///

Hazy and blue. Those were the reflecting colors of the ever-glowing sky in the shattered windows. A strange time-worn figure stood between the wreckage of the vehicle and the crumbled wall. The oddly archaic clothing contrasted the retrofitted world around, the weathered frills and laces fluttering as she leaned down. She couldn't help but glance closer upon the unfortunate circumstance, though with a deeply troubled expression.

She had a terrible feeling about it.  

The smoke and flames had long withered away by the congested slummy air, leaving only a mark-less black spotted shell behind. A package presented and preserved by the neglecting corporations themselves, funnily enough. For all the ideals they like to spout, they forget the very value of humanity itself. 

Her eyes twinkled in both awe and revulsion when she pulled back the metal, and was met with a corpse. A pair of eyes stared right back at her. Between these deadened lenses, and that of her own, it was difficult to say whose was more real. The doll blinked once, reminding herself to recoil a bit. The massive weight around her neck, the hefty, bulky regulation device was a constant reminder of that fact. The failures of her emotional programming allowed her to be aware, but no longer instinctively react. So she needed to remind herself to act 'naturally', like a normal human would. And though she couldn't react in the same way, that didn't stop her from knowing it was probably 'odd' to be poking about. 

Though she wanted to look away, Tink knew she must continue. If not her, then who? No one cares for the lowly people behind the city, not even themselves, ironically as it is. 

As she looked on at the fatty, swollen face, it was clear this person had been left to reach bloated stages of bio decomposition. It was a pose of seizing desperation, their hands clutched at their chest and throat. Asphyxiation, no doubt, was what saved them from a suffering far worse. Even now, their soft eyes still captured the essence of entrapment and hopelessness. Despite her innocent look, Tink seemed completely uncaring of the grisly sight before her. Dimly glowing electronic eyes glanced around the darkness, leaving small purple rings as they scanned the interior for [i]things[/i]. Well, to be more specific, each person carried about significant things. Whether in life or death, they would never dare stray away from them. And these items can be just about anything. And though this person and this scene were like many of the others she has come across, Tink made sure to note differences and set this one aside. 

From the precious metal lighter, the stash of burnt photos in the ruptured compartment, and the morphed, semi-melted corporate nameplate, she witnessing a small glimpse into his life. Though it all intrigued her, she kept being drawn back to the staring eyes. They held the greatest measure of weight. A story that no object could ever tell. The story of a living being. Where once a [i]soul[/i] existed within. 

To her, looking into the eyes are like staring into a photo. So many things said without being said. A puzzling contrast. 

Was there a tinge of regret and loneliness in those eyes? A broken heart? Perhaps suggesting an attempted suicide after a failed romance? A shattered dream, maybe. Such could break even the most resolved. Or was this an unfortunate accident that was never taken responsibility for, this victim only left to ponder and worry about a life left behind? There was no real evidence for any of these cases, but she liked to paint a grand narrative anyway.

"Poor soul..." Tink muttered as she turned to look around the crowded, neon-lit landscape, "Out of the millions and millions, not a single one to care for you..."

And though she felt sad, she made sure to smile. Perhaps a wrong contrast, but she wanted to show her determination. "Though I can never undo what has already become. Do not worry, poor lost soul. This one will make sure you are never forgotten."

The world outside of the palace was strange and painful, as she has come to learn. Tink has come across this kind of scene many times in the higher districts, in the slums. But each time, it still amazed her. In all sorts of ways. And it was the unnamed ones who experienced it the greatest. The ones who live day to day in this cold world, trying to do nothing more than to survive. In a way, strays and humans of this status are no different. Were they not? Never to be remembered, never to be acknowledged. Smashed underneath the relentlessness of human construct and idealism. Even now, at the abandoned edges of the city, she can hear the whirring of the corporate mechanisms and buzzing of the neon lights. How does one even cry above all the noise? 

Her glimmering purple eyes narrowed and widened as the final scans were made. She had been carefully saving this 'image' into her own picture book, making sure not to miss any detail. She wanted this lonely far-cast soul to be remembered. So they can have a story too. Even in one so small and insignificant. 

This was one of the perks of being not human. To remember everything. To make sure every moment meant something. But sometimes, she would have to admit, there were some things better off forgotten.

Though it seemed like a long while, in reality, she had only been there a few short moments. Maybe a minute or so. Most of the time had been spent prying than thinking. All of these introspective thoughts and observations had already happened before words were able to translate, such is the way of a cybernetic mainframe. Even regular brains worked faster than the words spoken from a mouth, or transcribed through writing. And in this way, a picture was indeed worth a thousand words. 

As much as she wanted to do more, there was nothing more to do. Only the memory and promise would remain. 

The porcelain doll quickly issued a small prayer, laying a dainty flower from her basket upon the car before going on her way. There were countless other memories to make. To save, and to discover. 

And to think, this all started with her simply wanting to go out to pick some flowers. 

"What a world we live in..."

///