1st Build

[rexthebuilder]

Who: Rex Salazar (rexthebuilder) & YOU
What: Rex asks people opinions on snowball fights, doesn't know how shopping works to save his life, and then manages to temporarily get crud in his eyes by trying to be cool while no one's even looking.
When: Early December
Where: In Town
Warning(s): Mildest of eye squicks in the third option (spoilered away)

1. Survey Says.... [OTA]
Rex is carrying around a notebook and pencil given to him from his brother, looking around the crowd in the town square for someone that looks like they might have a good opinion. César gave him an important assignment. It'll be a long time before Rex figures out César gave it to him as an icebreaker to meet and socialize with other people patient enough to give a teenager their time.

Eventually, he gathers up his courage and walks up to a random person with an enthusiastic smile. "Heyyy, what sort of forts and stuff would make the most epic snow battle ever?"


2. Shopping Montage! [OTA]
Rex has his hands in his new winter coat his brother bought him to feel the 100 Brass he's carrying again and again, a wide grin on his face as he walks around window shopping outside. César suggested he go and get himself somethings with the half of his first paycheck that isn't going to food. And as he goes around and starts walking back and forth, realizes he has no idea what to spend it on, and his enthusiasm wanes somewhat with absolute bewilderment and confusion.

"... what sort stuff can I even buy here that isn't boring?"


3. It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a... teenager? [OTA, CW: Immediately healing eye abrasion]

Click to reveal

Rex figured that flying with his Sky Slider without goggles would be fine because the cold killed all the bugs. Today, he learns learns chimney ash can be just as bad when he decides to fly through it in order to be cool and it immediately backfires.

"Augh, no, my eyes!" Rex covers his eyes with a hand as he hovers down onto the street and returns his legs back to normal, waving with his free hand. "Uhm?! Anyone there! Need help for a minute!"

Comments

[rexthebuilder]

His brows furrow again. "I mean, not really. Fairy tales instantly have everyone getting along, and we're still figuring out how the house schedule and chores are working and everything? And I've got chores now. César's making me learn how to do laundry since it's so different here. If it was really a fairy tale, we'd have washers and dryers!"

[worstorganplayer]

Snakes laughs at that. "Yeah, I wish we had stuff like that too. It sounds amazing. I'm from a time before there were washers and dryers. Too bad nobody can make 'em here."

[rexthebuilder]

"César can, but 'that would be messing with the local technological advancement' and then I tuned him out when he started quoting some philosophers. I didn't even know my brother even knew about any philosophers. Learn something every day, I guess!"

Rex pauses, then thinks. "Heyyyyy, how did you all keep yourselves from getting bored? I'm going to chew through the library in no time, and one island only has so much to explore, y'know?"

He's underestimating how much there is to explore, but he also can zoom around at high rates of speed. And he's utterly forgotten the previous topic of discussion entirely.

[worstorganplayer]

"Eh? He figures the people here have to figure it out in their own time or somethin'?" Snakes frowns.

He smirks a bit at the question. "It's a pretty big place. Lots to see and do. Lots of monsters to protect people from."

[rexthebuilder]

"That and something about power needs being too much for how much electricity's available. But, basically."

Rex considers this, crossing his arms in thought. "I'm not cruel enough to murder things that aren't causing problems. But like... what sort of things are there to do? I'm used to video games or television or heading out to a burger shack or watching a movie with friends. We've barely got radio here. And I don't know anyone my own age yet."

[worstorganplayer]

Snakes sighs. "Great. Who knows how long that'll take." He ponders. "What about finding ways to make more electricity or something?"

He laughs dryly. "Trust me, Pal, they cause plenty of problems. I leave 'em alone if they leave us alone, but a lot of times they don't leave us alone."

And he ponders. Honestly, he isn't sure what there is around here that a kid would like, especially a kid who's from the amazing future he badly wants to see.

"... That's a good question," he admits. "There's stage shows and places to eat and there's always lots of work to do. But there's probably nothing as incredible as what you're used to."

[rexthebuilder]

"César said it was too boring and wouldn't keep his interest." Rex tried that, too, but he appreciates that Snakes at least thinks the same way he does.

"Theeeeen I'll fight them then. The more I use my builds, the hungrier I get. And I'm already a teenager."

Huffs slightly with disappointment, but it's still useful information. "... I'll figure out something. I guess draw a lot, too. Always did have more time for that. But I wouldn't mind going to some shows and listening to concerts, even if it's all................. old."

[worstorganplayer]

Snakes scoffs. "Oh, he did, huh? Wouldn't be too boring for me, but it's not my specialty."

He blinks. "Your ... builds?"

He laughs at that. "Since there's people here from all different times, some of it's probably more like what you'd be used to. Maybe."

[rexthebuilder]

"He plays with the laws of physics and accidentally creates murderous AIs repeatedly, so, pretty boring to him."

"Builds! I can make machines and metal weapons using my body. I can fly and stuff."

A sigh. "I'm used to really loud speakers and lots of electric guitar. I can't damage my hearing, so I can just go all out. Forever. But I guess I'll find something."

[worstorganplayer]

Snakes stares at him. He doesn't know what an AI is, but murderous anything doesn't sound good. "He oughtta be more careful when he knows it keeps happening."

Now he looks impressed and intrigued. "That's amazing. Guess you can't make a washing machine yourself, eh?"

He's not sure what to think of music that could damage one's hearing. "I don't think we've got anything like that here, yeah. Why would people listen to it if it can wreck their hearing?"

[rexthebuilder]

"Yeah, he should!" And Rex doesn't address it anymore, because that's utterly forgotten based on the new subjects.

"I, ah, could. But I'd die of boredom waiting for it and also I'd feel water on my insides. Ick."

Rex looks at Snake like he's missed the obvious. "It's the only way you can feel the music! It's like getting punched in the chest with good tunes. It's awesome."

[worstorganplayer]

"... You mean you actually turn into the washing machine?" Okay, that's weird. Useful, though, he supposes, if you're really in a pinch....

"... Uh, I'll take your word for it, Pal," he says, and wonders if that's an aspect of the future he won't be able to get into so much.

[rexthebuilder]

"Well, more like I'd build it around at least my limbs and it's attached to me. I mean, I guess I could try making it be nearer to my stomach but—" The poor kid looks suddenly a little green around his gills. "... okay, no. Absolutely no Rex Wash."

[worstorganplayer]

Definitely weird.

"Yeah, I think you'd better hold off on that one," Snakes agrees, weirded out. "You can do stuff like that with any kind of machine?"

[rexthebuilder]

"Only the ones I'm interested in. It takes effort to figure out the schematics, so I really can only build ones cool enough to keep my attention." The Omega-1 nanite has its limitations on what it can assist Rex with.

Word of God said Rex is technically powerful enough to build the Omnimatrix, except he could never keep enough concentration to actually manage it.

[worstorganplayer]

"Well, that makes sense, I guess. What kinda machines do you like the best?"

[rexthebuilder]

Rex rubs his chin as if this is the most important question he's ever been asked. "... honestly, depends on my mood. Sometimes I gotta tear up the streets in my hovercycle form, the Rex Ride. Sometimes I want turbine engines, so that's the Boogie Pack. And sometimes I want a Big Fat Sword, which is... a big sword. Hmm, maybe overall, my favorites gotta be my Smack Hands."

And he'll turn around to face away from Snakes and build them. "They're big. Which isn't just good for smacking a bad guy, but catching or protecting people. Or ripping or breaking apart things to get to survivors. Also really good for lifting things that no one else can. Pretty versatile compared to my other builds."

[worstorganplayer]

Snakes has no idea what most of that talk meant. Big swords he gets, but not much else.

He jumps a mile at the Smack Hands. "That's ... pretty powerful stuff, alright." Color him impressed. As well as weirded out. But mostly impressed. What he could have done with something like that in his building enterprises! "Are all your ... uh ... builds as useful as this?"

[rexthebuilder]

Yeah, Rex knows, but it's more fun to talk about it than explain it.

Rex flexes his hands and then steps forward so he can carefully turn around without clocking Snakes. He learned to do that the hard way (for other people). "This one's probably the most useful, but they're all pretty awesome. Because I built them, of course."

All these adults being interested in what he can do instead of scared of him (startled is fine!) is going to go to his head. They're all so nice!

[worstorganplayer]

"Heh," Snakes smirks. "Of course." He can't blame the kid for taking pride in it. "Probably be pretty useful for getting monsters away from people too."

[rexthebuilder]

Rex lets his Smack Hands drop, the build collapsing in on itself until his arms are back to normal. "That's my job back home. Protecting people!"

[worstorganplayer]

"Great," Snakes says. "We can really use your help here the next time everything goes topsy-turvy."

[rexthebuilder]

"Good thing I'm an experienced professional when it comes to fighting all sorts of creepy crawlies." Rex brings a hand to his chest. "I don't start the fights—I just end them."

[worstorganplayer]

Snakes smirks. "Yeah, you're just what we need here," he says. "We'll be calling on you."

[rexthebuilder]

Rex is pleased. "This the longest time I've gone without being needed. Place is still dangerous, but there's nothing actively trying to end the world or at least Manhattan. ... ... Knock on wood."

He tries to knock on his pencil, then suddenly looks very confused at his hands. Then at the ground. Building his Smack Hands sent both the pencil and notebook flying. They're like ten feet away.

"Uhh, give me a minute...." He laughs nervously, still searching.