dial h for hire [video]

[unweave]

[ The feed picks up with a slight buzz of static. The visuals over the network focus on a waist-up shot of Aranea who isn't looking too hot. Not only is her face bruised (healing black eye, slightly swollen nose and busted lip), but there is a bandage pack poking out from under her top. ]

Don't want to waste anyone's time — there's enough stupid messages coming across this every day and I don't want to add to it.

My names Aranea Highwind and I'm recruiting for a mercenary group — odd jobs, monster hunts, personal protection, and the like. I'm willing to give a large cut on jobs I get in, bordering 65%. Tough sons of a bitches please apply and those looking for their problems to be solved? I'm your gal.

[ I mean, even now she's confident with a sly smirk plastered on her face. This is the most blunt ass sales pitch ever? But — ]

You can't trust everyone you meet here, some people will literally stab you. [ She nudges the view to her hip, but rolls her eyes as the camera gets back to her. ] But, there's still people wanting to help out. Why waste your time at that shitty fight club when you can make a difference and get paid for it? Think about it.

Comments

[saucius]

That shitty fight club has really nice cocktails.

[ The barman has dreams like anyone else! ]

That said, I'm curious about how this would work, realistically speaking.

[unweave]

That's a fair point, but one that's moot if there's a place to get drinks that doesn't require a black eye.

[ EVERYONE IS NICE IN FIGHT CLUB BUT? They deserve better. ]

Think of it as a mercenary club — I get jobs through my connections, give them out to people, keep my finder's fee and you get a big chunk. Helps the city, helps your pocket, less of a burden on my oh-so-bleeding heart. We all win.

[jettisons]

What kind of "odd jobs" are we talking here?

video | un: NINES

[idealog]

Uh, you look pretty roughed up. Have you checked with the healer? [ That is... some extensive damage. Should she be up to anything? He's a little concerned. ]

I do work for the Institute, but I'm willing to help out in my free time. I can do a lot of things!

[unweave]

Jeez, I don't know. Shit the cityguard don't want to waste their time on. Cat up a tree and owner is willing to throw coin your way for it? Why not, right?

[ AKA BITCH ASS JOBS WILL BE PART OF IT. :( ]

But, I'm aiming for big picture stuff. There's people willing to pay a pretty sum for getting their dirty work taken care of.

[jettisons]

[Aaaand that's what he was concerned about.]

Is there a vetting process for those jobs? Anything you won't take?

[unweave]

No killing innocents. It's up to my discretion whether or not a job is accepted. I don't like playing big tough guy, but if someone's paying me a nice fee to merk some asshole? I'd consider it.

[ A beat: ]

Or just do the job myself so no one got blood on their hands.

[unweave]

Stopped by a friendly priest who bandaged me up. [ She wishes she had potions to heal, okay!!! ] I'll check with a healer when I know more about them.

[ #trustnoone ]

And those things are...?

[puffing]

Are we fucking serious right now.

[ sorry. he's listening to everything else you're saying, Aranea, but Bigby is going to spend more time in watching how she's been beaten up even further than the last time he's run into her. ] Do you ever stop getting into fights? [ it's saying something when it is him of all people asking that question.

anyway. he'll get to responding to her actual request once he gets some more answers about that. ]

[saucius]

But that's half the charm!

[ The other half is the little umbrellas that go into the drinks sometimes. ]

Connections?

[ Yeah, that's the bit she cares about. ]

I'll have to see how it works firsthand. Test drive your idea, maybe? Then see if I'm sticking around.

[unweave]

Oh great, the grumpiest guy in the city going to lecture me.

[ DON'T THINK SHE DOESN'T HAVE DEETS ON YOU. The guy turned an eventful night into a different kind of eventful. Sadly she still wound up back at fight club and getting messed up by Ardyn, but ah — memories were made. ]

It's not my fault. [ IT WAS. ] Trouble has a bad habit of finding me, I guess.

[unweave]

Hopeful connections. Even fellow refugees that need help or a job done.

[ But, she just woke up and is talking a big game. ]

Sure, it's not like an exclusive club. Don't take any offense to trying before you buy.

[idealog]

That's fair. [ While 9S has encountered a lot of nice people here, he hasn't trusted the world enough to to a complete maintenance check. ] So you won't get sick?

[ Wow, uh. Way to be skeptical. ]

I was designed for reconnaissance and intel operations, but I've also seen a lot of combat.

Video; un: NOTVAX

[moneytwin]

[ The video's a bit shaky to start, switching on at an angle, shifted a bit, then held a little too far armslength-wise - but for someone getting used to all this new technology, Vex is picking things up pretty quickly. ]

*is this thing o--ah!

[She has her business face on, however -Mercenary group, you say?- and once her face is more visible, one eyebrow can be seen arching slightly at the battered look of Aranea. ]

Hmm. I'm not unfamiliar with that line of work. However, I have some questions about the kind of contracts you'd be offering.

[saucius]

Well that's... hopeful, I guess.

[ Exile is just a bit too cynic for anyone's good. ]

I don't dislike the idea, but I do have my concerns. I have concerns with literally everything ever, all the time though, so don't take it personal.

I'm the Exile. I guess there'll be a, uh, club meeting eventually?

[jettisons]

[This is a sensitive subject for Bellamy, so of course he's going to grill her.]

That sounds nice, but how are you going to make sure whoever hires you is telling the truth?

video

[kissintime]

[ ermes has zero interest in joining any mercenary gang, but the second "monster hunting" is mentioned she's incensed. ]

Hey, it's Aranea right? Or Ms. Highwind? Which you prefer?

video | un: x qrow x

[unpromising]

[ Qrow is never helpful, hence this response to the feed. ]

Please don't stab me in my sleep.

[unweave]

[ Someone maintenance this boy!! ]

I'll live. I've taken worse hits and I'm still here.

[ Reassurance wasn't her strong suit — Prompto would know this well. ]

Might be useful, but aren't you a little — young..? [ She replays his words in her head: ] Wait, what do you mean by designed?

[unweave]

[ She's here to be grilled. ]

You know, I use to think it didn't matter. As long as civilians were out of danger and I got my pay, what's done was done. I wasn't a killer, but — [ She had jobs to do. ] But, with proof of guilt and having a nice chat with a target, I'll make the call and live with it.

[ A bit morbid, but hey. She's made bad choices in the past. ]

I assume you meant possible assassination jobs, I'm guessing. Not saving cats from trees.

[unweave]

The Exile. [ She repeats, as if trying to get use to that name? Hey, who is she to judge. ] Concerns are what make the world go round. No judgment here.

[ She lifts one hand up almost defensively. ]

I get it. I come offering riches with no history. I'd be skeptical as hell too.

[saucius]

On that we can agree.

[ That, also, concerns her. ]

I can tell you know your stuff, or at least lie well enough about it. Who knows, we might even do more good than harm.

[unweave]

[ That's definitely a nice introduction. Aranea has to hush a smirk from filtering on her features. ]

Sure, shoot.

[unweave]

No Ms. Highwind. [ Maybe she saves that for the bedroom??? Or it just sounds weird. ] Aranea. A, if you wanna be short about it.

[unweave]

Oh, now I'll definitely need to. [ Teasing. ] Matching wounds, it's almost romantic.

[ WHAT DO YOU WANT, QROW??? ]