metalogs | here in my car

Entry tags:

dcau: jason todd

here in my car

Who: Grease Monkey /

buildallthethings and OPEN, with a special prompt for Jason/

robintohood
What: CATCH-ALL log for Grease Monkey and/or Fix-It All-Tow
When: Throughout the month of May
Where: Fix-It All-Tow, Central City

As the Confluence settles and the world goes back to what it considers 'normalcy' - for now, at least - the queue at Fix-It All-Tow never seems to end. Which is good - busy means business - and bad - because a certain unofficial 'mascot' is finding less and less time to mess around with xeir toys.

Sleeping through a portion of the day - part of the 'agreement' xey have with the owner involves staying out of sight as much as possible, and only working on vehicles after-hours or when it's otherwise not obvious that they not only employ a meta, but one who's probably toeing the line of 'old enough to actually be employed' - GM keeps to xeir loft or finds other ways to keep xemself busy. You might find xem watching some new building going up for a few minutes before getting bored and moving on, or maybe trying to hawk a piece or two of tech at a street 'vendor'. You know, the ones with the blankets.

Xey've at least got the timing down, more or less; sleeping through school hours means nobody questions why they aren't there in the first place. Outside of school hours, who cares about a scrungy meta as long as said meta goes out of their way to keep from bumping in to people or otherwise causing trouble?

And then the sun goes down, the lights go on, and Grease Monkey? Goes up.

At this point, unless xey're working on a car, xey can be spotted darting from rooftop to rooftop in search of ~~mischief~~ something interesting. Whether it's a fight outside a bar or a break-in in progress, GM tends not to interfere directly...but if things fall to the ground? That might catch xeir attention even more, waiting to see if there's a clean moment to either scavenge, or, well...

There's always a gadget or two to test out.

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It's somewhere around a week in to the month when xe stirs to the sound of Jorge's voice.

"...find it more interesting to see what we get with a 'help wanted' sign instead of posting online, yeah. If people are willing to pound pavement, they might as well put that effort in to other things, right?"

Help wanted- Jorge put out the sign a couple days ago, after one of the other mechanics just...stopped showing up. Not that it's much of a loss - they were something of a slacker, in GM's opinion - but the fact that he's already found a possible someone catches the kid's attention. A minute or so later and a head peeks out of an upper loft, peering down at where the boss is showing someone unfamiliar the garage. Catching sight of the movement, said boss gives GM a look before clearing his throat and returning his attention to the other man.

"...you don't got a problem with metas, right?"

Though he kept his expression seemingly relaxed, Jason had also caught the look Jorge gave to someone on an upper floor. Was there some tension in the shop?

So far, the job interview was going fine. Jason still had time to decide which guild to join or if he should join one at all. So far, he didn't see a reason to trust either so he needed start building up his own resources. Taking a day job as a mechanic could be a good cover for him while building up some income. He had plenty of experience with cars and motorcycles and he could also get to know the locals and the area in ways that were easier than being a nocturnal vigilante.

"No problems," Jason replies with an easy smile. "As long as they're not hurting anyone, why should I care?"

Though Jason is using a false identity, his answer about Metas is true. Metas could be just as good or just as evil as nonpowered people. It would be ridiculous to put all Metas under one blanket. Plus, he was a Meta now.

The response seems to satisfy the man - Jorge Reyes, Owner if the signs on the wall mean anything - and he nods. "There's one that hangs out around here, calls 'emself Grease Monkey. Weird kid, not a bad one. Good with engines." Said with the air of that's all that matters. For now, though. "For now, I can give you a trial run - 'spain in the ass with the paperwork seeing as you don't have any, but we'll figure it out." Jorge shrugs, leading Jason over towards one of the vehicles. "You wanna take a look at this one, tell me what you think? Was gonna let the kid play with it later, but it'll do for us."

Wait. Was? That's enough to provoke more than just curiosity. Not that a 'free' night isn't a bad thing, but something about this rubs GM the wrong way; it isn't long before the teen slips out of the loft, balancing across beams to take a closer look while still keeping height.

Edited 2022-05-01 04:56 (UTC)

Jason nods and rolls up his sleeves as he walks over to the vehicle. He feels even more in his element. Anyone could talk but a practical exam was a better indicator when it comes to being a mechanic.

He opens the hood of the car and checks the engine first.

"Well, it could use a little TLC but you can easily get another decade out of this thing if you..."

Jason spoke confidently and with ease of the car's flaws and his suggestions on how to improve it. At some point, he catches in the corner of his eye someone watching him from the beams but pretends he doesn't notice. He assumes the person is Grease Monkey. The kid is probably curious about him since he's new and a potential co-worker.

Jorge nods, asking a few questions as Jason 'works' - occasionally even handing him a tool or two, inviting him to show just what he's talking about. Practical exams are clearly the norm, here.

Though the monkey-kid in the ceiling certainly looks displeased with how this is turning out. See this face, Jason, out of your peripheral vision? This face is sus of you, sir. Tailtip twitching like an annoyed cat's.

After a few more minutes, though, Jorge seems to be satisfied, making to clap Jason on the back. "Well, you're better than the last guy who was here- when'd you say you could start?"

Oh no.

Grease Monkey has to literally bite the inside of xeir cheek to keep from protesting. And once Jorge excuses himself to get some paperwork for Jason to look over- xey promptly drop from the ceiling, landing and staying in a crouch as xey look up at the new face.

"...you're wrong on the valves, you know."

Jason doesn't flinch when the kid drops down and lands near him. He caught xeir suspicious look as he talked to Jorge and suspected xey would want to confront him. He looks back at xem with a curious expression. Are xey jealous and getting territorial already?

"Yeah? What do you think?" Jason asks calmly.

Contrary to what some might think, Jason's capable of being calm when the situation calls for it. No use starting a fight already when he needs to maintain a civilian cover.

Ding ding ding, got it in one. The teen gets up after another moment, stretching as xey do - arms behind head, the whole schebang, considering xey're barely over 5 feet that doesn't really do much in terms of intimidation if anything though - before moving over towards the vehicle.

"I think they should be scrap at this point. Sure, you could get a little longer out of them if you push them, but that just means you're gonna need another trip down the road-"

Already clad in jumpsuit and gloves, there's zero hesitation to pluck out the offending valves and go in to detail about their current sorry state- though Grease Monkey also seems to be of the opinion that they can somehow be used to augment the 'newer' set of valves. Which is silly.

...right?

Jason patiently listens as Grease Monkey gives xeir opinion on the valves. He knows xey're trying to reassert xeir position in the shop. The kid is young so Jason isn't bothered by the tactic. He probably would've done the same if their roles were reversed. It also helps that Jason's a foot taller than xem.

"Not bad," Jason says, still maintaining his calm. "It might depend on what the customer wants at that point. Some might want to just go with completely new parts, thinking that'll be easier."

Damn you, tall person.

"If the thing runs and the costs're covered, who cares?" Pragmatic, aren't xey. "Aside from not giving them more than they agreed in the quote." By the grumpy tone, it's quite possible xey've gotten chastised for doing such before. (In GM's defense, it was a really cool car, just begging for an upgrade.)

Wait, can't be grumpy. Can't show weakness. "Have you even worked in a place like this before?" Yes. That's a good response. Show dominance.

Jason makes a small smirk as he senses that xey've gotten in trouble before for not following the quote. The kid seems ballsy. He's well familiar with that attitude.

"Not full time," Jason replies, casually. "But I've done a lot of one-off jobs for a long time. Ever since I was a kid."

It isn't exactly a lie. Jason started getting familiar with car parts when he was a kid thanks to his biological father being a car thief. Then Jason had to start stealing car parts to survive. And then there's all the training he's gone through a vigilante. Knowing how to do things like drive motorcycles and hotwire cars is very useful for the job.

Oh no. Does Jorge know all that? (Yes.) It's not dissimilar from what GM's told him about xeir past, and the kid presses xeir lips together unhappily. Xey're not being replaced, are xey?...

"But nothing real," xey press. "Which means that I have to clean up after you if you mess up."

Jason's finding Grease Monkey easy to read as he sees the thin line xey make with xeir lips. He knows xey're disapproving of him more.

"That's fine," Jason says with another easy smile. "Everyone makes mistakes."

Whatever the kid's problem is with him, Jason intends to keep going with his plan. As long as he keeps his head down, do the work, and try not to start any fights as a civilian, there was no reason for the shop to get rid of him. Plus job hunting is a pain, especially when one doesn't have any papers and unlikely to join a guild.

"Uh-huh. Sure." GM is flawless and has never committed a single mistake in xeir life.

It's about that time Jorge heads back in; at the sight of the teen loose in the ~~hospital~~ shop, he shakes his head with a sigh, but he doesn't seem irritated; or, if it is actual irritation, it's a resigned sort. "Mono..."

"Just making sure he's not trying to pull anything, you never know!" A quick fingers-towards-eyes-fingers-towards-Jason - I'm watching you - and the teen heads back over towards xeir loft; a ladder makes for an easy climb back in to it, but instead of closing the door behind xem, they lean in the small frame, watching the goings on.

As for those going-ons? Mostly Jorge just discussing possible wages and getting a feel for how much of the paperwork he dug up is actually needed.

When GM does the "I'm watching you" gesture, Jason fails to hide his amused expression and he fights the urge to snicker and roll his eyes. It's feeling more like a chihuahua trying to intimidate another dog ten times xeir size.

Most of Jason's attention turns back to Jorge when he comes back but Jason remains aware of GM's presence when he notices the loft door still open. However, he remains unconcerned as he talks to Jorge about his wages and whatever paperwork they should still take care of. Jason had already said he wants to be paid under the table.

Edited 2022-05-02 04:15 (UTC)

~~yipyipyipyipyipyipyip~~

Jorge seems quite all right with that arrangement; the arrangement is more or less phraseWd as 'I'd like to see you in these hours and see you do such and such', as opposed to 'as an employee, you are expected to' - a neat little arrangement that skirts the 'employee' line and as such, much of what's attached to that; paperwork, taxes, etc etc. It seems he's well familiar with doing such, and when it's all handled, he offers his hand for Jason to shake before handing him copies of what he needs, introducing him to the current shift, and then being called in to the main shop to handle a customer issue.

At this point, the teen has briefly ducked back in to xeir loft, and is now climbing back down the ladder with a crossbody pack slung on xeir back.

Now that Jason passed the job interview, he feels more at ease. Convincing someone to hire a nobody like him under-the-table was the challenging part. Keeping his day job should be easy.

Jason's double checking his paperwork when he hears GM climbing down the ladder. He's still unconcerned by the kid feeling threatened by his presence.

Otto's been living full-time in Excelsior for a couple of weeks now. It's not unpleasant. The city reminds him less of home than Central City did, but people here rarely look twice at him out in public. When they do, it's usually out of scientific curiosity. Otto's patience with that...varies, but as he's starting to develop something of a routine, the people along it are starting to get used to him in turn. It's starting to settle into something a little more like normal.

So when one of the actuators catches sight of movement behind him on a rooftop one evening...well, he tilts the claw a little to keep a slightly better eye out, but says nothing right away.

At first, keeping an eye on it seems sufficient. This is a world rife with superheroes; maybe it's not that odd for people to be leaping around rooftops at night. But after another block, it becomes clear - they haven't simply crossed paths. This person's following him.

Otto's not the kind of person to sit and wait. He looses his hold over the actuators, letting all four swivel around and open their claws as they've been dying to do, and turns himself. "Can I help you with something?"

In a rare moment, Grease Monkey is speechless.

Xey saw the man a good few blocks ago, and the actuators immediately caught xeir eye. Those limbs, moving and flexing like snakes - it'd be impossible for GM, being who xey are, to not be entranced. All thoughts of 'field testing' were abandoned as xey readjusted the night's plans to 'follow and study', hopefully without the other noticing them...

Apparently, xey really, really need to work on xeir stealth.

The urge to flee is squashed by curiosity, which briefly holds GM frozen in place before xey clear their throat, and - surprisingly timid - venture, "Did you make those...?"

Well, xey probably weren't doing too badly. But the actuators have very good cameras, and depending on their movements, it's not always clear that they can see at all.

The sound of a timid voice - a young voice - has Otto relaxing a little, his lower pair of claws half-closing. One of the upper ones turns as if to look at him for a moment, before refocusing on GM.

"I did," he replies, calmer now. "Back in my own world." Many of his fellow transdimensional refugees try to keep that part quiet, but like with many things, Otto doesn't bother. He stands out too much, both for a secret identity and to pretend that he's just been here all along. Better to just own it.

When it doesn't seem like they're in trouble, Grease Monkey relaxes - just a bit. And that? That means the teen is approaching a little closer. Two things are apparent, at least to xem; first, this man is a confirmed Confluence-meta. Second? Those arms have nothing to do with his powers.

(The fact that xey may be wrong assumptions doesn't even cross xeir mind.)

"...Can I take a closer look?" A beat, then, hands come up, briefly clenching-unclenching before moving behind the kid's back. "I'll keep my hands to myself, I promise. I've just never seen tech like that." Indeed, while the tail is segmented under its furry exterior, such are of a different style; more mimicking actual bones. Said tail is twitching almost eagerly, reflecting the neuroinput it's passively receiving.

Otto arches his brows. He's not generally a fan of being looked over like a science experiment. But at least this one asked first - that's not quite the norm here. And anyway, this is just a kid. Chalk it up to...encouraging the scientists of tomorrow, or some cheery slogan like that.

"Alright," he sighs, waving the kid down. "But do make sure you don't touch." The actuators are not fans of being touched, though he doesn't add that part aloud. In spite of all evidence to the contrary, he doesn't quite like to let strangers know that they've got opinions.

There's a short cheer of excitement - somewhere along the lines of yes!, but not quite - and the kid, well. Doesn't so much as scamper as bounce down, rebounding and using xeir own momentum to carry them down in record time without too much a risk of injury. 'Too much', because that seemed like a hard landing despite the fact that xey land in an easy crouch, as if dropping the last ten feet is something xey do all the time - nonetheless, hands immediately move behind xeir back as xey move closer, one hand grabbing the other hand's wrist.

"Those- those are neuro-connected, aren't they? They have to be, lookit'em'move, or that's the most advanced AI I've ever seen!" The teen shows zero fear - after all, xey've been invited, why should xey worry? "What're you using for a connection? How're you handling the load-bearing, you've gotta have some sort of support structure, right? What about-"

It may be overwhelming, question after question, but as the kid moves around as if xey're admiring a piece of interactive art - it's clear they know what xey're talking about, with how focused the questions are quickly becoming.

...Sorry, Otto. You unleashed a beast. Even if said beast seems to be in complete awe and admiration for what is, in their eyes, the work of a master craftsman.

Oh. God.

The actuators shrink in a little closer to Otto's body at the sudden onslaught of attention. Whether it's their reaction or his own isn't really clear, in the way those lines are sometimes blurred. But at the same time, it's sort of charming - both the enthusiasm, and the clear intelligence and focus behind the questions. He's just tripping over teenage prodigies left and right lately, isn't he? Must be something in the metahuman water.

"Slow down," he says with a smile. "One question at a time, or we'll be here all night." Any one of those could have a pretty long and in-depth answer, after all!

He's turning his head to watch xem as xey circle him, but it's obvious now that the actuators are doing the same as well. All four are moving and rotating, claws open slightly, to watch themselves being studied. There's nothing aggressive to it; if anything, they're curious as well.

Admittedly, the sight of a fully grown metallic man pinning a teenager to the ground looks bad. Especially at this time of night. He has his hand around both of their wrists, and his knee pressed against the small of their back. Only after a second, the teen laughs and Eddie eases up, helping them up off the ground.

"Your turn, you got this."

About a minute or so later, the roles were reversed, and the teen simply can't stop grinning. Neither could Eddie, for that matter.

"Remember, this is for self-defense only," said Eddie as he gets up once again, dusting the dirt off his jeans. "Don't start a fight you know that asshole will start on his own. Once he throws the first punch, then you knock his fucking teeth in."

The teen thanks Eddie over and over again before heading off, and Eddie shakes his head slightly with a smile. Eddie begins to walk off in the opposite direction, dusting the dirt off his shell as he goes, completely oblivious to the audience they had attracted.

It certainly doesn't look good. GM is even halfway tempted to intervene, checking for a small contraption in xeir pack before laughter pulls xem out of xeir prep. A quick adjustment on the Fuzzset, and xey hear just a bit more of the conversation.

...training. Huh. The bigger guy definitely seems like he knows how to fight. And to teach, which doesn't always go hand in hand; some of the most knowledgeable people GM's known make really, really shitty teachers. And xey have been wondering how to throw a punch properly...

"Hey!"

Look up, Eddie. There's someone on the fire escape above you.

"You give lessons?"

Eddie's head whips up at the sudden voice. Whoops, that could have been super bad. He'd thought doing it at night would help be more clandestine, but it probably just made them look more suspicious in hindsight.

"Uh.. sort of?" Eddie knows he's not the best teacher. The kid was just desperate and Eddie wanted to help. "Depends on what you're looking to learn."

And seeing how far up xey are, they seem to be pretty skilled at some things already.

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here in my car

CLOSED TO JASON

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disclaimer i know only so much about cars so /MAKES SHIT UP

It's okay. The same goes for me. GO US

vaguehands everywhere

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vaguehands technobabble

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