kismet_loop_logs | They say there's nothing new under the sun

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They say there's nothing new under the sun

Who: Hiro, Sam, and anybody else who wants to watch Tremors
What: Watching Tremors ~~and possibly discussing swear words prior to the show~~
Where: The new outdoor theatre in the Northwest
When: Backdated to Thursday night, dusk.
Warnings: Language? Probably language.

The ‘official story’ was simple, if outlandish: Sam had happened across a VHS tape of Tremors (true) while lost (false) in the dense mire of mess which was Hiro’s room. Though the tape had actually been uncovered in the Warehouse, she had no intention of saying so; she didn’t want to wonder if the truth would reach Dirge, or want to deal with the seeker if he heard and, hearing, took it into his head to reclaim the cassette. What she did want was to make good on what she’d said to Jadewing.

’Sometime, we’ll find for you a few decent horror flicks.’

Tremors had turned out to be the first of that few. With luck, and a little---or a lot---of looking, there would be others, and so the whole theatre project had been buttressed by the hope of having more movies. The screen was situated at one side of the clearing Irja had kindly created, suspended between the trunks of two massive trees and braced by branches across its back. (The controls were there, as well, and at two elevations; the human-scale console sheltered in what looked, to Sam, like an ice shack.) A viewing deck had been built opposite the screen, encircling one wide walnut tree at a height which would have any occupants up enough to talk to standing Cybertronians comfortably, without craning. The deck had been outfitted with a ladder, a small collection of mismatched chairs, and (importantly!) a small free-standing fire pit. Two ridges crossed the clearing so that people could park angled up to better see the screen, but the clearing itself was otherwise almost ordinary---and only ‘almost’ on account of its creation.

All things considered, the set-up was pretty sweet.

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Fortunately for all involved, the witch was approaching---and purposefully, though slowed slightly by the hitch in her stride. She closed to a conversational distance with an air of polite concern, holding up her hands to signal settle down and offering Akito a reassuring smile. "It's just that in a lot of places, like everywhere I've lived and the place he's from, it's kind of taboo to go out and about public without something covering this area up." At 'this area,' Sam indicated her own crotch with a wave of one hand.

"Theatres aren't really an exemption, so there's this general expectation attendees will have something on under the equator, which would be why he's surprised. I'm surprised. I'm also thinking I should say: butts are usually covered too." Covering your ass was, after all, important. "And it's also considered kind of taboo to see somebody in such a state of undress, especially when that somebody is of the opposite gender."

"That's... But they're just bodies." Akito knows people wear clothes in public, but always assumed it was mostly for practical and fashion reasons. She only wore pants or shorts during combat training, and that was for protection. The clothes people wore in the doctor's magazines and manga and games were more obscene than nudity, in her opinion.

Then again, for all the textbook knowledge she has... Admittedly not much of it covered societal expectations.

"Would it be better if I was a boy?"

Hiro can't even contribute anymore at this point, just burying his face in his hands and squeaking helplessly. Carry on, Sam.

"Yeah. In some settings that's more openly acknowledged, but 'cover up!' is still one of those sticking societal conventions. I know it's a little weird." Sam shrugged. She'd spoken with Akito while the girl was (probably?) entirely naked, so carrying on a conversation while Akito was half naked wasn't especially awkward. "I'll admit I've wondered 'how the hell am I going to answer if any of the robots ask about the whole clothing thing?' more than once."

'Differently each time' seemed like an appealing option, but this was neither the time nor the place to air that opinion; instead, Sam considered the question carefully.

"....nnnot really? There seems---at least, in my own experience---to be a bit more tolerance for female nudity. But as you can see," she swept a hand towards Hiro, conscience clear as hey, he had his eyes covered, "it still prompts some strong reactions, so I should ask: would you be strongly opposed to a skirt or something?"

Akito continues to look baffled, only now it's mixed with what is clearly guilt and shame. There's no embarrassment because she doesn't see what there is to be embarrassed about, but she should have realized sooner that clothes were mandatory, not optional.

At Sam's gesture, Akito returns her attention to Hiro and - for the first time since this encounter started - blushes before quickly looking back down at her dirty feet. To the woman's question she nods, whispering a tiny, ashamed little "A skirt is okay."

Hiro does not have a skirt on hand, alas. He does have a blanket, which he holds out in one hand, while keeping the other firmly over his eyes, because he's a gentleman til the end.

"P-Plus you might get uh...splinters in...places..."

Well, shit. The theatre's opening night was supposed to be a feel-good occasion, even if its first feature film had a number of people and animals eaten alive, and Sam had tried to avoid any upset in addressing what was technically not even the first pantless attendee. "Akito, kiddo, hey." She set a hand on Akito's shoulder, bending a bit so that they'd be about eye-to-eye when the girl looked up again.

"You don't have to feel bad; it's not that big a deal. Just a mismatch of expectations, which is kind of inevitable when you have people from different places---different times, and places---all dumped in one place without warning or any idea of what they oughtta expect." As she spoke, Sam used her free hand to loose the sleeves of the sweater she'd tied around her waist in anticipation of Haven's cooler nighttime. "So here we are, just... trying to find something that works well enough for everyone. Speaking of which, this might work a bit better than the blanket, if you won't mind standing still for a minute...? I'm going to show you a little something I learned for laundry day."

She nods once again, shifting her posture so that it's easier for Sam to do whatever it is she's planning to. "I was never outside before I was here, so lots of things are weird here... Or rather, I am weird, and everything else is normal."

Hiro will start to peek out from behind his hand, though he keeps his gaze firmly fixed above everyone's waist, just to be safe. "Y-You really aren't that weird?" he offers, still blushing, still holding the blanket up as a sort of shield. "I mean, I've met weirder here."

"Really? ...man..." Sam shoved her surprise aside in favour of attending to the matter at hand, but talked on and she pulled the sweater from around her waist and shook it out. "You gotta let me know if there's any area you want to go exploring in. And just give me a moment, here... and hold this?"

Sam held the shoulders of the sweater up to Akito's midsection, waiting for the younger girl to take hold of the top before zipping the sweater up and as close to 'closed' as it could comfortably come. She then brushed Akito's hands away so that she could tie the sleeves, securing the sweater and ensuring the sleeves would stay out of the way.

"That alright? Not too tight, I hope? And oh, no, no, no, god. No. Everything is weird here." Shaking her head, the adept took a step back to better assess her handiwork, though she looked very seriously to Akito as she spoke. "I've ridden a dragon, I've fought a blender, and giant alien robots make up half my social circle. Everything is weird, here; you're pretty near normal."

"I would like to visit the hot springs someday... There is no ocean, but I would like to find one."

Akito obeys the silent instructions, watching curiously and intently. This is useful knowledge to have, she thinks. "It's fine, thank you. I'm glad that I seem comparatively normal."

And it's true - she really, really is.

Hiro's peeking out now, scrunching his nose thoughtfully at the shirt-dress. "Hot springs? We have a hot springs?"

"We do, and I'd also like to visit them, though I'm not sure exactly where... or why hot springs are the thing that stands out to you." Grinning, Sam brushed a hand over Hiro's hair before crossing her arms and turning her attention back to Akito. "You're welcome! Sweaters aren't exactly idea for makeshift skirts, but I think it works well enough. Regular button-up shirts work better, though, and at some point, we should find you some large men's shirts; tie one the right way, and it'll cover everything you need to have covered to avoid awkwardness."

"They're supposed to be very good for your health!" She watches Sam brush Hiro's hair, wondering what it feels like - it looks like it would be rough, but also at the same time soft. When Sam's attention is returned to her, Akito smooths the sweater against her legs with a small smile. "I think it works well, too." A pause. "Wouldn't a dress work better than shirts?"

Spoiler alert: it's very soft and occasionally sweaty and also usually has leaves or grass in it. And sometimes sprinkles. Hiro huffs at Sam, somewhere between affectionate and annoyed, then tilts his head thoughtfully at Akito.

"I dunno, the shirt dress thing is cool. Very vintage." A pause, then, teasingly, "Makes sense, since Sam's from the past and all."

"Probably a little bit better, and I'd be happy to help you find dresses too, but I thought you might like the shirt you can tie and untie to more freely adjust just what is free for fresh air. Though, nobody's saying you can't have both." Sam shrugged, seeming satisfied with the huff her hair-ruffling had elicited. She turned to Hiro as if about to say something... then shut her mouth, nodding once in concession.

Spoiler alert: Akito would probably think it smells amazing, in that case. Her cheeks heat up again - just a bit! - when Hiro looks at her thoughtfully, making her smooth out the nonexistent wrinkles from her makeshift skirt again.

"If Hiro says the shirt dress thing is cool, and vintage, then I am happy to wear more shirt dress things."

Hiro tosses Sam a smug, triumphant grin -- see? Someone thinks he has excellent style. "It's totally cool. Especially for movie-watching. And popcorn-eating.

"Speaking of: is there any more food?"

She could only turn up her hands at Hiro's victorious expression, having never argued otherwise---only occasionally implying it, often with an elbow. "I'm happy you're happy, then, and actually yeah. Some cookies. Even though I had them hidden under the peas in the freezer, I was surprised to find that they were still there this morning." Smiling smugly herself, Sam patted a pocket.

"I have half a dozen."

Akito smiles at the reaction, though hides it behind a hand. The mention of food reminds Akito that she brought some of her own, tucked safely away in her rucksack. She doesn't dare presume that the cookies will be shared with her, though she really wants to try one. The only 'dessert' she was ever given were pre-packaged pudding and jell-o cups, and those were always a very rare treat.

"I brought some fruits and vegetables to eat."

On the one hand: cookies (HIDDEN cookies, even!) supplied by a very sneaky roommate who will likely not let him have more than four. On the other: vegetables, supplied by a potential new friend who Hiro almost killed with embarrassment.

He knows his duty and, despite recoiling at the thought of (ugh) lettuce, turns towards Akito first. "What kind?"

"That's what I shoulda done, but I was counting myself lucky that the cookies lasted this long. Thought Hiro might sniff'em out sooner rather than later if I trusted too much to luck." Sam grinned---at the ripple of resignation running through her housemate's aura, as much as anything---and turned her attention to Akito. "Cookies've got walnuts, honey, and eggs in them, but if you're okay with those things you're welcome to two."

"Mostly strawberries! But blueberries and some apples and peaches, too. For vegetables I brought carrots!" Believe it or not, friend, but carrots are loaded with natural sugars!

"...I've never had any of those things before, but I've heard very good things about honey!"

"-- strawberries are good." Strawberries are often parts of cake. Acceptable bounty, Akito, have Hiro sneaking over to peek into your bag~

And then he'll pause to make a face at Sam. "Two apiece? Are they big cookies, at least?"

“Really? Would you like the two, then?” Now aware that the cookies were far from Akito’s standard fare, Sam pulled the six---wrapped neatly in wax paper, so as to be safely smuggled---from her pocket, and opened the little package so that the girl could see what she was in for, and Hiro could see for himself the cookies’ size. “Chocolate chip oatmeal with honey and walnuts; a little different, but really good. Assuming they’re not too too sweet for you, and also assuming you’re not vegan or anything.”

It seemed like a plausible possibility; for all she knew, Akito (with her interest in documentaries, and her going without electricity, and her views on views of the body) had come from some sort of commune.

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