Missing – For Adia

[westfallcorndog]

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.

Comments

[chiron_survivor]

"There are a lot of mages," Adia agrees quietly, between spoonfuls of stew. Although her tone is far more subdued, she shares the woman's sentiment. "Have you met Viatorus? He and I are collaborating on creating a research center in the Nexus for both science and magic. I'm hoping it will draw more scientists out of the woodwork."

She eats a little more, content to let Tamminy take whatever time she needs to think. The stew is very good, flavorful and nourishing. She'll be sure to profusely compliment whoever made it, if she gets to meet them. "Oh... well, I wouldn't say mastered, but we had twelve colonies at one point, and we're quite far from home now..." Should she tell them about the War? It never seems like a good time to drop that kind of heavy information. "I don't have access to any schematics, but I can tell you that we use a teleportation technology that allows us to travel great distances instantaneously. We call it a jump drive. I'm sure we wouldn't have gotten as far as we have without it."

When the topic shifts back to microbiology, she sets down her spoon and laughs. "I've learned that a lot of people don't know what microbiology is. I have done some research at the library, but any experiments I've come across would need to be replicated on my ship anyway. It seems for the most part that preventative care is still the most effective way to stop a disease from spreading, no matter what world you're from."

[westfallcorndog]

Tamminy laughs sympathetically when Adia admits to her friends' ignorance. "I can see that being a new idea for certain peoples who don't live in a scientific environment. If they don't have access to microscopes or evidence of microorganisms, why would they ever think that creatures too small to see exist? I mean, twenty years ago humans on Azeroth still thought diseases were spread by the paladins who were curing them, or by curses. All they knew is that it definitely didn't have anything to do with placing the largest human cemetery in the southern kingdoms directly on top of their capitol's major source of fresh drinking water. Typhoid fever who? Cholera what?" And then she laughs! It's morbid, but she laughs. What else can you do but laugh and shrug and try your potato soup? Adia made it look so damn good... She's almost let down to find it's the same as it always is.

Mentions of jump drives don't surprise her. "Faster-than-light travel, or actual physics-based teleportation? Either way, I'm riveted to hear one of those methods is working! Most non-magical teleportation on my world is prone to... Accidents... And really not very long-range anyway. It's always easier to slip through a magical portal back on Azeroth."

The subject of Viatorus she saves for last and approaches it with some sense of trepidation and a lot of soup-sipping. "Viatorus, yes... He and his sister showed up here for dinner a few weeks back..." Her large eyes dart to the boys, who are busy arguing about how to undo a feisty buckle on Harrowheart's shoulderpads. It's Harrowheart's armor, but Lawrence knows best, of course, and it looks like they'll be at it for a while by the way their hands are pushed into each other's faces.

Tamminy leans up so her face is a little closer to Adia's, and in a lowered voice says, "Viatorus was a lovely young man. Very nice, if quiet. His sister was..." Oh, so much shifty-eyed watching of the boys right now. Even quieter than before, in a barely-audible whisper she says, "She... Wasn't very kind to Harrowheart, in my humble and singular opinion. Lawrence isn't her biggest fan now, Harrowheart wound up crying – not that it's hard to make him cry – and... Things are complicated. I think some one-sided romance is involved. Call me a vulture, but I'm really curious to see how it all shakes out."

So as not to look suspicious she raises her voice to normal conversational levels and says, "A research center would be fantastic! If there's anything I could do to help, count me in."

[chiron_survivor]

There's a bit of a wince in response to the tale of the contaminated water supply, but Adia feels an odd sort of relief, too, that Tamminy is also familiar with typhoid fever and cholera. "What about gnomes? Do you have gnome microbiologists? Was it, um... do humans and gnomes not spend a lot of time together? Is that way there was such a high level of ignorance about disease?"

Compared to the food rations on board the Chiron, the potato stew is heavenly. She gets in another bite or two before she's asked about jump drives. "FTL," she confirms, pleased that Tamminy knows the terminology. "We can only jump so far each time -- the farther you go, the more calculations the jump drive needs to make so you don't end up teleporting into an asteroid field or something like that. We don't have any sort of small range teleportation, though..." She's surprised to hear that Azeroth has anything like that, even with accidents.

Adia leans in instinctively, her eyes widening as she listens to the whispered gossip. Isidor was mean enough to Harrowheart to make him cry? But she doesn't get a chance to respond before Tamminy is speaking at a normal volume again. "Oh... um, okay, thank you! Maybe I can come back here again soon and show you the plans I drew up? I made up a list of what sort of equipment would be useful, but it's all from a biologist's perspective, obviously. If there's some basic engineering equipment you think is necessary, I can add it to the list."

She glances over at the two men to see if they have overheard anything, but it looks like they are still working out their buckling-undoing differences. Rough-housing is about as foreign to her as magic and gnomes, and part of her wants to keep watching for anthropological purposes, but Tamminy's gossip is still poking at the back of her mind. Taking the chance that she won't be noticed, she lowers her voice to the faintest of whispers and turns back to the other woman.

"I've only spoken with Isidor once, but she said Harrowheart was her friend, and this was after telling me that she doesn't have many friends and almost never turns to them for help. So I'm surprised that she'd be mean to him..."

[westfallcorndog]

Adia's perspective on it all raises Tamminy's pink eyebrows. Hmm? Hmm! This is a new angle... Or a new twist on an old angle. She whispers to Adia, "At first I thought she didn't know any better. I got the feeling she was sheltered. Just the way she was talking, the things she said... My original opinion was that she was trying to impress people without realizing that what she was doing was not impressive."

Cheerfully she says, "FTL! That's astounding! And yes, yes, I'd love to see your plans! I could advise on some equipment for the study of physics and electrical engineering too, absolutely. Ohhh, this all feels so self-indulgent already. There are a few machines and tools I'd absolutely kill for. Or pay someone to kill for, anyway. And an office of my own... It's been too long since I've had an opportunity like that..."

Leaning in once more she continues on with her gossip. "She wouldn't stop using Harrowheart's birth name, which he hates. But you see, his mother absolutely insists we call him by it when he's not around – which he wasn't when the Durants came by. Mrs. Weatherhill's a nice lady, don't get me wrong, but she's totally in denial about her son. About a lot of things, but we won't touch on that. Anyway, ever since Isidor vindicated her, she's been 'accidentally' calling him the wrong name to his face, too. I've had a harsher opinion of them both ever since, but now that you've said what you've said I'm wondering if I was right from the start... Maybe Isidor didn't know better... But Mrs. Weatherhill should."

She sits straight again and takes a few spoonfuls from her bowl. Without bothering to lower her voice she muses, "Maybe my disappointment is misplaced... I lost sight of my own advice. It's strange how that happens, isn't it? It's much easier to give advice than take it, even when it's your own..."

Tamminy looks to her side to find that Lawrence and Harrowheart have come to an agreement and somehow managed to undo the buckle. Lawrence is adventuring in the world of soup-eating and Harrowheart is undoing his cape's clasp, then folding it neatly on the table near his pauldrons.

"You asked if gnomes have microbiologists?" Tamminy says, only half-remembering that part of the conversation. "We do! We... Did. Gnomeregan, our only city, had scientists of all kinds, as well as magi, and arcanotechnicians who studied science and magic combined. My wife was a biologist herself. A neurologist." With a little laugh she says, "It's such a strange relief not to have to define that to someone." Fondly and distantly she says, "She taught me so many things. If it weren't for her I'd have never been able to advance my research the way I have. Lawrence wouldn't have his arm. I wouldn't have met the Weatherhills. I'm not even sure I'd still be alive. I owe her... Everything."

[chiron_survivor]

The rapid switching between whispered gossip and regular discussion is giving Adia conversational whiplash. Flustered, she needs a moment to decide what to reply to first, finally settling on the easier topic of a research facility. "I was planning to include office space, and some sort of shared database as well, to make collaboration easier." She flashes a quick grin. "And it's not self-indulgent at all, so long as you don't fault me for already putting microscopes and centrifuges on the list."

Then, with another furtive glance in the direction of the brothers, she leans in and whispers, "The Durant family and their social circles... it's like royalty, practically. Lots of rules, lots of social obligations. You have to be super careful or your reputation will get ruined. I think Isidor gets caught up in the rules because it's the only thing she trusts to keep her brother from getting hurt. He means the absolute world to her. If she used Harrowheart's birth name... which I agree, that isn't cool... she was doing it because she was following what she thought were the social rules for his family. I don't think she'd intentionally try to hurt him..."

All the same, she's glad when the whispering comes to an end. She's happy to provide a perspective on Isidor if it will help improve things somehow, but she hasn't even met Mrs. Weatherhill yet, it feels somewhat inappropriate to discuss her shortcomings.

She blinks at the mention of a wife. Aren't Tamminy and Lawrence...? Oh, but it's past tense. it evokes a strong feeling of melancholy within her, and a great sympathy for Tamminy. The city is mentioned as something of the past, too, and it reminds her so much of how she talks about Leonis that she has to suddenly blink away tears. "I -- I'm sorry. It sounds like she was a very accomplished woman. I wish I could have met her."

[westfallcorndog]

Abrupt turns and sudden changes of the train of thought aren't strange in themselves for Tamminy, but she catches the hint of emotions in Adia's voice and in her eyes and finds herself quiet, hesitant, unsure of what to say or do. Those can't be tears for her, can they? No, nobody's that emotionally vulnerable to just a few words. Adia's emotions must be for herself. Should she ask? She should ask... Oh, she's debating on it so long she can feel the gap in the conversation growing wider and wider!

"Thank you for your condolences," she finally says, a little more rushed than intended. "Losing her was difficult, but she's been gone for a very long time and I've made my peace with her passing. When things were hardest I reminded myself that death is natural – even wrongful or accidental deaths that come too soon – and change is inevitable. All any of us can do is try to be an agent of change ourselves, working towards a better future in any way we can."

She smiles encouragingly, or tries to anyway, and watches Adia's expression closely. "That's the most important role for people like you and me, don't you agree? Not to learn for the sake of learning, but to create for the good of everyone who's left to share the future with."

[chiron_survivor]

Sensing Tamminy's hesitance, Adia surreptitiously wipes at the corner of her eyes, preparing some sort of apology for her excessively emotional response. But she stays silent, hand dropping to her lap, as the other woman elaborates on her philosophy of loss, and how that motivates her to do better for others.

It's so calmly optimistic, so scientifically minded, that at first Adia can only nod in mute agreement. The tears come again, but this time she doesn't bother to hide them. "We're at war," she explains. "With the sentient robots. They destroyed our colonies with our own nuclear weapons, chased us across the galaxy... there's been so much death. I-it's... my profession is all I have left, and I've tried so hard to use it to help others." She laughs sadly and wipes at her eyes again. "Sorry... I'm glad you've found a new home. I'm hoping my people will have the same fortune."

While Ethel and Bucky continue to eat their stew like polite little pokémon, Sarah licks up the last of her share and looks around hopefully for more. Spotting a crying Adia instead, she hustles over to the table and plops her big furry head on her lap. Don't be sad! Now is the time for pettings.

[westfallcorndog]

All of the humans Tamminy knows seem to like to be touched, and though she doesn't know Adia well she chances a light pat to the other woman's knee.

"Your people will. Don't worry. If there's anything I know about humans, it's that they're brave and full of spirit, and above all, they're tenacious. Your people will find a new home, Adia, trust me. Sooner or later they will, because humans never give up."

Then she points a stumpy finger at Adia and, smiling very slightly, she says, "And what are you? You look like a human to me. So it stands to reason that given enough spirit and tenacity, you'll succeed, too."

She goes to pat her knee once more before she realizes there's a guest in Adia's lap! Instead she folds her hands neatly in her own lap and nods at Adia. "Just have faith in yourself, your people, and your future. It's cold advice to hear, but... Don't look back while you're running, or you might trip."

[chiron_survivor]

When it comes to comforting touch, Adia is no exception to the rule, smiling a little through the last of her tears. "I like that... I like the sound of that, I mean. That we never give up."

It's almost funny, being reminded that she's human but having it be a blessing, and not a curse. She spends so much time comparing herself to non-humans, or humans with magic, and feeling more helpless because of it. It's encouraging to hear otherwise, especially from someone as bright as the woman before her.

Adia looks down at her sudden acquisition of a furry friend and laughs softly. "I'm okay," she tells Sarah, rubbing her behind the ears. And she is... more or less. There's a small, lingering worry at Tamminy's final piece of advice. "We have an old myth, where I'm from, about turning back and... and losing what you've tried so hard to save. It's something I struggle with sometimes." She exhales deeply before smiling at the other woman. "I appreciate it, though. Everything you've said."

[westfallcorndog]

Tamminy nods once, relieved that she's done something to help Adia, even if it wasn't much. Even if it was only words on both their parts.

Lawrence and Harrowheart, who may have been watching more than they let on, finally decide it's time to reinsert themselves into this conversation. Or, rather, Lawrence stands from his place at the table and tells everyone, "I know a couple people who'd love to meet your pokémen, Adia. Why don't you wait here while I go get them?" Except he doesn't wait for any kind of approval. He's off, a lone wolf following his own orders. Without further goodbyes he disappears inside the magically shifting door of the castle.

A few minutes later the doorway to the castle twists open again to let out a little girl who comes peeling out with the sort of excitement only a young child can have. At a glance she's probably eight years old, her skin is much darker than the suntanned Weatherhills and her hair is thick and puffy. She makes a beeline for poor Ethel, who can't possibly be fast enough to get away, and when she's close enough she falls to her knees and skids to a halt in the grass just next to her. She immediately drapes her whole body on the steel pokémon's and begins to stroke her head shield.

"You're wonderful!" the little girl shouts as she pulls away. She holds Ethel's face at arm's length and, starry-eyed, soaks in her full glory. "You're the best four-legged monster I've seen!"

Harrowheart laughs and elbows Adia lightly. "That's my niece," he explains in a whisper. "Her name's Kenny, and she loves monsters. I hope Ethel ain't too offended by bein' called that. She means it as a compliment, I promise."

[chiron_survivor]

"Oh... oh, okay," she replies to Lawrence, who may or may not hear her depending upon his speed to the tower. When he disappears, she lets out a soft sigh. "I hope I didn't put him off at all..." Genocide isn't generally considered light lunch conversation, after all. But hopefully he understands a little better why his robot arm earned an unintentional stare.

She returns to her soup, pausing now and then to ask Tamminy more about her research. She's not expecting a small child to come careening towards Ethel, and apparently neither is Ethel, who barely has time to get her nose out of her bowl before the little girl is upon her. "Shield...on?" she questions, before rumbling happily at the head petting. She looks over her biggest fan with warm brown eyes and leans forward to give her a friendly nuzzle.

"No, I think she's enjoying herself," Adia replies, laughing as well. It's nice to see Ethel getting some positive attention. Bucky, meanwhile, abandons the rest of his stew and flies over to perch on the back of one of the chairs, away from everyone. He chirps at Adia in alarm. Kenny's not going to try to do the same thing to him, is she?!

[westfallcorndog]

Tamminy and Harrowheart both laugh when Adia mentions putting off Lawrence. "He's always put off," Harrowheart says, and Tamminy nods in amused agreement. "He's a dickhead, he hates everyone and everything," he adds.

"Almost," Tamminy says with a wink.

Harrowheart repeats, "Almost."

While Kenny is down on all fours trying to be a shieldon herself Lawrence returns from the castle with a woman in tow. She's incredibly tall with no figure to speak of and the same long face her brothers have – doubtlessly she's one of Harrowheart's siblings. And like Kenny she sees pokémon with bright, excited eyes, though she's got the sense not to take a running leap for any of them. No, she powerwalks like any sensible adult woman does in the presence of a cute animal and makes her way right for Sarah – and their new guest.

"Hello!" she says to the growlithe, smiling her buck-toothed smile. She crouches down next to the bench and holds her hands out encouragingly for all good dogs to invite themselves into hugs, but she looks up at Adia as she does. "Can I pet him? Her? And – Oh! Oh," she laughs self-consciously and extends one hand to shake Adia's. The other remains at dog-petting level. "I'm Anna. You must be Adia! I'm not psychic or anything, Lawrence just told me your name. And he said you're a scientist! And that you live in outer space!" What an exciting life. Whatever description Lawrence gave Anna thrilled her, anyway!

"It's been so nice to meet all of my brother's friends. Are you all women? Apart from Viatorus and Steve I don't think I can name a single friend of his who isn't. Not that it bothers me! No, the opposite. I've had so much fun meeting other ladies here in the Nexus."

[chiron_survivor]

That's reassuring, that it isn't her. Even if the primitive part of her brain is quite insistent that, in fact, she is personally responsible for Lawrence's gruff exit. She notices the wink, and debates asking about Tamminy's relationship with him, but by the time she thinks of a polite way to ask and triple-checks that there isn't an older couple within earshot, Lawrence is already on his way back, and with company.

Sarah does not wait for any sort of permission to trot over to the new person and sniff her hands thoroughly, her tail wagging in greeting. Adia smiles and shakes the extended hand once the growlithe has moved on to snuggling up against Anna instead. "Nice to meet you, Anna. You're Harrowheart's... sister?" Maybe a cousin, although the resemblance is quite strong. "Yep, that's right on both counts. I'm a microbiologist."

She gives Lawrence a brief, friendly smile, grateful for the accurate introduction. Anna's question surprises her, and her gaze slides over to Harrowheart. "I didn't know you had a lot of lady friends," she says, expression guileless, before returning her attention to Anna. "That's funny, because I have the opposite problem. But I'm glad he's introducing you to his friends. Do you spend any time in the Plaza? It's a great place to meet people."

Rumbling quietly, Ethel continues to play with Kenny, teaching her the ways of a shieldon, which is mostly plodding around in a circle. Bucky has re-settled his floof, finally relaxing when it has become clear that the small child and this new human aren't going to try to pet him. He hops down to Lil' Buddy and Maggie and chirps hopefully. You guys done eating? You want to play some more?

[westfallcorndog]

Oh, Bucky, of course they want to play! They're pokemon! When their flying friend rejoins them the swinub gets to grunting excitedly and hopping around. It bumps its round, pink snout against Bucky and squeals in delight as it scampers off. Tag! You're it! Maggie is slower on the uptake but she gets the message fast and tries to dive under the table to keep from being caught before the game even begins.

Harrowheart, meanwhile, looks a little guilty over having too many lady friends. Anna shoos him and his conflicted expression away quickly and returns the conversation to herself. "Sister, yes. His favorite of four!" She leaves him no room for conflicting reports and plows right on through as the head of the conversation. "I go to the Plaza when I'm shopping for the family. I love it! I love everything about the Nexus, really. Everything is so convenient, food is so easy to come by... And the people! And the... Not-so-peopley-people. I've been trying to make connections, but it's intimidating sometimes? Do you know anyone worth meeting?" As an afterthought and with a delicate little laugh she adds, "Oh! I've been trying to find a job, too. But I feel so... Underqualified for it all."

She shrugs one shoulder shyly and looks at Adia like there's something wonderful about her. "Not a whole lot of opportunities on a Westfall farm. I can't even imagine being something as amazing as a scientist."

[chiron_survivor]

Bucky squawks in mock indignation and hops after Lil' Buddy, but the roly-poly swinub is already out of reach. Quickly, he turns his attention to Maggie as she struggles to hide. He won't go under the table itself, but he will stretch out a wing and try to tag her with one of his flight feathers. Swipe swipe! Did he get her in time?

As Anna speaks, the family resemblance seems even stronger. Perhaps it's the young woman's exuberance, or her fascination with the sort of modern convenience that Adia once took for granted. "It is intimidating," she agrees. "It helps that most people are friendly."

And then she falls silent while she tries to think of someone Anna should try to meet, someone influential who could help her find a job. But the most influential person she knows is Isidor, and they already know one another, don't they? "Well, um... I know several people in the Nexus, but not professionally..." She wants to help, though, especially after Anna looks at her like she's someone special. "What is it you'd like to do? Would you prefer to do something behind the scenes, or do you want to work with people? Crossroads Café might need another employee. My friend Ice Bear works there, and the owner is very nice. Or, um... my friend Vaclav is opening a bookstore soon, he'll probably need some paid help..."

[westfallcorndog]

"A bookstore!" Oh, Adia, Anna's face lights right up when you say that. "I'd love to work in a bookstore! You should get me in touch with your friend so that I can meet him. Vaclav, you said?" She's committing it to memory.

Meanwhile, while humans are trying to have serious conversations pokémon are struggling to tag each other. Maggie is far from fast enough and she hoots and howls in excitement when she feels Bucky's feathers tickling her stumpy 'feet.' Now it's her turn to wiggle out from under that bench and try to catch someone... And what better target than Ethel? She doesn't look too quick, and she's all caught up with human first-evolutions. But as much as Kenny was enjoying being a shieldon, when she sees another pokemon coming at them with her arms outstretched she squeals and leaps to her feet, happily human again as long as it means she can bound away quickly. Ethel! She just left you to your fate!

Lawrence and Harrowheart, meanwhile, are busy being two men doing the job of one man. Lawrence holds a bowl near the Virgin Mary statue while Harrowheart ladles some soup into it. Then Lawrence produces a few tea candles from his pocket and Harrowheart lights them (and then two cigarettes: one for Mary, balanced on the edge of the bowl, and one for himself.) It's a quiet little offering, and possibly sacrilegious, but it's their attempt.

[chiron_survivor]

Pleased that her suggestion hit the mark, she nods encouragingly. "That's right. Vaclav Koller. He's from Earth originally, but now he lives in the Nexus. I'd be happy to put you in touch with him." She'll let Vaclav reveal as little or as much of his life story to Anna personally, but she's fairly confident they'll get along. Anna likely won't even think twice about his augmentations.

It takes a moment for Ethel to figure out that the game has switched from human-wrangling to classic tag. She lets out a metallic bark before shuffling away from Maggie as fast as her stubby little legs will allow, but she is too slow and gets hugged by the friendly snover. Now "it", she changes direction and tries to herd Buddy back towards the table. If worse comes to worst, she can always tag Sarah. The growlithe is done comforting Adia and is idly sniffing at people's feet instead.

The makeshift shrine catches Adia's attention. She looks over and smiles softly at the sight, more familiar to her than the statue itself. "That's nice," she tells the two men. "You honor her well."