INT. THE CUBE – MORNING
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A knock rattles the door early in the morning.
A practically sprints to open it, his face lit up with an excitement usually reserved for cartoons and new snack deliveries.
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He swings the door wide.
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A (grinning)
"Good morning!!"
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Standing outside are Josh Anderson and Violet Solace, both carrying bags and looking very... surprised.
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Josh blinks, his optics doing a little mechanical whirr as he takes in the tall, smiley bot who is definitely not Jason.
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JOSH (awkwardly clearing his throat)
"Uh... hi? Is Jason here?"
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Before A can respond, Jason skids into view, still pulling a hoodie over his head and looking like he lost a fight with his own bed.
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JASON (huffing)
"Yeah, yeah, I’m here. Long story—roommates."
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Josh raises a brow, but shrugs it off in classic Josh fashion—if it’s weird, it’s probably normal for Jason.
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Violet, on the other hand, immediately grins like a shark spotting blood.
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VIOLET (teasing)
"Roommates? What, you finally got sick of living with just your own depressing thoughts?"
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Jason rolls his eyes.
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JASON (grinning back)
"Yeah, figured I should diversify the mental illnesses around me."
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They both laugh like it’s the funniest thing ever.
Josh sighs, looking between them helplessly—clearly used to this dynamic.
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Violet nudges Josh’s arm with an elbow.
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VIOLET (smirking)
"Remember college? When I had to drag your sorry ass out of the laundry room 'cause someone glued your pants to the floor?"
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JASON (cackling)
"Best prank of the semester. You were screaming like a kettle."
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Josh mutters something about "trauma" and "therapy bills."
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VIOLET (mocking, to Jason)
"And you were always the bad influence. Top of the food chain."
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JASON (mock innocent)
"Hey, you were the one encouraging me! If I’m the poison, you're the damn delivery system."
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They both exchange an evil, nostalgic look.
Josh just groans dramatically, as if he'd aged a century just standing there.
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Meanwhile, A gently cradles Emily—a small, egg-shaped data pod with a soft pulsing blue glow—like she’s made of clouds.
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A (whispering, awed)
"She’s adorable."
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Violet softens a little, watching A hold the pod with such care.
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VIOLET (grinning)
"Take good care of her, alright? She likes soft humming noises and hates loud banging."
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Jason snorts.
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JASON (deadpan)
"Perfect. We’re a rock band of chaos and murder. What could go wrong?"
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Josh gives a nervous chuckle, handing A a tiny manual titled "Emergency Data Pod Care" written in about 500 words of technobabble and legal threats.
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JOSH (half-joking)
"If she explodes, you’re buying us a new kid."
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JASON (saluting lazily)
"Sir, yes sir."
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VIOLET (turning to leave, calling over her shoulder)
"Don’t let him teach her sarcasm before she even has legs!"
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JASON (mock-offended)
"Hey, sarcasm is a life skill!"
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The front door clicks shut after them.
Silence falls over the cube... broken only by the soft pulsing of the data pod.
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Jason turns slowly to face A and K, hands on hips.
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JASON (grimacing)
"Well, congratulations. We’re officially in charge of a tiny semi-sentient bean."
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A cradles Emily proudly like he’s holding the future.
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K scribbles a doodle of a baby pod wielding a giant axe on the wall behind them.
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JASON (sighing)
"This... is gonna be a nightmare."
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FADE OUT.
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