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[says_the_booyah]

Summer vacation is here.  Possibly the last summer vacation for Cy, since he graduates college in a year.  For this summer, he's decided to be busy with his first job.  Assuming you consider being a superhero a job.  Cy isn't sure.  But he's missed being a hero full time, and is relishing what might be his last chance for such things.  Or maybe not, since he still isn't sure what he wants to do after he gets out of school.

No matter.  Today he is taking it easy, enjoying a milkshake under a spreading elm outside.  Just him and his tunes.  And his car magazines.  And his built-in game console.

Comments

[like_quicksilver]

The woods are like home in their fashion, so Gyda spends a lot of time exploring the area, making sure to keep the Bar within sight. In this place she didn't want to risk getting lost.

She wasn't sure which got her attention more..the man who seemed half metal, or the the devices he surrounded himself with. He also had thin books with him, ones with pictures. Given that she was still learning to read, those she appreciated much more than lines of texts.

[says_the_booyah]

Cy sees the girl study him, and gives a friendly smile. "Hey. Beautiful day, isn't it?"

[like_quicksilver]

"It is." She wasn't sure which was more surprising, that the metal man could move or how 'normal' his voice sounded.

"I'm Gyda." She took a few steps closer. "How're you made of metal? Are you dwarf-kin?" She tried to ask as polite as she could, but even so her curiosity was such that she had to ask. He was tall, just about the same height as Floki or her uncle, and yet his skin was dark and he was made of metal unlike she'd ever seen.

[says_the_booyah]

"Dwarf-kin? I'm almost seven feet tall. I was almost 6-5 before I was like this. So, not a dwarf.

"And I'm made of metal because there was an accident and they fixed me." He has the feeling the girl is going to need a lot of explanations. And might not understand any.

[like_quicksilver]

"Some of them are human sized." She corrected. "And having dwarf blood doesn't always make you short, it just might mean someone in your family was a dwarf." She may've not known about genetics, but she knew enough about life to know that race and family features were passed down the line.

"You were wounded and they fixed you parts from metal...is that a sort of science?" Her eyes widened to think just what sort of magic or science could allow someone to be repaired after such injuries. Back home, someone in such a state wouldn't have lived long enough to staunch the blood, let alone live as a cripple.

[says_the_booyah]

"You've met dwarves?" Does she mean dwarves like in fantasy? Or just short people? And does it matter?

"It's definitely science. A lot of science. I'm gonna guess you don't know much about science."

[like_quicksilver]

"No, but that's not to say they don't exist, and there are stories of them." Just because she hadn't seen them didn't mean they didn't exist.

She finally got close enough to sit right by him. "No. I just learned the word here and I'm still learning to read to find more."

[says_the_booyah]

Doesn't know the word science? OK, that's just disturbing.

"Where are you from? When are you from?"

[like_quicksilver]

"Kattegat." She can't help but laugh at his expression, like Floki when he sees something shocking. "I don't know..when, exactly. My father's the viking warrior Ragnar, he just discovered a route to England a year ago."

Sorry for a million billion edits

[cassiefuckingcage]

Cassie is heading out toward the range for target practice when she spots him from a distance. He's obscured a little by some branches and leaves, but the sight still freezes her in her tracks.

Him.

Cassie weighs her options. It doesn't take long. With her door gone, there can be no peaceful extraction. And she'll never have a better chance than she does right now. Back turned, plenty of open space to dispose of him and cover it up. She can always claim he attacked first. On the other hand, it's broad daylight, she can't count on a lack of witnesses, and she has no backup. Armed recon seems the way to go.

Yeah. That's what she'll call it. Close, identify, kill only if necessary. Or absolutely convenient.

The rules of the bar scarcely even enter into her mind. Her oath to the United States, to the Army, and to Earthrealm take precedent over the house rules of the bar that abducted her. Every time, for all time.

But first, confirmation. She has to be sure it's him.

Cassie pulls her gun out. It may be loaded with rubber, but she can still hurt the bastard with it if that's what this comes to. And there are plenty of things she can kill a man with in these woods.

It doesn't become clear until she gets close enough to look around the trees and get a look at the non-metallic side of him. She pulls the gun down to her side by the holster.

Yeah, not unless tanning in Outworld is WAY more effective than it is back home. Different cybernetics and he's definitely not the milkshake type, either. Just back off and no one will be -

Cassie steps on a bunch of twigs. Very loudly.

[says_the_booyah]

He looks up from his magazine, and spots a woman in military gear of some sort. Who seems to be angry, or at least angry looking. And holding a gun in the sort of pose that implies she's thinking she might to use it. You don't see that here often. But at home, he sees it on occasion when working with the police.

"Can I help you?" He keeps his voice even. But thinks about having one of his sonic blasters at the ready just in case.

[cassiefuckingcage]

Cassie surreptitiously slides her gun back into her holster.

"Nnnope. I was just leaving. Just thought I saw something is all."

[says_the_booyah]

"Something...yeah, okay.

"But you know, there are people who wouldn't take kindly to you pointing that at them even here." Maybe especially here.

[cassiefuckingcage]

"Wasn't aiming at you."

This is technically true on two counts. First, she hadn't sighted down and aimed yet - Cassie shoots what she aims at. Second, she was not-aiming at the person he thought he was. He is clearly not Kano, ergo Cassie was not not-aiming at him. Logic!

"And you can relax. I know the rules."

[says_the_booyah]

"Good. I really don't like being shot at. And besides, you would need special bullets." Or incredible aim to hit what little flesh is visible.

[cassiefuckingcage]

"Yeah, well, these ones are extra-unspecial," Cassie says. "So you've got even less to worry about."

[says_the_booyah]

"Still, I hate getting dents out," he says with a bit of a smile. "Truce?"

[daringyoungman]

Robin -shock of shocks - is not sneaking around in rafters or trees trying to frighten anyone.

He's going for a stroll around the lake, hands in the pockets of his jeans, hoodie loose and unzipped, sunglasses on.

Cyborg catches his attention not because he's a cyborg, but because he looks like he's playing video games on an integrated computer and that's awesome.

He strolls over.

"Hey, what're you playing?"

[says_the_booyah]

Something about this kid is just a bit familiar. Cy has no idea why.

"New game set in an alternate timeline 1950s. 'Red Menace'. It's okay." How many first person shooters can anyone play before being a bit bored.

[daringyoungman]

Is it his 'definitely not a superhero' grin? We bet it's the grin.

"Yeah? There was one like that out in my world this year and it's terrible. Puzzle-solving."

He shrugs - what're you gonna do? - and drops down to a crouch then rocks back to sit.

"What's wrong with yours?"

[says_the_booyah]

"Too generic. I mean, the story's fine and the acting's fine...I think they got someone from that show about Russian spies living in America, so there are even some in-jokes...but the play is the same as a dozen much smarter games. At the end of the day, I just have to keep shooting straight. Not a real challenge.

"Maybe I should look for a good puzzle game," he adds. "I'm Cy. Nice to meet you."

[daringyoungman]

"Don't pick Red Menace, then," he says. "No challenge at all."

The perils of being a superhero into computer games - trying to find a challenge. Althouh you'd be surprised how slow Kid Flash's reactions are when he's playing a first person shooter.

He grins again, and offers a hand. "Robin."

[says_the_booyah]

"Robin...like in Batman and..." Cy just stares. The face is not the same as his friend's. But the body language is very close. Very acrobatic.

Cy shakes Robin's hand very carefully.

[daringyoungman]

Robin thinky-frowns at him.

His thought process is going a bit like: okay, Robin is a perfectly good boy's name, and he KNOWS he hasn't been obnoxiously Batman-and- in this conversation. He hasn't even flown through the air ONCE. You'd have to know him to make the connection.

Which isn't impossible.

He doesn't deny it, but he doesn't relax, either.

"Why do you think that?"

[says_the_booyah]

"I know Robin...a Robin...though he doesn't call himself Robin anymore. And you sorta kinda remind me of him.

"Sorry if I'm getting that wrong." Yeah, Robin is a name as well as a codename.