001 [video]

[twelvepoints]

[Aaron had spent the last several days exploring Tu Vishan with Marta, making mental notes of places and things they might need in the future. He was thorough with his recon, going so far as to even map out everything they'd seen, the crude yet detailed drawing on the table of he and Marta's shared suite. It marked not just Sectors and their boundaries, the shops and local drop ins, but also ways out of the Sectors.

Some of those were main thoroughfares, but most were back alleys that he had explored during at least one night of unrest. If something happened, he knew no less than six ways out of their own Sector and atleast as many in the others. He hadn't gotten as far as exploring the castle at the center, but he intended to.

For now though, he wanted to get a tab on the local neighbors in his own Sector and without. So, he opts for a video post from his own console, making certain that little enough is in the image to give any more indication of their whereabouts as any other residents room.

He might look familiar to some of you, but he's not who you think he is. His left shoulder, where visible beneath his t-shirt, is newly bandaged and he looks a bit worse for the wear and banged up. If only you guys knew...]

Hey... [He raises a hand and gives a half wave.] I'm James... from Earth. [He shakes his head laughing softly at himself. Superspy? What superspy? Look at this unassuming nice guy!!!] Man, please don't let that sound as crazy as I think it does.

I've been here a few days now and as fun as this little trip into Wonderland has been, I was hoping someone could point me in the direction of something at least vaguely resembling a beer. I'm not picky, honest, but if I'm going to be stuck here I'd at least like some of the comforts of home.

Anyone else brought here from Earth?

[Even with so simple and seemingly innocent a series of questions, it was a definitive way to start figuring out who, or what, was here.]

Comments

[virology]

[She can tell immediately that she touched a nerve, the way his expression changes, the way his body language changes. She turns on her seat to lean over the arm of the couch, to give him her full attention.

And as she listens, Marta can't help but wonder how on earth he's managed to go on so long without some sort of respite. Everyone needs an oasis every once in a while, don't they? That's what the house was supposed to be for her. A safe place for her to retreat at the end of the day.

She can't imagine such a simple thing as going out for a meal for the sake of a relaxing meal being denied for so long. After a moment, she gets up from her seat and walks over to the console. There's only one chair so she stands, leans against it. Under the guise of being there to check on his wound, to make sure he's not pulling it too much, she reaches out for him.]

Then to me, it sounds like you're long overdue. Why don't we find a restaurant in the neighborhood and I'll take you out for dinner?

[It's a lightly given offer, with no hints of romantic overtones. Not this time, not unless he'd want that. The way she sees it, he needs some moments to just feel human again.

She can use some herself, honestly.]

[twelvepoints]

[He hadn't intended to make he his sounding board. With everything they'd both been through over the last few days back home, she had every right to feel the exact same way as he did. With everything that had happened back home, she had every reason to feel human again. He'd known his job was going to be hard the minute he'd agreed to it, even if he didn't know the specifics until after signing his life away. It was never going to be easy.

So why was he waxing nostalgic now for things he had a hard time rembering entirely? Things that came before the explosion... before he'd been recruited... the memories were there, but they were foggy and came complete with a mixture of emotions he hadn't quite figured out yet.

He watched as she approached him, not with a wariness in the slightest... just because there was something new and wonderful about her. She made a show of adjusting his bandages and he shifted to allow her a better vantage at doing so, never once pulling away from her motions. He'd halted the feed when he'd turned his attention to Marta, glad that he had after the conversation turned toward more personal matters.

When she offered to take him out to dinner, there was no hiding the momentary surprise that touched his features; and then he smiles lightly, warm reaching his eyes.]

I might have been out on the field for a while, Doc, but isn't this happening backwards? [His tone is light and teasing, the warmth coloring his tone and expression as his hand comes up to cover here as it rests on his shoulder.]

Which is to say, I think I would enjoy that very much. [It was something he was fairly certain they could both use.]

[virology]

[Her expression warms as well when his hand covers hers, and there's a bit of a sparkle in her eye as she tilts her head to the side. She can tell that she's surprised him, but not unpleasantly so.]

Backwards? Of course not. This is the twenty-first century.

[Giving him another smile, she pats the hand over his and gently slides both hands away to straighten his shirt over his bandage again.

Asking him to dinner hadn't been difficult, not when she'd made the offer in a neutral way, but she couldn't deny that his response made her breath hitch a bit. Between friends it wouldn't matter who asked who, but of course decades ago it had been unheard of for a woman to ask a man out if they were interested in each other.

She still had no idea what was going to happen but for once, Marta's focus wasn't so divided that she couldn't experience the journey and all of the feelings that went with it.]

But I'm glad you'd like to go. There are a few places I saw when we were first exploring that I'd like to check out. Who knows, we might get lucky and find one that serves beer.

[twelvepoints]

[His own smile warms slightly at her reply, a soft chuckle slipping past his lips.]

So it is.

[He doesn't fight to keep a hold on her hands as she slips them gently away, remaining still as she gives his bandages one last look. It gives him an uninterrupted moment to just look at her, studying her from that short distance.

His eyes move over her face, taking in the smile lines at the edge of her eyes with some relief. He was glad she could still smile after everything that had happened over the past few weeks. It was just another thing that showed how strong she could be if needed.

Aaron hadn't had anything remotely resembling a relationship in more years than he cared to think about, but the feelings were definitely there. Even so, he wasn't pressing or rushing, instead enjoying Marta's company as long and as much as he could.]

Well, it seems a crime to decline and invitation like that, Doc.

[Aaron's voice has audibly softened, his gaze never once straying from her as he speaks.]

The fact that I enjoy your company makes it all the easier to say 'yes'... Good company, good food and not running for our lives? Where do I sign?

[virology]

[If Marta seems unnerved by the way he watches her, it doesn't show. Neither do any other feelings that simmer beneath the surface, such as uncertainty, nervousness, and the fact that in many ways she's at a loss at how to proceed.

It isn't as if their interactions or current circumstances are at all normal. Meeting through work isn't so uncommon, but being party to genetically altering the person she's interested in, even if they volunteered, is strange. For years she had to look at him as a cog in a series of gears. A piece of a puzzle. Another test subject. The past few days have changed that but that didn't change the fact that there were no ingrained rules as to how one dealt with a potential relationship in this situation.

They bonded over running for their lives. Saving each others lives. They bonded in tense circumstances that brought them together...who was to say that things would work out?

She pushes the thoughts away.

Predicting possible outcomes, analyzing, it's second-nature to her, but in this situation she'll simply have to take things as they come, perhaps. So she focuses on him, the tone of his voice, and the expression on his face.]

Well, two out of three, at least. There's still the distinct possibility that the food will be awful.

[She grins a bit wider, glad at least for the other two points. He was good company, and not running for their lives? There weren't words to express how glad she was for that.]