Marian

Lizzy pulled the elastic band from around the end of her braid, unraveling her locks and letting them spill over the soft blue shirt that she’d chosen for the day. She found herself missing her pastel highlights and considered mid-yawn whether she might opt for a bolder pink next time she logged in.

“Good morning, Lizzy! I see that you are awake,” H5 announced brightly. “If you find yourself in the mood for a cup of coffee or some other breakfast options that you don’t see in the refrigerator, just ask me to show you a menu anytime!”

Lizzy nodded as she lifted her arms into a stretch, a brief pang in her heart mirroring the empty twinge in her stomach. What she really wanted was some of her mother’s breakfast casserole. Eager to sink her teeth into the next best thing she could find and already knowing that the options in the fridge didn’t quite measure up, Lizzy walked over to H5.

“Hi, can I see the menu?” she asked, briefly wondering how the house robot would show her the options while she wasn’t logged into VR. One corner of her mouth quirked into a half-smile at how quickly she was getting used to the subtleties of life in the city.

Ever cheerful, H5 raised its shiny hands to showcase the display that lit up on the front of its body. Lizzy pursed her lips as she swiped through the options. None of the images of fruit salads or garden wraps caught her eye, but a picture of a breakfast bowl complete with hashbrowns instantly got her mouth watering. As soon as she tapped the image to order, a set of additional images popped up along one side of the screen to suggest a variety of drink options.

Why not? Lizzy thought as she added a cup of coffee with extra sugar to her order with a slight smile. The house robot mirrored her expression with an emote of its own.

“Your breakfast [will be] is on its way [very soon]!” Lizzy began to turn away, thinking that she’d kill some time looking out the window at the skyscrapers, but H5 had more to say.

“I’ve just been informed that the package you ordered is here!” A light thump on the other side of the door punctuated the robot’s statement. Lizzy’s eyes brightened. Excitedly beating the robot to the door in order to retrieve the parcel herself, she opened it in time to see a cardboard box with the words “Thank you for recycling!” printed across one side. Confirming that it was indeed her name on the label, Lizzy grinned and hastily carried the box inside.

Lizzy tore the box open as H5 closed the door behind her. She paid the robot no mind as it efficiently picked up each shred of discarded cardboard and deposited it in the recycling bin by the door. Her attention remained entirely fixated on the contents of the package, and even her gnawing hunger fell by the wayside. Carefully Lizzy reached into the box, pushing aside some crinkled paper packaging, and pulled out a beautiful, framed painting.

A murmuring sigh escaped Lizzy’s open lips as her wide eyes took in each detail of the scene that illuminated the canvas. Pastel clouds drifted above a golden wheat field that lay boldly striped with the lengthened morning shadows of wooden fence posts and trees. Her throat caught slightly, which she did her best to ignore. Lizzy took in the details of each brushstroke, her breath stolen away by how well the artist had managed to capture the purity of a farmland sunrise.

Lizzy hung the first painting, so beautiful that it ached for her to look at it for too long, on the hook positioned above the refrigerator where she could easily see it from her bed as she rose each morning. Returning to the box and removing the next layer of rustling papers that padded each frame, Lizzy pulled out the second painting.

The lump in her throat was impossible to ignore, now. Right in front of her, brushed and stippled across the canvas in heart-wrenching detail, was a weathered barnyard. The building looked just like Papa’s barn. An incredulous giggle burst from Lizzy’s lips and she wiped at her eyes as she laughed at her own outburst of emotion, brought on by a simple painting.

Why am I so surprised by how real it looks? Lizzy thought to herself as her fingers trailed over the texture of the paint that brought the barn door to life inside the frame. I knew what this looked like when I chose it.

“Is everything alright, Lizzy? [If you need anything at all, I will do everything I can to help.]”

Lizzy flashed a smile at the friendly house robot, her eyes brimming afresh as she thought again about the peaceful farm she still called home. Shaking her head and standing up straight to find a spot for the second painting, she reminded herself that her parents wanted her to get the most out of her experience in the city, no matter how much she missed them.

“No, I’m fine, H5. Thanks for asking.”

“No problem! [I am here to make sure that everything you need is taken care of].”

Lizzy sighed as she set the last few paintings in the stack aside on the dresser for later, thinking that perhaps she should pace herself when it came to tender memories. Her eyes fell upon the Neuropod as her gaze drifted around the room in search of a distraction.

Ah! There’s a good way to pass the time . . . Lizzy thought as she briefly wondered how long her food would take to arrive. She frowned slightly at the idea of being wrapped up in the middle of a game right when her breakfast was delivered. But her brow smoothed and her eyes brightened as she realized that she hadn’t even chosen the day’s simulation just yet.

No time like the present! Lizzy told herself as she laid down comfortably in the chair. The gentle sound of the magnetic jack connecting with the back of her neck barely even made her hesitate anymore. Excited to pick her next adventure, she only had eyes for the simulation menu and the endless opportunities that it presented.

As Lizzy opened her eyes to a vast interface filled with an overwhelming array of options, her breath caught slightly. The sheer multitude of options almost seemed to challenge her to make a choice, the preview graphics for each one tugging her attention in a new direction.

Lizzy frowned slightly as she scrolled past a handful of racing games, a wrestling arena that promised the adrenaline rush of a lifetime, and a dating simulation with a flirtatious mascot who seemed to reach right out of the preview image. Even though that particular dating sim [fell flat] [maybe 2 exciting ?] for Lizzy, it still gave her pause as she drifted away for a moment in thought.

Maybe she could find a romantic simulation that was more to her tastes. Her eyes fell upon the search bar that hovered above the list of popular simulations and she reached up to tap it.

But before Lizzy could act any further upon her idea, her PA’s gentle voice interjected:

“Pardon me, Lizzy, but H5 tells me that your breakfast has arrived.”

Lizzy’s eyes grew wide, her stomach growling in anticipation.

“Oh, good! Thanks, Annabelle! Log me off please.”

“Compliance,” the VA replied, and Lizzy soon opened her eyes to her softly-lit room and the tantalizing aroma of a hot breakfast bowl and a steaming cup of coffee. Practically flying out of her Pod as soon as the jack disconnected and hurrying into the kitchenette adjacent to her bedroom, Lizzy grinned as she was greeted by a little table with her breakfast spread fully prepared. H5 had even pulled her chair out for her already.

Her mouth watering, Lizzy grabbed the fork resting by her bowl and gratefully dug into the food. The hashbrowns melted in her mouth, and the eggs were fluffy and perfect. The imitation bacon bits definitely lacked the texture she was used to, but still delivered plenty of flavor. In fact, they added a different flavor that was vaguely familiar but which Lizzy couldn’t quite pinpoint. All in all, she decided, the bowl wasn’t quite as good as her mother’s cooking--but it was surprisingly close.

Lizzy’s thoughts once again drifted back home as she savored the warm, comforting meal.

Eating alone still felt foreign.

With a sudden thought, Lizzy left her chair to return to her bedroom for a moment, quickly returning with the barnyard painting in hand. She set it on the table beside her placemat, leaning it against the corner.

The perfect spot.

She washed down the slight lump that crept up her throat again with a swig of the coffee. With a shaky smile Lizzy remembered how her older sister, Ruth, had always taken her coffee black just like Papa.

Ah, Ruth . . . A warm, genuine smile spread across Lizzy’s face as she remembered playing with her sister in the woods with her during the free afternoons when they’d finished their work and studies early. The hollowed tree trunk where she and Ruth had kept their secret stash of books and treasures sat as vividly in her memory as if she’d just gone there yesterday.

Lizzy’s nose crinkled a bit as she remembered the way she and Ruth used to act out their favorite book scenes--especially the way Ruth used to object to having to play Robin instead of Marian. Lizzy giggled faintly as she took another sip of the delicious, nutty brew. Ruth’s affected, deep voice that she used when she pretended to be Robin had always left a lot to be desired.

Suddenly, as Lizzy drained the last of her coffee, she perked up with an idea. Why not look for some simulations related to her favorite stories [books]? Maybe even something that appealed to her romantic [dreams of being swept off her feet]?

Lizzy hopped out of her seat, hurrying to her Neuropod. Her belly full and her mind clamoring with thrilling new ideas, she closed her eyes as the chair’s jack gently connected.

“Annabelle, show me some simulations with Robin and Marian.”

Lizzy still wasn’t sure if she was ready to speak her more romantic desires out loud, even to a personal assistant.

“Compliance.”

A long list of selections popped up, not as vast as the earlier list of popular releases but still more than enough to choose from.

Let’s see . . . Lizzy mused as she scanned the list of simulation results. Her lips pursed as she weighed the options before her. They appeared to be grouped by theme, with the first section looking a bit too action-heavy for her tastes. A muscular, sword-wielding Marian wasn’t quite what Lizzy had in mind and she kept scrolling. Soon the preview images became increasingly racy, quickly escalating to images that featured a very different sort of action with far less clothing.

“Oh my… no,” Lizzy huffed under her breath, scrolling past an image of a busty, topless Marian locked in a kiss with Robin as quickly as she could as she felt a wave of heat rush over her cheeks.

After taking a quick moment to compose herself and scroll a comfortable distance away from the raunchier simulations, Lizzy finally found one that sparked her interest. [checkbox?]

Make all your romantic fantasies come true as Robin steals your heart! Excellent for newcomers to the romance genre. Responsive and thrilling--go at your own pace as you and Robin share in exciting adventures and get to know each other as closely as your heart desires. Fully immersive and recently upgraded with new customization settings!

Lizzy perked up at the appealing description and she eagerly tapped on the image to learn more. She skimmed the feedback left by experienced players just like Alex had taught her to, delighted by the overwhelmingly positive reviews.

“Great starter sim! Realistic and fun. Good appearance and gender customization, easy to use.”

“Awesome action scenes with realistic dialogue. Romantic without feeling boring. All in all, pretty sweet.”

“It was nice because I wanted a good romance without going too far, and this sim allows you to do that. Can’t wait to sit and talk with Robin again!”

Lizzy’s grin lifted her dimpled cheeks and she felt the beginnings of a little flutter in her stomach. This simulation sounded just right. Taking a deep breath, she took a moment to prepare herself.

This is what my time here is for, after all, she reminded herself. It’s now or never!

“Annabelle, load this simulation!” she said, her voice slightly louder than she intended it to be.

“Compliance.”

After a brief loading period, Lizzy found herself standing in a firelit castle chamber with an elaborate full-length mirror. She drank in the sight of her own reflection, her usual avatar dressed in a gorgeous silken gown. Breathlessly, she reached out to touch the smooth, cool surface of the mirror. She barely recognized herself for how elegantly her neck, shoulders, and waist looked in the dress. The burgundy silk complemented her hair and complexion perfectly. Lizzy grinned, realizing that she didn’t even need to think about straightening her shoulders: She was standing taller already.

Oh, yes! Lizzy thought as she nodded approvingly. I think I’m ready.