[Action/Video]

[uglypet]

[Yesterday, Mantis had found a replacement for her broken lamp at long last. It took a while given her meager paycheck, and while a lamp would have been a nice personal touch to her dingy poorly lit motel room, it wasn't a necessity.]

[It was sheer luck that she happened to pass a garage sale, and once she learned that it was not the garage but the items on the tables next to the garage, she found the most beautiful lamp she had ever seen. The shade was fashioned out of tiffany glass in greens, blues, and purples, with little dragonflies patterned upon it. She fell in love with the lamp and bought it, carried it home, and set it up next to her bed so she could look at it when she fell asleep.]

[Then the Paperboy CAME IN THE NIGHT.]

[She awoke with a start at the sound of shattering glass, twice: once as the newspaper crashed through the dirty motel window, and again as it collided with her lamp, knocked it over, and shattered the cunning glass work. Mantis sat up in bed with a jolt, and when she saw her lamp, her antennae drooped sadly. :c]

[Outside, she can hear the hotel manager bellowing in rage. 'BUG LADY! Did you break that window?! You'll have to pay for that!']

[And just like that, Mantis is in debt. She's swept up what she could of the lamp and placed it into a paper grocery bag. Perhaps she can get it fixed. She carries it with her up and down the streets in search of a repair shop, but no one seems able to fix it. She's told to just throw it out, but she can't bring herself to do it. Where else is she going to find a lamp with dragonflies on it?]

----------------------

[VIDEO]

[Mantis looks dejected, but she's smiling as hard as she can. It...doesn't look great. The dissonance is probably a little creepy.]

I would like a temporary job to earn more money. My skills are limited, but I will do my best for you.

[She will try. She will try so hard. Success is not guaranteed.]

Comments

[Video]

[cadbane]

How good are you at bounties?

[Video]

[uglypet]

Bounties? I do not know. I have never hunted a bounty before.

[She's curious about the possibility, though. Her abilities have come in handy in a fight before.]

Are you in need of a partner?

[Video]

[cadbane]

Not really. But extra hands can be good on a job, depending on your skills.

[Video]

[uglypet]

That is true. I have learned the great power that comes from teamwork and making use of the abilities of many.

[She considers again for a brief moment, then continues speaking.]

With a touch, I can put most subjects immediately to sleep. Would you find this useful?

[Video]

[cadbane]

What are the limitations?

[He does find the idea intriguing.]

[Video]

[uglypet]

If the subject is very, very powerful, then it may be little more than a temporary stunning effect. I admit that I have not used my abilities offensively for very long.

[Mantis deflates a little at the confession. It may cost her, but she wants him to trust her, and thus honesty is the best practice so if he does take her on as a sidekick, it won't be with false expectations.]

[madesacrifices]

Is this how you go about finding work?

[uglypet]

[Mantis hesitates; she can't tell if this question is a request for information or a criticism.]

I suppose.

[Her head tilts forward into an incline as her shoulders lift, then fall.]

I only wish for employment of a temporary nature so I may pay for the broken window of my room. Are you perhaps searching for work as well?

August was rough, sorry for the lateness

[madesacrifices]

How did you break your window?

[Nat pauses, tilting her head slightly as well, considering. ]

Yes, I'm not used to having nothing to do.

No worries, I'm slow too!

[uglypet]

There is a misunderstanding; I did not do the breaking.

[She speaks earnestly, brows inclined.]

It was a boy human who throws newspapers with supernatural force. It is very impressive! However, I do not like that he has chosen to break my belongings.

[Mantis holds up a flyer she got from the library with Lucina/Marth.]

I am going to audition for a thing called television commercials. Perhaps you would wish to audition as well?

[Video]

[sanguine_kismet]

[Oh, it's that lady(?) that tried to help her from before. Lucina felt the need to return the favor, appearing on video wearing a mask.]

You were kind enough to offer me help before, may I return the favor and we can look for jobs together?

[Video]

[uglypet]

[Mantis seems confused for a moment. Helped before? Did she? Then she considers the voice again and recalls the brief conversation from the other night, and she perks up in recognition.]

If you do not mind, I am sure we will have great success as a team! I am grateful. Were you able to find the assistance you needed?

[Video]

[sanguine_kismet]

I'm in the process of exploring still, it may be a week or so before I get my answer. Would you like to meet up at the library to look over potential jobs?

[Video]

[uglypet]

Yes, I would like this very much!

[Mantis has no idea what a library is, but she knows it must be on the map. She'll find out when she gets there, so she sees no reason to hassle this person for information she can get herself.]

Shall I go there now?

[Video]

[sanguine_kismet]

['Marth' nodded their head in agreement.]

Yes, if you'd like.

[Just in case, they sent directions to the other's device not wanting them to get lost on the way.]

[video]

[bigbadrose]

What do you normally do, what are you good at? What's your favorite things? What makes you happiest?

[video]

[uglypet]

Oh, I apologize for giving the wrong impression. I have two jobs I like very much. I seek a temporary job because I require--

[What was the word?]

--"cheddar." So I am willing to do many things.

[video]

[bigbadrose]

[She's not sure of the slang, but strapped for cash basically.]

Okay, same questions though, yeah? Because I do need some temporary people too, but I'd be a bad manager to stick you someplace you'll be miserable, just because you're desperate. Pretend you're going to get hired no matter what you answer, I just need to know where you'd be your best at, yeah?

[video]

[uglypet]

I understand. I enjoy things that are cute!

[She beams happily. It seems as if she should be more specific, but she hasn't experienced enough to really expand. Cute things are her favorite.]

I also serve as an empath. I can feel the emotions of others, as well as give people feelings in return. This ability can be used to put a troubled mind at rest and cause a person to immediately sleep.

[video]

[bigbadrose]

[Rubs the back of her neck.]

[That's...] What do you find cute?

Dang. I do need waitresses, but... it's not... generally cute. Unless we're both lucky and have different ideas on cute.

Ahhh and the empathy thing is a -- are you familiar with the phrase, "Double-edged sword?" it means it would hurt you as much as help. And I really don't want you to get hurt.

[action] Totally not late to the party... >.>

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea was out walking, his Growlithe at his heels, when he spots a rather forlorn-looking woman sitting on a bench with a large paper bag. The sight in itself- plus her antennae and large eyes- are enough to draw his attention, and after a moment's debate he approaches.]

Hey, um... it might not be any of my business, but is everything OK? You look pretty bummed about something.

[action] Fashionably so!

[uglypet]

[Mantis perks faintly at the sound of an unfamiliar voice, turning her head only to tilt it up to meet Lea's concerned expression. 'Bummed.' That must be a way to express sadness. She was not aware that a melancholy nature was associated with one's hindquarters.]

[She turns her gaze forward and lifts her chin, hands tightly clasped in her lap.]

I am experiencing frustration. The repairmen I have sought are unable to fix this lamp.

[It's probably easy to tell that's what she has in the bag beside her. --Oh, but perhaps...! Her expression eases, hope edging into her countenance as she looks back to Lea.]

Perhaps you are acquainted with a repairman of great talent?

Re: [action] Best way to be. :3

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea frowned a bit.]

Sounds more like 'unwilling' than 'unable' to me if you've tried a lot of them and the lamp is still broken.

I'm afraid I don't know any repairmen off the top of my head, though I guess I could take a look at the lamp myself. I mean, if that's alright with you? It's been awhile, but my dad used to work with jewelry and things, and he taught me a little. I might be able to at least point you in the right direction if I saw how and how badly it was broken.

[action] Must be, because now I am the late one!

[uglypet]

Oh, yes!

[She twists at the waist to pick up the bag, which crinkles and clinks as she swivels to hold it out to Lea. Her expression has brightened significantly, hope brightening her giant dark eyes.]

I do have it, it is here. It is very all right with me if you wish to examine it.

[The lamp hasn't been completely obliterated, but the glass has been broken into several assorted pieces, and the bulb has absolutely had it. Her mouth stretches into a wide smile and she speaks with a laugh.]

It is very fortunate that we are meeting this day! I am Mantis.

[action] Let's just say we're both fashionably late. XD

[hotheadwarmheart]

Nice to meet you, Mantis. My name's Lea; got it memorized? And this is Fireball.

[He indicated the Growlithe to her before taking a look in the bag, taking care when he saw the broken glass.]

OK, let's see here...

[He pulled the main body of the lamp out of the bag into the light so he could get a better look at it.]

Hmmm... well, from what I can tell the framework looks mostly intact. And we'll have to get that broken bulb out of there before we can test if the actual mechanism still works, not to mention to avoid cutting ourselves on it. But it seems like it's mostly just the broken glass. So it could be fixed, technically, but the repair men probably didn't think it'd be worth the amount of effort remaking and refitting all these fiddly little bits of glass would take, like I figured.