[Center][h1][color=#e74c3c]Samantha Haynes/Hexfire[/color]
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[color=#ff6347] Firand'r/Scarlet ("The Crimson Comet") [/color]
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[right][sub] January 1, 2020 [b]|[/b] Keystone City[/sub]
By: [@Fallenreaper][@Crusader Lord][/right]
Later that Night[/center]
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The eerie quiet and stillness of the museum still gave Samantha the chills. In contrast to the daily bustle, the place appeared dead. The only sounds of life had been Scarlet, Otto, and herself. Samantha skimmed the cases, holding everything from modern sports to ancient history, while the guard locked up. A twist followed by a click indicated the final lock for the night. The keys jingled as the middle-aged man placed the ring back onto his belt and jiggled the security bars.

[color=#e74c3c]"All right, let me know when you two want out. I'll be at the front desk as normal." [/color]With that, Otto gave them a warm smile and began to wobble his way back to his post.

Samantha checked for her own set of keys.

[color=#e74c3c]"Scarlet, do you mind being on hauling duty? I'm a little excited about designing since I've been working on this piece for a good week at least."[/color] Her eyes looked to the younger girl, partly expecting some resistance.

[color=#ff6347]“Eh-...fine,”[/color] the teen said, for a moment almost hesitating before letting out a semi-defeated sigh. If she didn’t help, it wasn’t like she’d feel good about it anyways. Besides, Sam was a friend! Better to not treat her like that asshole museum director did, [color=#ff6347]“I’ll gettim’ in, jus’ tell me where ta’ put them! It’s the least’ ah’ can do.” [/color]

Samantha noticed Scarlet's reaction. Her eyes softened and she forced a smile on her lips, hiding the guilt washing over her. Even if she had put all her blood, sweat, and brainpower into the display design, her friend wanted to do it more. Samantha couldn't deny the younger girl that.

Popping open her laptop, she slid it to face them. She separated the backroom key from the ring and put the rest into Scarlet's hand. When she had the teen's attention, she spoke.

"[color=#ff6347]All you had to say that you wanted to set up the display instead. I'll let you open the cabinet and set up the pieces while I do the hauling.[/color]" Despite the disappointment, she simply put on a smile and changed the plan.

Already she was moving toward the back room with the spare key in hand. Jiggling it a bit against her palm, she called back.

[color=#ff6347]"I'll be right back." [/color]Then she vanished down the hallway.

The teen recoiled for a second in surprise, before attempting to stammer out a response as Sam was moving away.

[color=#ff6347]“W-Wha-?! Wait! Sam!!! Ah’ just meant ah’d haul the heavy stuff for ya’! I didn’t mean ta’-!”[/color]

Despite her shouting as loud as she could, even if Sam had heard it wasn’t like she was nearby either. The woman had walked off, leaving her here with, ah, the display itself. For a moment the teen stood there in an awkward, and somewhat guilty, silence...but eventually let out a sigh of defeat. Sam wasn’t a confrontational person, that much she knew, but the teen felt her words had been misunderstood.

...Blast it all! Yet maybe she could ask her mom for some cash, and take Sam out for an apology lunch tomorrow? Or something like that. Crap. She’d have to work on that plan as she put things out, since she didn’t exactly have a choice to do so now if they wanted to get done in good time.

Scarlet mulled over potential ideas as she took the key, unlocking the cabinet and carefully beginning to pull out the display pieces. The Tamaranian began to do her best to arrange the pieces in the proper arrangement, or an ‘academic yet aesthetically pleasing’ manner as it were. Wasn’t the first time she’d helped place pieces out after assisting Sam in the preparation, and she at least generally knew what the Director (may someone key that woman’s car and face one day) generally liked in terms of positioning pieces at least.

What else could go awry tonight anywho? A monster emerging from the pits of hell because it was attracted to the display?