Be honest. Well, mostly honest...

Aside from divulging the fact she was a robot...specifically a robo-slut (which she would undoubtedly not found flattering if she was designed right), I figured there was nothing to hide from Raven. After all, if I made something up and she found something conflicting in my story, then I look like a fool...among other things.

So I talked. I told her a bit about myself, trying not to harp too much on how bad my social life was. I wasn't trying to get pity out of her. Besides, if her memory is of the fictional Raven, then she more than likely had it far worse than I did. I also tried not to sound like I was bragging about my wealth. Honestly, it didn't do much for me anyway...at least, not until I heard about the robo-sluts. This could be the first case of money truly buying happiness.

To my surprise (and delight, really), Raven listened. At first, she had the same bored expression, holding the book I had given her like she wanted me to hurry up and leave. Slowly though, she lowered the tome, paying more attention. "...wow. So...why buy a bookstore?" she asked.

I couldn't give the real answer there. I had bought it just to be the place I "picked her up" from. Thankfully, I was able to come up with a quick...and not entirely false answer. "Well...I do like books," I explained. "There's also the fact that this is such a small, out of the way sort of place. Casual readers wouldn't come by here. They wouldn't be the type who expects to find DVDs or whatever to be sold here. ...they'd be more my type of people, I guess."

We were silent for a time. I decided I had given it all I had for now. Pushing further might only agitate things. She'd return, undoubtedly. In fact, she was probably programmed to come here again and again until we connected. "Well...I shouldn't keep you from your book," I said, standing from less comfortable chair. It seemed polite to let her have the cushioned one. "Thanks for listening, Raven. I'm sure it wasn't why you came by here, so it meant a lot."

The moment of truth...