awfulsentimetal | [The Spine's Bedroom; fabulae

[It was no surprise that the automaton's first visitor would be Brianna, the petite woman giving a half-twirl once within The Spine's new room, taking in the simple, but elegant view before smiling back to her boyfriend.]

I think it's the perfect space to call your own. I'm glad Colonel Walter thought ahead to giving the house a few more rooms while it was being repaired. I'm sure it was getting cramped having to share with your double.

Ah, it wasn't so bad. I--uh, we, that is--don't take up much room.

[Considering the way both of them had a habit of spending their nights wandering. It was still most often this particular The Spine patrolling the halls, however, something that had only briefly stopped during the sprawling family's short stay at Mrs. Faraday's. Now that they were back, well...

The Spine smiled, the glow of his photo-receptors brightening as he watched B take in the room.]

I'm glad you like it. It's a bit sparse right now, but I'm sure it'll fill up in time.

[It was a real miracle that Brianna had never stumbled upon the silver automaton while he'd been on his midnight patrol (aka, sleeping in the hallway), or The Spine may have been met with a stern look and a slight pout from his girlfriend for his nightly activities. After all, he may not be human, but that didn't mean that sleep wasn't good for him.

The much smaller of the two danced a little closer to the robot after her inspection of his new room, reaching out to take both of his hands in hers, going up on her tippytoes which was the usual signal for the man to meet her the rest of that great distance with a kiss.]

I got you a little gift. For your new room.

[A loving smile graced The Spine's black lips as he leaned down to meet her. That gesture was understood implicitly, without any need for prompting; like so many subtle cues and quiet looks had before they'd ever become a couple. They were simply in tune with each other and, it seemed to The Spine, grew more so every day.

His silver thumbs gently brushed over the backs of her dainty hands as he tilted his head to one side, favoring her with a curious look.]

A gift? You know you don't have to--[He cut himself off there. Of course she didn't have to. That wasn't the point, was it?] I mean. What is it?

Edited 2013-11-17 23:23 (UTC)

[Tiny hands squeezed gently at the automatons before Brianna was pulling away with a smile, turning.] One second! [--And then she was rushing from the room in a whirl of white skirt, no doubt prancing off to her own room to pick whatever the mysterious gift up was.

Just one moment, Spine.]

I'll be right here. [Because the reassurance needed to be given, apparently. The Spine smiled at B's retreating back, silver hands slowly lowering to his sides. Now he was at a bit a loss for what to do with himself.

Stand there, he supposed. He re-adjusted the angle of his fedora and folded his hands in front of him and... waited.]

[It was only a minute or two later that Brianna reappeared, a small, neatly wrapped box in tow that would be immediately nudged into the automaton's hands. Though it could be said that the woman always looked exceptionally cheerful and sweet--it was just her nature--it seems that the gift giving has somehow managed to make that sparkle in B's blue eyes even more prominent than normal, smile just a little more affectionate and enthused.

She only hoped The Spine would appreciate all she'd picked out for him.]

Here! Now, it isn't too much-[Gloved hands gently danced across the automaton's, adjusting the lopsided bow on the box]-But it's for your new room. To help make it a little more homey.

[Well, more so than the ropes hanging from the ceiling.]

[It didn't really matter what's in the box--The Spine would be happy with anything, if it came from his Walter Girl. She could gift-wrap a rock and he'd proudly put it on display. He smiled at the crooked bow, enjoying the weight of the box in his hands before opening it.]

I'm sure it'll do the trick. [The bow was undone with care, the automaton regarding it for a moment before gently folding it. The contents brought another smile to his face and he stooped to press a kiss to Brianna's warm cheek.] More than do the trick. Thank you, Brianna, I'll put everythin' up right away.

[Inside was an assortment of gifts for the man's new room, including a set of new books, a glass vase, a handful of decorative candles, and tucked into the bottom of the box is a new button down shirt, plain and black. Not quite as nice as his previous one, but at least it was whole.]

I didn't have a lot to spend, but I thought you deserved a little something to put up--[The kiss was taken but then the woman was stepping right out of the man's reach again, grinning.] --And there's one more thing. [Moving back to the door...]

[Oh, he knew that grin. His own face echoed it as he lifted a thick eyebrow.] There's more? Brianna, you're spoilin' me.

[Not that he was actually complaining, the words said with a teasing hint of a laugh.

He was a bit at a loss for how to react, too used to taking care of others, not being the one doted on. The Spine set the box on the end of the bed.

...And then stood awkwardly, well out of his depth.]

I, uh--did you want me to follow you?

No! Stay there! [Quickly spoken as tiny hands flew up to motion the man to stop before Brianna was shooting her boyfriend a sickly sweet smile and retreating just to peek out the door. And when she'd return? It was with quite the surprise.]

Here! A little something to put on the walls. [Aaaaand that was definitely a roll of wallpaper that was decorated in the woman's favorite animal. Oh my.]

[Well... that sure is cat wallpaper. After a moment of quiet consideration, the corners of his mouth twitch up into a smile. While it isn't exactly something he'd pick for himself, it's one hundred percent Brianna and he can't help loving it.]

It's perfect. Looks like I'm gonna have myself a project of the next couple of days--fancy helpin' out?

[Because humans think this kind of thing is fun, right? That's why This Old House exists.]

[One hundred percent Brianna!]

Of course! [came that pleasant chirp in reply, the petite woman bouncing over to set the roll of wallpaper off to the side with the automaton's other gifts before she'd be burying herself against him in an affectionate hug, arms wrapping around him as her head rested at his humming chest.] We'll make an afternoon of it! And hopefully keep The Stripe from interfering too much. I don't think he'd very much like getting stuck to the wallpaper.

[Though imagine the hilarity of it all.]

[A twitterpated grin finds its way to his faceplate with the hug. A strong arm wraps delicately around her waist, keeping her close. The quiet hum of his core spins up for a moment before settling again, as stable and strong as ever.]

Oh, I think we can keep The Stripe busy if he decides to stick his nose where it's liable to get paste on it. I like the cats on the paper just fine without addin' real life whiskers to'em.

[If he were a vengeful 'bot he might entertain the thought that it'd serve him right for climbing up him all the time and snaring his clothes.

If he were a vengeful 'bot.

He isn't, of course, and so the thought never crosses his headwiring.]

Tell you what, we'll go out and find him a new toy to keep him occupied. Sound good?

[It was a good thought to avoid entertaining. As much as Brianna found amusement in the various shenanigans her kitten managed to get wound up in, she certainly wouldn't appreciate anything quite so distressing as whiskers lost to sticky wallpaper.]

Absolutely! [And hey, if The Spine wanted to wrap his arms around her and keep her close, B was absolutely okay with that.] I'm sure we'll manage to keep him distracted for at least a little while. [They could hope, at least.]

Do you think this is a good start? To personalizing your space and making it all your own?

It was their first date since before the house had burned down, and The Spine was determined that it would go smoothly, unlike the last. The fall sky was clear and sunny, the air carrying a chill that he couldn't feel. Drifts of orange and yellow leaves collected in the gutters and crunched beneath their feet. The air was clean and sharp, carrying the scents of last night's rain, or so he supposed.

It was a good day for a fall date. They walked side-by-side, arm in arm, the tall, lanky automaton and his Walter Girl. A wide, twitterpated smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he adjusted the fine red scarf around his neck. It was unnecessary, but he hadn't said so. The gesture had been too sweet to not lean down and let Brianna bundle him up like he might catch a cold.

"I thought today we could just... do whatever strikes our fancy, if that sounds all right." Because plans always seemed to backfire in the worst ways. Not that he didn't have a small inkling of an idea, if the opportunity presented itself.

"Of course that sounds just fine..." Tiny, gloved fingers gave a gentle squeeze at the automaton's arm, the action only further emphasizing the Walter Girl's approval of this impromptu date. "You know I'm just thrilled to be out and about just the two of us. Where we go doesn't matter nearly as much as long as we go together."

A little sappy? Perhaps, but it was the honest truth as far as Brianna was concerned, the woman curling just a little closer to The Spine as a heavy gust of wind blew at the pair's legs, scattering orange leaves at their heels. Her ruffled skirt and jacket fluttered around her petite frame in the wind as a free hand was reaching up to straighten out her own matching scarf, chin tilting upwards to peer up at the automaton's face as they continued their walk. "I can't believe the holidays are approaching so quickly. It feels like we were still enjoying the summer weather just a few weeks ago."

It might have been a little sappy, but The Spine loved every sweet word. He was, after all, quite full of sap himself. They were a perfect, syrupy-sweet match. He watched the leaves swirl past them as the wind abruptly changed direction, his free hand rising to hold down his hat. When his glowing green gaze shifted to meet B's, he smiled. "Time sure has been flyin'." And, surprisingly, it had been flying with very little out of the ordinary occurring.

Well. "Out of the ordinary" being a relative term. For Nusquamton? It had been a slow few months. No one had attacked the Walters since the last attempt to kidnap Peter the First and The Spine. The automaton was beginning to allow himself to hope that, perhaps, the city had accepted and forgotten about them.

Thoughts for another time. For now, he gently guided the Walter Girl down a street running through the one they had been strolling along. All right, so maybe it was a little more than an inkling of an idea.

"I've always liked the fall. The leaves turnin' is always pretty, and it's nice the way the sky clears after a good rain." Back in San Diego, the nights after a rain had been the best time to see the stars through the ever-present smog.

Flying was certainly one way to describe how time had been progressing. Especially considering the pair had nearly been together for half a year now.

"Me too!" Even if the temperature never dipped too far down back home for them, Brianna had always had a certain love of cool weather. Perhaps it had partially to do with the fun of pulling out heavier coats and thick scarves and wool hats. "That's not to say I don't love warm summers, but there's just something special about fall, don't you think? A sort of magic in the air. Speaking of which--" A squeeze at his arm, Brianna following along loyally at the automaton's side, the pair no doubt standing out amongst the crowd for their great height difference alone.

"I'd like to get a little something for your family. Will you help me shop later on? I think I can figure out Rabbit and Hatchworth rather well by now, but I'm not sure what the Colonel would enjoy..." Besides coffee. The man seemed to love his coffee more than anything.

They certainly did stand out, a pennant of steam following The Spine's footsteps, lingering in the air longer than the small puffs of hot breath from the locals passing by. Most eyes briefly locked on them before quickly averting, no doubt out of fear of their strangeness being contagious, but a few lingered. The looks varied, some curious, some appalled, but it hardly mattered. The automaton was confident that they wouldn't be harried as long as they kept to populated areas and away from the shadowed alleyways.

"I'll do my best," he replied, turning a corner and glancing down to flash a warm smile at the Walter Girl. In truth, a lot of his memories of the colonel prior to arriving in Nusquantum were hazy due to wipes. He thought he could recall enough to help pick out a gift the man would find useful, though. "Maybe another coffee pot. That way he can have two goin' at once."

Was that a joke?

The Spine was smirking. It was definitely a joke.

As they began to cross a stone footbridge he slowed to a halt. The water ran cold and clear beneath the bridge and the sky could be seen clearly through the gap in the buildings that crowded either side of the waterway. Exactly the kind of pretty spot he'd been hoping to find. "Speakin' of giving gifts... I wanted to pass somethin' by you while we were out if, uh, if you don't mind."

The Walter Girl's blue mouth curved in amusement at the small joke between them, though even she couldn't deny that the (human) men of the Walter family had a slight addiction to their coffee so perhaps it wasn't the most terrible idea to ever come up with...

She'll just give it more thought later. But it was a good start. Yulemas was still some time away.

"Oh?" Brianna's attention was drifting away from the beautiful scenery and the passerby's to fly right back up to the silver automaton's so handsome face, smile brightening ever so slightly just as it did every time she looked at him. Together for months and the man's presence alone still had her heartbeat rising. "What is it, Spine?"

[The Spine's Bedroom; fabulae_victoriana]

SURPRISE ATTACK

IT'S SUPER EFFECTIVE

/THROWS POKEBALL

Trainer Brianna caught a The Spine (♂)!

>Nicknames him GrumpyCatSpine

/grumpcat B|

/KISSES GRUMPY AWAY

o///o STEAM EVERYWHERE

/GETS A NICE FACIAL TREATMENT

MMM NICE CLEAN PORES

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Let's try this dating thing again.

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this is da shortest tag ever sorry