heavy assault organism

Judging by this man’s response, he’s either overconfident or willfully ignorant and Jackie’s not too sure if she cares if he’s either or. “Easy for you to say. You don’t work out in the wilderness, do you?” Jackie unfortunately doesn’t have the same luxury, though ironically she wouldn’t really have it any other way. Guard work within the city is pretty damn boring in comparison. “Guess so? Materials don’t come easy though.”

“…Are you being for real right now?” She could only chuckle in disbelief, and once he was in fact, being for real, so she could only cross her arms at him in return. “Haven’t talked to a woman in a while, Ed?—Actually no, don’t answer that.” She waved a hand dismissively. Just from those two sentences alone made it clear. “Don’t go out much, do you?”

Jackie all but rolls her eyes at the noises, letting out an exasperated sigh when the latter decides to make small talk for the time being. “It isn’t usually… whatever this is.” She gestures vaguely, making a mental note not to accept jobs from Mr. Kimball in the near future. “I’m usually out there in the field, protecting the softer-bodied fellas.” She nods her head out the window, “Really flexible, this line of work. Figured I’d take a breather from the wastes to do more boring work but that kinda bit me in the ass.”

Isn’t so scary and getting to them before they’re swallowed doesn’t connect. How is it not scary when there’s a danger of being swallowed? Jackie frowned, hands on her hips in disbelief. “Swallowed? I’d say that’s pretty fuckin’ worrying at least! Don’t think there’s any coming back from that.” There isn’t really a lot of creatures willing to take her on in her larger, almost insectoid form but there’s a good thirty minutes-ish gap before the likelihood of being devoured is lessened. That's too many minutes to risk, as far as she's concerned.

“Yeah?” Jackie says rather mockingly, taking it as a challenge. Now that he’s pretty much presented himself as a threat, she—legally—has a reason to stalk him as well. “What now, Romeo?” She raises a brow, “Usually you buy a lady a drink first.” Jackie usually isn’t so brazen but being stalked isn’t something to take so lightly!

Admittedly, she knew absolutely nothing about bikes but you didn’t have to be an expert to know what happened with this one in particular. It’s worrying to hear about just how much he’s had to do in the first place. “Scary as hell. Somethin’ out there’s bike-hungry. I’m hopin’ they’re paying you good for all that.” It’s something to look into – and she makes sure to make a mental note to stay on her toes even more now. Jackie raises both arms defensively before typing out again. “I believe you. Unless you have some kind of silencer for your welder hidden in the back, but that’s none of my business.”

starter for @melichrous !!

How the hell does she respond to that? Who even says that?! Yeah, I was following you? Her displeasure is clear on her face as she crosses her arms in response. “Having fun?” She frowned, her own sense of pride as a security escort now wounded. Maybe he was bluffing about following her for ages – she barely even noticed! “Ages and ages, huh? Is it my turn to stalk you now?”

Jackie couldn't help but laugh at his reaction - was it rude? Who knew. Fucking funny, though. Before he could even finish typing, she could only guess what he was about to say. She read it aloud, mostly to herself, before shaking her head at him and typing again. "No worries. Ironically, I did overtime by accident because I lost track of time too. I get it. Guess our other neighbors are finally about to get some sleep too, huh?"

"Amen to that. Just gotta roll with it." She nodded understandingly, waving a dismissive hand as she took another long sip of her coffee. "Nah, practicing." Jackie states simply. "Two o'clock, works at a bank. Married, probably has a newborn or a fussy toddler." The aforementioned stranger stood in front of the cashier, dark circles underneath her eyes and a defeated look on her face.

“ Maybe I will, maybe I do, ” Sebni narrowed his eyes at the woman as he continued staring at her for a few more seconds before he decide to occupy the space next to her. Calmly, slowly, carefully, he made sure his clothes were neat and clean...before plopping himself down, back on the ground, thereby rendering his clothes not neat and clean. With hands behind his head, he stared at the sky, feeling a bit relieved at the sight of the stars, as if their vastness made his insignificance felt alright. Why would he worry about anything else? Why would he listen to his fears and insecurities? When he was but a cog in the machine, a tiny human staring out into an ocean of stars? “ Client? You're on the clock? As what? You're just lying here, resting. Now that sounds more suspicious. ”

She cracked a smile but doesn’t comment on the way he methodically laid himself down like any of his fussing about his clothes mattered. At least she wasn’t completely alone with her thoughts now that she had someone to talk to, if he didn’t mind her talking his ear off. If this was any other person she wouldn’t have answered – again, much too risky to be giving out information willy nilly but she had worked with all sorts of people for long enough. “What are you, a cop?” As much as she had joked, he wasn’t all to suspicious. Even if he was, there was no question she could take him in a fight. “Security escort,” and she leaves it at that. “And what are you doing, Mr. Suspicious? Besides approaching young women by their lonesome in the dark.” Jackie flashed a triumphant smile. That was a good one.

Well, this answers a lot of questions! To say she was dumbstruck was an understatement. She squinted at the communicator, frowned before she took out her own communicator to start typing. “Sorry for scaring ya but it’s two in the morning, Tony Stark. Unless this is a bike-shaped permanent cure for the mutation, then it can wait until the sun’s out.” Truthfully she had felt a little bad now knowing that he can’t actually hear, but surely someone had already told him that welding, of all things, made a lot of noise? Certainly not their other neighbors, that’s for sure.

For the weeks that the Birdies, as they had deemed themselves, were out, helpers like Jackie were always more than welcome. Nothing had held a candle to the lovely cooking of the old women, using recipes that had been passed down since before even Abel's conception in the cast iron skillets that had never seen a wash, but these casseroles and pies came close. After all, he was far too busy to cook, and the rest of the congregation didn't really know how -- they would try to cook meals to contribute to holiday feasts, but that was about where it ended... which, tragically, was probably for the best! "Thank you, Jackie." Abel opened his wallet and pulled out A$160.89, certainly more than the food was worth (and certainly an odd number to offer, but his mind still worked in USD conversions), but it was giving season! "I don't think you'll have to worry about the congregation not being part of the clean plates club." With a chuckle, he added, "I sometimes worry that they like these more than the Birdies' home cooking." And, unfortunately, he worried for good reason...

Jackie had been apprehensive the moment she witnessed him fishing for his wallet. With both hands up, she shook her head insistently. “No, no. I don’t need all that. I do this for the people.” She stated firmly. It was the truth, after all. Her job paid more than enough and it had been very fulfilling cooking for such a large amount of people at a time. It made her feel appreciated – needed. That alone was above any amount of money she could possibly have. “That’s high praise. I appreciate that.” She cracked a smile, “I’m not after their spot. Everyone needs a break sometimes. Lotta work goes into cooking for so many people. I’m just glad I can be that for someone.”

odie looks up at the question, then with a start realizes the stranger has sat already and her gaze follows. she looks around to see if all the tables are taken up and finds that there are a few other options as far as unclaimed table and when she once again turns to look at the newcomer, her head cocks in curiosity. before the cybernetics specialist on the table is a steaming, untouched mug of tea and a little bit of work she's taken from the office to complete in her own down time. "no, seats free." she says ultimately deciding that company would not be amiss. she shuffles her papers together so they're not all over the surface and her new tablemate has somewhere to put their coffee.

"Oh, you don't need to tidy up for little ole' me. Just here to get some joe and get in the zone." She muttered brightly, scanning at the expanse of paperwork in front of them out of sheer curiosity. Mostly computer stuff from what she could tell but she's not entirely familiar. It's not her area of expertise but she's had similar clients before. Academic types are usually very unpredictable. Jackie took a long sip of her coffee then scans the room once before turning her attention back to the latter. "You working off the clock for free? Tea's getting cold, hun. I hope they're payin' you good for all that."

"For the time being, yes. He's... in a meeting at the moment." Jackie forces a smile, though she appreciates the fact that she at least has someone to share this agony with. She likes to believe she's rather good at her job, good at keeping secrets and whatnot but it's technically not her job to cover up for her clients. "No clue." She continued, "They just started but I'm hoping for everybody involved that they wrap it up quickly."

She huffs, looking around momentarily before deciding slowly make her way forward - oh and also to do something stupid. Jackie retrieves one sizeable branch off the ground and sends it flying, aiming right for the very bike he was working on. "Who the fuck--" She bends over, picks up another one and launches it again, "WELDS at two in the morning?!" If her words can't seem to reach him, she might as well resort to more creative ways to get his attention.

“ Fortunately for you, I don't snitch, ” Sebni heaved a sigh as he stood over her, his attention on her body. At least that's what it looked like, and the professor did not have the instinct to make it look something else. Truth was, he was having a sort of talk with the grass beneath and around the woman, making sure they were alright and that she was not someone he should fear (at least at the moment). “ Unfortunately for you, you're in my spot. ”

She kept her gaze steady as he stared down at her, seemingly unfocused. Was he seriously checking her out right now? Right as she's having an existential crisis? Either way, it doesn’t go unnoticed. “Cool. Stare all you want then.” She waves her hand in the air dismissively. “What, you have the occupy all the space mutation? Plenty of ground left to lie on.” Jackie frowns, though his presence isn’t entirely unwelcome. The stargazing was a bust and she hates being lonely. Even the presence of a stranger is good company - to her at least.