( video | un: fishbones )

[powderkegs]

All right, ladies and gentleman and gentlepeople! It's time for the main event! That's right, it's what you've all been waiting for!

BEETLE BATTLE TIME

At 3 o'clock, at the park, we're gonna bring our toughest, meanest, more ferocious beasties to battle it out! Who will be the best of them all and take home the prize!

[ jinx pulls back to reveal the prize which is a fancy look trophy, gleaming and bright. normally, she'd put her trademark style on it, but if she wants a wider appeal, she has to go . . . sighs, corporate. ]

And of course, I will be supervising and commentating! Join us for fun! The glam! The honour!

Jinx out!

Comments

[egraegis]

It's a... little round robot, with a cute face. They bounce around and say absurd things. They're disarming enough to look at that it's easy to hide things inside them. I used to build them for my former fiancee.

[powderkegs]

[ oh. that is cute. ]

I want one. Maybe I'll make my own.

[egraegis]

Feel free. I'd be interested in seeing what you come up with.

[Hopefully not too explosive, but hey, it's all her call.]

[powderkegs]

Just you wait.

You're gonna see a genius at work!

[egraegis]

[Genius... well, he likes the confidence. It's better than the first (and last) time they spoke.]

You want a picture, or would you rather freeball the design?

[He suspects her Haro and the real deal will end up very different, and he figures that's half the fun. But he'd feel badly if he didn't offer just in case.]

[powderkegs]

[ she brightens. ]

Yeah! Shoot it my way!

[egraegis]

[He'll go ahead and send a visual of the first and favourite Haro, Mr. Pink.]

The most critical part of a Haro design is attitude, in my experience.

[powderkegs]

[ aww cute ♥ attitude huh? ]

What's that like?

[egraegis]

Sometimes saying nonsense, sometimes shouting silly phrases for no reason. "I can't believe it!" and "damn you!" are a couple of favourites. One time it called my father "you bastard man!" completely out of nowhere, and I had to apologize and promise to reprogram it at once.

[powderkegs]

Oooh, it's got spunk. I like that in a machine.

[egraegis]

Most people don't, but I figured you would.

[Attitude appreciates attitude, feels like. That's the vibe he's gotten so far, so he's glad his read isn't totally off.]

[powderkegs]

[ jinx's nose scrunches up. ]

Most people don't have taste.

[egraegis]

[Okay, that is kind of funny.]

You're not wrong, there. Especially when it comes to robots.

[powderkegs]

Obviously. Who says robots havta be boring?

[egraegis]

I think it's less boring and more... "not annoying". For most people they can be a bit much.

[Sometimes even for him...]

[powderkegs]

[ jinx scoffs. ]

That's the same thing as boring. When people just want things at an acceptable level. The same.

[egraegis]

[He chuckles quietly. Fair.]

Is there anything that annoys you?

[powderkegs]

Tons of stuff. But I just deal with it.

[ usually by destroying it. ]

I don't act like I need it on my level or make it change.

[egraegis]

You're a lot more reasonable than most of the people I knew growing up. Although, that's not a high bar to cross, I'll admit.

[powderkegs]

[ that prompts a cheeky laugh. ]

Definitely not the reasonable type! I just do things my own way.

[egraegis]

Reasonable on your own terms, I should specify. The whole... forcing a change. Many underestimate how valuable a trait it is, having the willpower to not do that.

[powderkegs]

[ jinx's expression seems to shift, shadowed for a moment. ]

Personal experience. Everyone wanted me in some nice little box. And when they didn't like it, well.

[ she shrugs, ending it there. ]

[egraegis]

[Ah... that's... familiar, in a way.]

People don't belong in boxes. We fight too much, eventually we'll just break out. The ones who put you in are never going to be satisfied with what comes out.

[powderkegs]

[ a low snort. ]

They never are. It's alwaaaaays a shit show.

[egraegis]

Yet they're the ones who complain the most about it, aren't they?