nexus_crossings | A reminder to not count your Earths before they've hatched.

A reminder to not count your Earths before they've hatched.

It is not unusual to find Adia in the Plaza. She is there frequently enough, sitting in front of a Nexus terminal or fixing herself a cup of coffee. It is not even unusual to find her accompanied by pokémon. This time it's only one, a large bird that stands nearly as tall as she does. It stays close to her seat, keeping a watchful eye for suspicious characters.

What is unusual is the expression on her face.

Adia has come to the Nexus upset before, but this is different. All her nervous energy is gone, replaced with a washed-out, nearly lethargic appearance. She's holding a children's drawing in her hands, staring at it for long seconds before folding it along well-worn creases. She picks at a corner, staring into the distance, then unfolds it and starts the process all over again.

This goes on for several minutes until Bucky, wise bird that he is, gently nudges her with his beak. Coming back to herself, she blinks and looks around, remembering where she is.

"Something... something bad happened back home. A lot of people are... really upset. And losing hope. How do you come back from that?" She looks down at the picture and whispers, "How do you learn to hope again?"

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Bucky narrows his eyes, his wariness being spot-on for once. "Ary," he croaks, puffing up his feathers. He gives his companion another gentle nudge. Who's this weirdo staring at you, Adia?

Pulling up her gaze from the drawing, she looks at Bucky first, then at whoever has caught his unfriendly attention. Her eyes widen with recognition. Not from that horrible incident during Khan's invasion, of course, but from that video chat months ago. The one where a socially awkward but friendly young man showed her live images of an Earth that reminded her of home.

But what was he doing here?

"...Josh?" she asks. The surprise is enough to bring a little color back to her face. "Is that you?"

Damn.

Josh doesn't move a inch upon feeling Braviary's gaze burn, coupled by Adia's gentle voice calling to him. Running right now would look horribly suspicious, and to be fair, the bird would catch him in two seconds flat. He sighs, zipping up his hoodie, before walking over to her.

"...Yeah, it's me." He speaks quietly, full of nervous energy, while stuffing his hands into his jacket pocket. Josh is so hesitant to face Adia, that he can't even look her directly in the eyes, like a child who can't face their mother. Does he dare explain his voice first? No. He'll see what she says before responding.

The fact that it is him brings a real smile to her face. She remembers how much he had wanted to see the Nexus in person; it looks like he found his way. And though she does not know him terribly well, she she considers him a friend, and could use the comfort of a familiar face.

But that smile is short-lived. Oh, he's so nervous. He won't even look her in the eyes. Is he still feeling guilty over how their last conversation ended? She wants to reassure him that she does not hold that against him. So much worse has happened to her since.

She starts to speak, to gesture for him to join her -- and only then does she realize what else is off about him.

"Your voice," she says softly. She does not sound accusatory, only confused. "It's.. it's not...?"

Bucky continues to watch him. This man is acting funny, but so long as Adia doesn't seem distressed, he'll only glare ominously in the background.

For a moment, he brings his eyes up to see Adia smiling, then returns his stare to the floor. This should be an exciting moment, to finally get the woman he's been half-friendly, half-terrorist with. It should be exciting and fun, but his mistake was relying on a voice filter, and now she's asking about his voice as predicted.

"Adia...I think it's time I tell you the truth."

He gestures for her to stand.

"You don't mind taking a walk, do you? I think talking with you in a less-crowded place would be best." He manages a smile. "I can buy you a decent coffee instead of what the Nexus offers?"

She should be mad that he lied to her. At the least, she should be suspicious of his dishonesty. But the loss of Earth has left her wrung out and desperate for a friend. "Um... sure. One sec."

Folding up the picture in her hands, she tucks it into her messenger bag and then hoists the bag's strap over her shoulder before standing. Bucky immediately makes a sound of protest, but she shushes him gently with a scratch under his chin. "Sorry, he's wary of strangers... Josh, this is Bucky. I was pet-sitting him for a few months and he's grown rather attached to me. Is it all right if he comes with us?"

Bucky puffs up his feathers. Josh better not mind, if he knows what's good for him.

To be fair, he's expecting Adia to be upset with him, and seeing her not immediately get angry is a boon. It causes him to be less fearful and more apologetic, giving her whatever time she needs while also showing respect to her giant bird companion.

"It's okay. Sorry if I got him riled up over nothing. I didn't mean to catch you off-guard as well."

He almost reaches over to pet the bird, but stops suddenly, as if fearful that the Pokemon will attack him. Best to try and talk politely to the bird, instead of trying to touch him for now. Josh leads Adia and Bucky away from the main Nexus, towards the familiar Crossroads Cafe so many people love. He'll let Adia choose where to sit, either indoors or outdoors.

"I never wanted to trick you...The decision was never mine to begin with, or rather, I easily submitted to someone's forceful suggestions."

"No, it's fine. I didn't expect to see you here." Which raises the question of how he made it to the Nexus, but she'll wait to ask after he explains the change in his voice. Which, she has to admit, is for the better. He sounds nice now. It matches his appearance.

That is a very wise move, 'Josh'. Bucky watches him with a steady eye but otherwise hops along silently as he and Adia are led towards the Crossroads Cafe.

Her face lights up a little at the familiar sight. This is her favorite restaurant in the Nexus, and not just because Ice Bear gives her free food whenever she stops by. But when offered the choice of where to sit, she picks a table outdoors, not wanting to bother Ice Bear if he's working. Bucky stands guard beside her, naturally.

Josh's explanation is met with innocent concern. His apologetic tone is going a long way to soothe over any bad feelings on her part. "Who suggested it, then?" Was it that rude lawyer whom she overheard when Josh forgot to mute his phone? "And why?"

"I wasn't really prepared to run into you either." It seems like he's warming up a bit, shifting from fearful to social. A lack of voice filters makes conversations ten times easier: a feeling that's particularly foreign to someone as anti-social as himself.

Sitting outdoors is also a plus for 'Josh': less people means less distractions. Ice Bear is unavoidable, as the polar bear makes an appearance, menus in tow. He places both items on the table, then heads back inside in order to give them both some time on what to order. 'Josh' waits until he's out of earshot before continuing the conversation.

"My lawyer." He sighs, fiddling with his menu. "I've always wanted to do voice acting as a profession. My lifelong dream, you could say. So my lawyer kept telling me that my real voice doesn't really work out." Mostly the truth, excluding that last line.

That manages to get a small laugh out of her. It's nice to know that their on equal footing with their social awkwardness. "Well... your timing is impeccable. I really don't want to be alone today."

She gives Ice Bear a small, almost guilty smile when he arrives with menus. He has always been a very comforting friend to her, but she does not often share the gritty details of what has her so worn-out and sad. Maybe she'll talk to him later, when he isn't working.

Bucky also acknowledges Ice Bear with a friendly nod. He almost says something, but reminds himself that Ice Bear won't understand him; he's not a pokémon, despite the strong resemblance to a beartic.

When it's just her and Josh again, she sets the menu aside and gives him her full attention. She has no reason to doubt his story, and thus the explanation is met with sympathy rather than suspicion. "So you've been using that other voice for all your calls? That's a shame... your real voice is very nice, Josh. Your lawyer doesn't know what he's talking about."

"Oh...Well, I guess if you don't mind, I'd be more than happy to keep you company." He's blushing, feeling important a little, knowing that Adia wants some company.

'Josh' gives Ice Bear a small nod, preferring the company of a fluffy bear over an annoying human server. Probably the reason why he chose the Nexus Cafe over any other spot. To be fair, Ice Bear is also getting used to Braviary's company, even if the two fo them can't communicate with each other.

"Yes. Getting into character, or so I thought." He shakes his head. "I'm stating to question whether or not that career path is in the cards for me. Maybe I should just try to be myself....I don't know."

Aww, she made him blush. She smiles, and for a moment she forgets about her misery. It's simply her and a new friend enjoying a fine summer day in the Nexus.

"I don't think you should give up on your dream, if that's what you really want to do." She wonders what sort of character he was trying to get into with that deep, creepy voice, but she doesn't ask, not wanting to hurt his feelings. "But I don't see why you can't be yourself at the same time."

She drops her gaze, but only so she can look over the menu briefly. It was nice of Josh to take her here. He must have remembered her talking about the Crossroads Cafe. "How'd you finally make it to the Nexus? Did a portal open up for you?"

Josh can't help but notice how pretty Adia's smile looks in real life, as he finds himself trying to make eye contact with her in a non-weird way. This is the best summer day he's had in a long time.

"Maybe, but it's very hard to break free of my current identity. Adults have it so hard when trying to fulfill a dream." He's trying to be positive about the whole situation, but it's clear that he's been struggling with this for a long time. "Talking about change and actually being able to do it...that's the tough part."

He takes a few moments to look down at the menu, uncertain on what to get or if he even has an appetite. "Yes, it happened last week. The door popped up in my storage shed of all places." Weird, yet acceptable, in 'Josh's' opinion. "So...I've never really gotten anything here. Do you have any suggestions?"

So far, he is managing quite well at being not weird, or at least not any weirder than Adia would have expected of him. She can hear his struggle to remain optimistic, and not wanting to give him false hope, nods soberly at his words. "Change is hard," she agrees. Remembering the recent problems of her Fleet, sigh sighs softly. "Especially when you've been on the same path for so long..."

Wow, that's terribly convenient. She smiles at his good fortune. "Make sure you get yourself a PINpoint if you haven't already," she advises. "Portals tend to stabilize when they're used frequently, but it's better to be safe than sorry." Her attention returning to the menu, she draws a finger down the list of options. She's actually had a number of items here, thanks to Ice Bear's generosity. "The ramen is amazing. Any of the baked goods are delicious, too." She doesn't have much of an appetite herself, but maybe she'll indulge in an iced chai instead of a plain coffee.

Which is a plus, given his first few attempts in talking with Adia ending weirdly. It takes him a moment to realize how much he's controlling the conversation and the mood with his dramatic problems. He might not know what Adia is facing right now, but he can tell that she understands the situation. "Yeah, I guess all we can keep doing is following that path and hoping for the best."

Cue the confused look at her next few words. "PINpoint? Perhaps you could show me where to get one afterwards? I've heard people briefly mention them, but the device seems elusive." His eyes watch Adia's finger move over the menu, reading quickly. "The bear makes ramen? Not making my decision any easier, Adia." He's joking, as apparent by the smile on his face.

She shakes her head, almost unconsciously, but hesitates to explain why she disagrees with Josh's statement. Now that the surprise over running into him has worn off, she can feel the devastating news of Earth weighing down on her. "I, um... I was in the Plaza because I was asking about that very thing. We found Earth in our universe, but it... there was a nuclear war two thousand years ago and the thirteenth tribe didn't survive." She picks at the corner of her menu. "So following the same path isn't an option for the Fleet anymore."

But, like Josh, she is determined not to let bad news drag her down. Not down any further, anyway. "Sure, I can do that. You can get one out of a vending machine in the Plaza." She manages a small smile. "He does. It's pretty amazing. Ice Bear is a great cook."

Seeing Adia shake her head gets a concerned look out of Josh, even if he's hard pressed to feel empathy towards her Earth being destroyed. Other people can die on a whim, in his opinion, but he makes sure to hide that side of his personality. However, he truly cares about Adia and doesn't want her to be sad. "Another solution has to be out there. I'm not sure what that could be, but..." He extends his open hand to her. "I'm here to support you, Adia."

'Josh' can feel his heart beating faster with each passing moment, every second he gets to sit with Adia is becoming painful. Is this feeling love? He's not sure, but being in the presence of a woman is exciting. "I appreciate it." He nods. "I think a cup of coffee and something sweet will do for now. Maybe next time I'll branch out and get lunch."

He plays the part of concerned friend very well, and Adia responds by taking his hand without a second thought. "Thank you," she says gratefully. Practical solutions to her Fleet's problem are well and good, but she is only one person, and what she needs most is a reminder that she isn't alone.

She takes her hand back to tap at the menu again. "Sound like a plan. I'll just get a chai. If that's all right? I don't think I have the stomach for much else."

For once, he's not trying to charm someone for attention or other purposes, holding Adia's hand gently. When she breaks away, he doesn't scramble to retrieve her hand, retreating back to his menu as well. It would be weird to order lunch if she passes on it, so mentally he decides on a coffee.

"Of course. Get whatever you'd like and I'll take care of it."

Ice Bear swings by the table, as if on cue, ready to take their order. Josh politely lets Adia go first, before requesting a latte and dessert. Once the bear is back out of earshot, he can't help but look over at Bucky, wondering if the two have anything in common.

"So...tell me more about your friend, Adia. It's not everyday that you find someone walking around with a giant eagle."

"Thank you." She smiles at him gratefully. Not just for the chai, but for keeping her company.

She gives her order to Ice Bear, and if the ursine waiter was concerned about how she's doing, he'll be relieved to see that some color has returned to her face. In addition, she asks for a little bowl of water for Bucky, in case he's thirsty.

"He's a braviary," she explains. "A kind of pokémon. When I first started pet-sitting him, he was a rufflet, but he evolved. I started pet-sitting him and two other pokémon after their owner was injured and needed to heal off-world. I've bonded with all of them, but Bucky is especially protective of me. He checks on me every time I visit the Nexus. He's a very dear friend."

She smiles fondly at Bucky, who is quietly preening a feather and pretending not to soak up Adia's praise.

He nods, grateful that Ice Bear is taking away from his blushing, embarrassed self. The ursine nods at Adia's request, and when he returns a few minutes later, will be sure to have something for Braviary. Until then, Adia will have just Josh for company.

"No offense to your feathered friend, but where I'm from, Pokemon are part of a game. I only know of a few: Pikachu, Squirtle...It would be interesting to learn more about them though." Given he has a Persian following him around quite frequently after murdering a group of Poke-poachers. "Have you ever tried flying on him?"

No offense taken, although Bucky does pop his head up at the mention of a couple familiar pokémon names. Adia, meanwhile, is impressed that Josh has heard of them at all. Most of her friends are either unfamiliar with pokémon or keep that knowledge to themselves.

"If you like animals, they're fascinating to learn about. There's an entire section of the Nexus library devoted to them. That's where I did most of my research." That and occasional conversations with Candela and the owner of the Poké Mart closest to Steve's apartment.

His question makes her blink in surprise, then look at Bucky in an entirely new light. "Is that possible?" she asks the bird, who raises his crest proudly and warbles an affirmative. "Huh... I never considered it, honestly. I always assumed I'd be too heavy."

Josh is a nerd at heart, the kind of guy who's probably played a few Pokemon games here and there, and he's not really afraid to speak his mind. The nexus is like living out all of his geek dreams, so he seems overly eager to discuss said creatures.

"So you're not Bucky's trainer? Adia, you could've fooled me! Maybe you should become a Pokémon master? Go see the world and meet new friends?" And then he realizes how insensitive that sounds: to abandon her home for other places. "I mean, when you have free time here."

He nods to Bucky. "Well, I mean, he's a giant bird so flying with a person shouldn't be that hard." The conversation stops as Ice Bear returns to the table with drinks and snacks alike, then disappears as quickly as he arrived. "I bet Bucky agreed with me. Right?"

Flattered by Josh mistaking her for Bucky's trainer, she doesn't view his statement as insensitive. Although it is true, she would never willingly abandon the Fleet, not even for something she has clearly taken a shine to. "No," she laughs. "Steve is, although he's been very busy, even after coming back to the Nexus, so I still help him when I can."

She thanks Ice Bear for her drink, and the bowl of water for Bucky. There is a small plate of berries, too, which Bucky delicately noshes on. "I think it'd be a lot of fun to be a trainer," she admits. "But my ship is no place for a pokémon. I'm happy to share time with Steve's."

Bucky nods vigorously, for once overriding his inherent suspicion of strangers, causing Adia to giggle a little. "Well, I guess that answers that..." She pats the bird's wing. "Someday soon, then. When I'm feeling up to it."

"Steve has a good friend in you, Adia. Seriously, if you have a knack for taming a big bird, you should pursue Pokémon medicine, sciences or something like that." His eyes go wide on seeing the streaming latte, accompanied by a thick slice of chocolate-hazelnut cheesecake. So much for his exercise and dieting for the day, but the treat is well worth it. "Do it. I'll fully support and go along for the ride with you."

A friendly nod is given to Bucky, before taking a bite of cheesecake and he immediately smiles. "This is the best cake I've ever had. Makes me wish I could bake half as good as that bear..." He frowns a little, upon realizing how weak his skills are in comparison to a fuzzy polar bear. "So, what day works best to go on a date...I mean, adventure?"

She appreciates the compliment, although the idea of investing herself in pokémon medicine seems far-fetched when the medical needs of her own Fleet are more pressing. "What about you?" she asks curiously. "There are plenty of pokémon in the Nexus who are looking for a trainer or a friend."

The chai latte is delicious, as always, although she sips at it more for the warmth than the flavor. "He's very good, isn't he? I think he's made it a personal mission to be the best baker in the Nexus." She smiles, although it turns uncertain when Josh asks his question. It's not even because he overcorrects his use of the word 'date'. "Oh... um, honestly, I don't know. This is the first time I've been able to visit the Nexus since we learned about what happened to the thirteenth tribe..."

A reminder to not count your Earths before they've hatched.

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