[ Opening Mingle ]

[randomly_modding]

[Everyone will wake up suddenly, as if having drifted off -- while sitting upright in an uncomfortable office chair. In one hand they're holding the communicator, and in their lap is propped a clipboard with a job application (standard, looking something like this; it requests up to ten years of job history, ) and a pen. The waiting room is also fairly standard, except for being empty.]

[The communicator's lock screen reads, Complete the job application. Time limit, twenty-four hours.]

[There are magazines, fake plants, and computers. There's a staff lounge with food -- tupperware that might have belonged to some of these nonexistent workers, popcorn and cocoa packets, vending machines -- and restrooms. There are exits, but characters will be unable to use them... or make their own, or escape in any way.]

[So the characters are stuck here, until tomorrow morning. Set up a comment telling everyone what your character is doing, and thinking, whether they're obeying the task or not, at any time during the day. Then tag other people! Be sure to check back later in the week, when people are encouraged make threads for the evening as well as the day! Characters that have been claimed are also welcome at this point to join the community, and will be able to make their own posts, which can be tagged by anyone taking part in the event.]

Comments

[buymorelifer]

[ While finding a new job would normally be the last thing on his list of priorities, there's something almost comforting about filling out the familiar information boxes of a job application. Chuck's more or less learned that when in a strange situation, play along until an explanation presents itself...

Or until Casey or Sarah show up to rescue him. He hasn't flashed on anything, yet, but that doesn't mean he won't. Even so, he keeps checking The Governor every so often, taking comfort in the last thing his father had given him. ]

Experience... Buy More, Burbank, California. Nerd Herd Team Member. [ Talking to himself as he writes. ] Five years experience...

[emends]

[ Lucina's having a bit of difficult concentrating on her own application with the person across from her muttering harmlessly and after a few minutes of trying to endure, she stands up and crosses over to him.

With her somewhat archaic, fanciful style of clothing and the sword belted to her hip, she looks more like an RPG character than someone he'd encounter at the super market. ]

Pardon me, sir.

[buymorelifer]

[ Chuck looks up and blinks at the woman standing in front of him. ]

Um... hi. [ Heeeeead tilt. ] How are you?

[emends]

I -- [ she pauses in her surprise, not expecting him to ask, ] I am well, sir. Yourself?

[buymorelifer]

[ Crappy, he wants to say. Because life sort of sucks right now. But instead he just smiles a little. ]

Okay. A little confused about being here, though. Are you here for Comics-A-GoGo? I don't think that's going on yet. [ He might already have pre-registered. So he knows when it is. He's just trying to be nice. ]

[emends]

[ Her eyes widen a fraction, floundering visibly at his question. Is she here for what? ]

No, I am here for no such thing. I have to write this examination.

[ She holds up her application sheet.

No, she has no idea what it's for or why she's doing it. ]

[buymorelifer]

[ Would the CIA or NSA send someone like her for a mission? He guesses it's not unheard of. Or maybe he's somebody he should be scared wary of? ]

Oh! So you're here for a job too, huh? [ Channeling a little of Agent Carmichael, but he's not really in the mindset for a full-on agent-ing right now. ] Dressing up to make sure they remember you, I get it. That's a good idea. [ Ehehehe. ]

1/2

[emends]

[ Okay, now she's baffled. ]

I -- beg your pardon?

[emends]

[ And then, before he can answer, it clicks!

Lucina manages an embarrassed little smile. Her face softens a few degrees from her normal, stern expression. ]

I suppose, for battle, my attire is a bit too well kept. That is Sir Frederick's doing. But, this is hardly dressed up. Please, do not feel ashamed of your own clothing.

[ SHE THINKS SHE'S HELPING. ]

[buymorelifer]

[ IN A WAY SHE IS. ]

... [ A definite pause as the wheels turn in his head. ]

You're not kidding. [ HUH. ] You're really like some kind of fantasy person, aren't you.

[emends]

[ Fantasy person? DOES HE KNOW ABOUT HER TIME TRAVELING? Oh, Naga — ]

I am as real as you, sir. Flesh and bone.

[ There. A nice, safe answer. ]

[afterthefirst]

[All Faith has done is flip through the application, crumple up the back page, and shoot it into the waste basket in the corner. She's been very productive, yes. She gives a little snicker at Chuck's job experience though, hehe]

Nerd Herd? Seriously?

EEEE, FAITH

[buymorelifer]

[ He looks up just in time to see the ball of paper make it into the basket.

And then she's laughing at him. ._. ]

Well, yeah. Who else would you trust to fix your computers, right? [ Ehehehe. ]

EEEE CHUCK!!

[afterthefirst]

[oh no it's cute, but faith is the teasing queen]

A tech geek, huh. Is that what the job's for? Some part time position at Walmart? [i think u mean bestbuy faith]

EEEE YAYWON!!

[buymorelifer]

[ no u mean buy more ]

Um... [ Awkward laugh. ] God, I hope not. That'd be a real step down, even for me. [ Eyes the application suspiciously. ]

I was hoping they had an IT department. Maybe something with cubicles... health benefits... [ Not another retail chain. ;o; ]

[sublimating]

[he leans back in his seat, casting an amused look at the other man. he overheard that] ...Oh, so when referring to a group, you're supposed to call it a herd of nerds? I've been saying it wrong all this time.

[buymorelifer]

[ Laughs! Though he has heard that joke before... ]

What were you calling us before? [ Us, probably. Because you're clearly not a nerd. You look like you have a real job, and stuff. ]

[sublimating]

The ones I've heard most often is "a convention of nerds" or "an awkward of nerds", but I've always preferred "a zoo of nerds".

[how's that for nerd cred: he knows and employs the origin of the term 'nerd'. he is looking down at the application again, though. references... he's pretty sure Tony would give him a reference. could he ask Fury for one? why is he even thinking this through]

[buymorelifer]

[ ... oh man, this guy gets so much cred. Big big smile. ]

It is a rare man who can quote the Seuss in this day and age. [ Intoning. ]

I'm Chuck Bartowski.

[sublimating]

[chuckling] He was the master. He and Sesame Street got me through some rough times.

...Bruce. [another fleeting, somewhat awkward smile] ...Bruce Banner.

1/3

[buymorelifer]

And Muppets, can't forget the Mup...

...pets...

Bruce.

2/3

[buymorelifer]

Banner.

Banner?

Not the Bruce Banner?

3/3

[buymorelifer]

Oh my God.

[sublimating]

Ah-- Yeah, that's me. Sorry. [he was kind of hoping you were going to be the kind of nerd who doesn't follow current events, but he was starting to think maybe he owed it to people to tell them... he rubs the back of his neck] If it's any consolation, I'm really -- perfectly in-control right now.

[buymorelifer]

[ Effusive! ]

That's great! I'm really glad for you. [ Yes, of course there's a part of you that's potentially scary, but OMG you're BRUCE BANNER. ]

I think you're great, you know. I went as you for Halloween one year! [ In college. ]