006

Slow day at Rockin' Records today. Me and the AISR are sitting around the register, waiting for anything at all to happen.

Party Death Machine reaches over to Peyton with a shaky hand.

Party Death Machine taps a pin on Peyton's lanyard that says 'Ask Me Abt My Fave Bands'

Ah, my favorite bands?

Umm, well... god, this is gonna sound like I'm trying to impress you, but I'm really into the AISR music culture.

Peyton counts on xyr hands. They look slightly embarrased.

Top 5 from that cohort... probably... Chrome Flamethrower, Khold, Fifty Feet Under... Carsick, and I-Duols. Honorable mentions: Extravagance and Harvard Kid.

I sound like a total hotshot.

A-and, um, human bands... uh, Aphex Twin, Underworld, um--

Party Death Machine perks up. Peyton notices.

Seems excited at the mention of those. Reaching into its chassis, packed with messy wires, it pulls out a neatly folded paper and hands it to me. Unfolding it, a flyer for an event happening tonight, 10PM. An AISR ambient techno show.

Peyton holds the flyer with both hands. Party Death Machine points at the top part.

It points at the very top, a band called "3P Sound Project." Underneath, it lists the band members' namesakes: Party Death Machine, Pulsewidth, and Pearl's Girl.

Heh, that's kind of funny--

It taps the name "Party Death Machine" profusely, and then motions towards itself.

Oh, that's- that's *your* namesake! That's sick!! You're playing tonight?

Can I keep this flyer? If it's not, uh, too tacky of me, I wanna come see your band!

It nods again. I look over the rest of the flyer for a moment, not particularly recognizing any of the bands playing. Must be a more underground show.

I thought we were closing early for no reason tonight. You must've gotten into Raphael's head and pulled some strings, huh?

Party Death Machine 'blushes' and covers its face with its hand. Peyton is amused.

I can't help but laugh.

I kneeeew it! I knew it. Of course you did!

Um... admittedly... I haven't been to many AISR music shows, or festivals, concerts, n' whatnot...

I show it another pin on my lanyard, the one I got from the Dead Radio Star festival, an AISR music festival I'd attended a couple years back.

I went to this one. Really fuckin' awesome music! Lotta fun, wish I was there for longer than a couple hours, but...

Okay, well, anyways. I'm glad to finally know your namesake. Don't really know why Raph didn't bother to tell me, honestly, I thought he was like...

Okay, this is stupid, but like, neglecting you?

Party Death Machine profusely shook its head. I held in a snort.

I knew that couldn't be the case! I'd just never really seen folks in your condition, ya'know?

B-But I understand why now! I'm better read. Swear on my life, I'm... I'm better read.

Despite how insensitive I think I'm sounding, it nods affirmingly at me. Despite it, I still can't help but feel super foolish.

But I decide to make an ass out of myself again.

And hey, I'm glad I don't have to refer to you as "the AISR from work" anymore.