Work Text:
H16h V0l7463: Heeeeeeeey
H16h V0l7463: Hey
H16h V0l7463: Hey
H16h V0l7463: Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey
McFlea: ?
McFlea: HEY WAIT.
McFlea: Amir why is my name “McFlea”????
H16h V0l7463: Oh good
H16h V0l7463: Ur there
H16h V0l7463: Thought it was funny
McFlea: I dont get it?
H16h V0l7463: OH
H16h V0l7463: MY
H16h V0l7463: GOD
H16h V0l7463:onononononono I cant believe ur not versed in
H16h V0l7463: hold on
H16h V0l7463: yep ok
McFlea: what? Amir I’m more lost than normal.
McFlea: Amir?
[H16h V0l7463 is offline]
No sooner than when the message pops up is when you hear the tell-tale crackles of electricity as the protoframe himself comes skidding across the hardwood floor.
“Hi Kalymos, hi girl.” You hear Amir down below coo at the kavat followed by the animal’s loud purrs.
“Ohhhkay Amir, what are you showing me today?” You pace over to the railing of the loft, expecting to see your friend holding one of his odd gadgets.
Ever since you made the fatal mistake of trying to use one of the computers by jabbing your finger right into the hard glass screen, Amir and Aoi had taken on the task of introducing you to their tech. With…varying levels of success. It was baffling how much space simple devices took up while producing such limited results. A CD-ROM could only hold ten to twelve songs and had to be placed in a larger device to even work, and even then they were so fragile that a simple scratch would render them useless. Small boxes that utilize radiation to heat food called “microwaves” but were unable to raise the temperature to a select degree. Even the ungodly flickering sounds the lights made were so alien to you that in the back of your mind you missed your orbiter.
When you look to the level below, only Kalymos is there looking back up at you like you’re an idiot for expecting anyone else to be there.
“Okay so, first of all, I will be teaching you how to work KIM better. BUT!” You turn to see the hex member flicking through some kind of menu on the television, “First! You need to get acquainted to” as if rehearsed, he wiggles his fingers at the screen as a title card reading ‘Forward to the Past’ appears, “One of the best works of cinema ever created!”
“Sin-uh-mah?” You sound out the word to yourself, now transfixed on the footage that plays.
“A movie, video, moving picture? C’mon, you can’t tell me that the future doesn’t have movies?!” Amir’s face twists into an exaggerated look of fear. The expression makes you giggle.
“No, no, we-we do.” You close your eyes and think about the educational videos that played in class, the live announcements from the Worm Queens, the propaganda that was illuminated everywhere around Fortuna, “But it was more for information, not…” you gesture at the shot of a young boy in a slick spandex suit talking to some android, “Colorful and silly.”
The tech expert’s face drops to a more somber look, “No?” He points a remote at the screen and stops the movie, “Was there, anything?”
You sit down on the couch and stare at the ceiling for a moment, “I mean, when I was young the nature documentaries were cool. And uh, sometimes there were musical performances. I sort of learned how to play the shawzin. Then in the Duviri, sometimes there were theatrical events, at least until I started to go crazy.” You nervously bite the fabric around your gloved thumb, pushing back the memories of your shattered childhood.
A gentle hand places itself on your shoulder, “Hey, most of that sounds pretty cool! I mean, except that last bit, but I think it’s time to show you the glory of mind-numbing entertainment!” His smile is brighter than the stars and you can’t help but smile back as he resumes the film and sprawls out next to you.
The next hour and a half is spent with Amir quoting along with the film and commentary on the production. Over time you slowly relax into the cushions of the couch. Amir notices your movement and begins to get to his feet.
“Where're you going?” You sit back up.
“Ah just moving--I mean it's your couch--I don't wanna--”
“N-no no you're fine! We can both fit!” You wriggle around until you're leaning against the arm of the sofa and motion for your friend to sit back down. Amir accepts the invitation and rests on the other end, his foot gently knocks against your leg but you don't withdraw. Instead the slight pressure…feels nice? Comforting? You'll sort that feeling out later on your own time.
Somewhere along the way you've stopped trying to follow the absurd plot and instead focus on the protoframe as he points to the scene playing.
“So to get that really nice blue color for the night scenes, the director had the crew put tinted film over their lenses.” He seems to finally have relaxed, you note by the way his knee has stopped bouncing.
“But why?” You ask.
“Visual interest! And to make it feel lonelier.”
You aren't really sure how a color can make you feel a certain way, but you don't have the mental energy to have your friend explain it. Maybe Lettie or Elenore would be better to ask?
It's as the credits roll up does Amir look back at you with a wide grin, “Well? Thoughts?”
“I think…” you hum, “It was certainly entertaining. Can't say it made sense. Or how missing a shot in that--uh--basketball game caused an apocalypse.”
“Oh if you think that's bad. Wait until the second and third ones.” He playfully nudges your leg with his foot.
“The-there's three of them?!”
“Yep! And I have ‘em right here!” In Amir's hand are two cases, “I mean, only if you want to, but we totally should.”
“Eh. What the hell, sure.” You shrug.
“GREAT! Okay! We're gonna do this right then! I'm grabbing snacks ‘n drinks, you get cozy, I'll be right back!”
You blink and he's gone, leaving only the scent of ozone behind.
The next ten minutes are spent jogging through the mall to the restroom, getting stopped by Aoi so she can ask if you've seen Amir which then becomes her finding out about the movie and how she'll lend you “something actually good”, resuming your jog, getting a little lost, using the restroom, finding one of Lettie's rats dragging around a pizza crust, and returning to your room where Amir has a table pulled up that has a decent spread of junk food.
“Wanted to make sure you got the real experience.” He hands you a bottle of soda before setting up the next movie.
You plop back down on the couch and take a sip, recoiling at how the carbonated drink stings your mouth. Nope. Still not used to it.
The movie starts and Amir takes his seat, legs once more brushing against yours. This time you feel the trace sensation of static across your skin.
“They had a larger budget for this one, so it's much flashier. Like they really got into CGI. Personally, I think practical effects look better.”
You grab a handful of chips and munch on them as the protoframe continues to talk about the “superior aesthetics of practical effects” while you watch the TV. Slowly, the buzzing of thoughts in your mind subside to make room for the even more absurd plot and Amir’s rambling. In this moment, you feel at peace for once.
In the middle of an explanation, Amir looks back at you and notices that you’ve fallen asleep. He moves to rouse you but stops half way.
“You’ve got an opportunity here. Don’t waste it.” He can almost hear the smirk in Eleanor’s ethereal voice. The tech expert exhales and swallows the anxiety that builds in his throat before rearranging himself so that his head rests on your lap. His augmented heart flutters behind his ribs (are his ribs still there? Or is it all chitin now? Lettie would probably know. Focus.) Your legs shuffle a little but you don’t appear to wake up and Amir breathes a sigh of relief then turns his focus back to the movie. If it were anyone else, he would have poked them awake, but he could see the weight you carried behind your glowing eyes and smile.
While it was no secret that you came from a fucked up future (a future with no pizza at that) everyone else except Aoi and himself just sort of pushed passed it. But he saw the way you tapped your foot and bounced to the beat of “Party of Your Lifetime” when it played over the intercoms. It was…cute? Yeah, cute. Then once he saw you attempt to use a standard PC as a touchscreen it was over. Amir had to get you up to speed on using 90's tech.
“They're good with a gun and their fists, but we can't risk them jeopardizing everything over something stupid like simple console commands.” Arthur had told him.
“Yeah yeah no problem! I got it, easy peasy.” He gave a double thumbs up then zipped over to the food court where Aoi had placed headphones on your ears to introduce you to her music.
Despite his initial worries that you might not pick up using a more primitive era of technology, you were a fast learner and what you didn't immediately understand you quickly figured out with ease. You would listen with full attention as he walked you through the steps to using a Scaldra telecomm system and mimic his lesson perfectly. He helped get you set up with the Hex's network to keep up on assignments, dates, and team communication which led to late night chats over KIM. And the more time he spent around you, Amir could feel something in his emotions shifting.
“You're as subtle as a tank, Amir.” Eleanor spoke to him while he put together emergency beacons for the next day's delivery run.
“Hm. I don't know what you mean.” He mumbled, soldering wires to a small circuit board.
“Our drifter friend. The one that you look at like a lost pup.”
“Exactly. Friend. Eleanor, I don't want to think about it.”
“Have it your way. But they do also hold some…interesting thoughts about you too.”
Amir feels his heart skip. His mind returns to the present. Not even ten minutes had passed if the movie was anything to go by. But his head was still in your lap and his gut was now churning. What if you woke up? What if you freaked out? Attacked him? Maybe he had been interpreting your intentions all wrong! Oh he would never live it down.
You mumble something in your sleep and your hand comes down to rest on his head, fingers lightly scratching his scalp, and oooooh that feels good. His heart flutters again and his mind halts to a stop as he’s reminded of a life long since gone. Back when only his thoughts were quick, when electricity didn’t manifest around him, when his skin was its normal tan shade, when his sleep wasn’t interrupted by night terrors. He sighs and leans more into your touch, letting his eyes close for just a moment. Amir dreams of comforting silence.
Kalymos nuzzles into your palm as you pet her, coarse fur occasionally snagging on your fingers. You stare into the void swirl of a sky, watching stars collide and explode, people walk backwards around you, The Lotus stands on the edge of a cliff above a deep pool of dark water. It’s a strange dream, but not unwelcome. A pleasant change from the haunting faces of your past.
Kalymos doesn't have fur, your brain supplies and you crack open an eye to see a shaggy mess of dark hair under your hand. Every muscle in your body tenses.
You stare down at the sleeping form of Amir and no you absolutely will not panic. Nope. Never.
In your totally calm and not panicked mind, you end up void dashing off the couch and straight into the wall with a loud clatter, waking your friend up.
Within milliseconds the protoframe zips to your side and pulls you to your feet.
“OHMYGOSHIMSOSORRYYOULOOKEDSOCOMFORTABLEANDITHOUGHTITWOULDBEOKPLEASEDONTBEMAD!” He holds his head and paces around in frustration while you can only watch and try to mentally decipher what the hell just happened. It wasn't like you didn't enjoy having the hex member resting on your lap, nor was it uncomfortable, so why was your body still freaking out?
It's a question for Lettie later you decide.
Right now you've gotta calm down the speedster who luckily hasn't dashed out of your room yet.
“Amir.” You say at a normal tone, hand reaching out to grab his shoulder.
“--andlikeI'mtryingsohardnottoscrewitallupsinceyou'restillobviouslynotusedto--” his mouth moves a mile a minute.
“Amiiiiir.”
“--IknewIwaslookingtoofarintoitlikewhywouldyoueverwannabewithme--”
“AMIR!” you shout and watch the man nearly jump out of his skin.
“Sorry so so sorry I just I can't I--”
“It's okay, Amir. Really. It…it felt nice.” You feel your face heat up a few degrees when you admit your thoughts.
“Oh. Oh wow. Really? You don't mind?” His hands clench and unclench a few times as the nervous energy works its way out of him. You nod with a gentle smile and return to your spot on the couch.
“C'mon, we've still got two whole movies to watch.” You say and pat your lap.
Amir does a few bouncing steps in place before sitting back down and leaning back. He happily munches on a slice of pizza while your fingers run through his short locks. The movie plays on and you resume your conversation with the protoframe, commenting on the awful digital effects and the nonsense plot. The fuzzy feeling in your heart settles in and while it's strange and new, it's not unwelcome.