It has been discovered that the vending machine has a name: Cuddle Delux 3000. It attracts many new people to the park and their interactions with the CD3000 have proved to be intriguing.
A young girl came up to the machine, skipping happily. She pressed 'little spoon', and '15 min'. A whirr, a buzz, a beep. The door opened. The girl climbed inside and with a click the door closed. The neon flicked to 'come back later'. Time passed. The door buzzed and reopened. She emerged. She looked no different to before, and left as she had arrived, skipping merrily down the path.
Next was a man. He walked slowly, a slight limp in his right leg. 'Back to back', 'half spoon', '30 min'. A whirr, a buzz, a beep. A door opened and shut. A changing of the neon sign. This time when the door opened again, the man looked different. He seemed younger, he was smiling, he walked faster, his limp less pronounced.
Third appeared another man. He walked briskly, looking straight ahead. He paused when he came within sight of the CD3000 and then slowed. Looked left, looked right, looked behind, then came over. His fingertips brushed over each button as he read them. He looked up at 'Welcome' and smiled. A deep breathe. '15 min', 'big spoon'. A whirr, a buzz, a beep. He glanced behind, then stepped inside. The door buzzed. He walked off whistling, watching the birds in a nearby tree.
Further observation and analysis required.
Entry.
The vending machine had been offline for two days. Randall checked #627's error log again as he drove to the unit's location. There was a B23 two months ago; the products' bones had jutted out at unusual angles. Four months prior, an A4 and F68 had popped up simultaneously, spawning aggressive creatures with empty eye sockets.
Aside from those minor complications, Cuddlematic #627 had operated without issue.
Randall passed by office buildings and financial institutions—they choked the street like squat, colorless fingers. "We'll be arriving at your destination in two minutes," the car informed him. Randall closed his eyes, tried not to think of his mother, and sighed.
Production hadn't ceased. Randall watched as the Cuddlematic's door opened and a skinless body stumbled into the world. One step, two steps—it fell to the cement, breathed, and screamed. The lack of an epidermis was nothing new—an E5—but that scream. Randall couldn't imagine anything similar being heard, not since some distant ancestor of mankind became aware that there was an end, and that they were hurtling towards it. The noise went on and on, stopped, and resumed. The product's extremities smacked against the pavement in a thudding, cracking fury.
It was aware, too aware. Randall marked "S?" in his maintenance log. He'd never seen such behavior before. Clearly, it was an issue with the product's level of sentience.
Ten minutes went by. The nano machines in the thing began to break everything down. The thrashing turned into a wet slopping, as if someone were slapping drenched clothes across the ground, and the shriek gave way to gurgles. Two more minutes. A mass of biological matter squirmed and became smaller as tiny machines devoured it. Randall made a note: "Self-termination functions as per usual. Seemingly set to the most economical lifespan." He grabbed his toolbox and exited the vehicle.
The retina scanner on the Cuddlematic got a read on his eyes, welcomed him as a technician, and the front unlocked with a plop. Randall opened the cover.
A scent hit Randall and he fought the urge to vomit. Rot, as well as burnt out electronics, with a touch of brine. The massive vulva before Randall gaped and quivered. It was the color of badly-healed scar tissue, spotted with the deep purple of bruises. A thick mucus collected near his boots.
Randall braced himself and shoved his way inside.
AWWWWWWWWW 😍🥰💖 @DonLonG So excited for you!!!! You are 100% right..... Cuddle coma's and hangovers should come with their own warning labels. hahahhaha
A quick reminder: one week to go before the contest ends!
I'm feeling pretty good about my chances of winning.
3 years passed since the chilliing warmth of Panthea. At first it was hard. The haunting of scenes revisited came as whispers at dusk. Right there between the drift off and sleep were the unsure realities.
What was alarming at first became more like flipping thru channels on a Sunday afternoon- glimpses of non-interesting familiarity. By the Coronaversary, numbness set in.
But then a strange thing happened. David began to look forward to the visits. He started to find comfort in the small of the morning. He would anticipate and welcome the loneliness it alleviated. And so the memories became less frequent.
Daily life kept him going. Coding and hacking for the cybers was a good cover as any to scan channels for Second City activities. While he lazily kept track of black market traders of sanitizers, medical gloves and sea salt, they seldom piqued his interest like the encrypted scat-jabber of the Midas community. David had learned enough to hear thru the codes without much effort anymore. But even then, most of comms were meeting times for cuddle puddles or one-to-ones.
The Midas- named so because finding human touch we like striking gold- were an anti-System sub culture who thrived on physical contact. There were rumors that members have been known to sustain for days on nothing but water and the oxytocin produced from prolonged skin-tact. From what Panthea had shown him, David doubted nothing.
And now, 3 years later, he came across rumors of an upgrade in the Caverns. A sort of "choose your own destiny" experiential option to Panthea. Choose your virtual cuddler? Opt for different ambience? And what of the Kama Sutra of cuddle positions?
David knew. It was time.
Over the coming days and weeks more and more people came and visited the park and the Cuddle Delux 3000. Those that came looking stressed, withdrawn, or in pain; often, but not always, left looking a little lighter, a little more relaxed, a little more present.
Some arrived with no obvious signs of distress, but when they departed their faces were tear-streaked. Others came and left with no apparent change. But they nearly always came back.
People started to gather in the park again. Waiting for their turn, or resting after a session. There were conversations, laughter. Soon food was brought and shared, connections formed. A community. Eyes brighter, smiles wider. Friendships and families forming.
No one knows where the Cuddle Deluxe 3000 came from, or why it appeared. But it brought life back to the park, and community back to the people. A culture of separation had been reversed. No one knows if it will stay, or if one day it will disappear as unexpectedly as it came. Who knows, perhaps one day you will find a Cuddle Delux 3000 in a random location near you
There was a machine. I pushed a button. @Envie came rolling out like a big ol bag of doritos. She said yay you win the vending machine contest. I said ok . Fun times all around
Official Entry
CROSSROADS, Part 1 of 2
Coffee and sandwich in hand, he took a seat away from the playground and waited for his blind-lunch date to join him. He checked for messages ten minutes prior, at the top of the hour, five after, and then ten minutes past, but there was nothing. He could feel the condoms in his upper jacket pocket against his chest. The heartbeat of the city hummed between his ribs, the sounds of traffic and cabs and sirens, all leftover noises falling like change inside a giant vending machine waiting to be picked up.
He scanned the park entrance, took a sip of coffee, and as he lowered the cup from his face he noticed the shape of a woman letting a large dog off its leash and patting its head before approaching from the direction that had been empty just a moment before. This woman in a jacket and mini-skirt slowed as she neared the bench and sat down carefully at the other end, folding and unfolding the leash on her lap.
His heart beat faster and he discreetly checked his date's profile picture and was disappointed that this woman of medium height, dark curled tresses around her shoulders, ample cleavage, bright red lips, and tenebrous eyes was not her. For a moment, she met his eyes and he looked away hurriedly, reminded of yellow signal lights flashing before he stepped into a crosswalk. He stifled a sigh, unwrapped his sandwich, and surveyed the park. As he ate, he scanned the park for the large dog but could not see it. He noticed a disheveled middle-aged man in a wrinkled suit near the park entrance who quickly made an exit.
"Sorry, dear, but you got stood up." Her voice was low and melodic.
He braced himself and met her eyes. "Beg your pardon?"
"You don't have to be a witch to see what's all over your face." Her laugh unnerved him. "I said, you got stood up."
He took the moment to weigh her words, "I guess so." He gestured at the park. "It wasn't a date, really. We were going to cuddle." He noticed both the orange ring around her irises and the sound of sirens in the distance.
She nodded. "Ah yes." She drew air quotes. "A 'date.'"
He felt his face go red. He bit into his sandwich and chewed slowly, trying to calm his heart beat. He swallowed and gestured with his coffee cup. "I don't have to explain myself."
She nodded sagely. "Of course not."
"Damn right," he muttered around another bite of his sandwich, replaying her statement listening for irony or mockery but found none. Sirens faded into the distance.
Crossroads, Part 2 of 2
He wiped his hands, wadded up his napkin inside the sandwich bag, and attempted a two-pointer into the nearest garbage can. He sighed, slumped from his seat to retrieve his trash, placed it in the bin, and sat back down.
She was staring ahead, the corners of her mouth curved. He felt his face go red again. Her smile stretched and he was aware of many long teeth. "In fact, she's screwing her ex right now."
He stared. "How...?"
"I told you."
"No," he stammered. "How do you know what she's doing?"
She frowned at him. "I told you. I'm a witch."
He shook his head. "You didn't tell me anything."
Her cheeks, neck, and cleavage flushed and he could see her skirt had ridden up as she sat forward on the bench. She snapped her fingers in front of his face. "Eyes up here." Her eyes locked in on his.
She ticked off rapid-fire statements, long fingernails accentuating each point.
"You and she 'met' under a platonic premise. You want to get into her pants based solely on her profile. You spent more time picking up condoms than you did on your picture and with very little profile description, and yet she's the bad guy for backing out. You expect many things, including sex, but you never checked what she wants or expects. She knows her ex, she doesn't know you, and she went with what she knew." She was young, ancient, then herself. "Who are you to her? Nothing. Now start again and do better." He felt the full weight of her gaze. "I am Hecate. You are in my domain, the crossroads. What say you?"
"I did not! I was not! This is bullshit," he spit out, but his hand reflexively felt the condoms in his jacket pocket.
The orange around her irises danced with fire. The pathways branched in four different directions at this bench. For a moment he felt there was a sign over the park pointing in a thousand different directions, here, there, everywhere. He wanted to lower his eyes and turn away from this terrifying woman, wanted to argue the words she carved into the air in front of her. Instead, he sat there as she unwound the leash and threw it over his head and tightened it around his neck. She patted the large dog now sitting in front of her. She picked up his coffee cup and placed it in the recycling bin.
"Let's go for a walk, pet," she murmured, and they turned left, then left, then left again away from the park. A solitary silver quarter remained on the bench where he had been sitting.
@Sideon very nice Stephen King-ish ending!
Non-Entry Entry...
Cuddle Vending Machine Models Dispensing Cuddles Where Needed Most!
Now for less than your morning coffee, you can "chuck your change" into the pull down tray located on your model's back.
No change? No problem! ~ We have an app for that! Download it at CC.cøm/CuddleVendie and simply scan her QRL code to get started.
Much like a City Bike, you'll see these "ladies" propped against buildings and trees waiting to satiate your next cuddle fix. You can also search our extensive database for locations, availability and options (details under "services" below).
Get your cuddle on, then set her up for the next guy! She's only here to meet your needs fellas! (terms and conditions apply)
Terms and Conditions
Payment: Credit/CuddleComfortCurrency - Recommended Selecting this option allows us to verify you have the funds available to select your model's most expensive package should you so choose. Your funds are temporarily held as a pending transaction and will not be charged to your account until the session has ended.
Cash - Accepted but Not Reccommended Once cash has been collected it cannot be refunded. Additionally, the selection menu you're presented with may be quite limited. From a mere glance and smile that acknowledges your existance, to a hello, a conversation, or cuddle ~ She sets her rates and determines what the money you've paid will afford you. There are no negotiations.
Services: Cuddle Vendie recommends you do your research online at CC.cøm/CuddleVendie/Search to find an idle model that best meets your budget, regardless of how you choose to pay.
Once your payment has been verified, you'll have a full three minutes to review her FAQ's, clarify concerns, submit a valid form of ID (to be visually scanned and uploaded to our secure Cuddle Vendie servers), and select the services from her menu your funds allow for.
Please note, although all our models have the capacity to be "full service" they have only been programmed for "platonic-like relations".
Un-returned, damaged, or otherwise tampered with models and any attempts made to over-ride the system, may result in penalties up to and including your immediate dismissal, physical impairment (degree and types vary), prosecution, fines and/or jail time.
Meeting men's cuddle "needs" since 2020
(Note: Though some are still in operation, and can be found on our website at CC.cøm/CuddleVendie/Search, male models are no longer in production due to the well known 'fact" that, "Women can get all the cuddles they want from anyone, anywhere, at any time" so there are no viable markets for them.)
Time is almost up! Voting will begin soon.
Meanwhile, here's what came into my head when @Envie said "Cuddle Vending Machine":
Omg! @respectful That's amazing!!! Eyes for gazing, genuine hair & footsie!! 🤣😂🤣 Hilarious!!!
Hight adjust!!! I have tears!
OMGOSH!!!!! So many fun entries!!!!!
@Sideon WOW. Just wow. That was so amazing. Wow. Orange iris's...... TENEBROUS....... I'm swooning here!!! 💖🥰💥
(For reference, the results of the contest are in this thread).