#at-1225

[imaginatorcreates]

Prompt Foundry Day 31: Celebrating Halloween! | Fictober Day 31: "it's always been you" | 31: Costumes (bweird OC-tober) (what are your ocs wearing for halloween?)

24 September 2024 — 24 September 2024

Word Count: 649 words

Author's Notes: Prompts by @thepromptfoundry and @fictober-event and @bweirdart. Full promptfoundry list here. Full fictober-event list here. Full BeWeirdOC-tober list here.

“Remember Zephyr — ”

“I know!”

“Not too much candy. And please try to stay close.”

Zephyr groaned. “Whynn, I’m not gonna run off super far! I’ve gotta take care of the passengers! And you’re one of them.” Really, it should be obvious from their costume. Maybe Whynn didn’t understand what they were dressed up as. So the child posed in the middle of the dark street, one hand pointing forwards and the other on their hip. “All aboard!” they called out.

Their hair fluffed out, untethered by a hat or other head accessory. While a hat would’ve really sold their costume, they hated the feeling of almost everything on their head. The most that they allowed was a hood, and even that felt too weird if they really thought about the sensation.

A few beings looked at the child, some cooing and others rolling their eyes. Zephyr ignored them at first, but as their gaze drifted between Whynn and the passerby, their bravado slowly faded into something sheepish. “You think my costume is nice, right?”

Whynn stayed silent for about 13 seconds of varying length before they patted Zephyr on the shoulders. “Very cute.”

“Very professional!”

“Professionally cute.”

Zephyr lightly hit their guardian on the arm and whined, “I’m a professional! ‘M not cute!”

“Oh, fine. You’re the most professional one there is.” Whynn fixed their short cape and said something under their breath that sounded like, “Maybe I should’ve done a different costume.”

“I like your costume. Wizards are super cool! They’re also super smart, like you,” Zephyr said. “You’re just missing the big hat they wear where you can shout ‘Sun and moon! Stars and sword! I summon to me, places not explored!’ or something!”

Whynn blinked owlishly behind their glasses, then gasped. “That’s a perfect spell!” They waved their hands with the grace of someone who didn’t exactly know what to do with their hands and recited the rhyme Zephyr made up. “Oh, that’s perfect!”

Zephyr hopped around their guardian. “Is it?”

“It is!”

The child let out a loud whoop of joy. “It is! I’m a spellmaker and a conductor and– AT!” Zephyr’s attention jumped from celebrating their new careers to the familiar conductor. The conductor was dressed in a classic black costume…maybe a vampire? Zephyr guessed that someone at the train depot or station gave it to the robot. “AT! Look, look!” They stumbled into a run towards the robot, leaping into a floating and slow-moving projectile. “Guess what I am!”

AT-1225 caught the light child and put them down. “Let me see…” He looked at their costume, and Zephyr caught the moment when she paused. “Oh? Are you a miniature me?”

“Yeah! It’s always been you!”

AT-1225 did something a little odd: it made a static-filled sound before covering its mouth. The static turned into a crackly laugh that continued even when Whynn managed to catch up to the duo. “Apologies, but — ” He tapped at his throat and static still echoed out. “Come on…” She tapped her throat a bit more before things calmed down. “You dressed up as a train conductor?”

“Of course! Whynn’s a wizard, I’m a train conductor, and you’re a vampire!”

AT-1225 shrugged. “My coworkers insisted.”

“No hat?” Whynn asked.

“My coworkers also insisted that the hat would ruin the overall costume.”

Zephyr watched as Whynn took one of AT-1225’s gloved hands and pressed the back of it to their mouth. AT-1225’s voicebox fizzed and he reached up to grab a hat that wasn’t there. She instead shaded her eyes and crackled out, “Whynn! You — !”

“Sorry, sorry. I had to.” Whynn looked happy, a sheepish smile on their face.

Zephyr on the other hand, pretended to gag. “Ew! Ew ew ew! I’m here for candy and pointing at people, not this!” They circled around the two with increasing intensity until they could finally move forwards.

Halloween, here they all go!

[imaginatorofthings]

Goodness gracious, I'm thinking of my Westward Trio again.

I quite possibly need/really want Whynn and AT-1225 to kiss*

*Not really "kiss" because eugh, but be close enough to each other that their eyes partially shut with trust and quietness. Foreheads touch and noses brush against each other, eliciting a small static-filled chuckle or a breathy laugh where a smile is tangible. Maybe one of them presses forward just a little, mouth brushing against the other's. Maybe the latter reciprocates a little.

A quiet affair.

[imaginatorcreates]

Prompt Foundry Day 3: With their partner(s) in life, crime, whatever | Fictober Day 3: "I know you better"

21 September 2024 — 21 September 2024

Word Count: 515 words

Author's Notes: Prompts by @thepromptfoundry and @fictober-event. Full promptfoundry list here. Full fictober-event list here. Additional idea found here by @creativepromptsforwriting

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing important. Just uh, ‘The door is open’. That’s all.”

AT-1225 laughed that static-filled, crackly laugh. “‘The door is open’? Whynn, I know you better than that.”

Whynn chuckled and pulled their scarf up to cover the lower half of their face. “It’s true. That phrase means ‘The door is open’.”

“And the one last week?”

“‘There’s a bug on you.’”

“And the one before that?”

“‘Did you rest lately?’”

“There was not an intonation to indicate a question last time.”

“Maybe it’s because you actually need a break, and you don’t remember the intonation.”

AT-1225 continued to dust Ironhorse’s window sills, the train occasionally flickering and creaking to voice its thoughts. Whynn watched in silence as AT-1225 conversed with the sentient train, and something within them twisted a bit. They wanted the closeness in language that AT-1225 had with Ironhorse. A language that only a select few could know, one that could allow the speakers to bounce off words and gestures and be privy to the information shared.

“You look so happy,” Whynn murmured to themself, tongue sinking into the other language they knew. They weren’t the best at it, but they were able to understand it and speak enough phrases to get them by. Zephyr was a similar story, so the two could converse simple ideas with one another. “I’m only gazing at you, no hesitation.”

“What does that mean Whynn?”

“It means ‘You missed a spot’,” they lied. They were thankful that Zephyr was in school; if their little cousin heard what they were saying and how they sounded like, this self-indulgent thing would’ve probably ended by now.

“That is a long phrase for that idea.” AT-1225 then added, “The word for ‘happy’ was in that phrase.”

Whynn resisted the urge to shrink away. “Was it? I don’t — ”

“You know what you are saying,” AT-1225 continued. “And you are relying on the fact that I do not know that language.”

Whynn looked at the floor like it was the most interesting thing ever. They kept their mouth shut for what felt like too long before they quietly murmured, “Sorry.”

“I forgive you.” A soft static-filled pause stretched out for a moment. Then: “You do not know your mouth’s energy.”

Whynn choked. “What?”

More static. “Was the pronunciation off? Or was it the word choice?”

“Both? Tell me in the common language. I need clarification because it sounds so bad.”

AT-1225 had the audacity to look flustered as they tipped their cap further down their head. “You still do not know your words’ effects.” Static burst from their voice box and they tapped their throat to calm it down. “I did not know the exact phrase, so I used an approximation. I understand that the meaning might have changed — ”

A feeling burst in Whynn’s chest, light and fluttery. They chuckled to themself and breathed out, “I love you more than you’ll ever know.”

“Am I allowed to know what that means?” AT-1225 asked, eyelights adjusting a bit wider.

“Yes,” Whynn said, and repeated their words in the common language.

[imaginatorcreates]

Prompt Foundry Day 20: Presenting as a different gender

20 September 2024 — 20 September 2024

Word Count: 515 words

Author's Notes: Prompts by @thepromptfoundry. Full list here. It's not 100% "presenting as different gender", but more so putting an OC that's normally presented as more masc into something more fem for a change.

AT-1225 enjoyed the limited number of clothes that they owned. There was always the reliable white button-down shirt paired with loose navy pants that looked elegantly like a skirt when he stood with his legs next to each other. There was the navy vest with the right number of pockets for a hole punch, snacks for passengers, and a small repair kit for minor breakdowns of her joints and systems. There was the pair of shoes that it laced up in a double knot to protect potential exposed wires and metal. There was the pair of white gloves that kept its finger and wrist joints from catching on anything.

And of course, there was their navy train conductor hat. The black visor and the pair of golden buttons accentuated the overall appearance of the cap, and the cap hid AT-1225’s silvery white hairs that stood on end after a long day.

Whynn called it hat hair.

Zephyr called it a surprise and an opportunity to try to steal the cap off his head when he wasn't paying attention.

Sometimes she let the child do that. Other times, AT-1225 caught Zephyr in the act with a crackle of laughter from her speakers.

But today, as a gift from someone at work, it had something new. Its coworkers demanded that it take a day off. Ironhorse would be okay taking a rest day as well, seeing as the train needed maintenance for a mysterious clattering noise in the engine. The robot had been reluctant to leave the sentient train alone while engineers poked around its engine, but Ironhorse had let out a piercing whistle and locked its doors when AT-1225 tried to enter.

Fine. They could take a hint.

AT-1225 dusted off the article of clothing they were gifted. They kept their white gloves on lest their metal joints catch on the fabric of the dress. It felt like good quality fabric, and the skirt had a darker, extra layer underneath. An underskirt, they think.

It was relatively easy to slip on, no buttons or zippers on the back that needed to be done up. The sleeves were loose enough that it didn’t catch on any of his joints, and the skirt was a comfortable length, ending at halfway down his calves.

The robot spun around a little. The pleated skirt of the blue dress flared out just a bit, similar to the pants of her uniform yet with a new feeling. It wasn’t too bad.

It lightly pressed its covered fingertips to the covers over its camera-like eyes. If it thought about it, then it could imagine some of its coworkers talking about how it was a shame that makeup would probably ruin its systems if it wasn’t cleaned or applied properly.

It didn’t mind it either way.

She smoothed her hair out a bit before she placed her cap back on her head. In the quiet place she was given to rest, she let out a small static-filled chuckle. “Pretty,” she murmured. “This is pretty.”

[imaginatorcreates]

Fictober Day 16: "no, I'm not okay"

23 September 2024 — 24 September 2024

Word Count: 536 words

Author's Note: Prompts by @fictober-event. Full list here. Connected to yesterday's prompt, "Giving comfort to another".

CW: Contains (vague) descriptions of a panic attack. Anxiety abound.

It was a silent day for Whynn.

It had hit them all of a sudden, choking at their throat and clawing up their chest. Their eyes only focused back after too long. They had been sitting in front of their writing, pencil in hand. They had suddenly drew their hand back, fully intent on throwing the pencil against their wall. If it had ricocheted back and hit something, then it would. If it had grazed their felt, they would sew themself back up. The stitches would fade away and no one would be none the wiser.

Their grip had tightened, then all the energy to throw their writing utensil had left them in an instant. Their fingers had loosened and the pencil clattered to the ground. Their chest had felt too tight, tighter than it normally felt. They had reached up to their hair and grabbed fistfulls of it. Dark clouds started to appear at the edges of their vision, and they released their hair to wave the clouds away.

Calm down.

The words couldn’t come out. Each inhalation to say it aloud wasn't enough.

They couldn’t let Zephyr come home from school and see them like this.

They looked at the time. It was enough time.

That's why they were sitting inside one of Ironhorse’s empty cabins, faintly listening to the train’s concerned creaks. They weren’t fluent in its language yet, and that thought agitated them more than it normally did. Their little cousin — a mere seven years old! — understood more of Ironhorse’s unspoken language than they did. They knew that everyone had their strengths, but it still stung a bit more today.

Whynn opened and closed one of AT-1225’s gloved hands, feeling the joints beneath the fabric move but not once catch. They bent one of its fingers a bit further than it was supposed to, pushing through the resistance.

Sharp crackles and static hissed from the conductor’s voice box. “I would advise against that.”

They knew it was to prevent anything from breaking, but their mind (it was still so very loud in there) slinked away and they followed suit.

“Are you okay?”

“No.” The words fought their way out of their mouth, forcing their tongue to shape it into something tangible and audible. “No, I’m not okay.”

“Do you want me to do anything?” AT-1225 asked. He gently tugged at the hair tie in Whynn’s hair and pulled it loose, freeing their purple hair. “I could fix your hair. There are a few loops poking out.”

They let her. Fingers ran through their hair, combing out the small tangles and smoothing out the damage that they had hastily covered up by redoing the ponytail. Quietly, their hair provided less resistance, and they felt their own chest steadily detangle. Their mind quieted, and words started to detangle. Slowly, they felt gentle tugs to signify that she was tying their hair back up, exposing their undercut. They should clip it sometime this week.

“Cafuné,” Whynn murmured.

“Excuse you?”

Whynn slowly turned around, and before they could talk themself out of it, they pressed their forehead against the conductor’s. “Thanks.”

The gentle pressure in return confirmed the reciprocation, and they let the world quiet down.

[imaginatorcreates]

Prompt Foundry Day 15: Giving comfort to another

23 September 2024 — 23 September 2024

Word Count: 435 words

Author's Notes: Prompts by @thepromptfoundry. Full list here. Connected to tomorrow's prompt, "no, I'm not okay".

“Hello there Whynn. What is– Oh?” AT-1225’s fingers flexed closed for a moment as the blue-felted puppet wordlessly pressed their forehead against his shoulder. He tilted his head to try to better view the other’s face, but Whynn only turned their face away. “Are you alright?”

Whynn didn’t respond.

“Is it a silent day today?” AT-1225 tried.

The slightest of movements answered her. A nod.

“Ah, I see. Would you like me to guide you further inside Ironhorse?”

Another nod.

AT-1225 held out a hand, and waited until Whynn limply placed their hand in her own. She guided them inside Ironhorse, who lowered some of the shades. The train car lit up with the interior lighting system, creating a warm environment against the dimmer world outside. “You have not had a silent day in a while. I will not pry on the reasons for such, but you are free to share it when you are ready.”

Whynn raised their head from AT-1225’s shoulder. Their dark eyes were heavier than normal, their eyelids partway down as if they were halfway asleep. They raised their arms against their torso, hands gripping the sleeves of their long maroon coat. Their mouth opened, then closed silently.

AT-1225’s eyes adjusted and looked over the puppet. They kept silent and only looked away to give Ironhorse their full attention when the train creaked and flickered a light. They tapped the floor with their foot, and Ironrhose gave a long creak in return.

The conductor turned its attention back to Whynn and static burst from its voice box as the puppet wrapped their arms around it. Its arms were still free as Whynn at gone for a hug underneath the shoulders, but the force of the hug caused the conductor to take a step backwards. The puppet partially buried their face in the crook of AT-1225’s neck, causing the robot’s voicebox to static out once again and its eyelights to flicker. It waited for a minute, then slowly tapped a finger against its upper head and neck. The finicky parts fixed themselves.

“Whynn?”

Whynn’s only response was a tightening of their arms.

AT-1225 slowly placed his arms around Whynn. “Is this okay?”

A silent nod.

“Take your time.”

“Don’t go.”

It was a quiet order. Not even an order, just a request. But AT-1225 felt how much effort it took for Whynn to say it: the fingers momentarily curling as if contemplating the decision to grab onto her navy vest, the inhale to form the words, the harsher exhale of the words.

So they hugged them tighter. “I will be right here.”

[imaginatorofthings]

Whenever my brain gets stuck or bored with an idea that I make up in its original place, it'll start throwing those characters into an AU. And without fail, those AUs will start with either a DND/Fantasy AU or a Sky: COTL AU.

Yes this is partially a hook to have people ask about such, but also just me telling such to the void.

[imaginatorofthings]

Rewatching "The Polar Express" and I'm getting reminded of vibes I gave AT-1225 and Ironhorse. That, and the music is just a nice feeling too.