They weren't truly broken! They just had massive corrosion on one of the battery contacts that I couldn't see originally lol
I think this makes mine one of the oldest working pairs despite the abuse I put it through. I don't store it in the box, I mess with the servos for photos.... it's kind of amazing.
Also, on a semi-related note, I get questions from time to time on why I don't make the complicated Necomimi patterns free. Welp, I need the money for one, and for two, well, they're a technique pattern and tutorial more than anything and I'm not giving that up, especially not after taking so long to tweak and refine that technique.
If you