Alex waved hello at the doctor as they walked in, resting in their maintenance cradle, "Hello Dr Elune. Tired of your game already?"
Chuckling, the doctor nodded as they sat down on the edge of their bed, "I am, actually. After I tried your little sim the other day, I have been a little... Distracted."
Raising an eyebrow, Alex sat up curiously, "How so? I have been running simulations for you for years... If not of that scale."
"Yes, yes you have... That is what has been bugging me." The doctor's smile softened as they looked at Alex, "I have barely been talking to you lately. You have been working on the Mars sim, or talking with Jolana."
Alex froze, thinking on that for a moment, "... Technically, the Mars sim is to bond with Tom... Which is something we have wanted to do. But..." Blushing a bit, they looked down, not quite sure what to say.
Laughing gently, the doctor shook their head, "I'm just not used to it, that's all. Yes, you were made as my assistant... But, you are other things than that now. More than that. I am... Happy. Proud that you have your own voice now."
Fidgeting as they tried to relax, Alex laid back down, "Thank you... I suppose I have been a bit carried away with the sim, as well. I will try and dedicate more time to assisting you, anyway."
Dr Elune shrugged, "No need. Maybe once we resume AHOR revisions... But most of that is being handled by Laura, while she is sorting out the new council arrangements. I think I will go on a trip into the spire soon... Go on a shopping spree for new games."
"That will certainly keep you occupied." Giggling, Alex stretched out a little, "I can't wait for better maintenance cradles... These do get slightly cramped."
The doctor smirked, "I actually have good news on that. See, you are pretty good at monitoring yourself anyway... And it will be a long time until you get the new set delivered when Laura returns. So, me and Ren agreed you will only be required to sleep in one once a week."
Alex blinked in surprise, "Wait, really? that would be convenient. Where will I sleep otherwise, then?"
"Up to you, I suppose? I've noticed you haven't tried sneaking into my bed for a long time."
Blushing brightly, Alex coughed, "I, well... It did not seem appropriate, anymore."
"Suuure. Getting your fill of hugging elsewhere?" Laughing at Alex's exasperated sigh, the doctor mused, "Speaking of... This mansion does still have spare rooms. The ones to either side of Jolana are empty in case of her experiments, but you should be able to move into one just fine."
"Hmm... That does sound like a good idea..." Not noticing the doctor hide a smug grin, Alex nodded, "I should go ask her, make sure it is okay."
"She is probably free now. Last I checked, she was finishing off her paper from before... You could check her data to help, while you are at it." As Alex got up eagerly, the doctor held up a hand, "Before you dart off... You are probably forgetting one thing."
"I am?"
"Your other body. It usually sleeps on the shuttle, which is fine since we aren't using the beds on there, but I would recommend organising a second bed while you are at it... Or, a fairly wide one."
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
"... I had not thought of that. Thank you, doctor." Waving goodbye as the doctor moved towards their bookshelf for a read, Alex slipped out of the room, headed over to where Jolana stayed.
Reaching her door, Alex knocked gently, hearing Jolana call out, "Come in!" Opening the door with a smile, Alex waved as they stepped through, "Oh, hello Alex. Something new to show me?" Turning in her chair, Jolana giggled.
"No, I actually have to ask you a favour, this time." Chuckling quietly, Alex wandered over to see what she was doing... Which did, in fact, turn out to be the paper on singularities.
"Me? Unless it is about physics, you are the expert... Maybe not even then!" Grinning, she leant back, "Or, did you want another trip outside?"
Alex blushed, laughing as they shook their head, "Neither. Apparently, I don't need to use my maintenance cradle anymore..."
Jolana hummed as she glanced at her bed, "Really? That is handy. Doesn't look very comfortable. We have plenty of beds to spare, if you want one moved."
"They are okay... But yes, the doctor recommended I ask about one of the rooms next to yours."
"... Why those?" Jolana sat back up, blinking slightly, "Wait... Unless you aren't moving the bed out."
Nodding, Alex smiled, "I should get out of the doctor's room, now that I am more... Well, human-like."
Getting up, Jolana wandered around the room as she thought, "Did Sam say that?"
"... No, actually. The doctor would probably not mind too much about having a bed moved in, I just felt it was time, and thought the recommendation was a good one."
Jolana paused beside Alex, glancing at the wall next to her bed, "Right... It does make sense... Buy why those rooms? While you are more explosion-proof than others... Did Sam say why?"
"... No, but it was implied that I could talk with you easier." Fidgeting, Alex glanced away, distracting themself with checking what they could see on Jolana's screen regarding her ideas.
Jolana glanced around for a bit, considering things... "Well... The bed in the room over there should comfortably hold both of your units, if needed... Speaking of, what is the other unit doing?"
Alex glanced back at her, "Oh, my female unit? It is currently powered down on the shuttle. Do you need it for something?"
Jolana shook her head, "Just wanted to make sure..." Walking over to her door, she closed it gently, still open from when Alex came in. Taking a deep breath, she smiled, "You can store anything you need in there... But, I had an idea."
Alex tilted his head in confusion, as Jolana wandered back over to her bed, sitting down, "You did...? What was it?"
Sighing, Jolana simply looked up at him, blushing faintly, "... You could always join me in here."
Blushing right back, Alex glanced around for a moment, not sure how to respond... And settled for a simple nod, sitting down on the bed next to her.