text; un: saitama

[heroforhobby]

Quick!!

There's only a day and a half left!

how have you been getting cats to let you pet them???

[Morality discussions? People worried about going into yet another fight? Not as important as Saitama's goal to pet at least one cat, like, c'mon. Please advise or troll!]

Comments

[heroforhobby]

Beef? That's weird. They don't hunt cows, do they?

[viscontree]

Not at all. Cats can take out various rodents and wildlife.

They should be fine with meat in general. What have you tried so far?

[ofobedience]

It's hardly pushing. It was a question. You could have just declined to answer rather than kicking up a fuss.

[iomnic]

Ah- no, I have been... remaining inside, since we last practiced.

[heroforhobby]

Really? Why?

[heroforhobby]

Just whatever they've been feeding us at the hotel... I don't think I've gotten beef, though.

[heroforhobby]

I'm not fussing.

Okay, we can compromise, you tell me why you could possibly not want to pet a cat and I'll tell you my deal.

[iomnic]

I requested a maintenance check from Knock Out, and inside my chassis is... rather unfortunate looking, from my own neglect over the years. When we return to Oska, I will undergo some upgrades that will hopefully prevent such damage in the future. But for now, I will be staying on the 'safe side.'

[heroforhobby]

[He snorts, amused, and half-grins.]

What's the worse than can happen meditating under a tree?

1/2

[iomnic]

Thunderstorms.

[iomnic]

However, I do not think we are at risk for a sudden weather change. I will meet you there.

[heroforhobby]

[He could argue that it's been nothing but nice since they've been here and that he would think a robot should always be worried about thunderstorms, but arguing wasn't needed. Good, that takes effort. He just nods.]

If any rogue thunderstorms come I'll be sure to get you inside safe and sound, okay? See ya.

action?

[iomnic]

[ He gets there... eventually. He's slow, remember? But he at least makes an effort to not dawdle... ]

Yes, plz

[heroforhobby]

[Hey, that works out, because he's in no real hurry, either. He does make it to the tree first all the same, so he meditates--hah, that's a funny joke. He actually just plops down on the ground in the shade and lays down, arms pillowing under his head. He idles there staring up at the branches and the couple of cats high up in the branches having their little cat naps, waiting.]

[iomnic]

[ Zenyatta arrives to Saitama napping- oh, maybe not napping?? Wow, astounding.

Either way, he takes a seat next to Saitama, settling to the ground already cross-legged. ]

Greetings, Saitama.

[heroforhobby]

Yo.

[He wasn't napping, but his greeting turned into a big yawn like he had been. He doesn't get up from his position or anything, though, the grass is comfy. At the tail end of his yawn, making his voice sound more languid than usual, he remarks:]

Glad you made it safely.

[iomnic]

It was extremely perilous.

[ It obviously wasn't. ]

[heroforhobby]

[He snorts again, turning eyes back up into the tree.]

I ever tell you how I got strong?

[This is going somewhere, promise.]

[iomnic]

You did not.

[heroforhobby]

I trained hard every day for a long time. Then one day I woke up and had lost all my hair, but was really strong like I am now. . . .

[Hopefully you weren't expecting a novel, or even a paragraph, Zenyatta.]

[iomnic]

That was not much of an explanation.

[ He wasn't expecting much, and yet he's still disappointed... ]

[heroforhobby]

I'm getting there.

[Gosh, aren't monks supposed to be patient.

He's silent for a bit more, thinking about what he's going to say next. He never opens up to anyone, barely admits things to himself let alone someone else, not even Genos, but Genos has his own problems. Zenyatta, at least, Saitama knows he wants to hear problems sometimes. He keeps his gaze trained on the swaying cat tail far above him.]

Animals weren't really attracted to me or anything before, but if I fed a cat a noodle it wouldn't always run away. But after, they always ran, if they even took the noodle.

[iomnic]

[ Zenyatta pauses for a moment, noticing Saitama is being rather serious, and remains quiet while the other continues to explain. After this... seemingly, unimportant story, Zenyatta adjusts his position, shifting a little so that he too can lie down on the grass, next to Saitama. This probably isn't going to help his "try to not get more dirt inside wiring" request from Knock Out, but oh well. ]

You are concerned that animals fearing you is related to gaining your strength.

[ Not said sarcastically, but as a genuine statement. ]

Yes?

[heroforhobby]

[He glances aside at him as he lays down next to him, but eyes averting back up at the question. He's not trying to sound too serious, his voice trying to remain blasé. It wasn't like he was close to tears or feeling too heavy about it, anyway, thanks to tapping down depression forcefully for years.]

Something like that...

[iomnic]

Animals are more intune with certain aspects about humans, than even humans are aware of. These cats here, I am certain, are the same to a certain degree. They are highly sensitive to nervousness in a human, and can interpret it as a threat. At the same time, I believe they can also sense strength, and also interpret that as a threat.

[ He turns his head to "face" Saitama. ]

Maybe it is your strength. Maybe it is your tension.

But whichever it is, not an abnormal reaction.