Built to move

Waits on his bench like it is his job. Alternating leg swings with a sneaky double kick, real knees that lag the swing, and boots that never quite reach the floor.

Chrome cadet. Mirror finish body under a glass dome, red eyes on a porcelain face. She scans the room in servo steps and lets the reflections do the acting.

Asleep on the clock. Slow breathing with a deep sigh every 12th breath, 1 ear twitching at dreams. The 54 shell coat breathes with him; hover and it dissolves into topology.

Off the clock entirely. A clay duck in a clay armchair, cap on, phone out. The thumb keeps scrolling, the webbed feet keep wiggling, and every 9 seconds a silent wheeze opens the bill. Poke him and he fumbles the phone.

Painfully shy. Sways, double blinks, then every 7.5 seconds gathers the courage for 1 perfect hop: anticipation squash, airtime stretch, landing settle.

A walking hairdo. Layered shell fur that sways as she moves, 1 arm permanently mid wave, smooth vinyl hands and feet for contrast. Hover to comb her down to topology.

Catching up on the Daily News. The eye line scans each line with a quick return sweep, and the page turns every 6 seconds. The visor stays glossy, even in wireframe.

A haystack with stage fright. Spiky blue fur in constant motion, a red face peeking out, ball cluster hands on long coral arms. The stick legs are load bearing, somehow.