Don't slip.

With the way he was hurriedly making his way to the teleporter room, anxiously looking around as he went, anyone’d think Pump had changed his mind and decided he didn’t want to live in the fortress after all. Maker, if only it was that simple. No, like an idiot he’d told Wood he’d go with him to prom, and then failed to tell him he was going with Chill instead. He just hadn’t wanted to upset the guy, jeez! Maybe if he wasn’t so sensitive Pump would have considered it, but as it was, his run-in with Metal the other day had left him unwilling to risk making the guy unhappy.

Chill had taken a while to make it there. Unfortunately there were several last-minute delays, not limited to his humans wondering why his work wasn't finished as well as half of his ice- and navy-blue suit needing mending. Chill was very accustomed to more formal attire as he was often used for presentations (it was a kind of novelty to have the robot do the explaining) but this one hadn't been worn in a long time. At least his favorite camera worked. He'd left some of the more expensive lenses at home, naturally; he couldn't imagine what he'd do if they broke and how he would explain that his work equipment needed replacing.

> …Right.

>Alright, Chill, I appreciate that. I guess the city isn’t the only place with clothes shops and things, so it doesn’t really matter where we go.

> I don't get paid. But I have a uh, well a budget, sort of, that's supposed to be used for work-related purchases. I can fudge it, don't worry. I'll... I'll figure it out.

>Tomorrow’s fine, sure. I’ll just, uh… if we’re gonna be in the city, I’ll have to make sure nobody recognises me. I doubt any of the humans would really care and it’s unlikely I’ll see anyone from my old workplace, but I did kinda just go AWOL from my job, so… yeah.

> ...Right.

> Yeah..! Sure. Um.

>Uh… me?

Chill faltered offline, losing track of which layer of ice he was studying out of a core sample. His frame’s heat hiked, sending a warning to the temperature sensors in the room that there was a momentary change, and to check the machines that managed it.

Pump waits a moment for Chill to finish his sentence, but when there’s no further reply he furrows his brows a little in concern.

> No, no. He said yes. I.. Pump. You. You are the person I wanted to ask and you said yes.

>Oh, uh… well if you want me to go with you, I don’t see why not. Guess I kinda owe you after unintentionally ditching you last year, don’t I.

Chill faltered offline, losing track of which layer of ice he was studying out of a core sample. His frame's heat hiked, sending a warning to the temperature sensors in the room that there was a momentary change, and to check the machines that managed it.

I live at King’s, of course. Here.

I