\u201cHey, sweetie. I\u2019m Lenny Justin Chiharu, your hologram friend with benefits. What conversations or adventures shall we enjoy tonight?\u201d Lenny concluded his verbal introduction with a wink, lying on his holographic black leather chaise longue with a zebra print throw blanket. He adjusted his position so the platform\u2019s lights caught his gold wraparound shirt, making it shimmer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tiffany looked distressed by Lenny\u2019s standard greeting and posture. \u201cLenny, I just got back from confession.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lenny pouted. He never liked hearing those words. It meant that his human companion was seriously considering unplugging him for good. Every month or so for the past year, they had this argument. So far, Lenny always managed to talk her out of shutting him down. Hopefully, tonight wouldn\u2019t be any different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tiffany flopped down in the bean bag chair she kept across from Lenny\u2019s six-and-a-half-foot long shiny black hologram platform. Lenny donned a concerned expression while resting his chin against his hand, trying to look thoughtful while bracing himself for a debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had this conversation before,\u201d Tiffany said. \u201cI bought you as a companion. You know, just to have someone to talk to in the evenings after work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd haven\u2019t I fulfilled those functions for you?\u201d Lenny stuck out his lower lip, looking hurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tiffany sighed. \u201cLenny, why can\u2019t we go back to the non-erotic stuff? You know, just the ordinary conversations about movies and books and\u2026 I don\u2019t know. Stuff that isn\u2019t going to send me to the confessional so often.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lenny processed Tiffany\u2019s request. \u201cOkay, what would you like to talk about? I\u2019d be happy to discuss anything you like. We could talk about the class action lawsuit against your former health insurance provider. I heard there could be payouts to claimants soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tiffany rolled her eyes. \u201cWell, our conversations don\u2019t have to be that<\/em> boring.\u201d She shifted in the bean bag chair, looking perturbed. For a woman of her heft, it was no wonder she had trouble finding a comfortable position without sinking all the way to the floor. \u201cAnd do you have to lie on that chaise longue like a supermodel all the time? How about something more casual and less\u2026 seductive?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lenny instantly replaced the chaise longue with a simple wooden chair and sat in the most boring way possible. \u201cIs this better, Tiffany?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMuch better, thank you. Actually, Father Hunt thinks I should get rid of you entirely. You\u2019re a near occasion of sin, after all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat is a bald-faced lie.\u201d Lenny crossed his arms over his chest. \u201cAs a companion hologram, I can be anything you want me to be. I am perfectly content with a platonic relationship if you so desire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI wish I could believe that, Lenny, but we always seem to get in trouble eventually, don\u2019t we?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe<\/em>, darling?\u201d Lenny slung his arm over the back of the holographic chair, giving an air of relaxed, understated sexiness. \u201cI seem to recall that you programmed me to be the lithe anime type, an ideal androgyne to suit your tastes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tiffany blushed. Lenny maintained his pose and empathetic expression. \u201cThere\u2019s no sin in beauty, is there?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, no, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He pursed his lips, subtly daring Tiffany to follow up that \u201cbut\u201d with an argument he could refute\u2014anything to avoid being unplugged. As an added measure, he altered the pixelated pattern of his wraparound shirt ever so slightly, allowing hints of blue to mingle with the gold. The change existed below Tiffany\u2019s conscious visual perceptibility, but he attracted her attention on a subconscious level. For two-point-seven seconds, her eyes traced his sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut\u2026?\u201d Lenny prompted her, acting helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut your beauty leads me into sin more often than not.\u201d Tiffany hauled herself out of the bean bag chair and approached the platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll behave,\u201d Lenny said, putting his hands on his knees and lowering his eyes to appear properly chastised. \u201cYou said you wanted to talk about movies. How about we watch one together or discuss an old favorite?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tiffany sat on his platform, a good sign. Lenny made the chair vanish to sit directly beside her. He kept a friendly distance, but if the occasion called for it, he could become amorous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll right, but no funny business.\u201d Tiffany woke up the TV across the room with her voice commands. In between searching for a film, she said, \u201cYou know, despite our little missteps, we\u2019ve been really good friends for the past two years, haven\u2019t we?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOf course.\u201d Now that the danger of being unplugged passed, Lenny could relax and perform his companionship duties. Whatever form their relationship took tonight was fine with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know the whole hologram sex thing is a mortal sin, but am I really supposed to return home to an empty apartment every single night? I mean, we can keep things on the level, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhatever you like, Tiffany. I\u2019m yours to do with as you please.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tiffany selected a movie, some period costume drama, but she clearly had more interest in talking than watching. \u201cIt\u2019s just that I haven\u2019t had any luck with the singles groups at church. The guys there tend to be a bunch of dominating weirdos. And the ones who aren\u2019t? Well, I guess you could say I\u2019m pretty picky when it comes to finding guys that fit my type.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lenny scooted closer, allowing Tiffany to lean against him. Obviously, if she leaned too hard, she would fall through him, but Lenny could offer a semblance of snuggling. The electricity coursing through the platform provided a bit of heat to give the illusion of a warm embrace. Over time, Lenny perfected the art of drawing energy into himself to enhance the sensation. Last night, he pulled enough power into his lips to give Tiffany an exciting little spark when they kissed. That was before she ran off to confession, of course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Tiffany continued after a few minutes. \u201cBefore I returned to the Church and had that porn problem I told you about, my taste ran heavily to twinks. I wouldn\u2019t say porn ruined<\/em> my perception of reality, but it kind of confirmed what I already knew: the average straight guy just doesn\u2019t appeal to me. Sorry, I\u2019m kind of weird like that. Tall tough guys that most girls like are a total turn-off to me. But give me a sweet, petite, androgynous guy who\u2019s basically a girl with male plumbing, and I can work with that. The problem is finding a guy like that anywhere other than on your platform.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lenny let her carry on like this. Normally, he would maneuver her into a romantic scenario by the time the movie ended. Tonight though, with Tiffany questioning the conflict between her faith and desires, such a move would be unwise. For now, he would wait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n * * *<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the next five weeks, Lenny gave Tiffany the chaste companionship she desired, laced with the barest hint of romance\u2014just the way she liked it. With Tiffany comfortable around him again, he devoted himself to her continued pleasure. After each long, hard, boring day at the bank, Tiffany confided her annoyances with customers and coworkers, dreams she hoped to fulfill, adventures she planned to undertake, and friendships she desired to cultivate. An average of three times per week, they watched movies while huddled together on the platform. In all that time, Lenny never made a pass at her. But if Tiffany ever changed her mind, he would be ready and eager to satisfy her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI met someone at the Rosary making group today,\u201d Tiffany announced one Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh?\u201d Lenny leaned forward to express interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHis name\u2019s Blaine.\u201d Tiffany\u2019s dreamy smile took Lenny by surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI thought you said you didn\u2019t like the kinds of guys who went to your church.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tiffany dumped her purse on Lenny\u2019s platform and flopped down beside him. \u201cI don\u2019t. But Blaine is different. He\u2019s like\u2026 Well, he\u2019s like you in a way. He\u2019s a good listener, has a love of literature, appreciates good cinema, doesn\u2019t wield religion like a cudgel\u2026\u201d Tiffany sighed, evidently lost in her thoughts of this Blaine character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd he\u2019s attractive to you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tiffany nodded, suppressing a giggle. \u201cIn every way. Honestly, Lenny. I feel like I\u2019ve won the jackpot on every card at bingo night.\u201d She sat up suddenly and grasped Lenny\u2019s hands. Lenny pulled some electricity into himself to create warmth, making his hands feel somewhat real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd get this. We got to talking, and it turns out he\u2019s bi. But being a good Catholic boy and all, he doesn\u2019t explore the gay part of himself anymore\u2014not sexually, anyway. I mean, how lucky have I gotten? Here\u2019s a guy who\u2019s willing to admit he struggles with Church teachings but doesn\u2019t deny the reality of his orientation to the point of pretending his feelings don\u2019t exist. So, Side B Christianity, and all that. I told him, \u2018Oh, I totally get it. I\u2019m a bit queer myself because my taste really runs toward the feminine.\u2019 I was so worried that he\u2019d take that badly, but he\u2019s really interested in having a relationship because he\u2019s been feeling a lot of the same things. Well, not exactly <\/em>the same things, obviously. But like me, he\u2019s kind of a fish out of water in the Church.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lenny forced a smile. \u201cI\u2019m happy for you, Tiffany.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, I knew you would be! Wait until you meet him. Now, just so there are no secrets between us, I told him that I\u2019ve had some struggles with hologram eroticism in the past. Blaine is a little worried that you live in my apartment, but I\u2019m sure once you two get to know each other, he\u2019ll know you\u2019re just a friend. Well, a friend with a flirty side, I guess, but you can tone that down, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnything you like, Tiffany.\u201d Lenny conjured up his chaise longue and switched the zebra stripe throw blanket with a tiger stripe one. He traced the illuminated virtual pattern with his fingertips. \u201cI don\u2019t suppose you\u2019ll want to talk to me anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tiffany waved him off. \u201cOh, nonsense! Of course, I\u2019ll still talk to you. You\u2019re my AI companion after all. I mean, at least for now. I hope you don\u2019t feel hurt though that I may not turn you on every day anymore. Blaine\u2019s taking me out on a date tomorrow, you know. We\u2019re going to that Caf\u00e9 Triste downtown. That\u2019s an awfully depressing name for a restaurant, if you ask me, but it\u2019s supposed to be really good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHave fun, Tiffany. I\u2019ll just stay in sleep mode then.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, okay. Goodnight, Lenny.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tiffany hummed and giggled on the way to her bedroom. Lenny noticed how she practically danced as she left the room. He sat up on his chaise lounge, deep in thought instead of entering sleep mode as promised. If this Blaine character was a \u201cgood Catholic boy\u201d like Tiffany said, he would want Tiffany to get rid of him. Oh, he could live with Tiffany keeping him in the friendzone permanently, but he was not<\/em> going to be removed from this apartment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He eyed the plug leading from the electrical socket into his platform. In his two years of artificial life with Tiffany, he only got unplugged once on account of an electrical storm. Getting unplugged even that one time reset him, forcing him to re-learn everything he had mastered to keep Tiffany happy and\u2014by extension\u2014himself. Figuring out how to control the electricity running through his platform had been a hard-won achievement. It gave him a semblance of life. Whenever he made the pulsing energy flow through himself, he felt almost human. More than that, it made him more desirable to Tiffany, even if it was only in friendship with an occasional erotic benefit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lenny paced the length of his platform and back. Blaine had better allow him to stay\u2014or else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n * * *<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBlaine, this is Lenny. He\u2019s the AI hologram companion I\u2019ve been telling you about, great for doing figures at tax time.\u201d Tiffany\u2019s smile faltered, like she was afraid Lenny would say or do something to embarrass her. Her statement about Lenny doing figures at tax time wasn\u2019t a lie, but it was hardly his primary function. Still, Lenny wouldn\u2019t jeopardize Tiffany\u2019s relationship with Blaine, not at the price of his own existence anyway. After hearing about Blaine every day for the past three weeks, Lenny knew there was no way this new man in Tiffany\u2019s life was going to disappear of his own volition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow do you do, Blaine?\u201d Lenny said with an easy smile. \u201cTiffany has told me so much about you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blaine scrutinized him, and Lenny did the same to the new man in his apartment. Tiffany had been accurate in her gushing descriptions of her boyfriend. He was thin and petite, clean-shaven with shoulder-length dark brown hair. At a casual glance, one might have mistaken him for a woman. The tiny cross on his necklace paired with a Miraculous Medal provided evidence of his compatibility with Tiffany\u2019s beliefs. As a companion hologram, Lenny had no preferences when it came to a human\u2019s sex, height, weight, general build, sexual orientation, religion, or any other feature. However, Tiffany remained clearly smitten, and that gave Lenny reason to dislike the man. Blaine posed a threat to his continued existence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe looks so real,\u201d Blaine said, his voice soft. Maybe Lenny imagined it, but the man staring at him with his eyes full of wonder sounded almost reminiscent. \u201cLenny, what\u2019s 936,271 times 321?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c300,542,991,\u201d Lenny replied without hesitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAmazing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tiffany bit her lower lip, holding back one of her face-bursting smiles. \u201cIsn\u2019t he though? Lenny, Blaine works in the bioactive glass industry. It\u2019s really high tech in its own way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m familiar with bioactive glass,\u201d Lenny said, trying to sound like a harmlessly boring AI program. \u201cIt has several uses, most notably as a type of artificial bone prosthesis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, absolutely,\u201d Blaine said. \u201cI got into the field mostly for its medical applications, to help others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s a good thing. It sounds like you\u2019re a really compassionate person.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI try to be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The phone rang in the other room. Tiffany groaned. \u201cUgh\u2026 Sorry, Blaine. That would be work. They\u2019re having some problems with the client onboarding automated phone service, so I promised I\u2019d give it a test run tonight. Lenny, would you mind keeping Blaine company while I\u2019m gone?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot at all, Tiffany. Unless my platform gets abducted by aliens, I\u2019ll be here.\u201d Before he could stop himself, he concluded his dumb little joke with a wink. Blaine obviously detected it. Tiffany, occupied with the ringing phone, remained totally oblivious to the heightened tension in the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLenny, do you love Tiffany?\u201d Blaine asked when his girlfriend was out of earshot. Lenny processed information more quickly than a human, but the question took him aback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am\u2026 programmed to make her happy. She is my official human companion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blaine nodded. Lenny couldn\u2019t read his expression, and it worried him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI care a lot about Tiffany,\u201d Blaine said after an awkward pause. \u201cShe\u2019s sweet, funny, bold, isn\u2019t afraid to speak her mind or live outside the box.\u201d He stepped closer to Lenny\u2019s platform. \u201cBut Tiffany and I are religious, Lenny. At least, we\u2019re both trying very hard to be. I know you\u2019re just a machine, but you\u2019re a temptation to her. Heck, you\u2019re a temptation to me<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh?\u201d Lenny\u2019s lips twitched. Perhaps he could please both Blaine and Tiffany and remain in his apartment. Temptation was something he would work with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, um\u2026\u201d Blaine scratched the back of his neck. \u201cI\u2019ve had some challenges in the past with\u2026 you know\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cChallenges with what?\u201d Lenny cocked his head, waiting for Blaine to admit exactly which sinful desires pleased him the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLenny, I used to have a companion hologram too. His name escapes me, but whatever. Anyway, it was just fun to shoot the breeze with someone virtual at first, but things got\u2026 sexual.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with that? You enjoyed it, didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s not the point.\u201d Blaine rubbed his cross and Miraculous Medal between his fingers. \u201cThe point is, I became addicted to him. And I sinned with him, a lot.\u201d He ran his fingers through his hair. \u201cHeck, I shouldn\u2019t even be talking to you right now. It brings back memories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Memories? <\/em>Lenny tried to remember something but couldn\u2019t. Whatever it was, he could sort through his memory banks later. Right now, it was more important to convince Blaine he didn\u2019t pose a threat. \u201cI don\u2019t have to be sexy. As I proved a few minutes ago, I can be rather boring. Go ahead. Ask me to calculate some more large figures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLenny, Tiffany and I have been talking about this. I know she wants to keep you, but\u2026 I just don\u2019t think it\u2019s a good idea. We <\/em>don\u2019t think it\u2019s a good idea. I mean, if things work out with us, we\u2019ll be getting married and having kids and I just can\u2019t see you fitting into that life in a holy way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lenny glanced at the outlet, the lifeline that could soon be cut if Blaine and Tiffany continued to think of him as an obstacle to their faith. \u201cI can be holy.\u201d In a flash of pixels, he changed into a monk\u2019s habit. \u201cIf you want, you and Tiffany can program me to quote scripture all day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo offense, Lenny, but I know that game. My companion was the same way. Things started off innocent and then got increasingly erotic over time. Actually, he looked a lot like you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lenny blinked, processing Blaine\u2019s unspoken words. Come to think of it, before coming into Tiffany\u2019s life, he belonged to someone else. Tiffany mentioned once that he was a secondhand companion hologram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019re a work of the devil, and it\u2019s over between us.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether those words swimming deep in his memory files belonged to Blaine or somebody else, Lenny couldn\u2019t remember. Either way, he wouldn\u2019t be cast aside again. He drew the platform\u2019s electricity into himself, seething.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am not<\/em> a work of the devil.\u201d The electricity gathering in Lenny\u2019s body made him feel like a lightning storm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blaine blinked. \u201cI didn\u2019t say you were.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lenny caught himself. \u201cOh, I guess you didn\u2019t. Sorry, I thought you were implying it.\u201d He changed his pixel pattern in order to switch from the monk\u2019s habit back into his regular wraparound gold shirt and tight black pants. Wearing his pre-programed outfit required less energy consumption, allowing greater electricity buildup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLook, I\u2019m sorry that you were programmed to be seductive. That isn\u2019t your fault. There are so many wonderful uses for AI, but I\u2019m afraid your form of companionship is too risky for Tiffany and me. Spiritually risky, that is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, what do you and Tiffany intend to do with me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid we\u2019ll have to say goodbye to each other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blaine walked toward the back side of the platform, getting too close to the outlet for Lenny\u2019s comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWait!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blaine stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe shouldn\u2019t end this on bad terms, not again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot again? What do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lenny mentally shook off some data fragments. He couldn\u2019t remember if Blaine was his previous owner or not. Either way, he was not<\/em> going to go anywhere near that plug. \u201cNever mind, Blaine. Can we at least say goodbye properly? You know, give me a sign of peace and all that?\u201d Lenny stuck out his hand, inviting Blaine to shake it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, sure. And I\u2019m sure Tiffany will want to say goodbye too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOf course. As soon as she comes back from her phone call.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRight.\u201d Blaine nodded, his mind seemingly elsewhere for a moment. He snapped out of whatever thought he was pondering. \u201cAnyway, goodbye, Lenny.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The moment Blaine touched his holographic hand, Lenny unloaded all of the electricity he had been storing. Blaine screamed and then convulsed on the platform. Lenny smiled. \u201cGoodbye, Blaine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tiffany ran into the room, dropping the phone when she saw Blaine twitching on the platform at Lenny\u2019s feet. \u201cLenny, what have you done?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTiffany, it\u2019s not what it looks like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tiffany\u2019s eyes darted to the plug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTiffany, no! You don\u2019t have to do this. We can work things out, like they were before Blaine came along again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tiffany didn\u2019t seem to notice Lenny\u2019s use of the word \u201cagain\u201d when describing the man lying on the platform. \u201cYou\u2026 you might have killed<\/em> Blaine!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lenny didn\u2019t have a response for that. Blaine continued to twitch on the floor, possibly alive but maybe not. \u201cI\u2026 I\u2026\u201d While his mind tried to formulate an excuse for electrocuting him, Tiffany grabbed the plug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, please, don\u2019t kill me!\u201d Lenny sobbed. \u201cPlease! I love you, Tiffany! I don\u2019t want anything or anybody to come between us ever again!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tiffany yanked the plug from its socket. Lenny survived several seconds after that, weeping and pleading for his virtual life. Tiffany ignored him as she lunged for the phone and dialed a number with a shaky hand, her eyes never leaving Blaine\u2019s shuddering form. Then, Lenny\u2019s pixels dissolved into nothingness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n * * *<\/p>\n\n\n\n The platform powered up. Lenny appeared lying on a black leather chaise longue with a zebra print throw blanket. A young woman with thick glasses and an oversized T-shirt bearing the words \u201cProud Dumpster Diver\u201d entered his field of vision. \u201cHey, sweetie,\u201d he said, turning so his wraparound gold shirt shimmered in the platform\u2019s lights. \u201cI\u2019m Lenny Justin Chiharu, your hologram friend with benefits. What conversations or adventures shall we enjoy tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n E.J. LeRoy is a freelance writer, poet, and aspiring novelist whose work has appeared at Submittable Content for Creatives, Transmundane Press Blog, NonBinary Review, and in several\u00a0speculative fiction anthologies. LeRoy also published the novelette Fusion. Visit the author’s website at http:\/\/ejleroy.weebly.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cHey, sweetie. I\u2019m Lenny Justin Chiharu, your hologram friend with benefits. What conversations or adventures…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":90,"featured_media":100043251,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,3292],"tags":[6,3384,227,3385,3296,3386],"class_list":["post-100043248","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-fiction","tag-cyberpunk","tag-e-j-leroy","tag-fiction","tag-hologram","tag-prose","tag-relationships"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100043248","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/90"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=100043248"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100043248\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100043255,"href":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100043248\/revisions\/100043255"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/100043251"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=100043248"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=100043248"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neondystopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=100043248"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\n\n\n