To say that he finds this to be a waste is an understatement. What can be said of Peter Petrelli's thoughts on the Major is much more widespread, if only in the realm of how ridiculous and stupid the whole thing is. Granted, people who are clearly insane do not have the best track record for the things that they do qualifying as anything but, still he finds himself unexpectedly angry. In a way, it's probably just part of what has been building up about home, about Claire coming back with gunfire at her heels and his own brother to thank for it, her father--biologically anyway ( ... )

He'd noticed the flash of someone teleporting into the immediate vicinity. Briefly he'd thought maybe it was Dr. Manhattan, coming in late to save the day (as usual). Only a second glance told him what he needed to know; Peter Petrelli was on the move and had just entered this city block nearest the zeppelin's current destination. Perfect. So he waited for the hero's return. On the meantime a clean break happens between the second vampire's jaws. It's messy work but nothing he can't handle. Adrian has barely broken a sweat but that's hard to tell under the rain. He tips his head back to get blond hair out of his eyes just as Peter returns.

"Cleaning up," Adrian answers in his smooth, practiced American accent.

"Behind you," he warns just as a third vampire missing its legs raises a pistol from a distance of several yards to Peter's back. Apparently even horror movie extras resort to firearms when they have to. It pulls the trigger, giving a flash of brightness in the darkened streets.

Adrian's voice settles itself well in the middle of a rainstorm for some reason, clear and easily audible for whatever reason ( ... )

He doesn't flinch when they teleport, this is actually something with which he's familiar. His green-blue eyes narrow only because he's touched without permission, but Adrian has no reason to argue as the teleportation blinks them away, letting a bullet cartridge split the air and land in a crosswalk signal. When their feet touch solid ground again Adrian looks at Peter very coolly. Coolly for someone still getting soaked by rain. The Ozymandias suit keeps him warm. By the way, hero, have you noticed it? Well anyway, he nods once, acknowledging the other man's thanks but he offers nothing similar in tone like you're welcome or it was nothing.

"I could have caught it," Adrian says like one states it's cold or it's raining. Nonchalant. He wonders if Peter is interested in trajectory at all, how if he had remained exactly where he stood the bullet would have whistled by his ear. Close but hardly lethal. Maybe deafening for a split second but he could live through that. No, he probably isn't interested at all, not with this ( ... )

Could have caught it? Great. He nearly says that. Nearly. Not quite. Instead he bites his tongue and sighs, a little irritated again, but it's not really anyone's fault. Oh wait. Yes. It is. But he's not here--as in right here in front of them--at the moment, so he keeps that to himself too. No point really in rehashing the obvious.

"Really," is what he ends up with to that claim that he doesn't find unbelievable so much as unnecessary. As far as trajectory lessons go, well, Peter went into nursing and despite worldly heroics, that is his area of expertise, not having much to do with quick assessment of distance, speed, and what bullet will hit or not hit exactly where at exactly what time. In any case, he shifts his weight as he turns to more fully face Adrian who, though wearing what Peter recognizes as something meant specifically for this type of thing--or so he gathers--doesn't get commented on, because he's already onto the next point of focus ( ... )

"Yes," he replies, matter of fact on that.

Is it unnecessary? It depends on the situation. Silk Spectre might certainly agree if only because her one bullet earned her a swift heel to the gut, but the past is the past and not something on the discussion table with this man. Claire Bennet is suspicious, he knows this. Whatever for? Is it his manner? Do women have a sixth sense for this type of thing? The mild misogynist in him says yes, they do but again, not on the discussion table. It doesn't take a genius to see Peter and Claire are close or that any ill thought against her might put the man on edge. He keeps these thoughts to himself and most of them happen at rapid blinking speed. Just as quickly Adrian's train of thought switches gears to what Peter says is no big deal. Right. He lets the thunder and the darkness discourage him from smiling. All in due time.

Before he remarks on what Peter Petrelli considers fair he drops his heel down on a skulking disfigured thing. They used to call him a pacifist and that's ( ... )

That timing piques the younger Petrelli's interest as well, briefly, so briefly that he's not sure if he's amused by it--slightly morbid even for him, and he's taken pleasure in more than a few terrible things he would still take back if he could--or just aware, investing nothing so humorous but every bit as attentive. Likely, more, it falls in between.

"I like most --" he begins and is cut off by a particularly ear-bleeding crack of thunder that seems to shake the air in front of him, nearly visible, lightning streaking white across the darkness for a second. Once it passes, he rolls his eyes before repeating, "I like most animals." When he replies in full, his head turns in a way that suggests he is trying to figure out where this question came from, and where it is headed. Peter really does like most animals though, a lot more, lately, than people at the very least---not that this is a good thing, but it's something he's noticed.

Thunder cracking is only a conversational nuisance. He folds his arms loosely across his chest, noting no danger in the immediate area, so he lets his guard not down but become more relaxed. Neither does he consider Peter Petrelli himself a threat, when maybe he ought to by his physical capabilities alone. It's his emotional manner that Adrian believes he has somewhat figured out. There are still spaces waiting for their pieces to fall in but he's a patient man.

"Good. Bubastis will take a liking to you," he says with a single nod. He has no doubt about her. "Not that you're obligated by any means. You understand I consider this voluntary on your part," Adrian adds a hint of laughter, "I did it for Blair." He voices neither hesitation nor shyness in admitting this to him.

His brow quirks at the name but he nods as one does when acknowledging and agreeing without saying so or necessarily, entirely knowing what one is agreeing with. The way Adrian gives him a second chance to opt out of the auction's parameters makes him curious as to why, only to have it answered in a way that reminds him distantly of Nathan, which is immediate cause for him to not be sure if he believes the blond man completely or not. For the moment though he believes him enough, and as with many things, the moment is all that matters if you count that one gives out to pass on to the next.

"I understood before, when she asked me to volunteer," he says, and then, "And I understand it the same, now," a pause as he does let a short laugh go now, shaking his head again. "Though you're also free to opt out," he offers a half smile, as close to saying if that's what you're getting at, even as he has that same unnumbered sense that tells him it's not.

"I don't opt out," he replies, tone suggesting that for him it's a matter of principle.

He knows for the most part it's a bit the same for Peter. Both of them participated for Blair's sake, at least on the surface level. What goes on underneath, Adrian keeps to himself. Peter's a smart one but a bit of an optimist, the kind who knows when the world is falling down around him there will be at least one person trying to keep the sky up; that person being himself. He proves this point by teleporting about in a thunderstorm, saving civilians from uglier things though that ugliness is only on the surface too. His attitude isn't callously uncompromising like Rorschach's or laced with poisonous irony like Eddie's. Come to think of it, Peter Petrelli reminds him of Dan. They were good friends once. Humanity and how it changes with time and environment is complex, it's no surprise why Jon left in the first place ( ... )