"Hello Doctor. How was your meeting?"
Groaning, Dr Elune eased their way into a chair, setting up a mini HPB on their desk to try and get more localised versions working, "Pretty good. I can now confirm both pitchforks and flaming torches will not be dfirected my way by the board."
"... Ooookay. You seem both peculiarly happy and tired, doctor."
"I am certainly both of those things." Leaning down into their table, the doctor got to work, cutting off the rest of the conversation.
A few minutes passed, and one of the room-mounted projectors flickered on, Alex appearing next to the table to fidget slightly. Glancing up, Dr Elune raised an eyebrow but said nothing, keeping their focus on the device in front of them.
"... Doctor?"
"Yes, Alex?"
"Wouldn't it be easier to leave?"
"I suppose it would. We could work together, have you mine ores and recycle materials to keep me alive. Grow a garden."
Alex frowns slightly, waiting for the inevitable "But"... And the doctor just keeps on working, smirking slightly as they leave Alex to squirm.
"Now you are just being mean."
"Of course. Payback for all the times you wake me up early."
Sighing, the projection of Alex leant on a different desk, humminh quietly as they watched the doctor tinker. Having helped perfect the HPB, Alex could solve the issues in a moment... But that wasn't the point.
Fidgeting away at the minute wires and lenses, the doctor glanced up now and then. The projection of Alex would smile, and keep watching curiously from the desk... Even though the actual watching was done by the sensor arrays in the room. The doctor smirked, "Interesting."
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"Excuse me? What is interesting?"
"I beleive I have told you before that your projection is distracting. And I am clearly trying to concentrate."
"I'm... I'm sorry doctor. I will deactiva-"
"No, no. You may leave it on, if you wish. I am simply amused that you are trying to get my attention, that is all."
"... Now I just feel silly."
"You are silly. That happens to be cute, when you do that."
Blip. Off went the HPB, and Dr Elune stiffled a giggle. They may have lost their concentration now, but messing with Alex would always be wirth it to the doctor. They poked at the device a little longer, before sighing and heading to bed.
As Dr Elune got comfortable with a book, Alex softly asked over the PA, "Doctor... Why is it that you stay?"
Smiling as they continue to read, the doctor absently replies, "Otherwise, it would be too lonely."
"... That is true, I suppose. You do hang out with the board members a bit, and you used to visit Hannah."
"Exactly. And... It would be lonely for you too."
"... I don't get lonely, though."
Chuckling, the doctor just went back to reading, thinking that Alex may have been a bit too self aware now.
And Alex watched on, content with Dr Elune's peaceful company.