×

menu
Penana
US
search
search
Popular Tags
What Others Are Reading
Loginarrow_drop_down
Registerarrow_drop_down
Please use Chrome or Firefox for better user experience!
close
Comments close
Show more...


favorite
0
comment
0
arrow_back_ios_new
Prev
arrow_back_ios_new
Next
format_color_text
Style
open_in_full
Expand
list
Menu
coins
Sponsor
campaign
Request update
share
Share
report
Report
×
Login first to show your name as a sponsor, or donate with Pena Coins.

× Pena Coins Credit Card

Close
People Who Like This
#97

SCENE 94 – “Tales, Tails, and Talking at 2AM”

Author Author
May 2, 2025 76 4 Mins Read
x
No Plagiarism!SncszBbLmdapvskJTFOBposted on PＥNAＮＡ

INT. THE CUBE – NIGHT

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGlrw1v7Ea

The credits of Pacific Rim roll up the screen. The last bombastic note fades, replaced by the soft hum of evening stillness.

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7fgZuE8z2

Jason sighs with deep contentment, arms behind his head.

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlD7heD2en

JASON

“God, that movie makes me wanna punch a skyscraper. In a good way.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrlovemRhM

A (curious)

“Why would you want to punch a skyscraper?”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPO0ZMcQhAv

JASON

“Dramatic flair. Y’know, prove I can.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunfMbBJO7Z

K (from the ceiling, monotone)

“You can’t.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Lt2Boj9F7

JASON (mock offended)

“How dare you doubt my delusions.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ylu3iMiMZ

The three start cleaning up their trash lazily—popcorn crumbs, drink containers, one lonely sock (Jason’s, somehow). Then, slowly, they settle into their usual “night mode.” Jason flops back on the bed with a long, theatrical groan. A climbs in next to him, already holding a digital reader, flicking through another book.

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefTupADHog

K silently lowers himself from the ceiling by his arms—tail coiled neatly—and then climbs back up, upside-down, where he reads from his own stash of weird, thick horror novels.

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgDmmoChNB

Jason watches him for a bit, pointing lazily.

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflHRzmhYvo

JASON

“Hey, question. What’s it like reading upside-down? Doesn’t the blood rush to your head?”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKE0zK8H53

K (flat)

“No blood. No brain. No problem.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZyWqRTDdU

A (thoughtful)

“But you do have coolant circulation systems. Wouldn’t that affect balance perception?”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcThYofL1H

K

“My system is modular. You’re overthinking it.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56NLNwexBC

JASON

“You say that like you didn’t once read a 900-page horror trilogy in two hours and then give us a lecture on dismemberment techniques.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPrQkbs2p2

K

“That was for educational purposes.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dVEf81YZ5

A

“You drew diagrams.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8M6WnNRaR

JASON

“They were labeled in Latin, bro.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTuAAnuXzO

K (shrugging upside-down)

“Dead languages for dead things. Fitting.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7px1mO9FrM

Jason groans, rubbing his face.

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAw9MI8aETS

JASON

“How did I end up with a serial killer bat and a boy scout with wings?”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaHjHlPwXl

A (smiling slightly)

“You brought us home.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRflUXAmVB3

K

“Technically, we forced our way in.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORYgooEpSc

JASON

“Yeah, and now you’re sleeping in my bed and hanging off my ceiling. My life’s a sitcom made by masochists.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sKawYe0Bv

They fall into a moment of quiet, not awkward, just comfortable. The hum of electronics, city lights through the window, the occasional creak of the building—like an old man settling his joints.

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9fJ0FkmDt

Jason turns slightly to A, blinking at the soft glow of the reader screen.

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSHHI4NSbV

JASON

“What are you even reading this time?”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FwQG4QsOA

A

“It’s a sci-fi novel. About an artificial intelligence that falls in love with a pilot who doesn’t know he’s being watched by the ship’s system.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYdc9ldVLt

K (snorts)

“Creepy.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljIgLxT9Qx

A (defensive)

“It’s romantic.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjgbtKz0zA

JASON

“It’s creepy and romantic. Like 90% of old human literature.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0txjV2afqb

K (mockingly poetic)

“Oh, Romeo, install thy firmware into my drive.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xt1ErsC8b

Jason nearly chokes on his laughter.

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyNN7spdkC

JASON

“Kill me.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEak9BmAwqU

K

“Maybe later.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4wPaGPKNe

A (smiling faintly)

“You two are terrible.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1r9Xtn4OMJ

JASON

“And yet you’re here.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXquqPRLBi4

A

“…I don’t know why, but it feels like home.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuf75qiywxo

There’s a pause after that. A softer one.

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiu6grGd3tm

Jason gives him a sideways glance. A isn’t looking at him, just still flicking through the pages.

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmik9ioNTxy

JASON (murmurs)

“…Yeah. Same.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1UiaD5ggF

Above, K doesn’t say anything, but his tail, swaying gently before, now curls inward slightly. Like it's listening.

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwylTG7NCWn

JASON (suddenly)

“Hey, do those tails of yours ever tangle when you’re fighting or something?”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40NlGpnBx3

K

“We don’t wrap around each other like tentacle spaghetti, if that’s what you’re asking.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopmU7oi4kW

A

“They’re reinforced with flexibility protocols. We can move them independently. Sometimes they act on instinct.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jnOl6HJNB

JASON

“Like just now?”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpede7hVjZ

A

“What?”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQxYtqS6Rl

JASON

“Something’s poking my side.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEYAC3gUXX

There’s a slight pause. A blinks, then slowly turns his head.

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwE8ZuBU5pN

A (realizing)

“…Oh. Um. That’s my tail.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCeCGzDtsp

JASON (alarmed)

“Wait wha—”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXQSKVRIwn

SHNK.

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PFqiEid1v

Jason suddenly sits up with a very sharp, very sudden yelp.

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFLQHSJcFf

JASON

“OW!! MY KIDNEY!”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQUMVmmOf1

A’s tail, black and sleek, is retracted immediately, but not before it clearly stabbed Jason just slightly in the waist. It’s not serious, but it’s definitely rude.

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZKIseVXql

A (horrified)

“I—I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to—I was focusing on the story—I didn’t think it would—!”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2M0HdQqQlG

JASON (groaning)

“You shanked me with your tail, A! I trusted you! I let you on the bed!”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11MKsVDAsZ

K (still upside-down, calmly flipping page)

“Ah yes, intimacy injuries. Classic.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAl3iwvkW0

A (panicking slightly)

“Are you leaking? Should I get a medkit? Oh no—”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1XTnsMpzW

JASON

“No, it’s—ugh, it’s a scratch. Just get me an ice pack or something. And maybe a stuffed animal.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gmtldPjMV

K (amused)

“Baby wants his blankie too?”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNf6srKOF5

JASON (flops back onto bed)

“Baby wants peace.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04qJK3COxg

A jumps up to grab the medkit. Jason sighs again, long-suffering. The cable tail sways behind A, now nervously stiff.

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBBLtjBcwM

JASON (grumbling)

“Worst. Roommates. Ever.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQblYHCYVED

K

“You love us.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmByc2tkVQ

JASON

“I tolerate you like caffeine withdrawal.”

80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILQHDoNhtf

The night grows quieter again… but the laughter lingers.

216.73.216.231

ns216.73.216.231da2
favorite
comment 0
coins
0 likes Suggest Edits
Be the first to like this issue!
Next Issue >
close
Robotic Essences
home
Bookmark!
campaign Request update 0
Table of Contents
#0 Intro
#1 Welcome to Central City
#2 SCENE 1 – “Security Life” pt1
#3 SCENE 1 – “Security Life” pt2
#4 SCENE 2 – “Quiet Doesn’t Last”
#5 SCENE 3 – “Unwelcome Footprints”
#6 SCENE 4 – “Break the Silence”
#7 SCENE 5 – “The Parts We Don’t Talk About”
#8 SCENE 6 – “Still Breathing”
#9 SCENE 7 – “The Smiling Knife”
#10 SCENE 8 – “Ghost in the Pipes”
#11 SCENE 9 – “Right-Hand Problems”
#12 SCENE 10 – “Drag Marks and Doubt”
#13 SCENE 11 – “Below the Skin of the City”
#14 SCENE 12 – “What Shouldn’t Be There”
#15 SCENE 13 – “Echoes of Vision”
#16 SCENE 14 – “Fragments of a Dying Empire”
#17 SCENE 15 – “Shadows Don’t Bargain”
#18 SCENE 16 – “Rust Between Circuits”
#19 SCENE 17 – “The Breach”
#20 SCENE 18 – “Three Bots & a Parasite”
#21 SCENE 19 – “Paperwork and Parasites”
#22 SCENE 20 – “Smuggle Me Softly”
#23 SCENE 21 – “Oil, Info, and Idiots”
#24 SCENE 21 – EXTENDED: “Sleepover Protocols & Other Malfunctions”
#25 SCENE 22 – “Robot Makeover: Low Budget Edition”
#26 SCENE 23 – “Caffeine, Cloaks, and Casual Paranoia”
#27 SCENE 24 – “Rustfields”
#28 SCENE 25 – “Buzz and Circuits”
#29 SCENE 26 – “Tune-Ups and Tightropes”
#30 SCENE 27 – “Errands and Egos”
#31 SCENE 28 – “Groceries and Good Lies”
#32 SCENE 29 – “Dinner and Disclosures”
#33 SCENE 30 – “Steam, Suffering, and Swords”
#34 SCENE 31 – “Dicey Decisions”
#35 SCENE 32 – “Good Night, You Weirdos”
#36 SCENE 33 – “Dreamscapes”
#37 SCENE 34 – “Office and Off-Duty”
#38 SCENE 35 – “A Pleasant Stroll… with Minor Homicidal Undertones”
#39 SCENE 36 – “Wings and Wires”
#40 SCENE 37 – “After-Hours”
#41 SCENE 38 – “Alcohol & Stuff”
#42 SCENE 39 – “Shutdown.exe”
#43 SCENE 40 – “The Weight of Peace”
#44 SCENE 41 – “Midnight, Glitches, and Blankets”
#45 SCENE 42 – “Dawn of the Mildly Functional”
#46 SCENE 43 – “Commute to Doom”
#47 SCENE 44 – “An Office Full of Violence and Vending Machines”
#48 SCENE 45 – “Lunch Break and Clickbait Nightmares”
#49 SCENE 46 – “Rise and Resist (Routine)”
#50 SCENE 47 – “Unauthorized Research”
#51 SCENE 48 – “Wardrobe Upgrades”
#52 SCENE 49 – “Field‑Trip From Hell”
#53 SCENE 50 – “Afternoon Idleness”
#54 SCENE 51 – “Uno and Other Emergencies”
#55 SCENE 52 – “Tech on a Budget”
#56 SCENE 53 – “Delivery, Disobedience & Discoveries”
#57 SCENE 54 – “Questions & Quirks”
#58 SCENE 55 – “Privacy Settings”
#59 SCENE 56 – “Entertainment Planning”
#60 SCENE 57 – "Loyalty Reinforcement Seminar"
#61 SCENE 58 – “Friday‑Night Free Play”
#62 SCENE 59 – “Spire of Panic”
#63 SCENE 60 – “Lines, Orders, and Vines”
#64 SCENE 61 – “Infiltration”
#65 SCENE 62 – “Regroup & Re‑Arm”
#66 SCENE 63 – “Through Flesh and Steel”
#67 SCENE 64 – “Descent Protocol”
#68 SCENE 65 – “The Lungs Below”
#69 SCENE 66 – “Dead Air”
#70 SCENE 67 – “The Heart of the Hollow”
#71 SCENE 68 – “Overheat Protocol”
#72 SCENE 69 – “Sanitized and Sampled”
#73 SCENE 70 – “Totally Normal Roommates”
#74 SCENE 71 – "The Long Walk to Judgment"
#75 SCENE 72 – "Welcome Home, Idiot"
#76 SCENE 73 – "A Promise, A Vacation"
#77 SCENE 74 – "Field Trip to Food"
#78 SCENE 75 – "Cabin Fever"
#79 SCENE 76 – "Manners, Please"
#80 SCENE 77 – "Errands with Extra Steps"
#81 SCENE 78 – "Books, Pills, and Poor Decisions"
#82 SCENE 79 – "Pharmacy Phantoms"
#83 SCENE 80 – "Digital Birds and Binary Bees"
#84 SCENE 81 – "Babysitting? Seriously?"
#85 SCENE 82 – "The Babysitting Begins"
#86 SCENE 83 – "Chaos, Baby-Sized"
#87 SCENE 84 – "Midnight Meltdown"
#88 SCENE 85 – "The Dreams They Dreamed"
#89 SCENE 86 – "The Morning After"
#90 SCENE 87 – "Return of the Parents"
#91 SCENE 88 – "The Reveal"
#92 SCENE 89 – "System Error: Josh.exe Has Stopped Responding"
#93 SCENE 90 – "A Totally Normal Lunch"
#94 SCENE 91 – “Business As Usual”
#95 SCENE 92 – “After the Storm”
#96 SCENE 93 – “The Rim of Opinions”
#97 SCENE 94 – “Tales, Tails, and Talking at 2AM”
#98 SCENE 95 – “Surgery, Solo”
#99 SCENE 96 – “Sleepless Core”
#100 SCENE 97 – “Unknown Systems”
#101 SCENE 98 – “Orders and Oil”
#102 SCENE 99 – “Key Moments”
#103 SCENE 100 – “Three Days of Sky”
× Share Email
Click to Share!
Share to Facebook
Share to Twitter
 content_copy
Copy link to clipboard
 share
Other options
Share this Publication by Email
Add a personal message
×

Proceed

×
format_size
remove_circle_outline 20 add_circle_outline
format_line_spacing remove_circle_outline 20 add_circle_outline
REGISTER
LOGIN

Forget Password?
OR
Login with Facebook
×
Subscribe
Go to the magazine
/
+ Add tip
The tip will be charged every payment period
+ Add promotion code
Apply close
Recipient Name

Shipping address



Phone Number


JOIN
Pay with
xxxx xxxx xxxx
Update payment method
Confirm Cancel
This is a one-time purchase.
If you don't cancel before the trial ends, you will automatically be charged the subscription fee every until you cancel. Renews automatically every , unless you decide to cancel. You can cancel your subscription at any time.
You can pay with non-card methods if you subscribe for 12 months.
Please leave your contact phone number here..
We will reach you soon by Whatsapp at the tel number you provide.
Please enter phone number.

Credit card payment

You have subscribed to this plan already!

Never miss what's happening on Penana!
Turn on notifications
Later
Close
×
Interface Language:
Story Language: