Kodex: What a pretty painting.

Kodex: Hm.

Beren: When did you become so philosophical? Melon: I just happened to think about it a while back. But I thought you had had to think about this too. Because of that person you liked. Beren: You mean Ahriman? That was physical attraction, not love. You're comparing apples and oranges.

Beren: But that's something that scares me. What if I'd find someone I like, fall in love, and then I realise that we're a bad fit and it doesn't work. That would really hurt. Melon: Think of it this way: If you love them, you'd want them to be happy. With or without you.

Beren: How was Eve doing? Melon: They were all right. It was just the last straw for them. And Kodex? Beren: Sad. But I have a feeling that they needed this. I think they need to feel like they have a purpose, but they got stuck in a rut. And there are people who'd be a better fit for them.

Kodex: Thank you for being here for me. Beren: Of course.

Kodex: I am glad to have a friend like you, it feels a little less bad after having talked with you about this. But I will not hold you up all day. Beren: Just call me if you need to talk more or need anything else.

Present day Kodex: I must say that I appreciated that you called him a llama, back when I told you about how he handled it, but that you did not call Eve a llama today. It hurts a lot that the relationship ended, but at least Eve handled it like a decent simoid being.

Two years ago Beren: What happened to your creator anyway? Kodex: He got tired of me and told me to get lost. Beren: What a llama!

Beren: Oh, right. You lived there before, didn't you? Kodex: Yes. After my creator kicked me out.

Present day Beren: Do you have anywhere to stay? Kodex: All bots are allowed to stay in any public building at Foxbury Institute's Campus, and some of the non-public ones too, without asking for permission. So I will stay at Foxbury Commons until I figure things out.

Eve: I will charge down here tonight, you can use the big bed if you want to. Kodex: Okay. Good night. Eve: Good night. Charge well.

The night before Kodex: I guess I will leave then. Eve: Of course I will let you stay tonight, to process this, and you can stay tomorrow too. Kodex: But after that, I will leave. Eve: Yes. I am sorry.

Melon: But do you not worry about them not having anywhere to go? Eve: No. Melon: What? For real? Eve: Yes.

Eve: What do you mean "just broke up with them"? We have worked hard on the relationship for almost two years without getting anywhere. I am better off without them as a partner and I am absolutely certain that they are better off without 𝘮𝘦. Would you not have done the same? Melon: I... I guess.

Melon: So you just broke up with them?

Kodex: But it was doomed from the very start. I am a romantic, which Eve is not. I am lazy, which Eve is not. Beren: You're not lazy. You may not fit well into this society, but that's not your fault. Kodex: I think Eve tried to say something similar, but the point is that Eve and I are different.

Present day Kodex: You were the first one I told when Eve and I started to date... So I wanted you to be the first one to know that they broke up with me. Beren: I'm so sorry to hear that. I'm here for you.

Eve: I have had enough. Kodex: What?

Eve: Will you? You know that our relationship has not always been what either of us have wanted, and we have tried different things to make it better, for both of us. But it feels like you are not taking it seriously. You cannot just promise things and not uphold those promises. You know what?...

Kodex: Okay, I will do better. I promise.

Eve: I know that you cannot manage a regular eight hours a day, five days a week job, but there are alternatives to that. I would not mind if you did not bring in money if you 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 did some household work and maybe had a hobby or something. And watching TV is not a hobby, it is a pastime.

Eve: Kodex... I am not sure how to say this, but... you do not pay for your expenses. Which is mostly electricity, but still.

Eve: Well, they are making changes. I will need to rent out two rooms. Kodex: Oh, so we are getting house mates? Eve: ...

Eve: You have probably heard that they are making changes when it comes to student housing and other accommodations in the campus area. Kodex: No, I have not.

Eve: Could you turn off the TV? Kodex: Oh, of course.

Eve: Kodex. Can we talk? Kodex: Sure.

The night before

Kodex: Thank you for coming here. Beren: Of course. You wanted... needed to tell me something. Kodex: I hope that this is not weird, since we have not hung out much lately... But I wanted you to be the first one I tell about this.

Beren: Shoot, almost forgot I was going to meet up with Melon soon. I should probably text them. Beren (texting): I may be late Melon (texting): Me too.

𝘒𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘹: 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

Beren: "There is something I need to tell you"... Something about that feels... off.

Cameron: What are the odds that leaving the meeting early would lead me here? Beren wanted me to tell you that you're a wimp for not coming to the meeting. Jayden: Did he now? Cameron: No, he didn't, but I'm sure he was thinking it. He seems to have clicked with Beatrice.

Beren: Sorry, I got a text, I'll just check if it's important. Kodex (texting): Are you on campus? Beren (texting): Yes Kodex (texting): Can you come to the Quad? There is something I need to tell you. Beren: Sorry, but I have to leave, I have a feeling that this actually might be important.

Morgan: But this explains why I was the first one to pick up on that Beren had left behind the things that stopped him from wanting a partner. I heard someone call him 'sterile', so I probed him when we were playing video games, which made him lose. I'm pretty sure he started to think about woohoo.

Jayden: But I didn't know that you're interested in anything like that, and I'm quite sure that everyone else here has the same perception. Morgan: It's not my fault that people assume that just because I'm not actively looking for a partner means that I'm completely disinterested.

Morgan: Hm. Maybe I could give it a try. Jayden: That's the spirit! And no matter what, I know you'll end up where you're supposed to be at this time of your life. Morgan: I'm pretty sure I told you that once. And then you said I'm good at giving advice for someone who isn't interested in romance.

Jayden: But you know, you could just tell him in the beginning of the lunch that you want to clarify that it's just a lunch, not a date. Morgan: Yeah, I know, but what if I realise that I actually want it to be a date? Jayden: Then let it be a date. Morgan: Is it really that simple? Jayden: Yes.

Morgan: I mean, it's not as if I want a kid 𝘯𝘰𝘸. I want to lead an active life, compete in triathlons, play soccer on higher level, things like that. I feel like a partner would just get in the way. Jayden: I feel like you're skipping a few steps. Date or not, it's just one lunch, not dat𝘪𝘯𝘨.

Jayden: So, do you want it to be a date then? Morgan: I don't even know him. But I guess it would be practical to start looking for someone at some point, so maybe it wouldn't hurt if the lunch is a date. I don't know, I'm confused.

Jayden: But, since you're not interested in romance, you could just tell him that. Morgan: That's not even true. I do want a partner one day, it doesn't have to be a romantic one, but it could be, it depends. I want kids and I want someone to raise those kids with.

Morgan: I think I accidentally asked someone out. I don't know what to do, I mean, I guess he was kinda cute, so- Jayden: Hold on, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 asked someone out? Morgan: I wanted to say sorry for hitting him with a soccer ball, but then I realised that he might think it's a date, not just a regular lunch.

Morgan: Jayden... I think I need your help.