Pizza and Mini Pizza | Daycare Car | Melvin + RNA |

R.N.A.

Ever since stepping into this car, RNA had been inundated with many a flour child, all excited at the prospect of meeting a real life robot. Of course, RNA had no child version, since robots were not exactly children, after all.

Despite the challenges that the others may be facing, it seemed like RNA got along well with the children. There was quite a lot of experience behind the robot when it came to dealing with children, after all.

Ah, here seems to be one of their companions having some sort of issue with a child. In fact, the two seemed to share some resemblance. Well, it must be hard to get someone so young to listen to themselves, huh? RNA was more than willing to extend this help to Melvin.

“Ah… I see you are… having some trouble… would you like my… assistance?” RNA questioned. It was nice to be able to actually offer assistance for once.

Melvin Greene

An ‘issue’ can be something that is so ’trying in vain to get this weird flour clone to stop demanding to be carried so he can be tall ‘like Jordan!!!!’ When that fails and you give in to the first demand just to get it to stop, an issue can be something that is so ‘getting the little jerk to stop knocking your hat off.’ After electing to just carry the hat instead, the grubby little flour mitts full of greasy hair almost seem like a minor issue in comparison. Almost.

Melvin is currently learning firsthand that everyone was absolutely correct when they said he tended to play rough as a kid. For once, he’s actually kind of grateful to see R.N.A, if only to hopefully pawn… himself??? off on them for a bit. It’s actually FMelvin who speaks up first, nearly launching himself off his regular human guy counterpart’s shoulders in the process and only barely being stopped from sending himself straight to the floor by the power of half-decent reflexes.

“You’re a robot!” This astute observation rips the kid’s focus away from yanking at his older self’s hair in a manner not unlike the Ratatouille Maneuvers, trying instead to grab at R.N.A’s boxy metal shell. “Shoot lasers out of your eyes? Or do a rocket punch?? I wanna see!” It’s probably a bit strange even for a robot just how dramatically different these two are. Sure, they’re probably familiar with the idea of growing up, nurturing is in their name, but jeez. Something Happened Here…

“You’ve gotta be able to do something cool, R.N.A. He’s driving me crazy here.” Melvin’s accepting their help without snarking about it. That’s the closest he’ll come to expressing any sort of appreciation at the moment.

R.N.A.

Melvin Greene

Melvin Greene “You’re a robot!” This astute observation rips the kid’s focus away from yanking at his older self’s hair in a manner not unlike the Ratatouille Maneuvers, trying instead to grab at R.N.A’s boxy metal shell.

Oh dear! RNA was designed to withstand some rough play, at least. This grabbing didn’t faze them much, though their shell might have felt cold to FMelvin. “Yes… I am a… robot. My name is… R.N.A. It is nice… to meet you… Melvin.” They had figured out that these flour kids were younger versions of the humans on this train a while ago. They gave FMelvin a gentle pat on the head, if they were able.

Melvin Greene “Shoot lasers out of your eyes? Or do a rocket punch?? I wanna see!” It’s probably a bit strange even for a robot just how dramatically different these two are. Sure, they’re probably familiar with the idea of growing up, nurturing is in their name, but jeez. Something Happened Here…

“I cannot… my apologies…”

That strong shift in personality did not go unnoticed. “You were… certainly full of energy when… you were younger… Melvin. I wonder… why you are no longer… like that?” They aim this comment at the grown pizza boy, this time. “I suppose you have… matured into someone else.”

Melvin Greene “You’ve gotta be able to do something cool, R.N.A. He’s driving me crazy here.”

Oh dear… Doing something cool? Might be a tall order. RNA wasn’t exactly built for amazement, after all. These things came secondary to their real purpose, which was to help nurture people. But still, there was a feature or two built-in for entertaining rowdy children, or for simply grabbing attention if needed.

“I am afraid that… it is nothing very… flashy. But please… look at my screen…” No laser eyes or rocket punches here, sadly.

With that, the LEDs began to flash in a pattern as a chiptune came from RNA’s speakers. A very pixelated version of the “Bad Apple” music video was playing on their screen through patterns of LEDs, with an accompanying 8-bit version of the song coming from their speakers.

Melvin Greene

R.N.A. “Yes… I am a… robot. My name is… R.N.A. It is nice… to meet you… Melvin.” They had figured out that these flour kids were younger versions of the humans on this train a while ago. They gave FMelvin a gentle pat on the head, if they were able.

They’re absolutely able to. He does not react to this particularly strongly either way, too fixated on the hopefully-cool robot and trying to climb onto them instead, even despite the cold.

R.N.A. “I cannot… my apologies…”

This, on the other hand gets a bit of a frown and a midway pause, leaning kind of precariously between R.N.A’s boxy shell and Melvin’s own shoulders. “Aw maaaan. Why not?”

R.N.A. “You were… certainly full of energy when… you were younger… Melvin. I wonder… why you are no longer… like that?” They aim this comment at the grown pizza boy, this time. “I suppose you have… matured into someone else.”

The grown pizza boy grimaces. Ugh, tell him about it. Matured feels like a strong word. He’s just aged, and not terribly well, in his personal opinion.

“Guess reality must have caught up with me or something.” Which feels weird to say when talking to such a decidedly sci-fi figure like R.N.A, but he’s too tired out by… himself, to feel up to being grumpy with them right now. They were probably going to be a big ol’ help dealing with a certain little shit and he really didn’t want to rebuff that right now. The remark seems to fly straight over the small one’s head, at any rate, far more transfixed by whatever cool thing the cool robot was about to do. He looks outright giddy with anticipation. It’s not anything close to resembling a look anyone here has seen on Melvin’s face the entire time.

Lights and sounds and colours? FMelvin is rapt, if confused about what exactly they’re doing. It’s not the most exciting thing in the world, so he’s still just kind of kicking at his older counterpart (while he struggles to keep the little shit from falling while distracted.)

“You know, I forgot you probably would be good with kids.” FMelvin meanwhile is also sort of poking at R.N.A’s screen trying to make sense of the funny shapes. “I mean, it is in your name or something, right?” He doesn’t remember if he’s being honest. Sorry. Didn’t really care the first time.

R.N.A.

Melvin Greene

Melvin Greene This, on the other hand gets a bit of a frown and a midway pause, leaning kind of precariously between R.N.A’s boxy shell and Melvin’s own shoulders. “Aw maaaan. Why not?”

“I simply… was not designed with… features that might… hurt people. It is not… my purpose.” R.N.A. answers. As sad as this might make the kid, there was no point lying about it. “I am designed to… help humans like you.”

Melvin Greene “Guess reality must have caught up with me or something.” Which feels weird to say when talking to such a decidedly sci-fi figure like R.N.A, but he’s too tired out by… himself, to feel up to being grumpy with them right now.

“Reality… does not have to be… as bleak as you make it… out to be. I still believe that… happiness can be… waiting in store… for the you of today.” They still wanted to give Melvin some encouragement. Hey, who knows. Maybe they’d finally see Melvin smile for once.

Melvin Greene Lights and sounds and colours? FMelvin is rapt, if confused about what exactly they’re doing. It’s not the most exciting thing in the world, so he’s still just kind of kicking at his older counterpart (while he struggles to keep the little shit from falling while distracted.)

Well… It’s a partial win. Perhaps that cartwheel function might have been worth adding after all. But they know that even the most high energy kids simply want entertainment. They want care and to be listened to. To have fun, as well. Unlike Melvin, R.N.A. didn’t have flesh or hair to pull on or things to snatch like clothes, so it gave them a bit of a leg up on the pizzaman.

Melvin Greene “You know, I forgot you probably would be good with kids.” FMelvin meanwhile is also sort of poking at R.N.A’s screen trying to make sense of the funny shapes. “I mean, it is in your name or something, right?”

“My name? It’s… R.NA. or Robotic… Nurturing Assistant… Not related to kids specifically. However, kids require more… nurturing than most to… grow into pro-social and happy… members of society.” They nod once or twice, moving their arms to give FMelvin some more support so that he doesn’t fall. “I am… very available to help if you… are exhausted. I will… take the utmost pro-social and… careful care of your younger… self if you need to take a break.”

It was clear that Melvin was tired and a little bit of a mess… Probably needed a break… or maybe just someone to listen to his woes.