2023-11-02: Haro, Haro!
- Log: 2023-11-02 Haro, Haro!
- Cast: Banagher Links-Vist, Shinji Ikari
- Where: Magallanica
- OOC - IC Date: November 2, 0097 (spread over several days ICly)
- Summary: Banagher finally gets to help Shinji make a Haro to help him in the kitchen--and with his heart.
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links-Vist has posed.
Banagher is in his element.
After weeks of adjusting to change after change, being able to settle in to his room in Magallanica and prepare to discuss his favorite hobby is a true blessing. His own Haro is settled in the center of the table of Banagher's front room, decals shining. He's even donned a little bow tie for the occasion.
A projector sits next to Haro, displaying a collecting of newer Haro models. Surrounding it are a few well-loved magazines. While Banagher could easily just pull up the older Haro models on the projector, there's something nostalgic about sharing the magazines that first got him into the hobby.
"Shinji! Shinji!" Haro calls, waving his little wing-flaps.
Banagher re-adjusts the magazines for the hundredth time. It's not too much, right? "He should be here any second. Remember what we talked about, okay? We're going to be calm." Banagher straightens up, tugging at his hoodie nervously. "If Shinji doesn't wind up wanting a Haro, it's okay."
Haro quiets down, but keeps flapping his winglets excitedly. Well... That may be as calm as he gets.
Normally, Banagher would offer snacks, but there are too many precious objects around to risk it. A few water bottles are placed at the end of the table, bookending a half-assembled Haro at the other side. It'll be good to show Shinji the process. Waiting on his phone are videos and pictures of projects sent in by the people of the Haroics forum. Everything from fishing to goldsmithing can be enhanced by a little robotic companion.
What isn't there to love? Banagher sits down on the couch and waits.
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
Having never gotten the hang of figuring out where the buttons are on his Osanshoo-san phone, Shinji didn't call or text Banagher back to let him know he was interested in doing Haro things. However, Shinji works in one of the kitchens, so it's honestly easy to run into people on this ship by sheer chance. Sometimes it's a little too easy... Nonetheless, when he saw Banagher next, he let him know he was ready to give it a try.
He's not actually sure he's ready. But Shinji doesn't have anything else to do, and he knows he's less ready to read the book Mari gave him. Working on a Haro is at least a chance to take his mind off... other things.
So, after agreeing on a time and place to get into it further, they parted. Now Shinji approaches Banagher's room, dressed in what is his now-usual look--jeans, T-shirt, cap, and a black-and-white moon-themed hoodie--and knocks quietly on the door.
The blue salamander-like phone is draped on his right shoulder. It's good for music, at least. Shinji remembers to remove his earbud right after knocking, in time to hear Banagher bid him enter.
He lets himself in cautiously. Banagher's room is bigger than his--Shinji had arrived on the Ra Mari II with little prior notice, so Eight had put him up in a dorm room for a bit until she could arrange a proper room. But by the time it was ready, Shinji had already settled in and frankly didn't want to move again. A single room is plenty of space for him, anyway.
"Hi," he says quietly, slipping in and shutting the door behind him. He looks around, spotting the projector, some magazines, water bottles, a partially-made Haro... a fully-made Haro, too, which Shinji is pretty sure is Banagher's personal Haro. It's got a bowtie on. It's pretty cute, actually, though not cute enough to make Shinji smile. Sorry, Haro. You did your best. "Um, so, I guess we just get right into it?"
It didn't occur to him to research Haroes before now. It's occurring to him now that maybe he should have.
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links-Vist has posed.
"Banagher! Door! Banagher!"
A chirped electronic voice can be heard even outside Banagher's residence. Seconds later, it is opened, and Shinji lets himself in. Banagher stands, smiling to his new friend.
"Hey, I'm glad you could make it." Banagher looks at the squishy blue phone creature on Shinji's shoulder. "Oh, you have an Oshansoo-san? Those have been really popular lately, what do you think of it? I've heard they're a little tough to adjust to, with not having buttons..."
An idea pops into his mind -- but it can be mentioned later. For now, Banagher makes sure Shinji's settled in. "Sit down if you want. Is it okay if Haro says hello to you? He's been really excited."
Though he will politely wait for permission, Banagher's Haro practically vibrates with intent. This model, for those who know, is actually fairly rare -- a reproduction of the first Haro developed by Amuro Ray during the One Year War. Banagher has added decals to the little machine, allowing it to glow around its central seam, and giving it the impression of a tiny unicorn horn above its little eyes.
"Shinji! Hello!" Haro half bounces, half flutters over to the couch next to Shinji. "Hello!"
Well, to get right into it.. Banagher smiles at his companion's eagerness. "Haro's been with me for a long time, now. When I was in college, he was a certified accessibility device, but we've worked on a lot more tasks since then."
Banagher taps at his phone, and a video plays on the projector. Someone's hand -- Banagher's, presumably -- offers Haro a soda can. The little machine opens his wing-flaps, sprouts arms, and accepts the can. It takes him a few seconds, but--!
Click
Haro opens the soda can and offers it back without spilling a drop. Before the video cuts off, Banagher's voice can be heard exclaiming "You did it--!"
"Since he was designed as a collector's piece more than a working Haro, it took a lot of effort to program and train him to do more tasks. But now, he's even on the leaderboards for HaroKart 0097, if you can believe it." There's more than a little pride in Banagher's voice. "But, there's plenty of other models that are designed with tasks first, aesthetics second."
Banagher looks back to Shinji. "Do you have any idea what size you'd like? There's mini-Haros, which are like..." He makes a circle with his hands, about 10cm in diameter. "And standard Haros, which are like my little guy."
Haro, helpfully, rotates himself back and forth, as if showing off for Shinji.
"But if you want something non-standard, that's definitely possible too. It'll just take a little more work. I have a friend who has a Haro big enough for search and rescue work, it's pretty amazing."
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
Shinji glances at his salamander phone when Banagher remarks on it. "I'm not smart enough to figure out how to make it work," he says bluntly. "I mostly just use it for listening to music. It sort of... eats CDs, and then auto-plays them, so that's easy enough, at least..." He takes a seat on the couch, then blinks when asked if Haro can say hello.
"Sure?" he says, confused--but then it occurs to him, maybe this Haro is like Omoikane. Or maybe all Haros are like Omoikane? Shinji doesn't actually know, any more than he knows about Banagher's Haro being a rare model. He looks down at the excited little orb as it bounces over to him. "Hello..."
He looks up at Banagher when he explains. It's lost on Shinji what he means by an accessibility device, but he assumes it'll become obvious the more they talk, so he doesn't ask. Instead, he watches the video Banagher offers. The arms are frankly startling, but when the Haro opens the can--!
"Wow. I didn't know they could do that," Shinji comments, subdued but nonetheless impressed. HaroKart 0097... is also beyond Shinji, and he smiles awkwardly. Yeah, he definitely should've looked into this stuff before coming here... Hopefully he can fake it well enough. Banagher seems really proud of the little guy.
Of course, then he asks the obvious, natural question, which is what kind of Haro that Shinji would want. He rubs the back of his neck. "I, uh, hadn't really thought of it," he admits. Search and rescue work... That's impressive, too, but definitely out of Shinji's league. "I'm not looking for anything fancy. Just something standard would be fine, I guess. I've never had a Haro before, so... I wouldn't want to make you waste your time making something fancy for someone who won't appreciate it."
He looks down at Haro as it--he?--spins. It is pretty cute... "Is the--the personality? Something you had to program in, too?" he wonders. Banagher had sold him on Haros before by saying they could approach Kaworu-level friendship, but... it feels wrong to try to replace him...
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links-Vist has posed.
"Want to take a look at it together?" Banagher asks, looking curiously at the phone. "It eats CDs... I kinda want to see that."
It seems Banagher's curiosity is shared by his companion. Haro reaches out toward Oshansoo-san with one spindly, cable-like arm.
"Friend?" Haro asks, not quite touching the salamander-like creature.
"Ask first, please." Banagher reminds Haro, gently.
Haro's gaze returns to Shinji. "Friend? Touch?"
Banagher nods softly in approval to Haro. Shinji can decide if Haro can interact with his phone. Haro is a good boy, he'll behave either way. In any case, Haro seems thrilled to have Shinji's attention.
"Thanks!" Shinji's faint praise is praise nonetheless, and Banagher is pleased to have it. This is going well so far. Even for someone as un-psychic as Shinji, Banagher's genuine enthusiasm and love for Haros must be clear. He's just thrilled to have someone to share his hobby with.
"If you think about it, a Haro is just a robot inside circular casing. The parts that are needed to run their personality and 'brain' are pretty small, so... you could run pretty much anything you want with the rest of that space." Banagher explains, face thoughtful. "I use that space for Haro's arms, and additional processing power, but..."
Another few taps at his phone, and the projector switches again. This time, the camera hovers somewhat-shakily above a bisected Haro. Perhaps this model is familiar to Shinji -- bearing a shell in the same red color as the Ra Mari II itself.
"Nanny Haro, take one, video seven." Banagher's voice comes in. His hands come into frame, gesturing to one part of the interior. "Worked out a stronger cooling system to compensate for the heavier workload on the servos. Figured out how to fit a mobile into the interior."
Pulling gently, Banagher reveals a fold-out mobile, emerging from the base of the little robot. Stars dance, layered several times. Banagher lets the mobile spin for a few seconds, then carefully folds it back in.
"Adjustments made to grip strength, pressure variation, and low-distance signal strength..." Banagher's quiet voice goes on.
The non-video version of the young man looks to Shinji, letting the video play in the background. "I made this one for Eight and Lavhi, to help with their kids. It's focused on childcare and gentleness. I had to keep it light so it couldn't accidentally crush an infant or something, but I fit a lot inside, too. The mobile, baby monitors, 2-way video, and really sensitive arms."
Banagher blushes a little. Talking about your own work is tough sometimes.
"So I guess the best question to ask is... What do you like to do, Shinji? We could make something to help you with cooking, for sure. Would an extra pair of hands in the kitchen help?" Banagher thinks for a moment. "Do you have any hobbies?"
A small smile. "It's okay, I won't go too crazy. But I'd like to make your Haro something that would be able to be a part of your life. We're making it, so we may as well do a good job, right?"
"As for personalities..." Banagher picks up his Haro. The little robot turns in his hands to face him, smiling his eternal smile. "You can program a lot, for sure. But... well, this is kind of a fringe belief. I think Haros have a personality of their own from the very start. Even models from the same line are a little bit different. And, the way you treat them, and the environments they're exposed to... Every new experience changes them, just a little."
A brighter smile now. Banagher hugs Haro, and the green robot waves his winglets happily.
"They're a lot like people that way. You can install whatever personality pack you want, but if you spend every day teaching your Haro how to program, it'll want to spend time around computers. Does that make sense?"
"My Haro is a little bit of a special case. We've been together for years, and he's..." Banagher looks down, worried what Shinji will think of him. "Almost like my sibling, I guess? In some ways. So he's had ages to develop, and... I'm a pretty attentive owner, too."
Banagher clears his throat. "Haro, could you tell Shinji what you dream about?"
"Banagher!" Haro replies. The little robot goes quiet, his glow dimming. It returns, shortly after -- accompanied by an outreached hand. "Flying! Friends! Audrey!"
There's a terribly soft look in Banaghers green-flecked golden eyes. "Normally, that question has a stock answer: 'electronic sheep'! About a year ago, he started responding differently. I know I don't have any proof, but I swear to you, I never programmed him to say anything different. It's just... part of his development."
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
"I mean, it doesn't literally eat the CD," Shinji says, wondering why he feels the need to clarify this. "But it has a mouth, and you put the CD up to it and it sort of goes... chomp. Getting it to spit it out later is tougher... I kind of have to squeeze it a bunch until it finally lets go." He holds up the Osanshoo-san and demonstrates. It takes a lot of prodding and pulling and squishing before at last it barfs up the CD. ...just the CD. Honest.
"It's honestly a giant pain," Shinji adds. "Someone gave it to me, though, so..." He pauses when Haro asks to touch it, then scratches the back of his head. "Sure, if you want." It's just a phone, he almost says, but... he decides not to, setting the squishy salamander down on the couch for Haro to inspect to their robot heart's content.
He listens to Banagher's explanation. He really does love Haros. Not that Shinji didn't already know that about him--it's one of the few things he does know about him--but he's really passionate about it. He looks at the new projector image, of the bisected Haro and Banagher's audio notes. He doesn't recognize it at first, but then he mentions it was for Eight, and Shinji nods. "Oh, I see... They really can do just about anything, can't they?"
He's a little nonplussed, but not in a bad way. At the very least, Haros do a lot of good for the world. Not like the robots ("robots") he's used to.
"Not really," he says. "I used to play cello, but I couldn't bring it with me, and cooking's a job now. I guess I read, but I don't have any books..." He pauses. "...any... new books, anyway."
It's technically true.
"I guess a kitchen aid Haro would be helpful... I listen to music a lot too. This thing," he prods the blue Osanshoo-san, "plays it, but it'd be nice to be able to listen to more than just one CD at a time. I don't know what I'd do with this thing if I got a music Haro, though..."
He'd feel bad about throwing it away. But if he gets a new music player, and he can't use it for phone stuff, what good would it be? "Just a kitchen helper would be fine," he thus concludes. He's not sure how a Haro would help in the kitchen, but he's reasonably sure Banagher can figure something out.
He looks at Haro as Banagher explains his take on Haros being built-in with personalities that grow on their own. Shinji isn't sure about that, but what does he know? Maybe they really are like Omoikane.
"I guess so," he replies. He falls silent when Banagher asks Haro about his dreams--something that apparently is something he came up with on his own. "Wow. That's pretty incredible." He bows his head. "I'm not sure I can handle taking care of something that incredible... I'm having a hard enough time just taking care of myself right now..."
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links-Vist has posed.
Banagher looks absolutely thrilled to see Oshansoo-san... expel the CD. He laughs quietly -- not in a mocking way, not at all. It's a sound of delight. "This is such weird tech, I've never seen anything like it."
But it seems Shinji doesn't like it? Banagher briefly wonders for the phone's feelings. Does it have feelings? It certainly looks as if it could be sentient. Maybe it's just designed to look that way, to help sales...
Shinji, kindly, offers forth Oshansoo-san. Haro carefully picks it up with one of his hands, patting it gently with the other. Delightlyfully squishy. This is a texture Haro has not encountered yet, and so the little machine seems bent on exploring it. Banagher, too, can't help but sneak in a little poke of his own.
"Huh." He murmurs, rubbing his fingers together. "How does it stay so clean?"
Banagher looks sad at the news that Shinji's had to leave behind his cello. "I'm sorry. If you want books, I think we'll be getting a bookstore on Magallanica this month? I'm a little out of the loop."
Tapping at his phone, the video fades, and notes appear on the projector instead.
>kitchen aid
>sensitive hands, long arms?
>music
>docking system?
"I think we could do both, if you don't mind a little extra weight..." Banagher says, absent-mindedly. "It's a little old-fashioned, but we could add a place for your phone to connect onto a Haro. It could rotate out..."
Doodles are added to the notes. They're of no great artistic merit, but clear enough. A phone dock, turned inward, and flipping outward with the turn of a button.
"And for kitchen things, um... I don't know a lot about cooking..." Banagher taps his finger against his phone. "Steady hands, precision touch, long reach... Oh!"
Another doodle. Something... flat?
"A scale? Do kitchens need scales?"
But Banagher comes to a halt as Shinji seems to doubt himself. He puts his phone down, refocusing entirely on his friend.
"Shinji... I don't know you super well, but --" Haro hops out of Banagher's lap, putting down Oshansoo-san. "I think you're capable of more than you give yourself credit for. But -- it's important you get a choice, too. Not all Haros are like mine. You don't have to invest time into them. I think it's worthwhile if you do. But nobody will force you to."
"And if you don't think this is for you, that's okay too. We can watch a movie, or go walk around, or something." Banagher smiles. There's no judgment to be seen in his expression.
Haro, for his part, hops into Shinji's lap. The little companion robot leans against his chest, a warm, soft weight. Banagher, who had no experience with pets as a child, found this a singularly comforting experience. Physical touch without any human expectation tied to it.
"Shinji. Hug." Says Haro, quietly.
But that is only Banagher's perspective. Will Shinji feel the same way?
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
"It's from the Macross colonies," Shinji explains, maybe unnecessarily. "A lot of stuff there is... different? I don't know."
Livelier, maybe. Either way, it sure is cute. It's not sentient, though. ...not as far as Shinji knows, anyway. It isn't that he dislikes it, but, well... it's hard to be enthusiastic about a device that you can't figure out how to make work. If Haro likes it, at least someone will be happy.
"I don't know. I wipe it down every so often, but I don't actually know what it's made of," Shinji admits. The news that there might be a book store opening soon in Magallanica is nice news, at least. For some reason, though, Shinji can't find it in him to be excited about it. It's been hard for him to get excited about things in general recently...
He doesn't tell Banagher that though. He doesn't want him to worry. He's already trying so hard to help him. "I'll have to keep an eye out," he thus says instead.
He looks at Banagher's projector notes. "Those look good," he offers. "Actually, if you could make a way to, I don't know... convert the phone signals so I can use a keyboard or something? I don't know if that's possible..." It honestly feels dumb, even saying it. What's the point of having a cell phone if you need to have a keyboard-sized input to text with? But... it's something.
"Oh--yeah, they do," he replies, of kitchen scales. "Maybe... maybe measuring cups or something, too? Something to help with cleaning?"
He ducks his head as Banagher does his best to encourage him. He really is a nice person... He insisted before that Leina's more like Kaworu than he is, but that acceptance of his is a very Kaworu-like trait, in Shinji's opinion. It's reassuring, honestly--along with the reassurance that a Haro doesn't necessarily have to be on Haro's level.
"I just don't want to mess one up," he says quietly. "Having a machine with feelings is..."
...
...
...%
"...a lot."
It's why he flinches a little when Haro hops into his lap and requests a hug. Physical touch wthout any human expectation tied to it--but if Haro is basically a person, isn't there still an expectation tied to it?
...At the same time, Haro does have a nice, warm weight. Shinji doesn't hug him, but he does give him an awkward few pats, that turn into rubs, that turn into strokes.
"...It feels nice," he admits. "How did you get it warm like that...?"
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links-Vist has posed.
"Oh, that makes sense." Banagher doesn't know much about Macross-style tech, but he does know how otherworldly it can be. It's fascinating, in a way, how they reached similar ideas as the Earthsphere with such hugely different aesthetics.
Shinji requests a keyboard for his phone, and Banagher nods eagerly. "Even if you don't wind up getting a Haro, we can get you a wireless keyboard no problem. There's ones that can fold up to be as small as your phone, so it wouldn't be too bad to carry around..."
'Keyboard' is added to the list of notes, soon accompanied by 'measuring cups'.
"Measuring cups can stack together, so they wouldn't take up too much space..." Banagher murmurs, thinking. To fit everything, he may have to shorten the arms just a bit from his initial idea -- but that's not the worst thing in the world.
Letting his thoughts trail off, Bangaher goes quiet, worried he's overwhelmed Shinji with his enthusiasm for all things Haro. But when a 'machine with feelings' is mentioned, something changes in the young man's expression. He looks away, toward the far wall of the room, a hand coming up to rest against his heart.
"I know how you feel." He says, softly. "I believe -- the things we spend time with come to life, just a little. They take on parts of our souls. It's something I should've taken more seriously. It's painful when you're separated."
Haro, in Shinji's lap, makes a pleased sort of chiming sound. Pats, rubs, strokes -- all are accepted as Haro-currency.
Banagher lowers his gaze. "But that means the feelings you have are real. And it means -- you can find each other again. No separation is forever."
After a moment, the young man seems to come back to himself, blinking widely. "S--sorry, I was thinking of something else for a second. Um..." It takes a beat for him to remember Shinji's question. "Oh, I installed a light-weight heating module when I was in college. My roommate and I had the draftiest dorm, and I was too embarrassed to admit I didn't know where to buy socks."
Banagher laughs. "Anything the college store didn't have, I just went without. It's funny to look back on now. Haro really saved me back then, huh, buddy?"
Haro flaps his winglets, pleased to be acknowledged.
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
"At that point, it feels like I'd be better off getting a new phone..." Shinji certainly has the money for it, thanks again to Calibur. He'd feel bad throwing away the Osanshoo-san, but maybe he could give it away, make sure it goes to good use by someone who actually can use it. If he's going to get a Haro, it'd be nice to fold these devices together.
Of course, maybe he doesn't get a Haro. But Shinji thinks he'd kind of like trying to have one, even if he's a filthy casual at best. Banagher isn't judging, so it's easier to handle.
The topic turns to machines with feelings, though, and Shinji hadn't expected that to resonate with Banagher as much as it does--even if it's in completely the opposite way from how Shinji had meant. He blinks rapidly, staring at him, as his hand on Haro stills. "Huh?" he utters.
But despite that 'huh?' he sort of gets it. The tsukumogami, tools that have gained souls after a service life of a hundred years, are a part of Japanese culture. Mechs certainly don't get to have a service life that long, but as a concept, Shinji understands what Banagher means.
It's just that Banagher talks about it like he's already lost one.
And strictly speaking, so has Shinji. But he never intends on getting into Unit-01 again. Never... again.
(Right?)
"Oh..." he utters when Banagher says the obvious, that he was talking about something else. Though it was obvious, even to Shinji, he doesn't comment on it. It sounds... painful, whatever happened to him. Shinji knows (assumes) from his own feelings that some things shouldn't be touched.
"Oh, I see... The heating module's nice. It's getting cold these days, huh..." He looks down at Haro and slowly resumes patting him. He moves his hand out of the way when Haro flips, but honestly, the winglets are another part of a Haro that's cute. Shinji still doesn't smile, but he does appreciate it.
"It's nice to have something," someone, "you can rely on," he says instead quietly. "I can kinda see now why you were saying they're such good friends. It's better than being alone."
And the weight of a machine's expectations are at least lighter than a human's.
"Oh! I have some cooking knives that I want to take care of, so a knife sharpener would be good..." Shinji adds, segueing back into a few other things he'd like for a Haro as they occur to him. Over the night, between the two of them, he and Banagher will figure out something functional. He'll eventually pick out a color, too--medium blue, with white eyes that flash green--and a size--Haro-sized, as in this specific Haro, rather than a generic Haro.
And in a couple days...
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links-Vist has posed.
"I'm sure whoever gave it to you would understand. If you can't use it, it's just a paperweight, right? Unless you want to keep it as a music player... What's the sound quality like?"
Banagher doesn't want to pressure Shinji into getting rid of the cute little phone, but he also doesn't want his friend to be any more isolated than he already is. Shinji seems like the kind of guy to be easily influenced by others, so Banagher will have to be careful not to influence him too much.
Haro looks up at Shinji as Banagher goes distant. "Unicorn! Unicorn!"
Banagher startles. "H--hey, Haro!" For a moment, the young man has a genuine sense of dread, terrified to get Shinji involved with Cathedra and its nonsense after everything he's been through. Banagher doesn't know much about NERV, but even he knows the Evangelion pilots. But...
"I guess you'd kinda understand, right?" Banagher looks a little embarrassed. "When you have to leave the machine you fought with for so long, it's kinda like losing a loved one. Or maybe that's just me?" A little self-conscious pause. "I never wanted to fight, but she protected me. She helped me do the right thing. And now I have to leave her behind so that Magallanica can exist in peace..."
He shakes his head, gently sending his fluffy brown hair to and fro. "It's something I don't think I'll ever really be okay with. But all I can do is move forward. Is it like that for you, Shinji?"
Neither of them can share too much about their various machines or situations, but maybe there can be just a bit of catharsis found through sharing emotions. Of course, Banagher's experience with the Unicorn Gundam and Shinji's experience with Unit-01 are drastically, terribly different.
With a little sigh, Banagher pulls himself back to reality. Haro chooses this moment to play a little melody, content to stay with Shinji for the moment. Banagher smiles. "Yeah, exactly. And Haro won't ever get sick of doing the same tasks or judge me. I've heard it's kind of like having a dog, without having to clean up after it."
A knife sharpener! Banagher takes up his phone again, adding to the notes. They have a pretty solid list of options now. The rest of the evening passes happily -- at least for Banagher -- sharing ideas and coming up with a solid plan.
And in a couple days...
---
"Hey, Shinji. All the parts are here! If you wanna come over sometime, we can start building." A pause, as Banagher remembers Shinji's struggle with his phone. "You know, I'll send a message through the Ra Mari II, just in case."
---
"So this is the casing. It's got a built-in compartment for the CPU, but we're going to alter that just a little. The standard setup overheats faster than I'd like in this model."
Banagher's rooms have changed since the last time Shinji visited. Work tables have been dragged in, and every available surface is covered in parts and tools. If there's an organization system, it must make sense to Bangaher alone.
"Could you hold this for a second? I'll grab the drill..."
---
Days pass. Progress is made on Shinji's medium-blue Haro. Banagher handles a lot of the programming on his own time -- he doesn't want to bore his friend. Thankfully, a pastry chef patronizes his website, and was willing to share some of her code for Haro-kitchen-assisting.
---
As Shinji's Haro comes together, the room gradually gets cleaner. There are actually spots to sit on the couch, now! All the technical components have been fit into place, but the boys have reached a slight hangup when it comes to the measuring cups.
Banagher scratches the back of his head with a stylus. "We could slot them in sideways, but then they couldn't come out of the same opening as the kitchen scale. So we can either cut another compartment in, or give up one of the speakers. What do you think, Shinji?"
---
"Ack." Banagher looks up at Shinji, a keyboard balanced on one of his knees, a water bottle balanced on the other. "I totally forgot to ask you about wearables. Do you want a watch or anything to connect with your Haro? It'd let it read your vitals and do remote commands. It would only take a little adjustment, so it's fine either way."
---
If Shinji is anything like Banagher, the two are certain to spend hours working on the project while forgetting to eat. Banagher's Haro does his best to minimize this, making a great fuss when it's time for meals.
"Just a sec, Haro--" Banagher mumbles, ever so carefully adjusting a screw. "Okay, try now, Shinji."
"LUNCH!" Haro insists, "LUNCH!"
---
After days and days of effort, Shinji's Haro sits before them on Banagher's now-clean front room table. It still has that pleasant scent of new electronics about it. Soft blue with soon-to-be green eyes, the little companion robot is, honestly, a feat to be proud of. Banagher snaps a picture.
"Are you ready?" He asks, beaming. "The first one to turn it on should be you. It'll bond with you that way from the very start."
"Friend! Friend!" Haro, sitting in Banagher's lap, is equally as thrilled as his human companion.
"Oh! Do you have a name ready? If you want to call it 'Haro', that's fine." A grin. "I sure couldn't criticize."
All Shinji needs to do is press the power button beneath Haro's back panel. Banagher fit room for a fold-out keyboard there, along with the electronic readout for the little robot's scale.
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
"The sound quality... is really nice, actually," Shinji admits. That's just what you get for something from the Macross fleets. "I don't know. I'll think about it."
Ultimately, he'll opt to let it hang out on his new Haro's head as a sort of two-in-one device. It's fussier than it really needs to be, but that way they can both be there.
He blinks over at Haro at the repetition of Unicorn. It sounds vaguely familiar... Didn't he hear about this on the news at some point? (Shinji is not the most connected person.) He doesn't speak when Banagher explains what he means. In that sense... he does get it. Unit-01 was... familiar, for good or ill. He didn't want to fight either, but he had to fight anyway, and it (she?) protected him--protected everyone.
...and then she crushed Asuka's entry plug between her teeth.
He still has nightmares about her.
"Mmbh," Shinji mumbles, averting his eyes without answering Banagher's question.
Sharing his feelings probably would be cathartic, but right now, he just--can't. Not about that.
At least talking about Haro, and about his Haro, is easier. "Taking care of a dog, huh... I've never had a pet before," he murmurs. "I did used to have a hot springs penguin for a roommate, though... I wonder if he's doing okay..."
He wonders if Misato's doing okay. ...but it's harder to say that.
It's a lot easier to talk about what's right in front of him--to move forward and leave the past behind.
...Maybe he and Banagher are alike, if in different ways.
---
"Yeah, that's probably better..." Shinji says of messaging through the Ra Mari II. At the very least, he's not hard to find; he's generally either in the kitchen where he works or the dorm room where he's staying.
---
The changes to Banagher's room are a genuine surprise. Shinji blinks around at them, marveling in silence at how seriously Banagher takes this stuff. He already knew, sure, but he didn't know.
"Oh, uh, right," he utters, holding whatever Banagher needs while he does assembly and listening to his explanations.
---
Programming would be over Shinji's head. He's never done it and has no interest in it. He'd listen if Banagher had done it while he was around, but, well... He probably would have gotten bored. It's hard to engage with something you're just not into, even if you try for politeness's (kindness's? friendship's...?) sake. He can at least explain cooking things for the purposes of coding and getting the Haro to do what it needs to do, though that pastry chef friend of Banagher's probably has it covered.
---
Shinji sits on the couch, a little crowded by all the parts and pieces but otherwise content to silently hang out. Banagher's a nice person. Over these past days, Shinji's found his company is nice, even if they don't always have much to talk about besides Haros. Just being around someone without necessarily doing anything, though... He's needed that.
It's also made him miss the friends he left behind, but he keeps that part to himself.
At least talking about the measuring cups is a distraction, something else Shinji's needed. "I don't want to give up on the speakers. I don't think they need to come out the same opening as the scale--let's cut another compartment in," he says with rare decisiveness. He's started to get into it...
---
"Wearables?" Shinji echoes, still seated at the couch, otherwise silently hanging out. He considers the question. He gave Kaworu a watch once upon a time, as a thank-you gift... Kaworu wore it all the time, but he doesn't know if he has it now or not. He was sent to the detention center in his plug suit, and Shinji doesn't know if he would've had the chance to get his things before he was banished to the Moon, and then to Jupiter.
A melancholy look crosses his face. It's a common occurrence. And, just as commonly, he doesn't explain to Banagher what it's for. "...A watch is good," he ultimately decides.
---
'LUNCH! LUNCH!' Haro yells, and for once, the corners of Shinji's lips curve up, just a little bit.
"Maybe we should get lunch first," he suggests. "I'll make us something."
---
Despite everything, Shinji finds a feeling of satisfaction when his Haro is finally crafted, coded, and assembled, and only waiting to be turned on for the first time. He didn't want a little semi-living being to take care of, but he's actually gotten a little attached to the little guy. He hangs back as Banagher snaps a picture, but he nods when Banagher bids him turn it on first.
Except--
"Oh! A name? I..." Shinji feels his face flushing. "I completely forgot to think of one." He looks at the blue Haro as Banagher's Haro chirps about a friend. A friend... It'll be nice for Haro to have a friend. It'll be nice for him to have a friend. Someone different, someone who isn't replacing Tohji or Kensuke or Kaworu or Misato or anyone... Someone new, without the burden of expectations from him or anyone. Like a...
"...Bud," he decides.
He leans in and turns the power button on.
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links-Vist has posed.
Shinji doesn't take Banagher up on the bonded-mobile-suit talk, and he accepts this. While they're not that close, Banagher is a powerful Newtype. He can feel the waves of distress in Shinji's heart.
Something terrible must've happened. But that isn't for Banagher to unravel. He lets the topic shift.
There are many small victories over the days they work on Shinji's Haro. The first time Shinji almost smiles, Banagher only barely contains a cheer. Maybe this is really working! And, Shinji really is a good cook, which is always a plus. Even if Banagher has a habit of eating with one hand and working with the other, he's always certain to express thanks for Shinji's efforts.
The moment is at hand. Banagher and Haro sit quietly as Shinji works his way through naming his new companion. An encouraging nod is all Shinji really needs, and then, Bud comes to life!
Blue light glows and fades in a quick cycle. There's a small bit of loading to be endured, as each component part connects with its fellows, but it doesn't last for long. Soon, Bud's blue eyes glow a steady, soft blue.
Banagher's smile grows. He loves this moment, every time. When he was working on Bud in private, he may have snuck in a few extra features... Some of the comfort programs his own Haro runs. Enough knowledge of basic vital signs to predict panic or distress, with instructions to respond to them with physical comfort.
Shinji seems to have a tendency to talk down about himself. Bud, hopefully, will be able to interrupt that with a gentle nudge. Banagher set the little companion up with basic reminders for things like food and sleep, just in case Shinji gets the same all-encompassing work fervor Banagher does.
A friendly chime sounds, accompanied by a pleasant female voice. "Welcome to your new Haro Mk-IV, brought to you by--"
The sound cuts off, a little abruptly. Banagher always uninstalls adware, and that hasn't changed now that he's technically an employee of the very company responsible for creating Haros.
The glow of Bud's eyes cycles once more. Something changes about the little companion robot -- it bobs back and forth, finding its balance on the smooth table. Flaps open and close, along with the various hatches and openings for its accessory parts. Everything seems to be in order, both in software and hardware.
"Hello! Hello!" Bud chirps, looking up at Shinji. Its voice has changed, now -- something neutral, without the cloying corporate polish of the earlier speaker. "Name designation? Owner designation?"
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
Cooking for someone like Banagher at least presents an interesting challenge. What can you make for someone who eats in one hand and works in the other that isn't just another sandwich? Shinji does end up making a good number of sandwiches for him, but... they're all different sandwiches, at least. Variety and nutrition are both important.
Right now, though, Shinji also watches Bud boot up with a nervous flutter in his chest. Nervous, but also excited. His eyes are on Bud as those eyelights come to life and softly glow. He doesn't know about those extra features that Banagher programmed in--but they're sure to come in handy in the future. Shinji doesn't get into a work fervor, but he does tend to have trouble getting out of bed when he's feeling especially bad. Once again, Banagher and Shinji are similar, just in different directions.
"Hm?" Shinji's startled by that initial feminine voice cutting off. "Is something wrong? Was it supposed to do that?" he asks. But soon enough, Bud bobs and flaps and stretches, so to speak. A neutral sort of voice, not quite masculine or feminine... Something more androgynous. "Oh, um... Your name is Bud. And mine is Shinji," he replies, glancing quickly at Banagher and Haro to gauge if he's doing this right. "I guess I'm your owner? I mean... you're here to help me."
In the kitchen, he means, and with phone and music things--but naturally it's more than that, by now.
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links-Vist has posed.
"Oh, it normally plays an ad for Anaheim Electronics. I just programmed it out, no worries." Banagher says quietly. "Otherwise it'd say that every time you booted them up. It gets annoying."
Keeping himself and Haro out of Bud's view for now, Banagher watches Shinji greet his new companion. It's terribly sweet -- Banagher can't help but squeeze Haro close to his chest, remembering when they first met.
Bud accepts their new state in life with a singular wing flap. "Acknowledged! Acknowledged! Greetings, Shinji!"
Banagher nods to Shinji, giving him a quick thumbs-up. "You're doing great. Want to try out some of their features? We've tested them all, so there shouldn't be any problems, but it'd be pretty cool to see them running live."
"If you want, of course." Banagher adds on, quickly.
Haro wiggles in Banagher's arms, clearly eager to meet his new friend. "Bud! Bud!"
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
"Oh, I see." That makes sense, and it was on purpose. Do you really need to boot up a Haro that often, though...? Well, Banagher would know. Shinji accepts that at face value.
Bud chirps out their message, coming into the world with ease. This time, Shinji actually does smile. It's a small, muted thing, and it doesn't last long--but it's there. ...He really can understand why Banagher's so attached to Haros now. His own Haro is cute, but having one of your own... it hits different, somehow.
"Yeah. That sounds good," he tells Banagher. He looks back at Bud and points over to his companions, letting them whir around to take them in. "That's Banagher and his Haro, Haro. They helped make you."
"Greetings, Banagher! Greetings, Haro!" Bud chirps, flapping their winglets. "Thank you! Thank you!"
Shinji doesn't smile again, but there's a certain softness in his gaze. He stands up, gathering Bud in his arms as he goes. "Let's go. I'll make you dinner as thanks too. It's almost my shift, anyway..." His shifts are usually in the morning, but he does pick up the occasional afternoon or even evening shift--and today, he wanted to get this done before he went in.
More than anything at all, Shinji knows it's nice to come into the world immediately knowing your purpose. To him, that's the best thing he can do for Bud right away.