nexus_crossings | Cleaning up after chaos: A post Khan event question

Cleaning up after chaos: A post Khan event question

Not everyone who frequents the Nexus was unfortunate enough to be caught up in Khan's attack. Reynard had ended Winter in his own world and engaged in his usual annual seclusion that, as it always did, ended once he had run out of alcohol. The sight of an obliterated Nexus was not the pub crawling paradise he'd remembered it as. It seems that he's missed the action and stumbled into the aftermath. People are tired, disoriented, upset and in shock, or powering through their emotions by helping organise everyone else. Without much of a thought, Reynard falls into a group that is already working to set everything right again. Or as right as things can be set. As it turns out, an atmosphere of destruction and tragedy does wonders for a Spring-sick Winter spirit.

He looks as awful as he feels, and far more sober than he'd like to be. He's forgone his coat, but kept his gloves on and a makeshift mask for the work at hand. Reynard has volunteered for the grim task of working with the dead. In a shaded area he helps move bodies to rest side by side, covered in shrouds that have started to vary in colour as they run through their supplies. These are the ones who have not, or cannot, be identified.

It's been a long day, and it's been hard graft, and everything feels hotter than it is, especially with the cloth around his face. Reynard takes his gloves off, leans against the edge of a table, and pulls away the mask, revealing an unkempt beard. "What would you like to happen at your funeral?"

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He chuckles at her joking and lifts his hands in a playful apology. "Fair point, fair point." Resting his arms on the table again, he leans closer and nods. "I've spent my fair share of time on ships too, but they stayed on the ocean. My longest time in a ship was when I joined a crew venturing to the Arctic, the most Northerly continent, but I fared the best of everyone. The cold and ice suited me. It was crossing the hot, still Mediterranean that I really felt the cabin fever."

"I buy limes for the house as a matter of course, these days. I think I'll stick to that before I get my vitamin C some other way." He grins. "It's sour, but better than scurvy."

"That sounds good. Thank you." From their brief conversation about it already, it's clear that disease and illness are a big part of both their lives, and one he knows less about than he'd like. Learning the reason behind what he does know wouldn't be a bad thing either. "Mutating?" He tilts his head as he tries to imagine what that looks like. "Where do they do that?"

Not offended in the slightest, she appreciates the playful apology anyway. She's not a shrinking violet in all aspects of her life. "Why were you crossing the Mediterranean?" she asks, pronouncing the unfamiliar name slowly so she can commit it to memory. "It sounds stifling even for someone who likes the heat."

"Only limes?" The only recipes she can think of for limes off the top of her head are a few desserts and some savory Tauron dishes. And... okay, some alcoholic drinks, too. "Oranges are sweeter. You don't like to eat those?" It's right back to worrying about Reynard's diet for her. Is this what happens when you live alone and hate modern supermarkets?

Knowledge is power, and if it keeps him from avoiding the diseases he is still vulnerable to, it will have made her teaching worth it. "In a host animal population, at least in the case of influenza. It gets passed around and reproduces rapidly, and each time it reproduces, it has the chance of being a little different. So then when it infects someone, their body no longer recognizes the virus. That's why you need a flu vaccine every year, because the particular strain of virus is always different."

Reynard hums as he picks his words, eventually settling on, "It was part of a... compulsory relocation, and yes it was hot. Very hot. The ships were wooden, cramped, and dirty. Any voyage would have felt like an age, even if it was short."

The look he gives her is one that suggests he may not have considered this as an alternative. After some thinking, he shrugs slowly. "I was told to eat limes when I got scurvy, so I ate limes." Very slowly he admits, "I... wasn't sure if oranges would do the same thing."

"That makes a kind of sense. Children aren't always like their parents. Why should it be different for viruses?" He tips his head at her. "Is that what you do? Find the different viruses and create vaccines for them?"

Something about the way he carefully selects such an unusually euphemistic phrase gives Adia pause. There must be more to that story, but the question is, does she want to know? A "compulsory relocation" could be any number of awful things, and Reynard's role in it is unknown. He did say he was a soldier...

"What about your expedition to the Arctic?" she asks instead, "What was the purpose of that? Exploration?" She can't quite meet his eyes, feeling cowardly for changing the topic, but they're having such a nice conversation. She doesn't want to ruin it.

She will, however, speak up for the sake of his health. "I'm going to give you a lesson in nutrition, too. Not that you haven't been taking care of yourself, but there's no reason for you to suffer over a sack of limes if you have access to other produce." She says it with a smile, at least. It's going to be entertaining to suss out all of the misconceptions he's accumulated over the millennia.

"That's right," she says, pleased that he understands. She can get into how a virus reproduces later. She makes a so-so gesture with her hand in response to his question. "It depends on the project, but I've done research like that before, like figuring out how much a virus can change before the vaccine no longer works, or if an illness is due to a new virus."

Though the change of topic is noticed Reynard is far from complaining. He offered her a way out of a potentially difficult conversation and she took it. The only acknowledgement of her choice is a reassuring smile before he launches into the topic of sailing into icy waters. "Exploration, yes. They wanted to explore new routes to the Arctic circle, and I was there to help them navigate the ice."

"Wouldn't that be more of a cooking lesson?" he asks with a smile, pleased by the idea of lessons with food at the end of them. "You could teach me all your world's local delicacies."

"You can do that?" He stops to think about that for a moment before following up with, "Isn't figuring out how much a virus can change before the vaccine no longer works a bit like predicting the future?"

It was a smooth, socially appropriate transition, but she still feels weird about it. Reynard's smile helps a little, and she focuses on his answer instead of the mystery of his other lengthy sea voyage. "It sounds a little scary," she admits. "Your ship can get stuck, right? That happened sometimes on Aquarion."

"Oh, um... sure, I can show you how to cook something." She was thinking of something more along the lines of a food chart, but quickly warms up to the idea. "I'll need to use your kitchen, though. And your food, unless you want me to make you reconstituted algae."

She nods thoughtfully at his comparison. "It is, in some ways. It's impossible to know for certain what mutations will take place, but you can get a sense of how quickly they'll occur under what circumstances. It's all to try and get ahead of the disease, to vaccinate against it before it infects too many people."

"It can, and does. You can spend days digging through the ice to free your ship, and that wasn't easy work." Despite describing it as hard work Reynard is smiling fondly and he gives a dreamy sigh. "It was serene and thrilling both at once. If the crew hadn't realised I was different from them so swiftly I might have done it for much longer."

Cooking and eating is far more fun than food charts. Happy that she takes to the idea as easily as she does, Reynard grins, dipping his head and holding an open palm to her. "My meagre kitchen is yours if you want it… So is the food. Somehow I don't think I'm much of an algae man."

"It's like chasing lice," he huffs and shakes his head. "Running around after something you can barely see, trying to cut it off at every turn and hoping your home remedies will work. That is not a race I would enjoy running." He smiles again and winks at her. "Thankfully I have people like you to protect me from these things."

It's a rare sight to see Reynard lost in pleasant memories, his smile quite so... open, is what she thinks to herself while she watches him. "What tipped them off? Did you use your powers to clear the ice, or were you enjoying yourself so much that they knew something was up?"

She'd have to agree, especially if it lets her cook with real food in a real kitchen. And she'll get to see Reynard's home, which fills her with a strange, nervous excitement. "Okay! That'll be fun... maybe we can find something to do with all those limes."

At the mention of lice, she grimaces and touches her scalp, grateful that she's avoided an infestation despite living in close quarters. "I wish we could vaccinate against lice. They're such a nuisance... thank goodness they don't spread disease, but the itching can drive you crazy." She doesn't ask if Reynard ever had lice, although she does look him over thoughtfully. He has such lovely hair, even unkempt as it is currently... "Hmm? Oh." She blushes a little at the wink and smiles. "You can thank modern medicine for that..."

Speaking of her profession, she knows that she needs to return to her ship soon, but she's reluctant to leave. She'd talk to Reynard for hours if she could. "I... um, I need to get back to my ship, my shift starts soon. It was so, so good to see you. I'm glad you're feeling better. Will you let me know when you're ready for a more formal lesson?"

Her guesses make him chuckle, then he takes a deep breath and smiles at her. It takes moment for him to admit the actual reason. For once it's not something he's ashamed to say. "I saved a man. When we were digging the ship out the ice cracked and he slipped into the water. I... couldn't bring myself to let him drown. Not when I didn't fear the ice or the cold." He lifts a hand, palm upwards, and then lets it drop. "So I cast aside my coat and went in after him. I had to ask the ice to part for us on the way up. They all knew then, if they hadn't suspected."

How often has he seen her this excited? So rarely. And about something in the future? She's planning something good for her future. Reynard's smile is bright and genuine, and it takes him a minute to answer her. "I'll... see if I can find some recipes for them."

He can't help but laugh at her immediate reaction, nodding with her as he chuckles. It's hard to imagine someone like Adia enduring something as undignified as lice.

The topic of her leaving, however, is not as easy to smile at. If he looks a little reluctant it's because he is. Nevertheless, he dips his head in acknowledgement and stands. "Let me walk you out the door, at the very least."

Any residual awkwardness from her earlier conversational sidestep is swept away in the wake of his reply, which leaves her wide-eyed in admiration. But those same eyes fill with distress as she considers the consequences of his altruistic act. "Oh, Reynard... what happened after that? Were they afraid of you? Did you have to leave immediately?"

What did she say to earn such a smile? He must be looking forward to her cooking. She hopes she can live up to his expectations. "You let me worry about that," she says, still bubbling with excitement. "I can do an internet search the next time I'm here."

There was a bad stretch on New Caprica where she was about as filthy as she'd ever been, and the thought of having lice on top of that is simply too much. At least Reynard is getting a good chuckle out of her reaction.

"Of course." She fusses a bit with the empty plates, stacking them, before finally standing and coming around the table to his side. "You'll be all right until I see you again?"

"They were afraid of me, yes. I can't blame them for it, either. In a few minutes I'd managed to defy all their experience." He pats her arm reassuringly. "It's all right, I'm used to being feared or hated, and I didn't have to leave immediately. They needed me, and they didn't know what to make of me. So I stayed with them until the end of the trip with the understanding that they would strike my name from the record."

Internet searches are a task he'll happily concede. Besides, it will be interesting to see what she comes up with. "Mm, I'm looking forward to it already."

The fussing surprises him a little. It makes her seem nervous, and he's not sure why that would be… Until she asks her question. He smiles gently and rests a hand on her shoulder. "I'll be fine, Adia, thank you." Hesitating, his grin turns cheeky. "Unless my saying otherwise would convince you to stay a little longer, or visit sooner."

She gives a small sigh of relief that he wasn't attacked, but she's sorry to hear that he is used to being feared and hated, especially in this case, as he did save a man's life. "I'm sorry," she says, perhaps on the behalf of the fearful humans. "At least you were able to finish the journey."

If he asked her in seriousness, it'd be that much harder for her to part company. As it is, she lets his hand stay her, making no move towards the door. "If I knew I wouldn't be missed on my ship, I'd stay for that much longer..." Her expression brightens. "But I can visit again as soon as you like. I'm taking care of Steve's pokemon so i'm here almost every day."

"It wasn't your fault," he says reassuringly. It wasn't kind or fair, but judging from his smile he didn't let it ruin the experience. "I was, and despite the reaction of the rest of the crew, I did enjoy it. As much as a voyage like that can be enjoyed."

The thought of meeting again soon gets a smile. He starts walking slowly to the door. She has to go, they both know it. It would be cruel of him to drag it out too long. "Pokémon? I've seen them around the Nexus. They're pets, aren't they? If you need any help with them let me know."

He probably doesn't get many opportunities like that anymore, she thinks as she lets him lead her to the door. And if he did anything extraordinary on a voyage now, it'd likely be filmed and go viral in a matter of hours. But there isn't anything she can do about that, so with a small nod, she lets the subject drop.

"Kind of... they're very intelligent. Steve thinks of them more as housemates than pets." She smiles at his offer of help. "Thanks. I'll bring them with me some time. They're very friendly... well, except for Bucky, don't take it personally if he doesn't warm up to you... oh, and Sarah is a fire-type pokémon, that won't bother you, will it? I've never seen her cast a flame, but she's always warm."

"Most kind owners do," he points out. How many cats and dogs are treated like family members by doting owners? In Reynard's opinion there's a line to be drawn, but it's one that very much depends on the intelligence of the beast. "I don't mind fire, I mind Summer fires. There's a difference."

If it weren't for the fact that he enjoys being polite for Adia he would be even more reluctant to hold the door open for her. Try as he might to slow the process, he can't keep her here forever. "I suppose I should let you get back home."

"That's true, but... well, you'll see for yourself when you meet them." She's pretty sure she's not assuming too much of their intelligence. Her smile turns to confusion. "What's a Summer fire? I think her fire is the regular kind. She has very good control of it, though."

Saying goodbye to a dear friend is hard, but at least Adia has a better, safer situation to return to. "I suppose so," she agrees, a wistful smile on her face. Would it be awkward to hug Reynard one more time, especially while he's holding the door open? She decides to anyway, but waits until after she's stepped outside and Reynard has joined her.

"Thanks again for the cake... I'll send you the recipes I pick ahead of time, okay? You can get the ingredients and let me know when to come over."

"A Summer fire is one that comes from a Summer place. Beltane fire is a Summer fire. Everything it represents… that's what makes a Summer fire." The explanation is lacking and he knows it. Reynard's hands lift as he tries to grasp onto decent wording and then fall with a sigh when he fails to find what he's looking for. "It's difficult to explain. You can feel it. You can know it, but saying what it is… that's difficult."

The hug isn't so much awkward for Reynard as unexpected. After his initial surprise, he hugs back and pats her gently. It's oddly nostalgic. How long has it been since he's been hugged like this by a friend?

"That sounds like a plan." He steps back and smiles at her, then gives her shoulder one final encouraging squeeze. "You take care of yourself." A wink. "And everyone else in your fleet."

It would probably help if Adia knew what Beltane was, or represented. The confused look stays on her face, but she smiles reassuringly anyway. "It's okay, I just didn't want to accidentally do anything to make you uncomfortable. I'll look it up online later." The internet is full of information on all sorts of allergies, there must be at least one wiki page devoted to Beltane fire.

She returns his smile and laughs at his little aside. "Sure, sure. I'll see you again soon." It's that small assurance that keeps her from stalling any longer before activating her PINpoint and teleporting back to her ship.

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Cleaning up after chaos: A post Khan event question

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