All four of them sat in the pathetic excuse they called a kitchen. The room was so empty, aside from the one icebox, table and chairs they had moved in to sit.
Guy had graciously looked up a number to order a pizza for Raven. However, since Raven sounded the most human of the group, she ordered the pizza, and answered the door when it was delivered. She didn't mind… she was use to that; just not use to ordering in a place that wasn't her home.
Raven sat at the table in one of the chairs, awkwardly eating her pepperoni supreme as she watched the robotic men around her. Dead Mau5 sat to her right, with a giant bowl of nuts and vegetables in front of him. He munched on his meal like an over grown rat. Well… that is kind of what he is.
Thomas and Guy were to her left. Thomas sat while Guy stood over them as they both started to write a list of things they would need for Raven.
"It's called a grocery list." Raven had told them.
Thomas sat there, his visor blank and he looked up at Raven. "UH… WHAT FOOD DO YOU WANT?"
Raven looked up from her box of pizza. Her mind was blank. "Errr… It.. really doesn't matter to me. I'm fine with whatever," She told him.
Thomas's visor remained blank as he stared silently at her. "I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO GET YOU. ALL I KNOW IS FOOD FOR MAU5. WOULD YOU WANT US TO JUST KEEP ORDERING YOU PIZZA FOR EVERY MEAL?"
Raven made a face. Pizza every day would get old really fast. "No, no…" She started. She put the back of her hand to her mouth as she thought. "Well… I like Asian food. Any Asian food, like ramen, or pre-cooked sesame chicken, stir fry… I'm pretty sure they make that pre-made and sell it in the frozen food isle at grocery stores…"
Thomas cocked his head at her. A single question mark scrolled on his face. He then looked down and started writing word-for-word what she said. Any Asian food: Ramen, or pre-cooked sesame chicken or stir fry… it is all pre-made in frozen food isle at grocery stores. He then looked back up. "ANYTHING ELSE?"
"Oh.. Tea. British Breakfast Tea. I don't drink coffee…"
Thomas scribbled it down.
"Do you guys have a source for hot water?"
"YES, THERE IS A SINGLE SHOWER THAT MAU5 USES." Guy said.
"No, I mean like boiling water."
Both Thomas and Guy looked at each other then back at Raven. They both had question marks on their helmets. "WHAT?"
"You know… to make tea, you have to boil water and then set the tea bag full of herbs in the water."
"HOW WOULD YOU NORMALLY BOIL THE WATER TO MAKE TEA?"
"I would usually just heat up a kettle of water on the stove…" Raven explain. Then she realized the big problem: These guys didn't have a stove. Or a microwave.
"Uh.. you guys don't have a money limit, do you?"
"The military people pay for anything we want~" Mau5 said cheerfully, with a mouth full of carrots.
"GOVERNMENT," Guy corrected Mau5. "MILITARY ARE THE ONES WITH THE GUNS WHO PROTECT THE COUNTRY."
"..Or something along those lines…" Raven muttered. "Well, if that's the case, we're going to need a stove, microwave and a kettle. I can't make any of my food unless I have stuff to cook with."
Thomas nodded, writing down the other items needed.
"Do you have silverware? And mugs?"
"I'LL ADD THOSE TOO."
"I'm sorry.. I hope this isn't asking too much."
Guy looked up from Thomas's writing and the smiley face appeared on his helmet. "NOT AT ALL. WE WANT YOU TO FEEL AT HOME HERE. WE WILL GET YOU WANT YOU NEED TO DO SO."
Raven smiled weakly. "Thanks…"
"ANYTHING ELSE?"
"Hmm.. some fruit would be nice. Strawberries and grapefruit? And perhaps some milk for breakfast?"
"Ooooh~ I like strawberries." Dead Mau5 said, his eyes lighting up with glee.
"MIGHT AS WELL ADD THAT? WE NEED TO GET MORE FOR MAU5 TOO." Thomas said, scribbling quickly.
"That should be good for the food." Raven said.
Mau5 leaned over and sniffed Raven's pizza that she had not touched in a while. "What is…?" He asked, curiously.
"Pizza. It's pretty much cheese, meat, tomato sauce and bread.." Raven replied.
Mau5 cocked his head to the side, giving Raven a smile that of a begging child. "May I?"
Raven nodded, pushing the box towards Mau5.
"NOT TOO MUCH, MAU5. YOU CAN'T HAVE TOO MUCH MEAT." Guy said.
"I just wanna try it~" Mau5 opened his large mouth and shoved a whole piece in his mouth. He chewed a bit and stopped. His eyes slowly blinked as the flavors hit his taste buds. "Ohh.." He said, his mouth completely full.
"Do you like it?" Raven asked.
Mau5 placed both hands on the table, and swallowed it down hard. "It's delicious! Mmm.. what is that yellow stuff smothered on the top?"
Raven laughed. "That's the cheese. Figures that's your favorite part…"
"More!" Mau5 demanded, taking another piece. He took this piece and plucked all the meat chunks off before he quickly devoured it too.
"Wow.." Raven said, shaking her head.
"THIS IS A ONE TIME THING, MAU5. YOU'RE BODY ISN'T READY FOR TOO MUCH HUMAN FOOD YET."
"But Thomassss~ It's so good!" He said, licking his lips. He licked his fingers clean, getting as much of the tasty flavors as he could.
"SAVE THE REST FOR RAVEN. SHE NEEDS FOOD FOR TOMORROW, SINCE IT MIGHT BE A WHILE BEFORE WE CAN GET HER ALL OF THESE…. GROCERIES." Guy explained.
"Ok," Mau5 said, standing up from the table. He grabbed the box of pizza, closed it and put it in the icebox. "There. I won't be tempted now."
Thomas also stood up from the table. He took his pen and drew a line under the list of food related items. "RAVEN, LET US GO TO YOUR SPARE ROOM THAT YOU WILL BE STAYING IN. WE NEED TO PLAN WHAT OTHER THINGS YOU NEED TO FEEL AT HOME."
Raven waved her hands in front of her. "Oh no, you don't have to do that…"
"But Raven… that guest room is so boring… It has no fun stuff in it." Mau5 said, standing next to her.
Raven quickly got up and made space between her and Mau5 for comfort. "Um.. ok. Then let's go."
…
"I'm quite satisfied with the lighting in here. I like the colorful lights."
"YOU SURE YOU DON'T NEED A BRIGHTER LIGHT TO HAVE AS WELL?" Guy asked.
Raven shrugged. "Sure… I guess a small lamp won't be a bad idea. It can sit on the desk."
"You should have a stereo like mine~!" Mau5 hummed.
"…A stereo with a radio would be nice. I can listen to music and the news so I'm not fully isolated." Raven agreed, nodding.
"HOW ABOUT BOOKS? DO YOU LIKE TO READ?" Thomas asked.
"Yeah, I like sci-fi and mystery books. Anything in that genre."
"CLOTHES?"
Raven sighed. "Ok, that might be hard to explain. I mean, I'm good with anything, but I do have a certain style I like."
"WE CAN HAVE YOU TALK TO MARIE ABOUT THAT. MAYBE SHE CAN TAKE YOU OUT TO BUY WHATEVER YOU WANT LATER ON. FOR NOW... I GUESS YOU COULD WEAR SOME OF MAU5'S CLOTHES."
Raven rolled her eyes. "Sure, I guess."
Mau5 grinned. "Oh, lil Raven will look so small in my clothes." He giggled at the thought in his head.
"One thing I would like to have… A toolbox. And scrap metal."
A question mark appeared on Guy's helmet. Thomas asked, "FOR WHAT?"
"One hobby of mine, besides dancing, is to build stuff. If I could have my own scraps and tools to have so I can tinker around with, that would be wonderful."
"I'M SURE WE CAN ARRANGE THAT." Thomas said.
"That's really all I can think of for now…" Raven said, rubbing the back of her head as she looked about the room.
"IF YOU THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE, WE CAN ALWAYS GET IT FOR YOU SOME OTHER TIME."
"Sounds good," Raven said.
Thomas folded up the list of things into a small square. "WE WILL GIVE THIS TO MARIE WHEN SHE ARRIVES BACK AND REQUEST SHE GET THE THINGS WE NEED."
"THOMAS, WHY DON'T WE WORK ON SOME MORE MUSIC? WE NEED TO TRAIN MAU5 A LITTLE BIT MORE."
Immediately, Mau5 jumped with excitement. "Oh yes! I wanna show Raven some more of my music I can make~"
"HOW ABOUT IT?" Thomas asked, turning to Raven.
"Sure, sounds like fun." Raven said.
…
Thmp! Thmp! … Thmp!... Thmp! Thmp!...
Raven stood in the large room from before. She had come to call this the true studio, because this is where the three of them made their music.
Both Thomas and Guy stood next to Raven as Mau5 stood up on the black pyramid. He tweaked with the volume and settings of the pedals and synths, his long tail curling behind him as he worked.
Raven watched from below, finding herself somewhat fascinated. He was a wonderful DJ, after all. She loved his show. She couldn't help but be envious of people like him who could make such wonderful music. It's what inspired her everything.
Dead Mau5 looked up and gave a thumbs-up. "Ready!" He shouted, sounding too cheery.
Raven noticed Thomas and Guy both hunched over, faces looking down at the ground. "Wot are you-" Raven was cut off. She felt a strange sensation in her legs as the ground gave off a soft vibration. Her eyes went wide as she looked at the floor. She turned back to the two alien robots. Both of the screens on their helmets began to glow a bright white. "WE.. ARE.. SYNCING… TO OUR STUDIO." They explained.
Raven watched, her mouth wide open. The sounds of a bass began to hum to a solid note in surround-sound speakers. Raven now looked up to the top of the black pyramid stage, just as the lights faded out.
Syncs began… softly flickering.
Beats joined with it, humming in waves. It was catchy.
Raven bobbed her head to the sounds filling her ears. It sounded like an electronic keyboard, playing quick and light notes with the syncs.
A bright purple and pink light began to glow around Mau5, casting his silhouette down to his small audience. The purple and pink light cast down on Raven's skin and sent chills throughout her entire body. The sounds.. the lights. She was under some kind of spell.
Her body began to move to the music. She had hardly any control over herself. This must be what Thomas and Guy were talking about… The music had those waves that captivated people when they heard it.
As the vibrations in the bass began to grow and the music swelled to a climax, Raven began to dance and spin, lost in this feeling. What was the feeling exactly? It was very hard to explain. She felt that a ball of happiness had expanded inside her. It made her body itch to move. It made her senses loose and relaxed. She felt whole.
"You like it~ Oh good." She heard Mau5's voice humming to her. "I call this one… Strobe."
Strobe… It was beautiful. The very word was just a meaning to a raver in itself. But it worked with this music. It was simple and unique.
"NOT BAD, MAU5. YOU ARE DEFINITELY GETTING BETTER." Thomas voice called from behind her.
"Thomas… watch her. See how my music makes her move~" Mau5 cried with excitement. As he continued to hit pedals and wiggle the synths, Raven's body flexed and twisted in response to the electronic sounds. She knew they were watching. But it didn't matter… she didn't mind people watching her dance. It was one of the things she felt most comfortable with.
"THIS DEFINITELY SHOWS YOUR MUSIC IS GETTING STRONGER. IT MIGHT ALSO BE YOUR MIX IS STILL IN HER SYSTEM. IT'S MAKING HER REACT MORE TO YOUR SOUND." Guy explained.
Mau5 giggled. "She moves nicely."
"SHE WILL DEFINITELY MAKE A GOOD PREFORMER FOR YOUR TOUR."
Performer. That's right. You are a professional raver now. Raven grinned a large grin as she finished her dance to Dead Mau5's Strobe.
I am a raver.