[audio]

[deathof4thwall]

The message starts with a sharp squeal of static, as if the COMP is a badly tuned radio or something, before it dies down a little and a cheerful voice starts babbling.

"Hiii~! So I was wondering something, and I thought I'd just throw it out on the network like this to get an answer and all."

There's the sound of fabric rustling, as if whoever's on the other side of the transmission is shifting nervously.

"So I noticed a bunch of people have, like, clean clothing, and I was just wondering what's up with that? I mean, how does it happen? My clothes are still covered in scorpion goo, and I don't have any spares or nothing, so it'd be super nice if someone could tell me how all you other folks are getting clean things."

There's a slight pause before the voice lowers to a whisper and hisses out,

"is it witchcraft?!"

With that, the message ends.

Comments

[deathof4thwall]

Scorpions, carrots, and spam. That is every edible thing in the entire apartment.

It's...pretty sad, when you think about it.

[demifemme]

That's good. Shura likes being the captain.

"Now, you see those buttons on the machine? You can pick the water temperature for the washing and the size of the load. It's a small load, so we press small, and you can never go wrong with cold water.

"After that, you put two ¥50 coins in the slots on the handle, you push it in..." and the sound of water filling the laundry machine began. Shura gave Minato two more coins. "You start the other machine."

[Video]

[universebeware]

Brainstorm shakes his head, then sighs. "And this is why 'clothes' are ridiculous things."

[audio]

[deathof4thwall]

"Does that make you one of those 'exhibitionists'?"

He is saying this in a tone of voice that suggests he is completely unfazed by a giant robot.

[Video]

[universebeware]

"Exhibitionist...?"

Give Brainstorm a moment while he consults an information source...

"...no? It makes me someone who doesn't need to wear such strange things."

[deathof4thwall]

"Ooooo."

Very carefully, he does as you did. When the washer starts up, he looks in your direction, beaming.

"Coool!"

[audio]

[deathof4thwall]

"Okay."

He contemplates.

"All the other robots I ever met wore clothes, so I was confused. Nice to meet you!"

[demifemme]

Shura grins right back. "Cool indeed! Now we wait for the machine to clean up your clothes. After that, we'll dry them. Then you'll be able to wear clean clothes!" Minato was not so bad, in the end.

[Video]

[universebeware]

Brainstorm half-squints one optic, an action akin to an eyebrow raise since, well. Metal face and all.

"How did they keep from overheating, then? That would cover their vents."

[audio]

[deathof4thwall]

"Her vents were on her head!"

[deathof4thwall]

He punches the air in sheer TRIUMPH.

"Woo!"

[greatseal]

Yes, it is. Shinji would have a heart attack if he could see this.

Minako decides that instead of making food, she'll just tidy things up as much as she can while waiting for him to finish.

[deathof4thwall]

When he does finally get out, he's wearing the clothes you gave him and his skin is so red he looks like a boiled lobster. Just how hot did he have the water in there, anyway...?

"Woooow, that was AWESOME!"

Well, at least he's happy.

[greatseal]

"Next time, maybe keep the water a little bit cooler..."

But he's clean and there's no more gunk or blood in his hair. He almost looks normal. That's probably the best she could hope for.

"You need to remember to take care of yourself, okay? Even if you can't remember some things, you should know about basic hygiene, and feeding yourself. There's no real food in here either."

audio

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

"Yes. Only the most powerful spellcasters are worthy of learning its mysteries."

Kaito, no...

Re: audio

[deathof4thwall]

There's a slight pause before he replies.

"Huh! I did not know that! I'm the Universe, does that make me strong enough?"

Not a single trace of sarcasm in his voice.

[deathof4thwall]

"Huh? Are my carrots gone?"

Dashing over to the fridge to check.

[greatseal]

Minato.... "No, they're fine, but spam and carrots and nothing else isn't good for you! You need more variety."

[deathof4thwall]

There's a quick little sigh of relief as he sees the carrots are, in fact, still there. He glances over at you after you finish talking, looking puzzled.

"But...this is more variety then I've had in years."

[demifemme]

About half an hour later, the washing machine stopped, done washing the clothes.

"Okay, we can transfer the clothes into a dryer now," she told Minato.

[deathof4thwall]

Eyes shining brightly, he starts dumping clothing in the nearest dryer, humming under his breath as he does so.

"Does this one work the same way?"

[demifemme]

"Pretty much. You stick a dryer sheet in the machine," she got a small packet of 3 sheets from the dispenser and tore it open to hand over a sheet to Minato, "you insert coins in the handle, push it in and it will start drying your clothes!"

[Video]

[universebeware]

"On her..." Brainstorm sighs, then points to the big blocky things on the sides of his cheeks. "That can't be the only ones - I've got vents on my head, but one small vent is not going to be adequate."

[audio]

[deathof4thwall]

"Sometimes if she was really overheating, steam would come out of her shoulders!"

A pause.

"But she never needed to do that during school, so they weren't covered."