IC CONTACT | Mask or Menace

[animated]

"Hey, you've reached Charlie Maxwell. Leave me a message. Or just text me. I might get back to you faster that way."

Comments

[nostalgiabomb]

[ precious tiny travel-sized wizard ]

Can and will. Denial is one of my strongest skills.

[ He waves down a bartender, ordering himself a drink -- nothing out of the ordinary; he is, sadly, out of touch as far as Terran drinks go, especially alcoholic ones, so he plays it safe by ordering one of the beers on tap. ]

You been keepin' out of trouble lately, Merlin?

[animated]

[ Beer is as good a place to start as any. He orders one for himself as well ]

For the most part. Thinking about getting a new job, though.

[nostalgiabomb]

Yeah? [ He pauses, trying to remember what the hell it was Charlie did. ]

--Driver's Ed? Can't possibly imagine why you'd wanna quit that.

[animated]

I think there's something about the flying cars that makes teenagers even more willing to do stupid shit behind the wheel.

I swore to myself that I wouldn't enchant the cars when I started the job. Now I've finally resorted to magic.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He barks out a laugh. ]

Oh man, what the hell happened? Must'a' been really bad. Did the kid almost crash into an elementary school or something?

[animated]

Nothing that drastic, but I did have a kid almost hit a dog once.

[nostalgiabomb]

And the dog was okay, right?

[ IMPORTANT QUESTIONS 2K15 ]

[animated]

The dog was fine. A couple of mailboxes and some trashcans weren't. But the dog was fine.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ That gets a smirk out of him. ]

That poor property.

You got anything lined up, yet? Job-wise.

[animated]

Not yet. There was kind of a zombie outbreak happening. I'm hoping I can just get a job at a library or a bookstore or something. Go back to what I know.

What about you? Liking the music store so far?

[nostalgiabomb]

It's fine, as long as I can tune out whatever crap they have on the sound system lately.

Haven't thought about setting up your business? Maybe go into kid's entertainment and put on really elaborate puppet shows.

[animated]

What, like running a bookstore like I did back home? It'd be easier to find work in one that's already established, probably.

But the puppet show thing sounds kinda fun.

[nostalgiabomb]

Or you could put together people's shelves for them. [ He sweeps out an arm. ] World of possibilities, Maxwell.

I'll totally back you on the puppets, though.

[animated]

... I suddenly really hope this place doesn't have an IKEA equivalent.

But thanks. Maybe I'll name one after you.

[nostalgiabomb]

Make sure it's the most handsome one you've got.

[ He drinks the last of his beer, gesturing for another and two menus. ]

Why not stick with teaching? Friend of mine said they were looking for staff at that school, um-- [ He snaps his fingers as he tries to remember the name. ] Xavier School for Imports, I think?

[animated]

Hadn't honestly crossed my mind.

Think I could do it?

[nostalgiabomb]

That's really your call, man. But what I'm seein'? You've got the patience for kids -- which apparently you do, even when they're behind the wheel of a car -- and you're apparently a nerd, since you were thinkin' of working for a library, so.

[ He shrugs a shoulder, and though he was going for a deadpan delivery, a smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. ]

[animated]

Oh, hush. You like my nerdiness.

But I'll consider it. What's the name of this friend of yours who was talking about the school?

[nostalgiabomb]

Verity Willis. Glasses. Red hair. She only teaches there, but she can at least get you in touch with whoever's in charge.

[animated]

I'll keep it in mind. Look at you, opening up new career paths for me.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ As the bartender comes by with the menus and drinks, Peter gives Charlie a quick salute. ]

What did you ever do without me, man?

[animated]

Flounder around aimlessly, I guess.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He huffs out a near silent laugh. ] You poor thing. Didn't have Goto to guide you along your path?

[animated]

Nah. Kasumi's a terrible influence.

[ he says it with obvious fondness, though ]

[nostalgiabomb]

Yeah? I can imagine. When we were running around as kids, she tried to get us to steal candy apples.