yesterdaystomorrow | Walter Girl B's Room of Scientific Discovery and Kitty-Cat Cuteness

A heck of a lot better, and it was probably for the best to dispose of those things. Get rid of the heavy air that hung around the door, keeping them from even speaking of the room's existance-

This was a much better use of the space.

That may have been a slight twitch to the corner of his mouth, that hat of his being tilted just right, "Could use some fresh air myself." Lead the way he did, careful going through the door and letting the door close behind them softly. Jingling with every step; the twitches and winces weren't noticable, learning to live with the sound and where it was coming from. "Maybe head towards the park. Nice this time of day after all."

"I don't think I've ever visited the park without the occasion of you and your brothers performing together." Still not releasing The Spine's arm from her gentle grip as the pair maneuvered carefully through the various doorways to the beautiful outside, a jingle from the robot and a rustle of poofy skirt fabric against a rough petticoat every step of the way.

"It would be nice to see it with just you." As much as she adored the entirety of the Walter family, it always was quite the circus whenever the entire household loaded up to move the automatons and their equipment to the park. Far more stressful an affair than B would ever admit to, what with how The Jons ran amuck and had to be kept in line and how Rabbit would try to get out of carrying his things, preferring to try to sneak his 'dog' along with them instead. It usually always ended in some small bickering and high tension and sometimes shouting, even if all of it was released almost automatically the moment that the robots were thrust on stage, into their element, charming the crowd of curious spectators.

But it still made the whole thing a bit of a headache for B, so taking the time to get out and see the park without the bickering and scampering of a handful of childish automatons? Just her and The Spine?

So much better.

"I still haven't had too much time to get around and see much of the city yet. Maybe you could give me a small tour. Just of the places nearby. We don't have to go far out of the way."

Edited 2013-06-05 03:47 (UTC)

A hand rested very lightly against the arm that was around his own once they were outside. It was a beautiful day with just a few clouds streaked out across the sky -there might be rain by evening- and the breeze was cooling.

If The Spine had needed to breathe, he might have actually taken a deep breath as he stood there still for just a moment. How many weeks had it been since he stepped out that door with the intent of leaving their yard? Let alone going past the gate. There with Brianna at his side, "I wouldn't mind at all to take you on a little sight seein', good bit to see on the way after all," and you never knew what might be different with how certain roads and buildings moved about between here and there.

With another hiss of steam he set off for the sidewalk just outside of the gate, offering to let B through first-

"Wouldn't be out of the way at all."

Whether the woman knew of the reason for his minor hesitation or not in leaving the Walter property or not, B was understandingly quiet and still at the silver man's side until he was guiding her through the gate into the city where their afternoon adventure together would take place.

And when they finally crossed that threshold that The Spine hadn't taken a single step out of for some weeks now? The hand on his arm would be falling away, the woman's encouraging touch gone but only for the briefest of moments, until her palm was pressed against his instead, slim fingers interlacing with The Spine's own metal digits.

"I'd really appreciate it. I've heard a few stories from Alice and The Jons about the many different shops and restaurants and markets that are around, but, with all that's been happening and attempting to get everyone new settled in, I just haven't found the time to investigate all on my own yet."

Fingertips rested against the brim of his fedora, tilting it downwards for a moment to hide the brightening of optics at the feel of her hand against his. Careful of how he curled his fingers with her's in that interlacing, the touch more than welcomed -it was easy to forget how inappropriate it was, they weren't in San Diego. Wasn't 2013. None of that mattered for the moment.-

"Well Miss Brianna, we've got the time right now." It couldn't hurt, he needed to get out of the house, and having the Walter Girl at his side just brought a smile to those black-tinted lips. "Might not know my way around all that much, but I do know of a few places that might interest you."

Once they were out of the neighborhood, at least. What with the change of seasons it didn't look so dreary, the plants that had overtaken a few buildings a healthy green, flowering vines hanging off others and wrapped around fences. It was rather beautiful in a 'nature taking back' sort of way.

Walter Girl B had never lived through any time period outside of the modern society that she was used to back in San Diego, and even studying history and the Victorian period back in school never would have prepared her for the society she had now been so abruptly thrust into. Everything on her character would likely be seen as indecent by most of the city resident's standards - the short, odd-colored hair, the length of her skirt and the amount of leg she was showing (stockings or no), the even odder-colored lipstick that was anything but natural… Not to mention her lack of headwear, which was so important a piece to show status and place in society.

Throw in the clasped hands and physical closeness to the automaton she was strolling with and B was likely to receive quite a few curious glances from those they passed and a few womanly glares as well considering how those shapely legs were on display.

Perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad thing to take the Walter Girls out into the city and buy them a few pieces of period-appropriate attire. Just to keep the Walter family from gaining an even more wild reputation than it already was gaining. Considering their uniform appearance and the shortness of their dresses, it probably wouldn't be too much of a stretch for others to think of B and her fellow WGs as some kind of exotically-outfitted escorts, always seen in the family's employee.

Yes, it would be worth it to put out some money on a shopping trip to keep the stares they were getting to a minimum.

When his fingers curled around hers, B was leaning in, playfully resting her head against the part of his arm that she could actually reach, fluttering those thick lashes his way while barely able to keep the amused giggle out of her tone, that smile still dripping honeyed sweetness. "Really? What do you have in mind? Or is it a surprise?" Oh, that was definitely some excitement there. Don't disappoint, The Spine.

Oh, he'd already hate to dissapoint, and that face doesn't help at all B. Or the closeness. That was not a whistle of steam escaping either as optics were still glowing brightly in the shadow of his fedora's brim. No sir, none of that was going on, he would deny it to the end.

"Probably ain't somethin' all that special, Brianna." Aww, someone learned to drop the 'Miss' when it was just the two of them, "Do know of a shop that sells some sweets along the way we're goin' to the park. Make it all in shop and have places people can watch them do it." Some people liked watching that, right? He knew Alyss talked about the place a lot, would bring home a large bag every now and again she'd share. The Spine wasn't all that sure about how much of a sweet-tooth B had, but even he had to admitt it was a sight to watch people handmake candies.

As if B was in the habit of teasing him over little things like that. That was far more Rabbit's territory.

And really, for every hiss of steam or brightening of optics that The Spine had experienced around her, the woman in question had blushed herself red in his presence and stumbled over her own words at least twice as much. So there wasn't a thing to worry about. No embarrassment to be had with this particular Walter Girl.

The lack of 'Miss' at the beginning of her name had the woman's soft smile beaming just a bit brighter up to the 'bot. "Really? Oh, I'd love that. Everything back home is so-" Carefully, because B was always careful with her words. 'Fake' sounded too harsh, even if it was so very true. "-Manufactured. It'll be a delightful change to enjoy homemade sweets." Homemade was always better. "Maybe we can even bring back a bag for-..."

At her abrupt pause, there was a softly spoken 'oh' from the woman before B was still and quiet at the tall, silver automaton's side. And if he were to look to her and follow that green gaze of hers to what B was now so transfixed upon...

That would be a small pet shop there. And that would be kittens pawing at the front window. Oh.

Manufactured, packed full of artificial things that couldn't be all that good for any human to ingest. Dyes and sweeteners made from who knows what, making snack foods and all of that all the more unhealthier for those that ate them. Really, it was a good thing the automatons didn't need to eat to keep themselves running.

Before he could answer he had caught where B's gaze had drifted, head having been tilted from the abrupt stop, brow raised for a moment.

Oh. Even he knew Brianna had a weakness, and liking, of cats. Kittens in a window catching her attention was no surprise at all. The Spine looked over the shop itself, and so far no one inside had made to look closed when they were passing by, or had noticably stopped-

"Would you like to go inside and look?"

A liking of cats was a bit of an understatement when it came to B. The matching cat collars that she'd picked up for her three silver automaton companions should really have been hint enough of that.

At the 'bot's suggestion, B's much smaller hand tightened considerably around his far more powerful one, a soft, elated noise spilling from blue lips, which were suddenly pressing together firmly, as if to keep her excitement and need to coo gently at fuzzy creatures deep down inside. But he was offering - sweet, sweet man - and those green eyes met with The Spine's again, sparkling and hopeful.

"You don't mind? I wouldn't want to change our plans or drag you around to places you wouldn't like to go, but-.."

He hoped that his smile was encouraging and reassuring, "I don't mind, and it's on the way, right?" This was to let her see things along the way after all, and there couldn't be any harm in it. From what he could see the shop was probably clean enough for a pet shop, messy as all animals could be. Even starting to walk again as he caught the door and opened it, gesturing for her to go inside first.

It was nice that those within didn't look all that displeased, just curious. He could deal with curious looks over the others that could've been directed their way.

"Wouldn't be changin' plans at all, just addin' to them."

It was too late, The Spine. You've lost B forever now to another man.

The moment that the door was so politely held open for her and the pair were walking inside, B was shooting the shop owner a small smile and immediately skipping over to the kittens that she'd seen pawing so desperately at the window.

"Oh!" That elated noise said it all really. "You sweet things! Aren't you just the cutest?" Of course the playful kittens would bound over to bask in that sweet attention, meowing out the tiniest, most pathetic of mewls that had ever been heard.

Edited 2013-06-05 22:48 (UTC)

While B made a bee-line for the kittens, The Spine was giving the shop itself a look over when the door was closed behind him. Sure a few people already inside the small shop had stopped and stared, maybe one customer left a bit too quickly once he wasn't infront of the door, but otherwise it didn't look like the presence of either of them would cause any trouble.

It was a relief, steam hissing from vents as he did still jingle while moving carefully. Didn't want to knocked over or rattle any sort of cages.

He was fine watching Brianna in the kittens an not getting in the way of anything. No need to get anyone upset for any reason, right? Right.

After that slight startle of seeing a giant automaton walking into his shop of all places, the owner was fast to shuffle to the petite woman's side, giving her robot friend a small smile before his attention was fixated on B and the three kittens she was cooing so sweetly over. It was a darling sight to see, the way the felines reacted in kind to that honeyed tone of hers when speaking to them, the genuine love in her tender look back downwards to the cats.

It wasn't any surprise at all that when he reached inside and carefully pulled out the smallest of the bunch - a bundle of grey fuzz adorned with black stripes and familiar markings - and handed the feisty creature over to B, that the cat and the woman bonded almost instantly at that initial touch. It was difficult to tell who was more happy at the introduction - the kitten with it's powerful, engine-like purring and affectionate nuzzles to B's face or the woman who was cooing and 'ahhh'ing all over, all the while cuddling the kitten closer and closer to her chest.

The Spine could likely see already that it was going to be very difficult to separate these two now.

"Look at him, Spine, isn't this just the sweetest face you've ever seen?" Oh, that would be B giggling adorably as a tiny, pink, sandpaper tongue touched the tip of her nose.

B was already in love.

The smile caught The Spine by surprise of course, but not enough that he didn't offer a small one in return to the man with a tip of his hat. Wasn't a bad stop at all, and it was good not to face the sort of thing he was expecting from a shop and it's owner. There were a few that'd go as far as to close up while some only refused services; a few were rude but would serve so long as the money was had.

... Kitten wasn't gotten be left when they went out of the shop, was it. It would have been difficult to miss the look B was giving it and the way the kitten was acting in return.

Of course he inched closer when addressed so he could look as directed, "Sure is, Brianna." Nope, clearly the kitten was going to have to come with them, wasn't it.

She moved to hold out the purring feline towards her companion, closing the distance between them even further- "And feel how furry he is! I don't think I've ever held a kitten this soft before." When he was gently moved closer to the automaton, the bright-eyed cat's pink nose gave a sniffing wiggle before his interest in the metal man seemed to ignite. A tiny, jellybean-padded paw was wiggling out of Brianna's grip to swipe playfully at the robot, to get ahold of the man with such a strange smell.

There was a deep, amused chuckle from behind the pair at that.

The shop keeper had been watching, more out of curiosity of the couple than fear for his animal, and even after a few moments together, he could see how difficult it would be pry the small woman away from her newfound furry love. Which was precisely why an unusual offer was placed upon the Walter Girl and her automaton - "Why not take him home then? For free. It's the very least I can offer after havin' heard the beautiful music that you-" A polite nod to The Spine at that. "-make. My wife and I haven't danced that way in years. Please, take him. He needs a good home and I can tell you'll be very good parents to him."

B's expression fell. "Oh, we couldn't possibly," more than just a tinge of disappointment in the woman's tone, clutch on the kitten only growing a little tighter despite her words. "There-...There isn't enough room back home. We don't have the space..."

Which was true. Rabbit already brought home more pets than they could manage. B could never overstep the boundaries there. The Walters were already so very sweet to give her both a job and a place to live.

Why did cats have this weird liking of him?

Of course the kitten was offered a finger to swipe and paw at, very carefully, so that it could better investigate his scent. He couldn't really feel fur, but he could tell if something was soft or not in some small way, and that little paw certainly felt soft-

The offer was really unexpected, causing him to freeze up for a moment after he'd lifted his head to look the man's way with somewhat brightened optics. A fan who'd caught them playing in the park? A fan from the park that enjoyed their music and was offering to just give the kitten...- "The critter's small enough that it wouldn't do any harm," he heard that tone, caught how her expression had fallen, "Enough room for such a little addition.

"Can manage just fine and the little thing is already attached to you, Brianna." What was he doing.

After his inspection of The Spine, the striped kitten was right back to curling and nuzzling sweetly up at B, demanding her sweet attention and not liking the way her gaze was currently zoned in on the robot instead of him. Little did he know, it was that robot himself who was vouching for the cat to come home with them.

"Really?" Even if he'd just given her the go ahead on bringing the kitten home, the woman did have to pause and make certain. It was just too much in her nature to not double check.

"You really don't think Colonel Walter would mind?" The last thing she'd ever want to do would be to upset the automaton's father and lose the respect that had been growing there. "I don't want to step on any toes. Your family means so much to me."

"Really, and he won't mind at all," or notice untill the kitten ran across him, "You're helpful 'round the house, something he appreciates, and it wouldn't hurt to have the kitten around at all." They somehow managed, and it wasn't like they were spending money on feeding that 'dog' of Rabbit and Alyss'.

Feeding the cat wouldn't be all that much trouble. It was small, and couldn't eat all that much. Right?

"Can pick out a collar for him," the owner given a glance since he'd be paying for that, along with picking up one of those small bags of food for it while Brianna was off doing that.

Before the automaton would have the chance to react, Brianna was stepping forward with the kitten in her careful grasp, stretching up to the very tippy top of her dainty feet, before a soft kiss was being pressed there. While she had meant to aim for her lips to leave their mark chastely against his silver cheek, the woman's aim was slightly off, leaving that kiss to land at the corner of his black-lipped mouth instead.

Retreating immediately, the woman far too excited with the cuddly ball of fur in her arms to be embarrassed for once, gave the automaton and the shop keeper a sweetly enthusiastic 'Thank you!' before she was skipping off to look at the small selection of collars that would fit a kitten of this small size.

Well, it appeared as if this day was turning out in both of their favors.

If that kiss didn't put a stupid sort of smile on The Spine's face, nothing ever would.

It had, a bit of steam escaping after as he took a moment to simply stare after Brianna before making a sound of clearing his throat. He turned to the shop owner then and went back to the counter with him to get the small bag of catfood to start off with -it was a young cat after all, it ould take much and it would have to be wettened anyway. it'd last- and pay for whatever collar the Walter Girl picked out. Of course he insisted on paying for that much, free kitten or no.

He'd wipe off the mark of lipstick in a moment or so, couldn't go back out with it on much as he likely would.

When B returned at her automaton's side - kitten now curled up and somehow managing to nap against her, tiny head rested against the woman's chest - the Walter Girl was adding a very familiar looking pale pink collar to the catfood for the shop owner to ring up. Considering just how snug the tiny cat was in her hand, the Walter Girl was able to free one of her palms, so that it could slip back down and, once again, intertwine with an affectionate squeeze with that silver hand.

"Thank you so much again, Spine." What had started out as a sweet trip out into the city was definitely turning into something better.

By then The Spine had tugged a bit of cloth from an inner pocket to subtly wipe away the mark on metal away, and tucked it back again, offering Brianna something of a bashful smile, "Ain't gotta thank me, but you are welcome all the same Brianna." It was the kindness of the shop owner after all, and knowing the Colonel probably wouldn't mind a little kitten added to the list of animals.

Once the food and collar was paid for he took the small bag offered to carry the items in, parting with a tip of his hat and B's hand in his as he guided her and the little kitten out.

Somehow, with The Spine's strong hand in hers and a lovable, darling kitten purring at her chest, the warm sunshine of the day only seemed brighter than the few minutes earlier when they'd initially stepped into the shop. The city itself appeared more charming and agreeable to Brianna as the pair moved onwards from the cute pet shop, The Spine looking even more handsome than usual when he smiled so contentedly at her like that. Yes, the Walter Girl couldn't help but think as the woman and her automaton moved back on track to the scheduled stop at the candy shoppe, a soft, truly beaming smile stuck up on those blue, full lips -

Maybe there was more to this one-sided affection than she'd ever been so willing to admit to herself.

That kitten was given a kiss to it's head, right beween the ears. "Well, I do want to thank you and I will." A gift. She'd have to pick up something extra wonderful for him later on, while the man in question wasn't there at her side, watching every move she made. Adding the surprise only made gifts that much more fun, after all.

The Spine wasn't so worried about how other shops were suddenly closed as they were passed by, or the stares that were less than friendly after that stop. The young woman's smile was something else, and there was just something more to it simply because he had managed to be the reason she had such a beautiful smile at that moment.

He had it bad, so very bad.

"Gonna have to figure out a name for the little critter." Or he'll just call it Cat. That was alright, right.

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