Work Text:
“DECEMBER 24TH, XXXX.
TO WORKSHOP: SYSTEM
Hey, System!! I know you're not as fond of us anymore, but… Come around for Christmas, will you? We're all sorry for what happened last year, really! We miss you a lot!
DEARLY, WORKSHOP.”
—
Another Invitation.
Another confrontation, maybe.
The letter was gripped tightly in between System's claw, the machinery staring down at the letter with a mix of disinterest and scorn, tempted to rip the paper to shreds with its hook. The paper was already threatening to tear.
Last year’s “reunion” had been a COMPLETE disaster. The group had a long argument about how System “wasn't really” a Christmas Aura. How it shouldn't be included in the Christmas reunions…
The only one who stood up for it was Workshop, which was.. Well, System's sister. They weren't really blood-related due to being machines, but they were created together, so that counts for something.. Right?
System sighed. It felt bad for Workshop.. But, again, it would rather not go. It didn't want another confrontation. The metal spikes inside System clinked against eachother, its head snapping open for a moment as the Aura manually closed it… It was hard to perform things when you were a machine with no arms….
But, eventually, pity took over the Aura.
System readied its things, preparing to head off. It organized a neat little gift for Workshop, and Workshop only; A box full of spare gear and metal, which could be considered the equivalent of handing someone a box of bonbons as a Christmas gift.. But, that was really good enough….
The clock on the warehouse desk flashed red, 11:00 PM. System better mentally prepare itself before tomorrow, otherwise Sol knows what may happen. The Aura found a neat little corner to power off, letting its wires, gears, and “hollow” insides rest for a moment.
—
December 25th.
The sun rose harshly, feeling sickening warm despite the snow everywhere.
System powered back up, looking at the clock: 2PM. Time to head out.
It used its claw to grab the gift for Workshop, before opening the door of the warehouse with its hook.. As it exited the warehouse, it didn't forget to slam the door shut…..
—
The walk to the gathering felt like willingly walking right to the very edge off a cliff. But, there they all were.
Winter Garden, Frostveil, Snowball, Gingerbread, Present, Wonderland, Dream Traveler, Workshop.. Etc. Everyaura you'd expect at a Christmas gathering.
As soon as Workshop spotted System, she came rushing, pulling the other Aura into a hug with her own claws, almost making the poor fool drop the gift.
“SYSTEEEEMMM!!!! YOU CAME!!! YOU ACTUALLY CAME!!!!” — Workshop yelled, accidentally grabbing the attention of every other Aura that had gathered around.
System just nodded, pushing Workshop away with its hook for a second, before handing her the gift. It didn't say anything, it didn't really have to.
“Oooh!!! You got me a gift!!! That's so sweet of you!!!”
Workshop opened the gift, giggling to herself as she saw the scrap metal.. She always enjoyed gifts, even if they were as simplistic. She was very optimistic. — “You really know me well, don't you??”
System looked behind Workshop for a moment, noticing how only Winter Garden, Dream Traveler and Present waved to it enthusiastically.. Everyaura seemed rather… Closed off.
Gingerbread waved rather shyly, hiding behind Present; Frostveil seemed rather tense at the presence of System; Every other Aura didn't even bother with a greeting.
System waved back with its claw, hoping no one was in the mood to ruin things..
The organizations weren't quite finished yet. The table was still being set, so System decided to stay a bit further from the general group with Workshop.
—
6 hours. 6 hours is what it took for everyaura to finish setting everything up. The sun was already setting, so a bundle of candles were lit in the middle of the table.
System sat down alongside the others, food was being distributed.. Tho, it didn't get a plate, since it couldn't eat food. It just got a cup of gasoline for its troubles.
The chatter started, it honestly bothered System, but it tolerated the gossip. For Workshop’s sake..
—
Hours passed, many many hours.. It was close to midnight at that point… Nothing had gone wrong yet….
It was time for gift distribution.. Everyaura gathered around the tree.. The gift exchanging was loud and chatty…
Frostveil approached System, handing it what seemed to be a book poorly wrapped in gift wrapping.
“For your troubles.” – Frostveil mumbled out, her voice filled with a mix of tension and something unnerving.
System grabbed the gift with its claw, nodding as a polite way to say “thank you” without speaking. It watched as Frostveil walked away, back into the group, where she seemed so more chattier.
Workshop eventually came by to System's side, looking at him with a glint of hope in her mechanical gaze.
“Thanks for coming.. I really appreciate it.” – Her words were almost a whisper, a lingering fear in her tone.
System stared at Workshop, before speaking up. – “I'm glad things weren't as bad as before.”
Workshop reached with her claw to grab a bag, that had some sort of wrapped gift inside.
“..For you.”
System dropped the book that Frostveil had handed it into the bag, before taking the whole thing from Workshop rather gently for an Aura like itself.
“Thank you, sis.”
—
At around 2AM, System finally arrived back at its warehouse. It was exhausted.
It set the gift bag on its desk, before walking to its usual sleeping corner to power off again… It felt almost.. Glad that it went to the gathering.
It felt.. Happy. Surprisingly.
Eventually, it powered off, finally deciding to drift back into “sleep” until the next April Fool's. It was a nice year. That made it satisfied enough.
—
[ SHUT DOWN? ]
[ Y / N ]
[ Y ]
[ POWERING OFF… ]
[ SHUTTING DOWN….. ]
[ SUCCESS. ]