Scorched Earth Policies

[rekindledtitan]

Blaze tends to treat the Plaza as one stop on her patrol route through the Nexus - and usually the last stop, at that. Today, however, she’s not going anywhere else. She didn’t even stop to repair the burns and blade-marks that mar her white armor before she showed up, and she doesn’t sit now. When her boots hit the paving stones she strides a little way further in and just stands there, metal face locked in a frown. Her tiny silver Ghost materializes beside her shoulder, shell spinning as he studies his troubled Guardian.

"If you found out someone erased part of your history from the records, how would you deal with that?” she blurts out, never one to hold back on her thoughts. Her helm’s gripped in her left hand, and she taps it against her leg uneasily. “You think there are any stories that just shouldn't be remembered?"

Comments

[rekindledtitan]

"That's what worries me. They were- are- Guardians. Sounds like they had some kind of falling-out with the commander, but that's not much to scrub someone from the histories over. Makes you wonder what the hell they did." She pauses for a moment before grudgingly adding, "Or whether Commander Zavala did the right thing."

"They severed ties on their end, too. I don't get the impression there's any love lost between them and the City."

[juststeverogers]

"I don't suppose you can track them down and ask them then? Since it's unlikely you'd get an answer or the truth out of your commander. "

He shoots Ghost a glance to see if his suspicions are on the right track before addressing Blaze again.

"If you want to find out, I'd be happy to go with you. No risk of anyone telling your superiors then. And I can hold my own these days pretty well. "

[rekindledtitan]

"You've hit on the plan, Steve. And the commander's actually on board, sort of." Ghost gives his Guardian an uneasy look as she nods.

"Gave us a lead on where to start looking, but I don't think he was happy about it. And he instructed us not to make contact, just locate them somehow." She looks up sharply, eyes brightening as she focuses on Steve. "No offense, Steve, but do you really want to go delving into a bunch of Light-forsaken ruins in hostile terrain trying to track these people down? You're a hell of a lot tougher than you used to be, but you're still, you know..."

She can't exactly call him a civilian any more, but it's hard to break that gut instinct that this is her job. Even though it's wrestling with the part of her that would love to see their friend in action. She and Ghost nearly lost him for good already... and she knows that hit her small partner especially.

[juststeverogers]

"Want to?"

Steve's gaze cuts back to Blaze just as sharply, his arms folded over his chest in what plainly speaks to his stubborn streak he's had since well before he was able to look Blaze in the eye without having to bend over backwards to do so.

"That's practically my job description, these days. We should go sparring sometime, do some drills. I'll show you just how much tougher I've gotten. Ghost would ahve a field day scanning my vitals."

[rekindledtitan]

There's no doubting his resolve. She doesn't need to look him in the eye to know it, but she does anyway. After a couple of moments she looks at Ghost, though- and she's almost surprised to see him bob slightly in agreement.

Maybe she shouldn't be. Ghost is no stranger to taking his dearest friends into the jaws of Darkness. At least with two they can watch each other's back...

"Hnnh. Parvin was asking about you, too." She snorts. "Soon as you're ready, then. We'll find out if you're ready for a trip to Mars."

"And then we'll get you some environment gear," Ghost adds quietly, like they both aren't sharp-eared enough to catch it. He knows his best friends. He can see already where this will go.

[juststeverogers]

"You know, I've fought aliens now. Still haven't been to Mars though. That'll be a treat."

He sounds genuinely pleased with this answer, walking in step with Blaze almost immediately. Steve Rogers has always enjoyed a good fight. One of the better things about this new body is actually being able to live to enjoy another one. He actually smirks at Ghost's quiet murmur, glancing at the Exo out of the corner of his eye.

"You're dying to know, too. Think of how much fun it'll be to finally size each other up."

[rekindledtitan]

Her metal face does give her some cover - no lips to curve upward, no little twist of her mouth to give her away - but Steve can see the way her eyes brighten before they flick his way, and the low 'hrrm' she gives isn't near as serious as she's trying to act. It's about thirteen seconds before she cracks and leans over to give his shoulder a playful shove.

"Aw, that ain't fair! You know I've wanted to drag you into a real fight since the showdown with Reynard. How am I supposed to act responsible this way?"

"It was a good attempt, but I think I'll keep my job."

[juststeverogers]

He doesn't move, Blaze. He sways a bit with her shove but doesn't move. Granted she's probably holding back because he's a human but sure doesn't feel like it right now.

"Please. We act responsible all the time when we gotta be. Believe me when I say there's got to be time for fun, too. I've tried to go all in on the responsible thing. After a while, you don't even know why you do it anymore. A little laughter is good for the soul."

He shoots a grin back at Ghost too.

"You want to take a crack at my phone now that I'm back? Tony--ah." His smile fades a bit. "A friend of mine had one kitted out for all of us for work. You should be able to glean my records off of it."

[rekindledtitan]

"Heh. Getting old and wise on me, Steve?" He was only gone a couple of months... thereabouts, anyway, in Nexus time. Not that much longer on his end, but a few years can make a lot of difference. With humans especially. And rough as it must of been for him, there's such joy in being able to treat him as something close to equal, a fellow soldier physically and mentally.

He always had the soul for it. It's the rest that takes time to catch up.

"Oh! Yes, thank you!" Ghost glances up at Steve's face a moment as he darts closer. The man knows how to lure a Ghost. "I'm curious to see - if you don't mind me looking..."

[juststeverogers]

"Hey, I'm not half bad for a guy about to be a hundred years old." Steve laughs along with Blaze and nudges her back none too gently. He could be a regular Guardian nowadays with his new build.

"Here, go right ahead." It's not as though Ghost is going to stop himself from looking on his own time anyway and Steve's used to all his data being on public record thanks to becoming a historical figure and all that trippy stuff. He unlocks his Starkphone and hands it over to Ghost so the little bot can play with it.

"It'll be nice to see everyone again and actually be able to hold my own against more than a stiff breeze."