❖ 006 - Video

[spotlighted]

[The feed shows a baby dragon with bright red scales crawling across the floor of Ruby's apartment. The camera's shaking in her hands a little.]

I liked this thing far more when I still thought it was a dinosaur.

[The dragon opens its mouth wide and out shoots a small fireball. The rug and the bottom of the curtains of Ruby's apartment are now on fire.]

Hey-- hey! Stop that!

[She grabs the first thing she can lay her hands on - a frying pan - and whacks the dragon with it sharply. Whereas before he'd looked playful, now he just looks very angry with her. She wouldn't be surprised if he tried to burn down the whole apartment now.]

If anyone wants him, take him. Please. Otherwise I'm going to be eating dragon stew tonight.

[She drops the camera abruptly to try and deal with the fire.]

Comments

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[A pause.]

I hope not.

[spotlighted]

[She smiles sadly across at him, realising that this is the possibly closest he's come to talking about himself.] I just meant that I'd like to be able to clear up the mess I make. Relying on other people too much isn't a good thing. Although if I have to rely on anyone in the world, I'm glad it's you.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[Yeah, he doesn't really do that whole talking about himself thing, and he already feels like he's divulged too much.]

I think you do a pretty good job of taking care of yourself.

[spotlighted]

Thanks. I hope so.

[Speaking of which...]

Do you want me to get rid of-- [She can't bring herself to say 'the body', but gestures to the lump in the towel.]

[recognize_an_opportunity]

No. I'll take care of it.

[It's his mess. He's the one that should clean it up.]

[spotlighted]

Okay.

[She looks more than a little relieved. But she still considers it her mess.]

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I'll get rid of it now.

[A pause.]

And I'll see you at work.

[Now that the dragon problem is dealt with, there's obviously no reason either of them should miss work, right?]

[spotlighted]

[She'd find the distraction of work a comfort, really.]

Yeah. And thanks for this. I owe you bigtime.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

You're welcome. I'm sure you'd help me out, if I needed it.

[Also, she's his favorite employee, but he doesn't need to get that sappy. With that, he'll take the tiny dead dragon and leave, trying to figure out just where the hell he's going to dispose of it.]