Built-In Assistant
By Limewah
Subscriber Reward for Carmine (Nov 2024)
SNEAK PEEK

Carmine made a beeline for the visor as soon as he got in the door. It was pride of place in his living room, resting on a cradle he’d 3-D printed for it so it could be on display like a trophy. It was too sleek and beautiful not to be looked at - jet black, almost translucent, its surface completely smooth save for a hidden compartment for the charging port on the underside. 
It was almost always strapped to the big fluffy red dragon’s face when he was at home - he practically didn’t even notice it most of the time. The AR cameras were almost as good as his own eyes, so it made sense to keep it on, playing music and surfing the web as he cooked, cleaned, or just chilled out.

Carmine gingerly took the visor out of its cradle, gently plucked the charging cable from its port, then slid it over his head. The screen sprung to life with a brief prism-burst of rainbow colour, before being replaced with a simple white screen.
“Hi there, buddy…” he said, with a snaggletoothed grin. He was already a little dazed from that first salvo of colour.
“Hello Carmine.” The bone-conducted vibrations created a soothing baritone. The visor’s Docent AI didn’t have any sort of avatar, but Carmine imagined them wearing a nice crisp suit, and having very piercing eyes. “How was your work-day?”
“It was… the usual,” Carmine sighed. “I’m ready to relax.”
“Of course, that can be arranged,” Docent said. “Please, make yourself comfortable.”

The screen filled with spirals of black and white, twisting and throbbing. The centre-point of the spirals pulled inwards and outwards, and Carmine forgot he was wearing the visor, as he always did.
He understood the correct position to make himself comfortable in. He knelt to the floor and stared, placid and content.
“As you assume this comfortable pose, please feel your mind start to slow. Take in the beautiful spirals. And listen to my voice. May I come in?”
“Please… come in,” Carmine murmured.

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