towerofanimus | Turpentine Erase Me Whole

Characters: Rabbit and The Spine and whoever happens to run into either one of them
Setting: Dormitory floors
Format: Starting in prose, will match who shows up!
Summary: Rabbit has just come back from a bad case of being dead. He is not in good shape, and seeks out the only other person who can possibly make him feel better after all of this. Even if he was the one that did it.
WARNINGS: Oil.

The ten minutes where he couldn't move were terrifying. Staring at the ceiling, his arms and legs like dead weights, rapidly pulling air into his bellows and exhaling large clouds of steam into his room. What if he'd been broken for good? What if he'd never be able to move again after this? Serious problems arose from damage like that, and if he'd just been messily slapped back together, he might never regain the use of his legs ever again. It was horrifying.

At long last, he managed to roll out of bed, hitting the floor with a grunt and wildly scrabbling to get to his feet. He was up. He was.... He was alive. It almost felt impossible. Fear still ran through him though. He had to find The Spine. He had to know if he was alright. If he'd hurt anyone else or if he was still malfunctioning. And if he wasn't... Well someone would have to be there for him. Someone would have to help take care of him.

And Rabbit couldn't let things go and never see him again after this. He knew a malfunction when he saw it. He couldn't do that to Spine. He was out in the halls, frantically looking through every room for his brother, rubbing at his neck, and testing out his voice as soon as he was capable.

"S-s-s-spine? S-Spine where are ya?! Spine!"

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Had he, now? "Only good things, I hope." Said with a smile to show he was joking. It was a pretty lame attempt, really, but considering the circumstances he deserved points for even trying to make one. The Spine shook her hand with exaggerated care. Rabbit might say there was nothing wrong with him, but he couldn't be so certain himself. "It's an honor, Miss Archibald."

"O-o-only the best things, Spine." He refused to let go of his brother, still snuggled up against him with his arms wrapped firmly around the taller automaton's chest. There was nothing that he could possibly do that would be able to shake the bot from his side at this point.

"He told me you were better with human mannerisms than he was. You did not disappoint."

She doesn't say anything about the two robots being intimate. It is not her business.

"I, uh..." That was quite a compliment, coming from a human. Of course he tried hard with his mimicry, doing his best to correct the inconsistencies of his adaptive programming. He adjusted his tie with a wider smile and gave his brother a light squeeze. Only the best things, indeed. "Thank you kindly."

See Spine, he thinks that highly of you. He squeezed back, just happy for the moment. At least the tears had gone, and it was nice to see his brother smiling after everything that just happened. Of course a comment like that would help lift his spirits.

"Spine's o-one of th' best there is. Ain't n-n-no one quite like him. One o' th' be-best little brothers I ever had."

That would earn a pat on the back, anything to bolster The Spine's mood.

If only Spine knew she was only speaking of his behavior relative to Rabbit's. Having seen, in her opinion, the worst, anything Spine did would only seem more human by comparison.

"I see. Then it is all for the better you two have each other here."

She looks back at Spine.

"I trust you will be able to...regulate some of your older brother's impulses."

Let him live the dream, it's the only thing he has going for him here.

If the circumstances were any different he would have given Rabbit a suspicious glance, suspecting that he had been up to mischief. As it was, the small frown he gave him was doubtful. Yeah, sure, best little brother. It wasn't like he'd killed him or anything.

"Ma'am, if you ever discover the secret to that I'd be obliged if you'd share."

Spine you are the best little brother, he loves you no matter what. Rabbit glanced up at The Spine at the mention of 'regulating' him, and then decided to... casually start tugging on his younger brothers body.

"We-we-well it's been n-nice, but we gotta go now, right, Spine?"

"Unfortunately, I was unable to discover such a method. If you who have lived alongside him for a good portion of your existences cannot do so, then perhaps it does not exist...aside from tying him to a bed."

She steps out of the way, in case Spine and Rabbit wanted to leave.

Oh, was Rabbit tugging on him? The Spine hadn't noticed. Yep. Hadn't noticed at all, his servos hadn't kicked on to keep him balanced or anything.

"I'm pretty sure he'd just chew through the ropes eventually, but thanks for the suggestion all the same."

Oh. Oh you can't say something like that and expect Rabbit not to say anything. Now he has to say something. He paused in his tugging, a devilish grin spreading across his face.

"Unfortunately, Spine ain't re-re-really inta that kinda thing. But we'll ke-keep it in mind."

"...It seems you truly are devoted to causing your mayhem, Rabbit. Perhaps I should be impressed."

Of course, her tone is as dry as can be.

Without so much as a change in expression, The Spine lifted his hand from Rabbit's shoulder and swatted the back of his head.

Gently.

Even so, there was a distinctly metallic clang.

"Don't be, it'll only encourage him." Love you too, bro.

Smack or no smack, Rabbit was cackling like a mad genius, rubbing the back of his head and shaking from head to toe. No he thought it was a great idea!

"I'm the ma-master o' mayhem! I should ge-ge-get an award! King o' shenanigans! G-g-grand pu bah of nonsense!"

Sola-ui throws a pity-filled glance at Spine.

"I suppose it is a relief that you would be a shoe-in for such titles. I only know one person with your type of manic energy."

"Rabbit." The exasperation in his voice was mostly just for show, and chances were the copper automaton would know it. Still, The Spine returned Sola-ui's look with a long-suffering one of his own.

Yes Rabbit knew it was for show, and he squeezed The Spine close to him again, grinning madly. This cheered him up somewhat, it was better than how he was feeling before. He couldn't have been more happy for the distraction.

"Spine."

She gives a very, very faint chuckle looking at them. They, especially Rabbit, almost seem like children.

Turpentine Erase Me Whole

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