Miko Nakadai (
pullingamiko) wrote in
capitalh2014-04-25 09:09 am
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Entry tags:
(no subject)
Who: Miko and Knock Out
Where: somewhere in Los Angeles
When: today (early-ish March)
What: With the rumors of alien robots confirmed, Miko decides to track down the original source in the name of INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM
Warnings: nothing in particular as of now, but. Knock Out...
After hours spent searching the Internet, Miko is pretty sure she's found the origins of the 'talking car' rumors - and, considering that new evidence suggests that they're probably true, she's not letting this opportunity go to waste.
Of course, that's not to say that tracking this mysterious talking car is at all easy, but from the sound of things it may still be in Los Angeles. So all that's left to do is keep an eye out, and hope she gets lucky.
So here she is, lurking around on a street corner, cell phone in hand, trying to peer into the windows of any red sports car that may happen to go by, and fully prepared to intercept any that may seem to be lacking a driver ('intercept' here meaning 'go charging up to them, run alongside if necessary, probably shout a lot', generally be in the way as much as possible). Clearly, this plan is foolproof.
Where: somewhere in Los Angeles
When: today (early-ish March)
What: With the rumors of alien robots confirmed, Miko decides to track down the original source in the name of INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM
Warnings: nothing in particular as of now, but. Knock Out...
After hours spent searching the Internet, Miko is pretty sure she's found the origins of the 'talking car' rumors - and, considering that new evidence suggests that they're probably true, she's not letting this opportunity go to waste.
Of course, that's not to say that tracking this mysterious talking car is at all easy, but from the sound of things it may still be in Los Angeles. So all that's left to do is keep an eye out, and hope she gets lucky.
So here she is, lurking around on a street corner, cell phone in hand, trying to peer into the windows of any red sports car that may happen to go by, and fully prepared to intercept any that may seem to be lacking a driver ('intercept' here meaning 'go charging up to them, run alongside if necessary, probably shout a lot', generally be in the way as much as possible). Clearly, this plan is foolproof.
I MEANT TO DO THIS YESTERDAY whoops
Given recent events -- his unintentional exposure to CONDOR, Breakdown's escape from the vicious hands of TRIDENT, Megatron's return -- he probably ought to be a little more hesitant about heading into the organic-infested city, but he can only stomach hanging around the warship for so long and the desert is just so drab. The city is interesting, at least, and -- as much as he hates to admit it -- it's useful. He's still gathering the last few things he needs to put the finishing touches on Breakdown's new arm, too, and those he can't scavenge from the desert.
He's spent the last hour slowly circling around the block where a high-tech electronics and mechanical supplier is located, scouting it out for later. Oh, he can't just break in during broad daylight, not when he's already been compromised, but he can at least scope out the place and come back after dark. It doesn't really occur to him that just driving around the same location for so long might be considered conspicuous, although he makes some lazy effort to change up his route now and then, checking out different angles he could use to get into the building.
NO PROBLEM
By the fourth time she sees it, the combination of weird behavior and the glimpses she's gotten of the interior have her convinced that this is, indeed, the car she's looking for, and she's not letting it pass by again.
Miko runs directly into the street, placing herself a good distance in front of the car - she figures it shouldn't have trouble stopping at that speed, and why would it hit her intentionally? - waving a hand wildly in the air and shouting. "Hey, you! With all the red! I need to talk to you!"
no subject
He's not giving this fleshie the time of day at this point. He honks at her in irritation, two short staccato beeps, and revs his engine threateningly in what most anyone would interpret as a clear indication to get the hell out of his way.
no subject
As it happens, Miko is not 'most people', and, in fact, seems to interpret angry honking and engine revving as some kind of challenge, which she will gladly step up to.
"I gotta talk to you," she repeats. "And don't try the whole normal-car thing with me, I'm onto you! I already met one of you guys the other day, I know you're really giant robots!"
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Not that he's really in a position to complain, given his first encounter with Sollux, but Knock Out has to wonder who it was she'd run into. Breakdown? No, he'd have brought the human along as another pet. Perhaps Orion, that seems more likely...
At any rate, he's not pleased with having his cover nullified like that. His engine growls as he inches closer, trying to threaten her into submission. What is wrong with this human? Where is her healthy sense of fear? "Oh, well if you know all about us," he says, his voice dripping venom, "then you should know enough to get out of my way. I have absolutely zero interest in chatting up a skinjob, so make like an egg and scramble. Oh, wait -- that's what I'm going to do to you if you don't get out of my way."
Seriously, humans, can't he go about his shifty robot business in peace? Jeez.
no subject
"Geez, what's up with you, you puncture a tire or something? I never said I know all about you, just that you're robots." Honestly, this guy seems like kind of a dick, but she can't let that deter her from investigating. Even if he is threatening to run her over. "Besides, I'm a journalist, stuff like this is my job."
Technically not her official job, yet, but close enough. Besides, 'I'm an intern' just doesn't like seem as convincing an argument.
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"Like I care about what your job is," he snaps impatiently. "If you're looking for an interview, you'll have to keep shopping. I'm not interested."
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"Aw, come on, man! Do you have any idea how long I've been looking for you? Like, you can't exactly just put a want ad online - 'looking for alien robot, red, turns into a badass car' - I've been hanging around this street for hours, thanks for being so shifty so I could notice you by the way."
She just wants to interrogate him about every trivial question that comes to mind, is that too much to ask.
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"Hours, you say?" He sounds almost amused now, although there's a dangerous edge to his voice. He hasn't quite decided how he's going to handle this one. If he could transform, he'd certainly give her a good scare... But he can't afford another stunt like the one with CONDOR. He smart enough to know it's only by the good graces of luck that Megatron doesn't know about that (yet) -- if he exposes himself in the city again, he knows he won't off so easily this time. And he can't just run this human down in broad daylight. "My, you are the intrepid little reporter. I'm almost flattered."
Almost.
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"Yes, hours," she replies. She's relaxed a bit more now, some of the tension in her shoulders dropped now that he isn't actively threatening her. Maybe she's getting through to him. "Again, you weren't easy to find."
She pauses, considering her own approach here. "Look, all I want is to ask you a few questions, then you can go back to your weird skulking, m'kay?"
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His internal mechanics give an agitated little rattle, and he huffs air out through his vents. "Fine. I'll bite. Ask your questions, fleshling -- but I make no guarantee about what kind of answers you'll get."
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"Okay so first off, what's your name? And what are you doing on Earth, did you crash here or come here on purpose or what? What's your top speed? And if you're 'not supposed to be easy to find' then what are you doing being seen all over Europe and lurking around in public spaces?" That last bit is probably pushing it a bit, even if it's said jokingly, with significantly less confrontation or mean-spirited-ness than before, but she doesn't intend to let it go just yet.
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breathe? Impressive. And annoying. Knock Out rattles off a list
of answers -- or non-answers, as it were -- effortlessly, sounding
almost bored.
"Knock Out, of course I came here on purpose, one hundred
ninety miles per hour -- though I can push two hundred on a
good day -- and none of your business." That last answer
is drawled out, a dangerous edge to it. "There. I answered your
questions. Now...go. Shoo."
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"Okay, fine, one last question, though - if you're here on purpose, why? Like, what's so interesting about Earth in particular?"
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It tries his patience, but at the same time, on some level he almost
admires her -- what's the human word for it -- guts. Well,
that's fitting.
He's not about to give her a real answer, of course. If he weren't in
his alt mode, he'd be smiling. "Very little, actually...but you humans
do produce some exquisite vehicles."
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Suddenly, she remembers one of the main reasons she was here to begin with. "Oh, hey, would'ya mind keeping an eye out for a guy named- Orion, I think? He's this red and blue semi, when I talked to him he was kinda... well, hopelessly lost."
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Knock Out sharpens at Orion's name, though. That catches his attention. Orion had run into some of the natives, had he? Well, it's not like he's been out and about much lately. That must have been before Starscream found him.
"Orion, you say?" Knock Out sounds unimpressed, idle. He doesn't give any indication he recognizes the name. "Well, thanks for the tip, fleshie. I'll be sure to keep an optic out for him."
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She places a hand on her hip, gesturing dramatically in front of Knock Out. "Now, why don't you go on your way, like you keep saying? I'm sure you have plenty of important skulking to get to."
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"I'll be on my way...just make sure you remember to look both ways before you cross the street, fleshling. And I wouldn't go chasing down any more strange cars -- if you know what's good for you."
He lets out a dark chuckle -- sort of ominous-sounding, honestly -- before he puts metal to the pedal and guns it, tires squealing as he speeds around the corner.
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She turns away with a huff and starts to head home. "What's that guy's problem," she mutters. At least he makes a really cool car.