Beer makes the world go around [closed]

[felinefox]

who: Shalimar and Thor (worldsaway)
what: Swapping beer for wisdom
when: April 15th, evening
where: Bar near the barracks
warnings: There will be drinking. Probably nothing worse but will update if it does come to that

Even with a few weeks of living on Quarantine under her belt, Shalimar knew there was a lot she still had to learn. Even as part of the Search and Rescue team, she hadn't been able to venture too far from the city - most of the missions further afield went to those who knew their way better.

She'd learn, in time. But patience wasn't one of Shalimar's strengths so if there were ways to short-cut that procedure then naturally she would be interested. And if that short-cut came with a side of drinking, well, why not, right?

So when she'd found herself chatting to another member of the Guard through Friendr and the option of beer for information came forward, she couldn't possibly say no. And so here she was, having secured a table with a good view of the door and with two beers in front of her, one of which she sipped at as she waited for her drinking partner to arrive and fended off what interest she got from others as politely if bluntly as possible.

Once she spotted him, she lifted her own beer in greeting, head tilted towards the table and the one sat waiting for him. "Never let it be said that I'm a woman to go back on my word."

Comments

[worldsaway]

[Although Thor isn’t completely uneducated on technological advances, he had never really taken to things like Friendr through the first year of his stay here. Now he’s settling and expanding his circle as he finds that people come and go frequently in a place like this. He hates to call himself lonely, but he never realised quite how much he needed the social boost that friendr provided.

He’s eager to meet with Shalimar, they already have so much in common in their careers and drinking habits. That she’s attractive is only a passing thought in his mind, but it certainly doesn’t go unnoticed when he approaches her.]

I might have left if you weren’t. [Thor chuckles, sliding into the seat across from her and holding out a hand to shake.]

I’m Thor. Nice to meet you in person.

[felinefox]

Shalimar. Nice to get a proper introduction.

[Not that she's surprised she hasn't met everyone even in her part of the Guard yet. It's a big Guard and she's only been here a month and a half or so, so it makes sense she hasn't figured everyone out yet.

It's an adjustment, after so long as part of such a small team. But she's learning that it has its benefits.

She takes the offered hand willingly enough, even as she's getting her head around the fact that this guy is apparently a god.]

I'd protest about you leaving me hanging but if I'd done it first I couldn't really complain, could I?

[worldsaway]

You could, but it would fall on deaf ears.

[He smiles, taking a swig of his beer. After a moment of consideration, he nods approvingly and goes in for more. When he’s drank almost half, he’ll start to engage in conversation.]

So, you’re new around here? How are you finding it?

[felinefox]

As it would deserve.

[She gives him the space to consider if the beer is suitable, drinking her own as she does so. She's in no hurry to be anywhere after this, after all.]

So far, so good. I'm at least lucky enough to have someone else from home around which makes things a little easier. And the Guard's probably the best substitute I could hope to find for what I did back there so it could be a lot worse.

[And considering that when she'd first arrived she'd had no idea if she'd even lived through the last thing she remembers, she'd taken it all as a second chance best not wasted.]

But you've been here longer than a month so I'm thinking you know things I don't.

[worldsaway]

That's a fair assumption. I do know a lot of things.

[Thor says, vaguely. He could give her the rundown of how things work here, but he'd rather break the ice a little more first. He wants to know what parts she'd be most interested in.]

What is it that you did back home?

[felinefox]

[She takes a moment to consider that question, or at least how to answer. Back home, she'd be reluctant to admit what she does too openly for fear of the trouble it would bring down on their heads but this place is different. She's already met other mutants here and she's talking to a god so that changes the rules a little.

Besides. If they're on the guard together, he's going to find out somehow. Probably best that isn't in the middle of a more dangerous situation.]

I worked for a group that helped to protect New Mutants...and sometimes to bring down the ones who were beyond being saved. Much smaller unit than the Guard seems to be, but still a lot of fighting.

[Which is not such a bad thing for someone who'd had their genetics modified as hers have been.]

[worldsaway]

I see.

[Thor says, contemplative, as if he understands exactly what she means. Then he swigs his beer and sets it down again, launching back into the discussion.]

I just have two questions- what are mutants and why did they need protecting?

[felinefox]

[She's almost surprised that he's asked the question - she's become quite accustomed to meeting other mutants, since she's been here - but again, she figures he'll work it out one way or another so she might as well explain.]

Mutants are people whose DNA is a little different than most. In my world, that's down to genetic experimentation, though as I've come to understand since I've been here, that's not the only way it happens. Either way, it leads to developing abilities...powers, you might say. And that's the kind of thing that can get regular folks a little upset.

[Which may go some way towards answering why they need protecting.]

For example, I'm what's classed back home as a feral, which means my DNA is mixed with feline DNA. It makes me a little stronger and more agile than I might be, and a lot more aware of my surroundings.

[worldsaway]

Right, I understand. [Sort of.]

I don’t know if I’ve ever heard the word “mutants” used. The Earth I visited calls them enhanced.

[At least, he’s heard that word dropped in that context before. Happy to move on, he takes an interest in her description of herself. He’s never met Spiderman and thus, has no relatable comparison.]

Have you been that way since you were a child?

[felinefox]

Enhanced, huh? Perhaps they had a more positive outlook about these things.

[Enhanced sounds like a potential benefit, which isn't something that most people tended to think about mutancy as far as Shalimar's experienced.

At least, in her own world. Here's rather different, and she can't say she's sorry for it.]

Well I was fairly young when it happened, though I wasn't born that way. And I can't really say I handled it too well, to begin with. Not really sure what my parents expected but I try not to think about that time too often.

[Really everything pre joining Mutant X is something she's happiest leaving in the darkest recesses of her mind, never to be touched.]

[worldsaway]

Well, you know. You come together on Earth, you save the world a little bit and you mostly leave a positive reaction. I can’t say what the lasting effects on the populace are, however..

[Thor shrugs. He hasn’t been to Earth in a while. For all he knows, the favour could have turned against them for whatever reason.]

I don’t mean to pry, but do you mean to say that your parents had something to do with your mutations?

[felinefox]

I guess it's easier to filter out the weird stuff when it's not living next door to you day after day. People don't mind being helped so long as the weird ones go back to not being around afterwards.

[She's guessing here. That's how it seems to work in fiction, anyway, so perhaps it's true somewhere.

She waves her hand a little in gesture for him not to worry about prying - she'll be the first to say if she doesn't want to answer something - as she takes another swig of her drink because even if she's not keeping it secret, it's still not a fun topic.]

Only because they signed me up for the experiments. And then didn't do a great job handling what came out of it.

[Letting her wind up in a mental institution isn't what she'd call great parenting.]

[worldsaway]

That's disappointing. But I understand, parents can fall short on our expectations.

[Thor smiles, sympathetic. He's sure their situations differ greatly, but his perspective on a lot of things has changed thanks to the revelations he's had back home.

But he feels he's pressed enough, so he looks for an easy change in subject.]

So, what sort of questions can I answer for you?

[felinefox]

All the more reason to find family elsewhere.

[She's not quite in a position where she's ready to accept that she could find one here, but then once upon a time she'd thought that back home, too. So she's not quite ruling anything out, either.

She takes another drink at his question, letting her thoughts settle back onto the topic they were intended to be on to begin with.]

Well. Mostly I'm curious about what's outside the walls. I haven't ventured too far yet but I can't help but figure search and rescue's gonna have a fair bit to do out there. So the more I can prepare for what's out there, the better.