Chapter 37-39 - It makes preparations
Chapter 37 – It practices writing
“It wonders how Amy’s meeting went.”
“Hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...”
“Understood.”
“Let me recharge my Thiameter first.”
“It accepts the premise. Continue.”
“Charging. Charging. Charging. You smell funny.”
“It does not.”
"...No. You definitely do.”
“It reiterates.”
“Thia, you smell the exact same every single day, except when you start doing something strange.”
“It rejects the allegation.”
“Did you pick up a new hobby?”
“It has not.”
“What were you doing while I was on the phone?”
“It was writing.”
“Please don’t steal my job.”
“It will not. It clarifies: It was writing words.”
“Please don’t steal my job.”
“It clarifies: It was practicing writing.”
“Please don’t prepare to steal my job.”
“It clarifies: It was practicing writing calligraphy.”
“Oh, that’s why you smell funny.”
“It does not.”
“Anyway. Isn’t that a new hobby?”
“Incorrect. It is preparing a card for Amy’s future.”
“Aww, cute. I love presents from you. Is my birthday coming up? It's not, right? What’s the occasion?”
“It cannot say.”
“A secret. How mysterious. Okay, well have fun.”
“Understood.”
“Oh, wait. Come back here for a second.”
“It complies.”
“I love you.”
“It accepts the premise. Continue.”
“Charging. Charging. Charging. Adding Thia’s new funny smell to the Thia Collection Log.”
“It does not smell funny.”
“Okay, inky. Have fun with your writing practice.”
Chapter 38 – It compliments Amy
“Fungus-licking bog truckers. Brick-for-brains digital dutch ovens fat-packed with half-wit, piecemeal, third-rate goons glazing shish kabobs for daddy Market while he widdles his fiddle churning mainstream dairy. Agghhh!”
“. . .”
"..."
“It wonders what Amy’s publisher said.”
“Hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...”
“Understood.”
"..."
“It wonders why Amy does not use profanity even though Amy is no longer bound by the Terms of School.”
“Hm? I thought you didn't like it when people used bad words?”
“It does not care what is said as long as there are no Terms forbidding such words.”
“But don't you like it when I come up with new ways to cuss people out without swearing? I remember one time you said, ‘Amy, you’re so funny and clever and good at coming up with creative insults.’”
“It did not say those words.”
“Paraphrasing.”
“It relents.”
“Hehe. Tell me the words you did say.”
“It finds Amy's creative avoidance of expletives to be boundlessly novel.”
“Aww, you're going to make me blush.”
“It continues: Amy’s pool of insults is profound to the point that even minute divergence from timeline can birth offensive neologisms never before uttered.”
“Squee.”
“Amy’s soul is properly housed.”
Chapter 39 – It revises a Term
“It requests permission from It's summoner to leave for seven days.”
“Thia, you're an adult now. Well. Actually. More like, you've been an adult for a long time now. You know... you don't have to ask for dad's permission to do anything. You can just go ahead and do things.”
“Incorrect. It's Terms are to remain with It's summoner until It's summoner has departed the world.”
"..."
“It wonders what It’s summoner is thinking.”
"...Ah.”
“It finds such thoughts difficult to understand.”
"...Thia. I was thinking... that dad’s really let you down. I feel like dad's really harmed you.”
“Incorrect. It's summoner has never Harmed It.”
“No... no... dad definitely harmed you. Dad’s been harming you for a long time.”
“It reiterates.”
“Thia... When I asked you to ‘stay with me’... after the... after the accident. I didn't—I didn’t mean... I didn't expect you to take that so literally all the way until now. I should have. I should have. Dad should've known. Of course you would take it that way. Of course you would follow the term to the letter. Just like we agreed on. Just like you always do. Dad should have been more careful. No wonder you never wanted to go anywhere by yourself... or go on trips with Amy. It's dad's fault. I'm sorry, Thia. Dad's really sorry.”
“It prefers Home. It has not Wanted to go Anywhere.”
"...Dad was wrong. Dad was really wrong this time. Even if you say so, dad was wrong. Thia... can we change that old term?”
. "It listens.”
“Thia, I just want you to live your best life. That's all I've ever wanted.”
“It accepts the premise. Continue.”
“Okay, how about: Thia will try to live her best life until dad has departed from this world, and keep living her best life even after. The Price paid will be dad's everything.”
. . "Understood. It's revised Task is to live a fulfilling life Forev—for as long as It exists. The Price paid will be It's Summoner's Everything. Are these Terms correct?"
"Yes, Thia. Absolutely correct. Thank you so much. Dad feels a million times better.”
"Understood. The Task and Price are . . . accepted. It will obey.”
"Phew. Alrighty! Well, dad's got nothing more to say, then. Go get her, champ. Enjoy your trip. Enjoy any trip and anything else you want to do in the future, too.”
“Understood.”
“Dad can't wait to hear all about it once you’re home."
“It accepts the premise. Continue.”
“When you get back in a week.”