“I can imagine. Sometimes tools are randomly animate where I’m from, or things suddenly just become sentient for a short period of time and then stop doing that. It’s usually ‘only when it’s funny’.”

“But they barely ever have names! Well, other than ‘talking thingy’ or ‘living item’. But here, I’ve even seen some of the buildings talk! How does anything actually… get done around here…?”

“What you said pretty much says it all,” the Repairman replied, being careful about his word choice, “Things get done because it’s convenient that way. If they weren’t dramatic or convenient, they wouldn’t happen.”

He paused.

“…Or exposition, for that matter.”

He cringed, realizing he would have to make another stop on his way to that blank room he was told was used for TV commercial spots. Not that he really liked that room all too much, but he had a job to do. 

“Looks like you might be staying with me a little longer,” the Repairman sighed, looking back at Doris.

“Eh,” she replied, nonchalantly, “I get paid by the minute anyhow. Speaking a which, you’re nearin’ six minutes.”

The Repairman, still lacking his previous times, had no clue how to react to that.