forum 1-1 with @Hiro_Shimada (I’ll figure out a better title later, maybe)

Started January 03, 2022 by @Serpentess health_and_safety language

tune

Hiro flinched " no warning this time?" He joked

Malcolm snorted. Instead of replying, he simply watched Hiro’s spine and the nanobots on it.

When the bots finished integrating, Malcolm couldn’t resist a small, wicked grin. It had worked. And now to see what it had done to Hiro.

Hiro stood up and for once there wasn't pain. He focused on small bits of the same metal in the room, raising his hand and causing them to become liquid and drift around Malcolm " so, what's my first task?" He smirked

Malcolm stared at the floating liquid, intrigued.

“Hmm…”

Malcolm stood and walked over to one of the cabinets, pulling out a bucket of scrap metal.

“Since you can liquify metal, you can sort through these. Separate the metals and… I don’t know, make ingots, or something like that, out of them. Even the bucket, I have too many of these fucking things anyway. When you finish, let me know,”he explained.

Malcolm then headed into the back of the shop, developing a limp along the way.

hiro was quite worried for the mans health. he did his task anyway, liquefying the metal and separating it out

A little while later, Malcolm returned. He no longer had a limp, though he did seem in a bit of pain. He walked over to a cabinet and checked something in it, sighing irritably.

“Only three damn vials of the shit left. That won’t fucking last me three days,”he muttered.

He stood up, shutting the cabinet, then noticed Hiro.

“Oh yeah, you’re here. Fuck, my memory’s shit today,”he snorted, rolling his eyes.

" what is it that you need?" He asked and raised an eyebrow " and maybe, not being rude, but you may be getting dementia?" He joked

Malcolm snorted and waved off his first question, then smirked at his joke.

“I highly fucking doubt that. I’m old, not fucked in the head,”he replied.

" you forgot my first question. I wasn't joking. Watcha need gramps"

Malcolm huffed.

“Don’t call me fucking ‘Gramps’. My name is Malcolm, use it,”he said.

He hesitated to say more, his eyes assessing Hiro for a long moment. He then sighed.

“Fuck it. If you’re going to be here, you might as well know. I created a polymer formula a few decades back to support my joints, bones, whatever. However, the materials I need are hard to find, particularly around here. Without constant injections to keep up with it, the existing polymer will break down and I lose the strength to move any part of my body. It’s a bitch being fucking old,”Malcolm explained with a heavy sigh.

Hiro held his hand out " lemme see it," he said and held his hand out. Hiro planned to make it for Malcolm.. he had no idea why but he felt like malcolm had been there through his childhood and he owed him..

(I honestly have no idea what materials are needed for it, so yeah. Lmao!)

Malcolm rose an eyebrow at him, then sighed and moved to grab one of the vial from his cabinet. It was a dark orange, viscous liquid.

“It may not seem like much, but that can cover an entire fucking limb. The obvious downside is it doesn’t last long. I’ve been working on a more lasting formula, but that one is even harder to make,”Malcolm commented.

Hiro nodded. He opened the vile, making it come out he separated it out by ingredients. " I know where to get these…"

Malcolm watched, an eyebrow raising at Hiro’s actions. What all could he do, and did he have any new abilities?

“How far away? I’ve cleaned out this neighborhood, at least, as far as I know. I usually don’t go too much farther than this area, primarily because I don’t like staying out at night. Not because of any creatures, it’s just easier on my eyes,”Malcolm said.

" about two miles out, a ware house filled with most of it. I'm sure I could take apart a few of the machines to get the rest

Malcolm sighed when Hiro said the distance, but his eyes brightened at the mention of machines.

“We’ll likely have to take a few breaks on the way, but you’ve definitely got my attention,”he remarked.

He moved to grab one of the other vials and a syringe. He stashed them in the small toolkit he always kept with him, just in case.

“Shall we?”

" yes. Quicker the better." He said and hurried to the door.

Malcolm followed at slower, calmer pace. He opened the door for Hiro, then locked it like he had earlier. He glanced up at the old light above the door to make sure he saw the flash, then followed Hiro.

" hey old man, how long have you known me.."

“I only met you today, and I lock the door by habit,”Malcolm replied, easily lying about knowing Hiro. He also didn’t care if locking the door was what Hiro was meaning.

" I wasn't refering to the door. You just asked a lot of personal questions back there so.. I thought I'd ask"

Malcolm snorted.

“Kid, I’m an old fucking man who hasn’t had any actual company in years. I’m going to ask personal questions,”he replied.

Hiro sighed, he looked a little let down " sounds reasonable " he said almost silently

Malcolm noticed his expression, wondering why he seemed that way. Has he been alone since that day Malcolm shot his father and destroyed the world? What would that do to a kid so young?

And why did Malcolm fucking care?

“Lead the way, kid. You know where this warehouse is,”he bade, seeming to ignore Hiro’s reaction.

Hiro walked for a while, watching as the sun set. " I'm going to make camp.. if I pass out from this, at least try and catch me?" He said and stood in front of a building. His eyes seemed to glow as he lifted the walls of a small building to form a shelter. After he was don't his back immediately flashed red and he fell to a knee