nexus_crossings | +1 small, superpowered boy

+1 small, superpowered boy

Today is a day Alex is especially glad he brought his pocket notebook with him, as it means he can take notes on the weird PSA. He doesn't seem scared, or even particularly surprised, as he jots down some quick things to remember to ask his dad about later - interdimensional stuff sounds like something out of his dad's sci-fi movie collection - and makes a note to himself to look for the door home after no more than an hour. That's probably enough time to look around around without also being so long his parents will notice and get worried.

Once he's got his notebook stashed away again, he starts off towards the direction he's fairly sure he came from, just to make sure the door is there. After a few moments, he winces and clutches his head. Apparently, headaches could travel across dimensions, too. Biting his lip, he carefully looks around, trying to gauge which adult looks the least likely to be annoyed by a kid. Eventually, when the headache throbs especially badly, he gives up that endeavor to approach the nearest person who doesn't look clueless and asks, as politely as he can manage, "Do you know where I can get some aspirin? My head is killing me and it's been long enough since I took some I can have some more. I think."

If time worked the same across dimensions it would have been easier to tell, but alas.

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He could use some kindness. It's not that his family isn't kind, they are, but the world isn't. There's a lot of things that have slowly worn away at him. A break could be good.

"I hope it's not too warm here for him. Must suck to be stuck wearing a fur coat indoors," he notes thoughtfully, before the smell instantly redirects his attention. Alex has a bad habit of skipping dinner to go pass out in bed, which he'd done before he ended up here. His stomach rumbles audibly, making him wince and smile at Marie sheepishly, a little embarrassed. Pale cheeks faintly pink with the start of a blush - why can't he ever be cool around grown ups? - he sits down beside her.

He nearly forgets to answer, staring at the majesty that is Ice Bear at work. This is one of the coolest things to ever happen to him. Also, he now wants pancakes. "I promise. Do they make banana pancakes here? Those are my favorite." Do bears know how to make a variety of pancakes? Did he go to a bears-only culinary school? So many questions...

"I've never seen him get overly warm, but then again, Ice Bear is pretty calm about a lot of things." Hearing Alex's stomach rumble gets a soft laugh from her, but she's won't say anything. In fact, she can feel her own stomach gnawing in anticipation of food. All this talk of pancakes sounds wonderful, but what makes her happy is seeing Alex become interested in breakfast.

"Let's ask him. Ice Bear!" She's waves one hand in the air, after the ursine has finished plating his current batch of pancakes, sliding them down the counter to a group of teenagers huddled at the end of the restaurant. Quickly, he pats his paws on the apron he's wearing, then turns to face Marie and her newfound company.

"Hello Marie and..." The bear blinks curiously, his stoic voice not breaking for a second. Thankfully, she quickly chimes in with the introductions.

"Alex. He's a new visitor to the Nexus and would like to ask you a few questions."

Ice Bear nods once, then approaches the young boy calmly. Despite not having a shred of emotion on his face, there's something friendly and inviting about Ice Bear, as if he's more than happy to talk with Alex about whatever he wants.

"Maybe the Nexus does something to make him feel okay. I hope so, anyway." He huffs slightly when she laughs, but doesn't say anything. He's too tired-hungry-headachy to get mad right now. And the cafe is distractingly interesting, all bright and warm and full of sounds and smells that all go directly to his stomach.

Watching Ice Bear put down pancakes and walk around upright, it's hard not to stare. That would probably be rude, though, so he awkwardly bite his lip and does that little wave he does when he's introduced to people and he's nervous. "Hi, Ice Bear. Um, where did you learn to cook? Do culinary schools let bears in? Also, do you make banana pancakes? 'Cause I want some but I can order something else if you don't have bananas or whatever. I don't want to make a fuss."

This is such a cool moment. He kind of wishes he had his phone on him so he could take a picture of Ice Bear, but it's back home on the dresser recharging.

Staring is something Ice Bear had gotten used to, as many people have a hard time letting him fit in. He doesn't suspect Alex will be rude either, especially after being asked so many polite questions. Ice Bear quickly glances at Marie, not even needing to ask her what she wants, easily reading her hangover and sleepless posture. For now, his attention is all on Alex.

"Ice Bear learned to cook from Yuri. Long time friend. Ice Bear would like to go to school, but Ice Bear is busy with family and work." As for that third question, he nods his head once in confirmation. "Ice Bear will make anything for Alex. Not just pancakes. What would Alex like to drink? Does Alex like scrambled eggs as well?"

Oh, no, he's cute. Do NOT pet the bear, Alex reminds himself. He's a person and petting people is weird. Still, the temptation is there. Alex smiles, listening intently as Ice Bear explains.

"I guess that makes sense. You might be too tall for the tiny kitchens they use in culinary schools anyway." Which is the most polite way to dance around the fact bears probably aren't allowed, but it's true. "Water or hot cocoa, I guess? I'm not allowed to have caffeine but past that, I'm not really picky. And... do you know how to make latkes? It's Hanukkah back home and I'm sort of craving some. If you don't mind, I mean."

They're not the easiest of foods to make, so he can't help adding that last part. It's an option; he really will eat almost anything, especially when he's had a long day.

"Ice Bear has cooked for a Korean TV show once. Ice Bear is actually going to start offering cooking classes here." If he doesn't have time for school, then at least he can offer up those skills to other people. Plus it's fun. "Ice Bear will bring you both."

Latkes are very similar to a dish the ursine has prepared in the past, so confidently he nods his head once more, unfazed by the request. "Fresh banana pancakes and latkes. Ice Bear is on it." The bear steps away for a moment, walking a few feet away to get the requested hot chocolate. He handles the drink like a pro, getting the temperature perfectly. When he returns to Alex, there's a warm white mug with the cafe's logo on it being offered. Ice Bear has even taken the extra step to create a cute little bear made out of whipped cream in the top of the mug.

"Authentic hot chocolate. Ice Bear's favorite warm drink in the winter." Some might find it intimidating to have a polar bear standing nearby, watching for approval, but Ice Bear loves getting the feedback on his up and coming barista skills.

"That's super cool. I've never been outside of Maine, before this. I wonder if I could learn how to cook? It'd be neat to know how to make stuff." It would certainly be better than having to resort to sandwiches whenever his parents were busy. Turkey on rye got boring after a while. And cooking lessons with a polar bear sounded amazing. "Thank you, Mr. Ice Bear."

He leans on the counter, massaging his head. The pain isn't too awful, but he's starting to reach the point where light sensitivity kicks in. Alex blinks it back as best he can, trying not to look like he's in pain. Everyone here is so nice. He doesn't want them to worry about him. Still, there's a moment where his eyes shut and he has to take a deep breath. Today has been rough.

The hot chocolate, though, seems to revive some of his cheer. He has to smile at the little whipped cream bear. There's something quaint and warm about this, all of this, that makes him feel like he can breathe. "Thanks." Cautiously blowing on it beforehand, he takes a sip, brightens, then takes another. "It's really good! I like that it's sweet." His dad always drinks his without sugar, because some people are weirdos, unlike the talking polar bear.

There's not really a covert way to take the aspirin with Ice Bear looking at him and Marie right next to him, but his head is pounding, so he'll just have to deal with some funny looks as he downs it. A gulp of hot chocolate later, he sighs, relaxing into his seat. Well, that's one problem solved.

Jim can't help the way he grins down at the kid as he hops up to his feet and puts away the PADD to finish his work later. He hands around the Imperial desk often enough that he's sure whoever's guarding the portal today will know immediately that the device is his and he'll be coming back for it later if he stows it away there.

"Alex? Good to meet you. Where are you from?" Jim would be equal parts embarrassed and amused to know Alex finds anything cool about his middle name. Or that he knows it in general. "Some version of Earth, maybe? I'm from there. Riverside, Iowa to be exact. Small town in middle America."

If it helps Alex take his mind off the pain then Jim doesn't mind talking about his home. It's not usually a topic for much discussion but he's trying to find some thread of commonality between himself and this child. They won't have to head too far away to find one of the many first aid stations in the Nexus. Jim sets about pulling one kit open and looking for the necessary aspirin. There's a lot more in these things than you'd think one would need, but not every species has the same needs.

"Here's an aspirin. Hold this while I put everything else away." A little foil pill packet is handed to Alex in short order. "Let me get you something to drink. Anything in particular you'd like?"

Ralts curls up, making herself comfortable in Azwel's hair, and watches Alex with a tiny smile. Occasionally one can see big round red-coloured eyes under the fringe.

Azwel, however, grins. "Isn't it remarkable?" he says. "I can understand her through a kind of telepathy--her vocalisations might not sound like language, but they are, and that's how they're understood in the mind. Apparently everyone who lives with a Pokemon can do this. Perhaps it's to do with exposure. Or a kind of imprinting."

He's not as prone to cooing over cute things as he used to be, but Ralts is super endearing. She seems nice.

"It must be nice to get to have a friend you can carry around like that and talk to. I've always wanted either a pet or a friend and she's kind of both." He smiles, then pauses, biting his lower lip for a second before asking, "Um, could I get a Pokemon? It'd be nice not to be so alone all the time."

"Ice Bear could teach you. Ice Bear can always create a kid-friendly cooking class." It's a thought that's crossed him mind, so hearing Alex talk about cooking with such excitement gives Ice Bear confidence that the concept would be well received. The praise gets a small blush from Ice Bear, but he never yields from his stoic position. "Ice Bear is glad that the hot chocolate meets your taste buds."

With that being said, Ice Bear bows politely, then heads off into the kitchen to begin cooking. It's one set of eyes on Alex as he takes the medicine, and to be frank, Marie seems unfazed by this sudden action. Her gaze shifts between Ice Bear and Alex, a glowing smile on her face, content to see the young boy being happy at a time like this. Most people would be scared, but there's a sense of fulfillment in knowing that she's helping, even if Ice Bear is clearly doing wonders for Alex.

She won't immediately say anything, just sitting quietly and watching Ice Bear do his work. There's something fascinating about seeing a polar bear makes pancakes, then immediately shift over to prepping noodles for ramen. How he can multitask so efficiently is beyond words. Watching Ice Bear makes to time fly by just a bit faster, and after a few minutes, he returns to the counter with a plate full of banana pancakes and latkes.

At the moment, it's mostly criminals using retroengineered alien technology, and that is just as obnoxious and exhausting as it sounds. But being unpleasant to a kid in pain is just not something Steve is capable of. Grim and withdrawn, maybe, but never a jerk.

It probably helps that he was once a kid with regular pain and debilitating chronic illness, himself. Which is why he says: "You're not broken," at once, in a mild but firm voice. "But I'm sorry you're in pain. I've been there."

"Here..." he puts a hand very lightly on the kid's shoulder, guiding him toward an overstuffed couch and end table setup that seems to just be part of the scenery in the Plaza today. The Nexus is like that. "Sit here and relax. I'll be back in five--uh, what's your name? I'm Steve. Steve Rogers."

Alex would normally have more questions, especially when meeting the Captain Kirk. There's still some questions forming in the back of his mind, regardless, but the headache bypasses that in importance. He's learned to prioritize his own health, no matter what cool thing is going on.

"Earth, yeah. I'm from Maine. Bangore, originally, but then we moved into my great-grandpa's house after he died, and that's in the middle of nowhere in Maine. There's a lot of forests and creepy old houses." With a sigh, he adds, "And no ghosts. I checked. Does Iowa have ghosts?" Please say yes, so he can go investigate at some point.

Talking him through it was definitely the smart move. It helps take his mind off of the dull pounding in his skull. At least they're getting to this in the beginning stages, instead of the miserable experience of only treating it when it was bad enough to wake him up. This isn't too bad. Jim acts like he knows what he's doing, which is a major comfort. He has all the confidence of Alex's father, despite being much younger, leading to, out of nowhere, this comment: "You'd make a good dad, Jim."

He takes the pill packet, picking at the foil immediately. "Um, anything is fine to drink except caffeine. I can't have that, but other than that I'm not really picky."

"That would be cool. I'd like to learn how to make challah without messing it up; it's my dad's favorite food, and it'd be cool to be able to give him some." He's not a food expert, but he likes seeing people happy. There's a surprising number of happy memories tied to eating together. He'd like to keep that going.

Alex awkwardly avoids looking at Marie for a few seconds, aware he's kind of uncool, but he glances over at her and sees her smiling. The contentment on her face relaxes him. There's something nice about grown-ups who don't get overly concerned about him, who don't ask him a ton of questions and just give him time to figure out what to say. Marie is nice. If he can find his way back home, he's definitely going to bring her some cookies (and Ice Bear, if bears like cookies).

Ice Bear is a marvel of a cook. Alex has seen his grandparents cook like a tag team, but Ice Bear is a one-bear army in terms of food production. He makes it all look easy, which would be cool even for a human. For a bear, who lacks thumbs, it's basically a miracle. It's fascinating. He doesn't mean to sit there and stare for a few minutes, but he does. The pancakes alone smell amazing. Coupled with the latkes, it's on a higher plane of awesome.

"Thanks, Mr. Ice Bear. I really appreciate this." This is the coolest day of his life.

Most superheroes aren't jerks. Alex has watched more than a few superhero movies, and usually superheroes only get jerk-ish when they've had a lot of rough stuff to deal with. He hopes Steve's okay, but he's not sure if he should ask. Sometimes people just want to think it through themselves.

He looks away. "I feel broken. My parents have to do a lot to make sure I'm okay. I feel bad for them." He can be a lot of work. His dad's spent some long nights in the lab figuring out how to make him better, his mom has had to come pick him up from school early, and in summer he feels like a load on them. That they never complain helps, but not a lot. "You don't look like anything would hurt you. You're tough."

The Plaza is weird, but if Alex had his way he'd probably put couches everywhere, too, so he kind of gets it. The Nexus has good taste. He sits down on the oddly plush couch and smiles politely. "I'm Alex. Well, Alexander Seidelmann, but that's too long. Made learning cursive a pain." The struggle is real. "Um, thank you, Steve. You're a nice guy."

"Challah. Type of bread. Ice Bear could teach that." The bear is very confident in his abilities to handle baking and seems eager to jump at the chance to stare those skills with another.

If Alex is worries that he's being uncool, then Marie really isn't taking it that way. Ironically, she's wondering if everything that's been done up to this point has been of help, which based on Alex's interaction with Ice Bear, is clearly going well. Interacting with kids has always been a weak point of hers, worried that she's being overly doting or protective.

"Ice Bear is glad that Alex is having a good time. Let Ice Bear know if you want more to drink, okay?" It's already an unspoken rule that he'll do just about anything within reason for polite children. As for Marie, Ice Bear places a warm bowl of ramen in front of her, along with a small plate of takoyaki. He looks at her sternly, then points one paw at Alex.

"Ice Bear thinks you should do more to help people directly. Isolation is a bad thing. Already seeing an improvement today."

Before she even gets the chance to object to his statement, another customer is calling out to Ice Bear. He steps away from the counter-top, leaving Marie looking flustered and embarrassed by those few spoken words.

Alex knows better than to talk with his mouth full, so he gives Ice Bear a smile as he chews his first bite of latke, clearly pleased. He's always wanted to learn that. There's a lot of things that he's wanted to try, really. He only lacks the confidence to try, but with a teacher, the idea isn't so intimidating.

Good food and people to eat it with are a comfort. His parents do their best, especially during the holidays; their best doesn't mean as many regular dinners together as any of them would like. Hanukkah in particular is always hit or miss, depending on where it falls in the year. Getting to sit with someone for a late dinner with breakfast food is a lovely substitute for what he's missing out on.

Or at least, it is until Ice Bear points his paw at Alex and calls him out. A million defensive statements rise up in him, instantly. He's only a kid, so of course his first reaction is to say it's not his fault. It isn't, is it? Alex doesn't know how most people would react to his powers, except for a few who've seen him and promptly been freaked out. The only people who accept him are his parents. Nobody else can deal with the inherent mindscrew of what he does or the implications or either magic or something else in a very grounded, non-magical time and place. There's safety in sticking to his room, to his dad's lab, to places that are familiar and quiet.

But he could do a lot more good if he got over his nervousness around people. That's not up for debate. He turns to his food, staring at it and fiddling with his fork, before speaking to Marie.

"Sometimes I have to be isolated. I get headaches, I get tired, I've even passed out sometimes. It's not all on purpose." Some of it is, but... it's not all his fault. He's not a bad kid. Is he? He glances over at Marie as if seeking answers.

Even if Ice Bear is blunt and honest, his words and behaviors are cryptic to Marie, especially since her nor the bear know about Alex's secret. To them, he's just another boy from Maine and he's Jewish, based on the food preference. However, she takes a moment to think about what he's said and finally the statement he left them on makes sense. She reaches over and places one hand on Alex's shoulder reassuringly.

"I think he was scolding me with that comment. Lately, I've been neglecting a few things and spending quite a bit a time here by myself. Ice Bear seem to really like you and it seems like he was trying to make a point that you're a good influence on me." Although, he could've just pointed at her, since it wasn't hard to spot his determined gaze staring at her for so long. "After all, you're just a normal kid who's done nothing wrong."

There's a few questions on her mind about what Alex said, however, Marie isn't one to poke around for answers. Instead, she removes her hand and just nods calmly to him. "Don't worry about your headaches for now. Just let me know if there's anything else I can do, alright?"

Steve is not really okay, per se, but he's a high-functioning basket case, and giving a damn about other people is fundamental to his personality. Especially when feelings of recognition and kinship pop right up at the start of an acquaintanceship like this. He gives the kid a gentle nod, understanding written all over his face.

"When I was your age, I had asthma and scoliosis and the doctors thought I'd never graduate from high school," he says. "I had a lot of things happen to me since then, but trust me, I get the frustration."

"Alex." He nods again, letting him settle and giving him a brief, careful handshake. "You're welcome. We'll talk more in a minute, okay? Just take it easy and I'll be right back."

He takes a few steps away, getting out his PINpoint, and taps keys to take him back to his own place. Probably the way he vanishes in mid-air when he teleports away, and then reappears about three minutes later with a soft blip will beg some questions eventually. He returns with a bottle of aspirin in one hand, and a plastic bag in the other. "I didn't have any caffeine-free cocoa, but I brought a bottle of water, a Sprite, and some plain milk. Take your pick."

Edited (missed a phrase) 2018-12-10 20:02 (UTC)

Connor nods dutifully. He will have to trust Alex's own understanding of his needs. Connor isn't particularly built to dispense medicine and besides, here in the Nexus he can't make too many assumptions about how other worlds work anyway.

He will be careful, though. He will pay attention. Surely a child is a child anywhere.

"I'll help you find a convenience store, then," he says. "I've been scouting out this place for a few days now, so I have an idea of some common landmarks. I don't know if you've noticed, Alex, but buildings tend to move around in this place. It can get confusing easily."

His smile grows a little. "But don't worry. I'm a good sidekick."

He winks.

They ought to get going before the boy's headache gets worse. Connor takes in the buildings that have decided to be around today, and decides on the best direction to look for the store he has in mind. He starts walking and gestures Alex on.

"I take it you get headaches often? Do you have a medical condition?" It would be best to know this if Alex is to be in his care, even briefly.

"Maine? I actually haven't been up that way very much. I've spent quite a few years in the Bay Valley area, San Francisco? Over in California. A bit of time in London, but most of my time if you can believe such a thing is spent out in space."

You know, like one does. Jim tries to make it sound casual, like that's an ordinary thing a guy can do for work. And for Jim it is but he's been in the Nexus long enough to know that for most folks that is definitely not the case. Last thing he wants to do is talk down to Alex though, so it's best to be casual. Friendly.

Other words that derail into a record scratch of 'what the fuck' the second Alex pipes up that Jim would make a good father. It doesn't help that he was subsequently thrilled the kid called him Jim instead of Mr. Kirk and then his stomach dropped into his left pinky toe somewhere before it was shot out of an airlock by the feel of it.

Jim Kirk? Someone's dad? He sure hopes not. (It's not impossible either and that makes him sweat more than a little.)

What he actually does instead of barking out an awkward laugh and freaking out is pastes on a friendly smile and nods once without saying anything and the subject blissfully moves on once more.

"No caffeine, got it. What about sugar?" There's caffeine free options for soda around here but it puts most tea or coffee right out. Not that kids usually like coffee anyway that's Jim's own caffeine addiction talking. Water is easy enough too. "Can get a bottle of water or a non caffeinated root beer out of that vending machine by the look of it."

He's quick to get whichever Alex likes either way before handing it over.

This is, in theory, everything that he's ever wanted. Everyone thinks he's normal. He's like any other kid, headache aside. Nobody is fussing over him as if he's a chronically ill, fragile kid who might keel over any second. No one's talking to him about powers in tired or accusative tones. This should be perfect. Instead, he finds himself weighing his options, thinking over what Ice Bear said, because this atmosphere where people just roll with weird things... that means he could make friends, right?

He shakes his head. "No, Marie. I don't want you to feel guilty for something that might be about me. I am trying to help people back home. And, um. I'm not normal. That's why I can get kind of isolated, I guess. It's weird and complicated. But maybe Ice Bear thought we could be friends? So he looked at both of us because of that."

Alex directs his gaze back to his food, eating another delicious bite of latke before carefully pouring just the right amount of syrup onto the pancakes. "I don't need anything else. This is fine."

Alex isn't exactly a doctor, but he's listened to his dad discuss his own treatment enough that he knows what to avoid and what's okay. He's pretty sure he can manage a day here or however long it takes for him to get back home. Fiddling with his scarf, he smiles a little at Connor.

"I noticed, yeah. It's so weird I didn't think they were really moving, but I guess what's weird back home is normal here." He snorts, rolling his eyes. "No, I'm the sidekick. The younger person is always the sidekick in superhero movies. That's just how it works." Still, he smile gets a little bigger, and he keeps close to Connor as they walk, careful not to get lost.

He sighs, nodding. "Sort of. My dad's not sure what it is, but I get chronic migraines, a lot of little headaches, and I have sleep problems. Caffeine makes all of it worse, and I'm doing better the more vitamins I have. But it's not anything specific enough to be a condition with a name. Or if it is, we haven't figured it out yet."

Alex winces. He doesn't know what scoliosis entails, but he's fairly sure it's bad, and some kids at his school have asthma. The combination of that with something else means he can picture how sick Steve must have been and understand it. Being sick sucked. Being sick as a kid was a special kind of suck must grown-ups didn't get.

"I hope that means I get to grow up to be tall like you," he muses, sounding hopeful. He shakes Steve's hand with a small, pained smile. Steve is being gentle, so it's not him that's hurting Alex. It's just biology coming back to rear its' ugly head in the form of the headache intensifying. "Thanks for helping me out, Mr. Steve."

He couldn't call him Mr. Rogers without laughing. Steve is incredibly nice like Mr. Rogers, too, which kind of makes it worse. Still, three minutes gives Alex time to massage his temples, check his pockets to see what he's brought with him now that he's here, and pull himself together so he doesn't look so tired. He's not as surprised by the teleporting as he should be, probably.

"Water's fine, thanks. You didn't have to bring me a bunch of stuff. I took aspirin inside Jello once." A pause, and then: "If my mom shows up, please don't tell her that." No amount of weirdness will make his mom's sad face when he gets in trouble less sad. "What's the dosage on the aspirin? I don't want to take too much."

He may be bad at math, but he can still count out how much is too much.

Connor gives a vague frown of sympathy.

Alex's health is a little concerning. Connor wonders if there would be more medical information available to Alex back "home," in his own version of Detroit. Maybe even a more reliable treatment option. He's noticed that a number of the people he's met in the Nexus come from worlds or timelines without the scientific resources Connor's world takes for granted. He's already asked himself whether he ought to return and try to provide some of these advancements to the Nexus as a sort of humanitarian aid.

But that would mess with the natural order of things. That's ultimately not in his wheelhouse, and sometimes it's best not to interfere.

And besides. Connor can't go home. That would conflict with his new objective to study the Nexus.

(It could be that adhering so strictly to this objective he wrote is the only loophole he's found for getting to stay and explore this place.)

All that is much too complicated conversation for a child.

"Do you like them? Superhero movies?" he asks, quietly earnest.

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+1 small, superpowered boy

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