010 :: Voice

[hulkbusted]

I'm down one physics student, which leaves me with a lot more ticking time. I hate to admit it, but it's getting pretty hard to tolerate.

I guess... what I'm trying to say is that I could use some company. I'm going to find a decent, Cage-free restaurant and lunch will be on me.

Comments

[hulkbusted]

Duly noted. [Although he does wonder what one of Tony's AIs would experience with that kind of transition.]

I've run into a few people who do that since I got here. [Sliding a menu across the table to her.] I have to settle for hoofing it, and it's been my experience that people who work in labs go one of two ways - they're acutely aware of time and timing the way I am, or they lose all sense of it if it isn't in a centrifuge or similar piece of equipment.

[hexappeal]

In my vast experiences with men that wear lab coats, I'm inclined to agree with that assessment. [Magic and science! How do they mesh?!] One of my best friends is a scientist and a speedster, so it goes doubly for him.

[She takes the menu and gives it a quick glance over.] Is there anything you'd recommend? I'll be frank and say I could totally just get some bread and eat it, but I don't want to be that weirdo who does that.

[hulkbusted]

A speedster? He does speed science?

[Scanning the menu, it's easy to come up with a long list of vegetarian-friendly options, but he settles on a familiar one.]

Palak paneer's a good choice, but I might just be partial to masala flavors in general. If you just want bread, we can share some naan. This isn't my first lunch of the day anyway. I should have the ticking well under control for a while after this.

[hexappeal]

No, no. [She waves a hand about.] His metability is super-speed. If you don't know me, then saying "oh, he's the Flash," won't be of any help. His day job is forensic science, though. Cute guy.

[She could have totally married him. :( Stupid dead wife coming back and not being dead. Stupid alive wife. :(]

Ah, so we can do a light lunch. Why didn't you say so? Also, I tend to slap hands that go for my food. I don't know how up to that challenge you are, but I might be in for it, Multiple Lunch Lad.

[hulkbusted]

Let's do light and we'll see how that works out, I sometimes do things to see how people react. [Sometimes. Not often. Mostly when he's kind of angry... okay, so often enough.]

I can't see where being called "the Flash" would really be desirable for most men.

[hexappeal]

I'm in. [At least she's not overly violent. Just a light, playful bat here and there. If she's up to it.] You might wanna be careful with that, I am mysterious and spooky! You don't want to pick a fight with that kind of gal, you know.

I've heard that joke before and I can confirm first hand that it works very differently than one might expect. [Heh, perv.]

[hulkbusted]

I try not to pick fights; they have a tendency to pick me instead. What do you do when it's a family style dish and you're supposed to share?

[Also, thanks for that mental image; he didn't need it. Really.]

[hexappeal]

Sounds like you're a lucky guy.

[Referring to which, is anyone's guess. (And everyone needs that mental imagine!)]

And you dig in. There's a certain amount of fallacy you want to keep on a first meeting, but I prefer blatant honesty in this regard... usually. If there's a mess, there's a mess. We're both only human -- er, humanoid. Whatever. Why not be upfront?

[hulkbusted]

As long as we don't specify the kind of luck.

[No, trust him, he prefers to keep everyone in his imaginings in their clothes. It makes years of celibacy a little easier.]

Humanoid. [Heh.] It's weird living somewhere that needs to be clarified.

[hexappeal]

It's a grab-bag.

[Ugh, gross! Who does that? Poor baby. :(]

Ah, well, I had brought that up because I'm not human. My kind evolved before humans and we're mostly identical. Just a very long lifespan and the ability to use magic, basically. [Also, he might not be human. But who wants to give him an edge and make any of this conversation about him? Not her, that's for sure!]

[hulkbusted]

It depends upon who you ask.

[Men who run the risk of significantly increasing in size, mass, and aggressiveness at exactly the wrong moment, that's who.

And now she has his - well, she already had his full attention, but now it's sharpened.]

Your kind evolved before humans but you aren't human? Is this what you really look like or is that some other adaptive feature?

[hexappeal]

Who else should I be asking, if that's the case?

[BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME, ZEE!! She'll try to keep it in her pants, okay :(]

Huh? No, no! I'm not a shifter. This is how I look, yeah. No illusions or anything going on here. [She sips on water that has conveniently appeared a few moments before. There's a straw, so it's a deadly combination of cute and annoying.] We just evolved first and we're the closest living ancestors to Atlanteans -- actually, a few of them are still alive. I know my great-great-great-great-more greats something-or-other, Arion, is still living. [A beat.] I'm, er, thirty-eight, by the way.

[hulkbusted]

I'd say Tony Stark, but he and I are on different timelines, so I've had a conversation with him about my luck that he hasn't had yet.

[Yeah, breaking his fast courtesy of curses doesn't count and he's blanking any such incidents out in a big way.]

I didn't mean to offend, it's just notable that separate but parallel evolution would yield two superficially indistinguishable species. [Hey, how did she get water? He hasn't seen a waiter or busboy yet. Cheating.] You look fantastic for thirty-eight. [A beat.] I'm forty-two with a birthday just around the corner.

Don't bother lying that I look great for forty-two.

[hexappeal]

I could ask him anyway, might make the conversation more interesting that way.

[Fasts are for weenies, eat the food. And think of all the Cages waiting for you...]

I'm not offended, exactly. I just don't like people thinking that I use magic to stay fit or look as good as I do... there, ah, probably wasn't a way to phrase that without sounded conceited. [Maybe use your science to conjure up some.]

I was going to say you're a pretty okay looking guy. [She laughs, so it's probably not an insult. Probably.] I don't usually find myself attracted to men under forty, so I'm afraid my opinion can be rather unique in that regard.

[hulkbusted]

You could. I warn you that following his topic shifts can be challenging.

[Thoughts of hordes of Cages suddenly makes fasting seem much easier.]

If you did use magic, it would still be impressive, particularly, ah-- [He chances a glance down to indicate her legs.]

Thanks. [Not offended, just nonplussed.]

[hexappeal]

You underestimate my ability to make someone go back on topic. [Aww, she's manipulative!]

I can never tell if it's really my hips and my legs or it's a guy with a fishnet fetish, but I'll take what I can get. [Says she who sells pin-ups of herself at shows like no one's business. She knows she is good-looking, but she's more modest when she's off than some may assume.]

Hey, no problem. I usually go for blondes, but I have my exceptions.

[hulkbusted]

I don't underestimate you, but you may or may not have met Tony yet. [From his experience, so is Tony.]

I think if I comment on that, I'll be saying much more about myself than I want to on a first-- ah-- meeting.

[And he and his ten foot pole are going to stay over here, not touching that.]

[hexappeal]

I think I did. He was boring. [He was tbh.]

Second ah meeting, then. [Wow, she seriously thinks she is so charming and witty. It's obnoxious. To someone, probably. BUT NOT YOU, NO!! You clearly think she is both of those positive things, right?!]

[hulkbusted]

Not an adjective I've heard applied to Tony Stark before. [Maybe it helps to speak Science.]

Next time we get together I have to tell you if I prefer your hips, legs, or fishnets?

[Oh thank god a waiter. Thank you, thank you, thank you, you're getting a big tip for getting him off that hook and a glass of water.]

[hexappeal]

Really? I mean, he just comes off as trying waaaaaaaaaay too hard. Not my kind thing, really. His misdirection is embarrassing to watch. [Boring.]

I can't see why not. If you want to throw my breasts into the mix, you're welcome to. But you don't seem like a boob-guy. [Oh, there's a waiter. :( Whatever, there's always time to talk about her favorite subject!] No, I'm just joking. You don't have to. I've probably tortured you enough, so I give you permission to change the subject. So long as it isn't science.

[hulkbusted]

[No, seriously, waiter, you're getting a 100% tip if you just keep a good out-of-my-depth-watch going on.]

Subject change. Category, mundanities: what do you do to keep yourself in fishnets and top hats in the City? Do you still perform or are you trying your hand at something different?

[hexappeal]

Not at all. I like talking about magic and my job. I actually haven't, ah. Really done anything, if I'm to be frank. Shadowcrest showed up and anything I need I can create. [She isn't bragging. Or, it doesn't seem like it is.] I might perform again, though. Does the costume make you uncomfortable? I can change, if you'd rather.

[hulkbusted]

Shadowcrest? [He's been learning to take these things in stride; the City and its people make a guy broaden his horizons quickly.] A friend?

The costume's fine. I kind of ran out of legs to stand on years ago when it comes to how people dress.

[hexappeal]

The Zatara family estate. No one from my world is here, as far as I'm aware. [Which earns a frown, but it's gone as quickly as it came.]

Alright. I could go for a cozy sweater right about now, but since you insist.

[hulkbusted]

Wait, your entire family estate showed up? How does that even work? [So much for taking things in stride.]

I think you're yanking my chain now. Get comfortable... [Hang on, with this woman that may require clarification.] ...just don't get me arrested.