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[ughhhh he's dying, help. Rover makes him feel too damn lucky, saying just the right things to put him at ease and to please, and he can't stop himself from grinning like a damn fool.]

...Guess there's really only one way to find that out, huh?

[Rover doesn't even have any idea what they're doing, honestly. They're just saying what they think.

They're glad they can make him smile, though.]

Yeah. So...When is Thanksgiving, anyways?

[and that's why Mav stans one (1) robot.]

Uh. Fourth Thursday of the month, so... 28th, this year. It's pretty late.

[...]

...Why is it on a Thursday?

[...]

...Look, Skynet, the real fucking question is "why are we still celebrating that time these pilgrim fucks invaded native lands and gave them a shitton of diseases before finding more obvious ways of genocide".

[MAMA JUST LIKES THE FOOD]

[...]

...I thought holidays were supposed to be about good things. Not genocide.

[They're so confused.]

Yeah, and then there's Columbus Day.

[Mav learned how that was bullshit right away, thanks Ramona for not standing for that crap.]

We've taken artistic liberties over the years.

Columbus Day?

[What's with all these weird holidays!!]

What's the point in doing all of that? I mean, I know this shit happened forever ago, but...

Capitalism, mostly.

[this is great pillowtalk]

But also the food.

[Their face scrunches up in confusion.]

There's food on Columbus Day too?

Oh. Nah, that’s one’s more white colonialism.

[humans are dumb]

Right...

[...]

No offense but these holidays sound kind of terrible.

Hey, I didn't invent 'em.

[They would be way cooler if he'd been in charge of making them. Obviously.]

I kinda just focus on the whole making Mama happy and spending time with people I fucking care about. This year it's...more than just her. So...

Yeah, they'd probably be better if you had.

[Rover beams at him, leaning forward to give him a quick kiss.]

Hey, I'm happy to spend time with you and your mom. Even if I won't be able to taste the food in time.

[Rover might be content with a quick one, but Maverick's following those words with several more, lingering a little before he noses along their cheek and sighs happily. Including Ramona without a grimace or bat of an eye is another easy way to his heart, apparently.]

Yeah... [ehhh and just so it won't be a surprise, even if it feels like the invitation loses the impact a bit,] Um, I'm inviting a few other people, too. Friends and sorta-family... And inn guests will be there, just so you know.

How many people? [They laugh softly at the kisses, feeling warm.] And anyone I know?

[ah..........]

I, uh... I don't know who you all know.

[Whoops, there sure is an awful lot they don't know about each other!!!]

I dunno who all fucking will actually come, either. I mean, it's a free fucking meal, but it ain't like Thanksgiving is actually a thing for most people... So I guess we'll find out?

[And in a few days, after his conversation with Akechi, he'll debate furiously with himself over whether or not to explain one of the guests is his ex, because it's not like they're anything but awkward friends now, right...]

It's...not that many people, admittedly.

[Arguably, the only person they really know is Rex, who they're pretty certain would take any excuse for a free meal.

But they don't know about Maverick and Rex yet.]

I guess we will. I'm sure more people will come then you're expecting. People like you, Mav.

[They say it completely sincerely. Sure, Maverick can be abrasive, but...He got them to like him. Rover's pretty sure just about anyone would like Maverick.]

[The sincerity is killing him, and he's both flattered and doubtful. It isn't like they know what kind of people he hangs out with, or what people really think. Just...what they think. What they think is good enough, really, when he's here next to them and feeling the warmth of their body, hearing the sweetness of their words. Everyone else, who cares? Not him right now.

Sort of like how he knows he should shower, just in case, and how he should really fucking buy some actual lubricant, but he just wants to stay here beside them.]

I think you're biased... [He sounds charmed, though, for sure. And,] They're gonna like you, too.

[ha]

[Rover has no reason to think people wouldn't like Maverick. What they know about Maverick is what they've seen, and...what they've seen is someone openhearted and sweet.

So they're totally biased.]

Being biased doesn't mean I'm wrong.

[And of course they're going to be liked. They're amazing and not at all antagonistic or rude.]

And I hope they do.

[Hey now, he didn't say that. Rover is absolutely a rude little shit of a robot that covered insecurities by leaning into what confidence they already had. But, you know, of someone likes Maverick, then why wouldn't they like this little gremlin, too? It's a natural conclusion, in his opinion.]

Pffh. Even if you didn't make me so fucking happy, you're funny, interesting, an incorrigible flirt... You just say what you think, no bullshitting around. It's refreshing as fuck. What's not to like? You're fucking great.

[It's okay to be wrong.

They feel embarrassed at his words - it's a good thing they can't blush, or that would be a dead give away for just how those words make them feel.]

Yeah. I am pretty fucking great. [They shrug one shoulder.] But I think most people should just say what they think. It'd make things easier.

[His partner is dorky and good... With a soft chuckle, he kisses at that shrugged shoulder.]

Yeah. Probably.

[people are kind of bullshit... Maybe he wouldn't mind if Rover wasn't a "people", as long as he gets what he already has -- this contentment from pulling them against his body and nuzzling in. People lie even when they don't say anything, and they hurt others... It's hard to know all of a person. He might not know much about Rover, but it's hard to imagine them betraying him like he's been betrayed before, and he's already been promised all of them. Whatever the hell they are... Things feel easier, next to them.]

Only probably?

[They say it with mock offense, with no idea what Maverick's thinking of. It's probably better that they don't know. They couldn't handle it, knowing someone thinks of them so highly. They wouldn't feel like they deserve it - after all, they've done hardly anything.]

More like definitely! I've watched human things, you know, and it always seems like things would be easier if people talked.

[Do dramatic, tearful romances count as research?]

[This faux indignation is charming, which he's pretty sure makes him an absolutely disaster, but oh well.]

Human things, huh? Descriptive. Like what?

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