1st Shot | Accidental Video

[mr_wing_tip_shoes]

-fucking small to be a computer. And it's a phone. I don't see a dial anywhere, dollface, an' I think you're pulling my leg.

[The feed first picks up black gloved hand, obviously with no real idea of what the hell it's doing on the tablet's screen. It pulls away to show a very bewildered and scowling male face. The more preceptive will notice his clothing seems a little dated -- waistcoat over a dress shirt and a fedora he removes from his head just then and sets aside.

A second voice pipes up, female and obviously barely holding in some serious frustration. ]

I said it works like a phone, Niall. I never said it was one.

How else do you expect me to act when you say it's like a phone?

Did you ask the Inititative anything at all? Or did you just ogle the woman greeting you.

[ Niall rolls his eyes and a lady comes into view -- and oh look it's Aileen, sporting an over-sized sun hat and looking the exact opposite of impressed with the guy in front of her. ]

I don't need to ask anyone anything. She was very forthcoming with the information.

Oh, I'm quite sure.

So much so I didn't even have to say a thing. [ In comes a slow, sly smirk after that. Hmm, how mysterious.

Apparently that mystery is wasted on Aileen, who's not batting an eyelash. There's a short pause where she just... stares, expression stern. But eventually she moves closer into view, sitting down next to Niall with a long-suffering sigh. ]

Here, I'll show you how to work the settings.

Damn. Still a frosty bitch even in The Jetsons, eh Turquoise?

About how many times have I told you not to call me that?

What? I told you it fits for a hooker. But as we were saying, this tablet doodad 'works like a phone'. So. You giving me your number or what?

[ What a charming guy. Aileen rolls her eyes and hikes an eyebrow at him, but forces a smile just long enough to lean in and tip his chin up with a finger. ]

Why? You still need a babysitter? [ Aaaand rejected! She stands up and moves out of view. Somehow he's probably not gonna be getting that help with the tablet now. Here, have a nice close-up of his exasperated glaring face. ]

Comments

[seamend]

Murdering him isn't going to solve a thing!

Look, just let me handle this. It's not as if I haven't dealt with him before.

[bearswitness]

Yes it would it would solve plenty of things.

[seamend]

No! [ face-palming so hard here ] Eshkol, I don't want anyone to kill him. It's a delicate situation, alright?

[bearswitness]

I'll be there soon.

[ HERE HE GOES, SHADOW DIVING. LET'S SEE IF HE OR ARTEMIS SHOWS UP FIRST. ]

[seamend]

What? Wait! Eshkol!

[ oh god no one is listening. She's just standing there in the hallway, kind of leaning on Niall's apartment door since he WON'T LET HER BACK IN. ]

[bearswitness]

[ It doesn't take him long at all, as he's already very familiar with Aileen. Just a handful of seconds, really. And then, as silently as he does everything else, he'll be quite suddenly rearing up out of the shadow between her and the door. She gets a (somewhat gentle) push to make room for Eshkol's exit as he pulls himself out and steps up onto the floor. ]

[seamend]

[ She's startled at first, and who wouldn't be? But moves out of the way quickly when she feels the push, turning back to see what had happened and-- dang it, Eshkol. ]

What in the world are you doing?

[ That said with a sigh and a hand at her hip. She's suddenly pretty thankful they're out in the hall right now, explaining any of this would be a nightmare. ]

[bearswitness]

[ He ignores the question, because, honestly, isn't that obvious? He straightens from his crouch, brushes some hair over one shoulder, and takes to studying Aileen. Up and down, frowning suspiciously. Just to make sure she'd only been insulted, and not actually hurt. ]

[seamend]

[ For her part she looks the same as any day save for the longer sleeves and sunhat, but she'd been wearing those since the monster attacks stopped. Actually, she's been looking healthier since then, too. ]

He's not here, if that's what you're wondering.

[bearswitness]

[ He shakes his head at that. A long, long history of obedience has pretty much guaranteed the guy's safety if that's what Aileen wants, so he doesn't much care where he is. One hand lifts to Aileen's chin, to lift it for a better angle of inspection. ]

[seamend]

[ That... kind of stops her in her tracks. It's confusing what with the offer of murder from before, and the anger ebbs out of her expression. When he lifts her chin some of the hair moves askew, just enough to take a few scales out of hiding near her ears.

She hikes an eyebrow. ] You're worried about me?

[bearswitness]

[ A nod. And he sees that interesting bit of green, there, so he invites himself to brush aside some hair to see what the deal is. ]

[seamend]

[ She pauses and blinks a few times in surprise, but the realization of just what he's seeing dawns quickly. Oh. ]

Ah, that's right... I suppose that'll need a bit of explaining? [ That followed by a bashful smile, but she holds his gaze in an earnest way. ]

[bearswitness]

[ Need? No one ever needs to do anything, in regards to him. It's only ever the other way around. So from anyone else, he'd demand an explanation for the sheer novelty of it. But Aileen...

He feels his pocket for the pen and notepad, pauses when it isn't there, and frowns. He'd left too quickly, damn. So he glances back at her and, pointedly, shakes his head. The curious stare isn't going anywhere, though, and remains an invitation all of its own. ]

[seamend]

Scales like these are actually my natural state. [ She turns her face to give him a better look, removing that hat while she's at it. Oh look, webbed fishy ears! ] My ears too.

They were only covered before with a faerie's glamour; an enchantment from my home meant to help blend in better with humans. Only that glamour... broke, not long ago. [ Something she's still not sure she's okay with, but at least its comforting telling someone who won't immediately call her crazy. To give more perspective she pulls a sleeve up as well, grazing a finger over her elbow where another cluster of green scales sits. ] Other than these, my shape on land is more or less what you're familiar with.

[bearswitness]

[ He lifts a hand, glances up to be sure she's not flinching away, and traces a finger carefully over those scales at her arm. Huh. Interesting. He's seen things not unlike this before, of course, because he's seen a lot of things, but he can't ever remember being close enough to touch.

He's left briefly with the conundrum of trying to figure out how to tell her that he prefers this look on her, but it doesn't last. Both hands lightly find her shoulders, protective and fond, and he cocks his head to the side and smiles. It's in the eyes, of course, and in a warmth not usually there. ]

[seamend]

[ It's a little surprising-- he never struck her as someone to be so open with physical contact, but the warmth of his hands is far from unwelcome. The smile is much more surprising, giving her a struggle to just... say something in response. Nothing comes right away except a smile of her own tugging up the corners of her lips. ]

I'm. Glad to know I haven't frightened you off!

[ Its the first, lame thing that comes to mind, and she feels a need to make up for it. Before she can decide better of it, she steps in for a hug; a small, happy sound catching at her throat. ] You are... a good friend, Eshkol.

[bearswitness]

[ Whoa, okay, hug, that's a little foreign. He goes still, arms awkwardly stiff at his sides, and decides to wait it out. She's probably wrong about the friend thing, but hey, if she wants to do this kind of thing she's welcome to it.

He'll just be standing here. Patiently. Awkwardly. ]