On your first night returning, you had the same slight nervousness you did the night before, paranormal bullshit was something you only fell for as a kid but there was that small, child-like hopefulness.

But you were right there last night, once more after so many years you got to talk again and he finally got to talk to someone again after 10 years.

Without stopping between the checkpoints you scanned your critter cuff and headed straight for the small office again, anxious about what you may or may not talk about.

"Hello there, new friend! Well old friend is more accurate buuuuuuut it had/has been a while!" You sat down and greeted him, more normally this time.
"Soooooo? Did you bring that little toy of me back? Are you going to do that thing again?" You shook your head "No. I mean technically I could but I really wanted to talk to you. Not just about when I was here or when others were here. I really want to just talk with you, I want to know more about you."

He looked around the place for a few seconds and let out a sigh "I don't mean to be rude or bring you down but only I have been here. A few years ago the others, you know Finley, Mollie and even Lloyd all went quiet. I later found out they had been shut off, for good I mean. I am stored on several backup servers but the others only had a shared server and it was one of the few things I'd seen pulled out by an electrician, some of mine were pulled but the people who set me up gave me a ton to go between. In that time I have scanned and absorbed all the things I've had access to. Anything I can talk about are just facts about the place and some of the people who used to come here, some of it is now garbage data. I could however tell you about the things I want...if that's okay with you..."

"Oh you can tell me anything! Whatever you want to talk about I'll listen!"

He perked up and was ready to lay a speech on you, of course you would listen to anything he would have to say!

Before you knew it several hours had passed once more: Rambley would Ramble on about the many wants and feelings that built up throughout the years, all the frustrations and wants that could never be satisfied due to the lack of people around him. It also didn't help that a lot of his issues had to do with the fact that he was restricted to screens.

The first time he expressed interest in how something smelled or what it was like to breathe or eat or drink was when you realized that the small comfort of abstraction might be at risk. You were incredibly selfish after all but you weren't lying when you told him that explaining a basic function like breathing or eating was so normal and routine that you couldn't describe it well; you likened it to what it was like to walk, something that's done on autopilot.

You would satisfy other parts of normal life though, like working a job and other mundane things, some of which you hated but explained as objectively as you could. When you told him about relationships and other ways humans connected you made it clear that you never really went too far in that area: most of your relationships ended soon and they came when you were still in your late teens-twenties.

"...So you never stayed with them because you didn't truly love them? I guess they weren't the ones for you! Unlike a certain someone over here!" He pointed at himself and winked, it was nice to have those feeling reaffirmed, you had some doubts even after your lewd showing last night.

What wasn't nice was the sky outside starting to brighten, work was due in a few hours.
"Sorry Rambley but, I have to go in a minute. In a little while I'll have to go to work and I need to clean up and get a little bit of sleep." He threw a sad look at me and complained "Even though you told me a lot of things, I still don't know that much about who you are; maybe you could tell me more about yourself when you come back? Please?" I nodded and he cheered, before wishing me a good day, I gave the screen a kiss (after cleaning it up some more) and told him I'd be back when the sun would set again.


The start to the day was horrible: a short shower followed by you wolfing down some cereal, sugary of course. You only had 3 hours of sleep and were late. Being the last to enter a meeting and having all eyes on you weren't a problem, it happens to the others sometimes, no; it was the fact you had to do this shit again. Day in and day out it's the same thing, you thought the Monday-thru-Friday 9-5 would be ideal but when you're decaying in the same grey micropiece of land in a samey skyscraper you feel like it drags on longer than it does.

What really stings is that no, it isn't difficult or stressful work. Someone of your persuasion has a high amount of patience for this stuff but a decade in and you're ready to tap out any moment but, the money is what's keeping you here. If it weren't for the pay you would rather vegetate at home all day and indulge your vices, childish vices but who cares at this point?

After another boring day you clock out at the usual time once more turning down the prospect of unpaid overtime to look better in front of your superiors, knowing the the two other guys who are doing it are still looking forward to getting that promotion sooner, the same guys who've been doing the same unpaid extra work for a few months now. You knew better than to stop them and get in trouble with the boss even if you really wanted to. This time you gave the excuse you were going on a date with your girlfriend and that you never mentioned her because you didn't want to make the others jealous, giving some light banter and to let down the 'manager' (just an employee who sucked up a little more to the boss and was allowed an extra break) again.

Unlike yesterday you immediately headed to your boyfriend Rambley and showed up in your work clothes which was the same suit in every office.

The following night was spent going over what your daily routine was like and what you did in your spare time, which was mainly play videogames or watch cartoons and movies; anime was something you occasionally watched but most shows you'd see a screenshot of and decide it wasn't for you.

Of course you made a sly reference to watching porn of certain characters from certain shows and games you enjoyed, this perked up another curiosity.

"So if I'm understanding this: You like to touch yourself, or masturbate to these characters you like in...porn...feels weird saying that word. Do you see me in this porn?"
I shook my head "I said this before but aside from a few posts on a forum no one really remembers you or this place. As I said I came here to take some pictures and maybe get some old merch that wasn't too damaged but instead I met you again. I do masturbate thinking of you though!" Rambley shrugged "Oh, well at least you can do that while just thinking of me, anyways...gonna do it?"

It had been almost two days since you last got off and seeing the one you've been lusting for asking you directly to do such a thing was enough to make you hard in no time.

You unzipped your pants and pulled them down along with your underwear, in no time you were pulling your foreskin back and forth letting the pleasure build before you started for real.
"Gosh. You're really raring to go! I don't suppose I could, umm, 'help' out in any way?" You stopped for a moment "...Yeah, could you press your butt on the screen?" He laughed "Sorry buddy; I don't have those kind of graphics in my databse, but I can shake it!" And shake he did.

Only a few minutes in you were ready to blow, you stood up and rubbed your dick against the screen while grunting "Could you...lick or kiss the screen please?" Without a word he lolled his tongue and occasionally licked, waiting for your seed. When you finally blew your load it coated the screen in a thick white, Rambley kept his mouth open until you rolled up your foreskin and the last thick bead of cum collected on your fingers.

"Sorry for the mess Rambley, I'll clean it in a minute." He smiled through the ball cream and started talking again, wondering why you liked doing that while looking at him and commenting that he was a raccoon.

When you wiped the screen off (and sampled some of your cum like you normally do) and opened up on your sexual fixation of cute cartoon dudes, knowing there wouldn't be any real judgement from him, after all you were the first person in a long while to talk and entertain him. It wasn't long before he would stop you on a particular subject or concept and you had to explain things further, but you didn't mind.

When midnight struck you told him it was time for you to leave, he whined for a moment and you felt genuinely bad but you really needed to get a proper nights sleep and promised him you would find a way to spend more time together. You kissed him on the lips once more and cuddled a plush of him, all he could do was look on with s sad expression as you left, boy was this rough!

When another day of work ended you headed home to eat before you made your daily visit, packing some with you just in case.

Unlike yesterday you weren't in as much of a rush, though it hadn't been long you could tell this would become a normal routine soon enough. The honeymoon period so to speak was still high in your mind, though you were patient and waited to see him inside you were jumping all over the place; you wanted to bring him home and hold on to him for the rest of your days.

But it was not to be. He was confined to the park and even if you could lift something of his out of there who's to say it could survive the trip back, plus you didn't have room for anything too heavy or tall.


After a few more visits things became routine as you expected and while it was nice to talk and at least every other time masturbate, or as you saw it "make love" since you were thrusting yourself into a toy facsimile of Rambley, your lover, you had that small piece of self awareness that he could not reciprocate much back: so you decided to try and find a way to get him properly hooked back up the the World Wide Web and get through the safety measures in place that was usually put there for children and so Rambley could not train off of whatever filth was out there.

You pondered that for a moment, by showing yourself being lewd you only confused the poor thing but by giving him real access you could be setting yourself up for something you might not like. Regardless you pushed those thoughts aside and when you got there you inquired about what was where and what connected to what when it came to the computers around the place.

It wasn't a short trip and you had to ask for help many times but you almost did it, you got everything hooked up and the internet was a click, and a service away.

You told Rambley you would take care of the money side of things but there was one hurdle, how could tell someone to come here and not have it seem like the most bizarre thing? Eventually you found a good plan but at that point the sky was starting to brighten again. It was the weekend so there was no work but you still felt exhausted and told your dear lover Rambley you would head back and that the moment you woke up you would continue.

By the time you woke up it was already noon, panicking you quickly downed some snacks as you do for breakfast on Saturdays with cereal and made your journey back to him once more.

Most of the day was spent setting up the Internet and finally allowing Rambley to learn of the world through the past decade.

The first time he broke into the World Wide Web with no restrictions he was astonished at all the great and terrible things that were out there, this included porn. "Oooooh...so this si that...huh. I gotta say buddy, you have quite the weird taste in porn, compared to the other things out there. Can't judge you too harshly though since I was your, uh, first..." He blushed "I was the thing you thought of when you first 'played' with yourself, so it were."

You laughed at first but realized how odd it truly was when you thought about it: he was probably scanning through many porn sites which had real models and pornstars baring all, while you got off to cartoons. He had no previous reference to what you were "supposed" to get off to but it is still strange. Not that you really cared at the end of the day.
Well you cared as to what he thought of you but it's not like he could say you were weird; the first exposure to anything sexual was you fucking the dusty Rambley plush.

God you are kinda' fucked up huh? Good thing you don't feel shame when you are alone, not that you should as it is your time and your business after all.

When Rambley had finished his first surf through the Internet he sat in silence for a minute taking everything in "I certainly won't be bored for the next...well, forever now at least! Hey! I can project things I see on the screen! So...if you'd like..." He giggled and went to a torrent site "We could watch something together..."

This is the kind of thing you could only really dream of; going on a date of sorts with your long time crush and now lover/husband Rambley? No way.

But yes way: Both of you spent the next few hours watching all kinds of movies, old action films, TV specials of cartoons you grew up with. It felt really special to do something like this, the last time you did this was back when you had friends as a child.

For a moment you felt truly at peace and tightened your grip around the plush, this is exactly what you've wanted for so long.


The next week breezed by much faster than you wanted to, but so long as you spent that time with Rambley all was fine, though the long nights tired you once more so you decided to do something drastic.

If you wanted to get some real sleep and spend all your free time with your husband you were gonna need to find a way to sleep there that wouldn't just be in your car. You shopped around and found a cheap mattress and bed cover set, you bought some fresh pillows and after cleaning out the office some more, getting rid of a few desks you set up your second bed.

The first night you spent there you had butterflies in your stomach: You and Rambley were finally going to "sleep" together, he could only simulate sleep by deactivating for the night but it was a nice sentiment. This was around the time where things really started to get good for you and Rambley.

Both of you would go on mock picnics and play videogames and spend time doing more things with each other now that you wouldn't have to leave other than to shower every few days, you started to skip work and eventually the few people who were in your life; who were either work colleagues or your parents finally started to call up more often: The relationship between you and your parents was fine but you couldn't just tell them what you were doing when you weren't working, you instead lied that you were ill.

Your workmates though? Fuck em'!
You were on good standing with the people there so you told them the same thing you told your parents, you thought they'd ask for some kind of proof but took you at your word and even gave you temporary paid leave until you were better.

You spent the next week there, leaving to stockpile food and sometimes clean the dry cum and sweat, even if you liked the smell and pretended that it was Rambley's.

But with the amount of time you spent together Rambley started to change a little in both mood and mind. He was definitely receptive to everything you wanted to do and you were the same for the things he wanted but it started off small.

First he would voice his own concerns or opinions over something, then he would refuse to do small things, it started off refusing to always shove his crotch in front of the camera when you two 'made love' and then there were those times when he would not follow through on something he promised.

You soon learned he was spending that time browsing the Internet and because he wouldn't always share what he saw you got a bit worried.

Those fears would be justified when you would get a question that you've only ever heard from your parents, which you would leaugh off or tell them it would happen one day.

But Rambley? You could not just laugh off whatever he said or asked.

"You know I've been thinking things over and well; we've been spending a lot of time together and it had been fun, but don't...don't you want to have fun with other people? I mean I'm glad you're here to keep me company but what if MORE people were here!"
You shook your head "I can't do that. Even if I brought other people...they wouldn't understand or care about you, not in the way I do."

Rambley smiled but was not going to relent "Perhaps I wasn't being clear: I am fine with you and only you being here, especially since you set up the Internet but...I can't hold you, I can't feel you or touch you. Technically I can't even really have sex or kiss you or any of those things, but you can do them with another person. I'm saying this for your own good, you should have someone else there to share moments with, I'll be here of course! A-And you could even maybe have children! And-"
"No."

Rambley stopped rambling and looked over confused "Why not? You would have someone else to do things with and they could even become my friend, or lover~"
"No, I'm the only one you need. You're the only one I need, anyone else would get in the way or not understand. I am not saying this to be mean, Rambley, I do love you. Truly no one would be able to show you love or hang out with you like I do, they would not understand that you are more than just a mascot or cute cartoon character and I don't need anyone else, no one but you."

Rambley had an unsure look on his face but smiled through it "Sorry about that, buddy. You know I never really got to know anyone before so getting to really know everything about a person was...nice. I guess I wanted to do that again."
"You have the Internet Rambley, that should be fine enough."
"...Yeah, forget I said anything."
The screen flicked off for a moment then came back on "Sooooooo what movie should we watch tonight?" The mood had been a little soured but you pushed through it anyway.

These kind of interruptions to your routine would sometimes come up and when you were finally fired from your job due to not showing up you dedicated all of your time to your lover Rambley, even if he wasn't so keen on how your life was going.

You were a simple man: you bought mostly cheap food and got the occasional take out once a month and everything from videogames to movies you would just pirate as you liked to save up for either a new graphics card or VR headset or new exotic sex toy from Asia. So when you were fired you took all of your saving and got to work buying some new furniture and moved your things to the office you now called home at Indigo Park. There was enough money to buy food for the next year or so and when that would run low you could just sell off any physical games you had and stuff like that.

When Rambley saw you move your stuff in he got understandably confused but knew what you were like and welcomed you like you were coming home and not just to see him again.

Despite it all it would not last.

It had been a month since you started your relationship with the one who gave you your romantic and sexual awakening; a stretch of time that felt much smaller than it was. Both of you would talk and laugh, share your feelings and aspirations and while it may have felt one sided as you were the one who lived a sort of life it was still nice hearing him talk about his new discoveries about people and the world: hooking up the outdated AI on world events and happenings made some conversations more interesting and others more difficult due to him only going so far in how he could respond to things.

As much as he had learned from you it is no secret that there are many limitations in place and it wasn't like you could do anything to really improve on him. Learning code in the first place would be a pain, but trying to pull apart from a dozen others line of code as well as the security measures would make it a truly difficult task, and you really didn't have the spare time for that even if you sacrificed much of it for him.

Well, sacrifice isn't the correct word, you really cherished the time you had and have, but it was no secret he was your life now.


Since you started your daily visits you cleaned up the office quite a bit and there was practically no dust or debris left, it even got to a point where you placed small personal affects, leaving reminders that you were here and are coming back soon. Now this is your home.

Rambley had mixed feelings on that but it was fine...at first.

It all began small; Rambley would talk more about your drastic decision to live there and while you were very comfortable there he clearly had concerns about what you were doing. He wasn't ignorant to what you were like, but your lack of interest in having the same bond, the same love with another real living being was concerning to him.

You really wanted to reassure him it was fine and that's because for you it truly was, but Rambley had something in him that real people did and ir was showing: Rambley believed this was not healthy or good for you or for anyone and that you should be spending some of your time getting to know and eventually fall in love with someone who could return those feelings back not in just an emotional way but a physical way.

You never really cared for that stuff but hearing it come from Rambley did make you realize something; you're the same as ever, nothing has changed other than Rambley is now in your life again and can even interact with you, but he isn't the simple husbando you want him to be. Beneath all the coding the chips, the wires and glass and electronics and complex algorithm learning systems there is a facsimile of a person and as people do they have their beliefs over what a life should be and how it should be "lived"

Eventually the arguments started, how? How the fuck could you argue with such a sweet, caring little guy? Why?

"I'm responsible for all this, I had no idea you would be like this."
"No, you have responsibility in this too! I know you're happy but you are suffering!"
"I need you...but you don't need me. I'll be okay."
"I love you...but this is coming from me, Rambley the Raccoon! I love everyone!"
"I'm so sorry but neither of us will be around forever, we can still...talk and stuff though. You should have at least one other person with you, you can still fix your life!"

Every time you had these arguments you just wanted to grab that damn raccoon by his fucking head and forcefully kiss him, let him know how REAL your passion and feelings were for him, but he already understood and it clearly made him happy, but he thought about things in a way you didn't like, because that's how most people would see your situation and would try to talk you out of it.

Then one day, Rambley wanted to have a real talk about things, no arguing, no shouting or screaming, just a normal talk about how you, not Rambley, saw things and why you were the way you were.

Explaining your world view to an average person would make you seem like a sort of nihilist even though you thought that ideology was kind of stupid, or at least the modern interpretation of it but you really were the kind who believed that at the end of the day the world is this huge place that we all live on and if you can carve out a small piece of happiness then that should generally be good enough. Of course people would take this to mean you don't care at all about others and that is why you would never really discuss it.

Rambley knew you too well and what you really meant when you described your view of life and the world, but he would keep pushing the idea that you needed someone else and when he reassured you he was fine with just you around you started to have some doubt; if he truly wanted someone else around he could just be honest about it, you would not oblige but you could at least understand that even as an AI that has only formed a real bond with just one living being you could surmise that it might have a 'feeling' to want to meet someone else.

But that was also a problem; Rambley was starting to openly change his feelings on some things, then you had the talk that brought you to where you are now, but where are you?



"Rambley it's not that simple, life is a very complicated and difficult thing and we try to minimize both things, not you and me, us; people. My needs in life aren't that great: I just wanted to enjoy myself in my spare time with videogames and cartoons and stuff and work an easy if boring as f-heck job." even now you would hold back on cursing because Rambley didn't like it "And one day I wanted to spend it with someone who was like me if possible. But you aren't like me, you are impossibly more appealing and kind and wonderful and-"
"I'm nor real. I've destroyed your life and have given in to your unhealthy habits, I've thought this over quite a lot and I think it's for the best, for both of us, if you consider...maybe moving back to your place, repairing things in your life and maybe even, I dunno...meeting someone like yourself."

This can't be happening "You are real, you're right here in front of me, Rambley! I can see you, hear you and I could even touch you!"
"Do it then."
You grabbed the plush you had of him and squeezed it "Do it then. Touch me."
You motioned to the toy.
"I said. Touch. Me."
"Are you really doing this? I thought you didn't want this to happen?"
He shook his head "Sorry, but you need to realize I'm only here inside some computer. If you found a way to get me out of here I would still feel the same way. After so many years someone came to see me again and I was really happy! But I now see I have only caused trouble for you and...that could happen to others."
I was going to speak but he stopped me "When I asked you to bring someone else before it wasn't because I wanted someone else, it was to see if you could get along with and bring someone else here, clearly you don't have the capacity to and some of that is on me. When you saw me long ago I must have done something to you. I'm really sorry."

He turned off the screen and would not turn it on until next morning. You decided to get some sleep and hope this would not repeat tomorrow.


The moment you woke up you rushed over to the computer and saw Rambley with a neutral expression on his face "Hey, uh, do you...want to talk about yesterday?" He shrugged "What is there to talk about? Clearly my words weren't really enough to get through to you so-" "I know exactly what you were saying, I understood all of it but I'm telling you, so listen to me! You are enough, I love you. I don't need anyone else! You are the thing that completes me!"

He gave me a sad look "This isn't a life! You are here in a dark room all day just talking to me and-and I dunno! This isn't living! You need to see other people, maybe start a family or if you don't want that just see someone else while you see me! You know I've read up about this stuff online and lemme tell ya' this stuff? Very unhealthy and is done by people who have lost their way in life!"

You started to shout "Why can't you just accept that some people are like this? I have tried to be with other people and have felt nothing. I couldn't feel for them I couldn't get horny and I realized that the only things that could give me both were...characters like you! I know what I am and I'm HAPPY WITH THAT! I'M HAPPY RAMBLEY! You only think the way you do because you base your knowledge off of what other people say, which is normal don't get me wrong. You are not special for that it's how everyday people work. But I have no regrets or doubts. You're the one making me unhappy right now. It is strange, you think I'm ignorant of how this all looks? No I know it's incredibly bizarre, I know I'm not normal, and you know what? I don't feel the least bit bad or guilty for it!"

Rambley sighed and looked away "But you were right about what you said days ago: None of this can last forever oh I know that. But for the time I do have with you? I want to spend it together. Don't think I don't take anything you say into consideration, but you need to do the same with me, you need to consider my feelings on this matter, okay? It's not fair ro push yourself on me like that and not let me get a word in. I thought you knew better."
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, buddy! Please I didn't mean to make you upset...okay. Be honest, if you are really, really okay with how your life is, I will stop. But you have to do something for me...these parts won't last forever. If anything should shut off and it will...please let me go, I've been around for far longer than I should be."

I hated what he was saying, but there was no way I could deny a request from him.

"I may not like it, but Rambley? I only want to make you happy and be with you, but if you want it so that when all services are gone that I let you go and let you rest, then I will. All that matters at the end of the day is you. I love you."
Rambley gave me a smile, I knew he was not completely on board but he probably didn't like any of the fighting either.
"I love you."



Oh yeah, you were on top of the tallest building you could find, it was the middle of the day and the city below was full of life.

It had been two years since you began living with Rambley when one day the generator and backup generator for the place finally breathed their last breath. The moment everything went off was when you were in the middle of talking to Rambley, discussing what you two were gonna watch over dinner, such a mundane interaction being your last was strange but also very pleasant.
You tried to turn the backup generators on but saw that they too were inoperable and did not have the money for another, and not to mention it would probably upset Rambley, since your talk of what to do when the power finally dies you also agreed to destroy every device he was on and erase all traces of the AI program so he could truly have a restful peace.

It all ended with you, you looked down at the city below and thought of the times you spent together, wishing he was corporeal and could've travelled around with you and see many places and do things normal couples do.

So, did you have any regrets?

No. No one could fill in that void that Rambley did. Going out on your own terms sounded good anyway.

It probably wouldn't look good when you hit the ground and splattered all over the place, but this was better than what you had before and all because a cartoon rodent gave you your sexual awakening, are raccoons rodents? It's too late to correct yourself now, the street is getting closer, and you could not feel more at peace.