ＶＩＤＥＯ ▌ ０１

[bombsaway]

[ An incredibly fuzzy image blips across the screen, dark with some patches of skin, which ends up looking like a forehead as the camera pulls back a little. The screen shudders and the audio rustles noisily as she sets up the camera to point it at herself. She speaks directly over the speaker, mumbling low under her breath at first. ]

Testing, testing...

[ Then she draws back completely and with the most utmost concentration, she positions it so it captures at least most of her upper body. She's a skinny little teenager with massive hair, decked out in all black. ]

Hellooo, Legionnaires! Lash here, and this is experiment number three. Now I know, I know, I know what you're thinking! "What's with this cute mysterious girl? Boy, would I love to know more about her! Why doesn't she say a few words about herself?!" Well, that's because we've got way more important things to do here!

[ She giggles, an almost diabolical squeaking that sounds distinctly like a "Teeheehee!" ]

Check this out!

[ She presses her palm against the wall of her room, the ones the Legion assigns the newcomers, and her entire body begins to slowly transform. Not just her body, but her clothing, too. The semi-matte texture of the smooth wall turns Lash into a statue of white. Her wild hair almost seems a little too top-heavy, though, and she tilts slightly to one side. ]

Whoa— OK! Looks like the volume is a liiiiittle more equal to the mass than my actual hair, but it's not too bad. I can work with this.

Comments

[bombsaway]

[ Surprisingly enough, her train of thought can keep up with the Mile a Minute tangent that Junkrat goes off into, and she nods a long. Uh-huh. Yeah. Ooooooh! Hm...! And when she is presented with that window, she jumps right through it, stabbing the air with a finger and pointing it in his direction. ]

I totally know what ya mean! But let's be real. This will require at least, like, THIRTY different experimental demonstrations! Right along with finding access to some of this stuff, like whatever melts, uh. What melts? Butter? Ewwww!

[ She shakes her head. ]

You'll just have to stay tuned, won't you, buddy?!

[muroieda]

There are better options out here, mate. [He turns his head around, taking inventory of something off-camera.] Let's see...chocolate, paraffin wax, coconut oil -- just some stuff I've got on hand.

[He turns back to the camera and grins widely.]

If ya happen ta need an assistant, I'd be willin' ta part with them in the name of science.

[bombsaway]

[ The idea of melting away sounds mildly terrifying: What if she can't put herself back together again? Does she need to be gathered up and stuck in a fridge? What about the pieces that are accidentally left behind?! That's what experiments are for, and while it is scary, she's super psyched about it. ]

Teeheehee! You've got it! What do you go by, huh?

[muroieda]

[There are better lab partners to have than Jamison Fawkes if there are concerns about bits and pieces going missing.

She will probably learn this in due time.]

Junkrat!! What about you?

[bombsaway]

[ Live and learn... and possibly chase him down with the fury of a small tank. ]

Yoooou can call me Lash! For now, I guess. I don't have a stupid superhero name, yet.

[muroieda]

Pleasure ta meetcha!

[He wouldn't have it any other way.]

Ya don't have ta have one! Junkrat's been me callsign fer years before comin' here. Ain't had the heart ta change it!

[bombsaway]

[ She teeheehee's again, amused by the dirty-in-a-charming-way imagery his name conjures up. ]

Don't fix what ain't broken! I gueeeeess I could just stick with Lash. It's already a pretty cool name as it is! Lash!

[ And makes a whipping motion accompanied by a sound effect, before finding a seat and hunkering down in front of the camera like one normally would do for a video call. ]

[muroieda]

It doesn't read a proper name ta start with, y'll keep 'em guessin'!

[It's terrible wording but he doesn't mean it in a bad way. Jamison is a pretty obvious name. That whip sound effect reminds him, though...]

The name ain't mandatory but the costume is. If that's what yer gonna stick with, better be careful with the options ya go with.

[If you're picking up on what he's putting down.]

Unless ya want ta convey that kinda thing.

[He clicks his tongue and winks.]

I ain't gonna judge.

[bombsaway]

[ Speaking of costumes, she's got quite a bone to pick with someone if they think she's going to be forced into picking out a mandatory costume! But before she can go on her rant, Junkrat's comment puzzles her. There's a brief moment of confusion, that goddamn wink, and something about that makes her hairs stand on end. ]

Wh—

[ Her face goes bright red, sputtering as her body practically cringes as a whole, fists clenched as if she's about to put her fist through the screen. ]

EUGH!!!! That's! I— That's totally not what I was getting at! Ohmygod you... you weirdo!

[ Yeah, her insults are falling a bit flat with how much she's floundering. Just give her a second, she'll settle down soon...ish. ]

[muroieda]

[Compared to what he's been called and described as in the past, her insults come off as more affectionate than anything else. He knows she doesn't mean it like that, though.

Junkrat just breaks out in gut-bursting laughing as soon as he sees the realization on her face. He doesn't mean it, not seriously, but he figured that she'd pick up that he was teasing her.

Apparently not, but her reaction is absolutely hilarious.]

[bombsaway]

[ His laugh is down-right infectious, and considering just how shrill and manic-sounding her own is, she can't help but feel her utter disdain for the previous topic slip a little. ]

Stop laughing!

[ And him laughing makes her laugh, giggling uncontrollably but still trying to look mad and now she's just laughing because she can't stop. ]

OK! OKOKOK, just— [ wheezeTEEHEEHEE ] —stop!

[muroieda]

Never!!!

[Especially when she's trying to look mad while laughing. That's even more hilarious.

And despite the claim it does die down to a controlled giggle.]

I tell ya what, mate, yer all right--eheheheh. But seriously, ya get a lot of say in what ya get ta wear, so make sure it's somethin' that makes ya feel the part.

[bombsaway]

[ WE'RE SO GLAD YOU'RE GETTING SUCH A KICK OUTTA THIS!!! ]

Mehhhhh! I'll get to it when I get to it, but when I do, it'll be the best freakin' costume on this stupid moonship! You don't look like you're wearing much of a costume, though...

[ Peers close to the screen, as if that would help her see better. ]

[muroieda]

[He shrugs his bare shoulders.]

I'm off the clock. Y'd get it if ya came ta visit me habitat. Keep it at a balmy thirty-five, just like home!

[bombsaway]

Habitat, huh?

[ She'd only gotten a brief rundown of the biome feature. There's ideas already rolling around in her head, what she wants, how she wants it, etc. Just gotta set it up now. ]

Wait- 35?! Teeheehee! Is that why your hair looks like it's been caught in a fireplace one too many times?

[muroieda]

Hahaha!! Nah, mate, that's because...

[He tilts his head backwards, and even though he can't see the flames of his smouldering hair, he can at least see the thin trails of smoke left behind.]

...actually, I have no idea why it does that, uhuhuhu!

[Overwatch Logic™]

[bombsaway]

[ An equally curious stare, because how do you not know how it does that! ]

Maybe that's like, a byproduct of your superpower! Constantly on fire! Wait, don't tell me that's part of your power...

[ Because that would be SORTA dumb. ]

[muroieda]

Nope!

[So cheerful.]

Although that would be a pretty bonza power, my hair's been doin' this fer years. Dunno when it started, just noticed it in a mirror one day.

[bombsaway]

Uhhhhhhh, so, um. [ how to ask this without sounding stupid? ] It just never goes out then? Is your hair like, super waxy and gross?

[muroieda]

Uh...not particularly? Just washed it the other day.

[He runs his hands through it, as if that suffices for visual confirmation of the textural state of his hair.]

It's pretty easy to make it go out with water or snuffin' it out.

[To demonstrate, he pinches one steepled end between his fingers. The trail of smoke ends, and he releases his hair and lets his hand drop to his side.

It's out for a good seconds, but with impeccable timing, it lights back up the very moment he shrugs his shoulders.]

[bombsaway]

[bombsaway]

[ don't mind her, she's just going to burst out laughing because yeah that's not going out at all. ]

OK! Let's just stop being stupid for like a minute. What is your power then, hmmm?

[muroieda]

[Excuse you, Junkrat never stops. That includes being stupid.

He pops up with excitement.]

Infinite storage! Check it!

[He puts the phone down and at a distance so she can see him pull up his bag into his lap. He undoes the buckles and digs into it, starting with just his hand and ends up going shoulder-deep in a bag that shouldn't be able to take much more than his hand alone.]

Where, where--ah, here we go!

[He pulls out a half-finished weapon - the Frag Launcher 2.0 - and shows it off to her. It's complete enough to look like a weapon, but it won't be firing anything until a lot more work is put into it.]

Ta-daaa!

[bombsaway]

[ She watches with intensity, the way the small bag houses such a large item. Silent until the demonstration is over, she bursts into excited giggles. ]

That's soooooo useful! Think of all the crazy things you can put in there! What's the size limit on that thing?! Also is that...a gun? Kinda weird, kinda looks incomplete, but I like the rugged design!

[ Hands put up into a frame, she squints one eye at it as if appreciating fine art. ]

[muroieda]

[He grins.]

If there's a limit, I ain't found it yet.

[And yes, his latest creation! He proudly holds it closer to the camera so she can see it better.]

Yep, sure is! Grenade launcher, ta be specific. They didn't give my equipment back when they decided ta take me on, so I'm havin' ta make everythin' from scratch. Finally gettin' the chance ta implement some ideas and improvements I'd been puttin' off fer a while.