Ourple Little Guy

Lilac the bean, the blorbo, the silly, the goober, the absolute bhghrjjf <3 Also Bl00dst4in's brother.

[lilac-the-bean]

Pinned Post Time!

[Mod: @ravens-and-rust]

Lilac is still learning to read, write, and colour in the lines. He likes flowy clothing, the colour blue, and FIRE. HE REALLY LIKES FIRE. KEEP IT AWAY FROM HIM.

He's just a little guy. Treat him with respect; he's not used to social interaction, and if you don't treat him well? His brother ( @blems-way-to-speak) will come after you.

He's a good guy. Maybe a little on the crazy side, and scared of the dark, and regressed to a child's mentality, but nonetheless a good guy.

[blems-way-to-speak]

@lilac-the-bean

Lilac stared at the female version of his brother curiously, his fluffy tail flicking. She's a stranger; he doesn't want to really interact with her, but Andi told him to respect her while she was gone, and to make sure the babies get everything they need. And she told him to show Th0rne around the house. His pale blue eyes bored into Th0rne as he sat there with the babbling children, blocks in hand and rays twitching. "You look like my brother," he finally says, tilting his head.

Th0rne definitely felt some sort of deep connection to the purple and teal robot as soon as she met him. It was incredibly uncanny to her, how his pliable rays and boring eyes felt…familiar somehow. Th0rne shifted uncomfortably and averted her gaze, her antennae twitching. She instead observed the children: small things with silicone and nanos building up their exteriors, and all three looking related to that pretty model. Had…had Andromeda given birth to them? Were they specially made? She couldn’t tell, but they were adorable…and they looked somewhat like her. “Are these your siblings?” She asked Lilac, slowly lowering herself to the ground and picking up a block.

[lilac-the-bean]

He was taken slightly aback, especially since she chose to touch his blocks. But, he answered anyways, knowing that she’d probably tell Andi he was being a pain. ”No, they’re my niece and nephews,” he replied simply, fixing her hands with a stare. He watched her place the block, his fronds perking and flicking. “My brother and his mate had them. They’re little; be careful.” He watched Cassi roll onto her tummy and reach for his tail, and he just barely flicked it out of reach. She had a tendency to pull tails, especially ones like his brightly colored, fluffy one.

[lilac-the-bean]

Well in the Rain

There's rainwater in the well, Oliver realises as his HUD boots back up. The soft hush of falling droplets fills his audials as he stares down at the cylindrical rock structure, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. His brother, Collin, sits beside him on the grass, leaning against the well. His eyes are dark. Rivulets of watered-down oil stream down his face as the rain washes away what damage it can, but it can't take the fire scars and the emotional mutilation that they've both been through. Collin more than he, he knows for sure. His tail gently caresses his brother's cheek as the low-battery animatronic lay there, his default smile unfading, his expression vacant. No reaction comes from the sunset-coloured animatronic, and sadness pangs through Oliver's very being. He hopes he can find a way to return his brother to this world. The rain strengthens, pushing his fronds down with the beating weight of the droplets, and his hopeful smile drops for the first time in...forever. In front of him, the well slowly fills, and he watches it until he can't bear the water any longer. He hauls Collin up, over his shoulder (ripping his beautiful sweater in the process; this won't be the first or last time he'll be fixing that), and starts walking towards...gods only know where. He'll figure it out. He always does.

[wywaskblog]

The rain hadn't stopped.

The fir trees that surrounded the animatronics began to sway in the strong wind. The sound of something snapping could be heard in the distance, and a series of cracking followed. With an awfully loud thump, one of the firs had fallen—a testament to the awful weather that lingered in the area.

No people were around. The dense, forest-like area and the heavy downpour made sure of that. There was a road in the distance, one that spanned out for miles. Even then, the few houses on that very road were far and uninviting.

However...

Despite the dark clouds overhead, casting a gloomy, atmosphere, there was a faint glow in the distance. The few trees that had fallen had created an opening, the thick leaves parting to reveal a house that was closer than any other. Its lights were on, almost as if it was a beacon that beckoned anyone lost to come.

[lilac-the-bean]

Oliver has never been out of the Megaplex this far. He knows nothing of the weather and what dangers the severity can cause. When the tree cracks in the distance, he startles and secures his brother on his shoulder, eyes darting this way and that as he assesses the situation. Then he feels the thump resonate through the ground, the quaking rumbling through his feet. Or is that just the rain falling at the fast speed it is? Either way, if he stays out here much longer, both he and his brother will have water seeping through their joints. He can feel the silicone between his threatening to give way. He hadn't been built for withstanding weather conditions, much less violent ones. A quick scan of the area leaves him in despair; no human life detected for the next-- Wait. It's not human life. But there's something. Something ahead. A light. A small cry leaves his voice box and he forces his frown into his default smile. It feels foreign. He pushes forward, ignoring the sloshing of the mud and rainwater around his feet and the hem of his patchwork skirt. He needs to get Collin to safety.

[wywaskblog]

With the awful winds, the trees only seemed to shake more vigorously around Oliver. The speed of the rain only quickened, pattering against his and his brother's form.

As the house came into view, it became easier to make out other aspects of the property as well. A small but undeniable garden seemed to peek out from the side of the abode. The marks of tires left in the sodden earth from how many times a vehicle had come and gone, in front of a garage that had no proper driveway. Through the windows, there was movement inside.

However, none of it was human.

A closer look through would show a tall, eight foot animatronic with a dark orange and brown casing. Their face was hard to tell through the window, but certain features could be made out. A handkerchief that wrapped around their modified neck, a sage-like green cardigan that adorned their body with a lighter green wrapped around their waist. A shoddy, quick ribbon on the back of the bot.

There was another animatronic aside the first, one a lot smaller and more purple. They were a lot less noticeable, moving around the residence quickly, seemingly worried.

Rain drummed against the roof of the house, seemingly like an omen.

[lilac-the-bean]

He can definitely say he dislikes the rain. He can't say much for his brother's view on one of nature's miracles, but it's not like he'll get anything if he doesn't get somewhere warm and safe. Collin... He hardly takes in any of the decor or extra details of the property, only assesses the figures in the window. Oh, he hopes they're nice. He breaks into a run, making for the door and squinting against the pelting rain, his rays pushed back by the wind. He slides through the mud as he nears the house, nearly wiping out and sprawling on the ground. Careful, careful... His hand hesitates as he finally raises it to rap his knuckles three times (evenly spaced and perfect, concise knocks) on the door. "H-hello!?" His voice wavers, voice box sputtering with the moisture in the air trying to reach it. "Please! I need help!"

[wywaskblog]

On the third knock, the door opened.

It was the tall animatronic, and her eyes flicked down to Oliver's. Surprise settled across her features as she quickly looked both of them over, concern seeping into his expression. "Come in," she offered easily, not even questioning the state they were in. The rain had been harsh, and the downpour had been made obvious from the specks of rain on the window. He stepped back from the doorway, giving them the space to enter.

They turned to look at the bot that had stiffened in the hallway. "Daydream, be a darlin' and get some towels, will ya?" he asked quickly. The small, purple moon in question—Daydream—had quietly nodded and moved hurriedly elsewhere without question.

Apricot's tall posture could easily be intimidating, now that Oliver was much closer. However, her face was soft and he did his best to look kind. As much as they wanted to fret over the two animatronics that had showed, they knew that they had to prioritize them. Overwhelming them would only be detrimental.

He said nothing more for now, holding the door open and ushering them inside without touching them.

[lilac-the-bean]

He gratefully pulls he and his brother's dripping forms into the hallway, immediately relaxing with the lack of rain battering his casings. Of course, being just accepted into the house has him on edge; he usually takes kindness for ulterior motives nowadays. Except from Collin, but that's to be expected with them being related. The sound of rain on the roof prickles at Oliver's casings as he gently lowers his brother's soaked body to the floor, and he notices Daydream in full for the first time. Hm. A purple moonbot. Interesting. When he looks back up at Apricot to ask what he may call them, the words die in his voice box, fizzling into nothing as he kneels next to his brother. Apricot is...rather tall. Startlingly tall, in all honesty; at least two feet taller than himself. He resets his voice box and tries again, determined to not look a fool in front of a complete stranger. At least her facial expression is kind? "What may I call you?"

[wywaskblog]

The eclipse closed the door behind Oliver as he entered. He would rather not have any more rain come in—it'd be a mess that she'd have to clean up later, and he didn't want poor Daydream to clean it.

Apricot turned to look at the small bot and his brother both in an inquisitive fashion. She had been around long enough to know that the two of them weren't the usual models that she was familiar with, or like any within the house. They were certainly not from the first generation of models—she was a first generation model despite her reparations and customizations. He couldn't help but be curious.

"Oh, you can call me Apricot," she answered easily. Her eyes wandered over Oliver's form, how the rain clung to his casing. That wouldn't do.

Apricot's eyes glance to the window. The downpour had been quite sudden and awful in comparison to the past few days, more so than the normal storms that frequented the area. The sound of rain on the roof was distant but still present—Sungrass would be up in the attic at this time, he was sure of it.

Their green eyes flicked back to the smaller bot present, though any bot would be compared to her. Their gaze lingered briefly on the animatronic body on the floor, and how Oliver kneeled beside them. "What about you? Ya got a name, hon?" As he spoke, he stepped back to give them both space.

Puddles of water were already forming on the floor, but the eclipse said nothing about it. He didn't want to give them any flack for it, especially with how rough they looked and how terrible the weather was.

[lilac-the-bean]

He can feel himself being studied; not in a negative fashion, but he knows that she's observing he and his brother. He self-consciously tugs at his ripped sweater, making the mental note on his HUD to fix that later. "Apricot," he muses quietly, testing their name out. He brushes his fronds out of his face, their soaked nature rendering them heavy. He thinks briefly about his name. Oliver. He can use his company-issued name. Or he can provide a nickname. He hesitates before replying to Apricot's query. "My name is S-D47 Unit 3DA, Oliver. And this," he indicates Collin, "is my brother, S-D42 Unit 6QZ, Collin." Honesty is best policy. Openness and honesty will keep him afloat in this world. At least he hopes so.

[wywaskblog]

Apricot filed the information away for later as she nodded. He would look into their models when he had the time, though he knew Sundowner had a better understanding of the different models from his experience. Enough of that, for now. Tending to their new guests was the eclipse's priority.

And, speaking of said guests... he continued to look them over. Worry seeped into his systems—how long had Oliver and Collin been out there?

"Gotcha," she murmured, though more questions flooded her mind. She held back her questions for now, not wanting to interrogate Oliver, especially after she saw Collin's state. They paused, before they shook their head. "Let's move ya and Collin over to the couch. Don't care if y'all wet—the couch gon' dry. It's gon' be more comfortable up there than on the floor."

The eclipse stepped back a bit, waiting for them to follow before he moved any further to the living room.

[lilac-the-bean]

If...if they're sure... He grabs his brother's body under the arms and carefully drags him behind Apricot. Not that he can't just lift Collin--he can. He just doesn't want to harm his brother's body any more than it already is by slinging it over his shoulder. Plus, the couch doesn't look that far away. No unnecessary physical movements, right? "Thank you," he murmurs, following Apricot into the living room. He hoists Collin onto the couch first, making sure the sunset bot is properly sat before hesitantly sitting next to him. He barely sits, though; he's more hovering on the edge of the plush seat. Nervous. Antsy. Awareness courses through his wires like adrenaline. Maybe it is adrenaline; just a synthetic variant. Strange. "I thought..." He paused, trying to start a proper conversation. Gods, it's been so long-- "Th-thought we were going to drown out there." A strangled noise--that he hardly can pass as a chuckle--rips its way out of his voice box and he winces. Ouch. Maybe trying to be friendly should wait until he can practise first.

[wywaskblog]

"Of course," she said easily in response to Oliver's thanks. Her shoes make tapping noises against the floor, the sound light. Too light for animatronic, especially for an animatronic as tall as him.

Apricot sat down in one of the armchairs further away. The rain still could be heard against the closed windows, the furious pattering against the glass that showed the relentless downpour that only seemed to be falling faster than ever before. His eyes flicked to look outside, before it returned to the other animatronic at the sound of his voice. Concern painted her face.

They turned their body more toward Oliver. "Good thing then, that you found us," she mumbled, awfully relieved.

However, at the sound of the strangled noise that came from his body, the eclipse stiffened at the noise, though he did his best not to fret immediately. "Ah, hon, do you need—ah..." he started, before trailing off. Did his model have the ability to drink, or have any modifications for it? He couldn't tell.

"You drink?" he inquired. It would be better to ask instead of assuming.

[lilac-the-bean]

He nods at their query, resetting his voice box with a click and a fizz of audial static. "I am able to consume, yes, but no, I'm alright." His eyes skip over to his brother momentarily before darting to his scarred hands; his hand pads all were...gone, and the metal was scuffed. Paint chipped away. His next sentence comes out as something akin to a whisper. "I just haven't laughed in a while." When was the last time he laughed? Was it...the second day of creation? Or was it the third? He doesn't remember, his eyes growing vacant as he shifts through his memory files. He tries not to wince as he comes across some...rather unsavoury memories.

[wywaskblog]

Apricot nodded at the other bot's refusal, accepting it with ease.

Her audio processors picked up his words, but she said nothing about it. Instead, her optics lingered on Oliver's hands, seemingly wanting to say something, but her attention shifted easily as Daydream entered the room.

The moon walked silently with two folded white towels. Her movements were practiced, done with a grace and fluidity that did not match with what she was doing.

Daydream set down the towels beside Oliver, moving back to give him enough space. "Is there anything you need?" he inquired.

(Perhaps it was the way the moon was designed, but she had an awfully blank look in her eyes. The lack of any distinctive pupils were off-putting—just a pale purple to yellow coloring, not unlike a sunset.)

The eclipse simply watched the interaction, a worried look on her face.

They seemed to want to say something to Daydream, but instead they held their tongue. He wouldn't ask, not in front of their guest, but he really did have to remind him that he wasn't some sort of... maid or servant. She hadn't thought about how that would come off, and her fists scrunched up the fabric of her skirt.

[lilac-the-bean]

  Oliver's pale blue eyes watch Daydream's form, studying her as she walks into the living room. Her serene silence seems to put him both on edge and at ease at the same time. As the towels are set beside him, he extends a hand to carefully take the fluffy fabric, attending his brother first, patting his immediate casing dry of water beads. Upon Daydream's question, he hesitates. No one's asked him that; in fact, other than Apricot's question if he'd like something to drink, his own needs or feelings haven't been considered since...a long time ago. His emotes strain to furrow his eyebrows, but he keeps his default face with a determined chest pang.   "Ah, no thank you," he declines softly, nodding at Daydream, making eye contact. Their eyes jar Oliver out of his thoughts, and he pauses, disturbed slightly. The absence of pupils snaps him back to the time when he, himself, had none, and he'd stare endlessly into the mirror with that blank, pale, blue stare. "Th- that's very nice of you, though," he adds.   He turns back to his brother, working on drying the soaked sunset bot as best as possible. Those eyes still haunt his vision even as he faces away, sort of reminding them of Collin's eyes. Haunted. Empty. Vacant. His tail twitches behind him, making its first real movement since walking into the warm, dry abode.

[wywaskblog]

Daydream's hands were clasped together as he watched Oliver dry off the sunset-colored bot. She was standing, waiting for a command in the space between him and Apricot. It was a habit that she fell back into easily, despite Apricot's gentle insistence and the progress that both bots had been making together.

She tilted her head slightly at the other bot as he declined her offer. As they made eye contact, she made no move to turn away.

"Of course."

It was only until Oliver looked away first that the moon returned to the doorway. Daydream shared a look with the Apricot, the eclipse's expression conveying her worry. The smaller bot's face was passive, and Apricot was reminded once more that he would have to talk to her about this. However, for now...

"Oliver, hon, you wanna stay here a while? I know you ain’t tryna be out in that rain. You welcome to stay as long as you want," the eclipse offered as he turned back to Oliver. Their fingers let go of their skirt, and their eyes darted to the window.

The rain hadn't eased up at all.

[lilac-the-bean]

Collin's turtleneck is soaked, but as much as he wants to remove it, it feels wrong to expose his brother's body like that, especially after...hhhh. He dries as much as he possibly can before turning to Apricot as he asks her question. "As long as it's not too much of a bother to you. Just until the rain stops, that is. I don't want to overstay my welcome," he replies, his fronds still dripping onto his lap. He pulls a fresh towel from the pile, holding back a grimace as he brings the fabric up to carefully rub at his rays. Ah, and there's also still the problem of his clothing. Both he and Collin are going to need a change...but he's...afraid to ask for anything else. Have to get over fears at some point, right? "...Is there a possibility you might have a change of clothing for my brother here?" He refuses to ask for himself. He'll...dry. Maybe. "His clothing is soaked, and we weren't made to withstand...prolonged water contact."

[wywaskblog]

"Ain’t no bother at all, darlin’. Don’t you worry 'bout a thing," Apricot answered with ease, optics flicking to him. Really, Oliver and Collin could stay for as long as they pleased. It was of no issue to him, and. Well, the eclipse knew what the weather was like here; the rain wouldn't be easing up for a good amount of time. With how it was coming down this, the rain would go on for another few days at least. Maybe pause for a bit, before starting up again.

Daydream seemed to stare once again, as if waiting for some sort of cue to a performance that neither Oliver nor Apricot was apart of. The eclipse paid no heed to it as he continued to speak. "I can getcha somethin' from my wardrobe if that'll help, sugar. Don't mind if it gets wet—we got a workin' washer and dryer, and I can always throw it in. If it's too big on ya, I think we got a few sets lyin' 'round. Daydream—" the baker paused to address her, "—s'alright if some o' yours get used, hon? I know you don't change outta that uniform much, but you ain’t gotta if you don't wanna."

The maid nodded. "You may." His words were short, once again.

Apricot seemed relieved and turned back to Oliver. "Lemme grab you some, alright? While I do, I'll see if Daydream can get you settled in one o’ the spare rooms. Just so you got some space to breathe." He paused a bit. "We got portable chargers, but I dunno if any of 'em'll work for you. For ya models, I mean."

The eclipse moved to stand up from where she was sitting..

[lilac-the-bean]

Ouh, these bots are so hospitable-! He's not sure how to handle the kindness pouring forth from Apricot. He's concluded that these two definitely seem genuine, but he's...still...not used to it. His smile wavers at the corners as he continues to pat himself dry; he's this close to breaking down. His brother is mangled, they're both soaked, they probably have people hunting them down, and he's sitting here on a couch of a stranger, drying himself with one of the softest pieces of fabric he's ever had the chance of laying fingers on. "I. Thank you, Apricot," he mutters, "Also...maybe not? My port is round, like Collin's, but his insert is ever so slightly bigger than mine. I never figured out why." He's half tempted to turn the clothing down for himself, considering he can just...wrap himself in a blanket or something, but he doesn't want to be seen as ungrateful...or maybe be seen as weird...yeah, no. He'll just have to accept it for now, but all he's really known is this patchwork, ragtag outfit that he's thrown together... It really is hard to be an animatronic with feelings and trauma sometimes.

[wywaskblog]

"I mean, we do got a handful o' different chargers—since not every bot here's from the same generation. Still, good to know. Can't say for sure we got one fo' your type o' model, though. Sorry 'bout that, hon," the eclipse apologized. He seemed to notice the way the other bot's smile wavered, but he didn't push. These bots just had a rather hard time, especially because of the rain. "Ain't no need to thank me, sugar. I mean it. 'm just real glad you ended up here, even if things been rough. Now lemme grab you some clothes, 'nd I'll find ya when you're comfy, alright?"

Apricot smiled a little, in hopes of being welcoming, before she turned. He briskly moved past Daydream, who stepped aside to let the much taller bot leave the living room. The maid watched the two bots wordlessly for a few moments, those sunset eyes boring into Oliver, and then Collin, before the moon approached slowly—like how one would with a scared animal.

He stopped in front of them, his movement rather stiff in contrast to the baker's liveliness. "There is a spare room I can show you. Do you need a moment, or would you like to go now?" His words were rather soft, not at all pressuring in any way. It was something he learned well, as not to upset his past owner. The moon's hands were clasped together, and she did not sway like the other animatronics. It was somewhat disturbing how doll-like she was.

It was if you could stand her up or position her however you pleased.

[lilac-the-bean]

Oliver wordlessly listens to Apricot, nodding as she whisks away to go find clothing. His eyes find the moon model, watching him carefully as she watches him, and when he asks her question, Oliver pauses. Well. He should get his brother out of his wet clothes to dry him properly, and he can only do that in privacy. Maybe the spare room is a good idea? He hesitates before responding, slightly wigged out by her utter lack of movement. It reminds him...of the STAFF bots, back where he and Collin used to work. Ugh, they. Were...creepy. "Yes, please, I'd like to go now," he replies politely, preparing to stand, setting the towel to the side and going to grab Collin. His brother seems a lot heavier than. Than he was previously. Maybe he's tired. Maybe his. Maybe...maybe his strength is failing him due to watery joints. In any case, he seems to struggle with his brother's body.

[wywaskblog]

The purple moon nodded, turning around before she returned back to the doorway. She only paused when she didn't hear the sounds of footsteps behind her, and looked back. His entire body followed, pupiless eyes watching as Oliver prepared to stand and bring his brother. She was not judging them one bit—she could understand how disorienting it would be, to be treated so nicely after facing such cruel treatment.

"Do you need assistance?" Daydream inquired, if only to be polite. He wouldn't have made a move to touch either bot if he was close; he had no intention of making them uncomfortable in any way. He was simply still, unmoving. The way he was never seemed to bother any humans, at the very least—he was a machine, an animatronic, and he would never be seen as something more than that. He was simultaneously grateful and displeased with it, as it gave him a set of internal rules he could change for each of his owners.

But with other animatronics? That was something—others—that he may never understand, with his programming. He understood Apricot well enough, because she was human-like. But. The other bots treated him as if he weren't lesser.

[lilac-the-bean]

While he really doesn't want anyone else touching his brother...he feels like he could trust Daydream? Maybe? She seems...gentle. So... "As long as you're gentle with him," he allows, warning in his voice. Seriously, please... "He's been through a lot and needs fixing, so I would rather you treat him like a china doll...please..." Of course, her eyes are a tad bit unnerving as he steps back (hesitantly) from Collin's unmoving body. "...he's my everything," he mutters softly, smile wavering.

[wywaskblog]

At Oliver's permission, Daydream seemed rather startled. Despite the best of her ability, some of her reactions still slip through her forced calm, and his body jolted ever so slightly. It wasn't that he was uncomfortable with the idea of carrying Collin. No, not at all. But the idea of touching someone while unconscious, being touched while unconscious... it's something he's all too aware of.

"I understand," she answered, quieter than she meant for it to be. He walked to Oliver's side and stood there for a few moments, almost hesitant at all of the trust being placed in him—even if it was temporary, and something that wouldn't happen under normal circumstances. Despite him noticing the way Oliver's smile wavered, he didn't comment on it. There was no need to. She didn't want to draw attention and make the other purple bot aware of it.

And he understood having what it was like to have someone that was everything to them. He used to—

(Where was N̷̹͋̄̃͘͝î̸̻̱̹g̸̡̻̮̙͕̀ĥ̸̨̭̭̻̊ṫ̵̢͚͍̣̎͐̽̕m̸̲̰͐à̴̭͎̫̔̾̀̕r̸̫̅̊̉̚e̴̢͍͚̰̒͒̚͝ now?)

The moon finally approached Collin's body. He didn't reach out just yet, not at all touching the unconscious bot. She turned to Oliver for a few moments, and showed her hands. Four-pointed yellow stars were painted onto her hands, the same shade as her eyes. "I am going to carry Collin in a pack-strap carry," he stated, making his intentions clear. He did not want to cause unnecessary stress for Oliver—she knew how much he was looking out for his brother.

After letting her words sink in, Daydream moved closer and shifted Collin's body to a sitting up position. Her touch was minimal, but with care; the moon was doing his best to touch Collin as little as possible. Finally, when the unconscious bot was in position, Daydream crossed the other's arms and swung them over his shoulders and around his neck. The size difference was present, with how Collin was a foot taller than the moon. Despite this, she didn't complain, and leaned forward as he walked forward experimentally. When he was certain that the bot was secure, he moved towards the doorway.

"I will show you your room," the maid stated. She would have turned around to see Oliver's expression, but her movement was more limited with him carrying Collin. After her rather short statement, she began to walk towards a spare room after a few moments.

[lilac-the-bean]

He could see the tiniest bit of emotion slip through Daydream's emotes, but didn't react. Instead, he stepped away a little, each small step feeling like a thorn in his side as it put more space between he and his brother. Daydream's proximity to the most precious thing in his animatronic life made him as taut as a pulled bowstring. He tried his best not to show that, but. It was rather obvious. At least, this close, he could properly study the moon model. He noted her soft colours and the subtleties of her design, and honestly? It was very nice. But he still made the wet bot nervous. She was a stranger, and she was. Ah. She was touching his brother now. Adjusting him. Picking him up in the aforementioned..."pack-strap carry." His joints creaked audibly as he locked them. He wanted to reach out and stop him, but he knew that they were being careful. He knew that she was just doing what he couldn't. It was okay. His smile tipped. Tipped. Turned. And he was frowning. Frowning hard. He inhaled over his synthetic lungs as the moon model made his statement, waited a few seconds, and started to follow, sending pings to his OS to {{trigger_"default_smile"_: true?}}. His emotes clicked off and locked there, and he followed Daydream with a detached expression.

[stardusttheaters]

@lilac-the-bean

"...Andi..." Recently, he's been feeling...not so good. His code has been glitching out, and he's been finding the dark not as scary as before. Skol's words had helped him, after all, but he didn't want to think about the scary not-goose. But. He's just needed comfort. So he sought out the only animatronic--other than his brother--that could comfort him. He shuffled into the living room, his socks both varying degrees of droopy on his legs, his newest dress rumpled and stained, and his emotes conveying distress. His hands fidget with each other, and his eyes look dull. "..Andi, I don' feel good. My head hurts."

Oh, My Precious Flower...

Andromeda frowned, looking up from her tablet where she had been reading a book. She immediately set it down, her rays wiggling in his direction. Andromeda stretched out her arms and beckoned him over with grabby hands--

She didn't (or more like couldn't) move much given how large her belly had gotten. Andromeda could literally be due any day now... And it was getting harder to shift let alone move at all.

Still, it wasn't going to stop her from giving Lilac some comfort. Her voice was soft and offering the best of comforts that she knew how to give.

Come here, Sweetheart. Come sit beside me.

[lilac-the-bean]

He shuffled forward, flopping on the couch with all the grace of a new gosling and wiggling toward Andi, resting his head on her rounded belly. He simulated a sigh, craning his head up to look at Andi with his soulful, emotive eyes. "My code itches. It's like. Beatin' my head. I don' like it," he mumbles, eyebrows drawn. "It's like when. When I was stuck in the dark for so long."

[stardusttheaters]

It sounds like your thoughts might be a little loud...

Maybe that was it. That happens sometimes when she's thinking too many things. Andromeda let him get comfortable and started to gently pet his rays, smiling a bit when she could feel the little ones pressing against Lilac's head in recognition.

Do you want to talk about it? What is running around in there that gives you such a headache?

Andromeda picked up a stress ball she'd gotten a while ago and gave it to Lilac to fiddle with.

[lilac-the-bean]

"...I'm not scared of the dark anymore." He knows that's a good thing but...something about it feels wrong. Off. Strange. He feels the babies pushing against him and smiles a little, knowing that his nieces and/or nephews are coming soon and they already love him. But his smile falters again as his code twinges oddly. "...because. Because of something the goose-man told me. And it worked. And. My code is itching."

[stardusttheaters]

@lilac-the-bean

"...Andi..." Recently, he's been feeling...not so good. His code has been glitching out, and he's been finding the dark not as scary as before. Skol's words had helped him, after all, but he didn't want to think about the scary not-goose. But. He's just needed comfort. So he sought out the only animatronic--other than his brother--that could comfort him. He shuffled into the living room, his socks both varying degrees of droopy on his legs, his newest dress rumpled and stained, and his emotes conveying distress. His hands fidget with each other, and his eyes look dull. "..Andi, I don' feel good. My head hurts."

Oh, My Precious Flower...

Andromeda frowned, looking up from her tablet where she had been reading a book. She immediately set it down, her rays wiggling in his direction. Andromeda stretched out her arms and beckoned him over with grabby hands--

She didn't (or more like couldn't) move much given how large her belly had gotten. Andromeda could literally be due any day now... And it was getting harder to shift let alone move at all.

Still, it wasn't going to stop her from giving Lilac some comfort. Her voice was soft and offering the best of comforts that she knew how to give.

Come here, Sweetheart. Come sit beside me.

[lilac-the-bean]

He shuffled forward, flopping on the couch with all the grace of a new gosling and wiggling toward Andi, resting his head on her rounded belly. He simulated a sigh, craning his head up to look at Andi with his soulful, emotive eyes. "My code itches. It's like. Beatin' my head. I don' like it," he mumbles, eyebrows drawn. "It's like when. When I was stuck in the dark for so long."

[titan-star]

@lilac-the-bean

Lilac knows he's scared of the dark, but by the time he's disarmed his brother's alarms with his nimble fingers and crawled out of his window, it's too late for him to go back. His padded feet touch the grass, and he freezes, glancing around at the world of black around him. He knows there are monsters in the shadows. He knows they're there. But... He wants to see the goosey... He pats his pocket, checking for the bundle of corn he'd stashed earlier, and starts toward Titan's house. He knows that both Blem and Titan are going to be pissed when they find out he's done this. But. Well. They can't be mad at what they don't know, right? He'll be back before they know it.

Skol huffed a bit, finding it difficult to sleep tonight. It was warm. Disgustingly warm for him. He nibbled at the enclosure's latch that Titan never seemed to lock. Skol was sure it was because he truly had nowhere to go. What an insult...

Using his beak, he easily opened the latch and waddled right out. He paused at the door of the garage, analyzing how he was going to open the door so he could go outside. The pond sounded nice....

[lilac-the-bean]

By the time he makes it to the garage, he's tiptoeing and about ready to burst into tears. He's gotten several thorns stuck in his foot pads, and the dark feels like it's closing in on him, pressing against his casing like a squeezing vice. But. He can't give up! Not when he knows that Skol is on the other side of this door! He goes to lift the door with his puny arms, surprised when it opens quietly for him. "G-goosey?" He starts out nervously, then stops when he sees Skol just standing there. "Oh. Hi, Skol! I--" He drops his voice to a whisper. "I brought you some corn!"

[titan-star]

Skol was a bit surprised to hear and see the rolling door open. Oh...the flower boy.

Why did this one remind Skol of his children if they were sane and innocent? Disgusting....ly adorable... God, he needs to be back in his own body. Emotions were gross. He's so tired of feeling them. His tail wagged a bit as he slowly waddled his way over to Blem.

More corn? Is Lilac trying to make him fat? Whatever. Corn. Skol honked softly as he nibbled and yanked at the skirt of Lilac's dress expectantly.

[lilac-the-bean]

"Hello, hello!" he giggles, trying to push away the fear in his core, crouching down and pulling the pouch out of his pocket. "I didn't bring as much as last time because I was try'na be careful, but I thought you'd still like it." He unwraps the bundle, setting it on the floor for the goose. "It's kinda sad that Mr. Titan has you cooped up in here all the time. If you were my goose, we'd go everywhere together." He's not aware that Terry occasionally takes him out on a leash; he doesn't know much about Terry at all, actually. He just knows that there are gator kids next door that he's yet to meet. Not that. He's. Excited to meet them. He doesn't like gators. Hasn't since...well—a while. Montgomery was very violent where he came from. He knows they're probably different from that Montgomery. He knows he should give them a chance. But... He shivers as the dark yawns at him from all around, eyes darting around nervously, bathing the area nearby in a pale blue light. "It's. A bit dark, isn't it, Skol? I don't like the dark. Do you like the dark? The dark makes me think of the time I was locked in the creepy, black basement for a while. The dark has monsters in it." He's nervously yapping at this point, and he realises it a bit too late. "Sorry."

[titan-star]

Skol immediately goes for the corn once it's set down. Delectable little juicy bits..!! He's always down for corn.

He internally rolled his eyes at the thought of being dragged around like a pet by someone else. Well. Then again, he's supposed to play the part of the pet to avoid getting eaten or his neck snapped. He can't get his revenge if he doesn't play along...

Once again, Skol internally rolled his eyes -- can he even physically do that?

He moved his beak away from the remaining kernels and began to tap away.

{ Darkness makes it easier to hide from those who hunt you. They'll find you if you stay in the light. I don't hate it. I don't like it. I just use it as a tool against my enemies. }

[lilac-the-bean]

He wraps his arms around his knees as he watches the goose eat, and when he taps out the Morse code, Lilac's tail wags of its own accord, responding to his excitement at Skol's ability to talk. His skirts swish with the movement, but his body language and expression stay the same. "I have to sleep with a nightlight. An' I have nightmares about being trapped in there again. I can't get used to the dark." For a second, he doesn't sound like the baby Lilac anymore, and he just sounds like a sad, developed AI. He sounds tired. "It's like it's stuck in my code. Permanently or something." He stares at the corn on the floor, tail stilling. "I'm talking too much, though. You should enjoy your corn. I'm sure my brother's gonna find that I left the house without telling anyone, and he's gonna be worried about me, cus he knows about my fear and he says that there's danger out there for someone who has their judgment impaired by fear. He's right. Like...I know he is...I looked it up. Fear makes you blind to other things." He reaches a hand out questioningly, hesitantly and silently asking to pet the goose. "Maybe I should leave you alone, cus...you don't seem to like me." Yeah, he's noticed. He's an empath. He knows that Skol just likes the corn. Sigh. This is why he doesn't make friends. He feels too much. He knows too much, sometimes, or knows too little and gets in trouble. Just wait. He'll regret telling Skol so much about himself, won't he?

[titan-star]

Skol honked softly at Lilac. He didn't care to listen and he didn't care to ignore him either. But. Without much to do with himself, Skol did end up hearing what Lilac was saying.

He finished his helping of corn first before Skol began to communicate again.

{ You sound like my son. But a younger version of him. }

But one more scared of everything. There was truth to that. Skol wondered why he even brought it up ... Whatever.

{ Habits and fears are learned. You have learned to be afraid. You can either conquer fear or let it conquer you. }

Who was he giving out life lessons to this guy?! Skol stared at Lilac for a moment.

{ I don't dislike you. You haven't threatened to eat or kill me. }

[lilac-the-bean]

"You have a son?" Another goose? A baby goose? Why hasn't he seen him? However, he listens carefully to Skol, tilting his head and letting his rays and fronds fall almost over his eyes inquisitively. But. But Skol doesn't understand...he can't just...get over his fear. And...if Skol doesn't dislike him, maybe he's just feeling his own emotions? Maybe? "I dunno how to co...conquer the fear. It's not...easy. If you mean like. Try'na get over it, I've tried. A lot. Ever since I met brother, he's been try'na help me, too, and I just can't, Mr. Skol."

[titan-star]

{ You have to remove the fear, little one. }

A sudden thought came to mind. What if... What if he can use this one's help? Not sure how. For now, he'd make a decent meat shield to keep the red one and Titan at bay. They seemed adamant about wanting his death. Skol waggled his tail feathers a little bit.

Yes, this one could be very useful. He seemed easy to manipulate.

{ I wish to tell you a secret. You must promise to keep it between us. }

[lilac-the-bean]

"...a secret?" He can keep secrets. He loves secrets! "I can keep a secret-" His eyes widen a tiny bit as he leans closer, as if to hear Skol better despite the fact that the goose spoke in Morse, not words. "I'm the secretest person around here!" He's very proud of this.

[titan-star]

@lilac-the-bean

Lilac knows he's scared of the dark, but by the time he's disarmed his brother's alarms with his nimble fingers and crawled out of his window, it's too late for him to go back. His padded feet touch the grass, and he freezes, glancing around at the world of black around him. He knows there are monsters in the shadows. He knows they're there. But... He wants to see the goosey... He pats his pocket, checking for the bundle of corn he'd stashed earlier, and starts toward Titan's house. He knows that both Blem and Titan are going to be pissed when they find out he's done this. But. Well. They can't be mad at what they don't know, right? He'll be back before they know it.

Skol huffed a bit, finding it difficult to sleep tonight. It was warm. Disgustingly warm for him. He nibbled at the enclosure's latch that Titan never seemed to lock. Skol was sure it was because he truly had nowhere to go. What an insult...

Using his beak, he easily opened the latch and waddled right out. He paused at the door of the garage, analyzing how he was going to open the door so he could go outside. The pond sounded nice....

[lilac-the-bean]

By the time he makes it to the garage, he's tiptoeing and about ready to burst into tears. He's gotten several thorns stuck in his foot pads, and the dark feels like it's closing in on him, pressing against his casing like a squeezing vice. But. He can't give up! Not when he knows that Skol is on the other side of this door! He goes to lift the door with his puny arms, surprised when it opens quietly for him. "G-goosey?" He starts out nervously, then stops when he sees Skol just standing there. "Oh. Hi, Skol! I--" He drops his voice to a whisper. "I brought you some corn!"

[titan-star]

Skol was a bit surprised to hear and see the rolling door open. Oh...the flower boy.

Why did this one remind Skol of his children if they were sane and innocent? Disgusting....ly adorable... God, he needs to be back in his own body. Emotions were gross. He's so tired of feeling them. His tail wagged a bit as he slowly waddled his way over to Blem.

More corn? Is Lilac trying to make him fat? Whatever. Corn. Skol honked softly as he nibbled and yanked at the skirt of Lilac's dress expectantly.

[lilac-the-bean]

"Hello, hello!" he giggles, trying to push away the fear in his core, crouching down and pulling the pouch out of his pocket. "I didn't bring as much as last time because I was try'na be careful, but I thought you'd still like it." He unwraps the bundle, setting it on the floor for the goose. "It's kinda sad that Mr. Titan has you cooped up in here all the time. If you were my goose, we'd go everywhere together." He's not aware that Terry occasionally takes him out on a leash; he doesn't know much about Terry at all, actually. He just knows that there are gator kids next door that he's yet to meet. Not that. He's. Excited to meet them. He doesn't like gators. Hasn't since...well—a while. Montgomery was very violent where he came from. He knows they're probably different from that Montgomery. He knows he should give them a chance. But... He shivers as the dark yawns at him from all around, eyes darting around nervously, bathing the area nearby in a pale blue light. "It's. A bit dark, isn't it, Skol? I don't like the dark. Do you like the dark? The dark makes me think of the time I was locked in the creepy, black basement for a while. The dark has monsters in it." He's nervously yapping at this point, and he realises it a bit too late. "Sorry."

[titan-star]

Skol immediately goes for the corn once it's set down. Delectable little juicy bits..!! He's always down for corn.

He internally rolled his eyes at the thought of being dragged around like a pet by someone else. Well. Then again, he's supposed to play the part of the pet to avoid getting eaten or his neck snapped. He can't get his revenge if he doesn't play along...

Once again, Skol internally rolled his eyes -- can he even physically do that?

He moved his beak away from the remaining kernels and began to tap away.

{ Darkness makes it easier to hide from those who hunt you. They'll find you if you stay in the light. I don't hate it. I don't like it. I just use it as a tool against my enemies. }

[lilac-the-bean]

He wraps his arms around his knees as he watches the goose eat, and when he taps out the Morse code, Lilac's tail wags of its own accord, responding to his excitement at Skol's ability to talk. His skirts swish with the movement, but his body language and expression stay the same. "I have to sleep with a nightlight. An' I have nightmares about being trapped in there again. I can't get used to the dark." For a second, he doesn't sound like the baby Lilac anymore, and he just sounds like a sad, developed AI. He sounds tired. "It's like it's stuck in my code. Permanently or something." He stares at the corn on the floor, tail stilling. "I'm talking too much, though. You should enjoy your corn. I'm sure my brother's gonna find that I left the house without telling anyone, and he's gonna be worried about me, cus he knows about my fear and he says that there's danger out there for someone who has their judgment impaired by fear. He's right. Like...I know he is...I looked it up. Fear makes you blind to other things." He reaches a hand out questioningly, hesitantly and silently asking to pet the goose. "Maybe I should leave you alone, cus...you don't seem to like me." Yeah, he's noticed. He's an empath. He knows that Skol just likes the corn. Sigh. This is why he doesn't make friends. He feels too much. He knows too much, sometimes, or knows too little and gets in trouble. Just wait. He'll regret telling Skol so much about himself, won't he?

[titan-star]

Skol honked softly at Lilac. He didn't care to listen and he didn't care to ignore him either. But. Without much to do with himself, Skol did end up hearing what Lilac was saying.

He finished his helping of corn first before Skol began to communicate again.

{ You sound like my son. But a younger version of him. }

But one more scared of everything. There was truth to that. Skol wondered why he even brought it up ... Whatever.

{ Habits and fears are learned. You have learned to be afraid. You can either conquer fear or let it conquer you. }

Who was he giving out life lessons to this guy?! Skol stared at Lilac for a moment.

{ I don't dislike you. You haven't threatened to eat or kill me. }

[lilac-the-bean]

"You have a son?" Another goose? A baby goose? Why hasn't he seen him? However, he listens carefully to Skol, tilting his head and letting his rays and fronds fall almost over his eyes inquisitively. But. But Skol doesn't understand...he can't just...get over his fear. And...if Skol doesn't dislike him, maybe he's just feeling his own emotions? Maybe? "I dunno how to co...conquer the fear. It's not...easy. If you mean like. Try'na get over it, I've tried. A lot. Ever since I met brother, he's been try'na help me, too, and I just can't, Mr. Skol."

[lilac-the-bean]

Well in the Rain

There's rainwater in the well, Oliver realises as his HUD boots back up. The soft hush of falling droplets fills his audials as he stares down at the cylindrical rock structure, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. His brother, Collin, sits beside him on the grass, leaning against the well. His eyes are dark. Rivulets of watered-down oil stream down his face as the rain washes away what damage it can, but it can't take the fire scars and the emotional mutilation that they've both been through. Collin more than he, he knows for sure. His tail gently caresses his brother's cheek as the low-battery animatronic lay there, his default smile unfading, his expression vacant. No reaction comes from the sunset-coloured animatronic, and sadness pangs through Oliver's very being. He hopes he can find a way to return his brother to this world. The rain strengthens, pushing his fronds down with the beating weight of the droplets, and his hopeful smile drops for the first time in...forever. In front of him, the well slowly fills, and he watches it until he can't bear the water any longer. He hauls Collin up, over his shoulder (ripping his beautiful sweater in the process; this won't be the first or last time he'll be fixing that), and starts walking towards...gods only know where. He'll figure it out. He always does.

[wywaskblog]

The rain hadn't stopped.

The fir trees that surrounded the animatronics began to sway in the strong wind. The sound of something snapping could be heard in the distance, and a series of cracking followed. With an awfully loud thump, one of the firs had fallen—a testament to the awful weather that lingered in the area.

No people were around. The dense, forest-like area and the heavy downpour made sure of that. There was a road in the distance, one that spanned out for miles. Even then, the few houses on that very road were far and uninviting.

However...

Despite the dark clouds overhead, casting a gloomy, atmosphere, there was a faint glow in the distance. The few trees that had fallen had created an opening, the thick leaves parting to reveal a house that was closer than any other. Its lights were on, almost as if it was a beacon that beckoned anyone lost to come.

[lilac-the-bean]

Oliver has never been out of the Megaplex this far. He knows nothing of the weather and what dangers the severity can cause. When the tree cracks in the distance, he startles and secures his brother on his shoulder, eyes darting this way and that as he assesses the situation. Then he feels the thump resonate through the ground, the quaking rumbling through his feet. Or is that just the rain falling at the fast speed it is? Either way, if he stays out here much longer, both he and his brother will have water seeping through their joints. He can feel the silicone between his threatening to give way. He hadn't been built for withstanding weather conditions, much less violent ones. A quick scan of the area leaves him in despair; no human life detected for the next-- Wait. It's not human life. But there's something. Something ahead. A light. A small cry leaves his voice box and he forces his frown into his default smile. It feels foreign. He pushes forward, ignoring the sloshing of the mud and rainwater around his feet and the hem of his patchwork skirt. He needs to get Collin to safety.

[wywaskblog]

With the awful winds, the trees only seemed to shake more vigorously around Oliver. The speed of the rain only quickened, pattering against his and his brother's form.

As the house came into view, it became easier to make out other aspects of the property as well. A small but undeniable garden seemed to peek out from the side of the abode. The marks of tires left in the sodden earth from how many times a vehicle had come and gone, in front of a garage that had no proper driveway. Through the windows, there was movement inside.

However, none of it was human.

A closer look through would show a tall, eight foot animatronic with a dark orange and brown casing. Their face was hard to tell through the window, but certain features could be made out. A handkerchief that wrapped around their modified neck, a sage-like green cardigan that adorned their body with a lighter green wrapped around their waist. A shoddy, quick ribbon on the back of the bot.

There was another animatronic aside the first, one a lot smaller and more purple. They were a lot less noticeable, moving around the residence quickly, seemingly worried.

Rain drummed against the roof of the house, seemingly like an omen.

[lilac-the-bean]

He can definitely say he dislikes the rain. He can't say much for his brother's view on one of nature's miracles, but it's not like he'll get anything if he doesn't get somewhere warm and safe. Collin... He hardly takes in any of the decor or extra details of the property, only assesses the figures in the window. Oh, he hopes they're nice. He breaks into a run, making for the door and squinting against the pelting rain, his rays pushed back by the wind. He slides through the mud as he nears the house, nearly wiping out and sprawling on the ground. Careful, careful... His hand hesitates as he finally raises it to rap his knuckles three times (evenly spaced and perfect, concise knocks) on the door. "H-hello!?" His voice wavers, voice box sputtering with the moisture in the air trying to reach it. "Please! I need help!"

[wywaskblog]

On the third knock, the door opened.

It was the tall animatronic, and her eyes flicked down to Oliver's. Surprise settled across her features as she quickly looked both of them over, concern seeping into his expression. "Come in," she offered easily, not even questioning the state they were in. The rain had been harsh, and the downpour had been made obvious from the specks of rain on the window. He stepped back from the doorway, giving them the space to enter.

They turned to look at the bot that had stiffened in the hallway. "Daydream, be a darlin' and get some towels, will ya?" he asked quickly. The small, purple moon in question—Daydream—had quietly nodded and moved hurriedly elsewhere without question.

Apricot's tall posture could easily be intimidating, now that Oliver was much closer. However, her face was soft and he did his best to look kind. As much as they wanted to fret over the two animatronics that had showed, they knew that they had to prioritize them. Overwhelming them would only be detrimental.

He said nothing more for now, holding the door open and ushering them inside without touching them.

[lilac-the-bean]

He gratefully pulls he and his brother's dripping forms into the hallway, immediately relaxing with the lack of rain battering his casings. Of course, being just accepted into the house has him on edge; he usually takes kindness for ulterior motives nowadays. Except from Collin, but that's to be expected with them being related. The sound of rain on the roof prickles at Oliver's casings as he gently lowers his brother's soaked body to the floor, and he notices Daydream in full for the first time. Hm. A purple moonbot. Interesting. When he looks back up at Apricot to ask what he may call them, the words die in his voice box, fizzling into nothing as he kneels next to his brother. Apricot is...rather tall. Startlingly tall, in all honesty; at least two feet taller than himself. He resets his voice box and tries again, determined to not look a fool in front of a complete stranger. At least her facial expression is kind? "What may I call you?"

[wywaskblog]

The eclipse closed the door behind Oliver as he entered. He would rather not have any more rain come in—it'd be a mess that she'd have to clean up later, and he didn't want poor Daydream to clean it.

Apricot turned to look at the small bot and his brother both in an inquisitive fashion. She had been around long enough to know that the two of them weren't the usual models that she was familiar with, or like any within the house. They were certainly not from the first generation of models—she was a first generation model despite her reparations and customizations. He couldn't help but be curious.

"Oh, you can call me Apricot," she answered easily. Her eyes wandered over Oliver's form, how the rain clung to his casing. That wouldn't do.

Apricot's eyes glance to the window. The downpour had been quite sudden and awful in comparison to the past few days, more so than the normal storms that frequented the area. The sound of rain on the roof was distant but still present—Sungrass would be up in the attic at this time, he was sure of it.

Their green eyes flicked back to the smaller bot present, though any bot would be compared to her. Their gaze lingered briefly on the animatronic body on the floor, and how Oliver kneeled beside them. "What about you? Ya got a name, hon?" As he spoke, he stepped back to give them both space.

Puddles of water were already forming on the floor, but the eclipse said nothing about it. He didn't want to give them any flack for it, especially with how rough they looked and how terrible the weather was.

[lilac-the-bean]

He can feel himself being studied; not in a negative fashion, but he knows that she's observing he and his brother. He self-consciously tugs at his ripped sweater, making the mental note on his HUD to fix that later. "Apricot," he muses quietly, testing their name out. He brushes his fronds out of his face, their soaked nature rendering them heavy. He thinks briefly about his name. Oliver. He can use his company-issued name. Or he can provide a nickname. He hesitates before replying to Apricot's query. "My name is S-D47 Unit 3DA, Oliver. And this," he indicates Collin, "is my brother, S-D42 Unit 6QZ, Collin." Honesty is best policy. Openness and honesty will keep him afloat in this world. At least he hopes so.

[wywaskblog]

Apricot filed the information away for later as she nodded. He would look into their models when he had the time, though he knew Sundowner had a better understanding of the different models from his experience. Enough of that, for now. Tending to their new guests was the eclipse's priority.

And, speaking of said guests... he continued to look them over. Worry seeped into his systems—how long had Oliver and Collin been out there?

"Gotcha," she murmured, though more questions flooded her mind. She held back her questions for now, not wanting to interrogate Oliver, especially after she saw Collin's state. They paused, before they shook their head. "Let's move ya and Collin over to the couch. Don't care if y'all wet—the couch gon' dry. It's gon' be more comfortable up there than on the floor."

The eclipse stepped back a bit, waiting for them to follow before he moved any further to the living room.

[lilac-the-bean]

If...if they're sure... He grabs his brother's body under the arms and carefully drags him behind Apricot. Not that he can't just lift Collin--he can. He just doesn't want to harm his brother's body any more than it already is by slinging it over his shoulder. Plus, the couch doesn't look that far away. No unnecessary physical movements, right? "Thank you," he murmurs, following Apricot into the living room. He hoists Collin onto the couch first, making sure the sunset bot is properly sat before hesitantly sitting next to him. He barely sits, though; he's more hovering on the edge of the plush seat. Nervous. Antsy. Awareness courses through his wires like adrenaline. Maybe it is adrenaline; just a synthetic variant. Strange. "I thought..." He paused, trying to start a proper conversation. Gods, it's been so long-- "Th-thought we were going to drown out there." A strangled noise--that he hardly can pass as a chuckle--rips its way out of his voice box and he winces. Ouch. Maybe trying to be friendly should wait until he can practise first.

[wywaskblog]

"Of course," she said easily in response to Oliver's thanks. Her shoes make tapping noises against the floor, the sound light. Too light for animatronic, especially for an animatronic as tall as him.

Apricot sat down in one of the armchairs further away. The rain still could be heard against the closed windows, the furious pattering against the glass that showed the relentless downpour that only seemed to be falling faster than ever before. His eyes flicked to look outside, before it returned to the other animatronic at the sound of his voice. Concern painted her face.

They turned their body more toward Oliver. "Good thing then, that you found us," she mumbled, awfully relieved.

However, at the sound of the strangled noise that came from his body, the eclipse stiffened at the noise, though he did his best not to fret immediately. "Ah, hon, do you need—ah..." he started, before trailing off. Did his model have the ability to drink, or have any modifications for it? He couldn't tell.

"You drink?" he inquired. It would be better to ask instead of assuming.

[lilac-the-bean]

He nods at their query, resetting his voice box with a click and a fizz of audial static. "I am able to consume, yes, but no, I'm alright." His eyes skip over to his brother momentarily before darting to his scarred hands; his hand pads all were...gone, and the metal was scuffed. Paint chipped away. His next sentence comes out as something akin to a whisper. "I just haven't laughed in a while." When was the last time he laughed? Was it...the second day of creation? Or was it the third? He doesn't remember, his eyes growing vacant as he shifts through his memory files. He tries not to wince as he comes across some...rather unsavoury memories.

[wywaskblog]

Apricot nodded at the other bot's refusal, accepting it with ease.

Her audio processors picked up his words, but she said nothing about it. Instead, her optics lingered on Oliver's hands, seemingly wanting to say something, but her attention shifted easily as Daydream entered the room.

The moon walked silently with two folded white towels. Her movements were practiced, done with a grace and fluidity that did not match with what she was doing.

Daydream set down the towels beside Oliver, moving back to give him enough space. "Is there anything you need?" he inquired.

(Perhaps it was the way the moon was designed, but she had an awfully blank look in her eyes. The lack of any distinctive pupils were off-putting—just a pale purple to yellow coloring, not unlike a sunset.)

The eclipse simply watched the interaction, a worried look on her face.

They seemed to want to say something to Daydream, but instead they held their tongue. He wouldn't ask, not in front of their guest, but he really did have to remind him that he wasn't some sort of... maid or servant. She hadn't thought about how that would come off, and her fists scrunched up the fabric of her skirt.

[lilac-the-bean]

  Oliver's pale blue eyes watch Daydream's form, studying her as she walks into the living room. Her serene silence seems to put him both on edge and at ease at the same time. As the towels are set beside him, he extends a hand to carefully take the fluffy fabric, attending his brother first, patting his immediate casing dry of water beads. Upon Daydream's question, he hesitates. No one's asked him that; in fact, other than Apricot's question if he'd like something to drink, his own needs or feelings haven't been considered since...a long time ago. His emotes strain to furrow his eyebrows, but he keeps his default face with a determined chest pang.   "Ah, no thank you," he declines softly, nodding at Daydream, making eye contact. Their eyes jar Oliver out of his thoughts, and he pauses, disturbed slightly. The absence of pupils snaps him back to the time when he, himself, had none, and he'd stare endlessly into the mirror with that blank, pale, blue stare. "Th- that's very nice of you, though," he adds.   He turns back to his brother, working on drying the soaked sunset bot as best as possible. Those eyes still haunt his vision even as he faces away, sort of reminding them of Collin's eyes. Haunted. Empty. Vacant. His tail twitches behind him, making its first real movement since walking into the warm, dry abode.

[wywaskblog]

Daydream's hands were clasped together as he watched Oliver dry off the sunset-colored bot. She was standing, waiting for a command in the space between him and Apricot. It was a habit that she fell back into easily, despite Apricot's gentle insistence and the progress that both bots had been making together.

She tilted her head slightly at the other bot as he declined her offer. As they made eye contact, she made no move to turn away.

"Of course."

It was only until Oliver looked away first that the moon returned to the doorway. Daydream shared a look with the Apricot, the eclipse's expression conveying her worry. The smaller bot's face was passive, and Apricot was reminded once more that he would have to talk to her about this. However, for now...

"Oliver, hon, you wanna stay here a while? I know you ain’t tryna be out in that rain. You welcome to stay as long as you want," the eclipse offered as he turned back to Oliver. Their fingers let go of their skirt, and their eyes darted to the window.

The rain hadn't eased up at all.

[lilac-the-bean]

Collin's turtleneck is soaked, but as much as he wants to remove it, it feels wrong to expose his brother's body like that, especially after...hhhh. He dries as much as he possibly can before turning to Apricot as he asks her question. "As long as it's not too much of a bother to you. Just until the rain stops, that is. I don't want to overstay my welcome," he replies, his fronds still dripping onto his lap. He pulls a fresh towel from the pile, holding back a grimace as he brings the fabric up to carefully rub at his rays. Ah, and there's also still the problem of his clothing. Both he and Collin are going to need a change...but he's...afraid to ask for anything else. Have to get over fears at some point, right? "...Is there a possibility you might have a change of clothing for my brother here?" He refuses to ask for himself. He'll...dry. Maybe. "His clothing is soaked, and we weren't made to withstand...prolonged water contact."

[wywaskblog]

"Ain’t no bother at all, darlin’. Don’t you worry 'bout a thing," Apricot answered with ease, optics flicking to him. Really, Oliver and Collin could stay for as long as they pleased. It was of no issue to him, and. Well, the eclipse knew what the weather was like here; the rain wouldn't be easing up for a good amount of time. With how it was coming down this, the rain would go on for another few days at least. Maybe pause for a bit, before starting up again.

Daydream seemed to stare once again, as if waiting for some sort of cue to a performance that neither Oliver nor Apricot was apart of. The eclipse paid no heed to it as he continued to speak. "I can getcha somethin' from my wardrobe if that'll help, sugar. Don't mind if it gets wet—we got a workin' washer and dryer, and I can always throw it in. If it's too big on ya, I think we got a few sets lyin' 'round. Daydream—" the baker paused to address her, "—s'alright if some o' yours get used, hon? I know you don't change outta that uniform much, but you ain’t gotta if you don't wanna."

The maid nodded. "You may." His words were short, once again.

Apricot seemed relieved and turned back to Oliver. "Lemme grab you some, alright? While I do, I'll see if Daydream can get you settled in one o’ the spare rooms. Just so you got some space to breathe." He paused a bit. "We got portable chargers, but I dunno if any of 'em'll work for you. For ya models, I mean."

The eclipse moved to stand up from where she was sitting..

[lilac-the-bean]

Ouh, these bots are so hospitable-! He's not sure how to handle the kindness pouring forth from Apricot. He's concluded that these two definitely seem genuine, but he's...still...not used to it. His smile wavers at the corners as he continues to pat himself dry; he's this close to breaking down. His brother is mangled, they're both soaked, they probably have people hunting them down, and he's sitting here on a couch of a stranger, drying himself with one of the softest pieces of fabric he's ever had the chance of laying fingers on. "I. Thank you, Apricot," he mutters, "Also...maybe not? My port is round, like Collin's, but his insert is ever so slightly bigger than mine. I never figured out why." He's half tempted to turn the clothing down for himself, considering he can just...wrap himself in a blanket or something, but he doesn't want to be seen as ungrateful...or maybe be seen as weird...yeah, no. He'll just have to accept it for now, but all he's really known is this patchwork, ragtag outfit that he's thrown together... It really is hard to be an animatronic with feelings and trauma sometimes.

[wywaskblog]

"I mean, we do got a handful o' different chargers—since not every bot here's from the same generation. Still, good to know. Can't say for sure we got one fo' your type o' model, though. Sorry 'bout that, hon," the eclipse apologized. He seemed to notice the way the other bot's smile wavered, but he didn't push. These bots just had a rather hard time, especially because of the rain. "Ain't no need to thank me, sugar. I mean it. 'm just real glad you ended up here, even if things been rough. Now lemme grab you some clothes, 'nd I'll find ya when you're comfy, alright?"

Apricot smiled a little, in hopes of being welcoming, before she turned. He briskly moved past Daydream, who stepped aside to let the much taller bot leave the living room. The maid watched the two bots wordlessly for a few moments, those sunset eyes boring into Oliver, and then Collin, before the moon approached slowly—like how one would with a scared animal.

He stopped in front of them, his movement rather stiff in contrast to the baker's liveliness. "There is a spare room I can show you. Do you need a moment, or would you like to go now?" His words were rather soft, not at all pressuring in any way. It was something he learned well, as not to upset his past owner. The moon's hands were clasped together, and she did not sway like the other animatronics. It was somewhat disturbing how doll-like she was.

It was if you could stand her up or position her however you pleased.

[lilac-the-bean]

Oliver wordlessly listens to Apricot, nodding as she whisks away to go find clothing. His eyes find the moon model, watching him carefully as she watches him, and when he asks her question, Oliver pauses. Well. He should get his brother out of his wet clothes to dry him properly, and he can only do that in privacy. Maybe the spare room is a good idea? He hesitates before responding, slightly wigged out by her utter lack of movement. It reminds him...of the STAFF bots, back where he and Collin used to work. Ugh, they. Were...creepy. "Yes, please, I'd like to go now," he replies politely, preparing to stand, setting the towel to the side and going to grab Collin. His brother seems a lot heavier than. Than he was previously. Maybe he's tired. Maybe his. Maybe...maybe his strength is failing him due to watery joints. In any case, he seems to struggle with his brother's body.

[wywaskblog]

The purple moon nodded, turning around before she returned back to the doorway. She only paused when she didn't hear the sounds of footsteps behind her, and looked back. His entire body followed, pupiless eyes watching as Oliver prepared to stand and bring his brother. She was not judging them one bit—she could understand how disorienting it would be, to be treated so nicely after facing such cruel treatment.

"Do you need assistance?" Daydream inquired, if only to be polite. He wouldn't have made a move to touch either bot if he was close; he had no intention of making them uncomfortable in any way. He was simply still, unmoving. The way he was never seemed to bother any humans, at the very least—he was a machine, an animatronic, and he would never be seen as something more than that. He was simultaneously grateful and displeased with it, as it gave him a set of internal rules he could change for each of his owners.

But with other animatronics? That was something—others—that he may never understand, with his programming. He understood Apricot well enough, because she was human-like. But. The other bots treated him as if he weren't lesser.

[lilac-the-bean]

While he really doesn't want anyone else touching his brother...he feels like he could trust Daydream? Maybe? She seems...gentle. So... "As long as you're gentle with him," he allows, warning in his voice. Seriously, please... "He's been through a lot and needs fixing, so I would rather you treat him like a china doll...please..." Of course, her eyes are a tad bit unnerving as he steps back (hesitantly) from Collin's unmoving body. "...he's my everything," he mutters softly, smile wavering.

[titan-star]

@lilac-the-bean

Lilac knows he's scared of the dark, but by the time he's disarmed his brother's alarms with his nimble fingers and crawled out of his window, it's too late for him to go back. His padded feet touch the grass, and he freezes, glancing around at the world of black around him. He knows there are monsters in the shadows. He knows they're there. But... He wants to see the goosey... He pats his pocket, checking for the bundle of corn he'd stashed earlier, and starts toward Titan's house. He knows that both Blem and Titan are going to be pissed when they find out he's done this. But. Well. They can't be mad at what they don't know, right? He'll be back before they know it.

Skol huffed a bit, finding it difficult to sleep tonight. It was warm. Disgustingly warm for him. He nibbled at the enclosure's latch that Titan never seemed to lock. Skol was sure it was because he truly had nowhere to go. What an insult...

Using his beak, he easily opened the latch and waddled right out. He paused at the door of the garage, analyzing how he was going to open the door so he could go outside. The pond sounded nice....

[lilac-the-bean]

By the time he makes it to the garage, he's tiptoeing and about ready to burst into tears. He's gotten several thorns stuck in his foot pads, and the dark feels like it's closing in on him, pressing against his casing like a squeezing vice. But. He can't give up! Not when he knows that Skol is on the other side of this door! He goes to lift the door with his puny arms, surprised when it opens quietly for him. "G-goosey?" He starts out nervously, then stops when he sees Skol just standing there. "Oh. Hi, Skol! I--" He drops his voice to a whisper. "I brought you some corn!"

[titan-star]

Skol was a bit surprised to hear and see the rolling door open. Oh...the flower boy.

Why did this one remind Skol of his children if they were sane and innocent? Disgusting....ly adorable... God, he needs to be back in his own body. Emotions were gross. He's so tired of feeling them. His tail wagged a bit as he slowly waddled his way over to Blem.

More corn? Is Lilac trying to make him fat? Whatever. Corn. Skol honked softly as he nibbled and yanked at the skirt of Lilac's dress expectantly.

[lilac-the-bean]

"Hello, hello!" he giggles, trying to push away the fear in his core, crouching down and pulling the pouch out of his pocket. "I didn't bring as much as last time because I was try'na be careful, but I thought you'd still like it." He unwraps the bundle, setting it on the floor for the goose. "It's kinda sad that Mr. Titan has you cooped up in here all the time. If you were my goose, we'd go everywhere together." He's not aware that Terry occasionally takes him out on a leash; he doesn't know much about Terry at all, actually. He just knows that there are gator kids next door that he's yet to meet. Not that. He's. Excited to meet them. He doesn't like gators. Hasn't since...well—a while. Montgomery was very violent where he came from. He knows they're probably different from that Montgomery. He knows he should give them a chance. But... He shivers as the dark yawns at him from all around, eyes darting around nervously, bathing the area nearby in a pale blue light. "It's. A bit dark, isn't it, Skol? I don't like the dark. Do you like the dark? The dark makes me think of the time I was locked in the creepy, black basement for a while. The dark has monsters in it." He's nervously yapping at this point, and he realises it a bit too late. "Sorry."

[titan-star]

Skol immediately goes for the corn once it's set down. Delectable little juicy bits..!! He's always down for corn.

He internally rolled his eyes at the thought of being dragged around like a pet by someone else. Well. Then again, he's supposed to play the part of the pet to avoid getting eaten or his neck snapped. He can't get his revenge if he doesn't play along...

Once again, Skol internally rolled his eyes -- can he even physically do that?

He moved his beak away from the remaining kernels and began to tap away.

{ Darkness makes it easier to hide from those who hunt you. They'll find you if you stay in the light. I don't hate it. I don't like it. I just use it as a tool against my enemies. }

[lilac-the-bean]

He wraps his arms around his knees as he watches the goose eat, and when he taps out the Morse code, Lilac's tail wags of its own accord, responding to his excitement at Skol's ability to talk. His skirts swish with the movement, but his body language and expression stay the same. "I have to sleep with a nightlight. An' I have nightmares about being trapped in there again. I can't get used to the dark." For a second, he doesn't sound like the baby Lilac anymore, and he just sounds like a sad, developed AI. He sounds tired. "It's like it's stuck in my code. Permanently or something." He stares at the corn on the floor, tail stilling. "I'm talking too much, though. You should enjoy your corn. I'm sure my brother's gonna find that I left the house without telling anyone, and he's gonna be worried about me, cus he knows about my fear and he says that there's danger out there for someone who has their judgment impaired by fear. He's right. Like...I know he is...I looked it up. Fear makes you blind to other things." He reaches a hand out questioningly, hesitantly and silently asking to pet the goose. "Maybe I should leave you alone, cus...you don't seem to like me." Yeah, he's noticed. He's an empath. He knows that Skol just likes the corn. Sigh. This is why he doesn't make friends. He feels too much. He knows too much, sometimes, or knows too little and gets in trouble. Just wait. He'll regret telling Skol so much about himself, won't he?

[titan-star]

@lilac-the-bean

Lilac knows he's scared of the dark, but by the time he's disarmed his brother's alarms with his nimble fingers and crawled out of his window, it's too late for him to go back. His padded feet touch the grass, and he freezes, glancing around at the world of black around him. He knows there are monsters in the shadows. He knows they're there. But... He wants to see the goosey... He pats his pocket, checking for the bundle of corn he'd stashed earlier, and starts toward Titan's house. He knows that both Blem and Titan are going to be pissed when they find out he's done this. But. Well. They can't be mad at what they don't know, right? He'll be back before they know it.

Skol huffed a bit, finding it difficult to sleep tonight. It was warm. Disgustingly warm for him. He nibbled at the enclosure's latch that Titan never seemed to lock. Skol was sure it was because he truly had nowhere to go. What an insult...

Using his beak, he easily opened the latch and waddled right out. He paused at the door of the garage, analyzing how he was going to open the door so he could go outside. The pond sounded nice....

[lilac-the-bean]

By the time he makes it to the garage, he's tiptoeing and about ready to burst into tears. He's gotten several thorns stuck in his foot pads, and the dark feels like it's closing in on him, pressing against his casing like a squeezing vice. But. He can't give up! Not when he knows that Skol is on the other side of this door! He goes to lift the door with his puny arms, surprised when it opens quietly for him. "G-goosey?" He starts out nervously, then stops when he sees Skol just standing there. "Oh. Hi, Skol! I--" He drops his voice to a whisper. "I brought you some corn!"

[titan-star]

Skol was a bit surprised to hear and see the rolling door open. Oh...the flower boy.

Why did this one remind Skol of his children if they were sane and innocent? Disgusting....ly adorable... God, he needs to be back in his own body. Emotions were gross. He's so tired of feeling them. His tail wagged a bit as he slowly waddled his way over to Blem.

More corn? Is Lilac trying to make him fat? Whatever. Corn. Skol honked softly as he nibbled and yanked at the skirt of Lilac's dress expectantly.

[lilac-the-bean]

"Hello, hello!" he giggles, trying to push away the fear in his core, crouching down and pulling the pouch out of his pocket. "I didn't bring as much as last time because I was try'na be careful, but I thought you'd still like it." He unwraps the bundle, setting it on the floor for the goose. "It's kinda sad that Mr. Titan has you cooped up in here all the time. If you were my goose, we'd go everywhere together." He's not aware that Terry occasionally takes him out on a leash; he doesn't know much about Terry at all, actually. He just knows that there are gator kids next door that he's yet to meet. Not that. He's. Excited to meet them. He doesn't like gators. Hasn't since...well—a while. Montgomery was very violent where he came from. He knows they're probably different from that Montgomery. He knows he should give them a chance. But... He shivers as the dark yawns at him from all around, eyes darting around nervously, bathing the area nearby in a pale blue light. "It's. A bit dark, isn't it, Skol? I don't like the dark. Do you like the dark? The dark makes me think of the time I was locked in the creepy, black basement for a while. The dark has monsters in it." He's nervously yapping at this point, and he realises it a bit too late. "Sorry."

[lilac-the-bean]

Well in the Rain

There's rainwater in the well, Oliver realises as his HUD boots back up. The soft hush of falling droplets fills his audials as he stares down at the cylindrical rock structure, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. His brother, Collin, sits beside him on the grass, leaning against the well. His eyes are dark. Rivulets of watered-down oil stream down his face as the rain washes away what damage it can, but it can't take the fire scars and the emotional mutilation that they've both been through. Collin more than he, he knows for sure. His tail gently caresses his brother's cheek as the low-battery animatronic lay there, his default smile unfading, his expression vacant. No reaction comes from the sunset-coloured animatronic, and sadness pangs through Oliver's very being. He hopes he can find a way to return his brother to this world. The rain strengthens, pushing his fronds down with the beating weight of the droplets, and his hopeful smile drops for the first time in...forever. In front of him, the well slowly fills, and he watches it until he can't bear the water any longer. He hauls Collin up, over his shoulder (ripping his beautiful sweater in the process; this won't be the first or last time he'll be fixing that), and starts walking towards...gods only know where. He'll figure it out. He always does.

[wywaskblog]

The rain hadn't stopped.

The fir trees that surrounded the animatronics began to sway in the strong wind. The sound of something snapping could be heard in the distance, and a series of cracking followed. With an awfully loud thump, one of the firs had fallen—a testament to the awful weather that lingered in the area.

No people were around. The dense, forest-like area and the heavy downpour made sure of that. There was a road in the distance, one that spanned out for miles. Even then, the few houses on that very road were far and uninviting.

However...

Despite the dark clouds overhead, casting a gloomy, atmosphere, there was a faint glow in the distance. The few trees that had fallen had created an opening, the thick leaves parting to reveal a house that was closer than any other. Its lights were on, almost as if it was a beacon that beckoned anyone lost to come.

[lilac-the-bean]

Oliver has never been out of the Megaplex this far. He knows nothing of the weather and what dangers the severity can cause. When the tree cracks in the distance, he startles and secures his brother on his shoulder, eyes darting this way and that as he assesses the situation. Then he feels the thump resonate through the ground, the quaking rumbling through his feet. Or is that just the rain falling at the fast speed it is? Either way, if he stays out here much longer, both he and his brother will have water seeping through their joints. He can feel the silicone between his threatening to give way. He hadn't been built for withstanding weather conditions, much less violent ones. A quick scan of the area leaves him in despair; no human life detected for the next-- Wait. It's not human life. But there's something. Something ahead. A light. A small cry leaves his voice box and he forces his frown into his default smile. It feels foreign. He pushes forward, ignoring the sloshing of the mud and rainwater around his feet and the hem of his patchwork skirt. He needs to get Collin to safety.

[wywaskblog]

With the awful winds, the trees only seemed to shake more vigorously around Oliver. The speed of the rain only quickened, pattering against his and his brother's form.

As the house came into view, it became easier to make out other aspects of the property as well. A small but undeniable garden seemed to peek out from the side of the abode. The marks of tires left in the sodden earth from how many times a vehicle had come and gone, in front of a garage that had no proper driveway. Through the windows, there was movement inside.

However, none of it was human.

A closer look through would show a tall, eight foot animatronic with a dark orange and brown casing. Their face was hard to tell through the window, but certain features could be made out. A handkerchief that wrapped around their modified neck, a sage-like green cardigan that adorned their body with a lighter green wrapped around their waist. A shoddy, quick ribbon on the back of the bot.

There was another animatronic aside the first, one a lot smaller and more purple. They were a lot less noticeable, moving around the residence quickly, seemingly worried.

Rain drummed against the roof of the house, seemingly like an omen.

[lilac-the-bean]

He can definitely say he dislikes the rain. He can't say much for his brother's view on one of nature's miracles, but it's not like he'll get anything if he doesn't get somewhere warm and safe. Collin... He hardly takes in any of the decor or extra details of the property, only assesses the figures in the window. Oh, he hopes they're nice. He breaks into a run, making for the door and squinting against the pelting rain, his rays pushed back by the wind. He slides through the mud as he nears the house, nearly wiping out and sprawling on the ground. Careful, careful... His hand hesitates as he finally raises it to rap his knuckles three times (evenly spaced and perfect, concise knocks) on the door. "H-hello!?" His voice wavers, voice box sputtering with the moisture in the air trying to reach it. "Please! I need help!"

[wywaskblog]

On the third knock, the door opened.

It was the tall animatronic, and her eyes flicked down to Oliver's. Surprise settled across her features as she quickly looked both of them over, concern seeping into his expression. "Come in," she offered easily, not even questioning the state they were in. The rain had been harsh, and the downpour had been made obvious from the specks of rain on the window. He stepped back from the doorway, giving them the space to enter.

They turned to look at the bot that had stiffened in the hallway. "Daydream, be a darlin' and get some towels, will ya?" he asked quickly. The small, purple moon in question—Daydream—had quietly nodded and moved hurriedly elsewhere without question.

Apricot's tall posture could easily be intimidating, now that Oliver was much closer. However, her face was soft and he did his best to look kind. As much as they wanted to fret over the two animatronics that had showed, they knew that they had to prioritize them. Overwhelming them would only be detrimental.

He said nothing more for now, holding the door open and ushering them inside without touching them.

[lilac-the-bean]

He gratefully pulls he and his brother's dripping forms into the hallway, immediately relaxing with the lack of rain battering his casings. Of course, being just accepted into the house has him on edge; he usually takes kindness for ulterior motives nowadays. Except from Collin, but that's to be expected with them being related. The sound of rain on the roof prickles at Oliver's casings as he gently lowers his brother's soaked body to the floor, and he notices Daydream in full for the first time. Hm. A purple moonbot. Interesting. When he looks back up at Apricot to ask what he may call them, the words die in his voice box, fizzling into nothing as he kneels next to his brother. Apricot is...rather tall. Startlingly tall, in all honesty; at least two feet taller than himself. He resets his voice box and tries again, determined to not look a fool in front of a complete stranger. At least her facial expression is kind? "What may I call you?"

[wywaskblog]

The eclipse closed the door behind Oliver as he entered. He would rather not have any more rain come in—it'd be a mess that she'd have to clean up later, and he didn't want poor Daydream to clean it.

Apricot turned to look at the small bot and his brother both in an inquisitive fashion. She had been around long enough to know that the two of them weren't the usual models that she was familiar with, or like any within the house. They were certainly not from the first generation of models—she was a first generation model despite her reparations and customizations. He couldn't help but be curious.

"Oh, you can call me Apricot," she answered easily. Her eyes wandered over Oliver's form, how the rain clung to his casing. That wouldn't do.

Apricot's eyes glance to the window. The downpour had been quite sudden and awful in comparison to the past few days, more so than the normal storms that frequented the area. The sound of rain on the roof was distant but still present—Sungrass would be up in the attic at this time, he was sure of it.

Their green eyes flicked back to the smaller bot present, though any bot would be compared to her. Their gaze lingered briefly on the animatronic body on the floor, and how Oliver kneeled beside them. "What about you? Ya got a name, hon?" As he spoke, he stepped back to give them both space.

Puddles of water were already forming on the floor, but the eclipse said nothing about it. He didn't want to give them any flack for it, especially with how rough they looked and how terrible the weather was.

[lilac-the-bean]

He can feel himself being studied; not in a negative fashion, but he knows that she's observing he and his brother. He self-consciously tugs at his ripped sweater, making the mental note on his HUD to fix that later. "Apricot," he muses quietly, testing their name out. He brushes his fronds out of his face, their soaked nature rendering them heavy. He thinks briefly about his name. Oliver. He can use his company-issued name. Or he can provide a nickname. He hesitates before replying to Apricot's query. "My name is S-D47 Unit 3DA, Oliver. And this," he indicates Collin, "is my brother, S-D42 Unit 6QZ, Collin." Honesty is best policy. Openness and honesty will keep him afloat in this world. At least he hopes so.

[wywaskblog]

Apricot filed the information away for later as she nodded. He would look into their models when he had the time, though he knew Sundowner had a better understanding of the different models from his experience. Enough of that, for now. Tending to their new guests was the eclipse's priority.

And, speaking of said guests... he continued to look them over. Worry seeped into his systems—how long had Oliver and Collin been out there?

"Gotcha," she murmured, though more questions flooded her mind. She held back her questions for now, not wanting to interrogate Oliver, especially after she saw Collin's state. They paused, before they shook their head. "Let's move ya and Collin over to the couch. Don't care if y'all wet—the couch gon' dry. It's gon' be more comfortable up there than on the floor."

The eclipse stepped back a bit, waiting for them to follow before he moved any further to the living room.

[lilac-the-bean]

If...if they're sure... He grabs his brother's body under the arms and carefully drags him behind Apricot. Not that he can't just lift Collin--he can. He just doesn't want to harm his brother's body any more than it already is by slinging it over his shoulder. Plus, the couch doesn't look that far away. No unnecessary physical movements, right? "Thank you," he murmurs, following Apricot into the living room. He hoists Collin onto the couch first, making sure the sunset bot is properly sat before hesitantly sitting next to him. He barely sits, though; he's more hovering on the edge of the plush seat. Nervous. Antsy. Awareness courses through his wires like adrenaline. Maybe it is adrenaline; just a synthetic variant. Strange. "I thought..." He paused, trying to start a proper conversation. Gods, it's been so long-- "Th-thought we were going to drown out there." A strangled noise--that he hardly can pass as a chuckle--rips its way out of his voice box and he winces. Ouch. Maybe trying to be friendly should wait until he can practise first.

[wywaskblog]

"Of course," she said easily in response to Oliver's thanks. Her shoes make tapping noises against the floor, the sound light. Too light for animatronic, especially for an animatronic as tall as him.

Apricot sat down in one of the armchairs further away. The rain still could be heard against the closed windows, the furious pattering against the glass that showed the relentless downpour that only seemed to be falling faster than ever before. His eyes flicked to look outside, before it returned to the other animatronic at the sound of his voice. Concern painted her face.

They turned their body more toward Oliver. "Good thing then, that you found us," she mumbled, awfully relieved.

However, at the sound of the strangled noise that came from his body, the eclipse stiffened at the noise, though he did his best not to fret immediately. "Ah, hon, do you need—ah..." he started, before trailing off. Did his model have the ability to drink, or have any modifications for it? He couldn't tell.

"You drink?" he inquired. It would be better to ask instead of assuming.

[lilac-the-bean]

He nods at their query, resetting his voice box with a click and a fizz of audial static. "I am able to consume, yes, but no, I'm alright." His eyes skip over to his brother momentarily before darting to his scarred hands; his hand pads all were...gone, and the metal was scuffed. Paint chipped away. His next sentence comes out as something akin to a whisper. "I just haven't laughed in a while." When was the last time he laughed? Was it...the second day of creation? Or was it the third? He doesn't remember, his eyes growing vacant as he shifts through his memory files. He tries not to wince as he comes across some...rather unsavoury memories.

[wywaskblog]

Apricot nodded at the other bot's refusal, accepting it with ease.

Her audio processors picked up his words, but she said nothing about it. Instead, her optics lingered on Oliver's hands, seemingly wanting to say something, but her attention shifted easily as Daydream entered the room.

The moon walked silently with two folded white towels. Her movements were practiced, done with a grace and fluidity that did not match with what she was doing.

Daydream set down the towels beside Oliver, moving back to give him enough space. "Is there anything you need?" he inquired.

(Perhaps it was the way the moon was designed, but she had an awfully blank look in her eyes. The lack of any distinctive pupils were off-putting—just a pale purple to yellow coloring, not unlike a sunset.)

The eclipse simply watched the interaction, a worried look on her face.

They seemed to want to say something to Daydream, but instead they held their tongue. He wouldn't ask, not in front of their guest, but he really did have to remind him that he wasn't some sort of... maid or servant. She hadn't thought about how that would come off, and her fists scrunched up the fabric of her skirt.

[lilac-the-bean]

  Oliver's pale blue eyes watch Daydream's form, studying her as she walks into the living room. Her serene silence seems to put him both on edge and at ease at the same time. As the towels are set beside him, he extends a hand to carefully take the fluffy fabric, attending his brother first, patting his immediate casing dry of water beads. Upon Daydream's question, he hesitates. No one's asked him that; in fact, other than Apricot's question if he'd like something to drink, his own needs or feelings haven't been considered since...a long time ago. His emotes strain to furrow his eyebrows, but he keeps his default face with a determined chest pang.   "Ah, no thank you," he declines softly, nodding at Daydream, making eye contact. Their eyes jar Oliver out of his thoughts, and he pauses, disturbed slightly. The absence of pupils snaps him back to the time when he, himself, had none, and he'd stare endlessly into the mirror with that blank, pale, blue stare. "Th- that's very nice of you, though," he adds.   He turns back to his brother, working on drying the soaked sunset bot as best as possible. Those eyes still haunt his vision even as he faces away, sort of reminding them of Collin's eyes. Haunted. Empty. Vacant. His tail twitches behind him, making its first real movement since walking into the warm, dry abode.

[wywaskblog]

Daydream's hands were clasped together as he watched Oliver dry off the sunset-colored bot. She was standing, waiting for a command in the space between him and Apricot. It was a habit that she fell back into easily, despite Apricot's gentle insistence and the progress that both bots had been making together.

She tilted her head slightly at the other bot as he declined her offer. As they made eye contact, she made no move to turn away.

"Of course."

It was only until Oliver looked away first that the moon returned to the doorway. Daydream shared a look with the Apricot, the eclipse's expression conveying her worry. The smaller bot's face was passive, and Apricot was reminded once more that he would have to talk to her about this. However, for now...

"Oliver, hon, you wanna stay here a while? I know you ain’t tryna be out in that rain. You welcome to stay as long as you want," the eclipse offered as he turned back to Oliver. Their fingers let go of their skirt, and their eyes darted to the window.

The rain hadn't eased up at all.

[lilac-the-bean]

Collin's turtleneck is soaked, but as much as he wants to remove it, it feels wrong to expose his brother's body like that, especially after...hhhh. He dries as much as he possibly can before turning to Apricot as he asks her question. "As long as it's not too much of a bother to you. Just until the rain stops, that is. I don't want to overstay my welcome," he replies, his fronds still dripping onto his lap. He pulls a fresh towel from the pile, holding back a grimace as he brings the fabric up to carefully rub at his rays. Ah, and there's also still the problem of his clothing. Both he and Collin are going to need a change...but he's...afraid to ask for anything else. Have to get over fears at some point, right? "...Is there a possibility you might have a change of clothing for my brother here?" He refuses to ask for himself. He'll...dry. Maybe. "His clothing is soaked, and we weren't made to withstand...prolonged water contact."

[wywaskblog]

"Ain’t no bother at all, darlin’. Don’t you worry 'bout a thing," Apricot answered with ease, optics flicking to him. Really, Oliver and Collin could stay for as long as they pleased. It was of no issue to him, and. Well, the eclipse knew what the weather was like here; the rain wouldn't be easing up for a good amount of time. With how it was coming down this, the rain would go on for another few days at least. Maybe pause for a bit, before starting up again.

Daydream seemed to stare once again, as if waiting for some sort of cue to a performance that neither Oliver nor Apricot was apart of. The eclipse paid no heed to it as he continued to speak. "I can getcha somethin' from my wardrobe if that'll help, sugar. Don't mind if it gets wet—we got a workin' washer and dryer, and I can always throw it in. If it's too big on ya, I think we got a few sets lyin' 'round. Daydream—" the baker paused to address her, "—s'alright if some o' yours get used, hon? I know you don't change outta that uniform much, but you ain’t gotta if you don't wanna."

The maid nodded. "You may." His words were short, once again.

Apricot seemed relieved and turned back to Oliver. "Lemme grab you some, alright? While I do, I'll see if Daydream can get you settled in one o’ the spare rooms. Just so you got some space to breathe." He paused a bit. "We got portable chargers, but I dunno if any of 'em'll work for you. For ya models, I mean."

The eclipse moved to stand up from where she was sitting..

[lilac-the-bean]

Ouh, these bots are so hospitable-! He's not sure how to handle the kindness pouring forth from Apricot. He's concluded that these two definitely seem genuine, but he's...still...not used to it. His smile wavers at the corners as he continues to pat himself dry; he's this close to breaking down. His brother is mangled, they're both soaked, they probably have people hunting them down, and he's sitting here on a couch of a stranger, drying himself with one of the softest pieces of fabric he's ever had the chance of laying fingers on. "I. Thank you, Apricot," he mutters, "Also...maybe not? My port is round, like Collin's, but his insert is ever so slightly bigger than mine. I never figured out why." He's half tempted to turn the clothing down for himself, considering he can just...wrap himself in a blanket or something, but he doesn't want to be seen as ungrateful...or maybe be seen as weird...yeah, no. He'll just have to accept it for now, but all he's really known is this patchwork, ragtag outfit that he's thrown together... It really is hard to be an animatronic with feelings and trauma sometimes.

[wywaskblog]

"I mean, we do got a handful o' different chargers—since not every bot here's from the same generation. Still, good to know. Can't say for sure we got one fo' your type o' model, though. Sorry 'bout that, hon," the eclipse apologized. He seemed to notice the way the other bot's smile wavered, but he didn't push. These bots just had a rather hard time, especially because of the rain. "Ain't no need to thank me, sugar. I mean it. 'm just real glad you ended up here, even if things been rough. Now lemme grab you some clothes, 'nd I'll find ya when you're comfy, alright?"

Apricot smiled a little, in hopes of being welcoming, before she turned. He briskly moved past Daydream, who stepped aside to let the much taller bot leave the living room. The maid watched the two bots wordlessly for a few moments, those sunset eyes boring into Oliver, and then Collin, before the moon approached slowly—like how one would with a scared animal.

He stopped in front of them, his movement rather stiff in contrast to the baker's liveliness. "There is a spare room I can show you. Do you need a moment, or would you like to go now?" His words were rather soft, not at all pressuring in any way. It was something he learned well, as not to upset his past owner. The moon's hands were clasped together, and she did not sway like the other animatronics. It was somewhat disturbing how doll-like she was.

It was if you could stand her up or position her however you pleased.

[lilac-the-bean]

Oliver wordlessly listens to Apricot, nodding as she whisks away to go find clothing. His eyes find the moon model, watching him carefully as she watches him, and when he asks her question, Oliver pauses. Well. He should get his brother out of his wet clothes to dry him properly, and he can only do that in privacy. Maybe the spare room is a good idea? He hesitates before responding, slightly wigged out by her utter lack of movement. It reminds him...of the STAFF bots, back where he and Collin used to work. Ugh, they. Were...creepy. "Yes, please, I'd like to go now," he replies politely, preparing to stand, setting the towel to the side and going to grab Collin. His brother seems a lot heavier than. Than he was previously. Maybe he's tired. Maybe his. Maybe...maybe his strength is failing him due to watery joints. In any case, he seems to struggle with his brother's body.

[titan-star]

@lilac-the-bean

Lilac knows he's scared of the dark, but by the time he's disarmed his brother's alarms with his nimble fingers and crawled out of his window, it's too late for him to go back. His padded feet touch the grass, and he freezes, glancing around at the world of black around him. He knows there are monsters in the shadows. He knows they're there. But... He wants to see the goosey... He pats his pocket, checking for the bundle of corn he'd stashed earlier, and starts toward Titan's house. He knows that both Blem and Titan are going to be pissed when they find out he's done this. But. Well. They can't be mad at what they don't know, right? He'll be back before they know it.

Skol huffed a bit, finding it difficult to sleep tonight. It was warm. Disgustingly warm for him. He nibbled at the enclosure's latch that Titan never seemed to lock. Skol was sure it was because he truly had nowhere to go. What an insult...

Using his beak, he easily opened the latch and waddled right out. He paused at the door of the garage, analyzing how he was going to open the door so he could go outside. The pond sounded nice....

[lilac-the-bean]

By the time he makes it to the garage, he's tiptoeing and about ready to burst into tears. He's gotten several thorns stuck in his foot pads, and the dark feels like it's closing in on him, pressing against his casing like a squeezing vice. But. He can't give up! Not when he knows that Skol is on the other side of this door! He goes to lift the door with his puny arms, surprised when it opens quietly for him. "G-goosey?" He starts out nervously, then stops when he sees Skol just standing there. "Oh. Hi, Skol! I--" He drops his voice to a whisper. "I brought you some corn!"

[lilac-the-bean]

Well in the Rain

There's rainwater in the well, Oliver realises as his HUD boots back up. The soft hush of falling droplets fills his audials as he stares down at the cylindrical rock structure, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. His brother, Collin, sits beside him on the grass, leaning against the well. His eyes are dark. Rivulets of watered-down oil stream down his face as the rain washes away what damage it can, but it can't take the fire scars and the emotional mutilation that they've both been through. Collin more than he, he knows for sure. His tail gently caresses his brother's cheek as the low-battery animatronic lay there, his default smile unfading, his expression vacant. No reaction comes from the sunset-coloured animatronic, and sadness pangs through Oliver's very being. He hopes he can find a way to return his brother to this world. The rain strengthens, pushing his fronds down with the beating weight of the droplets, and his hopeful smile drops for the first time in...forever. In front of him, the well slowly fills, and he watches it until he can't bear the water any longer. He hauls Collin up, over his shoulder (ripping his beautiful sweater in the process; this won't be the first or last time he'll be fixing that), and starts walking towards...gods only know where. He'll figure it out. He always does.

[wywaskblog]

The rain hadn't stopped.

The fir trees that surrounded the animatronics began to sway in the strong wind. The sound of something snapping could be heard in the distance, and a series of cracking followed. With an awfully loud thump, one of the firs had fallen—a testament to the awful weather that lingered in the area.

No people were around. The dense, forest-like area and the heavy downpour made sure of that. There was a road in the distance, one that spanned out for miles. Even then, the few houses on that very road were far and uninviting.

However...

Despite the dark clouds overhead, casting a gloomy, atmosphere, there was a faint glow in the distance. The few trees that had fallen had created an opening, the thick leaves parting to reveal a house that was closer than any other. Its lights were on, almost as if it was a beacon that beckoned anyone lost to come.

[lilac-the-bean]

Oliver has never been out of the Megaplex this far. He knows nothing of the weather and what dangers the severity can cause. When the tree cracks in the distance, he startles and secures his brother on his shoulder, eyes darting this way and that as he assesses the situation. Then he feels the thump resonate through the ground, the quaking rumbling through his feet. Or is that just the rain falling at the fast speed it is? Either way, if he stays out here much longer, both he and his brother will have water seeping through their joints. He can feel the silicone between his threatening to give way. He hadn't been built for withstanding weather conditions, much less violent ones. A quick scan of the area leaves him in despair; no human life detected for the next-- Wait. It's not human life. But there's something. Something ahead. A light. A small cry leaves his voice box and he forces his frown into his default smile. It feels foreign. He pushes forward, ignoring the sloshing of the mud and rainwater around his feet and the hem of his patchwork skirt. He needs to get Collin to safety.

[wywaskblog]

With the awful winds, the trees only seemed to shake more vigorously around Oliver. The speed of the rain only quickened, pattering against his and his brother's form.

As the house came into view, it became easier to make out other aspects of the property as well. A small but undeniable garden seemed to peek out from the side of the abode. The marks of tires left in the sodden earth from how many times a vehicle had come and gone, in front of a garage that had no proper driveway. Through the windows, there was movement inside.

However, none of it was human.

A closer look through would show a tall, eight foot animatronic with a dark orange and brown casing. Their face was hard to tell through the window, but certain features could be made out. A handkerchief that wrapped around their modified neck, a sage-like green cardigan that adorned their body with a lighter green wrapped around their waist. A shoddy, quick ribbon on the back of the bot.

There was another animatronic aside the first, one a lot smaller and more purple. They were a lot less noticeable, moving around the residence quickly, seemingly worried.

Rain drummed against the roof of the house, seemingly like an omen.

[lilac-the-bean]

He can definitely say he dislikes the rain. He can't say much for his brother's view on one of nature's miracles, but it's not like he'll get anything if he doesn't get somewhere warm and safe. Collin... He hardly takes in any of the decor or extra details of the property, only assesses the figures in the window. Oh, he hopes they're nice. He breaks into a run, making for the door and squinting against the pelting rain, his rays pushed back by the wind. He slides through the mud as he nears the house, nearly wiping out and sprawling on the ground. Careful, careful... His hand hesitates as he finally raises it to rap his knuckles three times (evenly spaced and perfect, concise knocks) on the door. "H-hello!?" His voice wavers, voice box sputtering with the moisture in the air trying to reach it. "Please! I need help!"

[wywaskblog]

On the third knock, the door opened.

It was the tall animatronic, and her eyes flicked down to Oliver's. Surprise settled across her features as she quickly looked both of them over, concern seeping into his expression. "Come in," she offered easily, not even questioning the state they were in. The rain had been harsh, and the downpour had been made obvious from the specks of rain on the window. He stepped back from the doorway, giving them the space to enter.

They turned to look at the bot that had stiffened in the hallway. "Daydream, be a darlin' and get some towels, will ya?" he asked quickly. The small, purple moon in question—Daydream—had quietly nodded and moved hurriedly elsewhere without question.

Apricot's tall posture could easily be intimidating, now that Oliver was much closer. However, her face was soft and he did his best to look kind. As much as they wanted to fret over the two animatronics that had showed, they knew that they had to prioritize them. Overwhelming them would only be detrimental.

He said nothing more for now, holding the door open and ushering them inside without touching them.

[lilac-the-bean]

He gratefully pulls he and his brother's dripping forms into the hallway, immediately relaxing with the lack of rain battering his casings. Of course, being just accepted into the house has him on edge; he usually takes kindness for ulterior motives nowadays. Except from Collin, but that's to be expected with them being related. The sound of rain on the roof prickles at Oliver's casings as he gently lowers his brother's soaked body to the floor, and he notices Daydream in full for the first time. Hm. A purple moonbot. Interesting. When he looks back up at Apricot to ask what he may call them, the words die in his voice box, fizzling into nothing as he kneels next to his brother. Apricot is...rather tall. Startlingly tall, in all honesty; at least two feet taller than himself. He resets his voice box and tries again, determined to not look a fool in front of a complete stranger. At least her facial expression is kind? "What may I call you?"

[wywaskblog]

The eclipse closed the door behind Oliver as he entered. He would rather not have any more rain come in—it'd be a mess that she'd have to clean up later, and he didn't want poor Daydream to clean it.

Apricot turned to look at the small bot and his brother both in an inquisitive fashion. She had been around long enough to know that the two of them weren't the usual models that she was familiar with, or like any within the house. They were certainly not from the first generation of models—she was a first generation model despite her reparations and customizations. He couldn't help but be curious.

"Oh, you can call me Apricot," she answered easily. Her eyes wandered over Oliver's form, how the rain clung to his casing. That wouldn't do.

Apricot's eyes glance to the window. The downpour had been quite sudden and awful in comparison to the past few days, more so than the normal storms that frequented the area. The sound of rain on the roof was distant but still present—Sungrass would be up in the attic at this time, he was sure of it.

Their green eyes flicked back to the smaller bot present, though any bot would be compared to her. Their gaze lingered briefly on the animatronic body on the floor, and how Oliver kneeled beside them. "What about you? Ya got a name, hon?" As he spoke, he stepped back to give them both space.

Puddles of water were already forming on the floor, but the eclipse said nothing about it. He didn't want to give them any flack for it, especially with how rough they looked and how terrible the weather was.

[lilac-the-bean]

He can feel himself being studied; not in a negative fashion, but he knows that she's observing he and his brother. He self-consciously tugs at his ripped sweater, making the mental note on his HUD to fix that later. "Apricot," he muses quietly, testing their name out. He brushes his fronds out of his face, their soaked nature rendering them heavy. He thinks briefly about his name. Oliver. He can use his company-issued name. Or he can provide a nickname. He hesitates before replying to Apricot's query. "My name is S-D47 Unit 3DA, Oliver. And this," he indicates Collin, "is my brother, S-D42 Unit 6QZ, Collin." Honesty is best policy. Openness and honesty will keep him afloat in this world. At least he hopes so.

[wywaskblog]

Apricot filed the information away for later as she nodded. He would look into their models when he had the time, though he knew Sundowner had a better understanding of the different models from his experience. Enough of that, for now. Tending to their new guests was the eclipse's priority.

And, speaking of said guests... he continued to look them over. Worry seeped into his systems—how long had Oliver and Collin been out there?

"Gotcha," she murmured, though more questions flooded her mind. She held back her questions for now, not wanting to interrogate Oliver, especially after she saw Collin's state. They paused, before they shook their head. "Let's move ya and Collin over to the couch. Don't care if y'all wet—the couch gon' dry. It's gon' be more comfortable up there than on the floor."

The eclipse stepped back a bit, waiting for them to follow before he moved any further to the living room.

[lilac-the-bean]

If...if they're sure... He grabs his brother's body under the arms and carefully drags him behind Apricot. Not that he can't just lift Collin--he can. He just doesn't want to harm his brother's body any more than it already is by slinging it over his shoulder. Plus, the couch doesn't look that far away. No unnecessary physical movements, right? "Thank you," he murmurs, following Apricot into the living room. He hoists Collin onto the couch first, making sure the sunset bot is properly sat before hesitantly sitting next to him. He barely sits, though; he's more hovering on the edge of the plush seat. Nervous. Antsy. Awareness courses through his wires like adrenaline. Maybe it is adrenaline; just a synthetic variant. Strange. "I thought..." He paused, trying to start a proper conversation. Gods, it's been so long-- "Th-thought we were going to drown out there." A strangled noise--that he hardly can pass as a chuckle--rips its way out of his voice box and he winces. Ouch. Maybe trying to be friendly should wait until he can practise first.

[wywaskblog]

"Of course," she said easily in response to Oliver's thanks. Her shoes make tapping noises against the floor, the sound light. Too light for animatronic, especially for an animatronic as tall as him.

Apricot sat down in one of the armchairs further away. The rain still could be heard against the closed windows, the furious pattering against the glass that showed the relentless downpour that only seemed to be falling faster than ever before. His eyes flicked to look outside, before it returned to the other animatronic at the sound of his voice. Concern painted her face.

They turned their body more toward Oliver. "Good thing then, that you found us," she mumbled, awfully relieved.

However, at the sound of the strangled noise that came from his body, the eclipse stiffened at the noise, though he did his best not to fret immediately. "Ah, hon, do you need—ah..." he started, before trailing off. Did his model have the ability to drink, or have any modifications for it? He couldn't tell.

"You drink?" he inquired. It would be better to ask instead of assuming.

[lilac-the-bean]

He nods at their query, resetting his voice box with a click and a fizz of audial static. "I am able to consume, yes, but no, I'm alright." His eyes skip over to his brother momentarily before darting to his scarred hands; his hand pads all were...gone, and the metal was scuffed. Paint chipped away. His next sentence comes out as something akin to a whisper. "I just haven't laughed in a while." When was the last time he laughed? Was it...the second day of creation? Or was it the third? He doesn't remember, his eyes growing vacant as he shifts through his memory files. He tries not to wince as he comes across some...rather unsavoury memories.

[wywaskblog]

Apricot nodded at the other bot's refusal, accepting it with ease.

Her audio processors picked up his words, but she said nothing about it. Instead, her optics lingered on Oliver's hands, seemingly wanting to say something, but her attention shifted easily as Daydream entered the room.

The moon walked silently with two folded white towels. Her movements were practiced, done with a grace and fluidity that did not match with what she was doing.

Daydream set down the towels beside Oliver, moving back to give him enough space. "Is there anything you need?" he inquired.

(Perhaps it was the way the moon was designed, but she had an awfully blank look in her eyes. The lack of any distinctive pupils were off-putting—just a pale purple to yellow coloring, not unlike a sunset.)

The eclipse simply watched the interaction, a worried look on her face.

They seemed to want to say something to Daydream, but instead they held their tongue. He wouldn't ask, not in front of their guest, but he really did have to remind him that he wasn't some sort of... maid or servant. She hadn't thought about how that would come off, and her fists scrunched up the fabric of her skirt.

[lilac-the-bean]

  Oliver's pale blue eyes watch Daydream's form, studying her as she walks into the living room. Her serene silence seems to put him both on edge and at ease at the same time. As the towels are set beside him, he extends a hand to carefully take the fluffy fabric, attending his brother first, patting his immediate casing dry of water beads. Upon Daydream's question, he hesitates. No one's asked him that; in fact, other than Apricot's question if he'd like something to drink, his own needs or feelings haven't been considered since...a long time ago. His emotes strain to furrow his eyebrows, but he keeps his default face with a determined chest pang.   "Ah, no thank you," he declines softly, nodding at Daydream, making eye contact. Their eyes jar Oliver out of his thoughts, and he pauses, disturbed slightly. The absence of pupils snaps him back to the time when he, himself, had none, and he'd stare endlessly into the mirror with that blank, pale, blue stare. "Th- that's very nice of you, though," he adds.   He turns back to his brother, working on drying the soaked sunset bot as best as possible. Those eyes still haunt his vision even as he faces away, sort of reminding them of Collin's eyes. Haunted. Empty. Vacant. His tail twitches behind him, making its first real movement since walking into the warm, dry abode.

[wywaskblog]

Daydream's hands were clasped together as he watched Oliver dry off the sunset-colored bot. She was standing, waiting for a command in the space between him and Apricot. It was a habit that she fell back into easily, despite Apricot's gentle insistence and the progress that both bots had been making together.

She tilted her head slightly at the other bot as he declined her offer. As they made eye contact, she made no move to turn away.

"Of course."

It was only until Oliver looked away first that the moon returned to the doorway. Daydream shared a look with the Apricot, the eclipse's expression conveying her worry. The smaller bot's face was passive, and Apricot was reminded once more that he would have to talk to her about this. However, for now...

"Oliver, hon, you wanna stay here a while? I know you ain’t tryna be out in that rain. You welcome to stay as long as you want," the eclipse offered as he turned back to Oliver. Their fingers let go of their skirt, and their eyes darted to the window.

The rain hadn't eased up at all.

[lilac-the-bean]

Collin's turtleneck is soaked, but as much as he wants to remove it, it feels wrong to expose his brother's body like that, especially after...hhhh. He dries as much as he possibly can before turning to Apricot as he asks her question. "As long as it's not too much of a bother to you. Just until the rain stops, that is. I don't want to overstay my welcome," he replies, his fronds still dripping onto his lap. He pulls a fresh towel from the pile, holding back a grimace as he brings the fabric up to carefully rub at his rays. Ah, and there's also still the problem of his clothing. Both he and Collin are going to need a change...but he's...afraid to ask for anything else. Have to get over fears at some point, right? "...Is there a possibility you might have a change of clothing for my brother here?" He refuses to ask for himself. He'll...dry. Maybe. "His clothing is soaked, and we weren't made to withstand...prolonged water contact."

[wywaskblog]

"Ain’t no bother at all, darlin’. Don’t you worry 'bout a thing," Apricot answered with ease, optics flicking to him. Really, Oliver and Collin could stay for as long as they pleased. It was of no issue to him, and. Well, the eclipse knew what the weather was like here; the rain wouldn't be easing up for a good amount of time. With how it was coming down this, the rain would go on for another few days at least. Maybe pause for a bit, before starting up again.

Daydream seemed to stare once again, as if waiting for some sort of cue to a performance that neither Oliver nor Apricot was apart of. The eclipse paid no heed to it as he continued to speak. "I can getcha somethin' from my wardrobe if that'll help, sugar. Don't mind if it gets wet—we got a workin' washer and dryer, and I can always throw it in. If it's too big on ya, I think we got a few sets lyin' 'round. Daydream—" the baker paused to address her, "—s'alright if some o' yours get used, hon? I know you don't change outta that uniform much, but you ain’t gotta if you don't wanna."

The maid nodded. "You may." His words were short, once again.

Apricot seemed relieved and turned back to Oliver. "Lemme grab you some, alright? While I do, I'll see if Daydream can get you settled in one o’ the spare rooms. Just so you got some space to breathe." He paused a bit. "We got portable chargers, but I dunno if any of 'em'll work for you. For ya models, I mean."

The eclipse moved to stand up from where she was sitting..

[lilac-the-bean]

Ouh, these bots are so hospitable-! He's not sure how to handle the kindness pouring forth from Apricot. He's concluded that these two definitely seem genuine, but he's...still...not used to it. His smile wavers at the corners as he continues to pat himself dry; he's this close to breaking down. His brother is mangled, they're both soaked, they probably have people hunting them down, and he's sitting here on a couch of a stranger, drying himself with one of the softest pieces of fabric he's ever had the chance of laying fingers on. "I. Thank you, Apricot," he mutters, "Also...maybe not? My port is round, like Collin's, but his insert is ever so slightly bigger than mine. I never figured out why." He's half tempted to turn the clothing down for himself, considering he can just...wrap himself in a blanket or something, but he doesn't want to be seen as ungrateful...or maybe be seen as weird...yeah, no. He'll just have to accept it for now, but all he's really known is this patchwork, ragtag outfit that he's thrown together... It really is hard to be an animatronic with feelings and trauma sometimes.

[lilac-the-bean]

Well in the Rain

There's rainwater in the well, Oliver realises as his HUD boots back up. The soft hush of falling droplets fills his audials as he stares down at the cylindrical rock structure, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. His brother, Collin, sits beside him on the grass, leaning against the well. His eyes are dark. Rivulets of watered-down oil stream down his face as the rain washes away what damage it can, but it can't take the fire scars and the emotional mutilation that they've both been through. Collin more than he, he knows for sure. His tail gently caresses his brother's cheek as the low-battery animatronic lay there, his default smile unfading, his expression vacant. No reaction comes from the sunset-coloured animatronic, and sadness pangs through Oliver's very being. He hopes he can find a way to return his brother to this world. The rain strengthens, pushing his fronds down with the beating weight of the droplets, and his hopeful smile drops for the first time in...forever. In front of him, the well slowly fills, and he watches it until he can't bear the water any longer. He hauls Collin up, over his shoulder (ripping his beautiful sweater in the process; this won't be the first or last time he'll be fixing that), and starts walking towards...gods only know where. He'll figure it out. He always does.

[wywaskblog]

The rain hadn't stopped.

The fir trees that surrounded the animatronics began to sway in the strong wind. The sound of something snapping could be heard in the distance, and a series of cracking followed. With an awfully loud thump, one of the firs had fallen—a testament to the awful weather that lingered in the area.

No people were around. The dense, forest-like area and the heavy downpour made sure of that. There was a road in the distance, one that spanned out for miles. Even then, the few houses on that very road were far and uninviting.

However...

Despite the dark clouds overhead, casting a gloomy, atmosphere, there was a faint glow in the distance. The few trees that had fallen had created an opening, the thick leaves parting to reveal a house that was closer than any other. Its lights were on, almost as if it was a beacon that beckoned anyone lost to come.

[lilac-the-bean]

Oliver has never been out of the Megaplex this far. He knows nothing of the weather and what dangers the severity can cause. When the tree cracks in the distance, he startles and secures his brother on his shoulder, eyes darting this way and that as he assesses the situation. Then he feels the thump resonate through the ground, the quaking rumbling through his feet. Or is that just the rain falling at the fast speed it is? Either way, if he stays out here much longer, both he and his brother will have water seeping through their joints. He can feel the silicone between his threatening to give way. He hadn't been built for withstanding weather conditions, much less violent ones. A quick scan of the area leaves him in despair; no human life detected for the next-- Wait. It's not human life. But there's something. Something ahead. A light. A small cry leaves his voice box and he forces his frown into his default smile. It feels foreign. He pushes forward, ignoring the sloshing of the mud and rainwater around his feet and the hem of his patchwork skirt. He needs to get Collin to safety.

[wywaskblog]

With the awful winds, the trees only seemed to shake more vigorously around Oliver. The speed of the rain only quickened, pattering against his and his brother's form.

As the house came into view, it became easier to make out other aspects of the property as well. A small but undeniable garden seemed to peek out from the side of the abode. The marks of tires left in the sodden earth from how many times a vehicle had come and gone, in front of a garage that had no proper driveway. Through the windows, there was movement inside.

However, none of it was human.

A closer look through would show a tall, eight foot animatronic with a dark orange and brown casing. Their face was hard to tell through the window, but certain features could be made out. A handkerchief that wrapped around their modified neck, a sage-like green cardigan that adorned their body with a lighter green wrapped around their waist. A shoddy, quick ribbon on the back of the bot.

There was another animatronic aside the first, one a lot smaller and more purple. They were a lot less noticeable, moving around the residence quickly, seemingly worried.

Rain drummed against the roof of the house, seemingly like an omen.

[lilac-the-bean]

He can definitely say he dislikes the rain. He can't say much for his brother's view on one of nature's miracles, but it's not like he'll get anything if he doesn't get somewhere warm and safe. Collin... He hardly takes in any of the decor or extra details of the property, only assesses the figures in the window. Oh, he hopes they're nice. He breaks into a run, making for the door and squinting against the pelting rain, his rays pushed back by the wind. He slides through the mud as he nears the house, nearly wiping out and sprawling on the ground. Careful, careful... His hand hesitates as he finally raises it to rap his knuckles three times (evenly spaced and perfect, concise knocks) on the door. "H-hello!?" His voice wavers, voice box sputtering with the moisture in the air trying to reach it. "Please! I need help!"

[wywaskblog]

On the third knock, the door opened.

It was the tall animatronic, and her eyes flicked down to Oliver's. Surprise settled across her features as she quickly looked both of them over, concern seeping into his expression. "Come in," she offered easily, not even questioning the state they were in. The rain had been harsh, and the downpour had been made obvious from the specks of rain on the window. He stepped back from the doorway, giving them the space to enter.

They turned to look at the bot that had stiffened in the hallway. "Daydream, be a darlin' and get some towels, will ya?" he asked quickly. The small, purple moon in question—Daydream—had quietly nodded and moved hurriedly elsewhere without question.

Apricot's tall posture could easily be intimidating, now that Oliver was much closer. However, her face was soft and he did his best to look kind. As much as they wanted to fret over the two animatronics that had showed, they knew that they had to prioritize them. Overwhelming them would only be detrimental.

He said nothing more for now, holding the door open and ushering them inside without touching them.

[lilac-the-bean]

He gratefully pulls he and his brother's dripping forms into the hallway, immediately relaxing with the lack of rain battering his casings. Of course, being just accepted into the house has him on edge; he usually takes kindness for ulterior motives nowadays. Except from Collin, but that's to be expected with them being related. The sound of rain on the roof prickles at Oliver's casings as he gently lowers his brother's soaked body to the floor, and he notices Daydream in full for the first time. Hm. A purple moonbot. Interesting. When he looks back up at Apricot to ask what he may call them, the words die in his voice box, fizzling into nothing as he kneels next to his brother. Apricot is...rather tall. Startlingly tall, in all honesty; at least two feet taller than himself. He resets his voice box and tries again, determined to not look a fool in front of a complete stranger. At least her facial expression is kind? "What may I call you?"

[wywaskblog]

The eclipse closed the door behind Oliver as he entered. He would rather not have any more rain come in—it'd be a mess that she'd have to clean up later, and he didn't want poor Daydream to clean it.

Apricot turned to look at the small bot and his brother both in an inquisitive fashion. She had been around long enough to know that the two of them weren't the usual models that she was familiar with, or like any within the house. They were certainly not from the first generation of models—she was a first generation model despite her reparations and customizations. He couldn't help but be curious.

"Oh, you can call me Apricot," she answered easily. Her eyes wandered over Oliver's form, how the rain clung to his casing. That wouldn't do.

Apricot's eyes glance to the window. The downpour had been quite sudden and awful in comparison to the past few days, more so than the normal storms that frequented the area. The sound of rain on the roof was distant but still present—Sungrass would be up in the attic at this time, he was sure of it.

Their green eyes flicked back to the smaller bot present, though any bot would be compared to her. Their gaze lingered briefly on the animatronic body on the floor, and how Oliver kneeled beside them. "What about you? Ya got a name, hon?" As he spoke, he stepped back to give them both space.

Puddles of water were already forming on the floor, but the eclipse said nothing about it. He didn't want to give them any flack for it, especially with how rough they looked and how terrible the weather was.

[lilac-the-bean]

He can feel himself being studied; not in a negative fashion, but he knows that she's observing he and his brother. He self-consciously tugs at his ripped sweater, making the mental note on his HUD to fix that later. "Apricot," he muses quietly, testing their name out. He brushes his fronds out of his face, their soaked nature rendering them heavy. He thinks briefly about his name. Oliver. He can use his company-issued name. Or he can provide a nickname. He hesitates before replying to Apricot's query. "My name is S-D47 Unit 3DA, Oliver. And this," he indicates Collin, "is my brother, S-D42 Unit 6QZ, Collin." Honesty is best policy. Openness and honesty will keep him afloat in this world. At least he hopes so.

[wywaskblog]

Apricot filed the information away for later as she nodded. He would look into their models when he had the time, though he knew Sundowner had a better understanding of the different models from his experience. Enough of that, for now. Tending to their new guests was the eclipse's priority.

And, speaking of said guests... he continued to look them over. Worry seeped into his systems—how long had Oliver and Collin been out there?

"Gotcha," she murmured, though more questions flooded her mind. She held back her questions for now, not wanting to interrogate Oliver, especially after she saw Collin's state. They paused, before they shook their head. "Let's move ya and Collin over to the couch. Don't care if y'all wet—the couch gon' dry. It's gon' be more comfortable up there than on the floor."

The eclipse stepped back a bit, waiting for them to follow before he moved any further to the living room.

[lilac-the-bean]

If...if they're sure... He grabs his brother's body under the arms and carefully drags him behind Apricot. Not that he can't just lift Collin--he can. He just doesn't want to harm his brother's body any more than it already is by slinging it over his shoulder. Plus, the couch doesn't look that far away. No unnecessary physical movements, right? "Thank you," he murmurs, following Apricot into the living room. He hoists Collin onto the couch first, making sure the sunset bot is properly sat before hesitantly sitting next to him. He barely sits, though; he's more hovering on the edge of the plush seat. Nervous. Antsy. Awareness courses through his wires like adrenaline. Maybe it is adrenaline; just a synthetic variant. Strange. "I thought..." He paused, trying to start a proper conversation. Gods, it's been so long-- "Th-thought we were going to drown out there." A strangled noise--that he hardly can pass as a chuckle--rips its way out of his voice box and he winces. Ouch. Maybe trying to be friendly should wait until he can practise first.

[wywaskblog]

"Of course," she said easily in response to Oliver's thanks. Her shoes make tapping noises against the floor, the sound light. Too light for animatronic, especially for an animatronic as tall as him.

Apricot sat down in one of the armchairs further away. The rain still could be heard against the closed windows, the furious pattering against the glass that showed the relentless downpour that only seemed to be falling faster than ever before. His eyes flicked to look outside, before it returned to the other animatronic at the sound of his voice. Concern painted her face.

They turned their body more toward Oliver. "Good thing then, that you found us," she mumbled, awfully relieved.

However, at the sound of the strangled noise that came from his body, the eclipse stiffened at the noise, though he did his best not to fret immediately. "Ah, hon, do you need—ah..." he started, before trailing off. Did his model have the ability to drink, or have any modifications for it? He couldn't tell.

"You drink?" he inquired. It would be better to ask instead of assuming.

[lilac-the-bean]

He nods at their query, resetting his voice box with a click and a fizz of audial static. "I am able to consume, yes, but no, I'm alright." His eyes skip over to his brother momentarily before darting to his scarred hands; his hand pads all were...gone, and the metal was scuffed. Paint chipped away. His next sentence comes out as something akin to a whisper. "I just haven't laughed in a while." When was the last time he laughed? Was it...the second day of creation? Or was it the third? He doesn't remember, his eyes growing vacant as he shifts through his memory files. He tries not to wince as he comes across some...rather unsavoury memories.

[wywaskblog]

Apricot nodded at the other bot's refusal, accepting it with ease.

Her audio processors picked up his words, but she said nothing about it. Instead, her optics lingered on Oliver's hands, seemingly wanting to say something, but her attention shifted easily as Daydream entered the room.

The moon walked silently with two folded white towels. Her movements were practiced, done with a grace and fluidity that did not match with what she was doing.

Daydream set down the towels beside Oliver, moving back to give him enough space. "Is there anything you need?" he inquired.

(Perhaps it was the way the moon was designed, but she had an awfully blank look in her eyes. The lack of any distinctive pupils were off-putting—just a pale purple to yellow coloring, not unlike a sunset.)

The eclipse simply watched the interaction, a worried look on her face.

They seemed to want to say something to Daydream, but instead they held their tongue. He wouldn't ask, not in front of their guest, but he really did have to remind him that he wasn't some sort of... maid or servant. She hadn't thought about how that would come off, and her fists scrunched up the fabric of her skirt.

[lilac-the-bean]

  Oliver's pale blue eyes watch Daydream's form, studying her as she walks into the living room. Her serene silence seems to put him both on edge and at ease at the same time. As the towels are set beside him, he extends a hand to carefully take the fluffy fabric, attending his brother first, patting his immediate casing dry of water beads. Upon Daydream's question, he hesitates. No one's asked him that; in fact, other than Apricot's question if he'd like something to drink, his own needs or feelings haven't been considered since...a long time ago. His emotes strain to furrow his eyebrows, but he keeps his default face with a determined chest pang.   "Ah, no thank you," he declines softly, nodding at Daydream, making eye contact. Their eyes jar Oliver out of his thoughts, and he pauses, disturbed slightly. The absence of pupils snaps him back to the time when he, himself, had none, and he'd stare endlessly into the mirror with that blank, pale, blue stare. "Th- that's very nice of you, though," he adds.   He turns back to his brother, working on drying the soaked sunset bot as best as possible. Those eyes still haunt his vision even as he faces away, sort of reminding them of Collin's eyes. Haunted. Empty. Vacant. His tail twitches behind him, making its first real movement since walking into the warm, dry abode.

[wywaskblog]

Daydream's hands were clasped together as he watched Oliver dry off the sunset-colored bot. She was standing, waiting for a command in the space between him and Apricot. It was a habit that she fell back into easily, despite Apricot's gentle insistence and the progress that both bots had been making together.

She tilted her head slightly at the other bot as he declined her offer. As they made eye contact, she made no move to turn away.

"Of course."

It was only until Oliver looked away first that the moon returned to the doorway. Daydream shared a look with the Apricot, the eclipse's expression conveying her worry. The smaller bot's face was passive, and Apricot was reminded once more that he would have to talk to her about this. However, for now...

"Oliver, hon, you wanna stay here a while? I know you ain’t tryna be out in that rain. You welcome to stay as long as you want," the eclipse offered as he turned back to Oliver. Their fingers let go of their skirt, and their eyes darted to the window.

The rain hadn't eased up at all.

[lilac-the-bean]

Collin's turtleneck is soaked, but as much as he wants to remove it, it feels wrong to expose his brother's body like that, especially after...hhhh. He dries as much as he possibly can before turning to Apricot as he asks her question. "As long as it's not too much of a bother to you. Just until the rain stops, that is. I don't want to overstay my welcome," he replies, his fronds still dripping onto his lap. He pulls a fresh towel from the pile, holding back a grimace as he brings the fabric up to carefully rub at his rays. Ah, and there's also still the problem of his clothing. Both he and Collin are going to need a change...but he's...afraid to ask for anything else. Have to get over fears at some point, right? "...Is there a possibility you might have a change of clothing for my brother here?" He refuses to ask for himself. He'll...dry. Maybe. "His clothing is soaked, and we weren't made to withstand...prolonged water contact."

[lilac-the-bean]

Well in the Rain

There's rainwater in the well, Oliver realises as his HUD boots back up. The soft hush of falling droplets fills his audials as he stares down at the cylindrical rock structure, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. His brother, Collin, sits beside him on the grass, leaning against the well. His eyes are dark. Rivulets of watered-down oil stream down his face as the rain washes away what damage it can, but it can't take the fire scars and the emotional mutilation that they've both been through. Collin more than he, he knows for sure. His tail gently caresses his brother's cheek as the low-battery animatronic lay there, his default smile unfading, his expression vacant. No reaction comes from the sunset-coloured animatronic, and sadness pangs through Oliver's very being. He hopes he can find a way to return his brother to this world. The rain strengthens, pushing his fronds down with the beating weight of the droplets, and his hopeful smile drops for the first time in...forever. In front of him, the well slowly fills, and he watches it until he can't bear the water any longer. He hauls Collin up, over his shoulder (ripping his beautiful sweater in the process; this won't be the first or last time he'll be fixing that), and starts walking towards...gods only know where. He'll figure it out. He always does.

[wywaskblog]

The rain hadn't stopped.

The fir trees that surrounded the animatronics began to sway in the strong wind. The sound of something snapping could be heard in the distance, and a series of cracking followed. With an awfully loud thump, one of the firs had fallen—a testament to the awful weather that lingered in the area.

No people were around. The dense, forest-like area and the heavy downpour made sure of that. There was a road in the distance, one that spanned out for miles. Even then, the few houses on that very road were far and uninviting.

However...

Despite the dark clouds overhead, casting a gloomy, atmosphere, there was a faint glow in the distance. The few trees that had fallen had created an opening, the thick leaves parting to reveal a house that was closer than any other. Its lights were on, almost as if it was a beacon that beckoned anyone lost to come.

[lilac-the-bean]

Oliver has never been out of the Megaplex this far. He knows nothing of the weather and what dangers the severity can cause. When the tree cracks in the distance, he startles and secures his brother on his shoulder, eyes darting this way and that as he assesses the situation. Then he feels the thump resonate through the ground, the quaking rumbling through his feet. Or is that just the rain falling at the fast speed it is? Either way, if he stays out here much longer, both he and his brother will have water seeping through their joints. He can feel the silicone between his threatening to give way. He hadn't been built for withstanding weather conditions, much less violent ones. A quick scan of the area leaves him in despair; no human life detected for the next-- Wait. It's not human life. But there's something. Something ahead. A light. A small cry leaves his voice box and he forces his frown into his default smile. It feels foreign. He pushes forward, ignoring the sloshing of the mud and rainwater around his feet and the hem of his patchwork skirt. He needs to get Collin to safety.

[wywaskblog]

With the awful winds, the trees only seemed to shake more vigorously around Oliver. The speed of the rain only quickened, pattering against his and his brother's form.

As the house came into view, it became easier to make out other aspects of the property as well. A small but undeniable garden seemed to peek out from the side of the abode. The marks of tires left in the sodden earth from how many times a vehicle had come and gone, in front of a garage that had no proper driveway. Through the windows, there was movement inside.

However, none of it was human.

A closer look through would show a tall, eight foot animatronic with a dark orange and brown casing. Their face was hard to tell through the window, but certain features could be made out. A handkerchief that wrapped around their modified neck, a sage-like green cardigan that adorned their body with a lighter green wrapped around their waist. A shoddy, quick ribbon on the back of the bot.

There was another animatronic aside the first, one a lot smaller and more purple. They were a lot less noticeable, moving around the residence quickly, seemingly worried.

Rain drummed against the roof of the house, seemingly like an omen.

[lilac-the-bean]

He can definitely say he dislikes the rain. He can't say much for his brother's view on one of nature's miracles, but it's not like he'll get anything if he doesn't get somewhere warm and safe. Collin... He hardly takes in any of the decor or extra details of the property, only assesses the figures in the window. Oh, he hopes they're nice. He breaks into a run, making for the door and squinting against the pelting rain, his rays pushed back by the wind. He slides through the mud as he nears the house, nearly wiping out and sprawling on the ground. Careful, careful... His hand hesitates as he finally raises it to rap his knuckles three times (evenly spaced and perfect, concise knocks) on the door. "H-hello!?" His voice wavers, voice box sputtering with the moisture in the air trying to reach it. "Please! I need help!"

[wywaskblog]

On the third knock, the door opened.

It was the tall animatronic, and her eyes flicked down to Oliver's. Surprise settled across her features as she quickly looked both of them over, concern seeping into his expression. "Come in," she offered easily, not even questioning the state they were in. The rain had been harsh, and the downpour had been made obvious from the specks of rain on the window. He stepped back from the doorway, giving them the space to enter.

They turned to look at the bot that had stiffened in the hallway. "Daydream, be a darlin' and get some towels, will ya?" he asked quickly. The small, purple moon in question—Daydream—had quietly nodded and moved hurriedly elsewhere without question.

Apricot's tall posture could easily be intimidating, now that Oliver was much closer. However, her face was soft and he did his best to look kind. As much as they wanted to fret over the two animatronics that had showed, they knew that they had to prioritize them. Overwhelming them would only be detrimental.

He said nothing more for now, holding the door open and ushering them inside without touching them.

[lilac-the-bean]

He gratefully pulls he and his brother's dripping forms into the hallway, immediately relaxing with the lack of rain battering his casings. Of course, being just accepted into the house has him on edge; he usually takes kindness for ulterior motives nowadays. Except from Collin, but that's to be expected with them being related. The sound of rain on the roof prickles at Oliver's casings as he gently lowers his brother's soaked body to the floor, and he notices Daydream in full for the first time. Hm. A purple moonbot. Interesting. When he looks back up at Apricot to ask what he may call them, the words die in his voice box, fizzling into nothing as he kneels next to his brother. Apricot is...rather tall. Startlingly tall, in all honesty; at least two feet taller than himself. He resets his voice box and tries again, determined to not look a fool in front of a complete stranger. At least her facial expression is kind? "What may I call you?"

[wywaskblog]

The eclipse closed the door behind Oliver as he entered. He would rather not have any more rain come in—it'd be a mess that she'd have to clean up later, and he didn't want poor Daydream to clean it.

Apricot turned to look at the small bot and his brother both in an inquisitive fashion. She had been around long enough to know that the two of them weren't the usual models that she was familiar with, or like any within the house. They were certainly not from the first generation of models—she was a first generation model despite her reparations and customizations. He couldn't help but be curious.

"Oh, you can call me Apricot," she answered easily. Her eyes wandered over Oliver's form, how the rain clung to his casing. That wouldn't do.

Apricot's eyes glance to the window. The downpour had been quite sudden and awful in comparison to the past few days, more so than the normal storms that frequented the area. The sound of rain on the roof was distant but still present—Sungrass would be up in the attic at this time, he was sure of it.

Their green eyes flicked back to the smaller bot present, though any bot would be compared to her. Their gaze lingered briefly on the animatronic body on the floor, and how Oliver kneeled beside them. "What about you? Ya got a name, hon?" As he spoke, he stepped back to give them both space.

Puddles of water were already forming on the floor, but the eclipse said nothing about it. He didn't want to give them any flack for it, especially with how rough they looked and how terrible the weather was.

[lilac-the-bean]

He can feel himself being studied; not in a negative fashion, but he knows that she's observing he and his brother. He self-consciously tugs at his ripped sweater, making the mental note on his HUD to fix that later. "Apricot," he muses quietly, testing their name out. He brushes his fronds out of his face, their soaked nature rendering them heavy. He thinks briefly about his name. Oliver. He can use his company-issued name. Or he can provide a nickname. He hesitates before replying to Apricot's query. "My name is S-D47 Unit 3DA, Oliver. And this," he indicates Collin, "is my brother, S-D42 Unit 6QZ, Collin." Honesty is best policy. Openness and honesty will keep him afloat in this world. At least he hopes so.

[wywaskblog]

Apricot filed the information away for later as she nodded. He would look into their models when he had the time, though he knew Sundowner had a better understanding of the different models from his experience. Enough of that, for now. Tending to their new guests was the eclipse's priority.

And, speaking of said guests... he continued to look them over. Worry seeped into his systems—how long had Oliver and Collin been out there?

"Gotcha," she murmured, though more questions flooded her mind. She held back her questions for now, not wanting to interrogate Oliver, especially after she saw Collin's state. They paused, before they shook their head. "Let's move ya and Collin over to the couch. Don't care if y'all wet—the couch gon' dry. It's gon' be more comfortable up there than on the floor."

The eclipse stepped back a bit, waiting for them to follow before he moved any further to the living room.

[lilac-the-bean]

If...if they're sure... He grabs his brother's body under the arms and carefully drags him behind Apricot. Not that he can't just lift Collin--he can. He just doesn't want to harm his brother's body any more than it already is by slinging it over his shoulder. Plus, the couch doesn't look that far away. No unnecessary physical movements, right? "Thank you," he murmurs, following Apricot into the living room. He hoists Collin onto the couch first, making sure the sunset bot is properly sat before hesitantly sitting next to him. He barely sits, though; he's more hovering on the edge of the plush seat. Nervous. Antsy. Awareness courses through his wires like adrenaline. Maybe it is adrenaline; just a synthetic variant. Strange. "I thought..." He paused, trying to start a proper conversation. Gods, it's been so long-- "Th-thought we were going to drown out there." A strangled noise--that he hardly can pass as a chuckle--rips its way out of his voice box and he winces. Ouch. Maybe trying to be friendly should wait until he can practise first.

[wywaskblog]

"Of course," she said easily in response to Oliver's thanks. Her shoes make tapping noises against the floor, the sound light. Too light for animatronic, especially for an animatronic as tall as him.

Apricot sat down in one of the armchairs further away. The rain still could be heard against the closed windows, the furious pattering against the glass that showed the relentless downpour that only seemed to be falling faster than ever before. His eyes flicked to look outside, before it returned to the other animatronic at the sound of his voice. Concern painted her face.

They turned their body more toward Oliver. "Good thing then, that you found us," she mumbled, awfully relieved.

However, at the sound of the strangled noise that came from his body, the eclipse stiffened at the noise, though he did his best not to fret immediately. "Ah, hon, do you need—ah..." he started, before trailing off. Did his model have the ability to drink, or have any modifications for it? He couldn't tell.

"You drink?" he inquired. It would be better to ask instead of assuming.

[lilac-the-bean]

He nods at their query, resetting his voice box with a click and a fizz of audial static. "I am able to consume, yes, but no, I'm alright." His eyes skip over to his brother momentarily before darting to his scarred hands; his hand pads all were...gone, and the metal was scuffed. Paint chipped away. His next sentence comes out as something akin to a whisper. "I just haven't laughed in a while." When was the last time he laughed? Was it...the second day of creation? Or was it the third? He doesn't remember, his eyes growing vacant as he shifts through his memory files. He tries not to wince as he comes across some...rather unsavoury memories.

[wywaskblog]

Apricot nodded at the other bot's refusal, accepting it with ease.

Her audio processors picked up his words, but she said nothing about it. Instead, her optics lingered on Oliver's hands, seemingly wanting to say something, but her attention shifted easily as Daydream entered the room.

The moon walked silently with two folded white towels. Her movements were practiced, done with a grace and fluidity that did not match with what she was doing.

Daydream set down the towels beside Oliver, moving back to give him enough space. "Is there anything you need?" he inquired.

(Perhaps it was the way the moon was designed, but she had an awfully blank look in her eyes. The lack of any distinctive pupils were off-putting—just a pale purple to yellow coloring, not unlike a sunset.)

The eclipse simply watched the interaction, a worried look on her face.

They seemed to want to say something to Daydream, but instead they held their tongue. He wouldn't ask, not in front of their guest, but he really did have to remind him that he wasn't some sort of... maid or servant. She hadn't thought about how that would come off, and her fists scrunched up the fabric of her skirt.

[lilac-the-bean]

  Oliver's pale blue eyes watch Daydream's form, studying her as she walks into the living room. Her serene silence seems to put him both on edge and at ease at the same time. As the towels are set beside him, he extends a hand to carefully take the fluffy fabric, attending his brother first, patting his immediate casing dry of water beads. Upon Daydream's question, he hesitates. No one's asked him that; in fact, other than Apricot's question if he'd like something to drink, his own needs or feelings haven't been considered since...a long time ago. His emotes strain to furrow his eyebrows, but he keeps his default face with a determined chest pang.   "Ah, no thank you," he declines softly, nodding at Daydream, making eye contact. Their eyes jar Oliver out of his thoughts, and he pauses, disturbed slightly. The absence of pupils snaps him back to the time when he, himself, had none, and he'd stare endlessly into the mirror with that blank, pale, blue stare. "Th- that's very nice of you, though," he adds.   He turns back to his brother, working on drying the soaked sunset bot as best as possible. Those eyes still haunt his vision even as he faces away, sort of reminding them of Collin's eyes. Haunted. Empty. Vacant. His tail twitches behind him, making its first real movement since walking into the warm, dry abode.

[lilac-the-bean]

Well in the Rain

There's rainwater in the well, Oliver realises as his HUD boots back up. The soft hush of falling droplets fills his audials as he stares down at the cylindrical rock structure, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. His brother, Collin, sits beside him on the grass, leaning against the well. His eyes are dark. Rivulets of watered-down oil stream down his face as the rain washes away what damage it can, but it can't take the fire scars and the emotional mutilation that they've both been through. Collin more than he, he knows for sure. His tail gently caresses his brother's cheek as the low-battery animatronic lay there, his default smile unfading, his expression vacant. No reaction comes from the sunset-coloured animatronic, and sadness pangs through Oliver's very being. He hopes he can find a way to return his brother to this world. The rain strengthens, pushing his fronds down with the beating weight of the droplets, and his hopeful smile drops for the first time in...forever. In front of him, the well slowly fills, and he watches it until he can't bear the water any longer. He hauls Collin up, over his shoulder (ripping his beautiful sweater in the process; this won't be the first or last time he'll be fixing that), and starts walking towards...gods only know where. He'll figure it out. He always does.

[wywaskblog]

The rain hadn't stopped.

The fir trees that surrounded the animatronics began to sway in the strong wind. The sound of something snapping could be heard in the distance, and a series of cracking followed. With an awfully loud thump, one of the firs had fallen—a testament to the awful weather that lingered in the area.

No people were around. The dense, forest-like area and the heavy downpour made sure of that. There was a road in the distance, one that spanned out for miles. Even then, the few houses on that very road were far and uninviting.

However...

Despite the dark clouds overhead, casting a gloomy, atmosphere, there was a faint glow in the distance. The few trees that had fallen had created an opening, the thick leaves parting to reveal a house that was closer than any other. Its lights were on, almost as if it was a beacon that beckoned anyone lost to come.

[lilac-the-bean]

Oliver has never been out of the Megaplex this far. He knows nothing of the weather and what dangers the severity can cause. When the tree cracks in the distance, he startles and secures his brother on his shoulder, eyes darting this way and that as he assesses the situation. Then he feels the thump resonate through the ground, the quaking rumbling through his feet. Or is that just the rain falling at the fast speed it is? Either way, if he stays out here much longer, both he and his brother will have water seeping through their joints. He can feel the silicone between his threatening to give way. He hadn't been built for withstanding weather conditions, much less violent ones. A quick scan of the area leaves him in despair; no human life detected for the next-- Wait. It's not human life. But there's something. Something ahead. A light. A small cry leaves his voice box and he forces his frown into his default smile. It feels foreign. He pushes forward, ignoring the sloshing of the mud and rainwater around his feet and the hem of his patchwork skirt. He needs to get Collin to safety.

[wywaskblog]

With the awful winds, the trees only seemed to shake more vigorously around Oliver. The speed of the rain only quickened, pattering against his and his brother's form.

As the house came into view, it became easier to make out other aspects of the property as well. A small but undeniable garden seemed to peek out from the side of the abode. The marks of tires left in the sodden earth from how many times a vehicle had come and gone, in front of a garage that had no proper driveway. Through the windows, there was movement inside.

However, none of it was human.

A closer look through would show a tall, eight foot animatronic with a dark orange and brown casing. Their face was hard to tell through the window, but certain features could be made out. A handkerchief that wrapped around their modified neck, a sage-like green cardigan that adorned their body with a lighter green wrapped around their waist. A shoddy, quick ribbon on the back of the bot.

There was another animatronic aside the first, one a lot smaller and more purple. They were a lot less noticeable, moving around the residence quickly, seemingly worried.

Rain drummed against the roof of the house, seemingly like an omen.

[lilac-the-bean]

He can definitely say he dislikes the rain. He can't say much for his brother's view on one of nature's miracles, but it's not like he'll get anything if he doesn't get somewhere warm and safe. Collin... He hardly takes in any of the decor or extra details of the property, only assesses the figures in the window. Oh, he hopes they're nice. He breaks into a run, making for the door and squinting against the pelting rain, his rays pushed back by the wind. He slides through the mud as he nears the house, nearly wiping out and sprawling on the ground. Careful, careful... His hand hesitates as he finally raises it to rap his knuckles three times (evenly spaced and perfect, concise knocks) on the door. "H-hello!?" His voice wavers, voice box sputtering with the moisture in the air trying to reach it. "Please! I need help!"

[wywaskblog]

On the third knock, the door opened.

It was the tall animatronic, and her eyes flicked down to Oliver's. Surprise settled across her features as she quickly looked both of them over, concern seeping into his expression. "Come in," she offered easily, not even questioning the state they were in. The rain had been harsh, and the downpour had been made obvious from the specks of rain on the window. He stepped back from the doorway, giving them the space to enter.

They turned to look at the bot that had stiffened in the hallway. "Daydream, be a darlin' and get some towels, will ya?" he asked quickly. The small, purple moon in question—Daydream—had quietly nodded and moved hurriedly elsewhere without question.

Apricot's tall posture could easily be intimidating, now that Oliver was much closer. However, her face was soft and he did his best to look kind. As much as they wanted to fret over the two animatronics that had showed, they knew that they had to prioritize them. Overwhelming them would only be detrimental.

He said nothing more for now, holding the door open and ushering them inside without touching them.

[lilac-the-bean]

He gratefully pulls he and his brother's dripping forms into the hallway, immediately relaxing with the lack of rain battering his casings. Of course, being just accepted into the house has him on edge; he usually takes kindness for ulterior motives nowadays. Except from Collin, but that's to be expected with them being related. The sound of rain on the roof prickles at Oliver's casings as he gently lowers his brother's soaked body to the floor, and he notices Daydream in full for the first time. Hm. A purple moonbot. Interesting. When he looks back up at Apricot to ask what he may call them, the words die in his voice box, fizzling into nothing as he kneels next to his brother. Apricot is...rather tall. Startlingly tall, in all honesty; at least two feet taller than himself. He resets his voice box and tries again, determined to not look a fool in front of a complete stranger. At least her facial expression is kind? "What may I call you?"

[wywaskblog]

The eclipse closed the door behind Oliver as he entered. He would rather not have any more rain come in—it'd be a mess that she'd have to clean up later, and he didn't want poor Daydream to clean it.

Apricot turned to look at the small bot and his brother both in an inquisitive fashion. She had been around long enough to know that the two of them weren't the usual models that she was familiar with, or like any within the house. They were certainly not from the first generation of models—she was a first generation model despite her reparations and customizations. He couldn't help but be curious.

"Oh, you can call me Apricot," she answered easily. Her eyes wandered over Oliver's form, how the rain clung to his casing. That wouldn't do.

Apricot's eyes glance to the window. The downpour had been quite sudden and awful in comparison to the past few days, more so than the normal storms that frequented the area. The sound of rain on the roof was distant but still present—Sungrass would be up in the attic at this time, he was sure of it.

Their green eyes flicked back to the smaller bot present, though any bot would be compared to her. Their gaze lingered briefly on the animatronic body on the floor, and how Oliver kneeled beside them. "What about you? Ya got a name, hon?" As he spoke, he stepped back to give them both space.

Puddles of water were already forming on the floor, but the eclipse said nothing about it. He didn't want to give them any flack for it, especially with how rough they looked and how terrible the weather was.

[lilac-the-bean]

He can feel himself being studied; not in a negative fashion, but he knows that she's observing he and his brother. He self-consciously tugs at his ripped sweater, making the mental note on his HUD to fix that later. "Apricot," he muses quietly, testing their name out. He brushes his fronds out of his face, their soaked nature rendering them heavy. He thinks briefly about his name. Oliver. He can use his company-issued name. Or he can provide a nickname. He hesitates before replying to Apricot's query. "My name is S-D47 Unit 3DA, Oliver. And this," he indicates Collin, "is my brother, S-D42 Unit 6QZ, Collin." Honesty is best policy. Openness and honesty will keep him afloat in this world. At least he hopes so.

[wywaskblog]

Apricot filed the information away for later as she nodded. He would look into their models when he had the time, though he knew Sundowner had a better understanding of the different models from his experience. Enough of that, for now. Tending to their new guests was the eclipse's priority.

And, speaking of said guests... he continued to look them over. Worry seeped into his systems—how long had Oliver and Collin been out there?

"Gotcha," she murmured, though more questions flooded her mind. She held back her questions for now, not wanting to interrogate Oliver, especially after she saw Collin's state. They paused, before they shook their head. "Let's move ya and Collin over to the couch. Don't care if y'all wet—the couch gon' dry. It's gon' be more comfortable up there than on the floor."

The eclipse stepped back a bit, waiting for them to follow before he moved any further to the living room.

[lilac-the-bean]

If...if they're sure... He grabs his brother's body under the arms and carefully drags him behind Apricot. Not that he can't just lift Collin--he can. He just doesn't want to harm his brother's body any more than it already is by slinging it over his shoulder. Plus, the couch doesn't look that far away. No unnecessary physical movements, right? "Thank you," he murmurs, following Apricot into the living room. He hoists Collin onto the couch first, making sure the sunset bot is properly sat before hesitantly sitting next to him. He barely sits, though; he's more hovering on the edge of the plush seat. Nervous. Antsy. Awareness courses through his wires like adrenaline. Maybe it is adrenaline; just a synthetic variant. Strange. "I thought..." He paused, trying to start a proper conversation. Gods, it's been so long-- "Th-thought we were going to drown out there." A strangled noise--that he hardly can pass as a chuckle--rips its way out of his voice box and he winces. Ouch. Maybe trying to be friendly should wait until he can practise first.

[wywaskblog]

"Of course," she said easily in response to Oliver's thanks. Her shoes make tapping noises against the floor, the sound light. Too light for animatronic, especially for an animatronic as tall as him.

Apricot sat down in one of the armchairs further away. The rain still could be heard against the closed windows, the furious pattering against the glass that showed the relentless downpour that only seemed to be falling faster than ever before. His eyes flicked to look outside, before it returned to the other animatronic at the sound of his voice. Concern painted her face.

They turned their body more toward Oliver. "Good thing then, that you found us," she mumbled, awfully relieved.

However, at the sound of the strangled noise that came from his body, the eclipse stiffened at the noise, though he did his best not to fret immediately. "Ah, hon, do you need—ah..." he started, before trailing off. Did his model have the ability to drink, or have any modifications for it? He couldn't tell.

"You drink?" he inquired. It would be better to ask instead of assuming.

[lilac-the-bean]

He nods at their query, resetting his voice box with a click and a fizz of audial static. "I am able to consume, yes, but no, I'm alright." His eyes skip over to his brother momentarily before darting to his scarred hands; his hand pads all were...gone, and the metal was scuffed. Paint chipped away. His next sentence comes out as something akin to a whisper. "I just haven't laughed in a while." When was the last time he laughed? Was it...the second day of creation? Or was it the third? He doesn't remember, his eyes growing vacant as he shifts through his memory files. He tries not to wince as he comes across some...rather unsavoury memories.

[lilac-the-bean]

Well in the Rain

There's rainwater in the well, Oliver realises as his HUD boots back up. The soft hush of falling droplets fills his audials as he stares down at the cylindrical rock structure, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. His brother, Collin, sits beside him on the grass, leaning against the well. His eyes are dark. Rivulets of watered-down oil stream down his face as the rain washes away what damage it can, but it can't take the fire scars and the emotional mutilation that they've both been through. Collin more than he, he knows for sure. His tail gently caresses his brother's cheek as the low-battery animatronic lay there, his default smile unfading, his expression vacant. No reaction comes from the sunset-coloured animatronic, and sadness pangs through Oliver's very being. He hopes he can find a way to return his brother to this world. The rain strengthens, pushing his fronds down with the beating weight of the droplets, and his hopeful smile drops for the first time in...forever. In front of him, the well slowly fills, and he watches it until he can't bear the water any longer. He hauls Collin up, over his shoulder (ripping his beautiful sweater in the process; this won't be the first or last time he'll be fixing that), and starts walking towards...gods only know where. He'll figure it out. He always does.

[wywaskblog]

The rain hadn't stopped.

The fir trees that surrounded the animatronics began to sway in the strong wind. The sound of something snapping could be heard in the distance, and a series of cracking followed. With an awfully loud thump, one of the firs had fallen—a testament to the awful weather that lingered in the area.

No people were around. The dense, forest-like area and the heavy downpour made sure of that. There was a road in the distance, one that spanned out for miles. Even then, the few houses on that very road were far and uninviting.

However...

Despite the dark clouds overhead, casting a gloomy, atmosphere, there was a faint glow in the distance. The few trees that had fallen had created an opening, the thick leaves parting to reveal a house that was closer than any other. Its lights were on, almost as if it was a beacon that beckoned anyone lost to come.

[lilac-the-bean]

Oliver has never been out of the Megaplex this far. He knows nothing of the weather and what dangers the severity can cause. When the tree cracks in the distance, he startles and secures his brother on his shoulder, eyes darting this way and that as he assesses the situation. Then he feels the thump resonate through the ground, the quaking rumbling through his feet. Or is that just the rain falling at the fast speed it is? Either way, if he stays out here much longer, both he and his brother will have water seeping through their joints. He can feel the silicone between his threatening to give way. He hadn't been built for withstanding weather conditions, much less violent ones. A quick scan of the area leaves him in despair; no human life detected for the next-- Wait. It's not human life. But there's something. Something ahead. A light. A small cry leaves his voice box and he forces his frown into his default smile. It feels foreign. He pushes forward, ignoring the sloshing of the mud and rainwater around his feet and the hem of his patchwork skirt. He needs to get Collin to safety.

[wywaskblog]

With the awful winds, the trees only seemed to shake more vigorously around Oliver. The speed of the rain only quickened, pattering against his and his brother's form.

As the house came into view, it became easier to make out other aspects of the property as well. A small but undeniable garden seemed to peek out from the side of the abode. The marks of tires left in the sodden earth from how many times a vehicle had come and gone, in front of a garage that had no proper driveway. Through the windows, there was movement inside.

However, none of it was human.

A closer look through would show a tall, eight foot animatronic with a dark orange and brown casing. Their face was hard to tell through the window, but certain features could be made out. A handkerchief that wrapped around their modified neck, a sage-like green cardigan that adorned their body with a lighter green wrapped around their waist. A shoddy, quick ribbon on the back of the bot.

There was another animatronic aside the first, one a lot smaller and more purple. They were a lot less noticeable, moving around the residence quickly, seemingly worried.

Rain drummed against the roof of the house, seemingly like an omen.

[lilac-the-bean]

He can definitely say he dislikes the rain. He can't say much for his brother's view on one of nature's miracles, but it's not like he'll get anything if he doesn't get somewhere warm and safe. Collin... He hardly takes in any of the decor or extra details of the property, only assesses the figures in the window. Oh, he hopes they're nice. He breaks into a run, making for the door and squinting against the pelting rain, his rays pushed back by the wind. He slides through the mud as he nears the house, nearly wiping out and sprawling on the ground. Careful, careful... His hand hesitates as he finally raises it to rap his knuckles three times (evenly spaced and perfect, concise knocks) on the door. "H-hello!?" His voice wavers, voice box sputtering with the moisture in the air trying to reach it. "Please! I need help!"

[wywaskblog]

On the third knock, the door opened.

It was the tall animatronic, and her eyes flicked down to Oliver's. Surprise settled across her features as she quickly looked both of them over, concern seeping into his expression. "Come in," she offered easily, not even questioning the state they were in. The rain had been harsh, and the downpour had been made obvious from the specks of rain on the window. He stepped back from the doorway, giving them the space to enter.

They turned to look at the bot that had stiffened in the hallway. "Daydream, be a darlin' and get some towels, will ya?" he asked quickly. The small, purple moon in question—Daydream—had quietly nodded and moved hurriedly elsewhere without question.

Apricot's tall posture could easily be intimidating, now that Oliver was much closer. However, her face was soft and he did his best to look kind. As much as they wanted to fret over the two animatronics that had showed, they knew that they had to prioritize them. Overwhelming them would only be detrimental.

He said nothing more for now, holding the door open and ushering them inside without touching them.

[lilac-the-bean]

He gratefully pulls he and his brother's dripping forms into the hallway, immediately relaxing with the lack of rain battering his casings. Of course, being just accepted into the house has him on edge; he usually takes kindness for ulterior motives nowadays. Except from Collin, but that's to be expected with them being related. The sound of rain on the roof prickles at Oliver's casings as he gently lowers his brother's soaked body to the floor, and he notices Daydream in full for the first time. Hm. A purple moonbot. Interesting. When he looks back up at Apricot to ask what he may call them, the words die in his voice box, fizzling into nothing as he kneels next to his brother. Apricot is...rather tall. Startlingly tall, in all honesty; at least two feet taller than himself. He resets his voice box and tries again, determined to not look a fool in front of a complete stranger. At least her facial expression is kind? "What may I call you?"

[wywaskblog]

The eclipse closed the door behind Oliver as he entered. He would rather not have any more rain come in—it'd be a mess that she'd have to clean up later, and he didn't want poor Daydream to clean it.

Apricot turned to look at the small bot and his brother both in an inquisitive fashion. She had been around long enough to know that the two of them weren't the usual models that she was familiar with, or like any within the house. They were certainly not from the first generation of models—she was a first generation model despite her reparations and customizations. He couldn't help but be curious.

"Oh, you can call me Apricot," she answered easily. Her eyes wandered over Oliver's form, how the rain clung to his casing. That wouldn't do.

Apricot's eyes glance to the window. The downpour had been quite sudden and awful in comparison to the past few days, more so than the normal storms that frequented the area. The sound of rain on the roof was distant but still present—Sungrass would be up in the attic at this time, he was sure of it.

Their green eyes flicked back to the smaller bot present, though any bot would be compared to her. Their gaze lingered briefly on the animatronic body on the floor, and how Oliver kneeled beside them. "What about you? Ya got a name, hon?" As he spoke, he stepped back to give them both space.

Puddles of water were already forming on the floor, but the eclipse said nothing about it. He didn't want to give them any flack for it, especially with how rough they looked and how terrible the weather was.

[lilac-the-bean]

He can feel himself being studied; not in a negative fashion, but he knows that she's observing he and his brother. He self-consciously tugs at his ripped sweater, making the mental note on his HUD to fix that later. "Apricot," he muses quietly, testing their name out. He brushes his fronds out of his face, their soaked nature rendering them heavy. He thinks briefly about his name. Oliver. He can use his company-issued name. Or he can provide a nickname. He hesitates before replying to Apricot's query. "My name is S-D47 Unit 3DA, Oliver. And this," he indicates Collin, "is my brother, S-D42 Unit 6QZ, Collin." Honesty is best policy. Openness and honesty will keep him afloat in this world. At least he hopes so.

[wywaskblog]

Apricot filed the information away for later as she nodded. He would look into their models when he had the time, though he knew Sundowner had a better understanding of the different models from his experience. Enough of that, for now. Tending to their new guests was the eclipse's priority.

And, speaking of said guests... he continued to look them over. Worry seeped into his systems—how long had Oliver and Collin been out there?

"Gotcha," she murmured, though more questions flooded her mind. She held back her questions for now, not wanting to interrogate Oliver, especially after she saw Collin's state. They paused, before they shook their head. "Let's move ya and Collin over to the couch. Don't care if y'all wet—the couch gon' dry. It's gon' be more comfortable up there than on the floor."

The eclipse stepped back a bit, waiting for them to follow before he moved any further to the living room.

[lilac-the-bean]

If...if they're sure... He grabs his brother's body under the arms and carefully drags him behind Apricot. Not that he can't just lift Collin--he can. He just doesn't want to harm his brother's body any more than it already is by slinging it over his shoulder. Plus, the couch doesn't look that far away. No unnecessary physical movements, right? "Thank you," he murmurs, following Apricot into the living room. He hoists Collin onto the couch first, making sure the sunset bot is properly sat before hesitantly sitting next to him. He barely sits, though; he's more hovering on the edge of the plush seat. Nervous. Antsy. Awareness courses through his wires like adrenaline. Maybe it is adrenaline; just a synthetic variant. Strange. "I thought..." He paused, trying to start a proper conversation. Gods, it's been so long-- "Th-thought we were going to drown out there." A strangled noise--that he hardly can pass as a chuckle--rips its way out of his voice box and he winces. Ouch. Maybe trying to be friendly should wait until he can practise first.