(no subject)

[bratan]

Adam is kicking back in a lawn chair with an old timey fishing pole resting besides his feet and the line in the water of one of the numerous lakes out in the Wilds of the Nexus. His tactical gear and coat have been chucked off to the side, and he is sitting there letting the cool summer's night breeze blow against his bare skin. With the lenses of his shades pushed back into his skull, Adam looks like he is at ease with himself this evening.

Or is he? He hasn't been in the Nexus since the battle with Khan, and the fate of Steve has hit the Aug hard. But Adam is a master at bottling his emotions up.

"I'm almost forgetting that I need to ask a question. Alright, what's your favorite thing to do when you have a little downtime?"

Adam asks, as he looks at the fishing pole that Rosco gave him for Christmas. It isn't something he's partaken since relocating to Prague, but it feels nice to do something that reminds him of simpler times.

Comments

[chiron_survivor]

Adam's peaceful evening is disrupted by something crashing through the tree line. What emerges is a dog-like creature, striped like a tiger. She sniffs the lake air, then bounds over to Adam, tail wagging. Hello, new friend! Are you trying to catch a magikarp? Can I help?

"Sarah!" A voice calls out from the trees. Adia appears, followed closely by Steve's other two pokémon. She tenses a little until she recognizes that the man by the lake. Then she smiles warmly, and also apologetically, because Sarah is still bouncing all over the place.

"Hi Adam. Sorry about Sarah, she -- Sarah. Calm down, please." The growlithe whines but settles down a little. "I was just taking Steve's pokémon for a walk, I didn't expect to run into anyone. I'll get them out of here so they don't scare off the fish."

[bratan]

Someone did tell Adam when he purchased bait about some of the creatures that inhabit the peaceful pond. Pokemon they were called, Adam figured no harm done in just kicking it back and experiencing the local wild life of the Nexus. There is a little neon float bobbing up and down in the water to allow Adam to know there is a fish on the other line.

Just as Adam was about to check, he lifts his head up to see the fluffy dog-like creature running towards him. "Wooah there!" He throws his arms up in the air, and he is waiting for the creature to come crashing into him. He doesn't want to hurt it, and then there is a warm smile coming from Adam when he sees who is chasing after Sarah.

"It's fine. Either I'm using the wrong bait, or these are some crafty fish." Adam extends his hand out for Sarah to sniff. "And I never saw anything like Steve's friends before."

[chiron_survivor]

Sarah at least has manners enough to not jump on Adam. She gives his hand a thorough sniff, then a lick for good measure. Nice to meet you, friend!

"They're pretty unique, aren't they?" Adia says with a small laugh. "That's Sarah, the one who looks like a dog. She's a growlithe. This is Ethel, she's a shieldon." She points to the little dinosaur-like pokémon who is approaching Adam in a far more sedate manner. "Bucky is..." Adia points up to a tree, where a round, fluffy bird is glaring at Adam like it's his job. "...there he is. He's a rufflet. He's wary of strangers, but Sarah and Ethel are both very friendly."

Introductions over, she takes a closer look at Adam's setup. "This is a nice spot to relax, even if you don't catch any fish... you doing okay? I heard you fought during Khan's invasion."

[bratan]

And Adam doesn't hesitate to scratch Sarah behind the ear, and he looks over to Ethel with that rare long lasting smile on his face. The area around the lake has many Pokemon visitors, and perhaps it is why the guy working the bait shop recommended it or failed to understand Adam's want to simply fish.

"Never thought I would see a four foot mouth before or child sized insects." The smile soon vanishes when Adia brings up Khan's invasion, and he leans back in the old chair with a long look on his face. He's seen when the shit hits the fan and splatters all over the place, and despite how hard he might appear, things like it are never easy to deal with.

"Yeah." He remembers going toe-to-toe with the monster. "Any idea of what happened to Khan?" He spent the majority of his time on the hunt for Rogers. "I didn't get to see what happened at the end."

[chiron_survivor]

Ah, nothing beats a good ear scratch. Sarah turns her head slightly so that he can get the perfect spot. Ethel plops down by his legs and looks up at him, hoping for some attention, too. Maybe he can find a spot to pet behind her shiny shield head.

"They're wonderful, aren't they?" Adia says, looking over the three pokémon like a proud parent. But then she catches the change in Adam's expression and twists her hands together in regret. Maybe she shouldn't have said anything...

"Ah, he's.. um, he's dead. Blaze and a few others defeated him. I didn't see it, either. I was in the Plaza helping the injured." Most of the time, anyway.

[bratan]

"They're pretty cool, yeah." Adam doesn't ignore Ethel, and he leans over to give her a scratch behind the head. Eventually he seats himself up right, and he rests his hands on his knees. "And I'm surprised you can keep these guys as pets, because the ones here seem pretty wild."

He looks pleased to hear the news about Khan. "That's excellent news. And a pity I couldn't have been there with the main group to take him down." He remembers going into combat against Khan, and he remembers seeing the broken body of Steve when he was sent to find the kid.

"And other than wanting to deal with some problem he has with Jim, I don't understand why he had to kill so many to make some point."

[chiron_survivor]

"These three were wild, too, until they decided to live with Steve." Ethel rumbles happily at the scratching, while Sarah goes exploring a bit along the shoreline. Bucky, having decided that Adam is not a threat to Adia, hops down to a lower branch and preens himself quietly. "He said he thought of them as housemates instead of pets, so I've tried to treat them the same way."

It's not as though Adia is displeased that Khan is dead, but the look on her face is far from content. "It's not something I would have wanted to see," she says quietly. "But I know you probably would have wanted closure firsthand, after what he did... and I don't understand, either. Anyone who would use murder to make a point is more monster than human."

[bratan]

"I wouldn't even have the time to take care of a pet." Adam speaks truthfully, as he looks over his shoulder as Bucky hops down to one of the lower branches. If only he wasn't hunting shadows, and using the Nexus as a time to collect his thoughts and to help out if his help is needed.

He leans over to scratch Ethel behind the ears, and he thinks about Khan some more. It is very seldom that Adam likes to see someone die for their actions, but he knows when it needs to be done for the better of everyone else around them.

"You're right, he had little to no value for the lives that he took. And the fact that he killed one of our friends, and countless others warranted what was done to him."

[chiron_survivor]

"It's hard enough finding time to care for these three," she admits softly, not wanting the pokémon to overhear. She took on the responsibility of caring for them willingly, and wouldn't trade that obligation fro the world, but making time to visit every day has worn her a little thin, on top of all her other duties back home. "But they make it as easy for me as they can."

She takes a brief look around the lake, and the woods surrounding it. "Besides, one of them might take a shining to you. I met a machamp once -- a big guy with four arms. I think the two of you would have gotten along."

There's a brief look of surprise on her face that quickly turns to concern. "Killed one of our friends? Who are you talking about?"

[magnetite_plz]

"I have made something of a friendship with the sentient crows that frequent the Nexus plaza. They often have information to share, and are quite friendly in their own ways."

It's impossible to hear Angel approach mostly because she never walks anywhere. She's hovering an inch or so above the lake's surface just along the shoreline. She had been told walking through the shore was relaxing to humans, but she must admit she does not understand the appeal.

Unless it is the scenic beauty. That she can understand, but surely she could appreciate that from anywhere near the lake.

"Are you well, Sir Jensen?"

[bratan]

Fishing for whatever might bite, and fishing for a beer in his cooler are something that makes for a night like this heaven. But Nexus is as Nexus does when someone answers his question.

"I haven't met any talking crows yet. But I'll be sure to give them some time if I come across any. Right now hanging out here with my own thoughts and the sounds of nature seemed like a good idea."

Adam lifts his head up towards the direction of the voice, as he speaks. It was a nice night, it was nice to have some peace and quiet both at home and The Nexus. He takes in the view of the angelic looking woman in front of him.

He sits up, his hand grasping a cold beer and he raises an eyebrow. A faint hint of a smile crosses his lips. Sir. Seems like a title more fitting for a knight than someone like him.

"I'm not doing bad. It's a nice night to engage in something I haven't done in years." But, yeah, I'm fine."

Opening up to people about his problems has never been one of Adam's stronger traits.

[magnetite_plz]

"The drinking, the lounging outdoors, or the fishing?"

She looks thoughtful when she asks, genuinely unsure which of the three or the combination of all of the above is what he's referring to as an activity he hasn't engaged in for years. It's understandable in some regards. Human lives are so short, they are never wanting for things to do.

It's part of their appeal, Angel has found.

That boundless energy and drive to move forward.

"I believe they see me as a bird myself for some strange reason. It's silly, considering I'm so much larger than they."

[bratan]

"The combination of the three."

Adam looks at the fishing pole again, and the float bobbing up and down in the water. "And the fishing. The lounging out doors isn't exactly a luxury I get to do back home." Prague was a nice city, and the Czech Republic was a beautiful country. And if wasn't for the attitudes directed towards The Augs, Adam might have been willing to let his adventurous side show.

He reaches for his beer and he takes a long drink, and he almost forgets his manners. Adam didn't forget who was there to patch him up after Khan threw what resembled a building on top of him.

"And feel free to help yourself to a beer."

[magnetite_plz]

"I do find myself more comfortable outdoors than I do inside."

Angel confesses in agreement with Adam's statements. Being inside is just so strange and confining to her sometimes. Most places are not made with her wingspan in mind.

Though Angel peers curiously at the mini cooler and the drinks he's referring to therein.

"What is beer?"

[bratan]

"It is an alcoholic beverage made with fermented cereal grains."

Adam gives her the simple definition of beer, and he only felt it was the right thing to do after she had helped him. He raises an eyebrow, and he looks Angel over. He almost finds himself forgetting that not everyone in The Nexus is human.

"But if you can't drink or eat, then I'll offer you my apologies. But I still should thank you for your help during The Battle of Khan."

He isn't sure what to call it, and seeing good people unable to defend themselves killed reminds Adam all too much of the Aug Incident. And he is trying to find a good way to balance his time between The Nexus and his home where he is still needed. It isn't just the people of the Nexus who deserved justice, but those millions back home that deserve justice.

[magnetite_plz]

"I do not require such things but neither do they harm me. I am sustained through the contract I share with Mistress Blaze and Sir Jesse."

She moves closer and carefully removes one of the bottles out of the six pack, turning it around curiously in her fingers as she reads over the labels. A most curious human invention.

"A drink made from grains. Liquid carbohydrates. How interesting."

Now. How to get at the liquid inside? She taps her finger against the cap and frowns thoughtfully. Twist it off? No, that doesn't seem to work. Pull perhaps? Her wings fluff up slightly as she tries to yank off the cap and only succeeds in pinching her finger.

"Wh..what sorcery is this??"

[bratan]

"Carbohydrates are a great way for me to keep my batteries charged. And I've always had a fondness for liquid bread."

Adam takes sip of his beer, complete with some of it dribbling down his chin and on to his beard. And he watches Angel with a quirky looking smile on his face. He might not do this often, but there is no harm in letting his emotional shielding down tonight.

"Gently grasp it, and give it a twist. Trust me, I had a hard enough time getting used to these and finding just the right amount of force and pressure."

He holds up one of his hands, and he waggles his fingers in the air in order to make his point. It took six months to get somewhat used to his new skin, and it took two years to be comfortable in it.

"If you want, I'll give you mine." He looks at the still fairly full bottle of beer in his other hand.

[tielle_mortevus]

TIelle takes a seat in one of the vacant chairs next to him, stabbing her large parasol into the dirt to shield her from the sun before laying back and getting comfortable. Closing her eyes, she ponders the question. It wasn't often she had downtime, her arrival in the Nexus being a rare exception from the norm.

"I tend to drift towards a nice tall glass of 'red wine' and a good book, well, either that or a good sparring match depending on my mood."

[bratan]

Adam was more than willing to bring an extra chair along with him when he ventured out to the wilds. He spent most of the night out, and finally made his way back to his chair. The downtime he's got is a bit of a blessing.

"Wine and something to read. You're not the only one who takes advantage of both of those."

He tilts his head in the direction of a book about mythological creatures and a few cans of beer.

"And finding someone to spar with is out of the question, that's unless they're willing to get their asses kicked."

[tielle_mortevus]

She gives the man a sly grin, chuckling to herself a bit.

"If I'm not mistaken, that sounds like a challenge. Despite my appearance, I can certainly hold my own in a fight."

She gives him a purposefully wide, cheery grin, revealing a pair of sharp fangs.

"...Granted, I'm not exactly human either, so I may have a bit of an advantage in most cases, though you certainly look like you're no stranger to combat."

She carefully assesses him, her eyes lingering on his more visible augs. Though she's never encountered something quite as complex and advanced, her encounters with magically animated constructs and other such blendings of technology and the arcane give her at least some sort of reference point to relate it to. Though it's certainly not the best of ideas, her curiosity gets the better of her.

"Shall we throw down the gauntlets then? It's not like you can kill me, and I'm rather curious as to what you can do, mister... I don't believe I ever caught your name..."

[bratan]

"You're not wrong about me not being a stranger to combat, however, I'm not exactly here to put holes in people."

Even unarmed Adam is a tough cookie, but his lazy attitude and the fact he's content to reach for a beer and he pops it open to take a drink. If this chick is looking for a fight, Adam doesn't seem to be interested in giving her one.

"But feel free to grab yourself a beer."

[tielle_mortevus]

Content with his reply, she pulls out her flask.

"I appreciate the offer, but I've brought my own."

She takes a sip, letting her head lilt back a bit.

"Perhaps that was a bit forward of me, I've just been a bit on edge lately. The timing of my arrival here was inopportune at best, and things at home... well, lets just say it's complicated."

She takes another sip before tucking the flask away again.

"Though, if you ever do need to blow off some steam, the offer stands."

[bratan]

Adam raises an eyebrow, and he nods his head having an idea as to what it is she's speaking about. "The Battle of Khan. I was there." He knows all about his home life being complicated. "Complicated. I know all about complicated. But I didn't arrive here when there was problems with the anti-violence field."

He takes another drink of his beer, and he seems content to just blow off time than steam. A little bit of beer dribbles down his beard, and he tosses the can off to the side with the rest of them.

"Blowing off steam physically, I tend to do that while at work."

[tielle_mortevus]

"I arrived during the aftermath, though I wish there was more I could have done to help. You're lucky you get to relieve some of that stress while working. My day to day routine rarely allows for such things, mostly contending with endless politics, or on the off chance letting loose and getting to have a little bit of fun."

She takes another sip of her flask, letting out a heavy sigh.

"Or at least it used to. I don't have much of a kingdom to run these days, even if I were back home. Loyalty is so hard to come by these days. Family seems to be the only ones I can trust, for the most part anyway. I'm hoping I may have some better luck here than in my own world... then again, I do have a bit of a fresh start here."

Her eyes drifted towards the book he had been reading, piquing her interest.

"You know, if you have an interest in otherworldly creatures and bestiaries, I could certainly share a few good stories if you'd like. I've been compiling a bit of a bestiary of my own, ever since I learned there were other planes of existence, I've made the study of such things a bit of a hobby for when I have the time."

She pulls out a small leather bound book, flipping through the pages.

[bratan]

"I'm sure there are places that still need help with rebuilding." Adam isn't sure how extensive the damage was outside of the Industrial District and Plaza. But he is sure things have improved since his return home. "Never endless politics, men sulking around in the shadows pulling the strings of the world..." Adam sounds understanding to what she is forced to deal with.

Taking another drink from his morning beer, Adam looks down at the book and the pages that flap in a gentle breeze. A picture of a hydra can be seen, and he looks back towards her.

"Seeing as I don't deal with creatures like these on my world, yes, I figured learning more about those whom I might come across in the Nexus. And Khan's genetically augmented soldiers are something familiar, but magical beings are not. And if you can find someone who knows how to make silver bullets, it would be a blessing."