"Home" is a shelter from storms

[10_20_15_5_50]

Who: Hiro, Sam, eventually Dirge, ETA: Breakdown
What: Since Hiro has to have somewhere to stay, Sam's helping him get situated.
When: Following this thread
Where: The Hub.
Warnings: Dirge, and predictably, profanity.

From the hall, there was little to distinguish Sam’s apartment. Its door was one among many in the human-scale section of the Hub’s habitation wing, and could’ve easily been exchanged for any of the others found on the third floor. Still, it was Sam’s, and even outside that showed. It was in her ‘here we are’ attitude, and the way she set a shoulder against the doorframe in pausing. Some introduction seemed appropriate, so…

She shrugged, smiling.

“It’s not my house, but all the same? ‘Enter freely, go safely, and leave something of the happiness you bring.’”

That said, she opened the door.

The room it opened onto wasn’t unusual in its design (a kitchenette with a partial wall, the principle living space, one wide window with a decent view, closet, corridor) but it was unusual in its décor---burnished copper covered the floor, the walls, the ceiling, in solid sheets. It wasn’t entirely unbroken, as darkly-varnished branches had been laid across the walls like latticework, and a couple of shaggy rag rugs covered a portion of the floor. A third (green, rust-red, and ochre, like the others) had been thrown over the couch, which was wicker (matching most of the furniture) and more of a stubby settee.

“It was weird enough I fell in love when I found it.”

Comments

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

Which is one reason he's not entirely sure what to think of having humans in his cab. It feels weird, okay?

"Similar to how I do now, just a few shifts in details to fit the new alt."

He's just going to listen to them talk about some old TV show. They didn't have time for shows, just an occasional movie.

[diagnosispuberty]

Hiro probably isn't helping, considering how he can't seem to sit still for five seconds -- first up on his knees, then scooting over to examine the buttons, then straining at the confines of his seatbelt to elbow Sam playfully.

"Sounds laaaaaame. Why couldn't the show just be about the AI? I woulda watched that." He's half-teasing, but you must remember that his impression of the 80's is similar to Sam's impression of the 50's -- basically ancient history.

Then, to the general space that serves as Breakdown: "Why trucks? I mean, if you visited places other than Earth, why do you look like Earth vehicles?"

[10_20_15_5_50]

The third time Hiro ventured into the broad seat's no-man's-land to attempt an elbowing, Sam was ready, and seized the little menace under an arm so as to hold him in place. For what? Noogies. Breakdown had almost undoubtedly gotten more than he'd bargained for by agreeing to escort the two organics, but that 'more' at least included an opportunity to observe (and interact with) human beings---plural!---when they weren't being assholes, as in the first twenty minutes of most horror movies.

(...or as in MECH, which was another sort of horrorshow entirely.)

"Real talk? The show was basically about the AI. He was the real star, but I suppose they had to have a face man to actually go into places and talk to people without broadcasting 'hey, something's up!'" Despite the teen in her hands, and despite the expected protests, Sam's tone remained conversational. After a moment more, she released Hiro and readied for immediate retaliation.

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

Have a cab wobble by way of shrug. "We didn't look like Earth vehicles until we got to Earth. We did have vehicle forms though. They work in all kinds of environments."

OMG YOU TWO!! STOP SQUIRMING THAT FEELS SO WEIRD!! It was a good thing he found these two amusing, because wow it felt odd to have these kids squirming on his seat.

"Sounds interesting." Yeah, he's bracing too for more squirming.

[diagnosispuberty]

That cab wobble comes at a fortunate time, because Hiro was absolutely about to attack Sam with his patented slime attack (which involves copious amounts of drooling on the nearest body part of his opponent). But the cab-shrug throws him off, and instead he just flails around a little, sliding across the seat and against the door when Sam releases him.

"We should do that for next movie night," he suggests, conversationally. "Robots and explosions and stuff."

[10_20_15_5_50]

As gross as it was, the patented slime attack would've proven surprisingly ineffective---accustomed to evaluating blood, tears, and vomit in terms of magical oomph, and inured to the horrors of karaoke night closings, Sam was not a woman easily grossed-out. She was one pragmatic enough to wipe any drool off on Hiro's hoodie, and would've.

"Fairly interesting, yeah. And sure, if we can find something of the sort." The adept offered Hiro a small shrug. "I have found a portable DVD player, but I haven't taken a TV, or so many shows."

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

Breakdown finally pulls up to the warehouse and stops, popping his doors open for them to get out. "We can look for whatever you want." And he'll make sure Dirge lets go of it.

[diagnosispuberty]

Hiro is this close to bugging Sam some more, but then they're pulling up to the warehouse at last, and he's out of his seatbelt and bounding out the door within seconds.

"Got any can openers? The oldschool kind. I need the wheels." The little wheels are good for making tiny robots walk or blenders.

[10_20_15_5_50]

"Can openers? Really?" Sam huffed a little laugh before stepping down from Breakdown's running boards, offering the 'Con a "Thank you," while she went. "What about your bedding, buddy? What about your bed?"

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

Once they’re out he transforms and stands, waiting for them to be ready to head into the warehouse. He’s all serious business now; this is what he’s here for, to protect them should Dirge show up while they’re gathering what Hiro needs.

[diagnosispuberty]

Hiro is already a good twenty feed ahead of the other two, suddenly excited by the idea of stuff and gadgets and other fun things. He'll turn around to walk backwards so Sam and Breakdown get the full effect of his eyeroll.

"Right, right, bedding too, whatever."

[10_20_15_5_50]

"Bedding and furnishings for your room and y'know, the stuff you will need right away, or which we will have a hell of a time hauling on our own." With a little effort evident, Sam caught up to the teen. "Can openers and the other crap we can carry easy---which you won't need tonight or tomorrow---can wait a little while, unless we conveniently come across it."

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

Breakdown will easily pass Hiro and is careful to make sure he steps in first, looking around. He’s just gonna be the silent shield now, kids. Go about your business, he’ll make sure you stay safe.

[diagnosispuberty]

Thank goodness for Breakdown, because as soon as Hiro worms his way past the nearest enormous robot leg, he's off like a shot to investigate (read: touch) everything he can.

"Woaaaah, this place is great! Any top-secret alien technology hidden here?"

[10_20_15_5_50]

'Thank goodness for Breakdown' summarized Sam's thoughts---she sighed (though she didn't sigh straight-faced) and followed Hiro, arms crossed. "Probably somewhere, though how secret any of it actually is is iffy. We wanna go this way, though. At least for our first foray." The adept pointed, exasperated and amused in equal parts.

"C'mon."

[dirge]

For a little while at least, there is no sign of Dirge. The warehouse is a very big place, and its possible he just hasn't noticed the newcomers yet.

In actuality, the clone has indeed noticed them. As soon as they entered, a little communications drone has been silently following them a couple of rows back. Now it approaches the trespassers, floating up in front of them and playing a message.

"I hope you're not here to try and steal from me."

Its Dirge's voice, but no video and thus no clue as to where he actually is.

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

Breakdown regarded the drone with a flat look. “We’re not here to steal from you, we’re here to pick up some supplies from the warehouse. As it’s open for anyone to come get what they need.” The last is said with a pointed look. You gonna cause problems? Hm?!

[diagnosispuberty]

Hiro, on the other hand, pokes his head out of a pile of mattresses and interjects -- "Yeah, we're here to steal all your stuff! Wanna fight about it?"

Hiro, no. Sam, do something about him.

[10_20_15_5_50]

Sam stopped. At the sight of the drone, she'd started a queerly-conversational "Son of a bitch," but it broke down to become a darkly-muttered (and yet, almost incredulous) string of Quebecois cursing at Hiro's impractical cheek.

"Osti d'épais de marde et simonaque et saint-siboire...!" She'd believed herself to be bad for beakin' off---once, and now, no more. "We are not. That is twice today you've set about misrepresenting me, man. Not cool."

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

Breakdown growled, attention shooting to Hiro for a moment. "Stuff it, kid." He enjoyed a good fight, but he was here protecting to squishable organics, and having a fight near them worried him. Amazing how that happened.

He turned back to the drone. "We're not stealing, Dirge. The entire contents of the warehouse doesn't belong to you."

[dirge]

"Wrong! Everything here is mine. I have claimed it," Dirge's voice informs them from the drone.

"My only agreement was to allow friends of mine to take from here. And I'm afraid that none of you three fit the bill."

Is that....the sound of jet engines?

"So yes.... I think I do want to fight about it."

And suddenly the huge glass window above them shatters, hit by the full force of Dirge's jet mode, lasers firing at the ground below, nosecone pointed directly at Breakdown.

[diagnosispuberty]

This is what the experts call an "oh shit" moment.

It's both maddening and adorable that Hiro's first reaction is to grab Sam and hightail it out of there, the way he would with a certain marshmallowy robot from his homeworld. At least he's thinking about people other than himself? Even if this entire situation is sort of his fault?

[10_20_15_5_50]

The instant after Hiro seized her and started to move, Sam (being bigger, heavier, and significantly stronger) took hold of the teen to haul him behind a shelf, so that they'd both be somewhat sheltered by 'Dirge's' stuff. They stopped there---for a sentence. "Not the open aisles, not unless we're cutting across." It seemed safe, so she did just that, Hiro having no say in the matter as she still had her hold.

"The less we're seen, the safer we'll be, barring what shit they knock into or over. Cause of that, we've got to get clear. C'mon."

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

Breakdown shifts, shielding his charges as they run for cover, growling as pain punches into his armor from the shots. As soon as Sam and Hiro have ducked out of immediate sight, Breakdown is on his feet, his own blaster popping up from his shoulder to fire back.

"Since that's the way you wanna play it..."

[dirge]

[Fire from Breakdown's shoulder mounted weapon pings off Dirge's nosecone, fouling his headlong rush by a few degrees. The teal jet switches at the last moment to robot mode, claws out and ready to latch on when he collides with Breakdown.

Meanwhile....the little drone that just announced their doom? It's still following you Sam and Hiro. Meaning Dirge knows exactly where you are.]