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He watches from his hotel room as snow falls from the sky, gently floating down down down. Each snowflake is unique from its fellow falling friend, unique from every single snowflake that has fallen during this snowstorm. Yet, despite their differences, they all fall the same and they land the same and when enough of them are huddled together, they create one large blanket of snow, losing their uniqueness and singularity, becoming one unit.
Like cogs in a machine, each with its unique scratches and dents from creation. They are unique and different, until they are put into the machine and then, they are simply the same as every other cog. Their purpose becomes their life, the machine becomes their appearance.
Planet Screwllum does not have snow and it does not have cogs, but it has screws—so many screws, all without their machine.
Just how he prefers.
(He ponders, though, if perhaps artificial snowfall is worth investing in.)
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He is in his office one day, documenting the Differentiator’s punchings, when a knock echoes in the room. Odd, he thinks, as he knows from habit that whoever is knocking is not Screwllaran, his butler. Odd again, because to his knowledge, no one has been given permission to enter the mansion.
(Screwllita does not ever bother knocking, knowing just what he is doing every second of every day, without fail. He used to worry over such a notion, but Screwllita had put a quick end to that.)
“Your Majesty?” Ah. Oh. Hmm. Definitely odd. He sets his pen down, turning to face Screwllita. He is surprised to see them, concerned really, but he tampers down on that program before it can fully startup.
“Good evening, Screwllita. How was your day at the salon?” At his words, Screwllita enters the room, lowering the hood of their shawl.
“It was lovely as always. Thank you for your suggestion regarding the new shampoo formula. It worked as intended and was quite the hit.” He nods, happy to know that something he has done has helped the denizens of his planet. However, Screwllita still remains in place.
“Is there something I may help you with, Screwllita?” It is their day off, so there is no reason that Screwllita should be lingering, especially since their ‘royal outing’ day is on Wednesdays and today is Saturday.
“Yes. However, I am not sure how to phrase this properly. It is…a delicate matter—no, don’t get up, my apologies. It is not an emergency, please remain seated. It is simply…” Oh, well that is good, or well…still concerning, but good that there is no emergency. Recently, there has been a trend among the Screwllumites where they will attempt to fix important matters without involving him, unless he is absolutely needed. They claim it is to not bother him, that they can handle most matters on their own so he is free to continue his work, but it does…he worries about his Screws, that is all.
“I…see. Very well, please take all the time you need. I have nothing pressing at the moment.” Screwllita nods, shifting foot to foot. It is a trait that is closely related to nervousness, something he is so proud of seeing in his people. However, in Screwllita, it makes him nervous.
“Thank you.” Silence lapses again before Screwllita huffs and stomps their foot. “Ugh! I don’t know why they thought I would be the best person for this but just…here. Take this. A proposal from you from the Screwllumites. You read it and I’ll talk you through the main points.”
He takes the thin stack of paper, reading the title page.
REQUEST FOR PLANETARY AND CALENDAR CHANGES
Oh.
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Screwllita explains the document to him in quite record timing, but he still reads through it a dozen times, making sure not a single detail is missed. The summation of the request is written clearly and explained well, but it still makes Screwllum pause.
Summary: We, the citizens of Planet Screwllum, would like to request two changes from His Majesty Screwllum I, the Mechanical Aristocrat of Intellitron PlanetIX. These changes are as follows:
1. The addition of what is known as a ‘winter’ season on many planets, along with a collection of typical weather patterns that occur during ‘winter’. This will make it so there are now a total of four seasons.
2. The addition of several holidays throughout the year, ideally three per season or once a month.
Had he done something wrong? That is the question he wants to ask his people, but he knows they will deny it. He wonders if perhaps this is a new branch of research in the study for their origins, or merely…
Or merely…oh. Perhaps he is overthinking this.
He flips through the pages again, making tiny little dots next to words of importance. Truly, the Screwllumites are different from the standard model of Intellitrons in appearance, even in hardware, and they are most certainly different from humans. But, that does not mean that they should be different in every aspect from humans.
He gently sets the document down, turning back to his keyboard to begin typing his response.
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The first holiday occurs within three weeks. It is not a big holiday, truly a small little holiday, but it is very popular nevertheless.
National Hobby Day. A day where all Screwllumites are encouraged to celebrate their hobbies, taking the day off of work and school in order to not only share their interests with their neighbors and colleagues, but to learn about new hobbies they may not know about.
It is a big hit amongst the Screwllumites, which given that it was a highly voted holiday from the list that was provided, he is happy that they enjoy it.
Winter however, proves to be a much more difficult task, but he and the Screwllumites are persistent.
It takes several years, but soon, winter is added to the planetary season cycle of Planet Screwllum. Cold temperatures, increased levels of rain, changes to the day-night schedule all make their way into the program of Planet Screwllum.
Snow and frost, however, still evade them.
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The seasons come and go; the holidays roll around. More holidays get added, some just for fun and others with a deeper meaning. A chance to show your romantic love for someone, a holiday for remembering those who have passed. A time to give presents to another and a time to merrily bring in the new year. A chance to celebrate achievements and a chance to celebrate the birth of the planet.
And as each holiday comes and goes, as each year turns like a well oiled gear, the Screwllumites enjoy their holidays with one another.
Except for Screwllum.
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Geniuses, even those that surround themselves with people, are still solitary individuals. Elias tried for many years to change that and they do honor his memory now, but old habits do not change for them. They are solitary people and will remain solitary for their entire lives.
The Screwllumites try, Screwllita and Screwllaran try, but he shakes his end and encourages them all to go back to their celebrations. He…he knows that he will not enjoy it like they will, that he will process the festivities and the cheer differently. For him, it will not be celebration, but variables in equations he cannot think of yet.
That does not stop the Screwllumites from including him. They will leave him gifts on holidays that involve gift giving, or send him articles and recaps of the holidays that are celebrations. The younger Screwllumites decorate the gate of the mansion and wave to him as he watches from his garden and the older Screwllumites will remind him to celebrate, even if it is by himself.
He is thankful for them, for their understanding.
Perhaps…
No. He is a solitary being. That is what becoming a Society Genius means and for his people, for all inorganics, he will do everything in his power to keep that title.
(He does join them every year on the Day of Mourning. He reads the names of everyone who will never startup again, since the dawn of the planet.
This is one holiday he will never miss.)
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Geniuses are solitary people and will remain solitary until…
Something.
(He wonders…if this is a gift from Nous…or simply…growth. Of an understanding he has never had the chance to learn.)
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He wordlessly hands the coat in his hand to the other man, who looks away as he takes it. The surrounding air is chill, colder than he knows the man prefers. Way colder than he prefers, Screwllum mentally notes as the man clenches the coat tightly. He is grateful for his foresight to grab the jacket Screwllita had brought back from their recent travels. It came highly rated as a coat to provide warmth even in extreme cold. He had pondered why they would buy such a thing, but he understands now.
This will be the five hundredth and seventy-ninth winter of Planet Screwllum.
“I am pleased that you have taken up my offer to visit, Mr. Ratio.” Veritas—Mr. Ratio, Dr. Ratio—rolls his eyes, but does not refute or provide a different excuse for his appearance.
“When I asked if there was anything I needed to know about your planet, it being freezing should have been an important note, Screwllum.” Ah, that curt tone. While he knows that most do not enjoy being on the receiving end of it, he finds himself quite the opposite.
“Forgive me, dear Doctor. Our climatologists are currently experimenting on creating an environment to support artificial snow.” Now, even with as many winters as they have gone through, snow and frost still evade them.
“Artificial?”
“Confirmation: Yes. Explanation: The atmosphere of Intellitron PlanetIX does not allow for snow, which is a notable positive as snow could lead to severe cases of metal erosion. While we have created a winter season with temperatures that are suitable for snow and frost, we cannot have them as natural weather patterns. Thus, we must create artificial snow and frost that will not cause damage to the planet.” He gestures for Dr. Ratio to follow him, taking the longer, more scenic route through the main street of Gear City. “However...recently, the scientists have increased their efforts to create snow and thus, we are currently experiencing our coldest winter on record. Request: I do beg your forgiveness for my oversight…”
Dr. Ratio huffs, breath coming out as a small cloud, and Screwllum knows that his slight is forgiven. They continue to walk down the street, carefully and artfully dodging the rushing Screwllumites.
“...I was not aware you celebrated the holidays. I would not have scheduled my visit if I had known you would be busy with celebration.” Screwllum hums at the observation, nodding to a couple holding hands that pass him.
“Ah, yes. It is a newer affair, less than six hundred years old. The one they are currently celebrating is one of the oldest holidays that is on our calendar. It is called “Festival of Lights”. A sightseeing and gift-giving holiday.”
“I see.” Dr. Ratio nods and Screwllum can see his brow furrowing. They walk a few more paces before Dr. Ratio stops walking. “What do you mean by ‘they’ celebrate?”
Ah. Truly, nothing escapes this man.
He turns away from the good doctor, making a slow turn to face the large city plaza that lays ahead of them. It is filled with people going about their personal lives, as for the next four days, all of Planet Screwllum’s denizens have time off.
“‘They’ celebrate the holidays, Mr. Ratio, but I do not. I…I simply never have.” He waves to an older Screwllumite that walks by, accepting the flash drive that they hand to him.
“Good day, Ser. For you to read when you are looking for something. We held a charity bake-off yesterday and these were the results. It went quite well.”
He nods. “I am glad to hear that. Request: Please send a missive to the mansion with the name of the charity and I will see to it that more money is sent in your name.”
The Screwllumite nods, shaking his hand eagerly. “Thank you, Your Majesty. May your glow of Erudition guide your way.”
“May your glow of Erudition guide your way.” The Screwllumite scurries off, stepping back into their shop. He pockets the flash drive and returns to look back at the plaza. Ratio has joined him now, standing at his side.
“I have been to many planets, seen many celebrations, and have heard many blessings, but that one is new.”
“Merely a Screwllumite departing, nothing to do with the holidays. We owe a great deal of our lives to the Erudition, so even in times of celebration, we must always keep Nous in mind.”
“Ah, yes—celebration. Now, you were explaining yourself.” How like the man to always get back to the point.
“I merely…do not. Not with them at least.” Ratio hums, looking up and up.
“To be alone is to be a genius, is it not?” He nods and clasps his hands behind his back, turning his gaze up as well. Together, side by side, he and Ratio stare up at the darkening sky.
“It is. I…do not see the world the way they do. We do not see the world the way they do. However, I do not discourage them from engaging with me, I could not do that to them. But I do not join them in their celebrations for fear I will…dampen the mood.”
“I do not think you are capable of that, Screwllum, but I do understand the sentiment. However, unlike you, I do ruin the mood.”
He cannot help but laugh and before he knows it, Veritas is laughing too. Their laughter makes no sense, but it seems fitting. They laugh and laugh until they are looking at each other.
“You know, Screwllum, they say that opposites can cancel each other out. So if…you and I were to go and join the celebration happening up ahead…perhaps then, you would be able to celebrate with your people.”
“An interesting hypothesis, Dr. Ratio.” Veritas smirks and walks ahead, turning his head back to raise an eyebrow at him.
“Well, come on. I find that I am eager to find out if I can solve a Genius’s problem.” He shakes his head, sighing at the man’s cheeky tone.
“Very bold of you to think you are capable of such a thing, Mr. Ratio. But, as I am a scientist myself, I cannot leave a hypothesis untested. Show me your mettle, as they say.”
Veritas’s haughty laughter is drowned out as he is swallowed by the cheering crowd of Screwllumites.