🔴 HAPPY TDOV BITCHES!!!!!!!!!!!

🟣 Astro... phobia...? ( He squints, trying to process the word. He looks back up towards Comet. ) I've heard the others say that word before, but... I'm not supposed to have a phobia of /anything!/ I'm supposed to be the strongest robot there is!

( nc ) 🔴 man I really need to not fumble this— oh shit a distress call.

- THE VAST WHITE POKEMON .

🔴 ( 💭 Oh she really does actually think I'm pretty holy shit )

🔴 Anytime! Be safe in there, y’hear? ( She watches Iris leave, standing casually until she’s out of sight. ) ( … And Punk is left to process her thoughts, with her face still red. Holy /shit./ )

( She doesn’t let go, either. ) 🔴 Sounds good. I’ll, uh… stick around outside, just in case. Y’never know if someone might need you. ( She’s definitely finding excuses… )

🟣🟢 ( both staring like that one dog ) ( they know what punk is )

( The darkened red shade on her ‘face’ reappears, deepened this time… ) ( A few seconds later, she mimicks the sound of clearing her throat, despite not having one. ) 🔴 … S-So how far is it to the HQ?

🔴 Gotcha, I’ll remember that. I’m sure he isn’t far. ( Punk squeezes her hand a little to help comfort Iris; after all, that kind of grounding contact is what works on herself, too. )

🔴 If I see him, I'll send him your way. I promise. I'll make sure he drops /everything/ to go and see you. ( There's just a bit of humor behind it; but Punk is being pretty serious. )

( Oh. That's a little concerning... but everything should be fine, right? Hell, Enker's gone missing a few times and he's always come back. ) 🔴 Yeah, you'll find him, I'm sure of it!

🔴 Heh, you've got that right! He sounds like a great guy, Iris.

🔴 Oh, for sure you won't, haha. Honestly, they'd adore you. What's your brother like, Iris?

🔴 Well, Enker's the oldest. Short guy with an even shorter temper, but he's damn brave, 'n' will do pretty much anything to protect us. Then there's Ballade, who was built after me. He loves fighting more than anything, and he trains a lot, mostly to prove he's the strongest.

( She gazes away for a second, the area in between her eyes turning a slight shade of dark red. ) 🔴 D-Don't mention it. And yeah, I've got several.

🔴 Yeah. My older brother's scoping things out. He usually lets us know what's up, but I think we're fine right now. ( She takes Iris' hand; surprisingly, she's as gentle as she can be, considering the size difference. )

🔴 Need someone to walk with 'ya? It's kinda tense out there, so I've heard. ( It's a legitimate reason for wanting to come with, at least. Though Punk seems very much interested in just... speaking to Iris more. )

🔴 Really, you've barely heard about us? I guess we're both confused, huh... ( She shrugs her shoulders. Weird... ) Not a big deal, I'm sure we'll figure it out. You said you were on your way to some sorta "HQ," right?

🔴 Nope, I'm a Robot Master. An intelligent robot not based on anyone. ( There's a small laugh at her own humor. ) Seriously, though, that's weird. I've never heard of this 'X' guy, either.

🔴 Oh, gotcha. ... what's a "reploid"?

// punk, enjoyer of fashion, also a lesbian,

🔴 Yeah, they still look great on you. ( Uncrossing her arms, Punk puts a hand to her hip instead. ) So what're you doing out here? I've never seen a robot like you before.

THE ONE THAT WOULD BE BREAKING MY HEART

🔴 Heh, thanks! I try to keep it well-polished. ( She crosses her arms, still keeping that closed-eye smile for a few seconds before opening them again. ) You've got an eye for fashion too, y'know. Love all that red, and the hat.

( That's more like it! Her eyes close contentedly as she tilts her body; the closest equivalent she can get to smiling confidently. ) 🔴 Iris, huh? Pretty fitting for you, too. Nice to meetcha.

🔴 If you say so. ( Punk's hands are huge... at least they're efficient in sweeping most of the dirt off. ) The name's Punk. How 'bout yours?

( "Cute"... well, she'll take the compliment as it is. She walks over and tries to brush off some of the dirt. ) 🔴 Well, uh, thanks. Sorry about gettin' you all messy. Hope that'll wash out.

( Only after Punk is satisfied does she uncurl, and… ) 🔴 Oh, damn, I didn’t see you! How long have you been standin’ there?

🔴 Man, FUCK this snow

🟣 Oh, yeah, I'm fine. It's... nothing. More embarrassing than anything, really. ( Ballade gazes away, nervous smile lowering into a frown. He narrows his eyes, frustrated at himself. He wants to tell her, but can't find the right words. ) What kinda coward ends up scared of the /stars,/ anyway...?

🟣 Oh. /Oh!/ Hah, we were both talking about different things! ( He tries to laugh it off, because he really needs the humor. Otherwise he'd sink into his fears. ) Nah, you're okay. You were trying to help. I get that, so thanks.

🟣 I mean... I dunno how much info he'll have. But you can try.

🟣 You don't know who Quint is? ( That's weird. He's clearly confused by the notion. ) He's our youngest brother. Shortest by far, too. Green armor, yellow crest on his helmet, always with his little support robot...

🟣 Three? Nah, it's me, Enker, Punk, and Quint.

( Ballade shrugs. ) 🟣 We're still trying to answer that, honestly. We just kinda hang out. We've got our own friends 'n' family we fight to protect, though.

🟣 Huh? There were fireworks? ( He didn't get it either, at first... ) I... never noticed that. I was too busy staring at the sky, I guess. Sucks to hear you're in the same boat, though...

🟣 Well, me neither. I left that old man along with my siblings. But it's still nice to know, I guess.

🟣 Huh, neat! Didn’t know you had roots in the Wily family. ( He finally grins for real. ) Well, it’s nice to finally meet you.

( A faint hint of a smirk crosses his face when he hears the snort. ) 🟣 Yeah, that’s me. And you’re Mega’s older brother, right?

( He reels his body back and grabs at Forte’s wrist, intent on keeping the buster away from his head. ) 🟣 You think you can win that easily?! ( Ballade does his best to fling the other off of himself. Even with his stronger mode, he’s got a challenge… )

🟣 What? No! Not at all. At least you can kinda /avoid/ your fear, right? Just don't go into a Best Buy or anything. ( Typical Ballade-isms. ) ... I get the point, though. T-Thanks.

🟣 Oh. S-Sorry to hear that, man. It's the same with me and space, yeah...

( nc ) 🔴 man i hate being related to this weirdo what is he even TALKING about

( Normally he'd laugh, but even he feels the weight of the conversation. He doesn't feel like making jokes right now. ) 🟣 ... So you still get all nervous around them, then?

🟣 Oh, gimme a break! That title belongs to /me!/ ( Ballade's visor pops down over his eyes as he throws the explosive at blinding speeds towards the other robot. It doesn't take much for him to start a fight! )

🟣 But I'm not supposed to fear anything! The fact that something little like that still gets me nervous... /ugh!/ All of that happened years ago, I don't even know why I still get like that...