A ninja and a kung-fu bot walk up to a vending machine...

[thxforthememories]

WHO: Kagerou and Power Joe
WHERE: Police HQ
WHEN: RIGHT NOW
WHAT: PJ wanted to test the vending machine he found. ... he also said he wanted to do it in a week. Kagerou took him seriously.
WARNINGS: STUPID MAN CHILD ROBOTS DOING STUPID THINGS.

[With the help of Stumpy -- again -- it only takes a few hours to get from Trion's temple to where he needs to go. Although, he's not entirely sure of what to do once he gets inside the place. How is he meant to find the other BP unit? He hasn't seen Power Joe since this whole mess started.]

[He has the Acolyte stay put outside, before venturing into the building. While he doesn't know what sort of creature the other BP might be right now, it can't be too hard to find him, can it? Personalities seem to have remained intact. He just has to look for an obnoxious individual, who isn't spouting off some poor attempt at English.]

[And isn't playing with a soccer ball. Which should help narrow it down.]

[He prowls through the hallways, trying to be as unobtrusive as possible. It occurs to him to call out for Power Joe, about halfway through his search. He pokes his head into what looks to be an office.]

Power... Joe?

Comments

[kungfugeek]

[The other man just puts his hands on his hips, as if wondering that himself.]

Probably in the same place I left it. Which is...

[He almost immediately starts walking. Try to keep up, Kagerou!]

This way.

[thxforthememories]

Mm.

[It's a noncommittal noise. If the other PB was that eager to test it out, shouldn't he have been waiting with it?]

[He doesn't particularly want to keep up. He didn't even want the stupid machine here... But he's still got the long legs of his robot frame, and it doesn't take much to keep pace.]

Were you really pounding on it?

[kungfugeek]

[The yellow-clad bot just keeps walking, stuffing his hands in his pockets as his head tilts up. He didn't WANT to break it either--someone back home probably needed it for their snacks...but he'd promised McCrane to get food out of it, and doing it as humans may, unintentionally seem a lot easier than as robots. You can put full force and not worry about breaking it.]

It's a figure of speech, new guy. They didn't tell you about those?

[thxforthememories]

[He sighs, long and tired. This is a conversation he's had countless times before, and it never gets any easier to do. Or any more fun.]

All I knew, before I came here, was what they wished me to train Shadowmaru in. Fighting, spying, flying... so no. Figures of speech weren't deemed important enough to upload to my memory banks.

[He gives PJ a significant stare as he finishes. See?]

[kungfugeek]

Well, there's a first time for everything right? You're not going to be the new guy forever.

[This is him trying to be friendly, Kagerou. Is it working?]

Vending machine's right....here.

[And lo and be hold, there it is!]

"Hello".

[thxforthememories]

... If I ever have a place with you, maybe that will be true.

[He has to actually feel as if he fits in, first. That... doesn't seem as if it's going to happen any time soon. Maybe it won't ever happen.]

So it is.

[And he reaches out with a fist to strike the side of the vending machine.]

[kungfugeek]

[PJ's eyes match Kagerou's for a moment, as if feeling his sentiment. Could...Kagerou ever even fit in? Power Joe often had his doubts. Many times. he was just too...distant. He didn't work well with a team.

But...he'd promised McCrane he'd try.]

Ah ah!

[He grips Kagerou's fist, holding it in place.]

You don't want to do that.

[thxforthememories]

[He holds the stare as long as Power Joe does. With a confidence he doesn't truly feel. Maybe he... maybe he shouldn't try so hard. Maybe that stare is right -- and he doesn't belong.]

[His whole arm tenses when PJ grabs his hand.]

... Let my arm go. Then explain why.

[kungfugeek]

If you really want to, I can let go.

[And he will too. But he's just trying to save you the pain.]

Humans aren't built like us. They're squishier. Softer.

Easier to break.

[thxforthememories]

... Let go. [A beat.] Please.

[He won't hit it. He just wants his hand back.]

I wasn't going to break anything.

And how to you suggest we get it out?

[kungfugeek]

Relax, new guy! I got this.

[PJ moves away from the ninja a moment, going behind the machine. There's a few metallic clanks and a little grunt before the 'bot' comes back into view.

With two crowbars.]

[thxforthememories]

[And Kagerou just... stares.]

[He keeps staring.]

Are you... serious? Now you want to destroy it?

[kungfugeek]

...

Well you're the one who wanted to wait a week. I was joking about that, by the way.

[thxforthememories]

... You were? Why didn't you just say...?

[He's never going to feel like he fits in, is he? He's never going to understand...]

[His hands tighten on the crowbar. And, in a sudden burst of helpless frustration, he strikes at the vending machine glass.]

[kungfugeek]

Because I didn't mind.

[Or because he's just as stupid and stubborn. Either works.]

...!!

[He leaps back in surprise, shocked by Kagerou's sudden...movement.]

Whoa! Easy there!

[thxforthememories]

[He keeps the crowbar buried in the machine, where it's wedged into a package of Shrimp Puffs. His breathing is a little harsh, but he appears to be calming himself.]

... It's opened now.

[No reason to bring insecurities out into the open.]

You're welcome.

[kungfugeek]

[Power Joe would usually take this time to say how stupid of an action that was, and probably make fun of Kagerou...but you know what? He got the job done. Or part of it, at least.]

Well, that works. Nice job, new guy!

[There's a hearty pat to Kagerou's back as he slams his crowbar in next to him, breaking the voicebox of the thing.]

"W-Wee...lcome..."

[thxforthememories]

Don't call--

[Except he's suddenly smacked on the back. He jumps a little, jerking his crowbar out of the machine.]

[... with the bag of shrimp puffs still attached to it.]

-- me that.

[Though, he doesn't look too broken up by the machine's voice slowly fading. If anything, he looks incredibly vindicated.]

That's better.

[kungfugeek]

Well, you're not fond of newbie, and you are the new guy. You really want me to make up my own?

[PJ looks at the bag for a moment, snatching it off of the crowbar and tossing it to him. Hey, they were humans now, might as well indulge themselves.]

I think we deserve an award, don't you think?

[thxforthememories]

Just use my name...

[He shakes his head, catching the bag. Shrimp Puffs spill everywhere as the bag flies through the air. He gives PJ a look.]

For breaking the machine open?

[kungfugeek]

Don't you know how it works, Kagerou? You give nicknames to the ones you're closest to! Why do you think I call Drill Boy 'Doriko'?

[Oops. He'll just give Kagerou an innocent smile.]

Yeah! I think we deserve it. Besides, I've never had food. Like real food.

[thxforthememories]

... I thought they were just to irritate you.

[Since Gunmax is really the only one to hand them out to him.]

[He looks down at the bag.]

Kay gave me a swiss roll. But... I haven't done it either.

[He holds the bag out.] You first.

[kungfugeek]

Not all the time.

[His eyes dart down to the bag being thrust in his direction, before shoving it back.]

No way, you had food first! I think that makes you the taste tester.

[thxforthememories]

Right.

[Doesn't he sound skeptical?]

[He frowns, dubious, but... takes a shrimp puff. And tries it.]

... It's different.

[kungfugeek]

[The skeptical response gets a shrug in return. Well if you're not going to believe it, he won't put much effort in either.]

...

Different how?

[Before Kagerou can answer, he takes a shrimp puff and pops it in his mouth.]

...huh.