sixwordstories | (no subject)

You don't say.

Costume. Disguise. Same thing.

Hiding from someone?

Hmm, does the general human populace count?

But no, I'm not really hiding. Just trying to blend in.

Good heavens, why?

Why what? Trying to blend in?

Yes.

~~Specie~~ Racial profiling tends to leave me in unpleasant situations.

That and I just don't like getting attention solely because of how I look.

Most women don't.

Heh. My reasons are hardly attributed to socially-imposed ideals of beauty.

What about you? Why do you not try to blend in?

What are you talking about? I blend just fine.

Isn't everyone half-chrome?

My form is a blend of functionality and...functionality.

I suppose in some alternate reality everyone can be half-chrome.

No one gives you trouble over your enhancements?

Nobody gives me trouble, sweetheart.

What about that green hair?

How fortunate for you.

What about the green hair?

So it would seem. You do realize that green is not low-key.

It's not?

Huh. Then why would there be hair dyes being sold in this shade?

For very special girls.

So long as it's for special human girls, my objective is met.

Do you like it here?

I've been to worse.

But for a backwater planet, there is a surprisingly large number of aliens living here.

It's the emotional center of the universe, my dear.

Is it really? I just thought it's because the vast majority of the human race is ignorant of interstellar beings.

Ignorance (to some) is bliss. Isn't that how the human adage goes?

Nnnnn.

What are you even doing on Earth?

Supposedly I'm here because of work. But I suspect my employer simply wanted me out of his way for a while.

Well, were you in his way?

He's less than a foot tall. Anything bigger than him is in his way.

Well.

No inferiority complex there.

What he lacks in stature he makes up in arrogance, egotism and ingratitude.

~~I'm a glorified errand girl.~~

He must pay well.

It's access to his laboratory and equipment that really compells me to stay.

Is that all? I bet he'd be embarrassed to stand in mine.

Maybe you should come work for me.

Tempting.

You don't happen to be targetted by megalomaniacs bent on intergalactic domination, are you?

Perhaps one or two.

But nobody gives me trouble.

But anyone around you is fair game.

If you're really serious about your offer, I'll think it over.

There's no fighting involved with the power plant. But I think people are starting to suspect my facility manager is an android.

Is there any electronic interference at this power plant? My disguise is highly susceptible to them.

Not under normal conditions. It is a nuclear reactor.

Best in the country. I built it myself.

Oh, right. I keep forgetting the Plumbers restrict Earth's tech level to just 2.

Mario and Luigi have nothing to do with it. A man has to have some change in his pocket, so I provide power to the region.

A steady source of income is something I respect.

I am not familiar with Mario or Luigi. I thought Earth is Tennyson territory?

Mario and Luigi...fictional plumbers.

Earth is also Jordan's turf. But I'm my only authority.

Hn. I just thought they were new recruits.

I didn't think Earth needed overlapping interstellar authorities. Maybe there is more to this planet than I first thought.

And I'm sure you're not all bark and no bite. ~~Unlike some aliens I know.~~

Before we go any further, though...