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[text/video] un: @skull

[A few days after gravity is restored to the station, Ryuji returns to the mess hall from Haru's garden to find a small robot flipped upside down, panicking through a series of morse beeps and boops, which- okay, that's kind of cool, and quickly figures out that the paneling and suction entrances of the little guy means it's probably meant for filtration and cleaning.

Looks pretty study, looks... waterproof, maybe? He lends a hand to get him right side up and it starts slowly moving forward. Ryuji takes out his communicator and immediately films this as it happens, because, why not?

He posts two videos on the network- the roomba moving down the hall and one, a few hours later in the fitness center as it crawls from the edge, and dives right in.]

Oh shit! Are you supposed to do that?

Whoa, whoa- I don't know how to fix you if you--- WHOA, COOL.

Hey, sup?

Just lettin you guys know the pool looks crystal clear now. All thanks to this little dude.

I figure I should give 'em a name but uh

Everything that comes to mind is kinda lame

Anyway, I think it's good? Anyone wanna give it the first try?

[Complete with file0033.png - a picture of crystal clear water.]

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It's possible. I've spoken to her briefly about hydroponics.

If not, minor modifications usually aren't too complicated.

[ As opposed to, say, guns and cars. ]

... Simba?

[ Guess who doesn't know Disney. ]

Dude, what you think is complicated and what I think is complicated are two entirely different freakin' things. But I'll support ya. Whatever you need, let me know and I'll do my best.

[Apparently he's sorely in need of a dvd player.]

Wait

What

Seriously?

I appreciate it. Let me know when would be an appropriate time to come by.

[ ... ]

I assume it's a pop cultural reference.

[ So, yes. Seriously. ]

Any time you wanna. Just let me know. I'm waitin for my undies to dry off from the first time I jumped in there.

[also, ...]

Sit your ass down I'm gonna tell you about the Lion King while you figure this bitch out.

I'll be there in a moment.

[ And sure enough, he is.

It hadn't been a far walk after all. He lives right down the hall. Even still, he doesn't necessarily announce himself as much as he nods once whenever Ryuji looks up or over. He's not dressed for any other occasion except to look over the robot he's obtained, absent as he removes the pale coat he wears. He folds it neatly and drapes it over the nearest (clean) surface and joins him, careful to avoid puddles cast up poolside as he kneels. Once his feet at tucked under him, he extends his hands. ]

You can explain it while I'm working if you want, [ he says, his eyes only briefly settling on him. After a moment, he clarifies. ] The movie.

[For the most part, those puddles were created by Ryuji to begin with. He jumped in, without a care to the wind, only to take a picture and enjoy the way the water felt against his skin for a little bit... at least, until Hajime texted him and they both agreed that there should be a buddy system for the pool. No one should go in unless they could a) breathe underwater or b) had someone to spot them.

Honestly, Rogue's death (and resurrection) had been on his mind a lot. He'd never seen a dead body before, and he finds himself closing his eyes and seeing the image, over and over again. There are bags under his eyes from the lack of sleep, but... he's trying his best to get by. Take on a small project like this to get his mind off of things. And, of course, under no circumstances, let anyone know just how fucked up he is over it.]

It's a story about a lion who loses his father at a young age, and his uncle takes over th--- us..urps? Yeah, usurps [Nice.] power and turns the place into a weird... dictatorship thingy.

Actually, it's a pretty sad thing if you think about it.

[ If Ryo noted the bags under his eyes (and he did), he doesn't mention it. Emotional support isn't his strong suit and never has been, as much as his ability to console others never genuinely extended outside of Akira, who'd first reached out to him. Even if Ryuji explained why he was so troubled, he wouldn't be able to personally relate to it. He understands why people would become distressed in those circumstances and knows the emotions they'd naturally feel, but the lifeless body of a stranger wouldn't awaken anything in him. He's already seen so many of them.

So, it's perhaps a blessing that Ryo doesn't find himself interested in asking after it. Or a curse, depending upon what was actually needed. Ryo's stillness, at least, is something that people have often seen as both frustrating and comforting. Once he has his hands on the aquabot, the way he inspects it is smooth and steady. Despite the weight of it, he seems to have no trouble lifting it to manipulate it. He checks the sides and the underneath, making notes of the panels and functions. Pool robots like this typically have filters specifically designed for just cleansing water and scrubbing the interior liner and walls. Ryo partially expects that this will be the case here, though this isn't a model he's familiar with. ]

It's unusual that one male will take from a directly related male, [ he says absently, placing the aquabot down. His fingers skim the top of it, looking for a way to open it to view its interior components. ] More often, they're interested in forming coalitions and typically reign over prides together. [ He skims his fingers down to the sides of it, still searching. ] It's true to their nature. Those fights often end in death.

[ Oh, he found it. He depresses the button and pulls back his hand to let the whole thing open. ] I'm assuming the cub is the protagonist, which also calls to question why he was allowed to live. A usurper wouldn't allow that.

[It's okay - he would've felt pretty awkward and rushed to say something to dispel the concern over his lack of sleep anyway. He's honest, but he also doesn't like drawing attention to his own problems when there are so many more important things in the world to worry about than himself. And... it's Ryo. The good doctor. The one who sat behind a console programming a snek game. That'd also just be weird.

He is worried about Simba, however. It's not a lack of trust in Ryo's capabilities as much as it is a general worry of any technology in this station; namely that it's bound to become busted in one way or another, and any given time. Judging by how bad the station had it when gravity was lost, no one can really tell what the hell is supposed to happen.]

Wow, dude.

[Jesus Christ.

It's just a kid's movie.

Exacerbated by the fact that Ryo was actually splitting Simba apart, figuratively and literally. Ryuji needs to take a seat. This one's a doozy.]

You're not supposed to cheer for Scar... he's the villain. [lmao] Anyway, Simba, the protag cub, he gets exiled and lives out his youth raised by a meerkat and a warthog. They have some adventures together and teach him how to be a good person.

[This narrative is horribly skewed. They teach him how to be LAZY, but Ryuji always liked the pair. Hakuna Matata was a great song. IS a great song.]

And then he meets the love of his life, Nala, who used to be his childhood friend, and starts courting her. But the kingdom's in really bad shape ever since Scar took over.

[ Ryo takes a moment to consider Ryuji's response, before simply opting with: ]

I'm not, [ he says, looking up briefly beneath the fall of his bangs. His expression is still and neutral otherwise. He takes a moment to neatly roll back his sleeves. ] It's factual. [ It's all sound. He's just pointing out the logical inconsistencies inherent in the narrative. He leans forward again, his hands light and curious over the innards of the peculiarly named "Simba." He can identify where its filters are without issue, but he'd need a closer look to see if they were useful for anything else. ] The usurper would have been considered the victor and would have been rewarded for it. He would have rid the pride of his brother's offspring to assure only his genes carried on.

[ He pauses, considers. ] Moreover, warthogs and meerkats have no reason to cooperate and wouldn't raise an apex predator even if they did. If the meerkat were a mongoose, this would have been more believable on the part of the warthog. Mongooses are known to clean them. [ He unlatches one of the filters and brings it carefully. It looks like it needs to definitely be cleaned, if the residue left behind on the mesh is any indication. He lays it aside and works on taking out another. ]

Also, if the uncle was a poor guardian, another male would have taken his place before its collapse.

[ He's aware it's supposed to be a movie, but he can't let all these slide. ]

[Blame the fact that Ryuji can't continue a conversation about a single topic if there's a thought interruption in the way, but he notices Ryo's bangs drifting down into his eyes and he tilts his head. He doesn't insist it's cute outwardly, but he kind of thinks it is anyway, and he smiles from one corner of his mouth.]

Dude, I found scissors in my shower because of ghost bullshit, do you wanna borrow those?

[What in the fuck, though Ryo?

This is a kid's movie. Who analyzes data accuracy and compares biological hierarchies looking for faults? He feels like he should point this out, but he's so far deep into the explanation and Ryuji doesn't have any actual knowledge of how the animal kingdom works other than that dumb music video he saw when he was like... 11 years old and thought it was the literal, actual, factual SHIT.]

Uhhh...

Yeah, I mean. I guuuuuess? [He blinks at the work he's doing on the filtration system. He doesn't know which is more punishment to himself personally: asking about the science behind Simba or the science behind the Lion King.

Both exist in the Worst Timeline.]

Simba rises up and banishes Scar from the kingdom after he reclaims the throne. It totally works.

[ It isn't something he doesn't expect. More, he's surprised that Ryuji's been so patient with his explanations. He's used to Akira listening to him for about ten seconds before losing himself to their surroundings unless he was something he was properly curious about. Akira was always patient, however. He teased him, sure, but it was something Ryo grew to like even if he wouldn't admit it to himself.

Even still, Ryuji's ability to be distracted overlaps with Akira's demeanor comfortably. Ryo just lifts his eyes again, the corners of his mouth not down-turned as much as they're drawn into a neutral. ]

It's not unmanageable, [ he says, eventually, contextualizing the meaning for him. Ryo neatly lays the last filter out by Simba's mechanical side and brushes invisible grime from his hands. It seems that no matter what he does, he doesn't accumulate filth the way a normal person should or would. He still looks pristine, his nails clean and neat despite the truly impressive build up that's present on everything he's taken out of Simba's open gut. He brings his right hand up to comb his bangs away from his eyes. It doesn't do too much, the wave of it instead curling up and tangling into the rest. He glances up at Ryuji again, clarifying. ] I'd rather not let just anyone cut it.

[ He straightens up, unrolls his left sleeve down his arm. ] Yeah. That one works. Simba, as the presumably younger and more dominant male, would have naturally taken the pride from the weakened one.

Edited 2018-06-20 01:40 (UTC)

[Ryo-yo really needed to learn how to smile. Ryuji would tell him that it'd make him look more handsome, but he's not sure how that exact compliment would go, if it was warranted, or even if it was actually wanted in the first place (spoiler alert: probably not). His patience is mostly stewed in a pot lightly seasoned with his boredom and a few dashes of concern for Simba, but there's... not much else to do on the station but shoot the shit with the friends he's made over the last 2 months.]

Just anyone, huh? [He leans in and elbows Ryo softly. Did that do anything to the work that he was performing on the poolmba? Who knows.]

I mean, you can totally just do it... yourself if you want. I don't think it's really that hard. You seem to be pretty much great at everything you put your mind to?

[Whoa, cool magic effect with the lack of dirt getting all over you, Ryo. He's not going to ask questions or anything. It barely even registers, honestly.]

... Man, you're really ruining my Destiny experience with this shit. Leave my pristine childhood intact, m'kay?!

[ That little nudge ripples through him like the push of novocaine or the dull weight of a high. He doesn't freeze, so much as he coasts to a halt. It doesn't do anything to the innards of Simba, but there's something unreadable that flickers across the blue of his eyes. His brows knit, enough to form a subtle crease between them. But, he doesn't move.

Instead, he almost seems to sigh. ]

Sakamoto, [ he starts, though the tone almost seems... No, it isn't exasperated, even if it should cast that way. There's too many conflicting messages. It's disapproving, but it isn't disapproving. For anyone else, it would seem... Tolerant? ] Every human being has their own limitations. Cutting hair is a specialty. [ He cants his head, only just enough to be notable. ] My skills aren't translatable.

[ That's probably true. He could create and learn any number of things, sure, but there's an artistry in that sort of skill set that Ryo seems to lack innately. It's difficult to express the inner self, when your self-perception is as porous as marble.

But: ]

You continued your summary after my initial commentary. [ He points out, his mouth dipping into the smallest of frowns. ] You had ample warning.

Edited 2018-06-24 16:57 (UTC)

[A smile crooks its way up the side of his mouth, unintentional as much as it is just... natural when it comes to bugging the figurative shit out of people. Tolerating is very different from accepting, and Ryuji can read a room enough to know that he's getting the former treatment rather than the latter, but these things take time. You don't just walk up to an animal in the wild and stick your hand out trying to pet it. Even Simba, who had a brave heart and a good temperament, would get protective of his countenance and reject it. Probably with a bite.

But Ryuji's always about placing his hand on a hot stove, and he opens his mouth to continue on anyway-]

I cut Hajime's hair. It wasn't too bad. Definitely need more practice, though. [And as far as artsy goes, Ryuji is particularly out of his element in that department. Never had an eye for detail, but he liked doing things with his hands (don't take that the wrong way, gross), and it gave him hope that there were little things that he could grow in; become better as a person and more skilled over time. It wasn't so much as translation as it was just... practice, really.

Kind of like all things in life, to be honest.]

Yeah. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment, huh? [He looks down at the poolmate and sighs.]

If we ever manage to come across a copy, you should watch it with me. Even if you're a sourpuss about the entire thing and try to ruin it, it has some pretty good songs.

[His head tilts, smiling still, welcoming in a way that wants to reach out and pet the wild, reticent animal next to him.]

You like music, Ryo-yo?

[ It's an apt comparison. Even when Ryo was young, he could never quite bridge the gap. When Akira first held out his hand to him, Ryo (who would deny it) had been too afraid to initiate the first brush of skin. Even with his fingertips so close to Akira's, he couldn't take it.

If Ryuji is patient and Ryuji is kind, then it might come to be in time that Ryo would warm to him. Ryo had always been despised and had only later been appreciated for his appearance, his intelligence, his wealth. He never let anyone else close. He knew the truer shape of himself would be rebuked.

Still, he considers Ryuji's earnest expression and finds himself lowering his eyes to pay attention to how he unrolls his other sleeve. He tugs on the cuff here and there, almost as if to prolong it. ]

Not interested, [ he says. He's made no effort not to be blunt. ] Maybe once you've cut hair a few times.

[ He has a particular way he likes his hair, after all. Most people do. But, he reaches out again. He turns Simba over, delicate and thoughtful, and balances the aquabot on its metaphorical "back." There's no latches here, but he's investigating the attachments. He's quiet for a long moment, almost long enough that it seems like he's dropped the conversation entirely after that nickname came through. But then: ]

If you find it, [ he starts, tilting a momentary glance to him, ] I'll come by. [ He gently rights Simba again, continuing. ] Music is fine. I usually played it while I worked, but I listened to a lot in America.

[ You know, at the parties he went to mostly. ]

Edited 2018-06-27 01:37 (UTC)

[Ryuji respects people who can freely state their preferences without skirting around issues. He's always been pretty blunt himself, only in the realm of things where it wasn't directly about him, so it's a bit of an opposite effect. He's apt to speak what's on his mind when it happens, like thoughts get lost if they're not spoken about directly. He's not offended in the slightest about the refusal to let him cut his hair- he takes it as a challenge, all things considered.]

Sure. I'll come back in a few months, then.

[Hajime's hair didn't turn out that bad.]

Yeah? You're promisin' that, huh? [Maybe one day the space ghosts, WHO ARE PROBABLY LISTENING TO THIS CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW, will shower their favor on Ryuji. Probably unlikely considering the recent slew of "gifts" he's found. Probably best to set up a shrine and purify it instead, or something.]

American music is the best. Classic rock, y'know? The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Led Zeppelin... I got into all that stuff when I was pretty young. What's your flavor?

[ There's never been any point in sparing anyone the sharp edge of his tongue as far as Ryo was concerned, besides where he desired or it benefited himself and Akira in some way. For Ryo, who finds it difficult to interact with other individuals at any level he'd consider more than casual, Ryuji has an advantage that most lack: he puts up with him, no matter how distant or abrasive (purposely or accidentally as the case may be) he is. He's charismatic, sure, but the more one nudged at him the more the veneer lacked. All it takes, in the end, is earnest behavior and continual kindness to get into what Ryo is. Or, at the very least, an understanding that he was ill-equipped for more than carefully calibrated social appearances no matter how refined he's become over the years.

So, there's something fleeting that skirts the edges of Ryo's expression as Ryuji takes it up as a challenge. It isn't a smile, but his expression seems less neutral somehow. ]

I'll come, [ he restates. He takes the filters up by the designated handles and moves them toward Ryuji instead. ] Clean these before you run it again. [ It's almost like an aside, because Ryo drops them (albeit gently) next to him. He actually does seem to consider Ryuji's question, though, and: ]

Classical and instrumental are the easiest to research to, [ he says after a moment, his hands coming to settle on the tops of his thighs. His fingers curve soft and natural, relaxed. ] I prefer electronica and synthwave when I'm out or alone.

Edited 2018-07-09 01:00 (UTC)

[And it isn't even by any specific design or purpose that he's trying to worm his way into Ryo's good graces, he just has a lot of impatience to give and so many hearts to steal. Wait. No. He has a lot of patience and his heart to give. That's not right either. Look, he's a bit of a persistent son of a bitch, and equally doesn't understand the concept of wanting to be left alone. Ryuji Sakamoto hates being left alone himself, as he's come to find out over the course of time spent learning how to make friends again. He just knows how to speak his mind and doesn't hold himself back from stuff, and sometimes, that works really well to his advantage. Other times, disaster. In the end, it kind of evens out over a long enough time scale.]

Yeah, sure.

[He looks down at his new best friend, his son, the thing he would absolutely give his life protecting. That thing is going to be so clean you could eat doritos off of it. But please don't eat doritos off of it, Ryuji would have to go and clean that shit up all over again.]

Wow, man, you are...

[He hides a smile back, but it's hard when you're practically made of sunshine and sarcasm.]

The most interesting person I've ever met.

[Classical music, yeesh.]

Oh hell yeah. Havin' a little rave in your room 'n shit. Shakin' your booty like no one's intensely staring at it. [Please shut him up.]

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