Vertigo and Paradox (to Isengard!?)

[unyieldinghope]

[X takes the time during his travel to the meeting place Zero set up to consider just what all there is to cover. Informing him of his primary mission certainly is part of the list, but also... X grimaces, steps slowing; there's more to this "visit" than just checking on the activity that's been picked up around here and making sure Zero isn't

Comments

[final_number]

[Zero rises, because it's proper, and smiles, because it'd be weird if he didn't, and he moves around the table and greets X with said smile and an offered hand.]

Hey, X. Feel a little better seeing me in person?

[Yeah, maybe that did come out a little on the snippy side of his usual wry humor, didn't it? He's putting out some extra heat that would be easy to note on a scan, and his corepulse and respiration rates are slightly higher too. He gestures backward to the table, with the wine ready and the 'glasses' set out, and X might notice how sparse the attendance in the restaurant around them is. As in, it's deserted except for the two of them and a variety of tables.

Zero glances over his shoulder as he walks X to the table.]

Greased a couple of wheels to get us the place to ourselves. I figured we'd probably want to talk privately.

[unyieldinghope]

[X takes his hand, though his grip falters just the tiniest bit at the verbal portion of the greeting. He keeps himself together, though, not letting the confusion surface. Instead, he laughs quietly and shakes his head and answers honestly.]

Always do.

[Besides the tone, those other clues pop up on sensors and scanners, and X doesn't bother hiding the bit of concern that rises to his features as he follows Zero. He can't disagree with the general emptiness of the place, but at the same time he knows that if something more sensitive came up he could easily transfer it over to a private line and carry on a simultaneous conversation to avoid suspicion if it came to that.

When Zero explains, X lets his shoulders droop a bit, expression settling for somewhere between neutral and uncertain. He isn't one to let things drag on for long, even if he'd normally let Zero come out with it on his own. It just keeps seeming like something's up, and there's a point where... ]

Zero.

[His tone isn't stern, but rather matching that same concern

[final_number]

[For a split second Zero freezes at the question. He realizes that - be it his X or another X, any X; there's no real way he can fool any of them; he's just... so used to relying on his partner in so many ways.

Which only makes this all the more frustrating. He can't stall, he can't really lie, and yet...]

I don't know. There might be.

[and then, in typical fashion, he diverts, and sits at the table, and gestures toward the solid-program-data that is the wine bottle.] Try some of this, it's amazing. Local and a pretty new idea.

[unyieldinghope]

[But instead of following the diversion, X draws a hand to curve over the fold of his arm, watching Zero worriedly. Green eyes lock onto the blond's face, and he just searches for a moment, as if trying to find what it is that's bothering Zero. He doesn't want to ignore this, not with what's going on. What could be going on.]

What is it?

[When the bottle's brought up, X presses his lips into a faint, downward-curved line. Yes, Zero, he's ignoring the wine bottle in favour of hounding the problem until he can solve it. Typical Zero fashion, be reminded of typical X fashion. Releasing his arm, X takes a seat at the table despite the fact that he has no intention of continuing to discuss the object in question until Zero concedes a little more information. You can't just tell X "there might be a problem" and change the subject--it just doesn't work that way.]