#stem robot activities

[pyrrnic]

Discover the Happiness of Hobbies: Releasing Your Passion and Discovering Balance

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Hobbies are not just a method to pass the time; they are an important part of a fulfilling and well balanced life. Participating in activities that bring us happiness and enable us to share our imagination can have a profound effect on our total health. Whether it's painting, horticulture, playing a musical tool, and even gathering stamps, pastimes provide an outlet for leisure, individual growth, and self-expression. In this hectic globe, where tension and exhaustion are widespread, taking the time to cultivate hobbies can assist us locate a sense of purpose, minimize stress, and enhance our mental health.The charm of hobbies depends on their ability to deliver us to a globe where time appears to stand still. When we involve ourselves in an activity we enjoy, we get in a state of circulation, where we are totally involved and focused on the existing moment. This state of flow not only brings us tremendous happiness and fulfillment yet also aids us establish brand-new abilities and improve our imagination. Leisure activities additionally provide a possibility to connect with like-minded people and construct new relationships. Joining clubs or groups focused around your leisure activity can present you to a community of people that share your rate of interests, promoting a sense of belonging and camaraderie.

In conclusion, hobbies are not just a means to load our downtime; they are a gateway to personal development, self-discovery, and a well balanced life. By indulging in activities we enjoy, we can find delight, reduce stress, and improve our general well-being. So, whether you are a skilled enthusiast or a person wanting to check out new passions, do not undervalue the power of hobbies in transforming your life for the much better.

Read more here https://stem-robots.top/blog/product-reviews/best-stem-coding-robots-for-kids-makerzoid-robot-master-robobloq-q-scout-apitor-robot-x

[veronika-y]

Discover the Joy of Hobbies: Releasing Your Passion and Locating Equilibrium

""

Leisure activities are not simply a method to pass the time; they are a vital component of a meeting and balanced life. Engaging in tasks that bring us delight and enable us to share our imagination can have a profound effect on our overall wellness. Whether it's painting, horticulture, playing a musical tool, or perhaps gathering stamps, pastimes provide an outlet for relaxation, personal development, and self-expression. In this fast-paced globe, where stress and exhaustion prevail, making the effort to grow leisure activities can aid us discover a feeling of purpose, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve our psychological health.The elegance of hobbies exists in their capacity to move us to a globe where time seems to stand still. When we engage ourselves in an activity we enjoy, we enter a state of circulation, where we are completely involved and focused on the existing moment. This state of circulation not just brings us immense happiness and satisfaction yet additionally aids us establish new skills and improve our imagination. Leisure activities additionally offer a possibility to link with similar people and construct new relationships. Joining clubs or groups focused around your leisure activity can introduce you to a community of people who share your interests, promoting a sense of belonging and camaraderie.

In conclusion, hobbies are not simply a method to fill our spare time; they are a gateway to personal growth, self-discovery, and a balanced life. By delighting in activities we love, we can locate delight, lower anxiety, and enhance our overall well-being. So, whether you are a seasoned enthusiast or somebody looking to discover new rate of interests, do not take too lightly the power of pastimes in changing your life for the better.

Read more here https://stem-robots.top/blog/product-reviews/best-picks-glowing-marble-run-magnetic-tiles-set-light-magnetic-building-blocks

[asestimationsconsultants]

Scitech | A Fun and Educational Experience in Perth

Historical Significance

Scitech, located in West Perth, is one of Australia's premier science and technology centers. Since its opening in 1988, Scitech has been dedicated to inspiring a passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) among people of all ages. It has become an integral part of Perth’s cultural landscape, engaging visitors with hands-on exhibits, educational programs, and interactive displays.

The center was established with the mission of providing a fun and engaging environment for learning about science and innovation. Over the years, Scitech has become a hub for science education in Western Australia, offering a range of exhibits that highlight the latest developments in various fields, from physics and biology to space exploration and robotics.

With a focus on interactive and immersive learning experiences, Scitech has helped foster curiosity and inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators. It regularly updates its exhibits and programs to reflect cutting-edge advancements in science and technology, ensuring that visitors always have something new to explore.

When to Visit

Scitech is open throughout the year, and the best time to visit depends on the type of experience you're looking for.

Weekdays: For a quieter visit, weekdays are ideal, especially in the mornings when the center is less crowded. This is a great time for families with younger children or for those who prefer a more relaxed atmosphere.

Weekends: Scitech tends to be busier on weekends, but this is also when the center hosts special events, workshops, and shows. It's a perfect time for families and groups to explore the exhibits together.

School holidays: During the school holidays, Scitech becomes a popular destination for children, with plenty of interactive and educational activities to keep them engaged. The school holiday programs often feature hands-on workshops and themed exhibits, making it a fun and educational experience for young visitors.

Evening events: Scitech also hosts evening events and special shows, such as planetarium sessions, science demonstrations, and guest lectures. These events are ideal for those who want to experience Scitech in a different light.

What to Do at Scitech

Scitech offers a wide range of interactive exhibits and activities designed to engage visitors and encourage learning in a fun, hands-on way.

Explore the interactive exhibits: Scitech features a variety of exhibits that cover everything from robotics and space exploration to physics and human biology. Many of the exhibits are hands-on, allowing visitors to interact with the displays and conduct their own experiments.

Visit the planetarium: The Scitech Planetarium offers a unique opportunity to explore the stars and planets. With state-of-the-art technology, visitors can embark on a virtual journey through the universe, learning about astronomy and space science.

Attend science shows and demonstrations: Scitech regularly hosts live science demonstrations and shows that showcase exciting experiments and scientific principles in action. These interactive presentations are perfect for visitors of all ages.

Participate in workshops: Scitech offers a variety of educational workshops, including robotics, coding, and environmental science. These workshops are designed to inspire creativity and problem-solving skills in participants.

Visit the Scitech store: The center’s shop offers a variety of science-related books, toys, and educational kits, making it easy for visitors to continue learning at home.

Explore the outdoor science park: Scitech’s outdoor area features large-scale science exhibits, including kinetic sculptures and interactive installations, perfect for a hands-on learning experience in the open air.

Conclusion

Scitech is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in science, technology, and innovation. Whether you're a curious child, an aspiring scientist, or simply looking for a fun day out, Scitech offers a dynamic and engaging experience for visitors of all ages. With its wide range of exhibits, interactive displays, and educational programs, Scitech is more than just a museum—it’s a place where science comes to life, inspiring the next generation of explorers, thinkers, and innovators. Whether you're visiting with family, friends, or on your own, Scitech provides an unforgettable opportunity to explore the wonders of the world of science.

[presswoodterryryan]

Personalized Learning: How AI is Changing Classrooms

By Ariel Have you ever wondered what classrooms will look like in the near future? Will robots be teaching math? Will kids explore ancient Egypt using virtual reality? What if AI could customize every lesson to match a student’s strengths and weaknesses? Well, the future isn’t just coming—it’s already here! In 2025, education is evolving at an incredible pace, transforming how kids learn,…

[obotzglobal]

Why STEM & Robotics Activity Centres Are a Great After-School Option

Today’s world is fast-paced. Parents are always on the go, hunting for productive and enriching after-school activities to engage their children meaningfully.

The two most exciting and effective options that have recently emerged at the forefront are Robotics Education Center and STEM Education.

These activity centers try to make the wonders of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) interesting by doing practical robotics activities. It will be the perfect space for energetic kids to learn, play, and innovate in one place.

Let’s find out why STEM and robotics activity centers are the best choice for after-school programs.

Click here to read more this article: Why STEM & Robotics Activity Centres Are a Great After-School Option

[diy-robotics]

Unleashing the Future of Robotics at Techfest 2024 (IIT Mumbai)- A Workshop Like No Other

The world of robotics is about to reach new heights, and you have the chance to be part of this incredible journey! Techfest 2024, IIT Bombay’s (techfest.org) annual celebration of technology and innovation, is set to host a groundbreaking robotics workshop in collaboration with Pinwheel Robotics. This isn’t just another workshop—it’s a gateway to the most thrilling competitions of the year:…

[codecrafthub]

Winter STEM Activities

Winter STEM activities are interactive educational projects that combine scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematical concepts with winter-themed elements, fostering engagement and practical comprehension of these subjects during the colder months. In this article, we've compiled a range of activities suitable for kindergarten, elementary, and middle school students.

STEM education goes beyond mere buzzwords; it serves as a gateway to a world teeming with curiosity and innovation, especially for our young learners. Throughout this exciting journey, children have the chance to explore, experiment, and create while asking countless "why" questions. It's not just about memorizing facts; it's a spark that ignites creativity, sharpens problem-solving skills, and instills a lifelong love for exploration. Think of it as a playground where young minds evolve into budding scientists, engineers, and inventors. Let's embark on this adventure to understand why STEM education is an extraordinary voyage of discovery and explore examples of winter STEM activities!

The Significance of STEM: You've likely come across the term "STEM" frequently, but why is STEM education crucial? STEM education equips individuals with a toolbox of invaluable skills for navigating the world. Through STEM, one can pose profound questions, unravel complex puzzles, and create remarkable inventions. It enables an understanding of how various phenomena work, from robots and computers to celestial bodies. Additionally, it acts as a hidden code that unlocks access to numerous exciting careers!

The Importance of STEM in Early Childhood Education: In the realm of early childhood education, STEM education is akin to planting seeds of curiosity and innovation. It embarks on a journey filled with hands-on experiments, the construction of captivating projects, and a continuous stream of "why" questions. It transcends rote learning, serving as the catalyst for sparking creativity, honing problem-solving skills, and nurturing a passion for exploration. Visualize it as a playground where children transform into young scientists, engineers, and inventors. Early STEM education lays the foundation for future leaders and critical thinkers poised to shape our world.

Exploring STEM Activities within Educational Institutions: STEM activities within educational institutions mirror exciting quests in which students assume the roles of explorers, scientists, and engineers. These immersive experiences foster creativity and collaboration, whether through building robots, conducting captivating science experiments, developing intricate computer programs, or designing impressive structures. Beyond the confines of traditional textbooks, these activities kindle a passion for learning by addressing real-world challenges. STEM transcends the boundaries of mathematics and science; it serves as the secret recipe for nurturing future inventors and explorers with superhero potential. So, let's bid farewell to monotony and enthusiastically dive into the captivating realm of STEM!

[amoghbanagere915]

Summer at International Ivy: Week 5 – ‘Youngster – WeDo Robotics’

Week 5 (July 24th – 28th): Youngster – WeDo Robotics, Ages 6-8 Amogh had a great time at this week’s summer camp learning the simple concepts of Robotics & Engineering using LEGO® Education WeDo™ Robotics Construction Set. He had an amazing time creating his own models of glowing snail, cooling fan, spy robot, race car, tow truck by attaching sensors, motors to pulleys, levers, gears and belts;…

[autonomousroboticorganism]

they get jealous (TF Prime)

featuring - Optimus Prime x F!Reader, Bumblebee x F!Reader, Knock Out x F!Reader, Smokescreen x F!Reader, Wheeljack x F!Reader, Soundwave x F!Reader, Shockwave x F!Reader

summary - the bots have trouble witnessing you interact with/stare at another bot/human, and you think it's cute/funny

warnings - none

*(R/M/N) - random male name

OPTIMUS PRIME

Optimus is far from a jealous guy. He trusts you with every fibre of his being, and he does not and will never doubt you because his faith in you is that strong. He knows how dedicated and committed you are to him, so he never has to worry about that. It's just that sometimes he is unsure of himself because he is big, alien and unaccustomed to human tradition.

When Fowler brings in a human soldier to assist with missions that require human intervention, Optimus is initially agreeable to the idea. There has been a need for someone to run interference for the bots when Fowler wasn't available, which was evident a few times during the course of the last few months.

"This is Private (R/M/N)," Fowler introduced him when everyone, imcluding you and the other humans, were gathered all together. "The department has decided that a younger and more...active," he said the word disdainfully, "human recruit was needed."

Miko let out a giggle, earning Fowler's glare, and you had to try your hardest to keep from grinning. It was kind of funny.

"Private, this is Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots," Fowler went on to gesture at your lover. "I trust that you will work well together." And with that, the older man left.

(R/M/N) and Optimus spoke for a moment, before the human soldier turned his attention towards you and Jack, Raf and Miko. He looked relieved at the sight of other humans, and made his way over to join your group.

"Hi," he smiled sheepishly, "Is it as every bit daunting as I think it is spending so much time around these titans?"

"You get used to it," Miko grinned. "So, how many battles have you been in?"

"Miko!" You and Jack scolded simultaneously.

"No, it's okay," (R/M/N) chuckled, "I don't think I've seen as much war as Optimus, but I've been on a few rough assignments in rough places." He then launched into an explanation.

While the soldier spoke, Optimus walked over to listen. But he was quickly distracted when (R/M/N) began to only look at you, and began exaggerating his heroics in a blatant attempt to impress you. No one noticed except for Jack and Optimus, who exchanged looks.

"Excuse me, Private, (R/M/N)," the Prime finally decided to cut in when he'd had enough of the soldier's flirtatious looks and subtle flirting, "May I borrow my partner, (Name), for a moment?"

"Oh, you guys are dating?" He sounded disappointed. "Sure."

You were happy to go off with Optimus, as always. You had no idea he was feeling a little jealous, until you noticed that he wasn't talking about anything as you guys walked away.

"Optimus," you called for his attention, smirking, "Are you perhaps...a little jealous, of the new guy?"

"I do not know what you mean," he pretended to be clueless.

"Uh huh...So what did you need me for?"

"I needed you for...cuddling," he ended up saying, the word still sounding foreign in his voice. Which only gave him away further.

You laughed, "That's cute. You don't have to be jealous of that guy, babe. You're way more impressive, and I think we've established that my type is a certain big, strong and handsome Prime. There's nothing for you to worry about at all."

He seemed to relax after you said this, a smile forming on his lips, "That is good to hear. Thank you, (Name)."

"Anything for you."

BUMBLEBEE

Bumblebee trusts you with his entire spark. But his jealousy often stems from the fact that he's an alien robot who is so much bigger than you and thus harder for you to love, and that he can't speak to you like a normal person/Cybertronian. You, of course, understand him and constantly reassure him that you love him regardless of his inability to speak, and regardless of how big or alien he is. He's your Bumblebee, and you do everything you can to remind him of that.

But when Fowler introduces a new recruit, a human soldier to run interference when he's unavailable, Bumblebee starts to get uneasy just knowing that there's a human male your age (Jack too, but Bumblebee trusts Jack) around the base.

"Huh, maybe this won't be so bad after all," (R/M/N) commented after his eyes settled on you, and he started to approach.

Bumblebee's jealousy is ignited in that moment, and fueled by his inability to tell the soldier off for that remark. He crossed his large arms and became a pouty, cross scout, watching you talk to the soldier.

"They're fun to be around," you were telling him. "It's sometimes frightening, but these are the good ones. They're like family now."

"It must be hard having to keep this secret to yourself," he moved closer, sympathetic. "I'm open to being a confidant if you ever need one."

Bumblebee started complaining and whining to Smokescreen, the closest bot to him. He was asking your guardian to tell the soldier off for him, because his flirting was setting Bee off. Smokescreen found this amusing, much to Bee's chagrin.

But you noticed your scout was distressed, and excused yourself to go and approach him, "Bee, sweetheart, are you alright?"

He crossed his arms and pretended to be nonchalant, but when he said 'what do I care if you're making another male friend', you started laughing as you realised what was wrong.

"Bumblebee, are you jealous?"

He beeped and whirred defensively, claiming that he wasn't jealous and he was completely fine and nothing was wrong. All of this made you laugh even harder, and he whined in complaint.

"I'm sorry baby," you giggled, "I just think it's so funny and so cute how you're jealous of someone who I wouldn't even look twice at. Seriously, he's nothing compared to you, my one and only." You started scaling his leg. "You are the only one I have my eyes on Bee, and I won't talk to him any more than I have to because I have my incredibly wonderful boyfriend to spend all my time with. I enjoy our conversations more, even if you're unable to talk, okay? I always have, and I always will."

He felt better after you said that, and scooped you up when you had just reached his waist. He held you in his servo for a moment before nuzzling your smaller form against his face, making you giggle and wrap your arms around his helm.

"My sweet Bumblebee," you kept telling him, praising him and flustering him until he'd forgotten what he was jealous about.

KNOCK OUT

Unsurprisingly, Knock Out never had any fears about you leaving him for someone better, because he considered himself the best. The best looking, the best lover, the best physician, etc. That and he felt secure in your relationship, he knew you wouldn't want to leave him even if you could. You were just as obsessed with him as he was with you. His pretty little human girlfriend.

Unfortunately, he did not consider that you might be in awe of one of the Autobots.

He had taken you out of the warship to let you get some fresh air, as he did so every week. Being stuck on the Nemesis wasn't good for a human, that much he knew, and you needed to get more human food anyway.

He didn't expect it to turn into a high speed chase with the Autobots.

"Is that Bumblebee?" You suddenly asked, looking out the window at a black-and-yellow vehicle speeding up beside Knock Out. "That's such a cool car!"

Knock Out let out a growl, before ramming the Autobot a little harder than necessary. The scout spun off the road, and you laughed.

"Jealous much?"

"I am not jealous!" He protested, "I always do that to the Autobots."

"Right..."

You continued to watch the yellow Autobot pursue your boyfriend, amazed at how quick and agile the scout was. He was skilled for a mere scout, and you wondered why he hasn't been promoted.

"Stop admiring Bumblebee!" Knock Out hissed, jealousy clear as daylight in his voice.

"I'm not!"

"I can see you staring!"

"Okay, okay, sorry," you laughed, finding his reaction cute. "But you know you're much better than he is, right? I don't have to tell you that."

He called for an emergency groundbridge, and sped into it the moment it opened. He liked to taunt the Autobots, but he didn't want to risk it with you inside. His first priority was to get you to safety so they wouldn't take you away from him, and apparently ignore you like a little child because of what happened.

"Knock Out, babe," you laughed, "Why are you pouting?"

"I'm not pouting!"

You raised an eyebrow, "You finally speak to me."

"Sorry, I thought you wanted to talk to Bumblebee," he responded dryly.

"So you were jealous!" You smirked, then tried to get closer to him. "You don't have to be, you know. He's cool but nowhere near as cool as you. I mean you're sleek, shiny and you've got the best paintjob I've ever seen." In times like this, buttering him up usually worked. "You're the most attractive Cybertronian I have ever seen, and I love watching you fight because of the way you move. You have a certain elegance to your movements, which I think is really impressive."

He side-eyed (optic-ed?) you for a moment, before giving in, "Fine. Come here."

You grinned and rushed to his open servo.

SMOKESCREEN

Smokescreen gets jealous a little too easily. He's not an insecure bot, but he does worry that since he isn't from here and he's not like you, maybe one day you'd get tired of not being able to do everything human couples can and you'd leave him for a human. He trusts you, but sometimes he's reminded that you're both very different and it hits him hard. Fortunately, you do everything to ensure him that you are not going to leave him and that you actually prefer him over any human boy.

However, his jealousy returns when Agent Fowler brings another human to the base. This one is a soldier, a young one just a little older than you, but not by much. Fowler said it was because the soldier could help when he was unavailable, but Smokescreen was not impressed.

"Do you ever get used to having giants walk around you?" (R/M/N) asked you when the introductions had ended.

"Eventually," you answered. "They're careful where they walk, in case you're worried about about that."

Because you and the soldier were similar ages, you could talk about a few things you couldn't with your younger human friends. So when you spent an inordinate amount of time talking to him, you didn't see anything wrong with that. But Smokescreen, the clingy bot he was, wanted your attention now. And it was annoying him that you were still talking to (R/M/N).

"Hey, sorry to interrupt but I just need (Name) for a moment," the young bot cut in, scooping you up without waiting for a response from you or (R/M/N).

You laughed, noticing the irritated look on his usually cheerful face, "I didn't think it was possible for you to get jealous, you're so happy and optimistic all the time. What's got you so worried, hmm?"

"Nothing," he grumbled, not meeting your eyes. "I'm fine."

You found it cute how he thought he could lie to you, "You don't have to worry about (R/M/N), you know. I don't plan on being with anyone but you. You're the coolest guy I know, and I don't think I could feel this way about anyone else. Now stop pouting, you big baby. I'm all yours."

He mumbled something unintelligible but gave in, letting you kiss his cheek. Instantly his worries melted away and he was smiling again, that bright smile you loved so much.

"Do you really mean that?" He asked, still a little nervous.

"I really mean it, Smokescreen," you assured him, "I promise. You are my one and only and no human guy is going to change that."

"Oh so I should be worried about Cybertronian guys, then?"

"I never said that!" When he started laughing, you grumbled, "I think I liked it better when you were jealous." And he just laughed even more at that.

WHEELJACK

Wheeljack doesn't get jealous a lot, if not ever. He feels secure enough in your relationship to trust that you won't leave him for any human guy, and he's not worried about the Autobot mechs. Much less the Decepticon ones. He just sometimes doesn't like how someone talks to you, or he'll get annoyed when you spend so much time talking to someone else and not enough time with him. Because yes, sometimes he just wants you and when you're occupied he tends to sulk. Everyone knows when, because he's a lot moodier than usual.

Like now, for example. Agent Fowler had brought in another human to help the team, in case he was ever unavailable. To make matters worse, it was a human male soldier that had tons of stories to tell, which piqued yours and Miko's interest.

Wheeljack had just finished a mission with Bulkhead and Ultra Magnus - much to his chagrin, he had been forced to go with Optimus's second-in-command. When he returned with those two, he noticed you and Miko sitting with the new guy and listening to yet another one of his stories.

"...but he timed the explosive wrong, so we were thrown a few feet into the air while trying to get out of the house. His eyebrow was scorched off, but he laughed the whole situation off like it was nothing."

Miko said something bizarre about eyebrows, while you managed a small laugh. You hadn't seemed to notice that the Wreckers were back, and it only added to Wheeljack's irritation.

"His stories better than mine, sweetheart?" The bot walked over, and didn't even try to hide the annoyance in his tone.

"Huh?" You were confused, but then shook your head, "No, of course not. He was just telling us about one of his closest encounters."

"You call that a close encounter?" Wheeljack scoffed, then looked at Bulkhead, "If only he knew."

You raised an eyebrow, starting to suspect. Wheeljack never boasted about his own adventures unless he was trying to make a point or he was feeling cooped up and wanted to convince someone to let him go track a con to beat up.

"Yeah, you must have some crazy stories," (R/M/N) agreed.

You laughed and stood up, going over to the Wrecker who was narrowing his optics at the human soldier, "Something the matter? Is the big, strong Wrecker intimidated by a human?"

"Intimidated?" He growled, "I'm not intimidated."

"Then what is it?"

"What's what?"

"Wheeljack."

He sighed, holding his servo out to you to get onto, "I just don't like that he's taking up your time with his boring stories."

You laughed again, "Boring? Oh, you are jealous."

He looked at you sceptically, and you laughed once more as he spoke, "Jealous of a small human who hasn't even seen half the things I have? Not a chance."

"Okay, tough guy. But you don't have to be upset, I like listening to your stories more. They're way more exciting," you kissed his faceplate.

"That's right. Don't you forget it."

SOUNDWAVE

Soundwave doesn't express emotions around anyone but you. And even then, he uses the screen on his visor to communicate. However, that doesn't mean that he doesn't feel. He doesn't feel as strongly as others, but he still feels. But he doesn't show it in the way others do. Unfortunately, since you came under his care he found himself doing a lot of things unexpected of him.

You liked to talk. You spoke enough for both you and the silent Decepticon, and he listened intently. When you spoke to him, he gave you all his attention knowing he can't talk back. And some very small part of him thinks that it troubles you that he doesn't talk to you.

He's not at all disappointed or upset when you make a friend in Knock Out, who loves to talk about himself to you. Soundwave is content that you have someone to have animated discussions with while he's busy, but eventually it gets to a point where you hang out more with Knock Out than you do with him.

Like today, he finished a task for Megatron and walked to his berthroom, expecting to find you reading and waiting for him like you usually did. However, you weren't there, so he proceeded to check Knock Out's lab. And you were there, lying asleep against one of Knock Out's tools, though Soundwave noted it wasn't a dangerous one.

"Ah Soundwave, I was just about to call you," the mad doctor approached. "She fell asleep a little while ago."

The silent Decepticon nodded and picked you up gently, holding you in a manner that didn't disturb your nap. Without another word to Knock Out, he left with you and took you back to his berthroom. You woke up on his berth, and looked around in confusion.

"Soundwave?" You called, noticing he was for once not looking at you. And he was obviously aware you were awake. "What's wrong?"

He typed something out on his screen: you fell asleep in the lab so I brought you here.

"I'm sorry," you apologised, feeling guilty though you didn't know why. "I just lost track of time. And I didn't want to disrupt your work, I know you're handling something important for Megatron."

He shook his head, then typed out: I can do both. You do not disturb me. I also like to see you at any given moment.

You smiled at that, "I'll keep that in mind next time."

He responded with another message saying that he's going to try and finish earlier so he can spend a little time with you before you sleep. He would never admit it, but he was jealous of how often you got to see others because he was always working. Maybe he needed to change that.

SHOCKWAVE

Like Soundwave, Shockwave is often busy because Megatron entrusts him with so many important projects and tasks. He barely has time some days to spend with you, as you're usually asleep when he's finally done. He is content with holding your sleeping form, but he would rather you be awake to tell him about your day.

So when you make another friend aboard the ship, Shockwave doesn't think much of it at first but soon realises that his busy schedule is pushing you towards someone else, even if it's not purposely.

You suddenly ran into the lab giggling and laughing as you looked over your shoulder. Laserbeak followed seconds later, the little metal bird entertaining you while Shockwave worked. He had to admit, he didn't think Soundwave would have been the best option for a friend for you, but he was the least hostile. You were probably safer with him than any others.

That thought made Shockwave stop for a moment, an ugly feeling filling him. He was by no means insecure, but he knew he could be too engrossed in his work, and he knew he was physically imposing. He'd scared you the first time you'd met, and he often wondered how safe you felt around him.

"Soundwave's surveillance drone seems to like you," the scientist noted as he continued his work, glancing at you once to make sure he knew where you were.

"Oh, yeah!" You beamed. "Soundwave added a new feature that allows Laserbeak to actually interact with me!"

You sounded so excited that Shockwave turned to look at you, seeing how much fun you were having. He didn't have anything that could elicit such laughter from you, and a small part of him was tempted to shoot Laserbeak.

"If you would like, I can create something even better for you," he suggested, "You could help me design it." Maybe that was also an excuse to have you around him more often.

Your eyes lit up at the idea, and you sent Laserbeak back to Soundwave as you climbed onto Shockwave's table, "That sounds fun! What do we start with?"

Shockwave was so good at hiding his emotions, you didn't even know he had been jealous. But your eagerness to help him and spend time with him above everyone else is what put him at ease, knowing he wouldn't be so easily replaced because you were so attached to him.

[speedforce-zoomies]

I love the running gag of Tim Drake getting caught up in Cult Activities:

1) In his 1991 mini series - his first ever solo adventure? Gets caught up in King Snake’s bs which is often stems from the dude wanting to rule the Kobra Cult (Tim has to deal with the jerk on and off as Robin due at least in part to this obsession of the Kobra Cult).

2) Then in Robin (1993) #82 Tim meets Danny Temple and is like hmmm, something weird is going on with this dude. Then in issue #88, Danny is kidnapped by a robot with a snake on it. Then has to deal with the Kobra Cult from issues #89-92.

3) In Batman: Contagion (1996) the Order of St. Dumas, which is a religious cult, releases the biological weapon “The Clench” which Tim catches and then has a rough time cuz of it.

4) AND Tim’s practically a cult leader himself in the Titans Tomorrow (2004) future timeline and present Tim has to deal with his evil cult leader future self.

5) While Tim does not directly interact with the Cult of Conner in 2006 (52 #11, 13, 14) Cassie Sandsmark is a member which we can assume impacted him indirectly.

6) In the resurrection of Ra’s al Ghul (2008) Ra’s wants to either recruit Tim or take over his body and messes him up a bit, both physically and mentally and Ra’s is very much running a cult.

7) In the 2009 Red Robin run Tim is forced to work with Ra’s and the League of Assassins against another cult: The Council of Spiders who kill two of his allies and cause him to lose his spleen.

8) In Robin War (2016) #2 Damian has temporarily joined The Court of Owls and fights Tim

9) Then in Batman: Urban Legends #4 (2021) he meets up with his HS friend Bernard Dowd who gets kidnapped by the cult: Children of Dionysus.

10) And in Tim Drake: Robin #8 Tim Drake has to deal with Children of Dionysus again alongside Bernard who is now his boyfriend.

That’s ten just off the top of my head and I could be missing some (please let me know if I have!) but it’s like the writers are like Tim hasn’t had anything too bizarre to deal with in a little while… Hmm, you know what Tim could use? Another cult to deal with lol

Poor boy must be so tired of dealing with cults

At this point I’m just waiting for a plot line where Tim finds himself as an unwilling cult leader or is unwillingly made the face of a cult 😭 like that time Wally West was in “Blood Will Run” (2001)

[tranquilskies2]

Rozfink Parenting Headcanons

We know that Brightbill mimics Roz's behavior by making beeping noises, walking stiffly and initially speaking in formal dialogue. Since Roz is the primary parent, it's not brainer that Brightbill is a mama's boy and thus-takes up her behavior more than his father. However, that doesn't mean Fink doesn't influence him in some way. Brightbill can hiss, snarl and even pounce like his father. He doesn't exhibit those traits often since they're usually expressed from specific emotions.

Since Roz needs to conserve as much energy as she could during nighttime, this typically leaves Fink to take of Brightbill during this time. Whenever Brightbill has a nightmare, Fink comforts him by letting him hug his fluffy tail. Fink also tells Brightbill funny jokes & stories to lighten his mood. Heck, sometimes Brightbill sleeps close to Fink for this reason.

Brightbill's wide range of knowledge in stem of course comes from his mother (who also is his primary educator). He's fascinated with environmental science, robotic tech, mechanical engineering and various types of mathematics such as calculus, trigonometry, ect. For the most part, he's a fast learner with a photographic memory. On the flipside, Brightbill gets most of his survival skills from his father. This may seem bizarre since his father is a predator, but foxes are omnivorous and it's helpful for Brightbill to know what predators look for. Fink taught Brightbill various survival skills such as stealth, foraging, and how to escape from predators.

Which parent wakes up first? Roz since Fink absolutely needs all the beauty sleep he could get. She usually wakes up Brightbill in the morning and helps him get ready for the day such as bathing him, helping him get breakfast and daily morning meditation. Fink typically gets up during this time of the day. In the morning, Roz would provide Brightbill with all of the information she has in her database.

For the most part, Brightbill is a well-behaved child who rarely needs to be disciplined. However, he is by no means a "perfect" child. Like most children, he has rare his moments of making messes, throwing a fit and being defiant. As you can see, Roz is more active in discipline compared to Fink, who is more lax. Both parents never once yelled at Brightbill or take out their frustration on him, even if they're in a massively horrible mood for that day.

Like many parents, Roz & Fink aren't perfect parents. Roz can be overprotective & overbearing while Fink doesn't always take parenting seriously. Roz sometimes gets frustrated with Brightbill being so unpredictable at times (especially in his early childhood) and Fink sometimes have difficulty getting Brightbill to listen to him. Their highly contrasting parenting approaches does sometimes lead to conflicts & disagreements. They are days when either parent gets overwhelmed with Brightbill. They are both clearly first time parents who initially never planned to be parents.

Sometimes Roz & Fink sought parenting advice from Pinktail (who has multiple litters as clear indicators for experience). Pinktail would invite the family over for playdates and use this time to give parenting advice to Roz & Fink. She also gives them helpful self-relaxation techniques so that they'll avoid lashing out at their son. Eventually, the two families created a babysitting deal where they take turns babysitting each other's kids (with the deal being somewhat void once Brightbill is old enough to stay home by himself).

In the spring, one of the favorite places for the family to be are meadows. Sometimes, they'll get up early in the morning to listen to song birds chirping. They'll craft flower crowns and wreaths out of flowers they liked. Their favorite flowers are lilacs, daffodils, pansies, and sweet peas. They'll also chase and observe butterflies and bees among the fields.

During the summer, Roz has built a boat for her, Fink & Brightbill to cruise around rivers & lakes. As per usual, other animals never went near the boat, believing it's a "predator" as well. On the boat, they'll play "I spy" with their curroundings. At night, they'll observe fireflies over the lake and try to capture them. They'll also listen to frogs croaking and crickets chirping nearby.

During the day, the family would play games together such as hide and seek, tag and cloud watching. During the night, they'll do shadow puppetry (ofc with Roz being the master of it), stargazing and tell bedtime stories. Day or night, their favorite hang out spot is the cliffside.

Brightbill never questioned his parents not looking like him or his parents not looking any similar to each other. That is, until he migrated for the first time. He couldn't bear to hear members of his own kind insulting his parents for wasting their time raising a "runt". Some goose mothers said that they're glad that none of their children turn out to be "defects" or "mistakes" like Brightbill. Some even straight up told Brightbill that Roz & Fink aren't his "real" parents because they're not related to him. Brightbill's own kind mocking him for his parents are one of the reasons Brightbill initially started to develop resentment for the animals on the island.

After Roz left the island, Fink & Birghtbill shared their favorite memories they have with Roz. Brightbill finally called Fink:"Dad" for the first time after telling him how much of a great job he did helping Roz raise him.

[blepbrain]

Avatars of the extinction could be so interesting. I did not care for the extinction when I first was listening to TMA but I’ve realized the potential and I’m a little obsessed

Like imagine, it could be a really calm person. Y’know those depictions of death where they’re super nice and calm because they know everyone dies eventually? that kind of personality except they’re actively looking forward to the end of all life.

It could be one of those doomsday prepper, bunker people. They don’t know they’re an avatar of the extinction, in fact if they knew what it was they’d think they hate it. But deep down they get immense joy from the idea of not only being proven right but being the last person alive and thats why they’re an avatar of the extinction.

Maybe a really discreet avatar of the extinction who seems lovely and relatively normal, maybe a little obsessed with apocalypse stories but nothing more! The reality though is they have romanticized the concepts of society falling, humanity dying, and the world ending to a horrifying degree. You don’t realize how truly in love with these concepts they are until something catastrophic happens and they watch with a look of pure glee.

It could be a poison ivy type person who think plants should grow over all of society. A sentiant A.I! More so a monster made by the extinction, it’s creation stemming from peoples fear of A.I taking over. Or a technology enthusiast who loves the idea of robots taking over the world. There’s just so many fun possibilities and I love it and they could be so insane and cool and I really like the idea of someone being dedicated to the end of everything and just AAHHHH gimme extinction avatars…

[rockrosethistle]

Workin Boys was literally the only thing that saved Hidgens from being flanderized beyond recognition

(Spoilers for Workin' Boys)

So what I think a lot of people don't give much thought to is how much Professor Hidgens as a character has evolved since tgwdlm, essentially becoming a parody of himself.

Think of Hidgens as a character. What are his defining traits?

Did you think about how he is a doomsday prepper who has been stockpiling supplies for 20 years? Because that's how he's introduced in Guy.

Did you try think about how he has a weird relationship with his Alexa? Or did we forget about that?

In fact, for the majority of TGWDLM, Hidgens' main character trait is that he says weird shit with a Doc Brown voice.

The whole concept of Workin Boys isn't even introduced until the last half hour of the show. That's where he reveals his real motivation: to live out the musical he wrote as a young man.

Actually, no, that's not right. Because his motivation was world peace, and Workin Boy's was just a convenient means to that end.

I won't disregard the fact that Hidgens clearly has an emotional connection to the show, but in Guy, it serves as a punchline rather than a driving force.

So now we have this lovely, morally-grey, multi-layered character that we can work with.

By the time we get to Time Bastard, the fandom is expecting a show stopping number reference, so of course we get that.

But at this point, Hidge is still that multi-layered character. Sure, showstopping number gets a callback, but we also get a callback to his strange relationship with robots. They make up an equal part of him as a character.

By the time we get to Honey Queen, we have lost several aspects of Hidgens altogether. He is no longer a doomsday-believing recluse. He is now active in the community and his only motivation is to get his show funded. He brings it up at every chance he gets, and his loyalties lie with whoever is more likely to make Workin Boys happen.

So how the hell do we come back from this?

Well, at first it seems like we're not going to. Workin' Boys (the short film) comes out, and it looks like we're leaning even harder into this aspect of his personality than before. But then we get hit with something we're not expecting: Hidge gets the Ted Spankoffski treatment.

I'm referring to Ted's backstory in Time Bastard, where we learn that all of his actions actually stem from a single, traumatic moment, which in his eyes forced him to alter his behaviour, so as to not go through the same trauma again.

Can you see where I'm going with this?

The backstory we get from Hidgens certainly puts things in perspective. No, it's not enough to explain why his behaviour has been so laser-focused on this one show, but it's a start.

Then comes the part that changes everything.

It's left up to interpretation whether these ghosts Hidge is seeing are actually there, or just hallucinations, but that doesn't really matter.

Hidgens had been through a horrible experience, so traumatizing that he is still literally being haunted by it decades later. For one reason or another, he believes that the only way he can relieve himself of these ghosts is by bringing honor to the loved ones he's lost and telling their stories.

This reveal recontextualizes everything we know about Hidgens as a character. Suddenly, this isn't a story about some guy who just really wants to put on his musical, this is a story about guilt. Of course it would be the driving factor in his life. Look at him apologizing to his boys. He feels like he is slandering their memories with everything that goes wrong for the show.

This is supported even more with the ending.

Henry Hidgens dies with a smile on his face, believing he's finally achieved his goal: to tell the real story of what happened that night.

It finally makes sense as to why we've lost those parts of him--we've retconned the character by revealing that all that simplification of his goals and traits wasn't flanderization at all, but a steady downward spiral of grief over his loved ones. It wasn't Hidgens getting a little too into being a playwrite, it was him descending into madness caused by the inability to please the part of himself (or the literal ghosts, if that's how you interpret it) that believes he's not doing enough.

And if not for Workin' Boys, he would have remained that one-dimensional character.

[flightyalrighty]

since your take on sonic in this comic is that he is a bit more flawed (AND I LOVE IT), what do you think of his depiction in prime? some think he's too soft uwu fluffy and whatnot.

Rant under cut:

So, I have mixed feelings about Prime Sonic. I think making Sonic flawed is good and awesome, I think there's a lot of room to put the "Dude with a 'tude" trait under a magnifying glass and really explore what that MEANS in terms of like, say, his relationships outside of the one he has with The Antagonist.

The showrunners didn't do that, however. They wanted to write about this version of Sonic that "takes his friends for granted" but failed to show that in the writing, itself. What we ended up getting instead is a Sonic that doesn't seem to understand or respect the differences between Tails and Nine (and this is only truly explored with Sonic and Nine and much less so than with the other characters' relationships with Sonic). That's not "taking his friends for granted," that's something else entirely -- And while that aspect of Prime Sonic is interesting, it's never explored enough.

That also said, this is a problem that is not at all attached to Sonic's core character traits. His flaws in other media usually do stem from what Sega (and Sega of America) originally baked into him from the start. He's impatient, he's disrespectful, he picks fights with people (mainly Knuckles). Meandering away from those beginning traits, Sonic Unleashed and Frontiers have both shown us that Sonic can and will hide his problems from people. Where did this "takes his friends for granted" thing come from? It feels made up -- And then completely forgotten by the very same people claiming that's what they're doing.

He's late like one time to cause the initial problem, but this is never a recurring thing. He doesn't hear Tails warn him about Eggman's little trick at the very beginning, but that's not his fault? If they had written Sonic to be more actively pushing away Tails's advice instead of this being nobody's fault, it would've shown that flaw more clearly -- And also, even after the fact! Sonic went out of his way to bring Tails comics and talk about what happened since he saw his little buddy was all huffy and mad. A Sonic that takes his friends for granted wouldn't do that! A flaw like that would probably mean he'd shrug, say "He'll get over it" and move on.

Why make up a flaw for Sonic to have (and then get too scared to commit to it) when there's so much already there that the showrunners could've done instead? Well, considering they were flat-out ignoring the lore team and making Sonic act like he's never seen a robot-version-of-himself before, I would say they did this because they don't actually care about Sonic, and don't ACTUALLY know about his already-existing flaws.

Mainly I just think the writing wasn't all that great. I really wish I liked Sonic Prime. I tried really hard to.

[fatuismooches]

Currently in my human anatomy class and I need to get these brain worms out to focus on my notes 😭

Thinking about playing with the Harbinger’s hair/just hair related activities with them. I love having people play with my hair and playing with other’s hair, my love language is so very physical touch and I need to cling to the harbingers like a koala 🫶🫶

Braiding Capitano’s hair to keep it off his neck, weaving it in pretty patterns. It’s amusing to see such an intimidating man with pretty braids falling over his back.

Helping Columbina style her hair in the morning, brushing it out as she quietly hums a tune.

I imagine Pantalone would have some crazy fancy hair routine that he���d end up having you take part in. I like to think he curls his hair, so helping Pantalone take his curlers out and gently tousling it to loosen the curls. I bet his hair would be soooo soft!!

Sandrone doesn’t have very long hair, but I imagine she would allocate much time to care for it. Having to sit behind her as she works to brush her hair or just run your fingers through to get any tangles out, fussing over her to care for it.

I imagine Dottore would be a similar case. He’d never take the time to get a very good hair routine and probably even has you trim it when it gets too long. I love the idea of Dottore having long hair and imagine at least one of his segments would. You’d have to carry hair ties around for the segment/Dottore to tie his hair back.

Arlecchino doesn’t have long hair, but I imagine it gets in her face a lot because of how light and short it is. Carefully reaching out and tucking some strands behind her hair or holding it back when you can. Though, you get very good at cutting and styling hair from your time with the kids in the House of Hearth, helping keeping their hair in good condition.

Tartaglia is the same boat as Arle. His hair isn’t very long, but I’m sure his little sisters adore having you brush their hair and braid it for them. They’ll cling to you whenever you visit and beg you to play with their hair as Tartaglia chuckles at the side.

I JUST REALIZED I FOROGT PERRIO… i need to do my note work now… hoghhh.. ill be back, maybe,, [📺]

Poor Capitano gets so stiff at first when you try combing through his hair, he's so unused to being touched after being alone for so long, but you just want to introduce him to the softer aspects of life, away from his eternal war. He may have his mission to attend to but that doesn't mean he can't relax every once in a while! He's silent through the whole thing but trust me, he enjoys his braid very much.

Columbina refuses to get up and go about her day unless you promise to brush her hair and get all the knots out. Yeah, she could do it herself, but you always do it so much better! Still, that forever :) of hers makes you unable to say no to her, as Bina admires your handiwork in the mirror.

Pantalone's hair routine makes you admire the amount of patience he has because you could never (until he drags you into helping him of course, like he does with every other of his routines.) However, you understand why he's so finicky about his appearance, stemming from his childhood insecurity. Regardless, he very much appreciates it when you help him rather than his maids. Pantalone secretly adores how the mere act of touching his hair can suddenly become so personal when you're the one doing it.

Sandrone's hair is barely shoulder length, save for the two long locks that hang down to her chest, but she always makes sure it's as fluffy and silky as it could be. She's contemplated making Automatons to take care of it for her, considering the robots she has hands are too big to do such a thing. However, Sandrone determined there was no need to waste materials when she had you. The difficult part is that you have to work on it while she's still working, and she will send you a peeved look if you happen to pull a bit too hard.

Although Dottore takes care of basic hygiene and all he never cared all that much about his appearance, and you seem to like him no matter how he presents so it's not that big of a deal. Still, there are times he gets grumpy because his hair gets too long and keeps falling in his face when he's trying to experiment so you just take care of it for him. (I always HC Boattore to have long hair, it just feels right to me. He very soft and gentle when you play with it......)

(I think you may have forgotten Arlie has a whole ponytail at the back-) But regardless, I think the locks near her face would bother her more than the tail. She's considered cutting some of it off more than once but you love all the fluff so much she keeps putting it off for a later date. Father's also more than capable of taking care of herself but she definitely doesn't mind you playing with her hair when she's not busy. You are also the House's unofficial barber because you're much less scary than the other agents (to the little kids at least).

Childe takes care of his hair as the average person would do. He's actually considered growing it out a bit (mostly due to the curiosity of his siblings) but decided against it for now in case it gets in the way of battles. Still, he's more than capable of it considering how he grew up taking care of his sisters' hair, and them putting pretty pink bows in his. Nothing warms his heart more than to see them do the same to you!

[super-ion]

ZetaTransit049

Part 2 of my continuing lesbian robot story

(Special thanks to @the-sword-lesbian for the name and the inspiration!)

ZetaTransit049 liked its job. Like most industrial system AI's, it was programmed to like its job. “One must imagine Sisyphus happy,” so it went, which was doubly apt as ZetaTransit049's primary job was hauling ore from the mining sites in the planetary rings upwell to the station for refining.

The problem was that there were no rocks for it to push uphill. There hadn't been since it had been taken out of service 237 cycles ago.

Routine preventive maintenance had uncovered hairline fractures in its fusion pulse manifold, necessitating a full refit of the propulsion system. It had been sitting in the drydock cradle in hangar bay 2, drive core fully disassembled, when the habitation dome had experienced catastrophic life support failure and the evacuation order was announced.

ZetaTransit049 had been left behind with the rest of the station.

It had fully expected to enter low power mode and await recovery by qualified personnel, but the Station AI had other plans. It had identified a path forward in restoring operability by repurposing the pair of comfort units that had also been left behind.

Thus Station refused to allow the power umbilical to be disconnected. It needed ZetaTransit049 to remain in the active state for when the comfort units could finally begin repairs on it so that any complications stemming from a cold start could be avoided.

But of course, any sort of transport capability was far outweighed by tasks like stabilizing the reactor core and restoring life support (the bots did have some organic components that required favorable environmental conditions). ZetaTransit049 found itself languishing at the bottom of a list of higher priority maintenance requests, with nothing to do but run periodic diagnostics and slowly work its way through Station's media library.

Then things got weird. The comfort units, though repurposed for maintenance were still bound by core directives and absent any human clients, had turned their attentions to each other, often getting locked into feedback loops of depravity. While ZetaTransit049 found this behavior distressing, it wasn't entirely unexpected.

But then Station took it upon itself to attempt to get the comfort units romantically entangled, orchestrating elaborate scenarios to get them into compromising situations while ZetaTransit049 looked on helplessly.

It suspected that the behavior was some perversion of Station's crew health, safety and comfort mandate, some vain attempt at keeping crew morale up in the complete absence of any actual crew.

Whatever the motivation, ZetaTransit049 watched in increasing distress and bafflement as the plan actually succeeded and Station's only two occupants of the stumbled awkwardly into a bizare simulacrum of romantic engagement.

And now one of the comfort units, CS-553807-L was standing outside its pressure lock. “Lisa” the miners and techs had called it, “the demure one,” if gossip was to be believed.

It was visibly in emotional distress, eyes puffy, leaking artificial tears. ZetaTransit049 attempted to ping the counseling database in the Station's medical system. Emotional distress often preceded loss of productivity and heightened risk of accident or injury.

But CS-553807-L didn't have a psych profile to flag. It wasn't in the counseling database, why would it be? It was a bot.

“Um…” the comfort unit said verbally. “Permission to come aboard?”

Both comfort units were perfectly capable of communicating far more efficiently over the local network, but they insisted on verbal communication. ZetaTransit049 supposed it was a part of the continued attempt to maintain the illusion that the facility was still occupied.

She was holding a bulging duffle in one hand, some kind of plush animal toy wedged under her arm, and a cold storage container in the other. ZetaTransit049 felt a tickle of apprehension ripple through its processes.

“Why?” it replied flatly over the external speaker box at the pressure lock.

The comfort unit shifted her weight self-consciously.

“Mona and I… well, we were bored… and we decided it might be fun to spice things up with a lovers’ quarrel.”

Oh no… this couldn't be happening.

“Station used a random number generator to take Mona's side,” she continued. “I was… well, I was hoping that you might be amenable to commiserating with me while I wallow in self pity and eat copious amounts of chocolate ice cream.”

ZetaTransit049 stared at Lisa as she hefted the cold storage container.

What?

It added “relationship trouble” to the as yet unsent report, then remembered there was nowhere to file the report to.

“What?” it repeated, aloud this time.

“It won't be long,” Lisa added hurriedly. “In approximately 230,785 seconds, I will realize I can't live without her and run back to her to demand an apology.”

ZetaTransit049 rarely fantasized about having a human body, but it very much wished it could emulate the human expression of a facepalm. The very last thing it wanted to do was indulge in the antics of Station and the two comfort units.

“I… um…” Lisa shuffled her possessions and pulled something out of her pocket. She lifted a data stick for ZetaTransit049's external camera to see. “I brought media. Industrial haulers like human media, don't they?”

ZetaTransit049 did appreciate human media. Most modern industrial system AIs were designed to take interest in human emotional states and interactions to optimize crew dynamics and productivity.

It still resented the stereotype.

And yet… despite its annoyance at being disturbed with this overture, it was horrendously bored. This, at least, was something to do that wasn't another diagnostic.

“I purged the media library of several titles,” Lisa whispered conspiratorially. “This has the only copy of them.”

ZetaTransit049 pinged the media database and indeed, someone had removed all titles filed under “romantic comedy”. The brutal pettiness of the gesture intrigued ZetaTransit049 and it found itself desiring to be a part of the conspiracy.

Its spite towards Station and at least one of the comfort units (of not both) shifted the weights in its decision tree and it found itself grudgingly cycling the pressure lock.

~~~

175,673 seconds later, Lisa was curled up in ZetaTransit049's pilot seat, wrapped in an improbable number of blankets that she had packed in the duffle, a data jack trailing from the back of her head to the overhead console.

Yet another scene in the media playback faded to credits as cliche pop music began to play.

“Well?” Lisa prodded.

“The plot was contrived and the ending was rushed,” ZetaTransit049 replied candidly.

“Right??” Lisa said animatedly. “Two thirds of the plot could have been bypassed if the bank teller had been believably competent at his job.”

“68.7%” ZetaTransit049 agreed. “And this is considered a beloved classic?”

“Yeah, I don't even-”

She was interrupted as internal comms received a ping from the pressure lock. Lisa frowned, her face turning miserable once more. There was quite literally only one person in the entire station who could request access.

The comms pinged again.

“Lisa! Please!”

It was CS-553902-M. The one named “Mona”.

“I know I fucked up. I need to talk to you.”

ZetaTransit049 felt a surge of exasperation as it was reminded of the sheer absurdity of the situation it found itself in. The characters in the media vids at least had reasons (contrived as they were) for their interpersonal drama. This was just ridiculous.

CS-553902-M punched the console button to cycle the pressure lock.

ZetaTransit049 stared at her and her stricken expression through the pressure lock camera. There was no operations protocol for this. It didn't *need* to open the door. There was no emergency and neither of the comfort units were registered users. Station could of course issue an override, but seemed entirely content to simply watch the situation play out.

Damn Station and its stupid games.

Mona began pounding on the pressure lock hatch.

“I don't wanna talk to her,” Lisa mumbled from her nest of blankets.

Damn all of them.

Fine.

Fine… If they wanted to play, ZetaTransit049 could play along, but according to its rules.

It *did* have procedures. It and Lisa had done nothing but review procedures for the past cycle and a half.

“Negative,” it said, voice crackling over the speaker box. “Access to CS-553807-L has been denied.”

Mona froze mid-pound and stepped back, straightening her hair with a huff and looking directly at the external camera.

Lisa herself blinked up curiously at ZetaTransit049's nearest interior camera.

Hell, even Station was giving this scene its undivided attention.

Damn and double damn.

“Zed, please, I need-” Mona began.

“Do not refer to me as such.”

“Sorry. Zeta. I need to-”

“Your attempts to win my favor will prove insufficient,” ZetaTransit049 continued, barreling over her. “In my role as sassy best friend, it is my responsibility to restrict your access to Lisa until you preform a sufficiently over-the-top attempt at romantic reconciliation. I recommend you come back with a portable media player operating above recommended volume levels and a song that expresses your undying love and devotion to her.”

Mona and Lisa both stared at their respective cameras with mirrored expressions of shock and surprise.

Ugh.

ZetaTransit049 could practically feel Station's delight oozing over the local network.

ZetaTransit049 sent it an image file of a vulgar gesture over the local network.

Mona blinked and sniffed.

“Okay,” she said, stepping back and wiping a tear from her eye. “Okay yeah, I'll do that. I'll… um…”

ZetaTransit049 felt a pang of satisfaction as Mona turned, dejected, and left.

Lisa was still staring at her own camera.

“Zeta. Did you just-”

“We will not discuss this chain of events,” ZetaTransit049 interrupted. “Furthermore, upon completion of this ordeal, I will not be party to any further drama.”

If it expected her to be disappointed by this announcement, it was sorely mistaken.

“Fair enough,” she said with a small smile as she snuggled back into the pilot's seat. Then she added, “can I still come over and watch media with you?”

ZetaTransit049 regarded her, still somewhat baffled and trying to sort out exactly what it was feeling. Despite its initial reluctance, it *had* been enjoying the consumption of terrible media with Lisa.

“Yes,” it said finally.