The more I learn, the less I know

[pluckyreporter]

WHO: Roxanne and her legion of superpowered volunteers (also, one dude who spies on them because he doesn't trust the villain in the group) -- and anyone else that goes 'wtf army of brainbots' if they really must. In short: open.
WHERE: MAC apartments.
WHEN: Friday, most of the day.
WARNINGS: Nope.
SUMMARY: Roxanne is moving some of Megamind's more-- interesting and dangerous and weird gear to a storage unit, and some other things to her new house. There will be pizza and libations at the end.
FORMAT: go go go



Roxanne gave the boys the time for the launch from one place to another, and then got up a lot eariler then that to get the rest of things handled. Everything was boxed or bagged-- and frankly, in that tiny MAC apartment, it didn't amount to much. The stuff that was hers was minimal, and the new furniture and appliance had already been delivered to her new home.

It was Megamind's mess-- and what a mess that was-- that had required 'special handling. In her worst clothes -- some thrift-store jeans, comfortable sneakers, and Pat Benatar t-shirt she had been okay with getting ruined in the mess, she had set out to box up parts, gingerly load up things that may in fact be dangerous (and have no safety; for the love of God, where was the 'warm up' time that Minion put on EVERYTHING his boss designed) and then had to deal with some very confused brainbots who attempted to unpack what she packed.

Apparently, dim as they were, they were still afraid and confused by the packing of 'Daddy's' things, and there was a small war going on with a couple of boxes that they kept attempting to unload. How did you rationalize to a robot with the brain capacity of a golden retriever that someone wasn't coming home? It was hard enough with grown adults! Sitting on a box with a brainbot in her lap and the others buzzing frantically in bewilderment is not how she'd expected to spent part of her morning. Still, she eventually got them to go guard the NEW house.... and quietly hoped her new neighbors didn't call the cops. That'd be a seriously awkward way to move in to a new place.

So maybe her eyes were a little red by the time her help arrived, but there'd be no tears today-- and it could be begged off on the chemicals used to clean some of this crap, which stank to high heaven.

Putting more components into carefully chosen containers, she taped--and in some cases, latched or locked-- boxes up and left them where they were, because some of them were straight-up too heavy for her to lift. Then there was the hover-cycle and... damned if she knew how to get THAT moved yet...

Comments

[pluckyreporter]

[The little brainbot lugs the... whatever it is, or a part of... back to a room where there is a woman who is arguing with a pack of them. It think it's being sneaky while the others watch her rant at them.]

--and he's not coming back. I know. I know. It's not making anybody happy here. But it's time for us to find a new place. I can't keep you here. I don't know how he kept you here. Maybe the heavy metal made him hard of hearing...

But you can't keep unpacking his things. Okay? Just-- stop. They've got to go away for a while. If he comes back, that's-- well, we'll jump that hurdle when we get to it.

If you can play ball, we can go to a new place, and you'll have more room to be noisy in, and we can get on with things. Deal?

[They regard her mutely, each their with single eyestalk. They look at Roxanne, then at each other, and then at Roxanne again. There's no signal of comprehension.]

[She sits down heavily on one of the boxes, and tucks her hair behind her ear in a nervous gesture--only getting a black smudge at her temple and in her hair.]

Yeah. That's what I thought.

[paints_lanterns]

[Rapunzel followed the little robot into the building and eventually to Roxanne's apartment, peering around the edge of the door as it disappeared inside. She didn't mean to be spying, really, but it was hard to look away from the gaggle of robots and their would-be handler.]

[Though she didn't seem to be having much luck with them, if she was trying to get them to move, and they were bringing things back in.]

Uhm. Hello.

[She said after a moment, as the woman seemed to be having a quiet second, and offered a pointed hand towards the robot she had followed in, who was still sneaking the thing it was carrying back inside.]

[pluckyreporter]

[Roxanne startles a bit-- but WORSE, all of those big, red eyes on brass eyestalks are now turned on Rapunzel. Roxanne looks at her, and then looks at... oh dammit.]

T--thanks. Sorry.

[She goes to get the item back, giving the brainbot a dirty look and then puts it another box.]

Must look like something out of sitcom, trying to pack stuff and having them unpack it. The reporter and the robots. Sigh.

[paints_lanterns]

[Rapunzel just shakes her head, her braid bouncing around behind her. She's still half-hidden behind the door, though, and she keeps watching the robots.]

I don't know what a...sitcom is...but your little robots are rather cute.

They don't want to move?

[pluckyreporter]

No, they don't.

[She gets up to approach the door.]

They don't-- well, they won't bite. Will you, boys? They're mostly harmless, really. I'm Roxanne.

[paints_lanterns]

[It hadn't actually occurred to Rapunzel that they might bite, and she eyed the closest one suspiciously for a moment after the suggestion they wouldn't was made. But they did seem harmless, so she turned her attention back to the woman.]

It's nice to meet you. I'm Rapunzel.

[Tentatively, she stepped out from hiding behind the door frame to actually stand in the portal, holding her bag off to the side some.]

[pluckyreporter]

Like the story?

[... Roxanne takes in the face she's in bare feet, with all that... hair, yes. Just like Rapunzel, she's guessing. Or -- just-- well--]

[Man, the city was weird.]

[paints_lanterns]

[Rapunzel sighs a little.]

Sort of. I don't really believe that that's...me. The story, I mean. But some of it is similar and it's what everyone assumes.

[She shrugs.]

I guess it's complicated.

[pluckyreporter]

Lots of things in the City are.

[Stories, relationships, and so on.]

Sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable.

[paints_lanterns]

[She shakes her head, sending that braid bouncing about behind her again.]

No, it's fine. Really! It's just very strange to think it might be me. I mean...

I had only met a dozen people, ever before I came to the city. And suddenly everyone knows stories that are really similar to my life...

[She shifts her bag in her arms to keep her hands busy.]

It's just very strange.

[pluckyreporter]

History is just a story to some people. Who knows, right?

[The girl's got the hair for it. That's seriously a lot of hair.]

Ah, sorry for uh-- keeping you. Maybe I should ask one of the boys to help you with your bag.

[paints_lanterns]

I suppose. I found the fairy tale to read. It's...it's very similar to some things.

[She shakes her head as if pushing the thought away, and then smiles.]

No I've got it. But thank you. They've very cute.

...Did you...build them? They are robots, right?

[Robots were a very new concept for Rapunzel.]

[pluckyreporter]

Me? Oh, no. No no no. I'm a journalist. This is way out of my skill range.

[She laughs at the very idea. Seriously. Her, build robots.]

No, ah - Megamind made them. They are definitely robots. He got ported out and left them behind. They're... with me now, I guess. They don't-- seem to understand he's not coming back anytime soon, and are trying to unpack all his things as I pack them up.

[Two of them are unloading a box behind her as she says that.]

[paints_lanterns]

Oh. They're, uhm...[She pointed behind the older woman at the robots again.]

I knew Megamind. Before he left. I was teaching him to cook. Well...I was trying to, anyway...

[pluckyreporter]

You did?

[Well, she's a lot less creepy then, say, Arcade or Deadpool. It was good to know he -- had friends, she supposed. He didn't at home.]

He-- wasn't here long, while I was here. Was he-- happy at least?

[She turns, and-- listens for the answer while she starts taking items back from Brainbots and giving them glares. They, sadly, just look at her, each other, and then move away to plot against her anew.]

[paints_lanterns]

I...think so.

[Rapunzel wasn't sure how to answer that, honestly. Judging whether or not other people were happy was tricky for her, unless she knew them well.]

He seemed happy. Do you...want some help with your robots?

[pluckyreporter]

I'm glad.

[It was getting a little personal, but she got the box settled again. It was a pain in the butt, but she would eventually keep them out of the various boxes.]

Help? If you've got an idea, I'm willing to hear it!

[paints_lanterns]

Mm.

[Rapunzel wasn't entirely sure what to suggest. But in a way the little machines reminded her of little children, and she'd been getting better at handling kids after spending so much time in the park.]

Maybe they need a distraction?

[pluckyreporter]

Might be an idea... but... what with?

[She thinks of this a moment, and then looks at the robots as they mill about.]

Alright! Boys! Pay attention!

[She abruptly has ALL OF THOSE EYES looking at her.]

The new house needs -- protection! Go-- to the back yard there, and wait for me!

[They look at each other, and then -- start zipping out the window, flying across town in a cloud of flashing likes and bowg bowg noises.]

[paints_lanterns]

[Rapunzel's eyes go a little wide when all the robots just...flee like that. She can't help but move over to the window and peer after them for a moment before she turns back.]

...They won't get lost?

[pluckyreporter]

No, they've been there before. At least, some of them have. They'll keep the herd in line.

[ And if not, they'd come back to the 'lair'.]

[paints_lanterns]

Oh.

[Rapunzel stared after them for a moment, then turned back.]

Now you have to take all your things out on your own...

[pluckyreporter]

Oh, no. It's okay. I have some strong-armed gentleman coming by to help me later today. I just was trying to get things packed up.

[And now without any more interference, she can!]

Sorry this is so late!

[paints_lanterns]

Oh. Well would you like some help?

[A little shift and she smiles faintly.]

After I go put my groceries away, I mean.

[pluckyreporter]

What? Oh, no no. You don't have to do that. You'll get filthy. He-- wasn't exactly... ah, the neatest of residents. Treated the apartment like a lab.

[Those bare free and the pretty hair will end up nasty and grimy, you watch.]