Repeated Exposure Principle

20250412

Prompt from DailyPrompt.com

Advertising drones were commonplace these days. Alex only noticed this one because its banner was so bad; white background, green text in a bland font reading “We have what you need!”. No logo or business name. No phone number, or address, or even QR code.
‘What a silly waste of money.’ Alex wondered if it was perhaps an attempt at satire or if someone truly was this clueless about advertising. Then they got on with their day.
And would have swiftly forgotten about it if there hadn’t been another identical drone circling near the bus stop. Oh. Were they trying to point to some local business? It should still have a name on it, or at least an arrow.
Alex glanced back, trying to triangulate the target location from the first drone, but now couldn’t see it. And the second drone was just circling the field behind the bus stop.
Odd. But less interesting than scrolling through what their friends were posting this morning.
Finally the bus arrived - only six minutes late, which was practically early! Alex took a seat and put their headphones on. Music or podcast?
A flutter of white and green caught their eye. Another drone? Still claiming “We have what you need!”, despite listing no good listening options. Alex smiled at their own unvocalised quip.
The “to listen later” list was getting stressfully long. They really should start tackling it. But music was so much easier. Sit back and let the sound wash everything away.
Alex sighed. Longed for the energy of their student days, when they’d somehow managed to keep up with a dozen exciting shows. Absorbed information about varied topics just because. Because learning had been fun. Now they struggled to put a grocery list together after finishing at their job.
White and green again. But the bus had been trundling for nearly ten minutes. What were those banners pointing to?
Probably nothing. It was probably just some silly joke. Trying to get people to go in circles and get lost.
Alex gave up on picking an episode and just turned their favourite playlist on. Getting lost in the familiar beats.
But now they were staring out the window, they couldn’t stop picking out that banner. It was like the moment one slipped out of sight another appeared. Even as the bus reached the town centre and the airspace was at a premium there was always one of those drones. Yet no matter how Alex peered back they never saw two at once.
Always one. Never two. No clarity. Only that message.
Central stop. Everyone off.
Today Alex’s gaze was turned upwards as they walked to the office. Picking out that now-familiar puzzle amongst the slick banner ads overhead.
As they reached the lobby door they paused and decided.
‘Alright. If it’s still there when I get off work, I’ll try to find what it’s pointing to.’
Green and white flutter. The drone was suddenly overhead, slowly circling the office.
As if waiting.

Prompt was “Your main character starts seeing the same drone almost everywhere they go.”