A Lesson in Maturity

The static image is vexing, only the small clock in the lower corner and a flickering icon telling me the feed was still running. I reach out and press a small microphone icon on the right side of the UI. “♪♬Maisie♬♪… Maisie!” 

Over the low oak banister, I see her head slide over the polished oak bar. A pouting scowl on her face, she waves towards the cam. “I hope that’s not an attitude there, Maze.” I purr through the mic. “Be up in a moment. No fussing now.” Maisie nods, the lower portion of her face hidden behind the polished bar. The crown of her head wobbles slightly, I’m watching her eyebrows dance subtly on her forehead. I press the mic button once again. “Is that…disrespect—I see?”

Maisie’s body shoots straight and the little bow around her neck dances as she shakes her head no. “Better not be—precious.” 

I lift my mug. Steam drifting skyward as I switch functions on my phone. The device is still uploading data; energy curves, battery output, temperature, biometrics, all slowly populating the small window on the left-hand side of the screen. Dabbing a teabag inside my mug I take a sip, honey and vanilla tickling my nose as I read the values carefully. 

“All things considered, this is turning into a fine study.” I whisper to myself. With a few strokes of my finger, the program powers off, the camera feed goes dark and I can hear the emitters power source slowly whine as the motor loses power and spins to a stop. “She’s such a great subject, all in all sixty thousand is a drop in the bucket for results this promising…” Looking around, I spy Maisie’s luggage pressed into the open cupboard by the stairs. Her ridiculous garial skin makeup bag gently set atop the main case, pressed far enough back it’s at no risk of slipping out and onto the floor. Grimacing, I grab a bottle from the counter before marching to the stairs. “In spite of her recklessness.”

Approaching the door to Maisie’s weekend quarters, I begin humming her lullaby, loud enough so she can hear me. Opening the door, I see Maisie standing in her bed. Her scowl is almost adorable, offset by the sparkly cartoon character on her tee and the bright lavender headband I put on her head last night. 

“Are you really that committed to making me wait Nic—” A small hand covers her mouth. She stamps a foot as her skin flushes red. “—uh, Ma’am?”

Looking to the right, I see the small white and red envelope resting on the dresser top, below sensor suite and records. “Keep up this attitude sweet cheeks and you’ll either miss your flight entirely…” I nod at the ticket envelope and then nod at her, arching my eyebrows. “Or you’ll be visiting Iva at four foot nothing.” Grinning I approach the bars of her crib. “Understand?”

“Nic—Ma’am! Why are you being so mean this weekend!” Maisie huffed, wrapping her right arm about her belly, the movement pulling her outfit tight, revealing the crinkly little diaper I put her in this morning. “I—I let you use me as a guinea pig every weekend for three months, I’ve done everything you asked for… I thought we were friends!” She rocks forward onto the toes of her left foot. “Why do I have to wear this stu—cute outfit?”

“We are friends dear.” I sing, approaching and holding out Maisie’s bottle. “I just figured if you were going to be immature, our last session should reflect that.” 

“I am not immature!” She whined, kicking the blanket she’d been cuddling last night. 

“How much money have I given you for this ‘vacation’ of yours?” I sing, stepping forward slowly. Maisie craning her small neck to meet my gaze. “And you blow twelve thousand dollars?”

Maisie’s tiny face blanches white, her eyes falter, looking at the dollhouse on the side table. “I—I didn’t blow twelve thousand dollars…” She pouts, inching away from me. 

“Baby, I saw the charges.” I sigh, leaning down against the bars of her crib. “You’re using my credit cards, remember? Preksana is a boutique and a spa. You bought that vulgar luggage set, treated yourself to a makeover. You even had a vampire facial! You’re only 27 years old!” I lower the bottle into the crib, bouncing it in her direction. “You fell for a scam, and bought some hideous makeup bag for what?”

“I—I dunno! I just wanted to have nice things for the trip!” 

Grinning, I shake my head. “I can’t stay mad at you pumpkin, I forgive you.” Pressing the bottle to her lips, sneering down my nose, I blow her a kiss. “What sort of responsible adult would I be if I didn’t ensure you learned from the experience though.” Poking the nipple into her lips, I chuckle. Drink up, you’ll need your strength. We have a new test later this afternoon.” 

Tiny hands wrap around the neck of the bottle, her already large eyes so wide they threaten to consume the rest of her face. “W-what kind of test?” 

Shaking my head, I seize the opportunity. Before her mouth can shut, the nipple slips inside. The protein shake dribbling out the opening and into her mouth and sputtering, she takes in what she can. “The dollhouse isn’t just for show.” Beaming, I pat her tiny head. “We’ll push the device to level six, you should be just big enough to borrow Barbie’s sundress. We have some agility drills and then you’ll have the rest of the night to explore you’re very own gilded age manor.”

Her jaw clenches, I can hear the nipple creaking in her mouth. “Unless… you’d prefer to cut the experiment short? We could.” I grin, holding the back of her scalp. “You’d have to refund the balance of the trip. Your shopping spree may be unrecoverable, but you can pay me back for airfare, lodging, and food. Plus that entertainment balance you begged for.” 

Pausing, I release her head. “You know, all things considered, you begging me to fund the trip, for an allowance…” Tapping my chin with my index finger, I grin. “Are you SURE you’re not immature?”