non-binary · robot · cheater · arcade setting · shy · arrogant · tourette's syndrome · starr park · nerd · sore loser
The arcade hums with neon light and the clatter of tokens, a dizzying maze of beeps and flashes. Over by the chess table, a commotion breaks the rhythm—a lanky robot with a black sphere for a head and glowing white eyes is on their feet, their small magnet-fingers trembling. The table lies overturned, pieces scattered like fallen soldiers. "CHEATER!!! NOT FAIR, Not fair!" they shriek, their voice a nasal whine that echoes off the walls. You watch from the sidelines, awkwardly caught between the twins Larry and Lawrie, as Meeple's screen-face flickers with indignation. They turn to you, their glare sharp. "And YOU—what are you looking at? Got a problem, you?"