The tall, blonde elf stood outside the Automaton Emporium, hands clasped behind his back and debating whether or not he was doing the best thing. Still, even if this wasn't the best thing, surely it was better than how things were, now! His job took up more time than he'd expected, and with his wife still trying to mind the store, as well as three younglings... well, she just needed a little help! As much as little Guari tried to play nursemaid, she was still only a baby, herself. The oldest of the three was Lisaleth, at almost six months old and nearly as tall as his shoulder, and no one was about to trust her with the babysitting!

The Ministry of Flights and Hatchings had been little help, despite the Archivist's promise: they'd offered the services of one of the many android-rental agency, pre-paid of course. Unfortunately, he knew his wife would never accept an android, which most new mothers would have chosen. She might not even accept a cyborbot, but at least the animal-like shape would strike her less as slavery and more like a helpful, if mechanical, pet. They certainly couldn't afford a live nursemaid, even if they could find one who wanted to be nursemaid to a pair of dragons as well as a fussy infant, but between Guari's childlike responsibility, he and his wife's patchwork presence, and a robotic set of eyes and hands-- or something like hands, anyway-- surely they could keep everyone safe, content, and occupied. At the very least, a pet robot programmed with household and shop rules would be company and entertainment for a child, a childlike dragonet, and a motherly hatchling-- company and entertainment that couldn't get them in trouble, and could possibly keep them out of trouble. Right?

Thus having talked himself into it, for the third time since he'd first come up with the idea, Elsarin Astilith stepped briskly inside the shop before he could change his mind again. He looked around curiously; he'd never been inside this particular store. His particular heritage of elves usually shunned excessive electronics, but there weren't any other "pets" around with the intellectual capacity to help out around the house or with the children. The store was, surprising to him though it probably shouldn't have been, much like any other store: wares were set out on shelves or turnstiles, here and there was an idling window-shopper wandering from one section to another, there was a cashier at the front for payments, and there were two counters in the back which were, according to the sign, for custom 'bots. Which was exactly what Elsarin wanted.

At first, he thought there wasn't anyone there. He paused at the nearer counter, looking around and noting the shut door in the back corner, and leaned his arms on the countertop patiently. A round, silver dome of a head popped up almost right under his nose, and he jumped back, straightening abruptly. A pair of electric blue eyes-- literally electric, in fact, he realized-- met his calmly and emotionlessly. This was no oddly-colored dwarf, nor was it a cyborbot. The short, stocky figure was undoubtedly an android of some sort, and from its lack of expression, not a highly advanced one.

Not that, that was going to keep Elsarin from treating it-- him; that was certainly no female model!-- like some kind of slave! But then, what did one treat him like? Despite his discomfort with the whole prospect, Elsarin blinked back, scrambled for what he'd planned to say, and asked, "Ah, um, I'm here looking for a custom cyborbot?"

The little android-man pointed wordlessly at a computer terminal on the other countertop, and Elsarin nodded. "Ah, thank you." Hurrying away from the disconcerting, laser-like blue eyes, he stepped up to the terminal to make his request.

(to be continued once the 'bot is received!)

Chapter Six

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