November Deciated Drabbler Reward (100-400 words)
Added 2017-12-20 06:24:53 +0000 UTC Nick Valentine
It takes a lot to survive alone in a deserted wasteland of a world. One of the biggest dangers of a life like this is becoming selfish, overly cautious of strangers and the threat they represent to your livelihood. Sometimes, having someone else to look after, someone else you can trust to watch you back in a fight, can prove to be a saving grace. Sometimes, having someone along can make things better.
Especially when winter sets in.
The frozen wasteland is worse, a thousand times worse, than anything else. Never mind the acid snow and difficulty foraging. Staying warm becomes a challenge in and of itself. Creating heat without having an open fire that attracts unwelcome visitors, or that doesn't require the use of unstable chemicals and dangerous gases, can be a real problem.
Nick felt themselves uniquely lucky in that their partner ran hot. They never seemed to get cold, perhaps due to the tender roundness of her body. Nick couldn't help but admire it. They had commented on it once or twice, though their friend seemed confused by the apparent interest. That did not surprise them. Humans didn't seem to think synthetics were capable of displaying intentions, much less having them. So Nick was quite ready to be rebuffed when they touched their companions hand one night and moved in close, closing their eyes and pressing their lips down.
Pressure sensors ignited, and Nick was pleasantly surprised to feel what might be described as a thrill running through their processing units. Their hands began to cautiously run down the supple curves, a squeeze bringing a soft gasp from their partner. “Is this acceptable?”
Their partner looked up, their eyes effecting a nervous, but not unenthusiastic emotional response. Nick hoped they were understanding the effect correctly. It would be a travesty to misinterpret things. A sense of relief helped when their partner settled in, leaning a soft belly against their own. “It's alright. Maybe you ought to try doing it again, just to be safe.”
