Super what now?

[bestdadinamestris]

There's nothing Hughes loves more than his family.

There's nothing Hughes loves more than anything other than his family than information.

The Nexus was a strange cross-section of a universe that the Intelligence officer simply didn't understand. He was doing his best to accommodate all of the strange goings on in his mind by learning about and understanding them a little at a time.

The fact that there was a portal to and from the Nexus in his world was growing on him. The grand scale of technology beyond what was available in his world was daunting, but didn't come up as much since he avoided most of the shops in the Forum. And some of the characters that had appeared in the Nexus? Well, if they were human, it was understandable. Weird, but understandable. Everything else? Well... he was just going to have to take some more time for everything else.

He liked being in the Forum, picking up bits and pieces as he simply listened. That's how he got onto this whole thing about some people being "better" than others, in some rather unscientific sounding ways. He'd spent a while trying to glean more information about it and failed quite spectacularly. People simply accepted that's the way things were. Not Maes Hughes. He needs to know, and if listening isn't enough, then, well... Sometimes, it's just easier to reach out and gather information the old fashioned way - by asking.

"There's been a lot of talk in the forum lately about super heroes and people doing super human things. It's all a little too vague for my taste. If I don't know how to define something, I can't know it when I see it. So, my question to you is this: How do you define the term 'super hero?' Or, rather, what makes a person a 'super hero?'"

Comments

That's usually how it works when babies eat something they shouldn't.

[bestdadinamestris]

"That doesn't make your talent any less impressive," he notes. "My job would be a hell of a lot easier if I simply knew someone was lying rather than having to dig through what they did - and what they didn't - tell me and figure it out for myself." Because, in the end, does it matter how you got the talent if you're willing to use it properly?

A small smile plays at his lips as he looks down at her. "It seems almost unfair that I'd meet someone I'd hire to my team in a heartbeat in a place no one in my world knows exists." Is that an offer? Possibly.

True dat.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Thanks." Compliments are always nice. She's not immune to them. "You have the pleasure of accomplishment. That's no small thing."

Is that an offer? She lifts an eyebrow. "You could bring your paperwork here."

[bestdadinamestris]

He nods, smiling a bit. "I doubt it feels any less satisfying when you bring someone's lies to light and get them taken down for it. A natural ability to take some smug bastard down a peg is always satisfying, at least as far as I'm concerned."

Perhaps. "I could, but what would be my motivation? Are you looking for things to do and willing to look through classified documents? To help me pick out what is and isn't important enough to bring to my superiors' attention?" That smile looks oddly like a sly grin now.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Well... yeah, that can be fun." For her. Less for them.

The grin gets an answering smirk. "I wouldn't know what is and isn't worth your superiors' attention since I don't know much about where you're from. But I can probably help figure out what's worth your attention. You'll want to know when a source is lying or mistaken so you know who to focus more attention on. Liars love attention after all."

Why, yes, I did just have to brush up on my lore to find the currency used.

[bestdadinamestris]

His grin widen. "Yes they do, often to a fault."

He slowly removes his glasses with one hand and a handkerchief from one of his many pockets with the other. As he cleans them off, he continues. "I could certainly stand to know more about who is lying to me and what they're lying about. And because you seem up to the task, I believe there's only one question remaining." With a grin more mischievous than the last, he replaces his glasses and meets her gaze. "What's your fee? And what's the going rate for that in Amestrian cenz?"

Ooh baby I love someone who checks the details :D

[brave_heart_verity]

She laughs, shrugging helplessly. "I have no idea what the exchange rate is, sorry. I'm sure there's a bank around here somewhere, I can find out later. Usually, I get five American dollars per page. Or we could do hourly, but that would be harder for you to keep track of. Plus there's the fact my world has had some problems with inflation. So. What's the going rate for this kind of thing where you're from?"

Sadly, there is no info on this on the internet. Making assumptions, here we go!

[bestdadinamestris]

He frowns. "Well, standard rate for translation services, which is the closest thing I can think of to what you would be doing, for military contractors is 50 cenz per page, but I don't know what that translates to in American dollars. And, really, the last thing I want is to be paying my new contractor so little she can't afford to simply live."

This whole currency issue really bothers him. He has no idea what American dollars are compared to cenz, but he'll be damned if he doesn't make it work. He doesn't care how many cenz a page her fee will be - with her abilities, she can guarantee her work, and in his line of business? That's priceless.

And, let's be honest, he wants her to be able to buy nice things for herself, too.

Hurrah for needing to figure out economies that are about 100 years apart too.

[brave_heart_verity]

"I wouldn't be bringing the money home with me anyway. The government would want to know where it came from. We pay income taxes, you see. So let's figure out a decent wage for someone who lives here." That neatly sidesteps having to talk about what's happening back home, she hopes.

"I do have a job back home, you don't need to worry about my starving in the streets or anything." And if she needs more work later, she's apparently very marketable.

((Hopefully this also helps us not make ourselves crazy trying to figure out inflation rates vs what would bankrupt Amestris.))

My assumption is that translators would be *very* highly paid, given the importance of their work.

[bestdadinamestris]

He nods slowly, conceding to her suggestions. It's not his preference, but if she's happy with the arrangement, he'll make it work.

"That sounds fair. Though if circumstances change in the future, you need only tell me. I can always figure something out." He offers a smile, albeit a bit colored by not being able to do things the way he wanted originally.

((Probably a good idea. He would probably go really far to get her whatever wage she wanted. Someone's gotta keep him in check.))

Translators and the people who know the codes.

[brave_heart_verity]

She smiles too. He's a big boy, he can learn to live with compromise. "I will. And thank you. So... what sorts of things will I be working on? Are there any books I should try and get from the library to catch up on what's going on?"

((Isn't it good for him she isn't greedy then?))

Which I'm sure she'll pick up on quickly enough. She's one smart cookie.

[bestdadinamestris]

"Ahh, well, that's where it gets complicated." He frowns a bit, his brow furrowing as he thinks how best to explain things. "I suppose I could find a few history books for you in the State Library. That should give you a good start on where things are in the world except for the most recent of events. Past that..."

He sighs and drops his gaze from hers, his arms crossing in front of his chest. "Things are... complicated back home right now. It'd be best if I just gave you a full debriefing before I get you started on any real work." That's not quite the understatement of the year for him, but it's getting damn close.

((I think it's better for Amestris. Hughes is all about results, everything else be damned in the process. Except his family and close friends, of course.))

And she comes from a long line of people used to dealing with weird shit. (She doesn't know this.)

[brave_heart_verity]

"If it weren't complicated, you wouldn't need my help," she points out quietly. "We can start whenever you like. Unless there's a bunch of forms you need me to fill out that you'll never file with anyone."

((It's good to have priorities, although I suspect his CO would like if keeping to the budget was one of his.))

Get ready for weird shit of a different kind, Verity!

[bestdadinamestris]

He can't help but chuckle at that last bit. Yes, she's going to great at balancing out his quirks with her own. His eyes light up a bit and his voice takes on a slightly dramatic tone. "Please, no more paperwork. My head hurts just thinking about doing any more than is necessary."

((Yeah, probably, but Hughes can be a smooth talker, when he wants to be. He might figure out a way to get a higher budget out of spite. lol))

Wooo.

[brave_heart_verity]

"No more paperwork," she agrees, rather pleased with herself for being able to cheer him up a bit. "Would this be easier over a drink? I know a nice cafe nearby."

((He should do that just on principle.))

[bestdadinamestris]

"Actually, it would. I'm simply parched." He offers his arm to her, like any good gentleman should. At least, that's what his wife keeps telling him (he really doesn't mind doing it anyway). "I may not be ready to give you a full debrief, but I'd be happy to get a small head start and let you ask any questions you may have."

((Now I think I might make him, even if he objects.))

[brave_heart_verity]

She'll take his arm, but her expression suggests one of them is definitely being humored. (She's an American from the future; this sort of thing is old-fashioned and cute to her.) "That's fair. You'll probably want to check into me more before you start letting me have classified documents anyway. Would it help if I brought a copy of the file my own government put together about me? The parts they let me see anyway?"

((Want me post something up for this or continue here?))

[bestdadinamestris]

Hey now, he's a dad. Sometimes, you just have to humor them. They do some pretty strange things. At least by everyone else's standards.

He'll set a slow pace, but follow her lead to get to the cafe. "Anything you've got, I'd be grateful to take a look at. Hopefully you won't have to explain too many things in it. I'm still trying to catch up on all of this new technology and science that my world is missing."

((I think a new post would probably be best. =] ))

[brave_heart_verity]

She wouldn't know about dads.

"Not missing. You all seem to be getting along without it. That's not 'missing'."

((Viola!))