001} video: if love is what you need, a soldier i will be

[theresalwayshope]

[When the video switches on, Allison's face fills the screen in extreme close-up, an intensely thoughtful look on her features as she struggles to navigate the function of her communicator.]

C'mon...are you even on? [Her voice is low and impatient...then her expression comes alive when she realizes she's on display. Flinching a little, then smiling at her work, she backs up enough to be seen, visible seated at the desk in her cabin.]

Hi. [She smiles and offers up a little wave, then pauses for a moment before laughing as she lets her gaze drop.] Okay, this is way weirder than I thought it was going to be.

[She starts talking with her hands a little, not quite speaking to the communicator anymore.] I guess...I'm just restless. Out of practice, I haven't had to move around for a long time. I haven't been assigned to anyone just yet, but I know I will be. And I just want to introduce myself, you know? Put myself out there for anyone who wants my help. And I honestly do want to help. It's why I came.

[She lifts her head more fully, looking into the communicator with something a little different in her gaze...a little less friendly teenager and a little harder, a little older.]

It's...one reason I came.

[The moment passes, the look fades, and her smile brightens again as she takes a steadying breath.]

But I'm not here to complain about myself, right? So! Um... [A hand goes to her chest as she gestures to herself.] My name is Allison, I'm from Beacon Hills, California...and if any of you need anything at all? Just let me know. I look forward to getting to know everyone!

[She shifts, and part of her body moves out of the picture.]

Now if you'll excuse me...I still have to get settled in.

[She turns around to survey the rest of her room...neat as a pin, in perfect order...not a lot to be settled, really.]

Or...not...

Comments

[myresponsibility]

[So maybe he's reading too much into it, but.

If that's code for I totally know what happened to me because I just lived through it, he is so totally going to go figure out where Scott is after this and make sure he's not curled up in a ball somewhere cry.]

That's good. That's super good, I mean- [No, Parker, shut up.]

Believe me, I get it, I showed up bleeding all over the place when I first got here. Totally awkward first impression, so I mean. That's cool. That you're better.

[theresalwayshope]

[Allison smiles and nods, then laughs a little as she runs a finger over a streak of filth on the side of her neck, leaving a trail she shows to Peter, tipping her head to the side so it's visible over the collar of her robe.]

Yeah, first impressions are always hell...I didn't come in looking like this. I don't know, really, what happened before I got here, but my ex-boyfriend is on board and he ambushed me like a walking dirt clod. It was insane.

[Then she blinks...and sort of tilts her head, registering what he just said about the bleeding all over part.]

Wait, you were...bleeding all over? What were you doing before you got here?

[myresponsibility]

Trying to stop a bunch of mutant lizard people from wrecking the city. [No big deal, right? Right?] Well, mostly just one, but things got kind of... complicated.

[Not to mention out of hand, and terrible, but he's fixed part of that and hopefully Gwen can fix the other half. Make it so like none of this has ever happened, or something.

He's actually not sure how that's going to work.

Anyway, moving on, his smile gets a little less self deprecating.]

I'm Peter Parker. I think I'm friends with your ex, unless there's a different Allison Argent from Beacon Hills I've never heard of before. And considering we just spent like, four days in a cave, I don't think anyone's gonna judge you for being a little muddy.

[theresalwayshope]

[She chuckles a little at that, nodding.] That's good to know.

But yeah, there's just me. My family's...kind of a big deal, so if there were another Allison Argent, I'd know. Let me guess: Scott McCall? Medium height, dark hair, puppydog eyes and nice shoulders?

[The lizard people thing...yeah, that's still out there, but she'll get to that. Because...well. She has notes to compare. After all, her lizard person could paralyze people, and she's secretly dying to know if he was actually fighting another kanima...]

[myresponsibility]

Sure, yeah, sounds like the same guy. I mean, if you're into that kind of thing. [Re: the shoulders, he has not spent much time checking out Scott's shoulders. Or any other part of Scott, really.

Anyway, all joking aside:]

What kind of big deal?

[theresalwayshope]

Have you ever heard the myth about silver killing werewolves?

[Gives it a second, then shakes her head slowly with a wry smile, reaching up to tap her own chest.]

The French word for 'silver' is argent. My last name.

That kind of big deal.