[closed] it comes with a toy

[bridgeburner]

Who: Badri (NPC) & Ellie
When: Saturday, April 19th, evening
Where: Thunder Corp's compound in the Dead District
What: An alien offers a titan fast food.
Warnings: None atm!

In typical tourist fashion, Badri enjoys slipping away from the compound every now and then to explore what Locke City has to offer. Yesterday, he discovered fast food.

Tonight, he's making the rounds with a large cardboard box full of McDonald's in his arms. To each of the graveyard shift security guards he tilts the box down (just a little to avoid spilling the drinks, mind!) and gives them free choice of a cheeseburger or chicken McNuggets Happy Meal.

Yep.

Ellie happens to be the last security guard he approaches. By now, his Happy Meal supply has been reduced to one of each option. With a bounce to his step, he greets her with an amiable, "Howdy, partner! Cheeseburger or chicken McNuggets?"

Comments

[shortspoken]

It takes her a second to fathom where the misunderstanding has taken place, causing her to fumble for words for a moment. "I... yes. I mean, no. He didn't bypass security here."

She isn't especially fond of talking about her own failure, but it's still safer ground than talk of brainless people. Because seriously, what.

"It was at one of the warehouses. Just ordinary security, not on this level. He took some pink liquid. Caused us lots of trouble with the media." Her eyes flick to one side - this still rankles. "I was lucky I didn't get fired, apparently. Even though I apprehended him, and if backup had arrived quickly then he wouldn't have got away."

Because she's a badass who is very good at her shitty job. Stupid delinquent assholes who ruin everything aside.

[bridgeburner]

He leans backwards, a low hum of comprehension in his throat. After he eats his apple, he says, "Well, they can't really blame you, not if he has 'fancy powers'. Tiny may have been a dipshit, but I'm guessing it designed the security here to prevent a repeat of that. So. Hey."

He waggles his finger in a 'woop de doo' fashion. "One thing it didn't royally screw up. Yay."

[shortspoken]

"I don't know. With... Tiny making such a mess of things, it makes it easier for you three to prove your intentions really are benevolent."

There isn't a trace of sarcasm there, even if the whole brain thing is still making her uncomfortable.

"If you hadn't been able to swoop in and start fixing all its mistakes, people might have viewed you as a threat. If you look at it that way, Tiny probably helped you long-term."

[bridgeburner]

His face scrunches up in mild disbelief. "You think so?"

Asked even though she just said as much.

[shortspoken]

"Absolutely. People are naturally distrustful. But this way, Tiny was the bad alien and you're the good guys making everything better with a wave of your magic wands."

She fiddles with her bangs, offering a half-smile again.

"Except that magic isn't real."

[bridgeburner]

His face is still scrunched up.

"But Tiny is our fault. By proxy, all the destruction the inhabitants of this city endured because of it is our fault, too."

[shortspoken]

"I doubt many people will feel that way, since you're all proving yourselves to be very different to Tiny. We're hardly going to hold you accountable for the actions of one rogue agent. At least, that's what I think."

She's aware that she's probably giving the public too much credit here. But she doesn't trust easily, so as far as she's concerned? If she can see that the aliens are decent, obviously everyone should be able to.

Duh.

[bridgeburner]

His brows rise. The muscles in his face finally relax.

"That's mighty generous of you." He smiles; it appears heartfelt. "Can I get your name?"

[shortspoken]

"Ah... yes." She's about to respond with Ellie before reminding herself that's just her network alias. The fact that it's become the name she automatically uses to refer to herself is a little disconcerting.

"Annabel Lyons. Annie." After quickly making sure her hand isn't covered in gross fast food residue, she holds it out awkwardly to offer a handshake.

[bridgeburner]

His expression -- nay, everything about him -- brightens. With genuine excitement, Badri takes the offer and gives Ellie an enthusiastic handshake.

He has not taken the same precautions she had in quality-checking the state of his fingers.

"Annie Lyons! Like the feline predators, lions. Wonderful!" He releases her hand to spread his palm-flat against his chest. "I'm Badri Barkley. Like a method of communication between canines or the exterior of a tree."

Perhaps not the most standard of introductions, but he prattles on obliviously as he rises. "I ought to go before I get you in trouble for sitting on the job-- but if you do," he whispers conspiratorially, "just send them to me. I'll take care of it."

Wink.

[shortspoken]

"I... yes. Nice to meet you, Badri. And..." Her tone remains as even as always, though she does permit herself another bemused little blink - both at the incredibly unorthodox introduction and at that offer.

"...I'll be sure to do that. Thank you."

[bridgeburner]

"No," he says, grabbing the remnants of his Happy Meal, "thank you. I'd been feeling rather glum about the circumstances surrounding our arrival, but I find the clouds lifting after our conversation."

His mouth opens in a silent 'oh.' Then he finger guns her excitedly again. "Because every cloud has a silver lining!"

He used an idiom successfully. YEAH.