Human After All

Archive Log: 09

"Is it customary to play sports at Christmas?"

"Hah, what? No...not that I know of." 

"But apparently baking is?"

"Unless you're lazy and buy shop bought things. But it's never the same as homemade stuff."

"Watching movies of the holiday is?"

"Nothing like furthering any joy and excitement."

David was silent and thinking over this for some time while remaining leaned back against Alma. They had finished the rather quick attempt of a match. She sat down cross legged and he went and sat behind her. Sitting back to back they each had a view of one of the baskets, now motionless from having the ball thrown its way. "So what's the point of this Father Christmas? It seems wrong to have a stranger come into the house to leave presents while you sleep."

"He's actually just someone's parents. He isn't real, David. Just something to tell little children, something for them to believe in and all that."

"Did you believe in him?"

"Of course. What kid hasn't?"

"Even though you knew he wasn't real?"

"I didn't know he wasn't real. Not until I was about eight. Kinda takes all the innocent fun out of Christmas then."

"The thought of him still doesn't seem right."

Alma laughed, "Yeah...yeah I know that." She said and looked around the dimly lit court space. There was only really low lighting on the walls which made the whole place feel gloomy and cold. "Are those bikes over there?" She could distinctly see something chained up and in a line. Squinting through the dark she saw wheels and bike stands. 

David lifted his head up and away from leaning on top of hers. He turned and looked over her shoulder. "Yes."

"What? Seriously why? When are we ever going to think about going for a friendly cycle? When we've landed who knows where? That's if the gravity of wherever is stable and that." David raised an eyebrow and looked down at her. Alma frowned and looked at him, "What?" 

"I think they're more for being used inside, Miss." He stated plainly, she puffed out her cheeks and nodded slowly. He watched her pat her knees and stand. 

Brushing herself down she nodded backwards towards the stationary bikes. "Want to race?"

David smiled and stood up, "You've had eight hours and forty minutes worth of sleep, you have not eaten substantially since waking, to exert more energy than you have would be unwise."  

Alma looked at him with a small frown. "So...if I sleep and actually eat you'll let me on a bike?"

"Perhaps." David narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. 

"I managed to play basketball though!"

"Barely."

"David!" She exclaimed and lightly shoved him on the shoulder. "I'm not the fittest person alive I know that, you could at least humour me."

He tilted his head and shook it slowly, "Giving you false information would be unfair to you, and painful to me." 

"Hm...yeah, I should think lying to me would hurt you somewhat. Not that I want you to be in pain or anything, David." 

"I understand your meaning, Miss."

Alma nodded and looked back to the bikes and then grinned up at him. "You can ride though, right?"