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

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

[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.]

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[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.]

[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?]

[...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?

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?

[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.

[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.]

Uh-huh.

[Nick's full of skepticism, right here.]

Dinner's the most important thing, anyway. Dinner and beer.

[And he sees that blank look.]

You can just use your fingers, man. I didn't make anything too messy.

Beer...?

[He knows what it is, sure. Toudou liked to drink -- and while the man was never intoxicated when he worked, he knew what it was.]

[But why was it so important?]

[He shrugs it off, though, and picks up a tomato. And touches it to his tongue. He promptly makes a face and sets it back down.]

It tastes wrong.

[Because it doesn't taste like gas.]

[It's beer, man, that's why. Though granted, not from Oregon, so it's less important.

But really, it's important because that's what Nick does. He's used to bonding with friends over beer.

Nick chuckles slightly at Kagerou's face.]

If you've never had food before, everything's probably going to taste wrong. Or maybe you just don't like tomatoes.

[He still wouldn't get it, even if you explained it that way, sir. But the friend part... he would probably understand that.]

[He would understand that part a lot.]

[Still hesitating, he tries some of the chicken. Better, he decides. Maybe he just doesn't like tomatoes.]

I like this better.

[The friend part is the most important bit, anyway. That's where the understanding would be needed.]

Not a tomato fan, then. I'll remember that.

[For, you know, the next time he needs to make Kagerou human food. Rare as that might be.

Nick picks up one of the bottles of ale, opening it and offering it to Kagerou.]

Here. For something to drink.

Tomato...

[Well, there's three words of English he knows now, at least. He's trying. Very slowly.]

[He reaches out and accepts the bottle, but stares into it dubiously. He sniffs at it. It doesn't smell like gasoline...]

What is this?

[Nick smiles brightly at that.]

Yeah, tomato. Now if you ever need to eat something, you can just say 'no tomato.'

[He manages to resist the urge to chuckle at Kagerou sniffing at the bottle, though he's still smiling.]

Some kind of beer, I think. Alcohol. It's a little different than the kind I'm used to, but it's a drink I usually have when with friends.

No. Tomato.

[It probably helps that those words all have syllables he knows how to say.]

[So it is a drink. And... he is a little thirsty.]

[In the interest of fixing that problem... he lifts the bottle to his lips and drinks... deeply.]

[He just ends up choking and coughing at the alcohol.]

Yeah, just like that.

[He smiles again, as he picks up his own bottle to take a drink.

And then stops, because Kagerou's drinking way too much too fast, something it just now occurs to Nick that he should have warned him about.

Especially when he starts choking. Shit.

Nick moves forward automatically, free hand reaching out to settling between Kagerou's shoulder blades, rubbing slightly.]

[He jerks at the touch, honestly surprised. But at least he quits choking. Now he just looks alarmed.]

[And. Leans away, slowly.]

That is terrible.

[Quit being surprised, man, Nick is a very touchy guy.

At least he's stopped choking, though Nick continues to look concerned until Kagerou makes his comment about the alcohol. Then he grins a little.]

That's because it's not an Oregon micro-brew. But it's the best they've got.

[He's used to one other person and a handful of engineers touching him. And the latter only did so when he needed repairs and whatnot.]

[He stares into the bottle, still making a face.]

Micro. Brew.

I want gasoline.

[Okay, fair point. Nick'll just have to keep doing it until he's used to it, then.]

Yeah. Portland had more breweries than any other city in the world.

[The tone of his voice is fond, wistful. He misses home.

Then he looks up, making a face.]

Not a good idea while you're human, man. At best, it'll make you sick. At worst, it'll do a lot more damage.

[You might want to wait until he has some clothes on, man. Otherwise, everyone is going to get the wrong idea.]

[He tilts his head sharply, though, listening. Thinking. A gesture not really found in a human's repertoire.]

Where is that?

[Then he's back to scowling.]

Nothing else tastes right.

[... never mind he 'drinks' his fuel through his robot-crotch.]

[No, it's definitely not. It kind of reminds Nick of a bird, actually, though he keeps that to himself.]

Portland? It's in Oregon. Uh, the United States.

[The scowl makes him smile a little.]

Yeah, dude, I can imagine. But as long as you're human, gasoline is going to be a no go. If it helps, a lot of people don't like beer. Hell, I don't even really like what's here all that much.

[How accurate that description is, Nick. Someday, you'll see.]

United States. I know what that is.

[Thankfully, Nick doesn't have to explain that much. He pokes at the food again, before going back to the alcohol. It's more familiar than solid food, anyway.]

It doesn't help much. I'm tired of being human.

[And that day will be so awesome.]

Oh, good. Well, yeah, that's where I'm from.

[Nick takes a drink of his own beer.]

It won't last long. Hopefully not more than a week or two.

I only know its name and location. Nothing else is in my databanks.

[Because he hadn't needed anything else. He studies the bottle in his hand, sighing slowly.]

If it's longer than that, I blame you.

I could tell you more, if you wanted.

[Not that it matters much, but Nick's always willing to talk about Portland.

Then he snorts, giving a wry chuckle.]

Yeah, yeah. I get blamed for everything. But it shouldn't be, not based on the evidence.

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