[MoM] IC CONTACT POST

[microbrobotics]

"Hey, you've reached Hiro Hamada. Text me like a normal person and not a weirdo."

Comments

[microbrobotics]

[ His eyes widen still further as he examines the wound. That ... is definitely a bite mark. He has no trouble believing that it was caused by a zombie. Some horrible part of him has the urge to take a picture, just to have an image of a for-real bite ... but he isn't that morbid in the end. Having had a quarantine scare sort of took the edge off his nerdy fondness for zombies.

He swallows, slowly. Concern floods his expression, softening his face. ]

'course. I promise, 100%.

[nohalfway]

[ Ellie looks away fast, quickly tugging down her sleeve to cover it up. She uncomfortably shifts away from Hiro a bit, suddenly embarrassed and ashamed. ]

Don't shit your pants or anything. I got bit over a year ago, so it's not like I'm infected.

[microbrobotics]

-- No, I wasn't thinking that at all.

[ He was a little. But only a little. ]

I figured you wouldn't let me get this close if you weren't safe.

[nohalfway]

Sorry.

[ Ellie wills herself to relax a little. ]

It's not exactly normal for people to... Not freak out when I tell them.

[ She weakly laughs. ]

Joel almost abandoned me.

[microbrobotics]

... Joel did? But he's like - your dad.

[ And Hiro is terrified of him after that chance encounter at her place. ]

[nohalfway]

[ Should have seen him when he thought she was infected. She can't help the awkward smirk on her face. ]

Yeah, well, he found out a year ago.

He was hired to smuggle me to the Fireflies. Once they found out I was immune, they figured I was the final hope for a cure.

So...

[ She shrugs. ]

I mean, things changed. A lot. He's not like that anymore.

[microbrobotics]

Still, that's - that's horrible. You obviously weren't infected.

[nohalfway]

Honestly?

You'd be pretty freaked out too if you saw it. There is no cure in my world. Doctor's have been struggling with vaccines for twenty years. It's not like I blame him for being skeptical.

[microbrobotics]

I wouldn't be, I swear.

[ He absolutely would be. No way a kid like him wouldn't be after living through all of that. But he insists anyway, because he' determined not to be freaked out now. ]

[nohalfway]

[ Ellie raises an eyebrow when she looks back at Hiro. ]

I don't... Think you get it, Hiro.

No one's ever survived a bite. I'm the first. Trust me, I'm still waiting for my turn.

[microbrobotics]

[ Hesitation flickers in his face. ]

Bet nobody's survived a year either.

[nohalfway]

[ She nods, looking back to her fingers which have locked together and linked her hands. ]

That's... True.

It usually hits after two days.

[microbrobotics]

So you're way past that. No way you're going to turn now.

[nohalfway]

[ Ellie sighs as she puts her hands to her face, rubbing at it before letting them drop back into her lap. ]

Yeah. Maybe.

If anything, I'm safe here. With my regenerative powers, there's no way it can get me now but...

[ Ellie shrugs. Then looks to Hiro with desperation, eyes glassy. It feels good to be open about this to someone who's so openly compassionate, and it's made her a bit vulnerable. ]

What about if I go back?

[microbrobotics]

[ That's a question he's asked a lot himself. For Tadashi, always... He swallows. ]

I don't know. People don't remember anyway. But - but I'm working on it.

[nohalfway]

[ Ellie's gaze shifts down, ashamed. ]

How do you not think I'm a freak? That I'm crazy?

[microbrobotics]

[ He just shrugs a bit. ]

You say that like I'm normal.

[nohalfway]

[ Ellie shakes her head, laughing a little. ]

More normal than I am.

[microbrobotics]

I built my first robot when I was three. I finished high school at thirteen ... Trust me, I'm nowhere near normal.

[nohalfway]

[ She softly smiles. ]

Pfff.

I like you.

[microbrobotics]

[ A flush creeps into Hiro's cheeks. He's suddenly aware of the fact that they're sitting awful close on the bed. In his house, late at night ... ]

I - I really like you too. A whole lot.

[nohalfway]

[ Ellie realizes the shift quickly herself, eyes meeting with their legs that are now pressing together. Oh man... ]

[ It's... Weird. It's all weird. This whole relationship is weird and she thinks it's probably just her awkward discomfort with people in general that's causing it. But she couldn't be sure. Still, Ellie smiles to his response, warmed to hear that someone likes her that much. ]

[ She's not sure why she's doing it, why she's looking Hiro in the eyes and then at his mouth, at the gap in his teeth that she finds kind of charming. But Ellie feels a curiosity that has her inching closer, face closing distance with his own. ]

[microbrobotics]

[ This is it, isn't it. He's going to actually kiss someone he likes for the first time. Now that he's faced with it, he's nervous - heart hammering in his ears, breath caught somewhere between his lungs and his mouth. Is he supposed to be good at this? Has Ellie kissed anyone else before? He has no idea what to do.

Except, maybe, lean forward to meet her. It's awkward; he doesn't think to tilt his head, so this is probably going to clash. ]

[nohalfway]

[ Ellie is... Partially skilled in this. Partially. She's not sure if kissing a girl counts as practice for a boy or... If you do it the same way. Or if there's a wrong way to do it for either. She gets caught up in that thought and-- ]

Oof--

[ They bump noses. Awkwardly. Ellie pauses a moment while her nose is pressed against his. ]

Sorry.

[ Try this again? ]

[microbrobotics]

[ If he wasn't red before, he sure is now. Geez, Hiro, get it together. He pulls back a bit, just enough for him to refocus on her without his eyes crossing. ]

I-it's okay, let me --

[ This time, when he leans in he kind of gets a better angle. A serviceable one, anyway. ]