( Benedikta merely scoffs at the bow and the welcome: )

Collecting cephalopods for now.

( She corrects him, shooting a furtive look towards the tentacles as they squirm against her partner's body. Repulsive creatures, really, but the man doesn't seem half as bothered by them as she would be. For the best, probably. )

I tend to aim higher than pest control.

( Said with a pointed look, if only because she won't have this stranger thinking this is how she plans on spending her time here. Benedikta knows how to play the game and is willing to play it up to a point — politicking is a chore, certainly, but in this case? Needs must.

Speaking of busywork, though ... )

Who are you?

( She pauses to suck on the pipe. )

I might have use of someone who's "done a bit of heavy lifting in his time."