[Commentlog] | [closed] - backdated to earlier in the human event

[detectivetroll]

[After talking with Julian and Kagerou on the journals and promising to drop by their rooms with dinner, Nick heads down to the kitchen. Monroe isn't really coming out of his room at the moment, either, which means Nick is pretty much just a food delivery service tonight.

Maybe he should try to get tips.

After grilling up some chicken, potatoes, and bread, and slicing up tomatoes and cheese, Nick brings the lot up to the barracks. He stops by Julian's room first, knocking on the door and announcing his presence.

He picks up some ale before he goes to Kagerou's room, because hell, if Kagerou's human, he might as well have some beer, too. Even if it isn't an Oregon microbrew.]

Comments

[fuckinstoplights]

[He managed to find a mechanic -- a doctor -- at least. The damage isn't completely healed, but he doesn't look like he just walked away from a car accident either. So that's a bonus.]

[His head jerks up at the knock. He's curled up on the cot, knees drawn to his chest. It feels safer to sit like this, with a blanket pulled up against his shoulders, like folded wings.]

[... it also probably helps with the fact that he is still completely naked.]

Dare ka?

[Who's there?]

[detectivetroll]

[Yeah, the lack of being completely damaged is definitely a bonus. So is that if needed, Nick could actually help a bit now.

...but the naked is less of a bonus. Pants are going to need to happen, dude.

Nick doesn't understand that, since he's balancing food and alcohol, and therefore can't exactly have his journal out at the moment.

But he can at least figure out that Kagerou probably won't open the door without knowing who it is.]

It's Nick.

[fuckinstoplights]

[He doesn't recognize the language, no. But the voice, and the name, those he remembers.]

[He knows who that is.]

Come in.

[... Nick probably can't understand him either, so, he pauses, frowning.]

You're... welcome?

[Heavily, heavily accented, and completely the wrong wording, but he doesn't sound as if he wants Nick to get the hell out.]

[detectivetroll]

[The tone is good enough for Nick, man.

Well, actually, Nick probably would have tried to come in even if Kagerou did sound like he wanted Nick to get the hell out. Nick'd promised him he'd bring him dinner, after all.

He opens the door, balancing the play of food in the crook of his elbow so he won't drop the ale, and nudges it closed behind him.]

I brought dinner.

[fuckinstoplights]

[He looks up, as he enters. There's a moment of hesitation before he stands, slowly, the blanket slipping off his shoulders.]

[He should probably help, shouldn't he.]

[There's a bit of hesitation as he pads across the room, and reaches out to try and take one of the items for him.]

[detectivetroll]

[...okay then. That sure is a naked guy, in Kagerou's room. Nick's going to assume that's Kagerou, and not some random nudist who's kicked out Nick's robot friend and taken over his room.

And just when Nick was starting to miss Portland.

Nick hands over the plate, and moves to set the bottles of ale down, pulling out his journal to translate.]

Dude. Do you even have pants?

[fuckinstoplights]

[Oh thank everything, the book is here. He can understand now.]

[Though the question makes him blink. He just sort of stands there, awkwardly holding the plate. Oblivious to the fact that he is naked as anything.]

Pants?

Why would I have... pants?

[detectivetroll]

[Yeah, the magic book. One day Nick will have to point out that Kagerou has one of his own that could probably work equally well.

Nick blinks at the question, then grins slightly and shrugs.]

No, of course not. Why would you have pants? You're a robot. Uh. Normally a robot. But humans... usually wear pants.

[Unless you're one of Portland's many more interesting residents.]

[fuckinstoplights]

[He's not really thinking too clearly right now. He's uncomfortable, he's aching, and just generally feels crappy. He'd like to curl up somewhere high, or with Someone... but that won't happen.]

I'm not human. I don't need to wear anything.

[Because despite appearances, he isn't human at "heart", is he?]

[detectivetroll]

[...oh Kagerou. If Nick knew that, he'd be even more determined to get him drunk.]

You're close enough, man. And you are right now, anyway.

[Except eating is probably more important, so Nick shrugs, letting it go for the moment.]

At least put the blanket on while you eat?

[fuckinstoplights]

Tch.

[That sound is infinitely easier to make, in this frame. He looks back at the cot. Where... the blankets have been sort of curled up and folded around to resemble a nest.]

[He nods, though, and retreats to it, stepping up and in to the little 'nest' without apparent effort. Even carrying the plate.]

Is that better?

[detectivetroll]

[Nick eyes Kagerou for a moment, then chuckles slightly and shakes his head.]

Yeah, man, good enough for now. But if you leave your room, wear pants, okay? I'll even get you some.

[fuckinstoplights]

[He has to crane his neck a little to see the book from here, but shakes his head slightly.]

I can manage.

[Says the robot ninja hiding naked in a nest of blankets, looking blankly down at a plate of food.]

[atethecanary]

[It's weird barely being able to hear Nick when he walks up to the door. Weird that he can't smell him. Julian does not like this whole human business. He was technically human for about twelve years, but he doesn't remeber his senses being this bad.

He's been sitting in his room feeling sorry for himself, but when Nick knocks on the door he can't help but feel a little better. Food. Food might make this less miserable. He opens the door and gives Nick a small smile.]

If only everyone made and delivered food to me.

[He reaches to take the food with hopeful eyes, looking like he thinks it may be taken away at any second.]

[detectivetroll]

[Yeah, Nick can guess how strange this is for Julian. Mostly because he's already talked with Monroe, and Monroe's pretty weirded out by it, too.

Well. By the lack of senses thing. There's other things that make it more complicated, but that's not something Nick needs to dwell on at the moment.

He smiles back at Julian's comment.]

But then I'd be out of a job.

[And he hands over the food, because that look is just sad, man. Nick'd never take away his food like that.]

[atethecanary]

[There's a snort and Julian's eyes crinkle in amusement.]

I'm not so sure. I eat a lot.

[Julian takes the plate of food in one hand, and quickly reaches for the chicken with the other. He tries to eat it with as much dignity as possible and not shovel it down, but the chicken disappears awfully fast.]

[detectivetroll]

[Another success, then, since part of this is trying to get Julian's mind off being human.

And don't worry about it, kid, Nick's seen worse shoveling down. But the way Julian's eating still reminds Nick a little bit of Hanson and Gracie, and makes him wonder again how well Julian's been eating.]

Good thing I don't have a lot else to do around here.

[atethecanary]

No one does. There's not much entertainment here.

[Which is why he still doesn't understand why no one else will do anything for him. It's not like they have anything better to do. He glowers for a moment, but the expression clears when he takes a bite of a potato.]

The food is... good.

[Julian pauses, looks down at the plate, and scratches his head awkwardly.]

Nice job.

[detectivetroll]

Yeah. But I've got some things we can do, if you're interested.

[Poor Julian, no one to do things for him. Wait until he finds out Nick is going to teach him to do them for himself.

Nick smiles at that, both the compliment and Julian's awkwardness.]

Thanks. You're welcome to have some, whenever I make it.

[Or whenever Monroe does.]

[atethecanary]

Like what?

[He only sounds a little suspicious. If it wasn't Nick, there would have been much more suspicion in his voice.]

Yeah... I'd like that.

[Julian's tone is neutral and he's still looking down at his plate, but there's a smile on his face.]

[detectivetroll]

[Nick sees that smile, Julian. He won't comment on it, though. Instead, he just grins a bit at the suspicion.]

You did a pretty good job with that ax back there. We wouldn't have been able to get away when we did, if it wasn't for you. But if you want to know how to use it for things other than hacking at chains, I can show you. Or any other kind of self defense, really.

[atethecanary]

[Julian looks up from the plate in wide-eyed confusion at Nick's praise. He... helped? The look of confusion only lasts a second or two and quickly changes into indifference. The suggestion of self defense gets an eyebrow raise.]

That doesn't sound like fun.

[He looks skeptical, but it's not an outright no.]

[detectivetroll]

[Of course Julian helped. Nick's proud of him, man, he did good for a kid who's never used a weapon before.]

What, getting to play with axes and swords and crossbows doesn't sound like fun?

[Come on, who can say no to that.]

[atethecanary]

[Julian snorts and goes back to eating.]

No, weapons don't really sound like fun. They sound like a lot of effort.

[He pauses, considering for a moment, and then shrugs.]

But I'll give it a try.

[detectivetroll]

[Nick laughs.]

Just because it's effort doesn't mean it's not fun.

[He knew he'd win Julian over.]

How about I make you breakfast after we're done?