Voice; un: newt

[groupiedrifter]

Oh man, we have new blood again? Welcome aboard!

I've been saving these stickers for the occasion.

[He sends a snapshot of the stickers in question:]



If you're not a newbie and you really want one, I barter in any of the following: snacks, shiny rocks, manga, monster movies, cool figurines, cigarettes, conversations about tattoos, spaghetti or any type of noodle, cute dimples, cheek kisses, compliments about my boots, neat pictures of any manner of phyla, a tall can of pringles, pens with blue or red ink, caffeine patches, 80's or 90's band shirts, things that hover that shouldn't, fancy scissors, dinosaur stickers, or coffee.

Just come on down to the lab and get your very special prize!

If I'm bumping into tables and jumping six feet in the air because you so much as sneezed in my direction, it's because I'm temporarily blind and literally can't see my own hand in front of my face.

Ciao!

Comments

[groupiedrifter]

[NOD, NOD]

Absolutely! When life gives you lemons, you squirt them in life's eyes!

[That's how the saying goes, right? Either way, he's way more durable than he ever thought he'd be in a million fucking years, my guy. And despite the fact that he can't see, he gives a thumbs up that Finn can't see. We're all just not seeing around here.]

... People talked about me?

[Wait, no, that makes him sound needy-]

Of course they talked about me! I'm one of the pros of Ximilia; been here since the first mission! So if there's anything you need, you just gotta ask, dude.

[Let's make a bracket of Ximilian people who use 'dude' a lot.]

i can't decide if that bracket would be huge or extremely small and i'm here for both

[heroooic]

[As Newt talks, Finn is content to simply listen. It's a pretty exciting journey in its own right, holding on as the guy meanders from point to point with the speed and smoothness of a ornery boar trying to buck its rider. By the time he's finished, Finn finds himself grinning.]

Really? That's cool. [Said with all the teenage sincerity of a kid in desperate need of friends of his own.] Do you think, uh... I mean, I dunno how much room you have, but if there's a slot opening in your movie club...

[He trails off. Confidence wasn't usually a failing of his, but well. A new place, full of strangers... human strangers. It was a lot to take in.]

No presh though, just in case! I can bring my own snacks and stuff.

EXACTLY

[groupiedrifter]

Dude, there's no exclusivity in the movie club. In fact, I whip out the ol' projector after every mission to unwind! So any time you wanna tune in, even if we're not doing the movie nights, you just gotta ask.

I got all kinds of stuff in my roster!

You ever see Godzilla? The original? It's a masterpiece, man. And I've got some bootleg, crappy movies based on my world, too! And tons of classics like Princess Bride or Titanic; most people here will tell you not to watch Titanic, but they're just thin-skinned.

[heroooic]

[Godzilla? Princess Bride? Titanic? None of these ring any bells for Finn, but he’s thoroughly intrigued, if only by Newt’s boisterous enthusiasm for the topic.]

I’ve never heard of any of those, but they all have awesome names. The movies selection where I’m from is pretty slim. You kinda just take what you get.

[Turns out the movies most likely to survive the ravages of the apocalypse are the ones buried or abandoned in the greatest numbers. And those aren’t the good ones.]

So what’s your favorite? If you had to pick one.

[groupiedrifter]

[He snorts waving a hand.]

Oh, monster movies, no contest. Godzilla vs. Mothra was one of my all-time favorites growing up! But they're all awesome. And boy, I bet I could find tons of anime you'd be into. Oh! What kind of stuff are you into? Quests? Because Lord of the Rings is a great quest flick.

[He is gonna HOOK YOU UP, kid.]

[heroooic]

[Suffice to say, this nerdy teenager is very into quests. Even as the names wash over him like random gobbledy gook, Finn is no less enthralled.

Movie night was going to be the best thing ever.]

I'll take anything you can throw at me! [And he means it. Newt isn't exactly posing a challenge his way, but Finn seems to be taking it as one anyway. And then, a little more sincerely, maybe a little bashfully:] Thanks, dude.

[Being showed kindness, being given an avenue for fun... Finn maybe needed them a little more than he realized. It chased away lonely thoughts of home, giving him something to look forward to besides just Orb Work. He's truly grateful, and it shows in his voice.]

Just, uh, hit me up whenever!

[groupiedrifter]

It's no problem, kid. And it goes both ways! You ever need an anime to watch or some tech to repair, just hit me up.

[we're best buds now 2023]