The Feeling Of Working Far Above One's Pay Grade

[a_monetized_mind]

[A crazed terrorist stealing a nuke. Ankaia declaring war on earth. Optimus's death, and the withdrawal of the Autobots from earth. Some giant space monster rushing towards the planet. It's been a great time, and so its end finds Jen perched on the edge of Alahambra Base's roof, staring off into the night at a distant city.]

...The hell do you think you're doing, Jennifer...gonna get yourself killed at this rate.

Life ain't a superhero comic...

Comments

[not_a_prize]

...Maybe you can just stay here and... not fight? I mean you could just do something else maybe.

[a_monetized_mind]

...That'd be great, but those last two rampages I threw have put me in a bad spot...

[not_a_prize]

... Okay... explain a little more here?

[a_monetized_mind]

I'm on the hook for a couple million dollars of damage for, and I quote, "reckless endangerment and destruction of civilian property without reasonable cause". Sliced up some buildings fighting Flannel, and tore up a ship real bad when those gods showed up on the ocean.

[not_a_prize]

[Peola... was actually surprised about that.]

But that's stupid. How's everything you did count as 'reckless'? I mean you were fighting for your life!

[a_monetized_mind]

Sure, but nobody else in those battles went and destroyed a city block.

Those people deserve their money back...even if it's a pain in the ass to get it pulled together for them.

[not_a_prize]

...Oh...

[That's actually... pretty surprising. She figured that somehow those people were getting taken care of regardless but the fact that Jen was paying them back out of her own pocket was...]

I didn't think you were that noble... kinda stupid of me.

[a_monetized_mind]

Nothing 'noble' about it, they have a court order! Several of them!

UG's got enough financial problems already and I own a machine that can turn lead into gold, so we figured it'd be best if I just handled it on my own...

...even though it doesn't make that much money...

[not_a_prize]

[Peola genuinely has no idea what to say here and thus she absently picks up another chipped piece of concrete to lob it absently.]

...Well... maybe if we can figure a way out to toss my hag of a mother back home... you could... claim the reward? I mean with what she did it could be worth... well a ransom of my own father. Maybe...

I'm not sure what he or the magistrates would give for her.

[a_monetized_mind]

Hah! That's a great idea, I like it. As long as it's not your hand in marriage.

[not_a_prize]

... Please don't ever bring that up when we do hand her over. Ever. The last thing I need is my father getting more ideas.

[a_monetized_mind]

Alright, alright. "Jennifer Douglas, Queen Consort" doesn't have a good ring to it, anyways.

[not_a_prize]

You'd probably be bored in days too.

[The Princess snickered a little before tossing Jen another chunk of concrete.]

One more for the night?

[a_monetized_mind]

Sure. [She catches it in one hand.]

Five bucks says I can get it out as far as you do.

[not_a_prize]

You're on! I won't even need my ki for this.

[Peola eagerly pops her knuckles before grabbing one of her own.]

On three?

[a_monetized_mind]

Oh, you're going to regret that...
[Jen winds up for a second before throwing the rock at blinding speed!]

[not_a_prize]

[Peola whistles, clearly impressed before doing a wind up of her own.]

I think there's a saying about someone who laughs last-!

[While it wasn't blinding the rock goes far... then there's the sound of it crashing into something loudly, several more crashes, a car alarm sounding off and a loud curse rising into the air.]

... Um...