"The two spent many days together. Now and again they'd visit the village below for supplies and festivals. To disguise the origin of her scars, they'd simply say she'd had an automobile accident. Mata would say it was a bodily prosthetic due to an allergy. Convenient enough. they would spend their days collecting knowledge and enjoying each other's company. For however long they have, it was peaceful. "

"I see you're done with you're Frankenstein fic." A fully intact Mache said, looking over the bot's shoulder. 

The house was far more modern, futuristic even. The room held a canopy bed, and light brown wooden furniture with warm light flooding through the warm curtains. Mata huffed, turning his chair to face her. "It's not a fic, it's an inspiration , a homage even. But not a 'fic', as you so crudely put it."

Mache looked at him, face straight. "Whatever you say." She casually walked over and sat in his lap, turning the chair to the laptop screen, ignoring Mata's protest. 

"It's not finished yet!" He practically squealed in dismay, but he didn't have the heart to kick her out of his seat. He took his metal hands and tried to cover the screen from her. "I don't know how to end it!"

Mache just scoffed and swatted his hands away. "Oh, let me read! You usually get me to be your editor so let me do my job!"

Mata relents with a huff. His hands drop to his sides as he sits back , defeated. Mache readjusts in his lap as she cheerily swings her legs and skims over the text. After a few minutes of humming she finally turns her head to look to him. Smiling softly. 

"This one's kinda morbid, but sweet. I like it. Nine point five out of ten, not enough smut."

"Deducted points over no smut. Wow. Last time you took off more because I added it." He said, crossed.

Mache shrugged. "It lacked your usual intimacy! Anyway, I liked this creature and scientist story. It's weird but it's no where near as weird as the avian and aquatic species story you made. Now that one was wild. I'll never looked at pearls and shells the same way again…" she said, with a thousand yard stare. Mata just rolled his optics. 

"Oh stop, you liked that one." He huffed. She nodded. 

"Besides the pearl and shell thing, true. But that's not the win you think it is. I like weird couples. Unconventional romances, if you will. Legitimately eldritch horror with human , even. Not that basic humanoid elf x human dollar store stuff. I might like your work but it doesn't stop it from being weird, love." She said, taking both hands on either side of his face and rubbing then before giving him s quick peck before letting go and relaxing like before.

Mata had a look of surprise for a good five seconds before he crossed his arms with a furrowed brow. It made Mache's smile grow wider. "Well, you got me there. I was inspired by the idea of an aquatic being loving a air bound one. And I got a little invested in how they worked around the complications of their relationship. Kinda reminds me of us, except you're more land bound , but fleshy land mammal and aquatic metal alien still works. I guess?"

"So your stories are fantastical spins on our lives? Makes sense. I figured but wanted you to admit it."she said grinning. 

"Not all of them." He said, seeming mildly offended. "But a significant number, yes. Most of them unintentional." Was his flat response.

"I get it, humans do it all the time. I think most of our creations are influenced by what we experience in our day to day lives. It helps to change the characters names and features, if you want to distance your story from it's inspiration. But now I'm curious." She pointed to the computer screen. "What inspired this one, then?" She raised a brow, "-and why am I the creature and you the scientist?" She asked with a smirk. 

Mata's optics looked to the right of the room, as if seeking a satisfying answer. Shortly after, he shrugged. "I don't know. I started writing this one after you got sick a few weeks ago…and I guess it lead to this train of thought. But I've had the idea for a while."

Mache's brow furrowed this time. "I catch the flu after playing around in the shop and you start fantasizing about bringing me back Frankenstein style?"

"Yep. Pretty much." He said nonchalantly. "I would absolutely break the laws of science to bring you back."

"You're so sweet!" She said, cheeks warm. 

"Didn't help that you kept saying, 'I'm so miserable, I could die'. Which in my defense, has happened."

Mache moved to were her legs and back were supported by the arms of the chair, almost like she was being carried bridal style. She patted his shoulder. "I see. I was absolutely miserable. It couldn't be helped. Still, I didn't think it would be something that worried you this much? It feels like you were coping with it through writing. Which I feel is harmless. I bury myself in my embroidery when I'm worried about you. So I guess we both have a funny way of coping?"

"I mean, I wouldn't describe it as coping, is it coping? I don't know. I almost never see you unwell , but when I did I guess… my mind started to wonder into the 'what if's' scenarios."

"Daaaw, Mata. A flu isn't going to take me out." She said, reassuringly. Mata frowned a bit and held her her a little closer.

"It's not the flu I'm worried about. You aren't as easy to repair as I am. I can come back from being in literal pieces, but you? Too much of a vitamin or mineral can take you out. You've had some close calls. We both have. And I worry about how one day one of us will lose the other. I know you would be okay without me. But a world without you is one possibility I don't want to experience." Mache listened to him. Then leaned her head on his shoulder.

"No, Mata. You will be fine as well."

"I know, I know. Death is just a part of life. I still try not to focus it. I enjoy the time we have together, no matter how long it may be. Sure I've already come to terms with it, but it doesn't make it hurt any less. That's the curse of living such a long time."

"Oh." She said, contemplating his words. She hated seeing him so somber. "I see. Well,we can worry about all that later. How about we enjoy each other a while and go out. At least for now we can get our minds off mortality and all?"

A small smile forms on Mata's face plate. "Yeah, I'd like that. And pick up some medicine because I want you to live as long as possible. Maybe some bubble wrap cus your accident prone. " He said picking her up as he stands from the chair. 

"Only as long as we get some oil for your creaking joints you two-thousand year old baby." She said teasingly. 

Mata gave her a deadpan stare as he advanced to the door. "I told you that in confidence, you uncouth heathen.

"A heathen I be, perhaps I'll be nicer if you tell me what other stories you have in mind."

Mata smiled, "Well I do have an idea for a thread sorceress who gives a fairy their name. Then there's the one where an alien battle suit gains sentience. Or maybe something with a magical girl and her sentient power up? I dunno, I'm experimental."

Mache giggled as they made their way through the door. Both excited to share time together.