Intro To Existing Again

Learning(Kind Of)

With slow, unsteady steps, MePhone3GS approached the counter. He tried to read one of the notebooks on it, but the handwriting looked even more rushed than that on the calendar. He wasn't even gonna try to read such sloppy work. He examined all the equipment, which looked like it had been used a fair amount of times. There were a few mechanical bits strewn about the countertops, along with a few different sizes of screwdrivers and a wrench.

MePhone3GS noticed a framed photo on the counter, away from all the clutter. There were three people in the photo, one of which was Test Tube. He picked up the frame, despite "don't touch anything" being the first rule, and looked closer at it.

Everyone in the picture was smiling. On the left was Test Tube, who was dressed more casually than today. On the right was a man about Test Tube's age, maybe a year or two younger, whose hair was bright red and spiked up to the high heavens. In the center was a person appearing about eighteen, with light hair in two low ponytails.

MePhone3GS wondered who the two others in the photo were. They seemed to be close enough with Test Tube for their photo to have a spot in her workplace. Were they friends? Family? Coworkers?

Suddenly, he heard the door open. He yelped in surprise and whipped around, to see Test Tube standing in the room holding a key.

"It's just me," She said, waving awkwardly. "I booked you a room, would you like me to take you there?"

MePhone3GS opened his mouth, trying to find a response, but was cut off.

"What'cha looking at?" Test Tube asked, walking closer to MePhone3GS, who just now remembered that he wasn't supposed to touch anything.

"Ah! sorry, I-" He quickly placed the picture back in its place. "I was just curious! I... forgot it was against the rules."

"Oh, that's fine!" Test Tube waved a hand dismissively. "I know the rules say don't touch anything, but that just means you shouldn't touch anything important or dangerous. I should've made that more clear."

"Oh."

Mr. Cobs never gave rules of such a vague nature, so MePhone3GS naturally jumped to the conclusion that "don't touch anything" meant "don't touch anything." It was a little confusing that Test Tube would make her rules so misleading. MePhone3GS didn't say what he was thinking though.

"I would appreciate it if you took me to my room," He stated as professionally as possible. Test Tube nodded.

"Alright then, follow me!"

And he did. It was slightly jarring when he exited the lab. He didn't expect this hotel to be so... orange. Who in their right mind would paint their walls orange? That was like, the worst color for a wall!

"Would you like a tour of the hotel?" Test Tube asked. "Or do you just wanna go straight to your room?
She turned around and looked at MePhone3GS, who was very clearly struggling to walk. How embarrassing.

"Hey, are you okay?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine, I just... Haven't really moved in a while."

"Ah," Test Tube nodded. She took a step towards MePhone3GS and lightly grabbed onto his wrist. Huh? Why was she doing that?

"Wha?" MePhone3GS looked at Test Tube's hand with a look of utter confusion. "Why are..."

"Oh, I just thought you'd have an easier time walking if you had someone to lean on."

MePhone3GS was taken aback by this gesture. Why was she helping him? Test Tube definitely wasn't normal. If she was normal she'd tell him to suck it up and be quiet. If she was normal she'd laugh at him for being so bad at existing. If she was normal she probably wouldn't have even repaired him in the first place. He was shut down for a reason, and she was completely ignoring it. Why was she so weird?
MePhone3GS really couldn't object, though. It felt a little weird to be touched, but not bad. It was kind of nice, actually. He felt more grounded to reality like this. More like he existed.

"My question still stands," Test Tube said after a bit of pretty slow walking.

"Huh?"
"Do you want me to give you a tour of the hotel?"

"Oh. Um... no thank you. Maybe tomorrow."

"Okay!" Test Tube smiled warmly at MePhone3GS. Why did she smile so much? It was weird. Only a child would smile that much. They arrived at an elevator, and Test Tube pressed the call button.

MePhone3GS looked around. There was a window pretty close by, but it was so dark outside that he couldn't see anything but his own reflection. Oh yeah, that's what he looked like. He knew he had the crack, but he hadn't really seen himself with it. He didn't like it. It was ugly.

The elevator doors opened, and MePhone3GS and Test Tube entered. Test Tube pressed a button, and the doors closed again.

MePhone3GS wasn't a huge fan of elevators. They made him feel claustrophobic. How did they even work? Wizard magic? But he couldn't deny that using the elevator was easier than taking the stairs, especially with his current situation.

The elevator was quiet, aside from the music. He didn't like the music. He tapped his foot impatiently. What floor were they even going to? The silence made him uncomfortable. He wanted to break it. So he tried to break it.

"Um," He stared at the ground. "What's... your favorite color?
He mentally facepalmed. Why on earth would he ask such a stupid, childish question? And why ask her favorite color of all things? He wasn't even sure he had a favorite color himself!

"Green," Test Tube said casually. MePhone3GS gave her a funny look. She actually answered? And with zero hesitation, too. MePhone3GS felt redundant thinking this again, but she was so weird. He decided to ask another question, though.

"Who are the people in the picture?" He asked. "The one in your lab."

"Oh, they're Fan and Bot," Test Tube replied. "Fan's the one with red hair, Bot's the one in the middle."

MePhone3GS nodded. "How do you know them?"
"Well, Fan is my best friend! And I built Bot, by the way Bot is a robot, with his help. I think that makes us a family."

MePhone3GS didn't know what to say, so he just nodded again. The elevator reached its destination. The doors opened, and Test Tube led MePhone3GS down a few hallways to a door labeled 603.

"Here's your room!" Test Tube announced, handing MePhone3GS the key she had been holding. He noticed the key was attached to a tag with his room's number on it. "If you have any questions about your repairs, or if you need anything, you can always come to me."

"O-okay," MePhone3GS fidgeted with the key. He didn't like how he kept mumbling and stuttering. It made him feel stupid. "Thanks... f-for helping me."
"No problem!" Test Tube shot a finger gun at him. "Take it easy, okay?"

"I will..."

"Also, fair warning, Hotel OJ can be chaotic. If you feel overwhelmed, you're free to go to my lab and calm down."

MePhone3GS nodded for the third time.

"I'm gonna go to bed," He muttered, unlocking the door of his room. "I hope... I feel better. After I sleep."

"Of course," Test Tube pushed her glasses up. "Goodnight, sleep well, and I'll see you in the morning!"

She walked off, and MePhone3GS watched her. When she was out of sight, he opened the door and entered his new room. The door opened to a pseudo-hallway, formed by a closet on the left, and a door that presumably led to a bathroom on the right.

Past the pseudo-hallway was a small room, with a single decently-sized window, an empty TV stand, and two beds. What did he need two beds for?

He approached the bed closest to the window, then pulled back the covers. The bed was made so tight and neat it was kind of hard to do so. MePhone3GS climbed into the bed and snuggled under the covers, which kind of felt like being pressed like a panini.

He hoped he could get some decent sleep. Even though he'd just slept for seven years, he was still exhausted. Maybe he'd be less sore when he woke up. Maybe he'd remember how to walk.

There were other people living here. MePhone3GS wondered what they would be like. Would they be nice? He sure hoped so.