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Okay, so maybe he wasn't exactly over it. Learning about everything after the fact, when emotions weren't so high was a gift, surely, but... Jeez the robot still had a way of pissing him off anyways. Not giving clear answers, and just being all around in a sour mood, and sure he had just woken up from whatever happened to him, but OJ didn't really see that as a good excuse to be snappy and hostile.

Right now, he was sat in his office with TestTube, trying to discuss this.

"Listen, I know you're not fond of him-- as are few of the residents, but... The damage is pretty bad, OJ. It's going to be a lot more work still to get him fixed up completely. If I can even manage that,"

"Of course," He grumbled. He was going to let him stay, as long as he didn't cause any problems, but he wasn't exactly happy about the idea. He was sure if anyone else saw him, the complaints desk might have to be reinstated. Hell, he was sure he was going to get an earful from Paper later once he let him know.

"How long are you thinking?"

"Ahah... I don't really know yet, honestly. I still need to run some tests, and ask him some things now that he's active and awake now, but... I'll get back to you. I do know it's at the very least going to be a few weeks," She said the last part a bit sheepishly, expecting a bad reaction. Which she got.

"Several weeks?" OJ glared at her. His frustration wasn't directed at her, no, but this wasn't good. "I don't know if I can keep him in the hotel for more than one, TestTube. Are you sure there's no room in your lab? Or somewhere else?"

"OJ, it's the least you could do. I know you don't owe him anything, but I don't have space I can clear up in my lab at the moment, and golly, he's been gone for almost a year! Let him be around people!"

"Why should that be my responsibility?"

"You're the one with the hotel. Listen, every time Fan and I tried to talk to him, he shoved us off."

"So it sounds like he doesn't even want to be around us. Typical. Maybe I should just let him leave if he really wants to."

"OJ." TestTube crossed her arms. "I know you guys don't like him that much, but..." She glanced away, quickly trying to find her words.

"I doubt being alone in a cave for so long would have great affects on anyone. I need time to see what I need to do to fix him up physically, but... I think I need some time to see if he's okay, too."

OJ just raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"The... Injuries, the cause of this-- it's... Kind of suspicious. I don't really know if I'm just jumping to conclusions, but it might be... Better to not treat him like garbage. I need to see if he..." She trailed off, not really wanting to say it.

This changed OJ's mood very quickly.

"You think he did it on purpose?" A worry, more than a question.

"I- I don't know, OJ. I'm not trying to jump to conclusions but there's not... Much out there that could cause that much damage. You showed me where you found him when we were picking up the parts of the screen, there weren't any big rocks, or sharp things around. Nothing look like it fell, or hit him, and--..." She just sighed, getting up from the chair she was sitting at.

"I just think... If he is going to be here, that you should keep an eye on him."

"TestTube, this is-- a really serious idea you have here. Even so, I don't really think I have the time to look out for him. That, and--..." He paused. He knew he'd sound selfish if he said this, but surely there was someone better. Who would actually want to be around him.

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⏰ Last updated: 8 hours ago ⏰

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