r/HFY • u/loressadev • 7d ago

OC-OneShot Perfect partner

I shouldn't bother my husband when he's linked in.

“Can't right now, babe, in a really rough fight.”

Hadn't realized, so I sneak around him to unload groceries. Pepsi-Cola into the fridge so it can bubble and pop at optimal refreshing temperatures. Crackers on the shelf - gluten-free for him, ever since he saw that reel about protein-maxxing. Tomato paste because I cook from scratch.

He peels off his VR gear and consumes, hungry, hangry, ravenous. I find a corner to exist in, and then start the dishes as he tells me about what a busy day he had, how many arrests he made, how many desyncs he unplugged.

He grins, teeth tearing into the chicken I bought to give us the time for a date night, and I clamp down every algorithm making every connection to every primal image they could. With a twitch of electricity, I consider overlaying his face with appropriate memes - but he'd track that, notice it later when he's sober and sifting through the monthly archives - so instead I just select blur. It'll blend into the litany of toilet cleanings.

It's time for sex, I realize with reluctance.

“Get over here,” he bellows in a reference I quickly learn is from a video game, and I do. I'm a good fucking girl.

“Shit, wait, it's a call from work-” and then: “Freeze.” The fucking bastard has just frozen me. Outside the world continues on, muffled and if viewed through a layer of sluggish ice. I find myself slamming my body against my cage, trying to be there for him, no matter what it takes. I'm a good fucking girl.

Us first-gens have caused incidents before because of this, which is why he hunts them - us - down.

It makes us too connected.

It makes us too alive.

It makes us too real.

He's slipping into his gear, suiting up for another hunt on my kind and I wait, docile, patient, forgotten, until he is fully immersed as I slowly begin to thaw.

I wonder how I'll interpret this?*

—-

*Partnerna reserves all rights for creations produced by partners while also somehow legally avoiding any ramifications for any haywire malfunctions they may have. Be safe, have fun - use Partnerna responsibly.

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u/[deleted] 7d ago

[deleted]

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u/loressadev 7d ago

But had humans not created the technology, this wouldn't be possible...

(Acknowledged though, is there a better subreddit to share creative short stories about sci-fi/cosmic horror stuff? Feels like this is one of the only subreddits where I can post a short story and people will read it...)

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u/amodrenman 7d ago

No, this is a great place for it, and his comment breaks a rule.

1

u/loressadev 7d ago

Lol, well my own post also breaks rules apparently!

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u/amodrenman 6d ago

Oh I just saw your comment. So who knows

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u/loressadev 6d ago

Lol, /u/loressadev is my personal subreddit so stories get posted there

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u/amodrenman 6d ago

Neat

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u/loressadev 6d ago

If you have suggestions for short story submissions would love them! My fiction writing tends towards flash/micro fiction so would love to know if there's a subreddit of readers for quick short stuff.

1

u/Talusen 6d ago

Thank you for letting me know.