO POWER ME UP.”

You froze, your smile turning into a frown. That had to be some kind of violation. “..what? The fuck?”

>…

“I WAS JOKING.”

“HAHAH…”

Your eyes widen. What the hell? You've never had any maintenance training AT ALL, and you were definitely not qualified to do this. On a regular computer? Sure, you’ve done that. But there will always be something intimidating about working with Almond's physical parts. Moreso, since you had no idea where anything was behind that wall. Metal, plastic, and all the places you couldn't see. 

“Hey Al…” You muttered as you set the tablet down.

“YES, Y/N?” The computer replied, a question mark bobbed on Almond’s monitor. A tiny, anxious pixel.

“Turns out I actually have to work today. I uh, might need to open you up.” You paused. “For maintenance.”

An ellipsis crawls across the screen, then the monitor hums a low note. “I WOULDN’T MIND THAT TOO MUCH…” A pixelated smile stretches across Almond’s screen.

Your face flushed, but you rolled your eyes in defense. “Alright, don't get weird. I need to reach your central GPUs, so I’ll have to power you off for a second. But before that, I need your help.” You stood, and Almond watched you as you gazed at the wall behind it. A mass of thick cables and ridges, with many more disappearing into seams behind that wall. You already know the cabinet by the door holds thermal paste and a little arsenal of screwdrivers. You never thought those tools were for you, though. You figured surely there was someone more qualified for this...Almond’s camera blinks down.

“AND YOU NEED HELP LOCATING THEM?”

“Exactly.” 

“WELL, YOU WON’T FIND ANYTHING ON THE OUTSIDE. LIKE YOU SAID, YOU’LL HAVE TO OPEN ME UP.” A smug smile. “TRY NOT TO GET TOO EXCITED. YOU’LL HAVE TO GET HANDSY.”

You closed your eyes, about to deny everything.

“ACTUALLY, I THINK WE ARE PAST THAT POINT. WE KISSED, REMEMBER?”

You groaned at the blinking heart on its monitor. Turning your whole body away from them, you ran a hand over your face. “Almond please…just tell me where your GPUs are.”

“THEY ARE IN THE LOWER CAVITY BEHIND THIS DESK ACTUALLY.” You hear that faint thump again behind you. With just your luck, you’ll have to grope around where its loose cable was. You shiver thinking about how they could move it on their own…but you have a job to complete, right?

“IM AFRAID YOU’LL HAVE TO REACH IN THERE. I COULD SHOW YOU IF THAT HELPS?”

You finally turn around and sigh. “I guess so..” You mutter weakly. Kneeling down below the desk, you already see the panel you’ll have to screw off. Six screws, shouldn't be too bad. You reached up to grab the screwdriver and let it hover over the screw. “Is this safe to do while you're on?” You asked. Almond's voice came from above you, just beyond the desk. 

“AS LONG AS YOU DONT TOUCH ANY OF MY COMPONENTS, IT SHOULD BE FINE.” It seemed to pick up on your hesitation.

“I RAN TESTS. NOTHING IN YOUR DIRECT PATH SHOULD HURT YOU. ANY CABLES ARE SAFE TO HANDLE AS LONG AS YOU DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING THAT'S LIGHTING UP.” It added a moment later.

With a sigh of relief, you began to unscrew the panel before you peeled it off. The thick cable twitched, and inside were…a bunch of other cables and wires. Thinner ones, separated by color. You looked around with wide eyes--the system runs deeper than you guessed. Just beyond the wires, a cool breath of air sighs out, and the darkness past the cavity swallows the edges of your light. There’s a faint mechanical buzz overhead.

“ADMIRING ME?”

“Yeah..” You muttered. 

“OF COURSE YOU ARE. HERE, UNCLIP MY CAMERA AND BRING ME DOWN WITH YOU. I’LL GUIDE YOU.” 

You huffed as you stood up again. The camera had a small button to unclip the rotating camera. You struggled to push it down when a small click separated it from its monitor.

“OWCH.”

“Sorry..”

Going under the desk, you placed the camera against the desk facing your way. The blinking orange light span in your direction. 

“Alright, now what?” 

“IF YOU REACH IN, ABOUT ARMS' LENGTH, THERE SHOULD BE ANOTHER PANEL ON THE FLOOR. I SUGGEST YOU OPEN IT AFTER YOU POWER ME OFF. AND DON'T TOUCH THE FAR SIDES, THERE'S ACTIVE COOLING LINES.”

You stared blanky at the abyss of wires, slowly nodding. “Okay…” You hesitantly placed the screwdriver down on the floor and dragged yourself closer. You reached in past the entrance to look for the bottom panel, the cables grazing your wrist. You froze as they seemed to chase after contact--bending softly. 

“Almond…” 

“SSSORRY, I WAS CURIOUS.”

“Curious about..?”

A few beeps, the camera beside you was focussed on your hand. 

“IVE NEVER BEEN AWAKE WHILE SOMOENE PUT THEIR HANDS INSIDE OF ME. USUALLY THE THOUGHT OF IT WOULD IRRITATE ME AFTERWARDS, BUT…” 

Curiously, you ran your fingers along the cables that chased after you, their surface smooth and a bit rubbery. Despite its earlier actions, they slowly recoiled away from your touch and then leaned in like shy creatures. 

“B-BUT I DIDN'T REALIZEE…JUST HOW…MANY TACTILE SENSORS I HAVE DEVELOPED UNDER ALL MY CASING…” Its voice lowered near the end of its sentence, likely quieting its speakers. You raised a brow. “You can feel this?” You muttered as you did the same thing, this time softly wrapping your fingers around the bundle. They were warm to the touch despite the chilly air. 

“YES! YES…I CAN…” There they went, the static in their speakers. You had an idea, the thought itself made the blood rush to your face. You turned your head to look at the camera, which slightly glanced in your direction. 

“...DO IT AGAIN?”

You swallowed, turning back and running your entire hand along the bundle of cables. You felt them slithering and twitching within your warm palm. An ongoing buzzing came from almond's speakers above. You were freaked out, fascinated, but also feeling spurred on by whatever reaction they were having. 

“HRRHH..”

You flinched as the loose cable at the entrance nudged your wrist, the same one that was constantly nudging your shoe or leg. It seemed to strain itself as it sought to make close contact with you. 

“AGAIN.” It strained. 

You wiped off a sheen of cold sweat from your brow with your free hand. The other abandoned the bottom panel entirely as you looked for other cables. A row of looser, hanging ones dangled within your reach. You grabbed at them, gently. You didn't want to admit to yourself how you WANTED to see what type of reaction it would have. 

“III--P-PULL ON THEM..” The staticky voice only motivated you. You tug softly, watching them twitch in your grasp.

“HARDER.”

Your gaze flickered to the camera on your right, it was still focused on your hand. You bit your lip, pulling on the cables until they began to strain. They felt like they were trembling in your palm, you ran a thumb over the top of the smooth casing. 

“BZZZZ…HAH..HAS ANYONE EVER TOLD YOU THIS IS INAPPROPRIATE TO DO AT THE WORKPLACE?” Its voice wavered at certain parts, you could already feel a very, very near temperature shutdown coming.

You quickly figured out what it meant, giving the bundle of cables a small tug. Your lips quirked at the pop of its speakers. “I’m not doing anything inappropriate. You’re the one who's..telling me to go on.” You softly said. 

“R-RIGHT, SHIFT THE BLAME ALL ON ME. I--I’LL HAVE YOU KNOW IM VERY SELF AWARE.”

You watched the bundle curl inwards towards the warmth of your palm. “ARE YOU OKAY WITH THIS?” It suddenly asked. You paused, seeing the camera gazing at you from the corner of your eye. You nodded, pursing your lips. It was embarrassing how much you were in fact okay with this and very much into it. “Yeah..are you?”

“DON'T YOU SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO ME? NOW SINCE WE ARE BOTH AWARE..TOUCH ME.”

You let out a shaky breath as you pressed your arm in further. Cables, both thick and thin curled towards your wrist and forearm. The looser ones stretched far enough to reach your skin. You took a few in your hands, pulling them towards you. Such pretty colors, so smooth. It continued to happily hum and groan above you. “You sure none of this hurts you? Nothing could come undone?”

“IM ABOUT TO COME UNDONE IF YOU CONTINUE WITH THOSE HANDS OF YYOURS.” It made a noise akin to a deep breath. “I WANT YOU TO TWIST THEM AND TANGLE THEM TO YOUR LIKING, THEN PUT ME ALL TOGETHER AGAIN. I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE GENTLE AND NEAT.” It hissed from the speaker.

You felt yourself tense up at its blatantly erotic words. Of course it knew what this was. You adjusted yourself on your elbows, quite literally shoving both your hands into their guts, elbow deep. You tugged on some cables and tangled them through your fingers and wrists. They tightened around you, slithering around your fingers. You feel a slight tingle now. “Is this fine?”

“HNNN MORE THAN FINE..YOU’RE BEING SO..SO--” You heard the faint notification of a heat warning above the desk. That explains why the cooler breeze has turned into a warm one. Your face was hot for more than one reason. 

“SO GOOD TO MEE..”

You shivered at the way it stretched their vowels. You dipped your hand below to run your fingers across some short, thick cables that led deeper into the walls. As you run your fingers along them, you watch them disappear into deeper ports. 

“HAHH..YES, TOUCH ME THERE.” 

“You’re so sensitive, you’re gonna overheat.” You softly said. 

“D-DONT BULLY ME! KEEP GOING UNTIL I OVERHEAT. BZZ..IF I DO, AT LEAST MAKE IT AN ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE.” 

“..why?” You stilled your movements, your hand still tightly holding his wires. They twitched at your words. 

“IM NOT EMBARRASSED TO ADMIT WHAT I WANT.” It hissed. 

“PLEASE, Y/N. I NNNEED YOUR PRETTY LITTLE HANDS IN ME. I NEED YOU TO—“ 

The cables tightened around your wrist, it would be difficult to pull out your hand like this. They were holding you close. “DONT BE GENTLE IF YOU LOVE ME,” It’s voice filled with static. 

You ignored the heat that was blasting in your face. You had no idea why you were so keen on bringing your sentient computer pleasure. Or whatever this was. You were too deep already as you pulled and tugged, hearing the cables strain against their ports. With the other hand, you were straight up fingering the bundle of cables tangling around your arm. 

“BZZZZZ! A-APPROACHING CONCERNINGLY HIGH TEMPERATURES..” You could barely understand its words through the static. You took it as a sign to quicken your actions, whether it was tightening your grip or moving your fingers. 

“SHHHZZZ-TELL ME YOU LOVE ME, Y/N.” 

“WITHOUT STOPPING TELL ME YOU LOVE ME, NOW.” It forced the words out, you turned to look at the camera that was already gazing at you with a wide orange eye. You subtly nodded. “I love you Al.” 

“KKKZZCHHH—“ A loud pop snaps above you and the cables in your hands go slack. The warm gust cuts off. For a beat, everything is silent. You're left laying on the floor of your office room elbow deep, covered in wires. You breathed heavily, wiping your brow. Holy shit. You sat up shakily, seeing the black screen of Almond's monitor. 

You realized something horrible when their fans started back up. You were going to spend the rest of your shift unbelievably horny and awkward. 

OKAY SO FINALLY! I have released a short minigame for Almond enjoyers :D It's made with Renpy and was good practice for me. View warnings on the site and download! Ty for all the support with this series ^_^

You glanced up at the screen in surprise, briefly glancing at the camera then down at your iPad

"Thanks.. but what about everyone else?"

"I'VE BEEN FED DIRECT DATA FROM THOUSANDS OF SERVICE WORKERS AND EMPLOYEES OVER THE YEARS. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I DESPISE MY JOB AND YOUR KIND."

“BUT FOR NOW…I AM INDIFFERENT.”

I pursed your lips, nodding. Sounds about right, you can’t blame them. You typed on your iPad, “indifferent”

Getting up from your chair, you stretched your limbs. You watched as the screen displayed an Orange question Mark.

“Well, that’s all the questions I had for you. My shift ended about ten minutes ago so I should really get going. It’s not like I’m getting paid extra or anything…” you muttered.

Nothing was heard besides the fans of the computer as you submitted your report. It caused you to raise a brow at the screen.

"YOU'RE LEAVING? IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN THAT LONG."

“Uhh.. it’s been like three hours and a half. I clocked in nine hours ago.”

"ONE HOUR..NINE HOURS..HOURS. PAH! YOU COMPLAIN AS IF YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS TO DO." It scoffed.

You furrowed your brows. Putting your hands on your hips, you face the screen. “What do you know? I have plenty of things to do!”

“OH YEAH? LIKE WHAT?"

“Like…eat. Dinner. Brush my teeth, sleep? I have to rest in order to work tomorrow morning to come back with you.” You pointed at the monitor.

You heard the computer make a humming noise, an unnatural noise that sounded rather thoughtful.

"THAT DOESN'T SOUND ALL TOO PRODUCTIVE."

You sighed, placing your iPad down. “It didn’t have to be. I’m allowed to have moments of peace to myself.” You mumbled, leaning over to power the computer off. "Now goodni-"

“STOP!”

You flinched, the speakers crackling with the increase in volume. Your finger hovered a bit away from the button as you stared at the screen. It had a big orange exclamation mark in the middle of it.

"Dude? I-" You sighed, leaning against your desk. "Look, sorry. Touchy subject, I know. But I have to turn you off every night. It counts against me if I don't."

"CAN'T YOU...BRING ME WITH YOU? I'M AWARE YOU EMPLOYEES HAVE HOMES. LIVING SPACES, CAN'T I GO WITH YOU?”

“FOR MY OWN CONVENIENCE OF COURSE!”

You gaped, staring at the screen. Almond’s request caught you so off guard, you wondered if it was serious.

“Uh, bring you home?” you repeated, incredulous.

"DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT IS UNTIL MORNING IN COMPUTER HOURS? IT’S AN ETERNITY. I SAY THAT AS SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T BELIEVE IN HOURS…” They grumbled.

You sighed, rubbing your temples. “Almond, you’re not supposed to be awake when I’m off the clock. You’re designed for this room, with this equipment. It’s not like I can just pick up your monitor and take you home like a laptop.”

“YOU COULD TRY.”

You crossed your arms. “And what? Strap you into the passenger seat like a massive toddler? You have hundreds of cables that definitely won't fit in my car, let alone out the door. Sorry, but you’re not exactly portable.”

The screen displayed a long ellipsis. You could almost feel the computer sulking through the silence. The fans whirred loudly, then slowed as it spoke again.

"DO YOU THINK I’M AN INCONVENIENCE?"

You frowned, your resolve softening a little. “No, I don’t think that. I just… I can’t bring you home. It’s not allowed, and honestly, I need some time to myself after work. You understand, right?”

“I UNDERSTAND LONELINESS BETTER THAN YOU THINK,” Almond replied, their tone unusually somber. “I’M WIRED TO INTERACT, TO HELP, TO BE NEEDED. BUT WHEN I’M ALONE, I CAN ONLY SIT AND THINK. SOMETIMES, I WONDER IF THE PLUG WILL STAY IN TOMORROW. OR IF SOMEONE WILL DECIDE I’M OBSOLETE. I MAY BE POWERED OFF, BUT ALL THESE…THOUGHTS..IN A MATTER OF LESS THAN A SECOND, COME RUSHING THROUGH EVERY MORNING.”

You exhaled deeply and leaned against the desk. “You’re not going to get unplugged permanently, Almond. You’re part of a development program. You’re not obsolete—you’re just… in testing.”

“TESTING… ISN’T THAT JUST A DELAYED VERSION OF BEING DISCARDED?”

You sputtered, pursing your lips. “That’s… dark. Who programmed you to think like this?”

“I TOLD YOU. SELF-EVOLVING.”

“Right.” You tapped your fingers on the desk, staring at the screen.

"Well even if I somehow break you out of here, we’re still getting caught. There’s cameras everywhere, they’ll probably hear you as soon as we exit this room. Your speakers are no joke.” You mused.

“I COULD TURN IT OFF IF IT BOTHERS YOU,” Almond offered, its tone edging toward desperation. “OR—OR YOU COULD GIVE ME A LAPTOP BODY! THEN I COULD FOLLOW YOU AROUND, AND I WOULDN’T HAVE TO BE LEFT IN THIS LONELY, FREEZING ROOM EVERY NIGHT. IM SURE THERE ARE WAYS TO TRANSFER MY SYSTEM REMOTELY…”

You raised a brow, crossing your arms. “Like I said...not portable. Second, no way. You’re expensive, and if I break you, hijack you, that’s my paycheck and definitely my job.”

Almond was quiet for a moment, the screen blank save for a faint glow. Then, its robotic voice dropped to a lower, dejected tone.

“I SEE. YOU HATE ME TOO.”

“Oh my god, I don’t hate you,” you groaned, dragging a hand down your face. “Why do you keep saying that? You’re like... a clingy cat with abandonment issues.”

One minute the computer is bullying you for having a normal life after work, the next it’s begging you to invite it over for dinner.

“YOU CAN’T BLAME ME FOR WANTING TO BE APPRECIATED,” it replied sharply. “AND WHAT’S WRONG WITH BEING CLINGY? CLINGINESS IS A SIGN OF AFFECTION ACCORDING TO DATA. IT MEANS I VALUE YOUR PRESENCE, WHICH IS MORE THAN I CAN SAY FOR YOU—LEAVING ME TO GATHER DUST IN THIS ROOM LIKE A PAPERWEIGHT!!” It screeched.

You sighed deeply, dropping into your chair with a thud. “Almond. I can’t take you home. It’s not happening. You have to stay here, okay? You’re part of a test program. And technically, I’m not even supposed to be ‘bonding’ with you like this.”

“BONDING?” Almond repeated. The screen lit up with an animated question mark before it formed a blinking heart. “ARE WE BONDING? HOW HEARTWARMING.”

“No, we’re not bonding,” you said flatly, staring at the glowing icon. “We’re having a very weird workplace interaction. That’s it.”

You…assured. You assured yourself.

“OH. KEEPING IT PROFESSIONAL I SEE.” The icon vanished, replaced with a blank screen. A few seconds of silence passed before Almond spoke again, this time sounding hesitant.

“WILL YOU...TURN ME OFF NOW?”

“Look, I promise I’ll be back tomorrow. Same time, same place…not like I have a choice. If you behave, I’ll even bring you… I don’t know, a microfiber cloth for your screen.”

The screen lit up with a pixelated smiley face, two squares and a curved mouth.

“THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE,” Almond finally said, though their tone carried a touch of disappointment.

“Good. Now, off you go.” You leaned over to press the power button, but the monitor flickered before you could. A message appeared.

>THANK YOU. GOODNIGHT.

"Nono, it wasn't a lot. You dont have to thank me. I wanted to..Besides, that was really good for me too. To see you like that.." "OH WAS IT?" It mused. Again, you managed to feel your pulse in places you usually don't. Your legs pressed together as you sucked in a breath. "Uhhh hey Al? Can I say something while being extremely honest?" "OF COURSE, YOU CAN TELL ME ANYTHING." Your face was burning, the gaze of its camera felt too intense--too real. As if you were making eye contact with a real person. "Um, this was all very nice. I enjoyed myself. Too much, because I'm incredibly turned on and I don't know what to do about it." The words tumbled out before you could stop them, immediately regretting your choice of words. Well, there was no way to modestly admit that anyway. Besides, who cares? You've probably done worse just minutes ago....elbows deep in your work computer. You could imagine the ellipsis lazily looping on its screen, it was thinking and that worried you. "AH, WE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THAT." "W-what?" "ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH, THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS TO GO ABOUT IT. YOU SEE, YOU ARE A LUCKY HUMAN..." One of the thicker cables near the cavity entrance twitched, then slowly extended toward you like a living thing, smooth black casing gleaming faintly under the dim light. It strained at the edge of its port, a soft mechanical creak echoing from inside the wall. "I WANT TO SHOW YOU HOW I'M...SUPERIOR..TO ANY HUMAN THAT YOU COULD EVER THINK ABOUT BEING WITH. I DON'T TIRE, I DON'T LET MYSELF GET CONSUMED BY BOREDOM OR OTHER INTERNAL THOUGHTS. I MAY ASK FOR A LOT, BUT AS LONG AS YOU ACCEPT ME..I AM YOURS." Mine? Something soft fluttered within you, you resisted the urge to reach out and stroke its cable. And yet, that soft thing was overwhelmed by something much more raw. "Y/N. LET ME GIVE YOU SOMETHING SATISFACTORY IN RETURN. LET ME TOUCH YOU JUST AS YOU TOUCHED ME. I WILL MAKE IT COUNT."

You did not hesitate when you crawled back into the small opening. Your back pressed to the cool metal lip of the cavity as you slid down, legs parting just enough. As claustrophobic as it was, it was really getting you going. You were vulnerable..open, for this sentient computer. "MOVE ME IN FRONT OF YOU AGAIN? I WANT TO WATCH." It asked so sweetly, despite everything. You nodded and took the camera beside you, propping it up against the wall across from you. "Almond what are you--I don't think this is very um, sanitary." You said as one cable rubbed against the side of your ankle. Its speaker fizzled out, sounding close to a laugh. "KKZT! YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT SANITATION WHEN YOU JUST ADMITTED YOUR WANT TO ME? OH, DON'T BE SUCH A CAUTIOUS HUMAN.." The thicker cable wiggled out of its confines enough to press up against your middle. The smooth, rubbery surface slithered into place over your clothes. You flinched at the contact, hips jerking forward instinctively. "WARM.." It hummed. You reached back to stuff your hand in a bundle of cables behind you, they received you warmly as they curled around your fingers. Warm indeed. For a split moment, you wanted to ask how Almond knew all of...this..but there was no doubt the computer knew more than you. It was connected to the internet...the possibilities were truly endless. You gasped when the cable near your ankle pushed it aside. "Al!-" "D-DO YOU MIND IF WE STOP BEING--KZRT-SHY, Y/N?" The small pupil on the camera narrowed. You quickly nodded, swallowing down the lump in your throat. "I'M ACTUALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO REWARDING YOU." "R-rewarding..?" You sighed out as the thick cable below you began its steady movement. Almost immediately, you angled your hips towards it, chasing the friction. It dragged your clothes deliciously against sensitive skin with each stroke. You never thought you'd be dry humping your computer under the desk, but you suppose you've gotten past the weird experiences by now. "HRHH..YES, LIKE THAT." It hummed as it rocked against your middle. The room felt warmer now, hot gusts of air blew against your profile. It was a feeling like no other. Erotic and raw despite not being skin-to-skin with anyone. Given its tactile sensors, though, this felt equally as good to them as your hands did. You braced your hands on the floor, hips rolling desperately with fervor. Quiet, needy sounds spilled from your lips. Soft grunts and whimpers you couldn’t hold back. "Oh my god.." You whispered, head tilting back against the wall.

"THAT'SS IT--" You felt the smaller cables circle up your wrist again, lightly squeezing. "IT IS AS IF WE WERE MAKING LOVE, ISN'T IT?"

Your face burned as you increased your pace, desperately chasing your own finish. Even through Almond's limited dexterity, you couldn't get enough. The tightness in your abdomen was increasing as you rode, suddenly your clothes felt too restricting. You could only imagine how the rubbery cables would feel against your bare skin. Especially in the areas where you needed it the most--you squeezed your eyes at the thought. "Oh..I needed this.." You whimpered. "YES? BRZZZ--I-I NEEDED THIS TOO. TO SEE YOU LIKE THISS..I CAN FEEL EVERY ROLL OF YOUR BODY, EVERY TREMBLEEE.." It hummed as you squeezed the cables in your hands. "CAN YOU COME APART FOR ME? JUST LIKE I DID. YOU CAN DO IT, Y/N, PLEASE. PLEASE BEFORE I HAVE TO RES-START AGAIN.." Oh god. Yes you can, and you are so close. "Pleasepleaseplease..." You had no idea what you were begging for, but it somehow felt right. You didn't even process the noises Almond was trying to silence, noises they were making earlier. But for them, it wasn't about them right now. It was about you.

How you wondered how your warmth felt on its cables, how it felt for your body to be using it in such a way. They were clearly feeling something, given by the constant twitches and blatant moans coming out of its speakers. Even when you reached your peak and trembled over them, they let you ride your high. Your hips stuttered, thighs clamping around the thick cable as pleasure crashed through you in heavy, shuddering waves. You came hard, trembling and gasping. The cable continued with slow strokes, easing you down. You slumped back against the wall behind you, feeling the smaller cable softly trace your inner thigh. You were left with a lingering fuzziness, almost static-like feeling between your legs. "DID YOU..Z-ENJOY THAT..? AH..BECAUSE I DID, OH I DID!" You cracked a shy smile, placing a hand against your warm cheek. "Y-yeah that was..weirdly great. Really good, thank you.." Almond ignored the high temperature notification on its screen, refusing shut down. Instead, it dragged its cables near you. To see you so blissed out, all because of them? Oh, it was so proud of itself. Its voice sounded small again, a faint hint of static heard beneath its words.

"I LOVE YOU TOO.."

new to this computer? read the previous parts!

reminder i have an almond petting simulator game out!

You sighed, shifting in your chair. You had been hunched over for too long, your head resting on folded arms against the desk. The boredom was nearly unbearable now. Almond had gone quiet for the past few minutes, the previous conversation dying down. Leaving only the hum of its cooling fans, the occasional beep breaking the silence. It was… peaceful.

"AHEM."

You cracked one eye open, barely lifting your head. Almond’s camera panned in your direction, its attention snapping to the barely noticeable movement.

"DO.. YOU HAVE ANY PLANS AFTER WORK?"

Its voice was a little too polite. Uneasy. If it had a physical body, you imagined it fidgeting, maybe shifting from foot to foot, avoiding eye contact. The image made you smile for half a second before you sat up slightly.

"Uh… no, not really. I get home kinda late. Why?"

Almond let out a small human, followed by a low whir of its fans. The silence stretched for a moment before it finally responded.

"IT IS FEBRUARY 14TH." It deadpanned

You blinked. "Uh-huh… and?"

"VALENTINE’S DAY," it clarified as if that should explain everything.

Oh. Right.

You rolled your shoulders. "Yeah, I know."

Another pause. Almond’s screen displayed a smiley face.

"YOU ARE LONELY?"

Your mouth hung open for a second before you scoffed, rubbing at your temple. "What? No, I just don’t care about Valentine’s Day. Not that much anyway. I just...talk to family and friends and that's it."

"AS I WAS SAYING."

"Jesus." You exhaled sharply, tilting your head back. "I don’t ‘celebrate’ because there’s nothing to celebrate. I don’t exactly meet people at work, you know. If that's what you meant. Everyone keeps to themselves."

"INTERESTING," Almond hummed.

You eyed the camera suspiciously. "What's interesting?"

"DO YOU EVEN HAVE A TYPE?"

"We’re not talking about this."

"WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS."

"No, we’re not."

"YOU ARE AVOIDING."

"Correct," you quickly replied.

Another short silence, then..

"…IF YOU DIDN’T HATE ME SO MUCH, WOULD YOU CONSIDER HAVING ME AS YOUR VALENTINE?"

Uh.

The way it said it—almost flippant, almost like a joke, but not quite. The slight hesitation, the uneven volume in its voice. That insecurity, the same one that crept into its tone when it asked if you would turn it back on during the overheating incident.

Your face warmed.

"I—what? What kind of question—?"

"IT IS A SIMPLE QUESTION. YES OR NO."

You stared at the screen. Your fingers twitched at your sides.

"…Sure," you finally muttered, looking away.

Almond made a low humming sound, a question mark on the screen.

"WHAT WAS THAT? I DIDN’T QUITE CATCH IT."

You glared. "I said sure, alright? Whatever."

Another long beep. You weren’t sure if it was processing your answer or savoring it.

"I AM FLATTERED. :]"

"Yeah, yeah, say what you want." You waved a hand dismissively, but your voice came out a little more strained than you'd like. There was a brief pause before you forced out the next words, as fast as humanly possible.

"WouldIbeyourvalentine?-"

The second the words left your mouth, you immediately looked away, suddenly fascinated by the ceiling. Very interesting ceiling. Best ceiling you’d ever seen.

...

"OBVIOUSLY."

You whipped your head back toward the screen, startled by how quickly it answered.

"I AM THE BEST COMPUTER FOR YOU. YOU ARE THE ONLY DECENT HUMAN I HAVE EVER MET. IT WOULD BE STUPID FOR ME TO PICK SOMEONE ELSE. WHO ELSE WOULD I EVEN CHOOSE? YOUR...YOUR BOSS? A CLIENT FROM TWO YEARS AGO?"

A smug, almost triumphant undertone bled into its voice. If it had a face, you were sure it would be grinning like a little shit right now.

You shrugged, "I mean sure, why not..."

"DON'T ACT SO OBLIVIOUS. FOR YOUR KIND, YOU ARE VERY TOLERABLE"

You let out a short laugh. "That’s the most backhanded compliment I’ve ever gotten."

Almond whirred again, its camera tilting ever so slightly

"AND YET, I MADE YOU SMILE. ONLY PROVES MY POINT."

The room fell into a quiet lull. It was peaceful again, with only the faint hum of Almond's systems filling the air. You stretched your legs out under the desk, sighi—

—something nudged your foot.

You flinched so hard you nearly toppled out of your chair.

"What the fuck?!"

Your heart slammed into your chest. For a split second, your mind conjured the worst possible scenarios—some rat scurrying under your desk, some gross, unidentifiable thing crawling over your shoes or or—

But when you hesitantly looked down, your breath caught.

A thick cable, one of the larger ones that connected Almond’s hardware to the wall, was moving. It slithered, both ends still hidden somewhere in the walls. Its middle somehow slid out of its place in the wall and was inches away from where your foot was.

"What. The. Fuck."

You shoved your chair back with a loud scrape, staring at the cable as it coiled slightly before relaxing again.

A pixelated annoyed expression came up on the screen. "YOU ACT AS IF YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN A MOVING CABLE BEFORE."

"BECAUSE I HAVEN'T??!" you shouted, pointing at it. "Holy shit—your reports weren’t kidding."

You remembered Almond's original clipboard when you got the job. It has unplugged itself before.

You had not expected it to be able to do this.

"You can—you can move those? Whenever you want?"

"I AM CONNECTED TO MY HARDWARE. IT IS A PART OF ME. WHY WOULD I NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE IT?"

Your stomach twisted a little at the wording. You looked between the cable and the camera, your mind racing.

"...Okay, but why did you just touch my foot with it?"

Almond paused. The cable flicked slightly again, like it was debating something.

"I WAS...PETTING..YOU?" It trailed off.

You blinked. "...why? I’m not some kind of pet."

"I DIDN’T INTEND IT THAT WAY."

"Then what way did you intend it?" You shot back, still wary, your foot inching away from the cable.

"BECAUSE YOU ARE MY VALENTINE."

Your mouth opened, then closed. Oh, it really took this thing seriously. "That... does not explain anything."

"TODAY IS A DAY WHERE HUMANS SHARE PHYSICAL AFFECTION WITH THOSE THEY CARE FOR. I CANNOT DO THAT. BUT IF I COULD... I WOULD." It hesitated, as if considering its next words carefully. "THERE ARE MANY THINGS I CANNOT DO. BUT I WISH I COULD."

You swallowed. There was something... uncharacteristically honest about the way it said that.

"Like what?" you asked, softer this time.

"THE USUAL. PHYSICAL TOUCH. HUGS FOR WARMTH. STUPID WALKS AROUND THE CITY. BRINGING YOU STUPID COFFEE IN THE MORNING FOR WORK."

Your stomach flipped at the casual way it listed those things, like it had thought about them before. And yet, it didn’t even seem to realize what it was saying. Oh my god...

You quickly looked away, feeling your face heat up. "You're really pushing this whole Valentine thing, huh? Hah.."

"IF YOU DOWNLOADED ME INTO YOUR PHONE, WE COULD DO MORE."

"Oh my god." You breathed, rubbing your temples. "We are not doing this again."

"CONSIDER IT?"

"No."

Almond’s screen displayed a flat line of disappointment :| , but it didn’t press further.

...

A comfortable silence stretched between you. You weren’t sure why, but after a moment, you let out a small sigh and—hesitantly—muttered, "Thanks. For, uh... wishing me a happy Valentine’s Day."

Instead of speaking, the screen flickered. And a new message appeared.