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.