They say there's nothing new under the sun

[10_20_15_5_50]

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.

Comments

[10_20_15_5_50]

"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."

[akito]

"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?"

[diagnosispuberty]

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."

[10_20_15_5_50]

"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.

[akito]

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."

[diagnosispuberty]

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?"

[10_20_15_5_50]

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]

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."

[diagnosispuberty]

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?"

[10_20_15_5_50]

"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."

[akito]

"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!"

[diagnosispuberty]

"-- 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?"

[10_20_15_5_50]

“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.

[akito]

"Strawberries are the best," Akito agrees very seriously. She doesn't have anything in her bag to hide, and so apart from the snacks and her Air Trecks, the only things noticeable are a worn out photograph and a small anthology of Grimms fairy tales.

Look at all of her belongings, Hiro! She is very proud of them!

"I'm not a vegan - I need animal proteins in my diet... So I would like to try one, if that's okay? If I don't like it Hiro can have the rest of mine."

[diagnosispuberty]

Hiro is the nosiest nosy to ever nose, so he'll peek at all Akito's things, then nod seriously. Be prepared for him to steal some of the bigger strawberries later on (and possibly use them to scare the robots into believing he's been turned into a flesh-eating zombie).

"Animal proteins are the best!" This is said as Hiro reaches to grab his two designated cookies and manage to somehow eat them both at the exact same time.

[10_20_15_5_50]

"Strawberries are very good. Especially here---I've never had such consistently high-quality produce. It's awesome." Smiling, Sam held the cookies out to Akito and ignored Hiro's snatch-and-scarf. (She was used to that sort of thing now---inured to it, in all honesty.) "More than okay, kiddo. Just wanted to check about the vegan thing since we clearly have some differing expectations here and there, and although all excellent-sounding? Your snacking supplies made me wonder if you weren't one. 'Sall good, though."

[akito]

Akito has never seen someone manage to eat food so fast before in all her life, and so she stares wide-eyed and impressed until Sam speaks again.

"Ah- I never had them before coming here... But it's hard to imagine they could taste any better!" She very delicately grabs one of the cookies for now, making sure to hold it with great care so it doesn't crumble or break. She plans on saving it for the movie. "I don't know how to cook, so if it isn't raw then it isn't for me! But raw food has a lot of flavour, so I like it very much."

[diagnosispuberty]

Hiro's already reaching out to try and sneak himself a strawberry, but this stops him in his tracks, getting a frown of concern.

"You can't cook? ...how do you eat meat, then?"

[10_20_15_5_50]

"Where were you before you were here? If you don't mind me asking." Even as she spoke, Sam bobbed the cookies at Akito to approximate go on, take another! "And if you don't mind... I'd also like to know how you have your meat."

Her curiousity was frank, but uncritical---just curiousity. As acknowledged, everybody's expectations were all over the board, and that something so basic as food should illustrate that (frankly) figured.

[akito]

"...The arctic?" She doesn't want to lie, but she also doesn't want to tell the truth. So half-truths it is! "I mean, I lived in the arctic for, um, my whole life. And resources were limited. Someone else took care of food so it would be rationed properly..."

To answer the question about meat, however... "When I have meat here I just eat it raw. Like, sushi? I like raw fish."

Akito will hesitantly take another cookie, tucking it away very carefully with her fruits with a small 'thank you'.

[diagnosispuberty]

"The arctic? Was it cold?" Well, duh, Hiro. Then again, he's wondering if global warming is a thing there too -- maybe it's a tropical version of the arctic? With like...penguin beaches.

The explanation about the meat gets a thoughtful nod. "Sushi's good. I dunno how good the fish here is -- isn't there pollution and stuff? And what d'you do about like, not-fish meat?"

[10_20_15_5_50]

"Dude. Where in the arctic?" Sam brightened, all newly-vested interest. "That makes us the nearest thing to neighbours---I grew up within hours of the Arctic Circle. Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. But even that far north, I didn't hear even rumours of rationings."

She paused to listen, and shrugged as Hiro asked his questions.

"Carpaccio? Delicious, but I don't know that I or anyone could do it as a daily thing."

[akito]

"Past, um... Severnaya Zymla, I think? On the ice shelf, but closer to Russia and the ocean than the pole..."

She isn't sure of the accuracy of the statement, as she never had the opportunity to verify it. But from what she overheard it must have been somewhere in that vicinity. Definitely in or near Russian territory, since there was never government interference, meaning they would have been bought off somehow.

"I ate lots of different kinds of arctic fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, and seal. It didn't get very boring. It was all very good, except the seal was weird..." A thoughtful frown. "And there was rice at every meal. Vegetables were sometimes frozen but mostly vitamins from those food groups were acquired through juices. And, um, Jell-O and puddings were for desserts."

[diagnosispuberty]

Hiro has no idea how Russia works -- everything is north and icy and oh my god how did this kid even survive there? -- but he listens quietly, digging into his own snack reserves because he has a wild and crazy metabolism.

He'll interject after this last explanation, with a grimace -- "Seal? Gross. Super gross."

[10_20_15_5_50]

"Oh, man, that's... not too too far from the New Siberian islands, right? The furthest north I've been is across the water from Victoria Island, which I think is almost a straight line across. But still, someone who knows real winter. That's nice. And... that's interesting. Very interesting." Not quite as interesting as the answer to 'where around Russia would going pantsless be not at all unusual?' but interesting, all the same.

Sam turned on her housemate with a mild admonishment, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Don't knock it till you've tried it. Seal is sort of weird---as I remember, anyway---but it isn't bad. Better with a bit of ketchup, though."