01 | Video

[oakay]

[There's a face very, very, very close to the screen. Not a shock, given he's basically sitting on the device with wide eyes and a mouth hanging open a little in awe. It makes strange noises sometimes and he's not sure what it is but he will work it out. He's smarter than he looks, he'll have you know. He's a smart cookie. The smartest of cookies even because cookies are remarkably dumb. They don't even put up a fight when he eats them so they're clearly inferior to the all mighty Groot.

He leans forward slowly. He licks it. Ew. Nope. Not food. Hmm.

Okay, back to square one.

It's not doing much but be kind of reflective, it's probably not a weapon and--

Oh! He can see his face!!!

He pulls funny faces into it happily, delighted with how he can see himself and somehow not paying attention to anything else in the screen but himself.]

I am Groot!

Comments

[oakay]

I am Groot. [It's a long way down.] I am Groot? [Does he really have to go all the way to the hallway?] I am Groooooot.

[Never mind, he's going, he's going. He always has to do all the work around here. He leaps off the table and very helpfully leaves his device on the table so all that can be seen is the roof and all that can be heard is Groot mumbling under his breath about his short legs.]

[beatupgrass]

Yeah, yeah, at least you'll grow out of your short legs. [Not knowing that he's left the stupid communicator, Rocket stops, sniffs the air experimentally, and adjusts his direction.] Okay, I think I got it.

He rounds a couple more corners and there he is in all his twiggy glory. Despite his tough guy exterior, there's a remarkable amount of marshmallow fluff beyond it, and after staring for a second, it finally clicks that this is Groot- for real, and he laughs and bounds up to him, picking him up under his arms and lifting him up off the ground.]

Look at you, you little maniac. It's really you! I've missed the hell out of you. [He glances around to make sure no one is watching and then goes in for the embrace, making very sure that Groot can hear the severity in his voice when he says:] You tell anyone about this, and I will deny it.

[oakay]

[Rocket! Rocket! It was Rocket!] I AM GROOOOT!

[He charges across the hall as well, happily clambering his way up to the top of Rocket - his favourite place to be - happy to enjoy the embrace that both of them would deny later. Seriously, Rocket, come on. Like he's going to admit to hugging you, he's trying to be cool here. Gaaaawd.

He's so happy to see Rocket again, he had no idea where he was and where his friends were. It was an unfortunate moment. Fortunately the people here seemed pretty nice, he didn't have too many worries.] I am Groot. [He's glad to see him.] I am Groot? [Why are they flying in a ship shaped like a giant house?]

[beatupgrass]

Heh. I wish we were flying. That would make more sense. [He moves Groot up to his shoulder now that he's done getting his hug on. Nobody is too cool for shoulder rides, and Rocket might be appreciating Groot's days as a hellion youngin' (because of the alternative), but he'll be glad when he gets to perch instead of being perched on.] Place is a frickin' nightmare, and there ain't no way out yet.

[oakay]

[There's no way out? That's not good. Groot likes the food, the faces on the screen and the outsideness but he doesn't like the idea of being trapped here. Why the fuck are they here? Groot pouts and huffs a little.] I am Groot? [Do they at least have cool things to steal?] I am Groot? [Are the others here?]

[beatupgrass]

No, 'cause the stupid closet'll give you almost whatever you want. You can try it out when we get to my place.

[It'll at least amuse Groot when he can produce limitless candy... Rocket probably should cut him off at some point before he has a vomiting baby tree.

His ears flick and he tries not to grimace.] Nope. It's just me. I got an okay bunch of people I run with here, but they're not, y'know... [their family...]

[oakay]

[A magical closet that will give him anything? Goodie! Stealing is great, using big weapons is always gun and heists are amazing but unlimited candy is the best of all things. He's going to eat until he pukes! And then have to sit through a likely boring lecture about eating too much candy.

Groot frowns a little at the idea of their family not being here, pulling a sad face in Rocket's direction.] I am Groot? [No family?] I am Groot? [He reaches out and pats Rocket's face, pointing at himself when he gets his attention. He is here, he's family?]

[beatupgrass]

[He grins toothily, his tone good-natured, but reeking of well obviously.] Yeah. You're family. [Wonderland is shit and dangerous, but Groot's tough, and if he can't protect him (which he can- damn straight he can), there's others here who'll help.

His room, on the other hand, does not invite a familial atmosphere once they get to it. The inside of it has that cold steel feel of a ship and there's piles upon piles of scrap and weapons and other projects. The closest thing to a bed is a hammock in one corner. Rocket takes it all in from the doorway and scratches his chin.] Iiii... Might have to consider redecorating a little bit.

[oakay]

I am Groot. [You really should, Rocket. Groot huffs a little and cranes his head around, he likes the cold steel feel but the scrap everywhere is probably not going to be as comfortable and fun as a big bed like he'd seen other rooms had. Yes, he went peeking, sue him? He was curious. He may have bounced on a few of them, they were awesome. 10/10 for bouncing.

He hops off Rocket's shoulder and rushes along, leaping into a pile of scraps and -- nope. 0/10. Not good for bouncing, he just sort of slowly sinks into the pieces with an annoy expression, throwing his arms out.] I am Groot! [How is he supposed to work with this? Get your shit together, Rocket.]

[beatupgrass]

Hey, it works for my purposes, all right? [He moves over to the closet, producing an assortment of pillows that can now be thrown among the scraps and piles... Look, it's a start until he can get it all together.] Nice, huh? [He gestures to it.] You wanna try?

[oakay]

[He eyes the pillow with a frown because he has already jumped on the scraps and he doesn't want more disappointment. Can't you just be normal and have a cool bed for bouncing and fun times?] I ... am Groot.

[He nods his head, ready to try the fluffy squares but not overly hopeful. It better be more bouncy.]

[beatupgrass]

[They are definitely more bouncy than the scraps. So soft and memory foam-y. Still not a bed though. Rocket's working on that one.

Or at least a mattress or something.

When Groot looks up from trying the bouncy pillows, he'll find Rocket YANKING A TWIN-SIZED MATTRESS OUT OF THE CLOSET. It is definitely too big to have fit in there.]

[oakay]

[Ooooooooh.

OOOOOH!

OOOOOH!!!

A big springy pillow thing. Groot leaps from his sorta bouncy pillow and hurries over to Rocket, bouncing up and down just trying to touch the bed thing. Nevermind there's no logical place for it to fit, the point is that it's here and he wants it.]

I am Groot!!

[beatupgrass]

Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. Just lemme... adjust it here.

[He leans it against the wall a bit, and while he could expand the room and shape it around the bits and bobs... he has a system in here. The problem is just finding a twin-sized section to fit it into.

Leaving Groot to mess around with the mattress just leaned up against the wall like that, which seems perfectly safe, he begins shuffling things around.] All right. I figure this'll probably do for right now. Or I could put it under the hammock... Or...

[Is Groot even listening...]

[oakay]

[No.

No, he's not listening. He's jumping and grinning and focusing entirely too much on the mattress to care about how it fits in, what it'll end up doing and how it'll not completely mess up the room. He had a one track mind and that mind was on bouncing. Bouncing always.

He pauses and drops down onto the mattress, sitting down very happily.] I am Groot. [He's very thankful for the mattress. See, look, manners? What a good egg.]

[beatupgrass]

[Yeah, he pretty much expected that. Rocket trails off and allows Groot to finish before bursting out laughing. Good job remembering your manners, kid.] Yeah, yeah. You're welcome. I'll worry about movin' crap around once you get settled in.