Searching the shop

(Sometime life itself, at least life outside of my own, feels like watching a tv show. It's all this other world that you can't actually touch or be a part of. It's not that I'm different, it's like I have all the potential to be a part of that world, but I go ahead and remain apart anyways despite having every advantage)

"Well here we are."

-click- "Mm? Oh, yes..." Pear said as she looked around at the former antique shop. Strangely, she couldn't seem to remember exactly how it used to look. Everything was so broken down and covered in layers of dust, it was like a completely different place, entirely unfamiliar. "Do you do this sort of thing often?"

"You mean slipping into places and possibly a thing or two in the process? No. To be honest the thought only hit me a few months back after watching a stream of some guys exploring abandoned ships. I just do retail, mostly customer service stuff. It sucks."

"I see... What's a stream?"

"It- You know, it would just be easier to show you later. What about you though? Do you remember anything?"

"I think I read -tzzt- books."

"Books?"

"Printed text on a set of pages consist-"

"I know what books are."

"Then why ask what you already know?"

"Because I wasn't asking about the books themselves, I was asking about what you did. Was reading books a job for you?"

"I don't know."

"Hm, well I'm just going to set you down while I search for a bit." He said, setting her down on a stack of boxes. "I would dust it off first, but I'm trying not to stir up any more than I have to. The last thing I want is lung disease."

"Don't 'recycle' anything."

"Pft, spoil sport. Don't worry, you'll have a front row seat from there to watch my every move." William said as he pulled on a pair of gloves. "This place is pretty disgusting. I should double up the gloves just to be safe."

As he carefully shuffled through the debris, he continued to try and carry on the conversation. "So your name, Pear, does it mean anything?"

"Does it have to?"

"Not particularly, I'm just curious really."

"I like how it -tzzt- sounds."

"Well that's something. In any case, doesn't look like we're going to find anything up here. I guess we should check the basement. This used to be an antique shop right Pear?"

....

"Pear?"

"Oh, what? Sorry, I was daydreaming."

"Daydreaming? Well, that's a first one to hear. I was just saying we should check downstairs. If you're ready, I'm going to pick you up again."

"Very well."

With that he picks her back up and walks slowly to the back and down the stairs. "So you read books like, just for fun?"

"Maybe, I don't know."

"What kind of books?"

"Just -tzzt- books."

"So you read just books, and you daydreamed? You realize that's not exactly normal behavior?"

"Duly noted. I'll be sure to ask permission next time I have a -tzzt- thought."

"Hey, that's not what I meant, so drop the sass. I'm here to help, remember? I just mean there's nothing else like you that I've ever seen. Doing the things you do, what reason is there for any of it? Are you a custom model? That's a possibility, but you seem far too advanced for a pet project. Why do you look like a rabbit? What reason could a design like that be relevant for?"

tct-tct-tct

"I'm sorry, this is upsetting you."

"No, it's -tzzt- okay. I'm not- I'm- I don't care what I was supposed to be. I just want to remember."

"Alright, I'm going to set you down again. These boxes look stable enough."

"Thanks for not setting me on the floor."

"No problem. Well, one thing's for sure. After this I'm going to need a long, hot-"