Summary:Maximus spots Avril preventing volunteers in the Disaster Zone from suffering injury, and finds something interesting about her. Log Info:Storyteller: None |
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It's been years since the fighting that destroyed the Disaster Zone, from Brighton almost to the front steps of the United Nations building; and yet much of the Zone remains in ruins, scavenged by opportunists in the wake of its destruction, and then abandoned again once the easy pickings were looted.
But not everyone has abandoned it. There are still non-profits, government agencies, and even the occasional highly motivated private individuals at work clearing away the wreckage and starting the slow process of rebuilding. Today it's one of the first groups, a volunteer organization that's hard at work shifting rubble and trying to uncover the frame of even just one destroyed building. Unfortunately for them, they've succeeded; but luckily, when one of the battered old girders finally gives way and starts the building in the process of collapsing, there's someone there to help before anyone gets buried alive.
One of the volunteers, a young brunette woman in blue jeans and a tank top, creates a set of golden-light braces and buttresses to hold the building together for just long enough for everyone to make it out safely. Only then, with a look of relief, does she dissolve the construct and allow the building to collapse completely.
There comes a slow clapping from behind the woman, and the source seems to be a man in his late twenties with a shock of dark, curled hair, an oversized christmas sweater with a cat on it that's had the neckline cut much larger so that it barely hangs on his shoulders, and a loose, asymmetrical leather skirt. Unlaced black boots complete his look. "I think I see a hero here…if only I had turned the camera function around on my phone." He makes a face at the phone in his hand.
When the young woman turns about, hearing him clapping, she looks a little abashed. "I was really trying not to do that," she says, apologetically. "Could you please not tell anyone? The real heroes are the people doing this work without any special protection." Earnestness just shines through in her expression when she says it. "It's no risk for /me/ to be doing it, after all."
Maximus tilts his head and eyes her curiously. "Really? You have…no desire to be known for this…at all? How interesting. You are attractive enough…do not appear to be anyone too famous…" Then Max's eyes squint. "How long have you had these powers? Did you wake up in a cocoon?"
"I'd rather other people get credit for doing this work," Avril says, "rather than — well, you know how it is when someone with powers shows up, they can sort of dominate the news coverage." She looks further embarrassed to have said so. "I'm not trying to puff myself up! Just saying. That's sort of how it works. And I'm just fine with not being famous." Here she flashes a smile, and admits, "Not too long? Just a couple of months, honestly. And no, no cocoons were involved." She pauses a moment to think. "It might have made more sense if they were. Coming out of a cocoon — that puts you in a frame of mind to deal with change."
"That's what I keep saying…but…people always find something to /complain/ about, don't they?" Max flashes a smile right back at her, a little overbroad. "I would be interested in hearing more about it, if you are taking a break here." He makes a casual gesture to the rubble clean-up.
"One thing's constant, no matter where you go in the world — there's always something someone'll find to complain about," she says, although rather cheerfully. "Then again, I don't really know how hard anyone else has it, so I shouldn't criticize. Hm? Hearing about what, now? But I don't think anyone else is going to be eager to get back to work right away." Indeed not. People are shaken up and there's some talk about coming back on the weekend rather than continuing today.
Maximus points across the street to a little sandwich place. "I will buy you a drink. Its the least I could do. I am just curious how you woke up one day with…powers." Greyish eyes blink a few times and then he looks to the other shaken workers, then back to her. He raises both hands in a surrender gesture.
Although Avril looks a little uncomfortable at the prospect, she acquiesces without much fuss: "You don't need to do that," she says, "although it's kind of you to offer. I could use a little something cold." Despite her demurral, she moves toward the place he's indicated, saying: "That happens to a lot of people these days, doesn't it? Just waking up with powers, I mean."
Maximus meanders with her, glancing at the traffic involved, but mostly with his attention on the humble hero. "Yes, though, there are a lot of sources. Some…mutants. Some aliens. Some with origins that are unique. So…since you were surprised…I'm going to assume you are not an alien."
"Not as far as I know," the young woman says with a rueful smile. "But that doesn't mean what it used to, does it? Apparently I could be an alien and not even know it." Despite whatever abilities she may have, she's very careful in crossing the street, conscientiously waiting for the light to change, looking both directions, and so forth. "It's a little bit of a disturbing thought. But I haven't ever seen any evidence of being one, at least."
"That's good…because you can't trust aliens." Here, Maximus looks a little more ominous. Definitely glad she's not an alien.
"I imagine it depends on the alien," Avril says. "Just like with non-humans, some of them are trustworthy, some of them aren't. If only there were an easier way to tell which was which," she adds, looking (and sounding) slightly wistful. "Oh, mind the curb!"
Maximus steps up on it at the last moment and grins at the woman. "Ah, my savior. And, I do think there is a way to tell. Its just not for everyone. There are certain people, however, who have a skill set that allows them to see others minds. Of course, everyone's mind is a disaster, so, perhaps that wouldn't work after all."
As with many people, Avril is a trifle wary when it comes to telepaths. "I know mine is," she says; "I wouldn't presume to tell anyone else about theirs. Maybe I should have said, an easier way that can be used by anyone? Because if you can see someone else's mind, it's certainly much easier, or at least, I'd imagine it is." The sandwich shop is not terribly busy at this time of day, so there's almost no wait in line involved.
Maximus pulls out a wallet, though his credit card does not say 'Maximus'. Instead it says 'Kaleb Miller'. He hands it over to pay for his drink, and hers if she'll let him. "Maybe. I would not know either. Though, plenty of dark thoughts go through my head that I never act on, so…" he gives a light shrug. "I think that's the same as everyone. So, you really don't know how you came by them?"
She demurs, though with an apologetic smile, "Thank you, but it's really not necessary." Instead she pays for her own (lemonade), with cash. "I think most people have some sort of dark thoughts at least now and then. Like what Poe called the 'Imp of the Perverse,'" she suggests, referencing that 19th-century short story. As for his question, she's slightly less forthcoming, but still polite. "Oh, I know … something about how I came by them. But I'm legally forbidden to talk about what I /do/ know. All I can really say is that it's probably not something that could be reproduced."
Maximus makes a soft grunt of acceptance. "I am not worried about that. I think its just your humbleness that's interesting. And you wouldn't even let me buy you a drink. How would you feel about…protecting people professionally? Or, do you already do that?"
"There are a lot of people with powers out there," Avril says, while waiting for her lemonade. "Having powers doesn't make you special; it's what you do with them that makes you special. Or doesn't," she adds, a little ruefully. "So I try not to be too full of myself just because I can do things most people can't." When her drink's presented, she gestures to some of the tables and looks inqusitively at Maximus, offering him the choice. "I do," she says, "when I can, at least. Both profressionally and as a hobby, so to speak. Although it's more of a general thing than it is protecting specific people, if that's what you had in mind?"
"Yes…protecting specific people." Maximus clarifies, then heads to a table near one window. "My friend tends to run off foolishly alone to do his heroics. He needs a bodyguard."
Avril takes a seat across from Maximus, and samples her drink; it must be pretty good, judging from her reaction. "I know some people like that," she says, a little humor in her voice. "Some people would probably say I /am/ a person like that. Does your friend belong to a team? That would be my first thought, to join up with some like-minded people to work with — it might be easier than finding a bodyguard." A buzz from her phone distracts her, and after she checks it, she gives a small sigh. "Speaking of which. I'm sorry, but I have to go. Maybe we'll run into each other again."