#lars thecyborg

[coollyinterferes]

"Oh…" It all clicked once the explanation was given. "Yeah. That makes sense." Robert chuckled too; his laugh was not ill-natured, but amicable instead.

Seeing Lars' reaction then, as the conversation progressed and switched topics to Donovan and the implications of what Lars was saying, Speedwagon couldn't help but feel guilty for it, lowering his head a little as he offered an apology. "I… I'm sorry! Didn't mean t' bring that up...". Of course, he knew it'd been Lars himself who had mentioned Donovan first, but still that didn't make Robert feel any less bad or guilty about it.

Conversation topics switched once more, and now a different concern was brought up: That of them being seemingly lost.

"It's alright." He gave Lars a soft but reassuring smile, showing him there was nothing to worry too much about. He then gestured towards a nearby bench. "Take a seat for a moment? This shouldn't take too long." The blond explained and pulled a mobile phone from one of the inner pockets of his coat. It was evident by the wheel logo printed on the phone's case that the device had been given to him by the Foundation. Fidgeting with it a little at first as a result of his lack of experience with digital devices overall, he then called one of the numbers he’d been told to call if some emergency came up or if he needed any help around during his stay in this timeline. 

“Hello…?” He greeted the person on the other side of the line when they picked up his call. It was their driver from earlier. “Yes. Speedwagon here. Could you ah… come pick us up, please? We seem t’ have gotten a little lost down street.” Came the polite request, not wishing to cause much of a hassle while also trying not to make Lars feel bad about their little predicament. Robert then proceeded to give the driver the indications about the area Lars and him were at so he could figure their location and pick them up. Once that was taken care of and it all became just a matter of waiting for their driver, Robert put the phone back into his pocket.

“These machines are incredible…” He muttered almost to himself, still amazed with how easy all this was compared to much older times. Still, he was trying not to get too used to any of this. He then walked over to the bench as well and sat down.

“All done!” He announced to Lars with a bright smile. “Our driver from earlier ‘s gonna come pick us up. Bloke knows this place well so he was quick t’ find out where we are. We just gotta wait for him.”

"Is there any other place you’d like t’ go to today or ‘s this a good time t’ call it a day and head back t’ the office?”

“O-oh, I’m aware chickens are good pets,” he seemed timid about the subject, “I’m, uh, just afraid of them, is all.” He laughed nervously. “They chase me because of my metal body…”

He listened to Robert as they walked together, a little air of melancholy beginning to form. “I do think it’d be nice to have you come visit. I miss company. I’m terribly lonely.” His voice trembled as he laughed a little, but it was obvious in the sound of his laugh that it wasn’t genuine or joking in tone; it seemed to ring hollow and empty.

“Donovan had that scar on his leg up until…” He fell silent, continuing to walk without another word for a few meters. “… Until… he…”

Lars stopped and clenched his fists in anger, then closed his eyes for a moment, and sighed. “I think we’re lost. I can’t think straight enough to figure where we’re at.” He sounded mildly frustrated, and his brows had furrowed.

“I hate when I do this.” He stood closer to Robert. “Can we get some help? Maybe?” He grimaced. “I don’t know where I’m at at all.”

[coollyinterferes]

(lars--thecyborg) "Happy valentine's, ya coot." He grinned, pulling the sunglasses down onto his face.

“Oi, I’m not that old, y’know?” Robert’s hands were now resting on his waist as he cocked his head a little to the side. He wasn’t upset, he was just –intentionally– feigning it in a poor manner. A small smile then stretched his lips and he straightened himself once more.

“Thanks, mate! I appreciate it, but… isn’t it a bit early for that?”

@lars–thecyborg

[poorly-drawn-melone]

(lars--thecyborg) He stared like an idiot for a solid fifteen seconds at Melone, trying to recognize them, but failing.

@lars–thecyborg

[demandezglassjoe]

(lars--thecyborg, non punchout) He tilts his head to one side, looking up at the taller man. "I feel like I've seen you somewhere before."

“I… I think I may have seen you before, too.” Joseph looked the man up and down, a bit puzzled by his modifications. “Are… are you Major Guile?”

[coollyinterferes]

⬦ Continued from here ⬦ @lars--thecyborg

Robert took a small step back the moment he felt the water splashing against his skin in a bit of a reflex, closing his eyes and turning his head away as well for a second only. He didn’t really pay much attention to that as there was a bigger concern than just getting a little wet.

“I… I thought you needed those…” He finally said, a bit confused. He had learned a thing or two about all the new technologies in this time, but he was evidently far from being an expert on the matter. Speedwagon watched as the other rinsed the oil and blood from his face, looking at the pieces Lars was holding in his hand for a moment before he turned to look at Lars’ face once more. It seemed to be healing quite fast, indeed. He was more at ease at that sight, but he still wanted to be sure…

“Are you sure you’re gonna be alrigh’ without ‘em?”

[coollyinterferes]

((lars=-thecyborg)) Lars turned around blood dripping down his face as he tried to use the sink's sprayer to wash it off. He gasped as he seen Robert standing there and dropped the sprayer. "I-- Robert! I- I'm fine! I promise!"

The sound of water running and splashing didn’t go unnoticed to the former thug as he walked down the hallway. By the way it sounded, it seemed like there was someone trying to desperately wash something. Soon after, he was standing before the bathroom, were all that noise was coming from. The open door didn’t do much to hide the mess inside, nor the unmistakable smell of blood mixed with water.

“…The ‘ell…?” Robert muttered to himself as he took a look inside, cautious, since he didn’t know what could be awaiting inside. His eyes went wide as he spotted the other person standing there.

“Lars…!?” He was visibly taken aback; genuine concern coating his voice as he approached the bleeding man. “My God… What 'appened!?”

@lars–thecyborg

[coollyinterferes]

(lars--thecyborg) In a sheer fit of anger, Lars raised his hand back and tightened up his fist before realizing what he was about to do, and slowly dropped his arm, staring at Robert. "I......"

Not only Lars’ fit of anger had been quite sudden, the man’sbehavior had also taken Robert by surprise. His street instinct didnot fail to kick in, though, as he immediately assumed a defensivestance, ready to protect himself (or avoid, depending on the attack)if needed. He wasn’t going to retaliate if Lars happened to dosomething, though. He was a dear friend of his and, as such, he hadno reasons to counterattack, not unless he really had to.

“Lars…?” His voice was soft asthe name escaped his lips. He stared back at him, puzzled and quiteshocked still. “Please, try to calm down...” Both hands raised a little below his shoulder level ina calming gesture as he saw the other’s hand drop back to his side. A good sign, he thought as worry began to take over this time.

“What’s goin’ on...? Are you alrigh’?”

@lars--thecyborg

[ayashi-masago]

Ayashi giggled a bit before responding.

"I saw that they opened up a new McDonalds along this route, if you wanna check that out." He grinned while looking over at Lars.

hewwwooo??? (ayashi-masago)

“Hewwo?” He responded with a cute smile.

[coollyinterferes]

"Of course." Robert complied and followed Lars' instructions once he'd declared there was a possibility they'd gotten lost. Then again, Lars knew this place better than him. And, even if they ended up irremediably lost, they could always ask for help to some passerby or ask for directions, or plain out call back to the Foundation so they could send someone to pick them up, so there was not much to worry about on that matter.

Lars' comments about the animals at his dream cottage sparked a soft chuckle from Speedwagon, finding the possible reasoning a bit amusing, but not in a negative manner.

"I've heard chickens can make quite interestin' pets, but they certainly seem t' become a handful quite fast." He added to the conversation, listening as Lars went on.

"That would be quite nice." He then said in response to the idea of having a place to stay with Lars whenever he visited. "I'd love that. And you can be sure I'd pay you a visit every time I could. Bring presents and all. We might be able t' bake some bread together too, bread maker involved or not." He then added, lighthearted tone, but serious in his intention. As used as he was to travelling around the world, and now through timelines, too, he was well aware of how much better a journey can be when it also involves someone you appreciate.

As the conversation moved forward, he couldn't hold back a slight wince at the mention of Donovan's burn, caused by a heater.

"Must have been a serious one if it left some scarrin'." Robert mused out loud before admitting. "I've never had a heater at home myself, if I'm honest. Only times I got t' use one were whenever some inn I was stayin' at durin' a trip had one." And which was usually not the case, as he tended to stay at lower end and cheaper ones due to his limited means, save for the instances where he got to stay at a hook-up's place if he happened to have one there at the time (some of which, coincidentally, would have heaters at their places).

"Still, it's gonna be a pain in the arse when I get back home. Not havin' all the appliances and commodities I have here." And, of course, he wished he could take some of them with him back home, but that was impossible for a variety of reasons. "I'd rather not think much 'bout it for now and pretend I'll never have t' leave them." A soft chuckle punctuating his words.

Lars stopped, looking at the buildings around him with a slightly quizzical, but otherwise unreadable look.

“I may have gotten myself slightly lost.” He spoke, with an air of mild confusion. “I know where I am - I think, anyway - but I’m not quite sure… I, uh, think we should turn around.”

Lars did exactly that and began to turn around, continuing to walk until they both came to a crosswalk. “Perhaps we should switch sides, to the other side of the street.” Lars led the way across the crosswalk, to the other row of shops.

He listened to Robert speak as they continued to meander. “I really would like to have a cottage in the woods. A garden full of native flowers, a garden full of home-grown food… Animals - well, maybe not chickens - and a cat or two. And an extra bed, any time you wanted to come stay for a while. I wouldn’t mind someone to talk to every now and then.” He chuckled. He quite liked Robert, as a person - he found him very pleasant to be around. Robert was a great help to him, helping him get back on his feet and at least somewhat settled.

Lars himself was a bit of a tragic case. He couldn’t work, and everything seemed to distress him - it was quite noticeable, seeing as he would visibly tense up every time a car would drive past the duo. He made it work, however. Lars shook off the thoughts.

“I don’t think I could live without air conditioning anymore. I’ve lived so long without it, and it was just miserable.” He sighed, thinking. “I’m glad heaters have gotten better since then. I remember a radiator in our - mine and Donovan’s - childhood home. Didn’t actually seem to heat up the house much, but it could give you a nasty burn. Donovan had a radiator burn on his leg. The scar was still there even as an adult.” He reminisced. “I can’t imagine anybody still uses them.”

[coollyinterferes]

“Different?” The blond arched an eyebrow. It was evident by the look on his face that Robert was a bit confused by that. He wasn’t sure about what the other was referring to, so he ventured to ask, genuinely curious. “What do you mean?”

“Ah. It’s been a while, indeed, and I apologize ‘bout that! Been all over the place as of late... I can now finally just sit back and relax, if only for a little while.” He’d then add, offering a soft bow of his head and an apologetic smile of his own along with it. “How’s life been treatin’ you?”

@lars--thecyborg​​

[coollyinterferes]

“Yeah.” Speedwagon replied to Lars question, giving the whole idea a bit of a thought. “I mean, it’s the first time I see or hear ‘bout one of those outside those huge ones they have at some posh bakeries back home, but they sure seem like a great thing t’ have at home.” It was a bit outlandish to think about it, but it sure would be nice to be able to have some of those appliances back home. They sure seemed like they could make life so much easier. That is, of course, if they could even be used back then. Based on what Robert had learned so far, most of those required electricity to function, a commodity that was barely being introduced in his time.

He then followed Lars’ cue, letting the man guide them through the streets of the city and doing some more window shopping, too. He couldn’t hold back a smile in response to the idea suggested by the other.

“A cottage in the woods sounds quite lovely.” And the added of a nice garden and some pets running around made it sound even nicer. A soft chuckle emerges from the man’s throat at the mention of the bread maker.

“I must admit I’m quite used t’ the city’s constant bustlin’ and all that stuff that I probably wouldn’t be able t’ make a permanent home away from that,–” He admitted as they continued walking down the street, “–but it sure would be nice t’ have a place like that t’ crash on every now and then t’ take a little break from the city. Like some sorta haven, I guess?”

“And I also must admit air conditionin’ is quite a wild thing.” The man agreed, “Heaters, too. Best we have back in my time are radiators, but that’s only if you can afford ‘em.” Oh, yes, he is going to miss those greatly when winter comes and he has to toughen it out as usual.

Lars, of course, had totally forgotten about the previous situation - his attention changes so quickly, it may as well be that of a bug’s. He tilted his head in curious examination of the bread maker in the shop window. Way out of his price range, of course, at least in the low hundreds.

“Mmm, bread makers.” He thought out loud curiously, “I always wished I had one of those, but I don’t make bread often enough for it to really be worth it lately…” He pondered, in the general direction of Robert. “I wish I had one of these a long time ago - don’t you? I would have fed a village if it made making bread that easy.”

Lars himself was still not particularly used to things now as they were, considering he lived in an era of magic and miracles, in his mind - the creation of the modern iteration of the refrigerator, microwaves, toaster ovens, computers, the very isolation of penicillin and more - those were all across the eras of his life.

“Oh, Robert.” He said, chuckling. “It’d be nice to have a nice home full of appliances to make things easier. Maybe a cottage in the woods, with a garden and some pets. And a bread maker.” He added the last part with a humorous jest. He continued walking and window browsing with Robert, continuing to talk about the different inventions nowadays from what he had.

“Hell, back in my day, we didn’t even have central air conditioning!”

[coollyinterferes]

“That’s quite a gentle way of puttin' it, but that’s correct.” Was his reply to Lars’ supposition. “Back home it’s damn near impossible t’ be treated decently…” There’s a brief pause in his words; honey brown gaze lowered a little, staring down for a brief moment as they continued walking down the street, though staring at nothing in particular as his mind was momentarily immersed in those thoughts. Then again, even when he was fully aware of that harsh reality of his back in his time, saying it out loud simply made it all hit harder.

“...t’ be treated like, y’know, a human bein’ if you don’t own some riches.” If you're not 'someone', like those in the upper classes would often say and even brag about. It was a situation only others in the same low position could come to really understand but, unfortunately, that didn't happen too often. Almost everyone had those ideas ingrained deep in their minds. Especially in the lowest stratus of them all, like Robert. And, of course, it didn’t always stop at simple foul words and mean intentions. All those terrible experiences with the upper classes marking him for life in a way or another. That perspective he had on others, and on the world around him, probably would have never changed had it not been for Jonathan. Despite the young man’s high position –and the unique status he’d been granted with as the heir of the honorable Joestar family–, he was able to see past through those sickening walls of prejudice society had built around the ‘unfortunate’, seeing an actual human being every time he looked at the blond, no less. A big deal when you’ve been kicked down over and over again since birth due to reasons completely out of your reach.

But, of course, he was not about to sour the mood and turn it grim by going into details, or the many “whys” and “hows”, dropping that part of the conversation instead and focusing on Lars’ explanation about his own personal struggles. Robert then nodded, not only agreeing, but also relating to an extent as well.

“Nothin’ good comes outta keepin’ everythin’ t’ oneself, indeed.” A sentiment he knew far too well and that he sometimes still struggled with himself when it came to certain aspects of life, usually as a necessity, and sometimes out of some sort of justified apprehension. “I’m glad you were able t’ overcome that hurdle.” A genuine smile was offered. It was always a true joy to see a friend striving, overcoming obstacles, and becoming a better version of themselves.

And then, a sudden but welcomed shift on the subject came. Thanks to Robert’s meager backgrounds growing up (and his current state back home), he could partly agree with Lars’ statement, despite him not being too used to the currency in this time and place yet (though… it shouldn’t be that different to his many travels done around the world, right?). It still felt like a bit of a big sum. However, all thoughts about the price of this… machine-looking thing on the shop’s window dissipated once, upon reading the sign that was sitting next to it, Robert noticed what it was. Or, more exactly, what it did.

“That thing can make bread…?” True wonder all over his voice and all over his face, too, as he stared at the bread maker; eyes widening a tad at the sight. Essentially, the sole thought of a box-looking machine that was small enough to fit on a kitchen counter would be at least a degree of mindblowing for someone coming from the late 19th century. Bread making was mostly manual at the time, after all. And even those machines some fancy bakers had to aid them with the process were huge and not very common.

Lars fiddled with the waistband of his pants a little as he walked, his thumb stuck in the waistband alongside his tucked-in shirt. He listened to Robert intently, his eyes wandering over the goods in the other shop’s windows as they walked along. Once again, he balked at some of the prices, his eyes involuntarily widening at just about anything more than fifty dollars.

Even if he didn’t quite know it, Lars felt the same about himself as Robert did. He, too, believed he wasn’t worth much, or that he was replaceable. He believed he was a monster because of what was put in his head. Lars – albeit his hearing a bit shot, and standing on the wrong side of Robert to even hear him properly – still heard Robert’s words loudly and clearly.

“I can only imagine you haven’t had fair treatment. I understand what that’s like.” Almost comically, it felt like a circle of them understanding each other’s issues and affirming their right to feel the way they do.

Lars smiled, too. “I try to be as open as I truly can. I’ve lived a long time, Robert.” He spoke in a playfully chiding manner, as a small chuckle escaped him, “Being closed up into myself was something, personally, that was always holding me back. I always was afraid of being too open to others, until I started traveling with the Joestars. I realized then that being open was better for me… In some cases, better for others, too.”

Lars then nearly choked on his own air after seeing a ridiculously – for him, anyway – priced bread maker in the window of a shop. “Sorry. Can you believe some of these prices?”

[ayashi-masago]

Ayashi nodded and led the way down the sidewalk. Passing under streetlamps, the cloak of night had begun to fall on their way to McDonalds. The new darkness brung uneasy feelings.

"Should be around here somewhere..." He said as he made his way.

hewwwooo??? (ayashi-masago)

“Hewwo?” He responded with a cute smile.

[ayashi-masago]

Ayashi giggled a bit before responding.

"I saw that they opened up a new McDonalds along this route, if you wanna check that out." He grinned while looking over at Lars.

hewwwooo??? (ayashi-masago)

“Hewwo?” He responded with a cute smile.

[ayashi-masago]

"Well, I'm doing lovely, thank you for asking." Ayashi stepped forward a bit on the account of the other man being friendly.

"Now, I gotta ask you the same question: How are you?"

hewwwooo??? (ayashi-masago)

“Hewwo?” He responded with a cute smile.

[ayashi-masago]

"Ah, I see. I've met quiet a few people with the same condition as you a few years back. Used to be close friends, actually." Ayashi stood still and peered over at the cyborg.

"Well, we've been standing here for quite a minute now Lars. I should tell you my name as well." Ayashi hesitated a bit before continuing. "Its Ayashi, but you can call me Gabbana." He stood up straight; straightening out his jacket, he looked around the street.

"Shall we head in somewhere?"

hewwwooo??? (ayashi-masago)

“Hewwo?” He responded with a cute smile.