#explosivedesire 𓆩⟡𓆪 06

[hollowfaith]

「✦」 With a sigh, Aurelius turns his head from his seat on the bench by the Boardwalk, his peace and quiet ruined.

"Isn't salt water detrimental to your hobbies?"

"What are you doing by the ocean in the middle of winter?"

Shouldn't she be off—he doesn't know—blowing up abandoned buildings somewhere? He'd picked this place because it was isolated with a nice view of the sea—and now look, his very own sound system had sidled in uninvited.

"These are for the gulls," he adds, gesturing to the bag of peanuts sitting in his lap. "If you want snacks, then buy your own."

@explosivedesire ໒꒱

[hollowfaith]

「✦」 "You're so easily pleased."

Aurelius' tone wavers between annoyed and resigned, finally settling on somewhere between miffed and tired.

"If you want to actually eat what you make with that, I'll have to buy the more expensive model." He takes out his phone and starts scrolling through the options. "Reserve your free samples for proper holidays. I don't need sweets at my door every other week."

"At present, it looks like you're getting more out of this deal than me."

"For KIDS?"

It felt almost offensive but somehow still not the worst gift she was ever given. If anything it was one of the better ones...

"Yeah sure why not. I mean the kid stuff is usually more tastier then any of the other things they tend to pump out. So maybe I'm a real winner in this situation. And that just means more sugar for you come those special days too." Architect puffed out her chest, proud of her nonexistent accomplishment and promise.

"So it's a deal then. We all got what we want right?"

[hollowfaith]

「✦」 "The only thing that suits you is the sea itself," Aurelius huffs after a while. "Chaotic, unruly, and loud—why don't I toss you in it so you two can be best friends?"

"I don't pay enough attention to human culture to know what they offer. Some sort of baking kit at this point, I imagine."

Though that might lead to Architect giving him more cookies in the future, a thought that gives him headaches.

"A baking kit for children," he amends. "I hear they have those for clay."

Well at least she didn't need to say it out loud this time around. He did, which was both surprising and not so much at the same time. But that's what seemed to keep the two of them together, the fact one was a much more smooth brained individual and the other was him. By all logic they shouldn't be friends, but they continued to pull it off somehow.

"Man you can't just put me on the spot like that! I don't even know what I'm getting anyone else for the holidays let alone myself. We've been pals long enough that you should probably look at some thing and go "Yup! That's for Architect." right?"

[hollowfaith]

「✦」 "If lunatics had reason, would they still be lunatics?" Aurelius points out. He adjusts the collar of his jacket to better shield his ears from the cold and stares out grumpily at the ocean.

"Speaking to you on deeper topics is a lost cause."

"Let's cut to the chase. What do you want as a gift?"

Even if she understood what he was saying that didn't prevent Architect from rolling her eyes. After a certain point words really did just become something flowing through one ear and out the other. He had a point sure but couldn't there be an easier way of saying it?

"Yeah yeah sure Grandpa. I didn't know we were comparing how long we were out here wandering around but I'm sure you beat me by a country mile." Probably for the best. A doll like her staying around that long without getting some memories wiped would probably lose their mind. Or be even more enlightened depending on who it is...

"That's what happens when you got a world full of war hungry lunatics. Myself included but still sometimes you gotta wonder if they really just like killing each other. And without any pizzazz either like come on!"

[hollowfaith]

「✦」 "I didn't forget." Aurelius' lips thin in displeasure; it's obvious that he's miffed by her words once again. "I thought you'd understand then, having lived thus far, that life becomes routine and repetitive."

"If not, then perhaps you haven't lived long enough."

The sea waves smash against the shores in front of them, a dull roar of noise that rises and falls repeatedly with the tides. Day in, day out, winter or summer, they persist in their relentless attacks against the sand. Aurelius shifts his gaze towards the shore, strands of hair rippling across his forehead from the frosty winds.

"You and I are beings who will live to see the world reshape itself. Time wears down humans just as the sea eats at land. Small details blur and become so much static over years—sleeping keeps the mind clear."

He grimaces before conceding, "Though I understand yours was too chaotic a world for dreaming."

He was unfortunately right about one thing. Continuing to compare him to any "human" back home was just setting herself up for failure. Yet she still wanted to keep that mystery present, only so when anyone else might reveal it to the doll she might find some enjoyment. Hearing it right from Aurelius was going to turn into a lecture somehow...

"Well that's good then! Because I don't know what I'd do if you actually did throw it away." Probably scream a little bit, forget why she was screaming, and then go on with her life. Even Eiden probably wouldn't have been surprised either.

"My kind? Did you forget the part where I'm basically an android? While all the flesh people are gonna be screaming and getting four hundred limbs from their own slap fights of bombs and bullets we'll be more then fine. Unless a lightning bolt hits me or something like that. But odds of that are pretty small so I should be lasting a pretty long time."

[hollowfaith]

「✦」 "I never said I tossed them out," Aurelius turns to look at Architect, almost offended by the implication. "The rest is in my room." And he was just taking a trip away from said room for a while. Klaus had did it—he didn't see why he couldn't too.

"You're mistaken if you compare me to a normal human."

"I slept because I finished my work, and there was nothing worth waking up for. The demons only invade every century and Heaven has plenty of angels to do the rest."

He rests his head against the bench, this time staring up at the clouds.

"How long do your kind live? When you have eternity before you, day-to-day life becomes drudgery."

"Well at least the squirrel probably cared about it. Did you not even try it before tossing it out to the wildlife?"

Doubtful but it's what she expected from him. If anything she was hoping more that the squirrel enjoyed the treat more then Aurelius. And most wildlife were scavengers so there was a pretty good chance they did.

"...You realize how not normal that sounds right? Years?! Did someone forget to turn on your holy alarm so you just overslept?" Did he even have an alarm? The more she thought about it the more the doll felt a headache coming on and that was coming from someone who could just dump all that brainpower elsewhere.

"And as far as I'm aware people usually get help instead of sleep off their problems. That's including waking up at a normal time and not years just because someone wanted to be lazy."

[hollowfaith]

「✦」 "Do you mean those hard biscuits?" Aurelius wrinkles his brows, skipping the rest of her conversation entirely. He'd skimmed his gifts but hadn't looked at any too closely—there were other matters on his mind.

"I might have fed one to a squirrel." Because the flavor was so strong, he'd almost choked on the first bite. Anyways, he can't remember why he picked it up to eat at all—perhaps he needed something to chew on while he was lost in thought.

"It seemed to like it fine."

"...I told you, I was unwell. Sleeping helps with recovery." He crosses his arms, a little annoyed.

"Leaving aside seasons, I used for sleep for years at a time when I was idle."

"And I ain't most people." For better or for worse. But the majority of individuals would argue it was the later when it came to Architect. "But I once again appreciate your ability to hand out compliments at the perfect moment."

Although it was the first time she heard he was "unwell". For someone that tooted their horn almost constantly it felt almost completely out of character to hear him talk below a certain level in any way. To the point she felt a desire to call some medical assistance just to be sure this wasn't some doppelganger.

"What do you hibernate or something for the winter?" He did say he just "awoke" but most people slept and woke up. Dolls didn't need to even if she just wanted to stick around with the crowd.

"Because if you did ya' missed Eiden and I making gingerbread stuff. Pretty sure it got sent to you but if it didn't I'm sure we got some extra."

[hollowfaith]

「✦」 "Most people don't come to the beach in the winter, on account of the cold," Aurelius replies. He reaches the end of the peanuts all too soon, and releases the paper bag, which starts folding itself into neat squares in front of him.

"And I don't hate you. You're noisy, but you're not loathsome."

"I've been unwell, so I've been resting at home the entire time. Now that I'm awake, I've started walking around the city."

The bag finishes folding, and Aurelius has it float itself to one of the public trashcans by the side of the beach. Idly, he wonders how often they're collected during the winter.

"Since you sound as lively as ever, I assume your holidays went well."

"If you hate me that much just throw yourself in a bubble or something! The bench is here for a reason, to seat more then one person."

The way she saw it if he wanted to be alone then there were was probably a chair somewhere out there here. Or maybe just not come to the place she was at in the first place. His eyes weren't exactly gone after all...

"They stop for the winter?! What kind of ass backwards logic is that? Do I gotta go make my own everything in this city?" If she knew that she would've brought something along. And not just wandering around like an idiot.

"Well maybe they keep dragging us together for some reason too. I couldn't even find you anywhere over the holidays. The hell was that about? Too busy thinking about your boyfriend?"

[hollowfaith]

「✦」 If possible, Aurelius looks like he ages overnight at the thought of being Architect's father. His hands rustle noisily through the paper bag before grabbing another handful of peanuts to toss it at the birds.

"You are making as little sense as usual," he complains. "It's obvious neither of us will have quiet if we're here together."

"Besides, the Boardwalk is closed in winter. You won't get any cakes until the weather warms up."

How does he know? He just found out himself. Even the bag of peanuts were bought from a local grocery instead.

"Go find another bench, I was here first."

"When the HELL did you become my dad? Or the salt water police for that matter." Really she was wondering where he scurried off too for so long. But unlike he answering questions for him she knew she'd never get a straight answer from him unless she went to a church or whatever. Real annoying stuff

"Just because I'm a doll doesn't mean I can't enjoy a little bit of water. I'm not about to throw myself right into the deep end just to enter Mr. Jones Locker. I just wanted to enjoy some peace and quiet too."

But now that Aurelius was here that wasn't going to happen. Because she was going to yap, as per usual.

"And I wouldn't even want peanuts. It's the boardwalk at least get a funnel cake or something."