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As much as he loves spending time at the Guild and on its grounds, he absolutely hates how cold the planet the Main Hall is on gets during the winter. It is not the typical winter cold one might expect, but severe below zero cold. It’s a phenomenon they are still trying to understand, but in the meantime, the Guild boasts some of the most powerful heaters in the universe. He had thought that perhaps, by retreating to Planet Screwllum, he would get a reprieve from the extreme cold, but it seems that he was wrong. Personally, he wants nothing more than to retreat to Screwllum’s mansion the second he leaves the shuttle and is hit with a blast of more cold air, but the sight of Screwllum shifting leg to leg has him putting a pause on that thought.
That motion could mean any manner of things, but given that Screwllum’s hands are holding a frankly massive scarf and not twisting over one another, he knows that the man is not nervous or anxious. So excitement it is. He walks a few feet to where Screwllum is, bowing his head forward when the man lifts his hands. The scarf is carefully tied around his neck, the ends of the gold material falling to his knees.
“A gift from Screwllaran. He is currently away, as Screwllita wanted to take a ‘pre-holiday holiday’ they called it, but he wanted me to make sure you had it upon your arrival.”
“I will need to message him my thanks. It seems he has gotten better at handicrafts.” Screwllum hums, taking a step closer until they are a few inches apart.
“Confirmation: He has. The books you have provided him on the matter have helped him greatly. The more older Screwllumite women seem to have taken an interest in the process of yarn crafts as well. I believe they have formed something called a ‘knitting circle’, hopping between the various cafes on Main Street each week to craft. Screwllaran has joined them for the last seven weeks.” He smiles at Screwllum upon hearing those words, happy that Screwllaran is taking more time for himself. It had been a constant stress on Screwllum, Screwllaran’s constant dedication to his work as Screwllum's butler, that Screwllum had finally cracked and asked him for advice. It had taken a few dozen tries, but finally, it seemed that Screwllaran had taken an interest in yarn related crafts like crocheting and knitting. And now, with Planet Screwllum constantly hitting lower temperatures as they prepare for the first test of frost, it seems that Screwllaran had been preparing.
“I am glad that he has finally found another way to spend his energy.” Screwllum nods, raising a hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind his ear. It’s an unnecessary gesture, but he has come to accept it as one of the many ways Screwllum shows his affections. “I bet the old women just love him.”
“They do, and yes, you can rest easy. They are fully taken with him that I dare say they have forgotten about you.” He rolls his eyes and huffs, crossing his arms.
“Thank Nous for that. Seriously, Screwllum, one more tea time and I may never step foot on Main Street again.” Screwllum hums a little laugh, holding his hand out. He takes the offer without hesitation, following after Screwllum for a few steps before they are walking side by side at the same pace.
They walk for a bit in silence, content in each other’s company. Minutes pass by as they walk from the general transport center back toward Screwllum’s mansion. While normally they would take one of the carriages from the center to the mansion, Veritas can tell that Screwllum wants something.
Which would be fine.
If it wasn’t so damn cold.
“Screwllum,” he breaks the silence around them, trying to not let his annoyance with the weather enter his voice. “As much as I enjoy our walks, it is cold. Freezing, in fact. May we…”
There’s a slow flicker in Screwllum’s eyes that has Veritas pausing.
“Screwllum?”
“I…hm. I would like to ask a request of you, though it is alright to say no. I…merely do not know how to go about it.” Brow furrowed, he tugs Screwllum’s hand to get him to stop walking.
“Well, you can start with just asking me. Is that now how all research and testing starts—by asking a question?”
“Yes, you are correct.” He grins, shrugging his shoulders.
“As I usually am. Now what has got you so distracted that you are having me stand out in the cold, asking you to ask me your question?”
“Ah, forgive me for my oversight. How about we move over to—”
“The question, Screwllum. You are just prolonging my time in the cold.” Screwllum nods, though he does slightly inch Veritas towards one of the standing heaters in the area.
“Very well…Request: I would like to walk around the new light display that has been put up in Gear Park.” He hums in response, raising a finger to tap his chin.
“That wasn’t a question, Mr. Screwllum, so I do not see why that was so hard.” The motion of moving his arm does jostle the scarf around his neck and he’s quick to replace it. “Now, I take it there is something special about the light display?”
While perhaps it may vex others, he does deeply enjoy when Screwllum overthinks and walks himself in circles, lost in how he wants to ask for something. While yes, it is freezing on Planet Screwllum right now, if Screwllum wants to go look at another light display together, he can deal with the cold for a few more minutes. A relationship is a two-way street, something that he thinks Screwllum forgets sometimes.
“There is. It was put together by some of the younger Screwllumites, as a project for one of their introductory classes. As you know, we are attempting to introduce more…organic uniqueness into our code by having the younger Screwllumites take classes in order to…learn how to see the uniqueness of life outside of our ones and zeroes. The older Screwllumites are welcome to join as well, but the younger ones put together the display in the park.” There’s a hesitation in Screwllum’s voice, along with a certain flicker in his eyes.
“And…”
“Question: Will you ever inform me of the tell that you see when it comes to talking about the girls?”
“Nope.” He pops the ‘p’ just to be a smartass. “That, my dear Screwllum, is a secret for me to know and you to never find out. So The was visiting you?”
“Her name is Herta, Veritas, even if she does refer to herself as The Herta when you are around.” There’s a petulant tone to Screwllum’s voice and Veritas grins, leaning forward to press a kiss to Screwllum’s cheek.
“I jest, I jest. To you, at least. I will still be calling her ‘The’ when I see her.” The genius sighs, long suffering.
“I do so wish you two would get along—” Veritas opens his mouth to refute, but Screwllum just shakes his head. “However, I understand that that will not happen. I am grateful you both at least try to be amicable when in the same room as each other. I digress, though. Yes, the girls provided assistance with the display. It was…good for the Screwllumites to be around children, even if those children are merely fragments of Herta’s consciousness that reside in puppets when she does not communicate through them.”
“You should invite those Hunter girls then, whenever you are ready for that. Stephen too. I do not think this counts as Society work.” There’s a pause from Screwllum, like—
“I…had not thought about that. Thank you for bringing that to my attention. I will think on the matter at a later time.”
“Just let me know if you do and when I should not be on planet. I’m still finding specs of graffiti on all of Mold of Idolatry’s forms.” Screwllum laughs and Veritas tries to ignore how much he deeply enjoys that sound. “But yes, Screwllum, let’s go see the display. But not for too long, I can feel the temperature dropping.”
“Ah yes. Explanation: We are close to testing for frost. Within a day or two, we expect to see a result, if one was to occur. This type of weather is proving trickier this time around.” Despite the possibility that the intended weather might not occur, Screwllum seems very happy regardless. “Additionally, at our normal pace, I anticipate it will take approximately six minutes and forty three seconds to walk around the park, accounting for thirty seconds to take a picture of the girls’ display to send the Society chat. Is that amenable?”
“Hm, is there any way we could shorten that just a little? We have been standing here for about…five minutes I would say? It’s late already, I anticipate the weather will drop more. Say…if we walk at the pace I use when I do my daily walks with the runt liter of the critters, how long will the walk take?”
There’s a pause as Screwllum thinks.
“I do believe that would shorten the time down to five minutes and thirteen seconds.” He nods, liking the sound of that. Grabbing Screwllum’s hand, which gets him a little hum from Screwllum, he begins to pull the man in the direction of Gear Park. He’s stopped before long, gently pulled toward Screwllum who quickly fixes his scarf again.
“For optimal warmth.”
Veritas laughs and they begin to walk again.
△
“As much as I love you and did enjoy the display, next time, let us wait until the afternoon. I was not expecting that much of a temperature drop.” He hisses as he sinks into the bath, the hot water burning his toes for a few moments. It takes him longer than he would like to sink into the bath, skin cold from being outside for so long. Across the bathroom, Screwllum nods as he finishes hanging his suit jacket, now in his semi-open dress shirt and slacks.
The walk had been nice, the light display very well done. It seems that perhaps uniqueness might have been the theme, not the lesson learned, as there was not a single cohesive pattern to the entire thing. While perhaps many might see it as chaotic, it was easy for Veritas to make out little bits of the designer in each display. Like the one display that was entirely made of blue lights, except for one green bulb, he knows was made by the young bookstore assistant who he has only seen wear blue, yet has green lenses.
Or how the display that was made by Herta’s daughters looked like a melted mooncake…if that was even possible.
It was also a nice surprise to come back to the mansion to see a freshly prepared bath. He had been curious about it and of course, Screwllum once again showed how he truly planned for everything.
(“While I do know that you enjoy hand drawn baths, on occasions such as this when no one is at the mansion and I know that your arrival is imminent, I have created a program that will replicate a bath as accurately as possible to your preferred taste. Of course, no program will ever match ‘a generous handful of bath salts’, so please let me know if it is too much or too little.”)
The answer had been too little, which is fine. With the smells of the bakeries on Main Street he had be subject to during the duration of the walk, he would prefer a less potent bath for the night.
Now though, he turns his head in its recline to see Screwllum taking a seat on the little stool that has found its home next to Veritas’s bathtub.
“You know, Screwllum, you are fine to join me or even, I don’t know, grab an actual stool or bring a bench to place against the wall. There is no need to sit on a such a small object.” The aristocrat shakes his head, humming.
“While I am aware those are options, I do enjoy my place right here when I am not joining you in the bath. In moments like these, I do not wish to be apart from you. You have also expressed your extreme annoyance and anger at the notion of me sitting on the floor. Hence, the little stool will do.” Veritas swallows thickly and looks away, hoping his face isn’t turning red. At the very least, he can blame it on the water temp.
“If you say so, Mr. Screwllum, but I will be not offended or think less of you if you want to go sit in an actual chair.” Screwllum laughs lowly, leaning forward to press his face into Veritas’s hair.
“I am happy where I am, dear one. Now, enjoy your bath.”
A comfortable silence falls between them after that, Screwllum’s fingers gently moving over his back and forth, back and forth, in the warm water. They don’t say anything, merely bask in each other’s presence while Veritas warms up.
He wonders to himself if this is what love truly is—contentness.
But, as is their lives, that silence does not last.
Screwllum’s phone dings in that tone that Veritas knows is a message from one of the Academies and—
By the way Screwllum’s head shoots up from his phone and how he turns to look toward the covered window in the large bathroom, Veritas knows just one thing.
“I have to go back outside, don’t I?” Screwllum turns back to him, eyes flickering and nodding.
“Yes, you must. It has just been confirmed.”
He groans, already missing the warm bath he is still currently in. However, for the sake of Erudition, he sits up and moves to rise from his bath.
“Very well. Give me a minute to get ready and we will go investigate.” He really doesn’t want to head back into that cold cold weather, but for Screwllum and the Screwllumites, he will.
For the first frost has finally settled on Planet Screwllum.
(He foolishly hopes that means that the weather will change to slightly warmer temperatures, but he has no doubt they will keep it low.
At least he can look forward to more hot baths.)