microbrobotics | [AU] Age-swap AU!

[ Hiro's been attending the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology ever since he was thirteen years old. There's been bumps in the road - more than one project that's resulted in him catching part of the lab on fire, or worse - but somehow he's nearly at the end of it at last. The only thing between him and a doctorate is a semester and his final project, which are both pretty much one and the same at this point. Unfortunately, this means he's mostly been living on campus for the past month or so, coming home only for meals and occasionally sleep. Rarely sleep. He's kind of got a sleeping bag in his lab that sees way, way too much usage.

But tonight there's tests running that he can monitor just as easily from home as he can from the lab. So here he is stepping into the cafe just before dinner time, with his laptop and other supplies tucked in a backpack. ]

Hey, I'm back.

[A month away, and all Tadashi's done is focus on his own school work (highschool is both boring and educational in its own ways, who knew?) as well as designing his own project. While he may not have all the equipment he needs at his disposal, he can at least get the basics down on paper and get some of it made in their garage. But more importantly, if he can get this done and showcase it...

He looks up from his schoolwork when he hears Hiro and smiles.]

Hey! It took long enough.

[ There's his younger brother. Hiro loves his Aunt Cass, of course, but Tadashi's the one he's really missed through all this. It's a sad day when the only friend a 19-year-old has is his baby brother, but that's more or less the case with Hiro. Years of bullying with no buffer left him more or less cold to the idea of interacting with people past the absolute necessities. But his little brother is different. He grins when he sees him, dropping his bag onto a chair and reaching out to ruffle the kid's hair. ]

I was busy, micronerd. You're gonna be jealous when I tell you what I've been up to.

[ He snags a second chair and turns it around backwards, so he can lean forward against it comfortably. ]

What've they got you doing there? Need me to just do it for you?

[ Hiro, no. That's cheating. ]

No--

[He makes a face up at him and ducks away from the hair-ruffle; he wants to do the work himself! He can't learn if he doesn't do it, right?

Plus, he's trying to cover up the weird balloon man looking doodles and notes in some of the margins. He's not ready to show that to his brother just yet. Or try to explain it. Tadashi sets it aside and turns in his chair]

How long are you here for this time?

[ Awww. Hiro lets his hand drop, hiding a bit of a hurt expression. He catches a brief glimpse of balloon dude in the margins but not much. Well, his brother doodles a lot anyway, doesn't he? ]

I dunno, depends. Tonight for sure. Maybe all week. I guess it's technically spring break.

[ He's honestly not sure - he barely recognizes weekends when he's deep into a project, much less a whole week off. ]

Edited 2015-03-10 10:19 (UTC)

[Okay, if Hiro wanted to get on his good side, that was the right thing to say. Tadashi's face lights up with a big smile. The schoolwork is now officially out of mind in favor of his brother being here. He scoots the schoolwork further out of the way in his trying to get the chair closer to Hiro's - lanky 13 year old that hasn't quite reached his own growth spurt yet.]

Okay, I want to know everything you've been working on, it's gotta be great.

[ But he didn't say he'd be home all week... Eh, he's stuck with it now. There's no saying no to his brother when he's excited like that. And does he really want to? Heck, if the lab is deserted then maybe... ]

I can do you one better. You wanna see it? Nobody's gonna be here over the holidays so we'd have it all to ourselves.

[Oh. Ooooh oh that- That just fills his eyes with excjtement. He's wanted to see his brother's lab so much since he started spending so much time there. Getting to go and it just be them? Priceless.

He nods.]

You really think we can? I wanna see!

It's kiiiiind of against the rules, so I'm gonna have to stuff you in a duffel bag to smuggle you in.

[ no Hiro, bad older brother. He'd do just fine walking the kid in through the back door. But older siblings get to tease, okay. He grins at his little brother. ]

Remember those little bots I was telling you about before? They totally work now.

[NUH UH. Hiro wouldn't-- It's not like he could fit in a duffle bag anyway. Now a suitcase, that's different. But his face lights up even more at the thought -- Oh man, getting to see where his brother works?? On the microbots he was designing before he left?]

Are you serious? And I could really see them?

[ He knew that would perk his brother up. ]

Well ... I was gonna wait until you actually applied. Which you should still do.

I still will!

But if I can see what they have there now I could already plan out my showcase...

[Sneaky lil bro tho]

[ Soooo sneaky. ]

You don' t have any ideas already?

Well--

[He glances back at his paper for a second.]

I have an idea but-- I don't have it finished yet.

[ That gets Hiro's attention. He leans over, trying to get a look at Tadashi's paper. ]

Lemme see. I'll help you get it done.

[He looks unsure for like half a second -- he really wants to do it himself and Hiro's got enough going on with his final project but--

He slides the single sheet of paper that he had under his homework over to him, with some sketch designs and notes]

It's not very far yet.

[ Huhhh. Balloon man? He admittedly doesn't quite see the application yet. ]

What is it? Some kind of robot?

Yeah-- Yeah! It's-

[Okay now that he's trying to explain it without having anything physical to show for it, he's nervous.]

It's going to have a skeleton inside, maybe carbon fiber, but with a vinyl body so it'll be soft. I-i want it to help people

[The notes mostly consist of measurements of how strong the materials need to be for what it needs to carry inside as well as what he wants it to be able to do, medical-wise.]

[ Oh. Oh. Hiro's expression lights up as he starts to get what Tadashi means by that. ]

An inflatable nurse bot?

[And Tadashi's is a mix of relief - yes he gets it - and irritation because... Because.]

Healthcare companion.

Yeah, yeah sure.

[ His tone is distracted, but that's probably the best compliment Hiro can give his brother's work. It means he's thinking about the idea. ]

That'd keep him from hurting people ... the problem with just using a regular bot is that they don't know how much pressure to apply.

Right, exactly!

[omg no bro gets it!! He gets at least that aspect of his idea. He just has to get his hands on one of those air circulator things they use in bouncy castles and haha. He's thirteen. But he leans over the table to point at different parts of the bot.]

And I'm going to put cameras in for eyes to record any odd things and build in a scanner to sync it to for body vitals, pulse rates, and things like that.

Yeah? Where you gonna get all that?

From school when I can finally register, I hope.

[ But this is obviously a project that could get him in. If it all works out the way his brother plans, anyway. Hiro's abruptly coming to the realization that his brother might actually be good at this stuff too. ]

You really wanna wait that long?

[He watches Hiro, trying to guess what he's thinking. He really doesn't want to wait that long, not if he can be around him and help keep an eye on him. That's the whole point behind wanting to build this robot anyway - to help look after his big brother that keeps forgetting to look after himself. He doesn't have any grand ideas of registering early - Hiro was an exception, he knows that, his brother's a supergenius. They'd have been stupid to not let Hiro in.]

No, but. C'mon, I'm not-- I mean. I'm not...

[You.]

No, but you're smart. And they've already seen how I turned out, so I know they'd let you in too if you wowed 'em.

And I'll let you make him in my lab if you promise to showcase him.

You think so?

Wait- you mean showcase him at the expo?

Where else?

No way...

I-i couldn't, that showcase is huge.

[That showcase is huge and he is tiny.]

You'll be almost fourteen by the time it rolls around. I was younger.

[He watches Hiro for a solid minute, waiting for the punchline or the "just kidding", but it doesn't come. A chance to really make what he wants to do, and a place to show it off, just him, and show his brother what he can really do. He looks back at his notes, considering.]

... You really think I could do it?

[ There's no teasing here. Hiro wouldn't kid him about this anyway. ]

You're my little brother, aren't you?

...Yeah.

[He nods, smile growing bigger.]

Yeah! I'll do it, I want to try!

Then try. I'll get you all the tools you need.

[ Now he's getting excited. ]

I bet Callaghan'll approve of you officially if explain what's up. He's the one who sponsored me in the first place.

[Did Hiro want a hug? Too bad if he didn't, he's getting the most excitable tiny Tadashi hug. Better than he could've hoped for, he just wanted to put together a bot, he hadn't even considered showcasing it to get into school with his brother.]

You're awesome! It might take a while to do, but I'll definitely do it.

[ Oh. Okay, yes hugs. Hugs are good. He leans down after a moment to hug his brother back - he's never been real good at physical affection. ]

Yeah? Better prove it then. We can start tonight.

[Heeeee's got the best bro in the world. Fact checked and everything. This totally makes up for Hiro being gone for a month.]

Yeah-- Definitely! After we eat. You've been eating right?

... Uh ...

[ He has to think. ]

Yesterday? Definitely yesterday.

Hiro.

[Whoops lil bro's face stiffens into the worst Oh my god you are the dumbest smart person I've ever known face.]

I'm making Aunt Cass make us dinner.

[ Yeah okay he's more used to seeing that face. He does brighten though. ]

Think we can convince her to make hot wings?

Maybe... I think she'd make then if we tell her what we're planning.

We could get extra to take with us.

Yes!

[Okay so that was a little too excitable but he's grinning and wanting so badly to go to his brother's lab and work! And see what he's been working on!]

If I ask really nicely she'll have to make some for us to take!

[ Gosh. How is his brother so cute. He grins a little in return, his brother's enthusiasm kind of infecting him too. ]

C'mon, pipsqueak. Race you up the stairs.

[AU] Age-swap AU!

a typical night at the hamada household

we're just gonna suck it up and pretend these are all tinydashi

<3!

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