maskormenace | 001

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001 | VIDEO

[Chie looks at her phone, beads of sweat dotting her forehead. This isn't her first time dealing with worlds that aren't her own, that doesn't make it any less stressful. Working out is the best way she knows how to deal with it.]

You know, I'm always willing to help out, but you could at least ask before you pull people from their beds. I probably would have still said yes if you were a little nicer about it.

[She wipes her forehead and grins.]

But hey, that file wasn't kidding when it said 'enhanced strength', was it? I think I could get used to this! I mean, as soon as I find a punching bag I won't put my foot through.

Anyway! I guess I'll be helping out now, I just have a couple of questions. First, do we get cool costumes or do we all wear the same uniform? And second, anyone know a good place to eat around here? There's a lot to learn around here, and I can't do it on an empty stomach.

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[A woman shows up on the feed, rather relieved to see more and more people arriving. Even if they're not from his world, the idea that he's not alone in this situation really helps. Maybe it was because he was new, though. Heck, she's taking it a million times better than him, though.]

Costumes? You mean changes of clothes, right? I'm...just starting to learn about that myself, as a matter of fact.

[It's a bit more specific than that, Metalhawk...but the mention of food causes his eyes to light up, the bright blue really showing through the feed.]

I may know a place you can eat. My friend Bumblebee takes me there often.

[He smiles, as if proud of himself. He's -*learning*-]

Do you have superheroes where you're from? I guess not everyone does.

We could go together, if you want. If we're stuck living together, there's no use in being strangers.

Superheroes, I can't say we do. Living legends are a bit more likely. They don't always end up heroic, though...

But I'd love to go with you. I've been told I need more than one outfit to wear, and any help's appreciated.

[But just then, he's opening the door to his room, starting to walk out into the main section of the house--only to see her.

Standing right there.

...Awkward communicator shut.]

Ah...hello.

[He walks over, 6'2'' lankiness and all, hands put behind his back.]

I guess that makes it convenient.

[She sits up from the couch and waves.]

Hey! I didn't want to go in there without knocking or anything...but I'm Chie. Your new roommate!

[Oh god, she's so upbeat and happy. That's...a nice change of pace from everything! He can't help but smile back, nodding.]

I suppose I'm a little slow on the newest influx of people, or I would have properly greeted you, so I should be sorry for not coming out! I'm Metalhawk.

[But he gives a quick glance around.]

...Are you all settled?

[He wants to make sure you have everything already settled in before going out for funsies! ...As fun as Metalhawk can get.]

I think so. It's not like I have a suitcase to unpack or anything.

Then I'm ready to go when you are.

[He looks almost shy to express it, but there's slight excitement in his voice. Ever so slight.]

We can pick up food on the way. There's a cafe not too far from here.

Okay!

[Chie hops up from the couch and puts her communicator in her pocket. After a nice stretch, she's ready to go.]

So, Metalhawk? Is that your superhero name?

[Glad to see she's so eager to spend a little time out with him, he wastes no time in opening the door for her, giving a hint of a laugh.]

You wouldn't be the first to ask me that, actually. But no, it's my real name.

Were your parents superheroes? It's an awesome name, don't get me wrong, but I've never heard of anything like that back home.

[If only her own parents were that creative. Chie's always down to meet new people, especially here where she doesn't know anyone. It's a pretty stressful thing, getting pulled to a new world without any notice. Having friends to support each other is important!]

Parents?

[He sounds the word out, as if it's foreign to him. Wait...he may have heard that somewhere....something to wiki later, probably.]

Well, I suppose it'd help to know that I'm not exactly human. Despite what I look like right now.

You're not?

[The only other non-human she's ever met that could talk was Teddie. And Metalhawk was doing a whole lot better at blending in than Teddie ever did.]

So what are you?

[Her surprise isn't...well, surprising to him. A lot of people have been fooled by this human body of his.]

I'm what's called a Cybertronian, a mechanical alien species that can change into a vehicle form.

When I arrived, it seems like it changed me into a human to fit into this place.

A Cybertronian. [Never heard of it! She'll try to remember, though.] Are you stuck as a human here, or can you go back and forth?

[He nods, when she repeats it.]

I am. At least, for now. One of my powers is accessing my Cybertronian form, but it's something I haven't been able to pull off just yet. I feel like the possibility is there,...

I just need that final piece. Something to trigger it.

Is it human sized like a cyborg or would you become a skyscraper?

[She pauses for a moment, thinking.]

You know, back home when I awakened my Persona, first I had to go through a mental-emotional kind of struggle. Maybe it'll be the same for you, it'll happen when you really need it.

[That gets a little chuckle out of him as he heads outside. You might notice a trail of birds pretty much hovering around the entrance. That's...normal. Sort of.]

Not quite a skyscraper. But large. About 27 feet.

...

That's actually not a bad theory, though. I've tried just about everything to activate it. But maybe it's one of those things you can't rush...

[Maybe there are just lots of birds in this world. Who knows? It's up to Metalhawk to lead the way here, Chie doesn't know where they're going.]

If it's anything like how I had to get my powers back home, you probably just have to wait for it. Do you miss being a robot?

[At the question, his eyes soften, looking up at the sky as they walk.]

More than anything. I don't mind the human body, but there's a lot of care involved.

The sky too. I really miss the sky.

[Oh, he forgot that part.]

Cybertronians have a second form as well, usually a vehicle of some sort. I was a jet, and there's nothing like taking to the sky when you needed to relieve some stress.

[Flight would have been a cool superpower. Chie remembers how her Persona would run through the air, not quite flying, but as if she had commanded an invisible surface into being through sheer force of will. She's never stopped being amazed that something of that force had come from a part of her, and a little jealous of its grace as it swept through the air.]

It sounds amazing. Back home we summoned Personas to help us fight, and they could fly.

[Now that gets his attention. Despite how he likes talking about his own race, he's pretty curious on her world too. There's a smile as he listens, blue eyes practically lighting up.]

Personas? Is it rather literal in definition or is it something else?

It's another part of ourselves we could summon to help us fight. They had powers that we didn't.

So it's like..inner strength personified! How fascinating!

[Jeez, Metalhawk, could you sound any more excited about that?]

Did it follow you here?

Yeah, like that! [Usually it takes a while to explain it to people, so this is progress!]

No, it didn't follow me. But I have some of its powers now.

[Hey, if you can believe giant robot alien people, he'll believe personified other-selves!]

That sounds useful--and incredibly suiting since the Persona is a part of you.

001 | VIDEO

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