I'm selling it

"I'm selling it."

"For someone made from the same technology, you sure are against it."

"I'm not against the technology, I'm against your irrational spending habits. You installed a hyper-expression face module on me."

"What, you don't like expressing emotion?"

"You installed the module without the necessary software."

"Well how was I supposed to know you security models didn't have it included? Every other model does. You're like an rPhone without a camera."

"Because every other model comes with their own basic face module. Security models don't, because we're security models!"

"So how come you're allowed to express things vocally but not facially?"

"Because the production costs for facial- you know what, forget it. That's not what this is about. I'm selling it."

"Look, the rPhone740 is drastically more advanced than the rPhone737 that I have."

"Is it malfunctioning?"

"What? No-"

"Is it lacking any sort of software required for communication or everyday life."

"Not really but-"

"I'm selling it."

"C'mon Noa! I earned the money to buy it!"

"And now you're about to waste it. Again. This apartment room isn't even designed for two residents, let alone a human and an android. I'm selling this thing and saving what little credits it's worth for more important things."

"Whoa, hey, the rPhone740 is worth at least 50,000 CRD. I managed to get that one for 30,000 so it was a hell of a bargain."

"And with no proof that it's genuine either I'm sure. I doubt we can get a refund from whichever scam tech shop you got this from but if it's in mint condition then we can at least get a good price from reselling it."

"..."

"...I may not be capable of making facial expressions but I'm capable of reading them Gin. This isn't even mint-condition is it."

I swipe my fingers across the phone screen, scrolling past a variety of apps.

"You know how it is. Any shipment of goods that actually manages to get past the sea storms goes straight to the rich assholes in the corporate districts. Nothing we own is mint-condition."

"Wait, nothing? Not even..."

I touch my face.

Gin's mouth wordlessly hangs agape as he stares at me.

"You put someone else's face on me."

"No. No no no. I modified someone else's face and turned it into yours."

"If not for the medical bills that would follow, I would modify your face here and now."

"Okay, look, we can talk about not selling my new rPhone-"

"I'm selling it."

"-after work. We're gonna be late if we keep this up. I don't want to get slapped by Dahlia's metal hand again."

"You bruise too easily."

"You only say that because you don't bruise at all."

Our front door's electronic lock beeps shut behind us. We walk through the alley only wide enough for one person at a time. As we exit to the main road, we are greeted with the usual sunset: the sea's horizon glowing a warm orange while the cold neon lights around us come to life one at a time.