Open Misfire Log!

[microbrobotics]

WHO: Hiro + anyone with a comm!
WHERE: Your comm, courtesy of data-jumping and the server misfire event
WHEN: October 3rd
WHAT: Hiro tries to jump back into his own comm and misses. Badly. Repeatedly. Shenanigans ensue.
WARNINGS: Probably none!

[ The good thing about being able to data-jump is that it makes the commute into De Chima ridiculously easy. Set up two beacons - one in his comm, the other at his work terminal - and just follow that path back and forth. He doesn't even have to think and he's there.

Unfortunately, those beacons are just as dependent on the server update as the rest of the network ... and when the misfires start happening, Hiro's beacons get mixed up too. What should be a big bright arrow pointing to his comm is just complete garbage ... meaning he's going to end up in a whole lot of comms that he shouldn't be before he finally makes his way home.

For those getting the misfire, there's a only a quick ping, like receiving a message, before a very confused teenager's face appears on the viewscreen. He does, at least, keep from going through any data, but that means he has to look out at the surroundings to try and figure out where he is. Which means staring up at whoever's comm he's in now. ]

Seriously? Not again.

Comments

[attainment]

[The voice breaks Barnaby's reverie. Eyebrows shooting up, he whips his head toward the source. And who's there to greet him? None other than Hiro Hamada himself...well, his face, anyway.

Despite his best attempts to hide it, shame creeps into his face, tinging his cheeks an impressive shade of red. Not many people can say they've flustered Barnaby before, but Hiro managed to achieve it with only a few words.]

Hiro! I...[He flounders for a moment, clearly confused by this bizarre scenario.] How long have you been watching?

[He doesn't even sound angry, just embarrassed and maybe a bit panicked.]

[microbrobotics]

[ He gives a cheerful little wave. And mentally notes not to tease Barnaby too hard. ]

Preeetty much the whole song.

[attainment]

[Oh my god, he almost blurts, but he bites his tongue before the words can escape his mouth. Out of all the times this could have happened, it had to be now. Of course!

It takes every ounce of willpower to not bury his face in his hands right then and there. Instead, he reaches for the communicator and peers into the screen with an uncharacteristically anxious expression.]

Please don't tell anyone.

[microbrobotics]

Dude. Your secret is safe with me.

[ He pauses. ]

... But c'mon, there's nothing to hide. You looked pretty cool for a second there.

[attainment]

[That comment twists his mouth into a smile that's simultaneously pleased and embarrassed.]

Thank you. I have an image to maintain, though. Besides, some people wouldn't let me hear the end of it if they knew.

[microbrobotics]

Let me guess. Kotetsu doesn't know?

[attainment]

[Geez, is he really that obvious about it...? Barnaby averts his gaze for a moment.]

...Not that I'm aware of.

[microbrobotics]

Why not tell him? You looked pretty cool, I thought. All graceful.

[attainment]

Really? [He's going to at least try pretending his ears aren't still red.] Well...I'm flattered you think so. I suppose I just...haven't had a good reason to tell him.

[microbrobotics]

Sure, sure. Save it for a date.

[attainment]

[Barnaby blinks.]

What do you mean?

[microbrobotics]

Unless you guys got married already?

[attainment]

Married! [He sits up straighter now, some of the color draining from his face. Surely Hiro isn't serious. But then, why...?

A thought suddenly occurs to him.]

Did Kitty Jones say something to you?

[microbrobotics]

[ He blinks. ]

Huh? No? ... wait, are you getting married?

[attainment]

[Oh no, you've got him turning red again, Hiro....]

No! No, we're not actually...that is to say, Kotetsu and I are...

[...Alright, he's going to take a small breath and start over.]

I'm not his boyfriend.

[microbrobotics]

Oh, yeah. I figured that. It's fun teasing though, because you totally look married.

[attainment]

...Oh.

[Barnaby's usually too busy trolling other people over their one-sided crushes to ever be on the receiving end of it, but karma has finally caught up with him today. Really, though, he walked right into that one, so he only has himself to blame.

Still, that doesn't mean he can't scrape together what little dignity he has left, and he forces himself to at least appear a little more relaxed than before.]

Well. Our partnership isn't unlike a marriage in some respects, so I suppose that's not too surprising.

[microbrobotics]

See? So don't get all blushy when I point it out.

Seriously though, he's reasonably cute. For some middle-aged dude.

[attainment]

[Normally he wouldn't, but this conversation fell right after being thoroughly embarrassed, so he's not as collected as normal.

At any rate, "middle-aged dude" is just a nicer way of saying "old man", as far as he's concerned. Barnaby cracks a small smile at that.]

You know, you're not the first person to think so, but he's usually oblivious about it.

[microbrobotics]

Want me to tell him?

[attainment]

That there are people who think he's cute?

[microbrobotics]

That you agree with me.

[attainment]

I don't recall saying anything of the sort.

[microbrobotics]

But it's true.

[attainment]

That's a rather bold claim, don't you think?