Harrowheart (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
westfallcorndog) wrote2017-05-26 10:08 am
westfallcorndog) wrote2017-05-26 10:08 am
Missing – For Adia
Days have passed since Khan invaded the Nexus, leaving havoc and destruction in his wake and abetting some of the most unsavory figures of the Nexus to cause their own chaos in the hours that the anti-violence field was down. Harrowheart had missed most of the initial efforts to save survivors after the final confrontation – it was difficult enough for him to return to his own world and save himself after the destruction of one of his runeblades. In the time he'd been gone they had to be reforged and his body somewhat mended from the physical and magical wounds he'd sustained. Strips of flesh remained burned away from his face where Khan's plasma had melted anything it touched, and he was still forced to wear an eyepatch until his eye regenerated.
All that mattered was that he was well enough, and with an ominous new runeblade slung over his back, he returned to the Nexus to check on the people he cared about. His family, of course, was safe in Ixis Naugus' impenetrable tower, and he suspected Isidor and Viatorus were just fine – they were magically talented, and if worse came to worst they could have escaped back to Earth... But some couldn't have been so lucky.
His first stop is Steve's apartment. He knows where to find the key and doesn't bother knocking. If he comes in and finds Steve nakedly lounging, at least it means he's safe. What he doesn't expect is to find... Nothing at all. No Steve. He sniffs the air, but isn't sure what he was expecting to find. Of course it smells of him. Is it a distant smell, though? He can't quite tell.
He steps hesitantly inside, and the sound of his plate armor shifting seems so loud in the utter silence. The strange little animals Steve lives with aren't around, either...
"Is anyone home?" he asks, feeling stupid even as he does. It's not like anyone could be hiding out of view in this apartment. "Steve?" Light, what were the little beasts' names?... "Eth...el? Bucky? Sarah?"
It's empty. Totally empty. But that doesn't mean anything, right? Maybe they're out. They're all out helping people who need help. Of course that's the situation. Steve wouldn't sit around if he knew people were in need, and his little creatures were intelligent enough to go with him.
At a loss for what direction to take, Harrowheart does what he's spent the last few months in Acherus perfecting: Standing watch. With the door to the apartment still open he positions himself in the center of the room and stands stark still, his lone, glowing eye unblinking as it watches the doorway. It's only out of habit that he draws his weapon and stands it up, the blade's tip on the floor and his palms resting on the hilt as he waits.
All that mattered was that he was well enough, and with an ominous new runeblade slung over his back, he returned to the Nexus to check on the people he cared about. His family, of course, was safe in Ixis Naugus' impenetrable tower, and he suspected Isidor and Viatorus were just fine – they were magically talented, and if worse came to worst they could have escaped back to Earth... But some couldn't have been so lucky.
His first stop is Steve's apartment. He knows where to find the key and doesn't bother knocking. If he comes in and finds Steve nakedly lounging, at least it means he's safe. What he doesn't expect is to find... Nothing at all. No Steve. He sniffs the air, but isn't sure what he was expecting to find. Of course it smells of him. Is it a distant smell, though? He can't quite tell.
He steps hesitantly inside, and the sound of his plate armor shifting seems so loud in the utter silence. The strange little animals Steve lives with aren't around, either...
"Is anyone home?" he asks, feeling stupid even as he does. It's not like anyone could be hiding out of view in this apartment. "Steve?" Light, what were the little beasts' names?... "Eth...el? Bucky? Sarah?"
It's empty. Totally empty. But that doesn't mean anything, right? Maybe they're out. They're all out helping people who need help. Of course that's the situation. Steve wouldn't sit around if he knew people were in need, and his little creatures were intelligent enough to go with him.
At a loss for what direction to take, Harrowheart does what he's spent the last few months in Acherus perfecting: Standing watch. With the door to the apartment still open he positions himself in the center of the room and stands stark still, his lone, glowing eye unblinking as it watches the doorway. It's only out of habit that he draws his weapon and stands it up, the blade's tip on the floor and his palms resting on the hilt as he waits.
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Steve's door is open.
Adia immediately freezes. She's absolutely certain that she shut and locked the door behind her when they left. Picking up on her anxiety, Ethel leans into her protectively while Bucky and Sarah scout ahead, preparing for trouble.
Oh! It's that undead guy that came over at Christmas and was nice to Steve. Sarah bounds over and wags her tail in greeting. Bucky is far less warm with his welcome, flying over to his spot on top of the bookshelf and giving Harrowheart the stink eye. Who invited you, buddy? Still, he recognizes this man, even with his injuries, so he'll let the intrusion slide.
Not hearing any sort of frightful commotion, Adia cautiously enters the apartment. She startles anyway, clutching at her messenger bag reflexively. "Harrowheart?! How did you --" She cuts herself off, noticing his facial wounds, and hurries over worriedly. "Oh my goodness, are you okay? What happened?"
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Until he doesn't. He's almost as surprised as Adia when he sees who's on the other side of the door. Sarah gets one final pat to the head before Harrowheart slowly rises, and just in time to have Adia fret over him.
He chuckles self-consciously and shakes his head and his hand to assure her that her stress is unnecessary. "Don't worry about me, hun. I was just out there on the streets doin' what a knight's supposed to do when bad guys show up." He gestures to his face and says, "It's all gonna heal up with a little time and magic." And killing, but Adia doesn't seem like the kind of person who wants to know that detail.
One of his hands – attached to his wrist today by his heavy gauntlets – nearly grazes her face where the faintest signs of a bruise remain. "How about you?" he asks with a strange uncertainty. It's a very small wound by his normal standards, but he isn't sure how delicate a life she's accustomed to. A bruise like that might be something uniquely uncomfortable for her.
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"You fought Khan?" Her gaze lingers on his gashes. They look so brutal... but he says he'll be okay, and with his unique constitution, there's no reason to doubt him. "That was very brave of you, Harrowheart. Thank you."
By contrast, questions about her own injury are met with a small, untroubled smile. "I'm fine. That's an old bruise from New Caprica." She reaches up and takes his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "I was in the Plaza helping Felix with injured refugees during the invasion. I was safe... relatively speaking."
Her confusion returns when she remembers the open door. "What brings you to Steve's apartment? You have a key?"
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"I know where he hides his key, anyway," he says, looking once more to the door with a certain kind of expectance that comes with raised brows and attentive eyes. But Steve doesn't come walking through, and so he looks to Adia once more.
"I came to make sure he's okay. He was out with you, right? On a walk with his pets?..." He's not willing to show his worry yet. There's still time for him to hear good news...
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"Nobody told you?" Her smile disappears, replaced with grief and worry. How can she let him down gently? She keeps his hand in hers, holds it close to her as if that will somehow ease the pain. "Steve was injured during the invasion. Very badly, he... he was taken out of the Nexus by a friend, somewhere that he could be healed. I've been looking after his pokemon in the meanwhile."
If he needs any confirmation, Sarah lets out a sad, mournful howl, and Bucky and Ethel look equally unhappy. Adia's presence has kept their spirits lifted, but they still miss Steve very much.
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Yet... That isn't what Adia says. Harrowheart's eyebrows twitch as his mind tries to shift gears. Steve isn't dead... But he's gone. He's hurt, and he might get better... But he isn't here. Which means he knows even less about the situation than he would if Steve had simply been killed.
He starts to shake his head as his face twists up in confusion. He really, truly had no idea what to do with this information. His thoughts are everywhere and hard to wrangle.
"So... He's..." His lips purse, his brow knits. The little red dog is wailing and the other two creatures are drooping, and Harrowheart still isn't sure what to say.
"Where's he at? Can... We see him?"
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Sarah whimpers before setting off another howl; Adia sighs and lets go of Harrowheart's hand so that she can pet the growlithe with both hands. "Sarah..." she chides gently, quieting her. The last thing Harrowheart needs is a chorus to his emotions.
"I know it's hard, not knowing, but... but it's still better than the alternative, isn't it? If there's anyone who makes the most of second chances, it's Steve." She'd prefer closure, the same as Harrowheart, but she prefers hoping even more. "We just have to do our best and take care of ourselves so that we're here for Steve when he returns."
Yeah, it's a modified version of the little pick-me-up speech she gave the pokemon earlier, but it's all she's got right now. "Do you want to sit down for a little bit? How long have you been waiting here?"
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"Not knowin' is better," he finally decides, though not with much confidence. "If he'd'a died, he would have wanted to stay dead. That would'a been hard to come to terms with... Knowin' where he was but not bringin' him back."
In hindsight he probably shouldn't have mentioned Steve dying around the pokémon. He turns a guilty frown to each of them in turn, then pats his lap to encourage one of them to come over. Even if it's Ethel, he can certainly pick her up. He thinks. She looks awfully sturdy, though he is fairly small...
"But Steve's gonna be fine," he says, as much to convince himself as Adia and the pokémon. "You're right, Adia, he's real good at second chances. He did better for himself here in the Nexus than he ever did on Earth. Wherever he is now he'll be even better." Still, he's not going to entertain the idea of the guy coming back. He wouldn't want to lead on the pokémon.
Or himself.
He looks at Adia with thoughtfully furrowed brows and asks, "Was it Felix who took him away?"
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Ethel is just starting to doze, and seems unfazed by both the talk of death and Harrowheart's come hither gesture. Bucky gives the death knight the most incredulous bird stare ever before going back to preening his feathers. But Sarah accepts the offer for affection with great enthusiasm, shaking off her sadness and trotting over to Harrowheart before laying her head down in his lap. All his smells are comforting, even the stale smoke, as it reminds her of her own flame.
In case he needs even more comforting, Adia gives him an encouraging smile, her little light of hope shining bright for the both of them. At least until he mentions Felix, and then she just looks confused. "No, it was... um, a superhero with spider powers. I met him once, he's a good kid, and his world sounds pretty hi-tech."
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"Spider powers?" He's not sure he likes the sound of that. "Like he's half spider? He better not –" He stops mid-sentence and glances down at the growlithe, who gets another kiss before he covers up her ears. Mindful of his spaulders he leans to the side and whispers to Adia, "He better not wrap Steve up in a web and eat him." He's dead serious about that, too. Apparently he's got no idea that a spider-man is not necessarily a man-spider.
Still, she said he's a good kid and he's not going to argue about a man he doesn't know. He looks around the apartment in search of a new, safer subject, but all he sees is Steve. Steve's things, Steve's friends, Steve's old life... A life he may or may not be returning to again.
"What're we gonna do about his apartment? All his things? The rent and all?"
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Adia, on the other hand, is quite taken with the affectionate display. "Do you have pets of your own? You're so good with her..." Her wistful smile vanishes at his question and she lifts up her hands as if to physically ward off the misunderstanding. "No, he's human, but he can climb walls and swing on webs. He knows a lot of really smart people, one of them will know what to do for Steve." But thanks for putting that awful image into her head. "Why did you think Felix took him? I don't think they know each other very well..."
Looking around the room as well, she replies, "The super told me that he'd waive the rent for a few months in consideration of what happened." She tugs at the ends of her scarf, uncertainty creeping into her voice. "I try to check on everyone at least once a day, but it's hard to get away from my ship sometimes, and their food is going to run out at some point, but I don't have any money to buy more..."
Her hopeful facade cracks a little around the edges as she sits and stresses over how she's going to manage everything. Bucky notices, and despite his earlier scoffing at Sarah's behavior, he quickly flies down to perch on the back of the couch, nuzzling up to Adia's cheek and chirruping softly in an effort to improve her mood.
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No moment is too serious to deny sweet dogs a chance to lick his face, and Harrowheart can't help but quietly laugh at Sarah's enthusiasm. He has to stop her to save a shred of his own dignity, though, but he's sure to keep her busy with tireless neck scratches and ear rubs.
"I've been around animals all my life. I grew up on a farm, after all. But the only animals I got now are..."
His eyebrows rise slowly and he looks between the three pokémon as a memory bubbles to the top of his mind. "A couple'a little critters that came from the same place these ones did. Steve and I talked about it when we met up at Christmas. One of mine is some kinda little piglet, and the other's a pine treant." His eyes light up and he fights an undignified smile when he says, "The little piggy's got this cute little voice, and he's always makin' this sound like..." He clears his throat before he attempts a falsetto, sing-song, "Swiiii~ Swinuuuuuub~"
Harrowheart rubs at his cheeks to wipe away his smile. This should be a serious moment, and he shouldn't be making light when Adia is worriedly admitting her struggles, which have become the struggles of Steve's pets.
"You live on your ship?" It's as much an out-loud thought as an actual question. A few seconds of silence pass before he continues speaking. "I'm not here all the time, either, but my family is. They live with a mage in his tower and tend the land, grow their own food, keep busy. If Steve's little friends ever need a place to be, or anything to eat... I mean, I know my folks'd be happy to have some more animals around. And they can play with the chao! Which are these little sorta... Puffy... I-Idunno how to describe 'em, but they're real sweet."
A little more quiet thought passes between them before he thinks to add, "You can always come and stay with my family, too, if you need a place to crash in the Nexus? It's cramped, but it'll keep you from payin' rent in any inns, and there's always food and a bed and a place to take a hot bath, if you want?"
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Pinching the inside of her forearm, she forces herself to calm down. One crisis at a time, Adia. "It was Blaze who told me. Right, um, right after. I don't think Felix's world is that medically advanced, anyway..."
Her smile returns, small but genuine, as she listens to Harrowheart talk about his own experiences with animals and pokemon alike. His imitation of a swinub even makes her laugh, forgetting her own troubles in the face of such levity. But it's the offer of a place for her pokemon, and even a place for her, that truly lifts her spirits.
"That's so generous of you, Harrowheart. Thank you." She looks at the three pokemon thoughtfully. "Do you think... maybe we could all visit your family's farm? They could use a real playdate with other pokemon, not just me playing fetch." She lightly brushes at Bucky's feathers. "This guy especially, he likes pokemon a lot more than people." And maybe she needs a break from Steve's apartment and the small park nearby.
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"A playdate sounds good," he says. "Pokémon," which he says like a man learning a new word in another language, "In the yard, and people at the dinner table."
He glances out the nearest window to catch a hint of the time before he returns his attention to Adia, then slowly looks between all three pokémon in quiet thought. "I know y'all just got in, but if you're up for a little walk and an evening of talkin' I'd say we head over right now. I'd love a chance to cook for you, and, y'know, it probably wouldn't be a bad thing, gettin' your mind off everything that's happened."
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Not just acceptance, but an immediate offer to have her and the pokemon over for dinner. Her stomach votes an immediate yes with a dull pang of hunger -- there is a growing food crisis on her ship, and she has been sacrificing some of her own meals for her pregnant friend's benefit. But it's from her heart that she answers, eyes shimmering in gratitude. "I'd like that very much, thank you." She tickles Bucky's feathers. "What do you say, guys? Do you want to go to Harrowheart's for a playdate?"
Bucky quietly chirrups in agreement and Sarah gives an excited whine. Yay, new friends! Ethel rouses herself from her nap, yawning mightily before plodding to the door, her way of saying yes, she'll go, too.
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"Still feels weird, havin' a sword," he says offhandedly, as if Adia is supposed to sympathize with that. Then again, she'd probably feel weird having a sword, too...
He follows Ethel toward the door, but before he exits he turns to take another long look at Steve's apartment. It doesn't feel like he's gone. The strongest reminder of the situation is the strange sensation he feels washing over him when his eyes cross the visage of the Virgin Mary statue he'd gotten Steve at Christmas. His eyes narrow and he glances between Adia and the statue.
"You see that goddess figure?" he asks, nodding Mary's way. "Can you pick her up for me? We're takin' her to dinner with us tonight. She ain't too heavy but she ain't too light either. I'd do it myself, but I can't touch holy objects."
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Sarah prances to the door and whines impatiently, but she'll have to wait for Adia to find the statue and shoo Bucky off her shoulder so that she can carry it. It's an odd request on the death knight's part, but one she's quick to honor.
The goddess's face is serene, but sad, as if she has made a great sacrifice. "She's beautiful... who is she?" It reminds her of something she saw when she visited a friend's church on his Earth. Carefully, she scoops the statue into her arms and joins everyone. "Do you mind locking up after us?"
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He searches the lining of his cape for the place he hid Steve's key before he makes his way out behind Adia and the monsters. After locking up he nearly returns the key to its hiding place before he thinks better of it and decides to keep it. Never know when it might come in handy...
"She's called The Virgin Mary. She's the mother goddess in Steve's religion. She gave birth to the demigod he worships, Jesus, and it's her job to watch over the souls of her believers and usher their prayers to their god. I think? I heard all about her when I went and bought that statue for him, but it was an awful lot to take in."
He makes his way down the hallway, mindful of any pokemon who might trip him in their excitement (Sarah...) and keeps the conversation going. "We're gonna give her an offering to make sure she watches over Steve, wherever he is."
It's a long way to Naugus' tower, and Harrowheart is going to make the most of the small talk. "Do you have a god or goddess? Someone you'd want your friends to pray to if you went missin'?" he asks when they make it to the street. "I think I remember when I was real drunk at that party we talked about... B... acchus? Dionysus? But you don't seem like you'd worship gods like them."
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It's a little crowded in the hallway, but Sarah manages to keep out from underfoot. She's the first to make it outside, dashing ahead in her eagerness. She pauses and scratches at an ear while she waits for everyone else. Bucky takes to the air and flies circles overhead while Ethel plods alongside Adia. She's the slowest of the three, but even she has a spring to her step in anticipation of their playdate.
"Oh... oh! I remember reading about her during Christmas. She had to give birth to Jesus in a manger. I think she was human, though?" She doesn't sound too certain, it was a lot to take in for her as well. She smiles in commiseration. "Earth culture is so diverse, every time I try to learn something, I only have more questions... I think that's a nice idea, to give her an offering."
Answering questions about her own religion makes her hesitate, the porcelain statue a guilty weight in her arms. She always worries if others will take offense to her religion, or lack of one in this case. "I don't... um, I'm not religious at all. The gods -- if they exist in my universe -- don't make themselves known to anyone. But my dedication ceremony was to Persephone, so, um... her, I guess, if you had to pick one."
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He pats Adia's shoulder when he catches her sheepishness about religion. "You don't gotta be embarrassed, my whole family was never religious either. Never really saw the point of it. Just a heads up, though, one of my little brothers got it in his head that he needs to be a..." he hesitates a moment before he slowly says, "Holy warrior. He ain't gonna try and convert you or nothin' – I hope – but try not to freak out if he wants to tell you all about the Holy Light. That's what humans worship on Azeroth. It's the power of life that connects all things in the universe." Well. "Almost all things," he corrects.
"Gods reveal themselves on my world," he says as he continues leading them on their way, his red cape billowing behind him. "But I think that makes 'em less worth worshippin'. If I can see it, touch it, hear it... How's it any different than a powerful mage or a... Shoot, Idunno, a tank or somethin'? Why would I worship somethin' that I know is real? The minute it didn't answer my prayers I'd know it didn't care about me. I'd rather have a mysterious god like Steve's, who's just called 'God,' by the way, which I think is a weird little fact. Anyway, I'd rather not know if they're out there or not. That way I'd have to really put my faith in 'em all the time."
He turns to see Adia again with his one remaining eye and says, "Like the gods where you're from. They don't show up, but who's to say they're not out there? I feel like it's easier to worship somethin' if it only exists as an idea in your mind. Everything's scarier and more powerful and more perfect when you imagine it than when you see it."
Something about this conversation has him especially chatty. Now and then he looks at Mary, then at Adia. He nods now and then, as if he's agreeing with something unsaid.
"I don't know much about Persephone. She married a dead man, didn't she? So did my friend's goddess, Isis. That must be real popular with goddesses. I wish it was that way in the real world," he says with a laugh.
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It's a relief that he isn't offended by her lack of religion. And, as he describes his own philosophy, it occurs to her that having gods you can see and hear doesn't actually make it easier to put your faith in them. But as chatty as the topic makes him, it only draws her into a long, pensive silence. "You have a point," she says finally. "But all the same, I'd rather not believe in them at all. Because the alternative is that they'd rather watch the human race go extinct than answer any of our prayers."
And then she blushes and adds hurriedly, "Not that, um... other people can believe what they want. I'd never judge someone for putting their faith in a higher power. Your brother can tell me all about the holy light... it sounds nice, actually. I could get behind the concept of something like that."
His joke startles a giggle out of her. "She married Hades. He's not dead, but he's in charge of the Underworld." Isis, Isis, where has she heard that name before... "Do you mean Isidor? Her patron goddess is Isis. Some people on her Earth worship a religion similar to mine. Her brother -- oh!" She stops in her tracks a moment, staring up at Harrowheart with a bright smile. "That's who you were talking about at the Halloween party. Viatorus!"
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When she brings up the very good point about the nature of gods and extinction he nods slowly in full comprehension. It's the sort of notion he's surely come across on his world, and one which he can sympathize with.
Her giggle brings him a little laughter too, and then he's swiftly back to listening to her as she tells him actual facts about her religion. And then... Isidor. Just hearing her name makes his expression melt into a stupid, wonderful smile. Isidor herself might be trained in the art of couching her emotions behind a schooled eyebrow arch, but he's not quite so skilled.
Fortunately Adia provides him a quick out with the mention of Viatorus and the Halloween party, which gets wide eyes from him. Wait, wait, what was it he said? It was good, right? The lights in his eyes dart all over Adia's face as he tries to remember. It's unlikely he does if his feigned laugh is any indication. "Oh yeah! Viatorus, he's a real good kid, ain't he? He's my best pal, honestly, next to–" He glances at Bucky, then back to Adia. Some names might be left unsaid.
"You know him? And... Isidor too?... Y'all're like gal pals or somethin', maybe?..."
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She's glad that he gets it. And she's certainly open to more questions about her religion, but... wow, what is up with that face he's making? All because she mentioned Isidor? Oh! Does he have a crush on her? That's so sweet!
Wisely, she keeps this discovery to herself. The conversation has already shifted to Viatorus, and she's pleased to hear that they are such good friends. She gives Harrowheart a bittersweet smile at the non-mention of Steve.
"What? Oh... ah, not really, we've only met once. I'm closer to Viatorus, to be honest. We have more in common. We've got plans to set up a research center in the Nexus for both science and magic." She laughs softly, a fond smile on her face. "He's a good kid, yeah. Oh, but I like Isidor a lot, too! I can't believe she's the same age as me, she's so mature and put-together..." She may not be crushing on either of the Durants, but she has a lot of obvious affection for both of them.
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"I really respect that about her," he says. "But you know, you always struck me as kinda mature yourself? Even though half the time we spent together I was drunk or you were cryin'. Maybe it's 'cause you don't make crazy decisions like young people do, and you're real aware of everyone else's feelings." He shrugs one shoulder and with another small laugh says, "I was the same age as the both of you when I died, and I always felt like an idiot kid outta my league. Maybe it's just part of bein' that age."
But, wait... A research center? Harrowheart's eyebrows lower as he thinks this belated realization through. Magic... And science? But Adia doesn't do magic, he thinks, which means...
He looks her up and down with a newfound curiosity. "Adia, are you some kinda scientist or somethin'? Like an engineer? Is that why they got you on that ship?"
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Harrowheart's compliment puts a stop to her babbling, thankfully, and she ducks her head and smiles bashfully in response. "That's kind of you to say. I always had my schooling or career to focus on, that usually kept me out of trouble." How strange that he can talk about the day he died so casually, but it doesn't detract from the point he makes, which she finds herself nodding along to once he's done talking. "On our world, at least, this was supposed to be the years that I discovered myself... what I wanted out of life, who I wanted to be with." She sighs and adjusts the statue in her arms. "But then the war happened, and... I don't know, ever since I feel like it's been one crisis after another. I can barely stop to breathe, let alone plan for the future..."
Although she has been planning that research center with Viatorus, so perhaps she is not giving herself enough credit. She smiles brightly and nods, pleased with her friend's deduction skills. "I am a scientist. A microbiologist. My ship's a research vessel, we study infectious diseases."
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Fun Fact: On Azeroth, cells are called 'pixels'
And diseases are caused by bad code?
Diseases are what we call "the playerbase."
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