Author's note: This is a commissioned story. Please be lenient as this is my first time writing in a female, first-person POV.
Although this was a commissioned chapter, I've taken a slight interest in the story as I write it. If you guys would like me to continue writing this story, please comment below!
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The smell of dust and gasoline filled my nostrils as I woke up. My room was unkempt and dark as it always was, even in the mornings. The metropolis around the low-lying neighborhood where I lived allowed only a few wispy beams of sunlight through the windows, and even the little bit of light I had faded in and out as hovercrafts passed through their paths.
"Awwwwwwwgh..." I yawned, and quickly got myself ready for work. "Ugh..." I couldn't help but sigh in disgust as I suddenly remembered while I dressed myself that I had forgotten to clean my waitress' uniform after a guest had spilt his drink on me yesterday.
"BOBBY!!" I yelled, and the rusty piece of tin that was my robot rolled clunkily into my room.
"Do you require assistance, Erica?" Bobby said with the weird robot voice that came with him when I had bought him. I didn't exactly have the credits to waste on giving him a custom voice.
"Didn't I tell you to clean my uniform yesterday?"
"No, you did not."
"I'm sure I did."
"You are mistaken." The little piece of scrap metal chirped. "You were quite intoxicated when you returned home yesterday. The only words you spoke before falling asleep were: 'Bobby... I luhhhh you.'"
"Ah for fuck's sake, forget it." I grunted as I left the apartment.
Luckily, the restaurant where I worked at was close enough for me to walk to. Saves me on transportation fees, I suppose. Obviously, being a waitress wasn't my dream job, but there wasn't a lot of demand for custom fitters these days... Not after the government banned all non-state issued augmentations. And it would be a cold day in hell before I'd start working for those fuckers.
The elevator was empty, thankfully. I didn't exactly live in a great neighborhood, and to say my neighbors were creepy would be a huge understatement. The mag-lift was entirely silent as it moved down, and reached the bottom in a matter of seconds, no matter which floor you lived on. I sighed as I stepped out of the lift and into the street. Another day, another credit.
The smell of gasoline grew stronger as I walked down the street. Obviously, gasoline as a fuel source had not been in use for centuries, but a guy named Aran had a shop on the street which specialized in restoring antique vehicles. The cars looked nice, especially when Aran polished them up all nice and shiny, but it was hard to believe that people actually drove those death traps, and without AI guidance!
I visited the shop sometimes on the way home, and I always made sure to visit when Aran was there. He was tall and lean, with muscles which filled out his tight work shirts nicely. He had dark hair and dark eyes, and a dimpled smile which fueled many a nightly fantasy for me when I needed... relief. I glanced at the shop as I passed, hoping to get a glance at Aran, even though I knew he didn't work in the mornings.
Soon, I made my way onto the main street. The tall buildings and skyscrapers here were all a uniform gray, devoid of decorations. There were only a few neon signs in front of small storefronts, and those were far and few between. You would only be able to see everything if you wore augmented reality glasses or contacts. But after the government banned all but their own products, I stopped using them altogether. It wasn't worth having all that I saw and heard be uploaded to their AI database.
Hovercars zoomed at blurring speeds up and down the lanes. Watching them stop on a dime as the lights turned red never got old for me. I crossed the street, and put my head down as I saw the figures in long black coats, with the clergy's signature silver trim. I couldn't help but feel nervous as I got closer and closer to them, having been harassed by these goons before.
"Halt." One of them said, and my stomach dropped.
Fucking shit.
"Yes sir?" I stopped, trying not to look him in the eye.
"Where do you think you're going, dressed like that." While my waitress' uniform wasn't exactly provocative, it was generally a good idea to put a coat on. But it was just too damn hot.
"I work at the Aloe Green restaurant, sir." I replied meekly, hoping to get it over with quickly. Usually these fuckers would let you go if you stayed respectful and stroked their egos a bit.
"We must examine you... To make sure your dress is up to code." The slimy bastard said as I bit my lips furiously. It was just an excuse for these perverts to feel me up in broad daylight. Holy clerics my ass.
They both started to grope me all over, squishing my tits and thighs. The other pedestrians just put their heads down and kept walking by, as this was an all too frequent occurrence. The clergy was the law. You either minded your own business, or risked being detained.
"Mmm..." The taller one sighed in my ear, the disgusting pig that he was. "You should be careful with the way you dress, young lamb. We wouldn't want you to tempt others from the paths of righteousness." He reached one hand beneath my skirt and fondled my ass for a little while before finally letting go. "Be on your way, citizen." He said, with a smirk I could sense even through his dark mask. "Next time, we won't be so lenient."
I hurried away, my face flushed from anger and shame.
Fuck. I'm never wearing my uniform without a coat again.
My shift at the restaurant was uneventful. The manager, a portly and jovial man, did frown slightly at the dirty stains on my blouse, but didn't bother mentioning it to me. As my shift came close to an end, however, he did approach me to ask whether I'd be able to work overtime to cover for another waitress who'd called in sick. I agreed readily, as I could really use the credits.
A couple hours after my second shift started, a familiar figure walked through the door. It was Aran! I felt my heart jump as he spotted me and waved.
"Hey! Fancy seeing you here!" I said cheerfully, hoping that I wasn't blushing.
"Hey there, Erica. I didn't know you worked here, and I come here at least twice a week." He replied with a smile, his dimples shining brightly.
My heart beat faster as I recalled all the nights I spent fantasizing about those dimples, and cleared my throat. "Ahem... Yeah, I'm covering for a co-worker today." I paused, and suddenly remembered to do my job. "Oh sorry! What can I get you today? Any drinks to start you off?"
"Just a chicken sandwich with a side of roasted potatoes and some water would do." He smiled again as I rushed off to relay his order.
I couldn't help but stare as Aran as he ate. It was hard to ignore him, since he was the only diner in the restaurant. His bronze skin shone in the afternoon light, which streamed through the windows, and even the way the sinews on his neck moved as he chewed his food was mesmerizing to me.
I brought him the check after he finished the food. As he scanned in his payment, he asked. "Erica... Would you like to come with me to a museum later today?"
"Museum" was code amongst the younger folks for a club. The Order had outlawed all nightclubs some years ago for being "pits of sin and depravity". I blushed and said... "Sure, Aran. I'd love to."
He's asking me out on a date!
I was almost giddy with anticipation.
He flashed a smile. "Come by the shop at seven." He said as he left the restaurant.
I couldn't hide my smile for the rest of the shift, and there was a bounce to my step as I headed home after work.
At home, I changed into a red top with a leather jacket, the coolest one that I owned, and some leather pants which hugged my figure tightly. I looked at myself in a mirror, and was satisfied with my look. The reflection in the mirror stared back at me with dark black eyes, black, shoulder-length hair, and an almond shaped face which tapered to a pointed chin. I applied just the minimum amount of make-up. Enough to look good, but not so much as to be stopped by the Inquisitors.
My heart beat fast as I headed to Aran's shop. He was already waiting at the front. "Hey Erica." He smiled. "You look great."
"Thanks." I couldn't help blushing. "You too." He was dressed casually, in just jeans and a jacket over a black t-shirt, but he looked good in anything.
We headed into a part of town I'd never been to before, and entered what looked to me like some random scrapyard. "Watch this." Aran winked at me, and lifted a large sheet of metal to reveal a metal trapdoor on the ground. He rapped at the door with a cadenced rhythm, presumably as some kind of password. The door opened a few seconds later to reveal a ladder which we climbed down, although I did so with some trepidation.
"How come I don't hear anything?" I whispered to Aran as we headed down a long corridor beneath the ground.
"You'll see." He winked again as we approached a door with a large man standing guard outside.
"Put these on." The man said, handing us each a pair of glasses and earbuds, and nodded to us as we passed through the door.
Inside was a strange spectacle, a crowd of people moved and danced silently to nothing at all, and the room was bare save for a bar and some tables and chairs. The only sounds I could hear were people talking to one another.
Aran nudged me and said. "Come on, put on the glasses."
I quickly put on the glasses and earbuds, and immediately the scene changed into that of a proper nightclub. Strobe lights flashed and loud music played through the earbuds. There were also virtual displays of scantily dressed dancers who hung from virtual swings in the air.
"The best part is that we can still hear each other talk." Aran whispered in my ear. "One of my friends designed these earbuds himself." He said, tapping his ear.
"These glasses aren't monitored by the Order?" I asked.
"No, but we have to return them once the night is over." He said.
The rest of the night went by quickly. We both had quite a few drinks. Luckily, alcohol was still legal; the Order needed to leave the rest of us with at least
something
to make life more interesting.
