(Untitled)

[bprd_agent_red]

When Red walks in tonight he's not alone. He's escorting someone in a suit, the guy hanging on Red with an arm around Red's shoulders, and Red has him by the waist

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[hadyougoing]

Some distance away, a brunette in a silvery headband drifts to a stop.

And regards him steadily, a thoughtful smile spreading over her face.

[bprd_agent_red]

Red catches the look, and the smile, and isn't quite sure what to make of it.

He glances at his balloon headed friend, then looks back at the woman, head tilting slightly in question.

[hadyougoing]

Ava's smile brightens.

"Hey! Who's your buddy?"

[bprd_agent_red]

Red returns the smile, trying to remember if he's met her or not.

"This is Jimbo. He's uh, kinda quiet."

[hadyougoing]

They haven't!

Ava never forgets a demonface.

"Hi Jimbo!" she says cheerfully. "And uh ..."

She looks Red up and down, though mostly up.

"Who are you? I probably should have started with that question first."

[bprd_agent_red]

Her cheerfulness makes him smile. It's so much better than frightened screaming, especially since it seems they haven't met.

"Call me Red."

[hadyougoing]

"Jimbo and Red?"

Ava giggles.

"Nice to meet you guys ... ummm." A beat. "I bet you get this all the time, but--"

She smiles sheepishly, tilting her head.

"Big Red? Code Red? Red Herring?"

[bprd_agent_red]

"Big Red," he confirms with a nod. "Real name is Hellboy, so I go by HB, too."

He gives her a questioning look and smile.

"How 'bout you?"

[hadyougoing]

"Hellboy."

Ava beams back.

--Then she looks embarrassed.

"Uhhh, I can call you Big Red, though. I'm Ava!"

[bprd_agent_red]

"Either's fine," he assures her with an easy smile. The nicknames get less reaction than Hellboy does, but she doesn't seem bothered, so he doesn't mind.

"Sit down if you want," he offers, gesturing to an empty chair beside Jimbo.

[hadyougoing]

Ava sits, still smiling, and her own appears easy as well.

She's got a lot of practice.

"Thanks!" she says.

She glances between him and Jimbo speculatively.

"So, what're you guys up to tonight?" Brightly. "Saving the world, knitting club, cruising the bar for girls with balloon heads?"

[bprd_agent_red]

"He's lookin', I'm takin'," Red replies, settling back in his chair.

"Mostly we're just hangin' out, takin' in the scene." Pulling practical jokes on agent nannies. "You?"

[hadyougoing]

"I'm always hanging out," Ava replies, somewhat ruefully.

"I've been stuck forever." A beat. "Only not-- literally forever, I'm not like a vampire or anything."

[bprd_agent_red]

"Hey, I got no problems with vampires as long as they ain't tryin' to bite me."

Glancing at the front door, he gives her an apologetic look.

"Sorry you're stuck. It stinks when that happens."

[hadyougoing]

"It's okay!" Ava says quickly.

"I mean ..."

She glances meaningfully around the room, eyebrows arching.

"Where am I gonna find a place more interesting than this one, huh?"

[bprd_agent_red]

Red nods in agreement.

"Got that right, sister. I've seen a lot of weird things, an' I mean a lot, but Milliways still blindsides me some days."