six_word_stories | (no subject)

I uh. Excuse me?

[A beat.]

Is it that obvious?

I have been programmed to detect physiological symptoms associated with bad feelings.

Oh. Well, I mean.

[Do not argue with the kind robot lady, Steve. She sounds as pleasant if not more then Miss Siri. He'll shut his little notebook and tuck it away before approaching.]

Thanks, then. I guess I've been a bit out of sorts lately.

Do not worry then. I am here for you.

[ She spreads her arms out. Here, let Mom-bot give you that hug. ]

Edited 2017-09-25 19:31 (UTC)

[For a human, hugging Steve sure does feel like hugging a tank. Dude is pretty solid.]

Whoever designed you is a very kind person.

[Robot hugs are strangely comforting! Steve learned something new today.

Do you uh...enjoy it? Helping folks out? I mean I'd assume you would have been programmed to but. To be honest I'm a bit old fashioned in the ways of technology.

[ It's remarkably similar to the time she forced a hug upon Jack Morrison... She wonders if perhaps this man has also been through the S.E.P. Soldier Enhancement Program. He also looks remarkable like the archived photos of 76 when he was younger... Strange! Does Jack have a secret son maybe?! ]

Yes, Efi is very kind.

[ Mention of her creator is enough to distract her from the conspiracy theory budding in her processors. ]

She built me to be a protector, but allowed me to choose my path. I have chosen to defend the innocent, and help those in pain and trouble.

[She wouldn't be that far off the mark. Steve would probably get along well with Morrison, too.]

That's very thoughtful of her. I've always thought that if you're going to design a robot smarter than most folk, you should also give them the freedom to choose. I'm glad you're able to follow your own path.

[Her job description makes Steve grin though.]

I'll probably be seeing a lot of you around then. I'm in the same business.

That would be wonderful!

[ She doesn't have a mouth but she seems to smile nonetheless. ]

I would love to team up someday. I am still very new at this, and I would love to see a 'pro' in action.

I don't know that I'd call myself a 'Pro' necessarily.

[She's making Captain America blush with embarrassment, here.]

I'm just bad at standing back when I see something wrong that needs dealing with.

Hold it-- are you calibrated to hug humans appropriately?

My creator has installed me with appropriate protocals to avoid crushing humans during embraces.

[Thinks about that for a moment, then shrugs.] Well, you're not that big, so what's the worst that could happen?

[She opens her arms. A hug would actually be kind of nice right now.]

Do not worry. So long as I am here you will be safe.

[ She very gently gives her a hug... and for a huge robot centaur lady? I's surprisingly warm. ]

[Holy crap this is an excellent hug. But it's not the hug that makes Mikaela unexpectedly tear up-- it's what the 'bot says.

None of the Autobots have ever said anything like that to her. It was Sam they worked to keep safe.

They expected her to take care of herself.

And that's why she starts crying on Orisa, wh-whoops.]

[ Luckily she is made of rust proof alloys! So there will be no lasting damage. Unluckily there is the crying.

Orisa cocks her head and kneels so she is mostly at eye level. ]

Are you unwell?

[ Her digitized voice conveys a remarkable amount of concern. ]

[Mikaela backs off a step, patting down her pockets looking for a napkin or something. No luck. She wipes her face with the palms of her hands, smearing her makeup. She's embarrassed and trying to get it under control.; the incredible concern in the robot's voice does not make that easier.]

Sorry! God, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-- to start crying like a baby like that. Are you gonna be okay, I didn't make a mess on your exoplating, did I?

No need to worry. My armor has been tested to withstand concussive blasts powerful enough to level several city blocks.

[ She pauses a moment and from some hidden compartment somewhere she produces a box of tissues. Her creator Efi has had allergies lately, so Orisa wanted to make sure she was prepared. ]

But I am more worried about you.

[She sniffles.] Concussive blasts and rust damage are two really different things, though. Rust'll eat you-- well, not you specifically, but maybe you, unless your anti-corrosives are really good.

[She takes a tissue-- a couple of tissues-- the box, and blots at her eyes.]

I'm not usually this weepy, sorry. I just-- 've had some shit going on, I guess. [A wavery laugh.]

Luckily you do not seem to be a hurricane. So I think I will be fine.

My name is Orisa. What is your name, new friend?

[She laughs into her tissue.] Okay, good point.

Oh, that's such a pretty name! Mine's Mikaela. Mikaela Banes.

Thank you! My creator, Efi, named me.

[ Orisa seems very proud! She loves Efi quite a bit. ]

It is very good to meet you Mikaela. I think we will be very good friends.

[Mikaela beams at her.] Thank you, Orisa. I hope so too.

And thank you for the hug. I, uh. [She sticks a couple of clean tissues into her pocket and hands the box back.] I guess I needed it, huh?

Scanners are mistaken.

They are not. Submit to the embrace.

...

[ She says nothing. Doesn't move either, except for her right index finger, which twitches as if searching for a trigger. Every line of her body radiates tension. ]

[ Her giant metal robot-arms are spread. LAST CHANCE TO ESCAPE WIDOW. ]

Why?

[ She grits out the question as the hug closes in on her. ]

Because everyone deserves affection.

[ And she's read some database entries on Widowmaker. They are... horrifying. ]

[ Okay, fine. She's submitting to the embrace. With a thousand-yard stare. ]

Deserve...the word is meaningless.

The girl clearly made some mistakes.

Negative. Hugging protocol is the standard procedure. Prepare yourself.

Don't touch me. [he'll slam u in to a wall see if he doesn't]

Preparing to engage hostile.

[ Getting ready to charge in... ]

Huh?

[ Shocked glance from his laptop, openly staring, blinking twice, then sweeping his surroundings for some kind of... explanation? This particularly strategy yields absolutely nothing. Uh. Just going to carefully slip from the bench to stand, admittedly awed by their height; it's not often he has to look up to carry a polite conversation. ]

I'm sorry? Is there some kind of... --event today? [ Another gentle glance around. ]

[ She bows her head slightly to make it easier on him. She is also impressed! It's rare to see such a tall human. ]

Event?

[ Her eye shutters blink as she takes a moment to consult her databases. ]

I detect no current events in this area today! Though the 'Mean Bean Coffee Nook' is offering a free cookie with each beverage purchased as a promotion today only.

...I am not affiliated.

[ Enjoy a full three blinks spaced by gradual processing of the fact he's absorbed a fair amount of information yet achieved very little clarity. ]

Huh. I-- was thinking about coffee. Might be worth checking out. [ Lifts a hand to rub at the back of his neck, perplexed; amused simply due the oddness of this exchange. ] I meant the costume. It's pretty eh, amazing.

[ It is getting closer to Halloween. Sort of... Pumpkin spice is back anyway. This may or may not be something with which Sam is perfectly content. ]

Costume?

[ She stilts her head, clearly confused. She looks down at herself, kicks the dirt with her foot and looks at him again. ]

This is my standard exoskeleton. Do I look... odd?

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can't decide if DF is the best or worst person to reply this.

depends is her fortify on cooldown

it's always ready for him

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