[ACCEPTABLE.]

"You sure it won't break the bank? I don't know what my allowance is."

[IT’S NOT A CONCERN]

"This was your idea, you could be a little more enthusiastic about it!"

[I AM BUSY AT THE MOMENT]

[BUT YES I AM QUITE GLAD YOU ARE PURSUING THIS]

She cocks her head to the side. "I didn't know that this arm had an internet connection."

[NOT EXACTLY]

[IT DOESN’T MATTER AT THE MOMENT]

[YOUR FRIEND SEEMS TO BE COMING BACK OVER]

He walks back over, holding himself a little stiffly.

”We may proceed with this plan, if you are still amenable? I do not often make deals with strangers but this one does seem useful.”

She looks critically at her new acquaintance's gait. Does he have some kind of injury? Or is he another Phage victim?

"You're aware of the price?"

"Yes. It won't be a problem."

"In we go, then." She shuffles her sleeve back down, suddenly aware that the arm might have been visible.

“An unfortunate accident?” He gestures at the arm, stitches barely visible now.

"Oh, I never have accidents." She walks inside confidently, hoping that's the end of that discussion.

He likes this girl.

He follows her to the counter, waiting for Silas to appear, and readies his card to pay his share of the 6000. He studies her as she prepares her own payment. Something about her manner of speaking seems familiar, but he doesn’t even know her name. How peculiar.

"Silas, patron says yes. Do you mind accepting payment in two parts? My friend and I would like to do joint custody." She offers the same card as before.

He glances over at the man behind her.

”Oh, so you’ve met Ali! I’m glad.”

He takes their cards and scans them.

”Surprised you’d go for joint custody, but for something so expensive it’s probably sensible.”

He doesn’t look very pleased at having his name said for him, but he hands over his card nonetheless and nods at Silas. 

"I figure I'd mostly use it at night anyways, assuming Ali here is a daydweller." She scratches her head sheepishly. "Turns out they pay an additional hundredth of a cent per receipt on night shift, so I'm usually up late these days."

"I must say I'm not too much of a daydweller, both for reasons my friend here has already stated and others, but I doubt this will cause a problem."

Silas hands them back their cards.

"I did not plan transportation for this thing," he laughs a little awkwardly, "to be honest I didn't think anyone was going to buy it. It's so outside the range of what my normal customers want."

"I'm sure it can walk itself back." She rummages in her bag and comes out with a location chip that she slots into the S20.

Silas raises his eyebrows.

"Not something I had considered, but hopefully."

He opens the glass case, and rotates the platform it stands on until the back of its head, glossy power button inlaid into the crown, faces them.

"One of you can do the honors?"

She gestures at the button, turning to Ali. "After you?"

He presses it and it glows blue around the edges, briefly, before the head moves slightly up. Silas spins it back around to face them, and they come face to face with the S20. It blinks.

"Hello. How may I help you?"