>>86626433>inb4 your dick gets caught in a ball jointI'm kinda liking the concept so I'll go for another round
>Life goes on >You need to learn how to help her with simple things, holding things that require a bit more dexterity than what her fingers could offer. >The biggest thing, though, is the bronze knob on the side of her head that needs winding every day >You turn it for her, feeling her body whir back to life >"I hate this," she mutters. >She looks at her hands, perfectly crafted but lifeless >"I can't feel when you hold me..." >You hold her hand anyway, hoping it’s enough >She needs help moving, adjusting her joints, everything >On some nights, she cries, staring at the ceiling >"Why did you save me? Why didn't you just let me die?" >You hug her tight, not caring about the cold ceramic against your skin >"Because I love you. I couldn’t let you go." >She doesn’t respond, but rests her head on your shoulder, the quiet hum of gears the only sound in the room>Your sister's not the only thing that's different; everything around her is too >The first few weeks are a nightmare of paperwork and bureaucratic bullshit >Awkwardly, you try explaining to a government clerk that your sister, once human, is now an automaton >The hospital has no idea what to classify her as, since she’s not dead, but not exactly alive either >Spend hours in government offices, explaining her situation, getting weird looks from everyone >Finally, after weeks of nonsense, they give her a special, ad-hoc classification: "Non-Biological Citizen" >It's a legal gray area, barely treated like a person anymore. Can't even own property without a human co-signer. Better than nothing, though>People can’t help but stare when they hear her joints whirr or notice her mechanical movements >So simple things like going to the grocery store, renewing her ID - they've all become small battles against prejudice >At home, it’s even stranger; she doesn’t need food or sleep anymore >So, you stop buying groceries for her. It doesn't take long for the kitchen to feel empty and haunted >Sometimes, though, you catch Cecilia staring at plates and forks, as if trying to remember what it was like to eat >Her body runs on some unknown mechanism, powered by whatever magic brought her back >What's weirdly comforting though is, at least, no more worries about her getting hurt or sick >Since she can't sleep anymore, she sits in the living room all night, reading or staring out the window. She has no need for rest anymore, after all>One night, you wake up and find her there, eyes focused on the moon outside the window, perfectly still >It's a bit unnerving, but peaceful in a way too. >You’re responsible for her maintenance too >Though she doesn't need food or drink anymore, her body needs a whole lot of other things >Wind the brass knob on the side of her head every few hours to keep her moving. She just can't quite do it herself yet>Oil her joints, polish the ceramic parts to prevent wear >It feels more like you're maintaining a machine than caring for your sister >You hate it. Every twist of the knob reminds you of what she’s lost >But, for some reason... you hear her making these strange, ragged sounds. >It's like she's... moaning?>“Are you okay?” you ask her after finishing maintenance >She smiles softly, a flicker of her old self behind those glassy eyes>"C-Can you... turn my knob again?" >Strange, but alright. You turn her knob one more time, and you hear the clinks of her toes as they curl >Is she liking this???