video

[queenkiller]

[The video clicks on with some fumbles, some readjustment as Hella realizes what she looks like in the playback on the device and just sort of. Stares at her apparent reflection. It's really weird, but she's been laying low and trying to figure out this thing for almost a month now so she thinks she's sort of got it.

She certainly looks out of place, in full dark scalemail armor and with scars on her face and a very serious expression. She doesn't shift from full serious mode when she finally begins to talk, but she sounds more awkward than stern.]

Hey. I'm Hella. I've been quiet, I guess. But I'm new here, relatively speaking.

[She pulls a lock of red hair behind her ears, her bangs the only hair outside of her usual bun today.]

I noticed you all have a monster problem. Apparently it happens once every month? Anyway, we should be coming upon a month of my being here soon, and I'm... willing to offer my services.

[She holds up a sword, the hilt of it embellished with red jewels, the center one being the largest and bleeding into a white diamond-like color in the center. If anyone has any ability to sense dead things or magic, this thing is giving off a severe ghostlike energy.

Because of all the powerful dead people and gods and stars living in it.]

I'm really good at killing things. I also live near the colosseum. I can kill anything that comes through that Door.

[Said with full confidence.]

If you're worried about someone arriving and want to check it out but don't do well in dangerous situations, I'll guard you. For trade, maybe. Or favors.

[If anything, Adaire's taught her the value of owed favors. Though Hella still doesn't have the patience to wait on collecting.]

I'll hear any offers now. Thank you.

[She fumbles with the phone a bit more, and finally shuts it off.]

Comments

[queenkiller]

[She winces at the outburst, but mostly she's just taken aback that these two are apparently not working together???]

He looked like... Uh, he was wearing a strange dark shirt with the word "worst" on it in big red letters. His hair was messy and curled. His skin was a light brown and he wore glasses. He looked sort of like a mess, actually. Like he could get really fucked up by some crabs.

[Sorry Michael.]

[completelycrazy]

[Newt quite literally deflates. There's a loud sigh on his end.]

Ugh, no, that guy's not a scientist. That's Michael.

[He would've been eternally puzzled except that the "worst" shirt gave the kid's identity away.]

He works for me.

[queenkiller]

[This conversation is a wild fucking ride.]

How is he not a scientist if he works for you?

[completelycrazy]

He's like an intern. You know what an intern is? I'm the scientist. He's just helping me.

[Here's hoping Michael never sees this conversation.]

[queenkiller]

I don't know what an intern is.

[THOSE AREN'T INVENTED YET.]

So he's like an apprentice.

[completelycrazy]

Uh, yeah, he's an apprentice, I guess. Apprentice slash helper. He's not doing it to learn from me. Isn't that the main thing with an apprenticeship?

[queenkiller]

Uh. Yes. So he just helps because... what you're doing is for the good of everyone?

[She thinks she's starting to get it.]

[completelycrazy]

Uhh... Maybe? [Not that she can see, but there's a big shrug on his end.]

I don't remember the specifics of why he got involved in the first place, but I think the kid's just bored. Monsters are interesting. The math isn't all that tough. That's why I'm doing it, y'know? Not like there's anything better to do, so if you can find a way to make your specialties work in this dumpy town, you may as well.

[queenkiller]

...Yeah, that sounds relatable.

[More relatable than doing work for free out of the goodness of their hearts.]

So did you always work with monsters? I mean, before here?

[completelycrazy]

[Newt's just gonna hop right over that first comment since Hella has now asked about his favorite thing.]

Aliens, technically, but they were more like monsters than all those alien tropes that used to be out there. [He pauses.] I guess the Precursors were more like classic aliens, but the ones I dealt with were Kaiju. Godzilla, basically.

[You know what that is, right???]