yeah.. i mean, pureston cut his hand on the glass and my throat got fucked up from the smoke, but we were alright
Hey – Language. But wow… that sounds very frightening. I’m… I’m glad you’re here to tell about it. You okay coming back in the Mess?
yeah, i mean, this is probably going to bring the nightmares back but when’s the last time i gave shyt about that *he walked into the kitchen*
*Carlos blinks after Max but slowly follows him* Uh… okay, if you’re sure…? *Carlos was not reassured at all. But Max needed some water* Um, where are the cups?
i dunno, but i know there’s juice boxes in the back room and those have straws, could *hic* those work instead of water?
I suppose so… but they’re not very big. *he starts to open cupboards to look for a glass of water* Besides, aren’t those for lunch activities or something?
yeah.. i mean, pureston cut his hand on the glass and my throat got fucked up from the smoke, but we were alright
Hey – Language. But wow… that sounds very frightening. I’m… I’m glad you’re here to tell about it. You okay coming back in the Mess?
yeah, i mean, this is probably going to bring the nightmares back but when’s the last time i gave shyt about that *he walked into the kitchen*
*Carlos blinks after Max but slowly follows him* Uh… okay, if you’re sure…? *Carlos was not reassured at all. But Max needed some water* Um, where are the cups?
“Well, the one I saw, I remember that it had really weird, um… ‘like’ descriptions,” Carlos said. “What are those called? Um, um, um…” He snapped his fingers, trying to think. “Not a metaphor, but… I remember one of the sentences said something like ‘the skin of her breasts were soft and silky like a purse’ and ‘his hands gripped her with the strength of a farmer milking a cow’s udders’. Just, in my opinion… very poor descriptions. I’ve never seen a silky purse.”
“Heh, well shit, that’s just….. bad.” He laughed, shaking his head at the ridiculousness of that description. “I can’t say any’a the shit I’ve read was anythin’ like that, it was pretty damn decent, actually. Maybe I’ll let ya borrow it sometime so you can see what erotica is really supposed to be like.”
Carlos chuckled, keeping his eyes on his project. “I dunno
if I’d take you up on that,” he said. “Just… I dunno. Maybe later. I’m really
not too curious about it.” Except he kinda was, but he wasn’t going to admit
that to another person. Nor did he really wanna be caught, dead or alive, with
Mayor Hancock’s erotica in his possession. That’d… that’d just be embarrassing.
Suddenly though, something came to him. “A simile! That’s what it is! When
comparing something with something like it in writing, it’s called a simile!
Damn, I feel dumb not remembering that; I apologize.”
“Oh
I think he did. Got upset you weren’t there. But he’s ok now. Sometimes
comes and searches the ship but yeah. There wonderful lovely
creatures.”
“They are,” Carlos agreed. He’d never seen anything like them. “Gosh… I hope his parents are somehow able to let him know that it’s okay. Or… I dunno, Yondu… You, um… your species seems to have some minor telepathic abilities. I… I dunno if this is presuming too much, but… are you able to just…let him know I’m okay? I’m just asking – I don’t know what I’m talking about, so I’m just asking…”
“Don’t worry his parents took care of him and… Hmm I guess they can understand me in a way… I whistle and they understand that way I guess. Don’t worry it’s ok. Maybe someday you’ll see him again. But always remember he’ll be you soul traveler…. he’s a baby so that means you will have a long life. You’ll both be old before he carries you to Valhalla…”
What…? Carlos had wondered about what aliens believed regarding the afterlife, but the subject had just… never come up. Did they think space whales were basically boats to the afterlife? That… well, he could see that making sense as a belief.
“You believe in Valhalla?” he asked. That was a term that Carlos had thought was exclusive to Earth… well, until it was revealed that one of Earth’s heroes was actually an alien – a Norse alien, if there was such a thing.
“We all are a bit different but it all comes down to Valhalla for those called warriors. I’m a ravager… we believe in a form of Valhalla. We’re like space warriors…. we have a code. We’re honor bound… we fight great battles at times… kinda like…. uhhhh As petey says… uhh Vikings or pirates I guess. And we belive were guided to Valhalla’s gates by those space critters out there.
“Huh,” Carlos said as he pondered. “That… sounds pretty nice, actually. Valhalla, um.. what is it to you? Is it a paradise?”
“In a way yes…. it’s the absolute… the final…. we stand in the halls of great warriors….. we drink, and eat with honor…. and we watch the world around us…… time is nothing…. but everything is perfect…. the food and drink unending…. and the companionship of our fellows eternal…….”
“Huh,” Carlos said softly. “On Earth, um… Valhalla is all that… but the legend says that there’s going to be a big fight between the realms and the warriors who died and resided in Valhalla would rise again to fight for the good of everyone. Or… something like that… I’m honestly not well versed in the Norse belief system…”
Tony
had seen what the guy could do, had seen what could be possible with
him, but they had yet to actually see him. He had tried to be careful
with ex-hammertech but this guy seemed genuine and he was willing to
give him a chance after everything that had happened.
When he had gotten to the office he relaxed in a corner while Pepper
took her seat at the head of the table. He wondered just what might
happen, what the guy was like, whether he hated Tony or not, he didn’t
know what to expect and he just hoped that he could get through the
other about what to expect.
When he saw him walk in and stared at the suit and tilted his head a
little. It was bold, different, a little strange, but not everyone had
what he had and he knew that. He stood and nodded to the man offering
him his hand to shake as he introduced himself playfully.
“Stark, Tony Stark, the Tony Stark, but I’m sure you know
that. Interesting outfit, certainly makes you stand out from the crowd.”
He wasn’t trying to be mean he was just trying to make a lighter
atmosphere for the guy.
Carlos winced very slightly at the mention of his attire.Damnit. He should have rented something
black – finances be damned.
“Uh, well… um, blue and red are my favorite colors,” he
stated lamely. Normally he would have just taken the comment in stride and
would just have been more proud of his suit, but he was just too damn nervous.
“Um, Carlos Ramon,” he then said, reaching to gingerly shake
Mr Stark’s hand. Carlos then looked to Ms Potts and offered his hand to her as
well. “And you must be Ms Potts. Good-good evening.”
Carlos felt so of it. It was like a weird dream and any
moment now he could float away straight out the window – he was actually looking Stark and Potts in the
faces and he’d shaken Mr Stark’s hand. For a bit, he felt like he was in an
alternate universe where Hammer Industries never existed. Except of course he
was still wearing his stupid suit. His free hand was gripped tight onto his
documents’ case to the point of near-pain.
There’s a small moment of confusion on her face before it is replaced with the same recognition. Kira smiles a bit, impressed that he remembered her at all.
Even if incorrectly, it was close enough.
“Kira, but yeah.” She nods happily, “It’s been awhile, I honestly didn’t expect to see you ever again!” A small giggle escapes her, “I’m afraid I cannot recall your name, I’m horrible with names. But I remember, from Concord right?”
“With the value put on other salvage out here – which is usually just purely material, by the way – it is very generous,” Carlos pointed out. “It’s just… usually nobody considers what effort I go through looking for salvage.” Like the time he’d found a bunch of telephones, but was unable to disassemble them on the spot. There were Gunners in the area and he’d locked himself in a Pulowski Preservation Shelter for a couple hours while he waited.
Carlos smelled the coffee he had, just to see if it was anything like he remembered with the sugar and milk in it. Oh yeah… it smelled so much more like he was used to. He said a quiet prayer of thanks to God before taking a small sip. He couldn’t help the small happy groan he made.
“Mm… God, that’s good,” he murmured. “Um… Thank you. So much for this.”
“I don’t salvage much myself since I’m not exactly cut out for that kind of work, but I have paid others to do it for me. And I know a few who do it as their way of making money at all. So I’m at least slightly familiar with it. Besides, you don’t have to be a scavenger to know just how difficult it is to pass Trinity Tower to get here. I have a good relationships with the supermutants there myself and I still sometimes get shot at.” Kira shrugs hopelessly, some of them had the same eyesight as her.
He seemed to smell his coffee before adding what he liked to it. All the while, Kira sipped at her tea and watched him carefully. He seemed fairly pleased with it in the very least. And though Kira’s sight was shit, she heard the quiet prayer and looked a bit surprised.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man pray out here… You are religious Carlos?” She asks curiously before merely nodding to his thanks.
“It’s no trouble. I invited you in after all.”
Carlos was surprised when she’d noticed his praying, and
immediately he felt a little embarrassed. “I, uh… well… N-not practicing,” he
explained meekly. “But I do believe in a higher power. It’s… I mean, it’s
probably just something that was passed down from my pre-war ancestors, but…
y-you know…”
He hadn’t meant for her to see. He knew some people thought
it was a silly little pre-war thing – even people in the Vault thought that.
He then frowned at her, confused. “What do you mean you have
good relations with the supermutants?” he asked. “How… how do you even getinto
that?”
it’s alright, don’t really know why it’s illegel but *hic* i don’t really care
*blinks at the hiccup* It has to do with the fact that children are still growing and a full work schedule can stunt their growth. They’re also easier to exploit than adult workers. Do you… do you need some water, Max?
nah, it’ll pass again.. and i’m not wroking a full schedule, this is actually the first time i’ve been called in *hic* in awhile…
It’s still illegal. *he sighs* Unfortunately, I’m not in a position to make a formal complaint – I”m not your legal guardian. I’d prefer that you didn’t work though – not where it’s an illegal situation like this.
i don’t know if i have a ‘legal gruardian’ anymore, consittering i’m not even from this timeline… *hic*
Okay, seriously, we should get you some water to drink. And what do you mean you’re not from this timeline?
i mean this isn’t the universe i was born in, before i was here, i was at a normal verison of this camp then i k-.. died and when i woke up, i was here!
Oh, I see. I suppose that explains for some of the weird occurrences that happen here…
*hic* yeah.. *he glances away* what were we talking about again ?
Water. You’re going to get some. You have some in your tent, right?
probably not *hic* there should be some in the mess hall though
Okay. Back that way we go, then. You should keep a water bottle with you out here in the woods – just in case.
*he nods slightly, starting to walk towards the mess hall* meh, i don’t really need water anymore, i had a water bottle but i lost it..
Is there a lost and found here? I could also buy you a new one. And sure you need water… you’re still capable of dying, aren’t you? That can’t be a pleasant experience.
yeah, but there are way worse way to die..
Better to not die at all though, right? Especially of thirst.
*he hesitates before nodding* yeah, i guess that is one of the suckier ways to die..
How are the hiccups?
i think they’ve passed, so that’s go-*hic* fcuk!
*smiles slightly* They get you just when you think they’re gone.. heh. Sorry, buddy.
*sighs* guess i’ll just have to wait longer.. *hic*
We’ll get that water, and you can drink it through a straw. That should help them go away.
why through a straw? should just drinking water work? *he tilted his head slightly*
Well, when your bronchial tubes are spasming it’s sometimes helps to occupy them with another function, like holding your breath. But sometimes that’s not enough so drinking through a straw works your tongue muscle and your esophagus, and usually the complex functions happening when you drink through a straw makes your bronchial tube forget what it’s doing.
Er, I mean… because science.
….. o kay then… *he looked ahead, kinda unsure if he understood any of that*
*Smiles slightly a bit at Max. They make it to the mess hall*
*he looked up at the hall, a small smile spreading across his face as he thought*
C’mon, buddy – let’s go to the kitchen. *starts to walk in*
*he hesitates before following, glancing around* man, i haven’t been in here since it was on fire..!
*looks at Max* Since it was what now? *he heard what Max said, but his question meant he was actually fishing for more information*
it was on fire awhile ago, back when Pureston was still around… *he looked at one of the windows* we were inside and the doors wouldn’t open, so we broke that window and climbed out..
it’s alright, don’t really know why it’s illegel but *hic* i don’t really care
*blinks at the hiccup* It has to do with the fact that children are still growing and a full work schedule can stunt their growth. They’re also easier to exploit than adult workers. Do you… do you need some water, Max?
nah, it’ll pass again.. and i’m not wroking a full schedule, this is actually the first time i’ve been called in *hic* in awhile…
It’s still illegal. *he sighs* Unfortunately, I’m not in a position to make a formal complaint – I”m not your legal guardian. I’d prefer that you didn’t work though – not where it’s an illegal situation like this.
i don’t know if i have a ‘legal gruardian’ anymore, consittering i’m not even from this timeline… *hic*
Okay, seriously, we should get you some water to drink. And what do you mean you’re not from this timeline?
i mean this isn’t the universe i was born in, before i was here, i was at a normal verison of this camp then i k-.. died and when i woke up, i was here!
Oh, I see. I suppose that explains for some of the weird occurrences that happen here…
*hic* yeah.. *he glances away* what were we talking about again ?
Water. You’re going to get some. You have some in your tent, right?
probably not *hic* there should be some in the mess hall though
Okay. Back that way we go, then. You should keep a water bottle with you out here in the woods – just in case.
*he nods slightly, starting to walk towards the mess hall* meh, i don’t really need water anymore, i had a water bottle but i lost it..
Is there a lost and found here? I could also buy you a new one. And sure you need water… you’re still capable of dying, aren’t you? That can’t be a pleasant experience.
yeah, but there are way worse way to die..
Better to not die at all though, right? Especially of thirst.
*he hesitates before nodding* yeah, i guess that is one of the suckier ways to die..
How are the hiccups?
i think they’ve passed, so that’s go-*hic* fcuk!
*smiles slightly* They get you just when you think they’re gone.. heh. Sorry, buddy.
*sighs* guess i’ll just have to wait longer.. *hic*
We’ll get that water, and you can drink it through a straw. That should help them go away.
why through a straw? should just drinking water work? *he tilted his head slightly*
Well, when your bronchial tubes are spasming it’s sometimes helps to occupy them with another function, like holding your breath. But sometimes that’s not enough so drinking through a straw works your tongue muscle and your esophagus, and usually the complex functions happening when you drink through a straw makes your bronchial tube forget what it’s doing.
Er, I mean… because science.
….. o kay then… *he looked ahead, kinda unsure if he understood any of that*
*Smiles slightly a bit at Max. They make it to the mess hall*
*he looked up at the hall, a small smile spreading across his face as he thought*
C’mon, buddy – let’s go to the kitchen. *starts to walk in*
*he hesitates before following, glancing around* man, i haven’t been in here since it was on fire..!
*looks at Max* Since it was what now? *he heard what Max said, but his question meant he was actually fishing for more information*
The Perfect Scientist 