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

[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.

[hexappeal]

Well, it's magic. I'm magic. So. [It's probably magic.]

Haha, what? Whoa, buddy. Don't be a perv. Egnahc otni yfmoc sehtolc. [And in a poof of smoke and a blink of an eye, she's in jeans, low-top converse and what appears to be, in fact, a cozy sweater. It's blue. The former ensemble's nowhere to be seen.]

Better?

[hulkbusted]

[It's probably something that science hasn't advanced enough to properly describe yet..] Does your family estate make a habit of following you around? Or is that just this place playing more games?

[He's not sure if he misses the fishnets or not. Maybe a little. Just a little. Okay, a bit.] I think we've avoided a 911 situation.

[hexappeal]

[Disgusting.] No? I mean... sort of? It's always in our own dimension, but it's also not. It's sort of... in it's own dimension. It's safe that way. This place obviously just finds my sultry good looks and charm to be delightful so it has decided to gift me with things from home. [Okay, Zee. At least she seems to be joking about that.]

What? Are you a fainter?

[hulkbusted]

[Occupational hazard.] That's... I would love to see how that works sometime.

[Fainter? Not precisely.] Not last I checked. If an attempt at a quip needs explaining, it's last all its quip cred.

[hexappeal]

It's just a big house. [Infinite-roomed mansion. Same difference?] It's in that creepy place that you can't stay for twenty-four hours at a time, I guess? All foggy and all. I like it. [She is also a creep.]

You can have a do-over.

[hulkbusted]

In a pocket dimension that opens off of this little universe. There's no "just" there.

[Her magnanimity is duly noted.] Thanks. I'd try to do better with my next quip, but I don't want to be seen to be trying too hard.

[hexappeal]

Eh, whatever you say.

[Put it on a post-it so you don't forget.] A natural quip is the best quip.