[017]

[grip_on_reality]

[Menzies appears in the middle of the Plane clearly arriving straight from work. she's in a suit, as well as wearing an ID card hanging from her neck and a belt of police gear around her waist. however, her hair is disheveled and she looks very concerned about something. ignoring her surroundings, she pulls her right arm against her, twisting the fabric of her shirt so see can see the underside of it. she frowns down at a small round scortch mark on her shirt for a moment before she presses against it, still frowning, but showing no sign of pain as she prods at the area]

[after a moment, she lets her arm go and now stares down at her own hands in confusion--as though she expects to find some sort of answer there. she considers silently for a bit, chewing her lip. but eventually she sighs before mumbling to herself:] I wish I had a knife...

[ooc: Menzies' wish has had the accidental side effect of making her invulnerable for a month! Just a warning that if you give her something sharp, she's going to do a little (ultimately harmless) test with it.]

Comments

[grip_on_reality]

[she raises an eyebrow] Skooks? That a species? [she frowns. she hadn't thought about it that way, but it would make sense. with a sigh, she adds:] Well, I suppose it wouldn't be the first time this place 'as pulled something like that.

[after all, the candy gave her Lish's ability, and that pollen made her somewhat like one of the Kaliri, though she'd never even heard about them at the time]

[most_feared]

Yeah. They're a species I run into time and again.

Don't worry about it, they're not inherently bad or anything if that's the problem. Just the only ones I could introduce you to at the moment are informants.

[It seems impolite to ask if eh can test out that immortality for her. So he'll just go with it.]

[grip_on_reality]

[as interesting as that characteristic is, Menzies is actually hoping for some other information. after all, if she has taken on the characteristics of some other species, she knows it could be useful to learn what she can about them] Anything distinguishing about 'em? Other than the immortality, I mean.

And speaking of that, 'ave you got anything on you that we could use to, ah, test that? Non-lethal, though--I don't know enough about this yet for that sort of risk. [though she doubts she needed to say that, she's seen the sort of weapons Kay carries around, so she figures it's best to make certain]

[most_feared]

You shoot something off, it grows back.

[It's his favorite quality about them! He reaches down and fetches a knife out of his pocket. opening it and handing it to her.]

I figured you wouldn't want me stickin' ya.

[grip_on_reality]

Well, that's a new one. [in her experience, at least. but she shakes her head] In that case, I don't think that's it. You'd be hard pressed to shoot something off if the bullet's gonna bounce--but I'd rather not do another test of that one, if it's all the same to you.

[she accepts the knife with a chuckle] Somehow I doubt it's gonna matter. [that said, she holds out her free hand and flicks the knife across the back of it. nothing happens] ...well. [she frowns down at the completely uninjured skin] Even if I'm not a Skook, there's something going on, at least.

[most_feared]

No. If you were one of those it'd grow back. Uh... I once got into somethin' that made me turn to stone and I was impenetrable. But I was also stone. I wasn't also squishy.

[And then, out of sheer curiosity, just to make sure she isn't stone? He pokes her straight in the stomach. He gives her a Pillsbury Doughboy test.]

[grip_on_reality]

Stone? [she frowns since that sounds rather more serious than what she seems to be dealing with] No, it's not that. I mean... [she runs the knife over her hand again] Feels a bit like that when I'm trying to cut it, but it's definitely still...skin.

[at his test, she gives him a look. really, Kay?] Finding conclusive evidence there, Agent? [she holds the knife out as a hint for him to take it and stop poking her] Don't worry, I don't think you're about to be rid of me if that's what you're worried about. Seems more like the opposite, really.

[most_feared]

I was just checkin' to see if you were still squishy.

[Squishy is a strange descriptor in his voice.]

I guess if Christopher decided to show his face around here, for the moment we'd have an edge.

[grip_on_reality]

[she raises an eyebrow at him, her expression expectant] Satisfied?

[but she chuckles a bit ruefully at that] I 'aven't seen 'im in ages--nor 'eard a word about 'is antics. I wouldn't want to say we're ever "safe" from anything 'round 'ere, but for now at least, he's not the present danger he was.

[Kay's suggestion does give her another idea, though, and she gives him a curious look] Agent, how are things back 'ome for you right now?

[most_feared]

[He shrugs lightly.] Fine. The usual.

[The usual would be the Doctor's version of the usual, too.]

[grip_on_reality]

[she nods, though she has a feeling she knows what his usual is like--so is hers] Right. Well, if you run into any trouble while this is going on? Let me know if I can give you an 'and. I still owe you for that business with Frank.

[because bringing her to his world after that had been much more of a gift to her than helpful to him, and she likes to pay off her debts]

[most_feared]

You know you really don't owe me nothin' [He says that meaningfully.]

The job I do, I took it without any reward. My name'd never be known- on Earth, anyway. And out in space they certainly don't know which one I was born with.

You don't owe me anything.

[grip_on_reality]

[she's surprised by his rather impassioned protest. she understands the sentiment, though--her name might be known, but she certainly isn't doing any of it for personal glory. but she shakes her head]

Either way, keep me in mind. All right? Call it one professional helping another, if you like.

[most_feared]

I'm sure the Doctor will get himself into trouble pretty soon, but I'll keep you in mind.

We get a lot of normal cases to work on, too. Traffic and zone violations. Thefts. That kinda thing. The big stuff sometimes only happens about once every two weeks on a long span.

[grip_on_reality]

[she chuckles] Well, I'll just 'ave to 'ope he steers clear of Manchester if he does.

Two weeks at the longest? [she whistles] Sounds like your city gets into even more trouble than mine. Somehow I get the feeling the thefts aren't always straightforward either--considering people from other worlds are involved.

[most_feared]

Well by the time I'm put on a case, it's pretty much guaranteed there are interstellar laws being broken. Otherwise we let people handle their own business.

[grip_on_reality]

Interstellar laws! [she shakes her head; it's still strange to her to think of an Earth that has such a streamlined process for dealing with visitors from other worlds] That must be something to keep track of.

[curious, she asks:] Does your agency employ many aliens?

[most_feared]

We've got an affirmative action program, but we have to be really picky about it because we have a lot of control over Earth and... well...

[Not something you want to give aliens control over if they have agendas. Or humans, for that matter. But he's going to shove that memory out of his brain.]

[grip_on_reality]

I, ah, take your point. [thinking about that, she adds:] Still, 'ow do people get recruited? I know aliens aren't exactly public knowledge on your end either.

[sometimes she wonders if things would be easier if she let one of her colleagues in on what she's doing, but she's had yet to find anyone she feels confident would be able to handle it. if only Aldrich hadn't been killed, things could have been very different]

[most_feared]

We see a little bit of everything everywhere. So we watch people that do exceptional things, handle close encounters well. Then we run 'em through that test I put you through.

If they fail, the leave not knowin'. If they succeed, they're offered the chance for a job and a suit and somethin' bigger.

[grip_on_reality]

[she whistles, impressed at the possible breadth of their recruiting] No wonder you got me in so easily. [easily in retrospect, at least. that test was no walk in the park at the time--but she has a feeling he remembers that as well as she does]

Speaking of, exactly what story did you feed 'em after that? Do I need to worry about being arrested if I ever go back? [from her expression, she's teasing rather than worried, but she's definitely curious, too]

[most_feared]

I told 'em I'd neuralyzed you. They'll leave you alone.

Just pretend you don't remember anything if you run into one. Accuse 'em of being with the FBI or somethin'.

[grip_on_reality]

[she gives him a confused--and slightly dubious--look at that] What the hell is that? [because while "neuralyze" isn't a word she's ever heard before, it certainly doesn't sound like anything good]

[most_feared]

It means they don't think you remember them. [Bluntly.] So they probably wouldn't be too bothered unless you were really obvious about around like you knew there were aliens living there.

[grip_on_reality]

I'll keep it in mind. [the comment is dismissive; she's not sure she likes this information, and she's much more interested in learning more about it] Do you do much wiping memories in your line of work?