Close encounters

[10_20_15_5_50]

Who: Subzero, Hiro, Sam.
What: A chance meeting, away in the woods.
Where: On the path to/from the outdoor theatre in the Northwest.
When: Shortly after Subzero’s leg got reattached.
Warnings: Possibly language. Good job, Sam.


“I’m telling you, a lot of the charm of drive-in theatres---even if ours isn’t strictly a drive-in---is that they’re a little bit old-fashioned. It doesn’t need lasers, and it doesn’t need fireworks, except okay maybe fireworks for special occasions but as those’d be exceptions that’s beside the point.” Sam shook her head and turned up her hands, smiling but still attempting ‘adamant.’ “Point is, instead of a pre-show show there’s social time. Look at opening night! It was nice to have that time free for people to check in with each other, fuss over seats, fuss over snacks, fix some skirts up… Resounding success, and a little like the way movies at the movies used to be.”

She glanced at the path so as to be sure she wouldn’t be tripped by any treacherous roots or rocks before turning her attention (and eyes!) to Hiro, unwilling to miss the teen’s reaction.

“When I was younger, there were sometimes wait screens with trivia, but no ads before a movie began.”

Comments

[diagnosispuberty]

Hiro is in a perpetual state of flailing along, so tripping, windmilling his arms to regain his balance and continuing along are just normal parts of talking a walk, to him. What fun is a brisk ambulation through the countryside without the thread of falling and breaking your face, after all?

But he's coordinated enough to roll his eyes at Sam's little lecture, hopping up to walk along a fallen tree, arms outstretched for balance. "Uhhhh, you lost me at "doesn't need lasers". I didn't even hear the rest of the "in my day we walked uphill both ways and ate beans from a can" stuff."

[greater_than_zero]

This was insane. He’d been all over Cybertron, for various reasons, and this was like nothing he’d ever seen before. He had a hard time believing he really was on Cybertron! Subzero slid his hand down the uneven and extremely textured surface of that brown column topped with small green...what were those? Tiny chips of some sort?

No, couldn’t be, all of this read as organic, which amazed him even more. He was so caught up in his study that he nearly didn’t note the nearby voices until the owners were in sight...and then he was gaping.

What...in Primus’s name...where those?! That organic life forms could grow as large as these odd columns was amazing, but that organic life forms could not only grow so large, but be intelligent?! He would never have dreamed it possible! He’d have sworn it was scientifically impossible even!! And then here he’d have been proven wrong.

[10_20_15_5_50]

"What the hell do you have against beans from a can?" The question came laughingly, with much mock indignance. "Some of the Heinz stuff is delicious and, y'know, there are still times I kinda crave it. After all of my movi---"

Shock, Sam saw, and was startled enough to stop mid-word and stand still; she hadn't expected to surprise anyone so. (Finding a stranger on the theatre path was, at least, unremarkable; even if it was a first, it was bound to be an eventuality.) She shoved the start away to better appraise the bot, curious and---despite his (?) newness to her, and sheer size---unafraid.

"Hello there!" She waved, since it seemed like a reasonable thing to do. "You new? Or you just not on the network all that often?"

[diagnosispuberty]

Despite the sudden appearance of large huge bot, Hiro takes a final moment to snark at Sam -- "If you buy any of that stuff, I'm moving out" -- before hopping off his tree trunk and leaning back to look up at the unfamiliar giant guy. His reaction to meeting giant robots all the time has mellowed significantly since arriving, so there's no running or screaming or even hesitation.

He just shields his eyes from the sun with one hand and waves with the other. "S'up."

[greater_than_zero]

Wow! Oh wow! This is amazing! He grins and crouches down, suddenly very aware of just how big he is. "Hello." He resisted the urge to pick one of the two up. Clearly they were intelligent, being handled like they aren't would very likely be insulting.

"Just arrived, actually. Getting a look at all the changes to what my GPS says should be here."

[10_20_15_5_50]

Sam shot her housemate a skeptical look, unimpressed and asking "To across the hall?" before she turned back to the bot, answering his grin with one of her own. Big friendly giant #?, by all appearances; that was alright.

"Oh! In that case... yeah, I imagine you've got a lot to see; it's probably different enough to be as disorienting for you as it was for us. Speaking of us, my name is Sam, and this," she swept both hands towards Hiro in what wasn't a bad Vanna White, "Is Hiro. He's trouble---so you can't say you weren't warned. Nice to meet you."

[diagnosispuberty]

Have a mature reaction to study, giant robot dude -- Hiro sticking his tongue out at Sam, arms crossed now, mumbling, "All the way to the living room couch, and you know it." Then he moves a little closer, curious about the newcomer.

Subzero had very good manners in not picking either human up, but Hiro has none of these, hopping up to stand on the robot's foot and reaching to pat at his shiny metal exterior, clearly fascinated. Sam's comment gets an eyeroll, though he never takes his eyes off Subzero.

"She's exaggerating and biased and also lying," he comments, balancing on the giant metal toe to grin up at potential new buddy.

[greater_than_zero]

"And you. I'm Subzero. Or just Zero if you'd rather." He's just itching to ask what they are!!

And then he's got an organic person on his foot. Hello, Hiro.

Well, kiddo, you just set the precedent there. With Hiro on his foot he'll reach down to try to gently scoop the boy into a hand. Do protest if you'd rather not, Hiro, he will listen.

[10_20_15_5_50]

The admission earned Hiro a warmer grin, and a glance of genuine affection which said, quite clearly, 'if only you were within arm's reach; I'd have you in a headlock, and noogied.' With words, though, the adept objected. "I am understating but otherwise only being honest. And I live with the kid, so I get to say these sorts of things." 'I,' tone implied, 'have earned it.'

Crossing her own arms, Sam stood where she was to watch her housemate get gathered up. Even before Subzero made to move, the action was easy to anticipate---Hiro had all but invited it.

[diagnosispuberty]

Hiro knows what an impending affectionate headlock looks like, so he'll hop up into Subzero's hand with a practiced move that suggests being picked up by giant robots is the norm for him at this point. In fact, even as he's brought up, presumably to eye level, he doesn't stumble, instead walking around and mentally noting how the newest metallic buddy differs from others he has.

"I still say you guys are lucky," he points out, waiting until Subzero's hand is steady, then venturing up onto his wrist. "I mean, at least stuff is sort of familiar. Why couldn't I have been alien abducted to a place with more than one pizza place?" Hiro is very miffed that his options are limited.

DW, I wasn't done....=_=

[greater_than_zero]

Oh, Hiro is certainly being brought up to optic level. He brings his hand up close, studying Hiro as closely as he can. Close enough Hiro will likely be able to see the inner workings of Zero's optics focusing and refocusing, moving behind the lenses.

"Pizza? And...forgive me but...what are you?"

Aaand I didn't see this for like an hour.

[10_20_15_5_50]

Hiro's escape was a non-issue; headlocks would wait. Sam came closer, ignoring the slight hitch in her stride as she looked up and up and offered "At least it's good pizza." She considered briefly before coming closer still and stepping up to stand Subzero's foot as Hiro had, to hint.

"Pizza's a food." Since the bot seemed to be an accommodating sort, she set a hand against his ankle in leaning back to better see straight up. "And oh. Oh! You haven't happened to happen across humans before...?"

There was little or less to forgive, but some surprise---between the network and the number of Cybertronians who knew of Earth and its occupants, the question was one unexpected.

/there there it all good

[diagnosispuberty]

Hiro leans forward, scrunching his nose, reaching out to brace himself on Subzero's nose with both hands, taking in every whir and shift of the optics -- because he's never been quite this close. He's completely fearless, curiosity outweighing anything else.

At least until pizza is questioned. Then he steps back, arms crossed, looking perturbed. "Uhhhh, pizza is the best food, thanks a lot."

He exchanges a brief, surprised look with Sam, just as startled as her that this newest Cybertronian doesn't know anything about human. Then he grins, lopsided and a little nervous now. "Well, uh. Thanks for not squishing us. We're pretty breakable compared to you guys."

[greater_than_zero]

Zero is perfectly happy to let Hiro lean on his nose. They can closely study each other! The feel of another person stepping on his foot will have him reaching to very gently scoop up Sam next.

"Human...I can't say that I have. Frankly, before seeing all of this I'd have sworn organic life larger than a microbe was scientifically impossible." He seems a little sheepish at the admission, but hey, he's not ashamed of being wrong, that's science!

Aww, hey, don't be nervous. He gives Hiro, and Sam, a reassuring grin. "I make it a point to be careful with anything or anyone smaller than myself. Though, do let me know if I do start getting a little rough, it won't be intentional."

[10_20_15_5_50]

Hiro's point went uncontested; the curious restorative powers of cold breakfast pizza were impossible to argue against.

Sam settled readily into the scooping hand, seating herself even as she shrugged off her surprise.

"Okay, then. You'll have to forgive us, our assumptions. The other Cybertronians we know have either been to Earth---which is our homeworld---or heard about it, so we figured word was widespread. That said... Surprise?" She turned up her hands, huffing a little laugh. "And thanks."

She shifted to sit more comfortably, expression growing thoughtful.

"Might not make a bad introduction. Big difference in durability, as my friend mentioned, but we're a lot like you tall dudes in terms of senses of humour, some interests, and emotional range."

[diagnosispuberty]

The only thing Hiro actually dislikes about Cybertronians is that they can never know the true glory of delicious food such as pizza, gummy bears, pizza or soda. Really, he's very sympathetic.

Subzero's comments get a laugh from the kid, as he starts attempting to climb up onto the giant metal shoulder, scrambling his way up with a by-now-practiced knowledge of where to put his feet. "Oh, man am I gonna blow your mind with the theory of evolution, dude. Wait'll you hear about platypuses."

[greater_than_zero]

"There are very, very few who've ever gone off-planet...that I know of anyway." He gives a little shrug. Seeking out other worlds isn't a big "thing" yet in his time. Wait until they learn he's clueless about the big war all the other bots they've met talk about, hm?

"Earth?" What...an uncreative name for a planet. He's so sorry your people didn't have a better imagination for names.

He stiffens as Hiro starts to scale his arm suddenly. Not like he can grab at the boy, what with Sam sitting in his other hand. And then once Hiro is to his shoulder he's not sure he should try to grab the kid because...well...didn't they just point out how fragile they were compared to him? He locked a few joints in his legs and along his back to himself stable until Hiro either gets down or Zero decides he can safely pluck the kid from his shoulder. Not that he...minds too much, he's just worried about hurting them.

"I'm looking forward to hearing all about it."

[10_20_15_5_50]

"You'll have to ask some of the other Cybertronians to share stories from their time visiting. I get the impression Knock Out had more fun than anyone." Smiling, Sam shrugged one shoulder, before shrugging both at 'Earth?' "Red, car alt, very snazzy, excellent taste in films and company? You'll know him if you see him for sure."

She sat a little straighter as Hiro began to climb, frowning.

"Dude. Be careful, and maybe ask before you explore; this isn't old hat to him." Looking back to Subzero, the adept explained "I told you, 'trouble.' And if you didn't already suspect it, he's young---not that that's an excuse."

[diagnosispuberty]

"Knock Out probably has fun everywhere." Hiro pauses at Sam's reproach, having been about to try and climb onto Subzero's head. Thinking better of it, he plops down cross-legged on the Cybertronian's shoulder, patting at the side of his head reassuringly. "Don't worry, I've got great balance. Not gonna fall."

Then, because he thinks about these sorts of things: "So we're the first humans you've met or seen ever? How d'you know we aren't poisonous or feed on metal?" Hiro, stop it.

[greater_than_zero]

"I'll certainly have to do that. Are there really so many here who've been to your planet?"

Yeah, Hiro, you keep believing that, he's still going to keep things locked up for now to make sure you've got a stable perch. Change your mind about climbing his head and he'll pluck you off his face, though.

And then a bit of a wry look. "You are, and I don't. But the discovery is worth the risk." Though now a part of him is wondering, even as he's pretty sure poison and metal eating won't be an issue considering how the question was posed.

[10_20_15_5_50]

"Oh, yeah," Sam answered immediately. "Knock Out, Breakdown, Jadewing, Thundercracker, Drift, Jetstorm, Soundwave, and Wheeljack off the top of my head, and more I'm missing. Ask around, you'll get a lot answering. And,"

She'd turned her attention to Hiro once more.

"You're right. He's got the attitude." It was acknowledged approvingly; the medic was usually irreverent and often snarky, which spoke to Sam, who was herself usually irreverent... and often snarky. Shades of that snark would surface as she again addressed her new acquaintance, smiling at the entire exchange. "You do now? If you're willing to take ou---okay, maybe just my word for it."

[diagnosispuberty]

Another consoling pat for Subzero. "I never met any of them when I was on earth, though. I would've said that mechanized figures that big were implausible, so you aren't alone in that. But there's tons of the big guys hanging out around here,and they can explain stuff."

Have a scrunchy-faced glare, Sam, because how dare you besmirch him in front of the big cool dude? Totally unfair; you're getting your pillow turned into a robotic spider tonight.

[greater_than_zero]

Zero chuckled and finally decided to reach up to try to pick Hiro off his shoulder. It's easier to talk to you, kiddo, when he can see you.

"I guess I do. I'll certainly say the encounter so far has been quite enlightening, and fun." If he manages to get Hiro back into his hand he'll lift bot humans up to face level, getting a close look at both of them.

[10_20_15_5_50]

How dare? Readily, because and in spite of Hiro's sense of humour---and remembering other instances in which he'd deliberately misrepresented (parts of) planet Earth for fun.

"I never so much as saw any on Earth." More of a musing, the remark wasn't aimed at anyone in particular. "And alts or not, I would know."

Sam shifted again as Subzero moved collect the kid, turning a little so as to face the Cybertronian straight-on once brought up nearer eye level. "Good! I'm glad; terrible for a first impression to be boring. Given the specifics of this one, it would be a kind of anti-accomplishment."

[diagnosispuberty]

Hiro is a normally wiggly and squirmy little guy, but he lets himself be plucked, settling back to sit cross-legged on Subzero's hand. See, Sam? He can be less than troublesome when the notion grabs him.

"Got any deep scientific questions? Anything goes, except gross reproduction stuff. Ask Sam about that."

...well. MILDLY less troublesome.