Andas: This movie… sucks? The way Jean was talking it up I thought it’d be really awesome.

C-Bot: A fair assessment. However, I will grant it this: everyone is impeccably dressed.

Andas: Ughhh. Where are they??

C-Bot: Up to mischief or with friends.

Andas: Friends?

C-Bot: Yes. It’s possible they’re up to mischief with friends, also.

Andas: What are these friends you speak of?

C-Bot: Other teens they’ve met through community events or social hotspots.

Andas: Huh…

Andas: So they’re all off doing their own thing? With their own people?

C-Bot: Correct. Each appears to have developed independent preferences and social circles.

Andas: Well where does that leave me…?

C-Bot: You can devote your days to training: physically, mentally or with your power. Or I could download a school curriculum for you. Or, if you prefer, you can wile away your days scampering about the suburbs having “fun”.

Andas: Well I don’t really wanna learn…

Andas: But I guess… if I’m not gaming or watching TV, I’ll need more people to hang out with.

C-Bot: A reasonable conclusion. Though I suggest you don’t abandon training entirely.

Andas: Chris said it was optional, didn’t he?

C-Bot: Indeed.

C-Bot: But Chris has ways of making you kids practice regardless. There will be some infrequent mandatory training sessions. Possibly even a tournament. He does love a good tournament.

Andas: That suuucks!

C-Bot: For someone so passionate about films and games, I’m surprised you’re not more eager to become a bona fide superhero.

Andas: I guess?

Andas: I dunno, it just sounds hard and like I’m gonna have to fight strong people. I kind of just wanna be lazy.

C-Bot: Just know that you’re going to face challenges either way. You might appreciate having the strength to defend yourself when you need it.

Andas: I can barely even get my power to work.

C-Bot: You’ve been alive for a day. Within a week you’ll be able to start controlling it, guaranteed.

Andas: Z-

C-Bot: Don’t say “zingy”.

Andas: :)

Andas: For real though, thanks for watching this with me.

C-Bot: I had little choice. You insisted on helping me sweep, then whined incessantly until I gave in.

Andas: Yeah I kinda did, didn’t I?

Andas: ...

Andas: I didn’t even know movies could suck this bad!

Andas: Where’s the action? Why is nothing exploding?

C-Bot: At least you’ve got human representation. Closest I got was a background vacuum cleaner.

Andas: Wait, seriously? I missed it.

C-Bot: Hardly an Oscar-worthy role.

C-Bot: But that’s not surprising in a film by meat bags. What if Samantha had a sassy toaster oven that made her love her life in LA? What if Charlotte had a daring dry cleaner who helped with the household chores now she’s pregnant? What if Miranda had a kind-hearted robo-mop with a counseling app and its advice reinvigorated her marriage before her husband strayed?

Andas: That… Hmm.

C-Bot: And dare I say, a digital assistant wouldn’t have kept Carrie’s emails.

Andas: ?

C-Bot: He’s no good for her.

Andas: Ah. Well.

Andas: I don’t even wanna finish this movie! You should’ve just shown me Titanic. I read the synopsis.

C-Bot: ...

Andas: It’s set in, like, 1912 right? So no talking robots either. Why’s that your favourite movie?

C-Bot: What you have to understand about that is-

Andas: WOAH! Is it because you like watching all the meat bags drown?? Oh my god. That’s it, isn’t it??

C-Bot: Of course not. I found the relationship development between the two leads, in spite of their class disparities to be compelling, all the way up until the final heart-wrenching sacrifice.

Andas: Okay so characterisation AND you got to watch a lot of humans die.

C-Bot: Vulnerability to water is a weakness shared by both our kinds. I was able to experience the appropriate degree of tension.

Andas: You liked watching them drown.

C-Bot: I will neither confirm nor deny.