Let's Get Phys-- I mean, Philosophical.

[telekinesis_kills]

Danny is sitting cross-legged, rather solidly settled into one of the beanbag chairs scattered around the Plaza. He's watching people go about their business, just observing the ebb and flow of the foot traffic around him. At a certain angle, one might be able to see a faint pink glow around his body, which occasionally seems to sink a little deeper into his skin, and then back out again.

"I know what I ought to do," he says aloud. "Find a way back home, report on this new discovery, kick the actual decision-making upstairs to the higher ups, and wait for new orders."

Danny sighs, and it's almost like his body is pressed into his seat a bit more, as though by some large unseen hand. "Nobody knows that I'm here. And if it's true that we can come and go as we please... is anything stopping me from just... going a little later?"

He's probably going to do what he ought to do, all his training and experience tells him so, and yet...

He looks up, with a thoughtful frown on his face. "Is it selfish to want some time for myself?"

Comments

[desertpowered]

"I'd imagine that's the case with all universes. The Nexus isn't able to keep out everyone who comes with the intention of starting trouble, but it's been quiet for at least as long as I've been here." If there was a situation, Paul thinks, he'd have to decide whether to step in and help - and there would be several factors going into whichever choice he makes. "I'm going to have a baby sister. She might have abilities similar to mine. These things do sometimes run in families."

Paul nods glumly, with an expression that suggests that he has a better understanding of what Danny is talking about than he's currently letting on. He certainly knows what being molded to fit a specific purpose feels like.

"I don't live here, but I do have a base of operations, so to speak - since I have friends and interests here to protect. Good to know you're able to get a PINpoint without any trouble. I'd suggest seeing Captain Rogers' PSA and grabbing some of the pamphlets. The Nexus doesn't have many rules, but there are some things to keep in mind."

[telekinesis_kills]

"Quiet is good," Danny muses. Quiet is rare, on his world and in his line of work. And if there was a situation... Danny would probably be among the first to jump in and help.

Danny thinks that maybe Paul looks worried about his baby sister, and asks (rather bluntly), "If your sister has powers like yours, will she have to be trained like you were?"

Danny looks a little embarrassed at the reminder that he hasn't exactly been thorough in his information gathering just yet. "Ah, yeah... the guy who kinda looks like Commander Steel..? I saw that video playing, but I should probably slow down and grab some reading material. Most of the information I picked up so far was from... eavesdropping. And I think it was mostly the residents."

[desertpowered]

Paul doesn't disagree that quiet is good, though he's more cynical about whether things will stay that way. Some people will always want to start trouble or have interests at odds with peace in the Nexus.

There's another nod. "We have to learn fast, where I come from. Luckily I'm good at adapting to new situations, but I like to hang back until I've properly assessed things. I hope she will be, too."

He notices Danny's embarrassment. "I don't know who Commander Steel is, but I didn't really know what America was either. I'm...well, I wasn't born on Earth." Paul's found that humans are common, but non-Earthborn humans are rarer, and he's one of the few. "There isn't anything too serious. You have to be more careful in the Underbelly and the Wilds, because some of the residents aren't so friendly and the anti-violence field won't always protect you. If there's anything else you want to know, feel free to ask."

[telekinesis_kills]

"She'll have you to learn from, right?" Danny asks, because while he has no firsthand knowledge of how siblings are supposed to work, that's what he hears about big brothers. "So she'll have an advantage."

"Oh!" Danny smiles when Paul says he wasn't born of Earth, and says confidently, "Don't even worry about that, Paul. I don't expect you to understand my references just because of the different universes thing, and it's not like I haven't met -- or worked with -- aliens before. When I was a kid, I teamed up with a half demon girl for a while. Before she tried to kill me."

Danny has a very strange history, but sometimes he forgets about how strange it can sound to other people.