It was that day again. The day where they had to try, yet again, to share their theories. It was getting tiresome, but it was still worth it to try. Maybe the eight-hundred-and-ninety-seventh time was the charm. Okay, maybe that number was hyperbole, but still. Prometheus was trying, and failing, and they were growing increasingly stressed about it. Would their theories never be accepted? Well, perhaps today was the day. They marched up to the doors of the university, and knocked.
Today was not their day. They were kicked off the front steps the moment they stepped foot on the university property. Literally, kicked, right down the steps. How rude! They sat at the bottom, their coat now covered in mud and other unsavory things found in streets, and they sighed. Today really was not their day. Hopefully, someone would have seen their ad by now, they paid good money to put it in the paper, and also maybe threatened the publisher. Either way, it worked, their ad was in the newspaper and it was only a matter of time before someone responded… hopefully.
Aeris hummed softly, checking the amount of money in his wallet and sighing deeply. Today hadn't been a very good day, but hopefully it would get better… Maybe? He shrugged it off and walks silently to his favorite bakery, ordering his usual before glancing at the newspaper. He grabbed one as well, it wouldn't hurt to check out what has been happening. He found himself glancing over the jobs listings and just out of curiosity he flipped through them. A particular one caught his eye. A job as an assistant… he could do that… and a little extra change wouldn't hurt. He circled the job and tucked the newspaper delicately into his jacket.
It took a little bit of wandering before he found the address to the job listing. Apparently no one was there yet, since he knocked quite a few times. Aeris huffed to himself, perhaps it was one of those stupid pranks that people were placing in the news again? He shrugged to himself and settled down by the address, waiting patiently for someone to walk by. Some people did, but they gave him odd looks before whispering to each other and turning their backs. Aeris blew a tuft of hair out of his face and tapped his foot impatiently.
Prometheus hurried back to their apartment, muddy and disheveled as they were. Hopefully, someone had arrived to take up their job offer, it was getting a bit boring around the place. They stumbled up the steps to their apartment, and found someone standing there already. "Hello, good sir and/or madam! Are you here about the job offer? If you are, I could invite you in for a spot of tea, the kettle should be on by now if Horace has any say in it." they said delightedly.
Aeris was about to leave when the other person arrived, raising his brow subtly at the sight of what probably his new boss. "Ah… Yes I came to ask about the job." He nods brightly, offering a showstopping smile. "It's a pleasure I finally get to meet you. I apologize for popping by so abruptly." He chuckles a little bit and straightens himself out. "Tea sounds lovely." He bows his head respectively. He brushes some brown hair from his face, his blue eyes wandering ever so slightly. "So, then. I wish to hear all the details about your job offering. I have to admit, I've been reading a bit into your studies, they're rather fascinating." He hummed as he waited to be let in.
"I never published my studies? Is this flattery, or are you confusing me with somebody else? Oh well, I need a helper anyways, come along." they said, pushing Aeris along right into their apartment, where there was the sound of a kettle boiling from the kitchen, right on cue. Someone must have taken it off the stove, however, it had ceased boiling within seconds and with how deadly quiet the place was, you could hear the tea being poured. The interior was lined with shelves, filled with jars and aquariums which were in turn filled with a slimy green muck and… body parts? "It's not the coziest, but it's home. Come along, Horace doesn't like when the tea gets cold."
He winks, "I have my ways." How he knew was he had often walked passed the universities, hearing this man speak to some of the people there. He smirked at the other before stumbling a little bit when he was pushed into the house. He chuckles and straightens himself out, adjusting and removing his shoes. He glances around the apartment with curiosity. He glances at all the jars and licked his lips, feeling a twinge of excitement. Oh yes, this job would be perfect. He walks behind the other, nodding slightly. "My name is Aeris, by the way. Aeris Pennyworth."
Prometheus nodded sagely, and moved to lead them into what they called the "tea room", the room where they had tea and also dismembered corpses. It was surprisingly clean in there, with a large metal table in the middle of the room for putting tea on when you were too lazy to hold it. Hopefully. Hopefully that was what the table was for.
He glances around the room and hummed as he waited for the other to point to where he was supposed to sit. "Thank you for seeing me, even if it was me just popping by." He glances at the other, offering a sweet smile. He was very charming when he wanted to be. "I'm very eager to understand what you're looking for in this job." He pulls his hair up in a ponytail. "And what do I call you?" He asks, tilting his head ever so slightly to the side.
"Anything, I don't care. Ooh, Horace, what a darling!" they excitedly jumped about and clapped their hands as a shadow thudded into the room. Whatever this Horace was, he was tall, and hairy, like some sort of cross between a wolf and a man, with a little bit of bear mixed in. "What a dear indeed. And you brought the tea!" indeed, he was carrying a tea tray with all the accessories, sugar and milk and little silver cups to go with a much larger silver pot. "Aeris, meet Horace. Horace, Aeris. I'm sure you'll get on splendidly, the two of you. Now sit, sit, anywhere!" however, there was only one metal stool to sit on, and that was unstable beyond belief.
He startles a little when Horace entered, paling slightly at the size of the creature now in the room. But he felt an intense curiosity sprout at the sight of the other. Rather than fear falling over it was an intense expression of wonder and awe, "It's a pleasure to meet you Horace." He nods kindly to Horace before glancing at the metal stool. Not the worst thing he's had to sit on. He hummed and assessed it for a second before settling down easily. Surprisingly he held his balance rather well as he sat on the chair. He took a cup of tea, placing some sugar in before humming softly. "This is very well made. A small suggestion, if you're up for it Horace? Cinnamon, especially with herbal. It spices it up rather nicely." He says cheerfully. "Though it really depends on the tea you use it for." He chuckles into his hand. He crossed his legs casually and turned his attention to Prometheus.
Horace nodded, made a few incoherent grunting sounds, and left the room. Prometheus sipped on their tea, the flavor was quite strong and it had clearly been steeped for a while. "So, Aeris, what sort of thing brings you here? Most people think me mad, and are much less keen for a position as an assistant."
He hummed softly. "I suppose I consider myself curious." He chuckles to himself slightly. "I have experience with being an assistant. I have no boundaries, so you are welcome to use me as you see fit. Whether it be a guinea pig, or someone who simply files things." He crossed his leg elegantly. "Besides. If the science is for the greater good, then why not try, hm?" He raised a brow. He took a sip of the tea and relaxed. It was actually quite nice.
"I like you, a lot. Alright, how do you feel giving up a piece of your liver? It'll grow back… probably." they said, likely thinking very deranged thoughts.
"My body is all yours, boss." He says simply, putting his tea cup down. "Do with it what you please." He hummed and leaned back a little, his gaze curious but rather excited.
