Portal ONE-SHOTZ \\ READER INSERT

006 :: FREE TIME | Virgil

THANK YOU FOR 200 READS
WHAT THE HELL????

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
1.2k Words | 9-01-22 | — 006
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

You sat alone at a small clearing of the stairs, the rails had broken off allowing for your feet to dangle off the side. it occasionally wobbled.

Behind you hung a maintenance rail, old and rusted but still active as the occasional core would fly past, sometimes startling you.

You had been on break for a little while, and had an hour left, you often tended at the smaller construction sites, mainly being available to carry heavier pieces such as metal sheeting or pipes, it was tiring although, atleast you had a long lunch break, where instead of eating you would usually choose to draw. Not like you were given alot of food anyways, purely bean cans.

Keeping a small journal in one of the office drawers, you returned for it every other break, you found drawing to be a slight escape from the tiresome days you frequently endured.

The journal must have belonged to someone before you had found it, a few of the first pages had scribbles of text while a couple more had aimlessly sketched depictions. whoever it had belonged to they always left a small signature in the corner of the pages, it read 'RATT' and nothing more.

You flipped to an empty page and began sketching without really giving much thought, becoming lost in your own mind for a while.

"Oh hey-! That's really good."

The sudden noise startled you, causing the pen to slide out of your grip and into the darkness below.
You let out an alarmed "Oh-" , bringing the journal closer to you in fright.

"Ah jeez, sorry I-I didn't mean to make you drop your pen, uhh."

You quickly turn around to see a panicked core retreating back into the offices, you continued sitting alone, tired, you glanced back at the book until you heard some rummaging.

You decided to get up and check on the noise, assuming it was the same core from just a moment ago causing the ruckus.

You walk near one of the offices, finding him as he dug around in a drawer, and a few things on the ground he must've tossed.

You step inside, almost immediately recognizing him as he glanced up.

"Hey- I've seen you before, you're on maintenance aren't you?" You asked.

"Oh! Yes I am, actually." He replied absentmindedly , "I can't say we've properly met, have we? Err- nevermind that though, here's another pen. Sorry."

He nervously held out a pen with his robotic extension of an arm.

"Hey, uhh thanks." You slowly took it, making your way back before your break ends. The timing was strict when it came to having downtime, the last thing you wanted was to waste any more of it.

"Oh- uh,"

You stopped halfway out the doorframe, looking back at him.

"And I, Well I just wanted to say that I think you're a really good artist." He appeared anxious, choosing to avoid eye contact. "I don't think I've ever met an artist before, actually."

You perk up, smiling in a coy manner.

"Or any human for that matter. It's lonely in maintenance you know."

For once, you gave an AI a little sympathy, you two were in a pretty similar situation and as awkward as it felt, you still pitied him.

"Yeah... I hear you." you sighed.

"It's pretty lonely about anywhere you go," He was trying to keep the conversation going, although, this interaction seemed out of bounds for you, and time was limited.

"It is. I'm in lower construction, it's tiring to say the least. But- anyways, I'll uh, see you around." You cut it short, exhausted in more ways than one.

"Oh, alright." He nodded, as you both began to part upon separate ways.

You turned around for the last time as you made your way out the door "Thanks again for the pen!" You called out.

...

You never expected to see the core again after that, since been introduced as Virgil. It's only ever been minor exchanges between the AIs, much less a friendly relationship.

However, weeks after your pen had been replaced, he would stop by more frequently. Often asking what you were drawing, or how you were. It felt like after all these grueling months, you had felt strangely a kin with someone, perhaps not human, but something that was still living in one way or another.

you had glanced up from your notebook as a familiar noise arose, the sound of metal scrapping and screeching from the maintenance rail. Soon a familiar face returned.

"Good to see you again!" You greeted, focus returning back to the page as you began scribbling again.

"Hey-um hi again!" Virgil uttered. "What're you drawing today ?-If you don't mind me asking."

"Hah, of course I don't mind. One moment."

He nodded, waiting patiently as you appeared to sketch final detailing to whatever it was you might've been illustrating. After perhaps a minute or two went by before you calmy turned your journal towards him, presenting a stylized drawing of Virgil himself drawn in the red ink pen he had given you.

He immediately squinted, only for his eye to widen, "Oh wow!- Me? That's me, right?"

You grinned at his complexion. "Of course It is. I never really personally thanked you, did I? Consider it a gift!" You began to gently tear the page from it's book, handing him the single piece of paper.

You don't think you've ever seen him as intrigued, it's like you just replicated him on paper and essentially you did. He carefully took the page from you with his mechanical extension of an arm.

"I-I really appreciate it!" Virgil continued looking at the paper, curious. "Thank you."

"Anytime, really the least I could do. Glad you like it." You picked the book back up, putting it in your lap.

"I like it very much! Although, I think it's missing something..." He pondered for a moment.

"Oh?" You perked up, "What did I miss?"

He handed it back to you, "You forgot to sign it!" He shook his head. "I don't even know your name. How long have we been friends? Almost a week and I still don't know your name." He bantered in a light hearted way.

"Oh, You know what? You're right, actually. I'm sorry. Here I'll sign it for you-" You laughed a little, bringing the pen up to write some form of signature.

After you put the pen down Virgil brought the paper back towards himself, looking over it yet again then glanced back to you, half lidded, "I'm going to go hang it somewhere, I'll be right back." He stated, before turning around and heading back on the rail.