milliways_bar | (no subject)

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What with the destruction of the Combine Overworld and the subsequent rough winter, the Resistance's resident physicists haven't had much to do over the past couple of months. Tensions have been high--even higher than is typical between Doctors Kleiner and Magnusson. And Alyx, lucky girl, gets to mediate between them, which makes her tension even higher.

About a month ago, when Kleiner was pestering her for something to occupy his time, Alyx peevishly snapped that he should get a hobby, like "crochet or something." Apparently, he took her advice to heart, and has presented her with the results today.

Said results are now sitting on Bar's countertop, while Alyx stares at it and tries to figure out what on Earth possessed Dr. Kleiner to make such a thing.

An amigurumi headcrab. What is even the hell.

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Max is sat a little way along the Bar, and, while he didn't notice Alyx immediately, he couldn't help but notice the thing she put on top of Bar.

So, when someone else moves away, he takes the opportunity to shift up a seat and ask, "I'm sorry, what is that?"

"...something that should not exist."

What. Just. What.

"I'll take your word for it. Though, that does beg the question of how it did come to be."

Not that that's actually asking the question. Not technically.

"An amateur crocheter with way too much time on his hands."

Max considers this and accepts it.

"Well, it looks like a good first piece. Though, I'm not sure what it's supposed to look like."

"It's a headcrab," says Alyx. "A parasitic invasive species from another dimension. The man who made this is really enamored with them for reasons I can't fathom. Nor do I want to."

Max grimaces.

"They sound like a lot of fun," he says, voice dripping with sarcasm.

"What, the headcrabs or Dr. Kleiner?"

"I meant the headcrabs. I do my best not to make judgements on humans I haven't met."

Alyx lets out a long, slow breath. "Truth be told, they're one of the lesser annoyances in my native reality."

Max's eyes go wide with no small amount of shock.

"What happened?" he asks.

"You want the long version or the short?"

Max looks at her. She's serious about that, isn't she. Which means he world genuinely has a story. Maybe it's a different one to his world. Probably is.

"Let's have the short version."

Then one can decide whether one wants to hear the longer version.

Edited 2013-02-09 11:10 (UTC)

"My world was invaded by extradimensional aliens twice."

"Oh."

Well, it's definitely a better apocalypse story than 'the waters will rise and flood all of the earth'.

"Extradimensional?" He asks. "And these headcrabs were part of one of the invasions, then?"

"Yeah. An experiment in particle physics tore open the barrier between our dimension and the one next door. The headcrabs were part of the local fauna that started pouring in."

Okay. Now his brain's clicked into gear about which sense she's using 'dimensional', things make a little more sense.

"And this was, how long ago? Or, perhaps, given where we are, When? is a better way to phrase the question."

"2001. The second invasion was in 2005. That was a little less than seventeen years ago, in my world."

"And you've been holding out this long?" Max asks, impressed.

Because, you know, these were evidently major events in the course of the world. They wouldn't have been remembered and passed on so precisely if they weren't.

"More than that. We've beaten them back," replies Alyx. "The second invasion, anyway. The wildlife from the first invasion is pretty much here to stay."

"Well done. Hence, time..." Max says, gesturing to the headcrab doll in a manner that clearly indicates 'And things like this...'

Annabelle eyes the.....hat thing. "Dr. Kleiner is involved in this somehow, isn't he?"

Because who ELSE but the guy who kept a headcrab as a pet would think a headcrab like hat was a good idea?

"Gee, how'd you guess."

Actually, it's not a hat, just a doll. So it's moderately less awful.

"Couldn't think of anyone else who'd decide to make something that looks like a headcrab," she replies wryly.

Beat.

"Intentionally, at least."

Annabelle has gotten her share of 'what is this supposed to be' gifts in the past.

"I made an off-hand comment about how he should take up crochet to pass the time," says Alyx. "A month ago. Apparently he took it to heart."

Annabelle can't help but snicker at that. "Heh. Either he's rather literally minded or he did it to yank your chain."

"The first one. Doctor Kleiner doesn't have it in him to rile anyone up deliberately."

"That's good," Annabelle replies. "You're not likely to be inundated with the things, in that case."

Her lips twitch in an almost smile as she remembers some of Dixon's...experiments. "Could be worse, he could be inventing a big damn glue gun for use on capturing suspects."

Yes, this was actually deployed. (It worked, but cleanup was...well, we're sure you can imagine."

"Oh good lord, don't give him any ideas."

Annabelle chuckles. "Don't worry, I won't!"

The mind shudders at what Dr. Kleiner might come up with if he got inspired by the inventions of a Pulp Adventure universe.

"Annnnyway." Alyx pushes the crocheted monstrosity aside. "How have you been?"

"Going a bit stir crazy," Annabelle says with a sigh. "I need to get out and DO something, somewhere."

"How about you?"

"About the same," Alyx admits. "We've been snowed in to the bunker for like a month now."

Annabelle winces at that. "I would have gotten into a fight with somebody by now, if I got stuck in a bunker for that long."

Three days in a cabin with Jack Tallon was nearly more than she could bear.

"I haven't had the energy. Between mediating in other people's disputes and taking care of the twins..."

Annabelle nods. "I couldn't do all the stuff you've got to manage," she admits. "It would have all ended in fire ages ago."

"I'm glad somebody thinks I'm doing a decent job," says Alyx wearily. "I still have to remind myself of that every once in a while."

Annabelle pulls Alyx into a sideways hug. "Someone's ALWAYS going to complain. You save the village from monsters, and someone will whinge about the property damage, or your personality, or a half dozen other things."

Annabelle knows whereof she speaks, at least when it comes to heroing.

Alyx turns so she can hug back.

"Thank you."

"Any time," Annabelle replies with a soft smile. "If you need me to, I can even do some shouting on your behalf. Or punching."

Alyx smiles a little herself. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Good."

She grins, "Not the kind of 'do something' I was originally thinking of, but it would keep me out of trouble."

Yes, Annabelle considers possibly punching people staying OUT of trouble.

"I guess I could always tap you to watch the twins for a few hours?"

"Of course!" Annabelle replies. (She'll possibly regret saying that once she's actually had to care for two babies, but for right now she's mostly blissfully ignorant.)

"How about next week? It's almost Valentine's Day and Gordon and I could use some time to ourselves..."

"I can do that," Annabelle replies with a nod.

"I may see if I can rope Connor into helping me ride herd on the little darlings."

"Alright. I'll talk to Gordon and give you a firm date and time. Thanks, Annabelle."

"You're welcome. I'll probably be here, whenever you need to find me."

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