[center][url=https://fontmeme.com/fonts/sudegnak-no3-font/][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/171031/b10c648088433cf11935ff0b1b0a4ef8.png[/img][/url][/center][hr][h3][color=magenta]Chapter 1[/color][/h3][color=darkgray][sub][i]January 12 2079[/i][/sub][/color]

Varya was pleased with the praise from Oleg, it carried weight. He never said things lightly nor gave praise easily. Oleg carried on once he signed off on the order, bidding the pair of them a good night. She wrapped a long extension cord around the crook of her elbow, Artem had packed his own equipment away.

“[color=teal]Hey, Varya. I know this place. Cheap drinks, alright music. Lets head over there later, I think you owe me a round after I saved your Nav-box.[/color]” She looked up, clearly caught off guard by the invitation. Before she could reply with a yes or no he already had a set time and place. “[color=teal]I need to get changed though. If I text you where it is want to meet? say eight?[/color]”

He left it at that then disappeared into the locker rooms. Varya hummed, tying the extension cord out then hanging it up. Her eyes roamed away from his retreating back. Would it be appropriate to meet with a coworker? It was generally a normal thing, to catch up afterhours with friends from work. It felt weird to Varya, she hardly wanted to seem the part of a loner. She shook her head, when did that ever matter to her in the first place?

Varya dropped her tablet off at charging table then headed to the locker rooms as well. Ready to head home.

[center]---[/center]

When she arrived home, tapping her boots free of snow she called out, “[color=b56A7B]Papa! I am home![/color]”

A text-to-voice mechanical reply came, “Var-ya. Welcome ho-me.”

She stripped free of her winter gear, walking through the small two bedroom apartment to the living room where the blinds were pulled back and her father was sitting up in his wheelchair, short cropped black hair, glasses wrapped around his head, the text-to-voice speaker hanging off his shirt. Little transmitter circlet sat comfortably around the crown of his head. He smiled with some difficulty up at his daughter.

She leaned over and kissed him on the forehead, “[color=b56A7B]How was your day? Did Ms Petrov visit today?[/color]”

He replied, “Yes. She spent a few hours with me while she kni-tted, reheated the left-overs for me. Appar-ently her son is single.”

Varya laughed patting his shoulder heading to the kitchen, her father followed her. “She was ve-ry pushy.”

She rummaged about the kitchen, it was in decent shape. Some dishes leftover in the sink, counters wiped down and the floor swept. Ms Petrov usually more than happy to help, good neighbours charmed by her father’s witty company rather than pity. Anton kept in good humour making it easy for visitors or friends to feel at ease with his new life. 

“[color=b56A7B]Things will never be right until I have snatched up a husband it seems.[/color]” Varya said with a grim sarcasm, “[color=b56A7B]I’ll cook us some dinner but I guess I’ll be going out after.[/color]”

“Oh?” He hesitated, curious.

“[color=b56A7B]Not sure if I want to, worked with someone new today and he invited me out for drinks tonight.[/color]” She said, sipping at a glass of water drumming at the countertop. “[color=b56A7B]I spent the majority of the time insulting him-[/color]”

“[i]Var-ya[/i]” He snapped quickly, making her wince. Insistently ploughing into a lecture, “You will push the wrong butt-ons one day and you will get in serious trou-ble. You need friends who will supp-ort you where I can-not.”

“[color=b56A7B]Please relax, he laughed it off and dished it back.[/color]” She reassured him. “[color=b56A7B]I can support us, Papa. Please don’t worry.[/color]” Finishing off her water, then hugging him in a quick one arm.

He hummed with discontent, she knew that's not what he meant. Varya wasn't interested in continuing that lonely line of thought. Friends she made in school didn't have time for a visit while online the friends she made were countries away. They were not wholly interested in seeing through a healthy friendship as opposed to who can help hack their ex boss' email database to retrieve a poorly worded message written when one of them was drunk. Business e-mail servers were unsurprisingly difficult to break undetected.

“[color=b56A7B]You’re hungry right?[/color]”

Having served the pair of them up some dinner, she packed away the leftovers into the freezer quickly heading into the shower to rinse away the shop. She left her hair down then bundled up once again, receiving the message from Artem she swiped the address to search for it but the bar sounded familiar. A popular spot. She replied a confirmation, short and pointed. Braving the cold once again she headed to the bus stop to catch a warm ride over to Tsentralny District.

She elbowed her way into the bar, past some crowds hanging about by the door for a smoke. Descending down some stairs, white lights dotting the way down. She pulled off her hat stuffing it into her small pack, pulling the zipper of her jacket open greeted by the warmth. Varya wore nothing actually nice, an old blue short sleeved shirt with a black skirt and black leggings. The skirt had pockets hidden in the seams, she loved it. Her winter boots squeaked across the floor.

Curiously she looked around at the colourful aesthetics, art and general splashes of colour wherever she turned. Once past the doors it was a quiet night. The tables were sparsely occupied, there were a few people on the dance floor, while there were open barstools. There were various age groups and types. What caught her eye was the android bartending, long light brown hair flipped over one side of her head, exposing her smooth head. Seams of intersecting faceplates curving with a natural line of her nose and cheeks. Some reparation scars along her temple, bright white mechanical eyes made eye contact with Varya welcoming her without a word. She wore a tank top exposing her chest, on her shoulders was a small fashionable leather jacket. At the bar was Artem he waved her over, wearing a characteristically charming smirk.

Hesitating she stepped over the threshold approaching the bar, shrugging off her jacket hanging it up on the back of the barstool back. Stainless steel barside and weathered leather seats, probably more comfortable the drunker one became. The bar was arguably low-tech, the backdrop of various liquor bottles behind the bartender was on mechanical arms extending out to her solely as she reached for them. She expected some sort of menu glasstop to be displayed at the bar to connect instantly to the android.  She sat beside Artem even sitting taller by his torso alone. She brushed her hair away.

“[color=B56A7B]Hi, can I please get the cheapest vodka you have on the rocks. Something indistinguishable to mouth wash.[/color]” Varya asked, addressing - she squinted at the name printed on a tag. “[color=B56A7B]Elena, thanks.[/color]” 

The android laughed, smooth movement as she moved away. “Sure, please refrain from gargling at my bar.”

“[color=B56A7B]Bet you’re surprised to see me actually show up.[/color]” She commented to Artem waiting for her drink. “[color=B56A7B]I surprised myself, actually. Who knows how on the nose I was with the spoon thing.[/color]” She joked.