are you in or out, or in or out?

[hehaseatenthepancake]

Who: Hellboy and semi-open to Hellsing personnel.
What: Hellboy calls a meet-and-greet.
Where: Hellsing Guild Hall.
When: Sukkardi, 25 Kavadry, shortly after dark
Notes: This will probably involve a fair share of back-tagging. Players should feel free to mingle their characters around, so they know each other a little when the crap hits the fan in the upcoming plot.
Warnings: Hopefully not, but we'll see.

The call goes out on the Hellsing channel in the morning, a rare burst of text that more experienced members of the guild can probably guess was facilitated by Hellboy handing his CiD to someone from the clerical staff and dictating:

Sol's return reminds me that we've had a bit of churn lately. In the interests of everyone knowing who their fellow guild members are, I'm calling for a little get-together in the dining hall this evening. We'll be starting at dusk, so everyone can do their socializing before the evening's work gets into full swing. Attendance is not mandatory, but it is highly encouraged. Refreshments will be provided.

Come dusk, an area has been cleared out for people to meander and mingle. With Maggie gone, the kitchen hasn't really been the same since, but Hellboy has somehow connived for a couple of tables to have a few platters -- cold cut and cheeses; fruits, veggies and dip; nachos, queso, and salsa -- a couple bowls of punch, and even a bowl filled with ice and some bags of donor blood for the vampires on staff. One of the tables has nametags and markers.

Comments

[hehaseatenthepancake]

In addition to setting up this shindig, Hellboy himself has even gone so far as to wear his uniform today. Black shoes customized to be open at the front for his hooves, black pants with a hole for his tail, the black shirt Princess Nuala made him for Catenrat, red necktie that he probably needed some help getting sorted properly. He's left the coat and belt in his locker, but still carries Excalibur on his back. On the breast pocket not obscured by his sword's baldric, there's a nametag:

[ruinedu2]

"This was a good idea," Liv commends without any real preamble, making her meandering way toward Hellboy as she presses her name tag to her chest. She's wasted no time in getting herself a glass of punch. She may or may not have prioritised that above her name tag. Good idea or not, she's probably defeating the purpose of a meet and greet by sticking to someone she's already met.

There's something to be said about being qualified to wear a uniform, and Olivia sports hers with pride. She looks sharper than usual in black slacks, white dress shirt, black vest and a red tie. Even her boots have been polished, though they're still obviously made for stomping rather than dressing up.

[hehaseatenthepancake]

"I have them, from time to time," Hellboy replies as he finishes swallowing down a roll of ham and cheese. He's also got a glass of punch, with which he washes the food down. "But thank you."

Refreshments taken care of, he takes a moment to take in her appearance with an approving nod. "And look at you, all decked out in the uniform and everything. You talk to Astrid lately?"

[ruinedu2]

Liv smiles graciously and gives a little half-bow. "Thanks! And yeah, she's getting a place nearby here and moving out of the Inn soon. It's been a lot for her to take in, unsurprisingly. But she's adjusting well. Working here will be good for her." She shrugs her shoulders. "She likes to focus on her work." Sounds like someone they know.

[hehaseatenthepancake]

"Yeah, well, I'd say she could join the club, but she already has."

Which is to say, most of Hellsing tends to focus on their work above and beyond other priorities. Hellboy adjusts his tie and the fit of the button closing the shortened right sleeve of his shirt in self-conscious acknowledgement that he's very much in that club as well.

"Still, I'm glad it's working out for her. She seems like a good kid. How about you? You settling in okay? Adapting to the kind of cases we get?" His instincts in recommending the guild to her in the first place suggested that she should be fine, but as a senior agent he considers it a responsibility to ask anyway.

[ruinedu2]

"Astrid's a bit quirky in her own way. She's got a great sense of humour once you get used to knowing where to look for it." There's no attempt to obscure the fondness Olivia feels for her teammate.

As to whether she's settling in okay, "Yeah," Olivia is quick to assure. "Some of it's a little weirder than I expected, I'll be honest, but it's nothing I haven't been able to handle so far. The cases back home might actually seem boring after this." She laughs quietly. It's a joke, and it isn't, but if it's anything heavier, she doesn't dwell or reflect on it more than a second. "I wouldn't mind tagging along on whatever you're working on, if you need a hand."

[hehaseatenthepancake]

"I haven't had much chance to encounter it yet, but I'm sure it's there," he says with a chuckle. They haven't known each other long, but Hellboy makes his friendship decisions pretty quickly, and he is definitely already fond of Astrid as well.

"I did warn you about that. I'd already seen lots of crazy stuff back home, but here there's that, plus a few other variations on the theme. Also, outside of cases, I had an angel come up to me a few weeks ago and ask me why I wasn't causing trouble. I don't mind admitting that does a guy's head in a little." He shakes his head as though to say what is my life. "My long-term case has been back-tracking a Shoggoth's path through the sewers. I'm hoping to hit the end of the trail soon, but I've run into a bunch of stuff along the way that needs following up on. I wouldn't mind some extra hands on some of that."