Sep 27, 2010 15:32
Scar possibly couldn't have been more thrilled at the prospect of being escorted to the library. He had visited this particular room plenty of times to know that it was entirely useless and uninteresting - like most daytime activities, for that matter. Still, the nurse seemed rather convinced he'd like one of those silly books filled with papers
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leela,
sechs,
s.t.,
naruto,
jo,
asuka,
scott pilgrim,
anise,
austria,
the doctor,
sora,
riddler,
naraku,
indiana jones,
asch,
rei,
woody,
zex,
claude,
claire bennet,
peter parker,
snow,
gant,
lana skye,
mello,
xemnas,
roxas,
natalia,
tim drake,
hanekoma,
shizuo,
guy,
tsukasa,
agatha,
gaara,
peter petrelli,
mitsuru,
nigredo,
ilia,
rita,
two-face,
castiel,
erika,
edgar,
tifa,
matt,
maya,
trickster,
riku,
aidou,
ishida,
ema skye,
wolverine,
spock,
zack,
l,
scar (tlk),
justin hammer,
rubedo,
haseo
He hadn't noticed the other man before though there was plenty to note about him, mainly how worse for wear the guy looked than any other patient he'd met so far--even worse than Dent, and that was saying something! He almost looked sickly and... was that an eye patch? Not to mention all the faint cut marks healing on his face and arms. If Gant hadn't wanted to get in cahoots with Landel before, seeing how badly banged up this guy was could inspire anyone to turn traitor to save their own hide.
Finally relenting on his gaze, Gant clasped his large hands together and pulled out one of his signature smiles. "Sure was! It's always too quiet in libraries. Can't stand it. I'm sure you understand." And even if the man was irritated by it, Gant wasn't going to apologize. At his age, he no longer held any shame for his actions, but it was probably best to at least seem interested in the little fella. "Did you need something, hmm?"
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The human smiled at him, very broadly in a way he hadn't encountered before, and ZEX blinked and studied the expression. That was still a smile, and he had an idea of what smiles meant most of the time, but there was something a little different about it that he couldn't quite identify. Ugh, human expressions were so subtle and made so little sense. Well, whatever it was, surely it'd become clearer with time as they spoke to one another. "It does get quiet here, that is true." Although the new human's voice was doing a good job of clearing that up. Again he thought of Teisel, although his new friend's voice hadn't cracked like his just yet. Perhaps human voices changed with size?
"I was just curious," ZEX said, and he tried to mimic the human's smile back to him with limited success. If he could indeed convince this new human to work for him as Teisel had... "I don't believe I've seen you here before. Are you new?"
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The awkward smile returned to him was enough to leave Gant momentarily speechless, and that was quite a feat. Was this man making fun of him? There wasn't hardly enough people in this institute with a decent sense of humor, so maybe he shouldn't take it too personally.
"I suppose you could say that," Gant answered at last, settling into a comfortable stance, hands secured firmly behind his back. "Been here a few days, at least. Not enough to become fully acquainted with the patient body though. You?" This man hadn't caught Gant's eye before, though it was a wonder. He might have noticed someone with an eye missing, or hair that almost looked like it was turning green.
Green... heh. Sorta made him wonder. "Have you been swimming lately there, sonny?" He had to ask. Although he had been told time and again lately that there was no pool around the institute, seeing someone with greening hair like they might have been a frequent user of pools, made him wonder if he just hadn't been looking hard enough.
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ZEX tried to keep his voice friendly and even, hoping that would make his new human friend more inclined to help him, should he ask for his assistance. And even if he couldn't make him a bodyguard... well, there were always other, more pleasurable uses for humans. Such lovely skin this human had! "Mmm, I've been here longer than most, and longer than I personally would like. I've been trying to do something about that though." Without as much success as he would have liked either, but he decided not to mention that.
The apparent randomness of his human friend's next question caught him somewhat offguard. What would have brought that up? What an odd thing to ask. VUX of course spent some time in water, being amphibious, although ZEX himself hadn't done so in some time, and he was accustomed to that sort of thing being an idle pleasantry before, but here? Did humans swim as well? ZEX blinked at him, curious. "Sadly no, I haven't had the chance. More's the pity..." Although with his luck, swimming in a human body would be a pale shadow of swimming in his VUX one. "Why do you ask?"
He wasn't quite sure what to make of "sonny"... an odd thing to call him. Well, they had just met, after all. "Oh, I'm Admiral ZEX, by the way." That should take care of it, and ZEX smiled at him again. "Formerly of the VUX military, although that doesn't matter much here, it seems."
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"Pity, yes!" Gant exclaimed. How unfortunate for him! And he had really hoped there was a pool somewhere around here. "A damn shame. I guess I'll have to go without, then." Until he managed to get in with Landel. Then he'd make a few suggestions about this place. Adding a pool to the grounds would be one of them. Also, razing that freaky forest to the ground, along with its creepy altar. And maybe also request that a few patients undergo strict surveillance. He wasn't sure he wanted to let people like Recluse or Niikura run free--not after what they'd admitted to him.
"Oh, I was just curious is all. Would have been nice to have a place to take a dip!" Honestly, what other reason would someone have green at the ends of their hair? Unless this man was into dying it. Gant supposed he couldn't blame him. He'd lived though both the age of flower power and his own mid-life crisis years ago. And he lived in California. People did weirder things than dye their hair green back in L.A. Much weirder things.
An Admiral, was it? Now, wasn't this a fortuitous meeting? If Gant was going to run into people of high standing every time he visited a library, he'd have to learn to start going more often! Although he wasn't sure where 'VUX' was--maybe some sort of acronym he'd need to look into. "A pleasure to meet you, Admiral! Truly a pleasure! Never heard of the VUX military, myself." What had he said his name was? ZEX? No way was that going to turn into any sort of decent nickname. He'd just stick with Admiral then. He wanted to sigh, but held it in. Such a pity.
"The name's Gant, Damon Gant! Chief of Police, L.A.P.D." Not as high-ranking as an Admiral, but one that deserved respect all the same.
[ooc: Sorry I've been so fail lately. I'm up for backthreading a bit if you're so inclined...]
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The human did seem pleased to meet him, at least, and ZEX did like that. A favorable response was always a good sign! If he could just keep hold of this human, perhaps he could find a good use for him. He was awfully big. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well! I haven't seen many humans with your skin coloration... it's a very nice shade." He wondered idly what determined a human's skin pattern. No doubt some random combination of genetic traits, like some of his menagerie pets back home. "I'm not surprised you haven't heard of us... not many here have, it seems. Such a shame."
ZEX blinked a little at the mention of his occupation. A human authority figure then! He knew so little about human society and how it worked. Did their police function the same as VUX ones? Presumably not. "LAPD?" ZEX said, pronouncing the letters together as a word. "I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with how the police work here... what does that word mean?"
[ooc: haha sure, i'm kinda slow myself, i can backthread]
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What a friendly fellow! So far, what with how many patients gave him the cold shoulder, he had begun to worry he had lost all his charm. Delightful to finally be put at ease about that. But then the man said something that threw the chief off again. Surely just a coincidence.... "Thanks for the compliment!" That had been a compliment, right? "Oh? Thought that might be the case! Yours must be a small country if most haven't heard of it."
Third time was a charm. There was definitely something odd about this fellow. He was much too ignorant of things that should have been common knowledge to everyone. It was maybe a little normal if he had been a foreigner to not know what the Los Angeles Police Department acronym was (maybe he didn't watch many movies at home?) but coupled with the other things ZEX had said, it all indicated that something was wrong about him.
"I see..." Gant quieted, perplexed on how to answer. Should he ask his own questions first, or just continue on like all was normal? Hmm. "I don't mean to be rude, Admiral, but I'm starting to get the feeling you're not familiar with a lot of rather obvious things."
There. He'd kept it neutral and just made a statement. Seeing how the good Admiral responded to that might help Gant gain a better grasp on the situation.
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"Hee! Hee! Hee!" Ah, it felt good to laugh again, even just a little. He didn't have much cause for it here most of the time. "Ah, no, it's not a country. VUX are my people." Although there was still something that stung about that... they HAD cast him out for practically no reason, after all. He'd never done anything wrong! His interests might have been a little unusual, but...
Yes, Gant seemed a bit confused now. It was so easy to forget he didn't have his human body here, and it was easy to mistake him for something he wasn't! It was hard to visualize himself as anything BUT a VUX. "My species, to be more precise. I was not human before I came here... which is why so many things here are unfamiliar to me, as you've noticed. The learning curve has been... sharp." ZEX scratched underneath the patch over his eye. "But I've been managing as best I can, with the help of a few generous humans. No one has mentioned a LAPD before though."
As usual, the oddness of telling someone he was an alien from outer space was completely lost on him. That's just how things were.
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Hearing the smaller man laugh gave Gant pause. What a curious fellow... "Ah, well that explains everything..." So VUX was a race of people. But from what country?
"Uh, species?" Not human? Well, that would sure explain things. And maybe Gant was the pope, as merciful as he was powerful. Right. He would accept monsters, he would accept psycho murderers, and he would even accept a teenage vigilante, but someone claiming to have not originally been human? Yeah, that wasn't happening any time soon. Oh, but he would play along. After all, maybe when the Admiral remembered who he really was, he might actually be useful in the future.
"The L.A.P.D. is a strong force of justice back in California," Gant explained, still as friendly as ever. It didn't occur to him much that might continue to confound the VUX. "We keep those criminals quaking in their boots. And I'm in charge. I hold no tolerance for crime." He grinned at the Admiral. "You understand, I'm sure, military man like yourself."
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"Yes, I'm a VUX, as I mentioned. A species native to Beta Luyten, although I no longer reside there." He couldn't help the touch of bitterness in his voice... ousted, and so unfairly! And after everything he'd done for them! They were all so ungrateful. "I'm not surprised you haven't heard of us... very few people here have it seems. And only a small number seems aware of space flight at all..."
ZEX would have tilted his head curiously, had he understood the motion. "California?" Very carefully. "Is that your country? Or perhaps your city?" He still wasn't very familiar with how human society was organized. "But you have an admirable sense of justice!" ZEX tried to mimic his grin back to him. "I've suffered rather unfairly at the hands of the unjust myself..." Bigoted fools. "It's always pleasant to meet someone who understands how unfair such a thing can be."
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Hmm, but it was unfortunate the man was mad. Aliens, of all things. "Space flight, yes. Not all that common on Earth, far as I can tell." Which was true enough. They had made it to the moon, but that had been decades ago. Astronauts still went out into space, but he couldn't remember the last time he had read about an interesting rocket launch. His head was too rooted in his job to care much about that.
Gant almost chuckled by stopped himself when ZEX asked what California was; the poor man was so far gone. "No, no! California is a state, a part of the good ol' US of A." Certainly... certainly the Admiral was familiar with one of the most powerful countries on Earth?
Gant beamed at being praised for his morality. Why, yes, he did feel he deserved it. Gave him such a nice feeling, he almost didn't mind the odd smile being returned to him. "Ah, but that's what's wonderful about justice, Admiral. It comes back and delivers to everyone what's coming to them. I'm sure you'll find yourself back where you belong someday, and those who did you wrong getting what they deserve." Someone that appreciated swimming and held a high view of justice! What a fortuitous meeting indeed!
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"Marvelous! It's always a thrill to meet someone who shares my... interests." And even though they were talking about something innocent, he couldn't help but give that a more suggestive tinge. "Even if we don't seem to share time periods... at least we still have something in common." At this point, so few people seemed aware of the real world that it had ceased to disappoint ZEX. Or at least, it didn't disappoint him quite as much.
"US...A? USA?" ZEX pronounced it as a word, as no doubt Gant had intended. A three letter construct like that... what other purpose could it have? "Hmm, well at least you humans have some familiar names. Most of yours seem quite long and complicated... USA at least sounds almost normal." Whatever it was. A state was part of it... a country, it would follow.
"Yes, exactly." And ZEX's smile got easier at the thought of justice. "Someday they'll have their own injustice visited upon them, and then they'll understand how I feel, and perhaps open their minds to what they so firmly oppose. Surely they can't remain so bigoted forever." He was getting somewhat off-topic. "Their time will come someday. But as for you, I do wonder... do you have time to spare tonight, perhaps? It's always a good idea to travel in groups, and I've been lacking in a solid travel partner..."
No harm in asking, after all.
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Oh, but if he was going to keep acting like he really was an alien, Gant wasn't sure what he was going to do. "I sure hope it would sound familiar. The U.S.A. is only the most influential and powerful nation on this earth, of course." A man that didn't even realize what country he was living in? Such a pitiful fellow.
"Bigoted, you say?" Gant could make a show of pretending to be interested in imaginary alien affairs. Whatever ZEX had really gone through, it was obvious that it bothered him enough to stay with him through his alternate-reality fantasies.... Unless he really was an alien that had been persecuted in his world? But no, that was such a silly notion. Gant couldn't even believe he had allowed himself to entertain the thought for even a second.
Perhaps it was just natural that after all this alien talk Gant almost wanted to believe it was true. He didn't much care for thinking he might have made friends with a truly crazy man. But he could always use more allies, and the 'VUX-turned-human' wouldn't be excluded. Besides, ZEX at least seemed much friendlier than ol' Xemmers had been during breakfast.
"Not so sure about tonight, I'm afraid." Gant wasn't sure what would happen after the run in with little sister and her devoted friend, the Yatagarasu. It could mean trouble for him, or he could be just fine. But there was enough lingering doubt to make him wary of stepping outside his room so quickly after that little encounter. It was probably his old danger-detecting intuition kicking in, leading him to think something was going to go down tonight. Could be unfounded, but he didn't take chances like that any more. Not at this age.
"Tell you what," Gant clasped his hands, grinning as broadly as ever, "we'll plan on it! I wouldn't mind spending more time with a distinguished young man as yourself Admiral, ho ho ho!"
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"Is it?" ZEX said, trying to get back on track. Perhaps one of this human's eccentricities? Or maybe a human custom he wasn't familiar with? Perhaps he should try it with the next human he met to see what happened. Although, this WAS the first time a human had done that to him that he could recall. "I'll have to make a note of that in the future... useful information to know..."
At the talk of bigotry, something he was much more familiar with, ZEX pressed a fist to his chest and cleared his throat a little. He tried to keep most of his bitterness from his voice. "Yes, that's the word for it. My species has an unnatural and totally unjustified hatred of yours based on nothing more than appearance! Completely childish and inexcusable, and I'd apologize for their immature behavior... if you'd ever encountered them. It's hard for me to remember that you haven't here." ZEX brushed some hair away from his one eye. "They're so prejudiced against things that are different. It's pitiful really. Luckily I am not so blind."
So, tonight wouldn't work, but planning for the future was encouraging nonetheless. Perhaps he had found a new bodyguard after all! He could wait. "Ah, I'd certainly look forward to spending more time with you as well!" Provided there was no more hitting. ZEX tried to mimic his smile back to him, and then, noticing the position of his hands, did the same. "You're quite fascinating! And quite large... both things that appeal to me." With a bit of a suggestive touch. "Do you think you'll be available tomorrow night, perhaps? If something does come up, there's always the message board..."
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"Indeed it is!" Gant laughed, still not sure what to think of a man that claimed to not know what the U.S.A. was. He certainly hoped he wouldn't start to think of himself as an alien from another world after being here too long...
ZEX seemed pretty passionate about his 'species' and their bigotry against different things. Whatever that meant. Gant understood persecution--he had lived through the civil rights and women's rights movements. But for someone to be prejudice against the human race for how they looked? That was definitely alien. Definitely crazy. "Well, certainly a relief to know you're friendly. Or else we couldn't become friends." Gant hoped he wouldn't regret becoming friends with an alien-crazy man, at least.
Was ZEX mocking him? It wouldn't be the first time someone acted polite to his face and believed they could be condescending without Gant noticing, but he had a feeling that wasn't the case here. The Admiral really did think he was an alien, after all. Huh. Well, Gant could roll with it. And as for being fascinating, he could take that as a compliment. Not sure what it meant that his largeness was also an appealing trait, but he could take that as a compliment too! "Quite interested in you, myself, Admiral. Don't run into too many aliens around here."
"Tomorrow night?" Gant thought. Eh, what the heck. ZEX may be crazy, but he might really be a military man. Could be useful to have him around at night. "Sure, sure! I'll keep my calendar open for you, Admiral."
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