[closed]

[kissmyaspis]

Who: Athena (kissmyaspis), Angel (brokencode), and Janey Springs (zoomied)
Where: Cherrygrove City
When: 9/8
Summary: Athena offered Angel protection against Jack. Angel needed to think about it. Time to see if she's gunna take Athena up on the offer.
Rating: G??? Might be bumped up for mentions of child abuse bc hahahaha Angel's past

[Athena hated waiting. If she had a mission, if she had a plan in mind, she preferred to just charge straight in and get things done as soon as possible. She was molded to be efficient and quick, and just waiting around for things to happen just isn't her style. But she had to. There was no choice. Angel had wanted to travel on foot to Cherrygrove, and even at Athena's quick pace, it had taken her days to get there from the village she'd started at. So there was nothing to do right now but wait.

It... hadn't been all that bad, honestly. Away from Ecruteak, away from the frustrating mess that was dealing with the Hyperion men both former and not, in a quiet town where she could actually relax with Janey by her side... well. Athena wasn't aware that she needed it. It wasn't enough to take all the stress off her shoulders, but it sort of... settled it more comfortably. It was like those times when she didn't have any jobs lined up, where she could just laze around Hollow Point for a few days, with the bonus here being that she could actually feel the sun during the daytime.

But three days can pass all too quickly. Soon enough, the time came for when Angel should be arriving in town. So early in the morning Athena heads out from the Pokemon Center, to the sign that all travelers pass announcing the city's name...

And she waits. Good thing she sticks out like a sore thumb, yeah?]

Comments

[brokencode]

[The sight of the town had been a welcome one. Even with the extra rations from Murphy and the intimidating presence of Krieg, Angel had found herself wondering if she would even make it to see Cherrygrove, let alone meet the awaiting assassin. Most of the time, however, she was less concerned with herself and more over her companions. At times, and despite knowing better in the case of the psycho beside her, Angel doubted either of the men watching over her understood the gravity of the situation they were in. It was impossible to put into words just how awful and power hungry Handsome Jack was.]

[If anything, the journey, filled with as much doubt and fear as it had been, solidified Angel's decision. Unwittingly putting others in danger was not her style, and as worried as she was about Athena, she knew that the woman could defend herself. And if anyone understood just what her father was capable of, it was the gladiator.]

[But that didn't keep the fear at bay completely. As she drew closer, she felt her limbs begin to quiver. She feigned a shiver, hoping that if her companions notice, they would only assume it was the cold.]

[After murmuring to her friends, assuring them that she wasn't leaving yet, that she could trust Athena, Angel broke away from them. She crossed the distance between her the men and women, trying to hold herself as straight and confidently as she could. But standing in front of them, with her wrapped around herself, Angel felt small and powerless. Athena might have been only a few inches taller than the siren, but she radiated strength. Awkward as she felt, at least she knew she would be in good hands.]

[Clearing her throat, Angel awkwardly held out a still trembling hand.]

It is good to meet you, Athena. I... have been looking forward to this moment for a few days now.

[zoomied]

[ It's been a busy couple of days.

Janey's thankful Athena's here, and Zoomy and Xiphos, too. They're good companions, and quite honestly, they need all the help they can get. She's seen the posts on the network, she's seen Angel and Jack's conversation. It's left a pretty sour taste in her mouth.

No wonder she'd been so eager to follow Athena to meet the girl. She's there, beside Athena, wearing a smile--and Zoomy the Cyndaquil, as friendly as ever, runs over to greet her. ]

Hey, hey, give her some room to breathe, alright?

Quil...

[kissmyaspis]

[Some might laugh at Zoomy's antics and they are rather cute. Cute enough that she doesn't say anything or tell Janey to stop him. But for Athena at least, a somewhat heavy air hangs over this meeting. She's not sure where this is going to go, and she's not exactly good enough at reading people to tell if Angel's got good news or bad news for them. Only one way to find out...]

I take it that means you've come to a decision?

[... Blunt as always, she is, as she reaches out and shakes Angel's hand. Her grip is firm, but not crushing. Enough to feel the way Angel's shakes, but she doesn't comment on it.]

[brokencode]

[Angel's attention drifted for a moment, coming to focus on the pokemon at her feet. After Athena released her hand, she knelt down beside it, giving the creature a scratch of the head and a bright smile. It wasn't that she was trying to ignore the woman before her, of course, and, once she was satisfied, she gave Athena a brisk nod.]

If you are both willing to undertake this risk, then yes, I will go with you.

[Now Angel's attention drifted to the blonde. Angel was not entirely unfamiliar with the blonde, but as a mere byproduct of the Elpis mission, Jack hadn't collected much information on her. In some ways, it was refreshing, meeting a new face. She had no expectations, and she didn't have to feign naivety for once.]

That... is okay with you, correct? Her blue eyes were locked on Janey, desperate to make sure that she understood the risks. She doubted that Athena would drag the woman she cared so much about into danger without her knowing, but Angel's conscience insisted she make sure.

[zoomied]

[ Zoomy's absolutely enthralled by the attention. What a sweet human! And she gives the best scratches. Zoomy's not dumb, but he can't quite understand the mood of the meeting; it's so tense, and all he wants is for these nice humans to relax.

Janey tilts her head to the side before nodding. ]

Course it is. Wouldn't be here otherwise.

[ It's Janey's turn to hold out her hand--with a smile, naturally. ]

Janey Springs, nice to meet you. We're gonna make sure you're safe and sound, yeah?

[kissmyaspis]

[Angel's damn right that Athena would drag Janey into this nonsense without letting her know what's up first - but as protective as she is, she knows that her wife can take care of herself. She was there fighting The Traveler alongside Athena and the ragtag group of semi-vault hunters not too long ago, and those tattoos down her arm aren't exactly for show.

... That's not to say that Athena won't protect her with her life, or keep her out of more dangerous situations. But this? She knows Janey can handle this.]

Correct. Between us and our collection of creatures, it'll be very difficult for Jack to get anywhere near you.

[brokencode]

[Angel had heard something similar once before. She had been promised, up and down, that the last collection of walls she had called home was impenetrable. That she would be safe. And ignoring the fact that the true threat lurked within the walls, they also hadn't been able to withstand an attack, despite all the promises otherwise.]

[A shiver rocked her petite frame, a subconscious attempt to shake away the memories. Last time had been different. Last time, she was the one to tear down the walls. She could trust Athena — there would be no reason to break free if she was with the gladiator.]

I trust you. [Those are words that didn't come easy after all these years. But Athena had proven herself an ally a long time ago, even if she hadn't realized it. And as she had said before, if Athena could trust someone, so could the siren. She gave a nod to the blonde, the smallest of smiles beginning to creep across her lips. And you as well.

[Mari, on the other hand, seemed to be a bit more reluctant. After hesitating a handful of feet away, she crept closer, sniffing at the other pokemon, before giving what sounded like a satisfied bleat. At least one of them was easy to win over.]

strolls in four days later

[zoomied]

[ The shiver is subtle, but Janey's a junker. Details are kind of her thing, and she notices. The poor girl's been through... god, so much, Janey can't even-- It hurts her heart. Janey might have come here from Pandora, where people fight for themselves for the most part, but she's never lost that sympathetic side to her. Not even a little bit. ]

Glad to hear it. [ And she is, because trust is a tough thing to come by and Angel's been through so much that it's, quite frankly, a surprise she's willing to trust Janey so quickly. ] And, hey-- [ Janey says, grinning as Zoomy absolutely basks in the attention, ] --looks like our buddies are gonna be thick as thieves before too long.

[kissmyaspis]

Janey is the last person you could be distrustful of.

[A twitch of her lips into the shadow of a smile is what gives Athena's pride in Janey away. She's too good for Pandora, honestly. Or Elpis. Hell, their entire star system, probably. If someone doesn't trust Janey, Athena would wonder what the hell is wrong with them.

... Then again, that could just be bias talking.]

That's good. If they get along, then that'll make things all the more easy for us if we have to battle.

[Xiphos hangs back a bit, but Athena's growlithe is quick to approach Mari and Zoomy. After a few sniffs, though, his attention is drawn to Angel, and he barks at her, tail wagging. Yes hello sad girl come pet me I am fluffy and warm...!]

[brokencode]

I believe that. [Hesitant as she was, Angel already felt warmly toward toward the blonde; she was nothing if not friendly.]

[Angel knelt down once again, sufficiently distracted by the pokemon at her feet. While she caught snippets of what the two women were discussing — noting the mention of battle — she was far more concerned with scratching under the chin of the dog-like pokemon.]

Will we have to fight? [Eager as the wild pokemon had been to attack her, and as quick as Mari was to defend her, it felt stranger to encourage the combat. And she certainly didn't want anyone or anything else getting hurt because of her.]

[zoomied]

You're a good kid, Angel.

[ And she absolutely means it. She doesn't know Angel that well, but quite honestly, Angel deserves the world. She can see it in Angel's eyes: that worn-down look that people much older than she often wear. ]

Athena? [ Janey's just arrived here, too, so she doesn't know. And to Angel-- ] They're too cute to make 'em fight, huh?

[kissmyaspis]

You'd be surprised.

[She doesn't dwell on the serious because... well. She's seen that look in the eyes of too many people, and she's sure she had that look before things began changing for her after Elpis. It's... something she knows, but not something she can help with.]

Everything around here revolves around raising and fighting these creatures. Fighting with them is the biggest hobby on this planet, it seems.

[brokencode]

[Angel gave Janey an appreciative smile. It was the first time someone outside of Jack had said something like that to her. Better yet, she meant it, rather than using it to manipulate her, as her father had done (and continued to do, no less). Aside from what little information Angel had received in regards to the junker, Angel had known her for all of five minutes and was already growing quite fond of her.]

[Then again, she supposed that anything was better than Handsome Jack or a Hyperion employee.]

[Turning back to the pokemon, she pulled Mari into her arms giving her a gentle squeeze and a quick nod. The creatures did seem far too cute, far too friendly to be fond of fighting. But the monsters surrounding Athena, undoubtedly the veteran amongst them, seemed to harbor no animosity toward her. If she spoke from experience then...]

If it's normal for them, then I suppose that's alright. [Mari had been incredibly eager to protect Angel, after all. Of course, that didn't mean she was going to go around fighting with her willy-nilly]

[Angel shook her head. She was getting distracted, and wasting valuable time.]

Should we get going then? [The second Angel's words left her mouth, she frowned, glancing backward at her companions, particularly the taller of the two, before glancing back at them. For a moment, her tongue felt like lead, her mouth unable to form the words for the question she needed to ask. How could she even begin? How could they even understand]

On second thought... how do you two feel about... [She swallowed hard.] How do you feel about psychos?

[zoomied]

[ Psychos? Jack had said something about a psycho being here. But she hasn't seen the guy around, and she hasn't heard much from him. Janey's made friends with weirder, she guesses. ]

Long as the psycho's not trying to cause me or anyone else a good amount of harm, they're alright with me. I've only been here a little while, I don't want me or Zoomy or anyone else becoming part of a skin pizza party.

[kissmyaspis]

Usually, the only good psycho is a dead psycho.

[Psychos are different from regular people to her. When she looks back on her years with Atlas, with a (mostly) clear head and free of their indoctrination... with the memories of slaughtering villages, she can hear the fear, the pleas for mercy. But psycho camps... all that can be seen is the remains of the people they've killed, people they've ate. The glee they scream as they attack.

So no, she doesn't really have any fondness for them or remorse for killing them. But still, when she looks over Angel's shoulder at the man lingering in the distance, there's no dangerous glint in her eye.]

But Krieg is... different. I have no issues with him, so as long as he doesn't try and harm any of the locals on this planet, I don't mind him accompanying us.

[brokencode]

[Angel nodded to Janey, understanding all too well what she was worried over. There were very few security feeds on Pandora that didn't feature psychos doing... whatever it was that they did with both living and dead captors.]

Like Athena said, Krieg is different. He was one of the vault hunters who... [She trailed off. She couldn't even begin to tell that story. Not here, not right now. This was meant to be a happy moment. She didn't need to feel the sting of needles or the burn of eridium right now.]

He's just... a good man. I can promise you that. And he has a fire pokemon too, so him and Zoomy will get along, I'm sure! [Maybe she was a little too desperate to convince them. It wasn't as if they were saying no to her in the first place.]

[She glanced back once more, giving a sharp nod to the waiting psycho. Once everything was in order, they could all head out, together. In the meantime, she turned back to Athena, a pleasant smile forming on her lips.]

Thank you. You've already done so much for me.

[zoomied]

[ Janey's just met the girl... but she's so earnest that she can't help but believe her. And Janey's got a soft spot for Angel already. She's pretty sure it'd be hard to say no to her, especially when she smiles like that. ]

Yeah? Zoomy could always use a lot more friends!

[ The Cyndaquil confirms that with a soft Quil!, and Janey grins. ]

So when do we get to meet the guy, eh?

[kissmyaspis]

It's... no trouble, really. It's what I do.

[The bright smile and the words of thanks throw her off, just a little. In her line of work, even in more recent years when she occasionally works as a bodyguard, Athena's not really used to being so... openly thanked, like that. So many of her jobs revolved around killing that it's not often people are happy with her like that.

But it's... not a bad feeling, as new and kind of confusing as it is. So she'll try and deal with it.]

I've spoken to him already. But if you want to, go right ahead. [...] Just remember that he's still a psycho. Might be kind of hard to understand some of the things he says.

[brokencode]

It may not be trouble, Athena, but it still means a great deal to me.

[Turning around, Angel stared in the direction of her towering psycho companion. She took a second to steel herself, to prepare for whatever might follow. It took a certain amount of preparation to deal with him at times, especially when she was arguably the person who had spent the most time around him.]

You are correct, it may be difficult to understand what he is saying. But he and I were friends even before I arrived here. I would like to think I am capable of parsing what he is getting at.

[Even with that out in the air, however, Angel still felt somewhat apprehensive. Once she had collected the man, there would be little keeping her in the town. Even if she had only been there for a few seconds, it still felt monumental, the idea of setting out on a much bigger journey.]

[Monumental, but worth it.]

Give me just one moment.

[After taking a brief second to assure Mari that she would be right back, Angel moved across the field, walking as quick as her weakened muscles would allow. She approached Krieg, smile gentle, though the building excitement in her chest threatened to widen her lips into a grin.]

Krieg, will you come with me? I have some friends for you to meet.

[fuelthefire]

[He's been waiting as patiently as he knows how, fidgeting and grumbling quietly to himself and to Murder Chicken. His gaze is on Angel the entire time she's talking to the two women, intense and alert for any potential threats. Not from the women - he knows Athena, and he knows of Janey - but from elsewhere. This world is pretty innocuous by Krieg's standards, even with all the various murder animals, but it does unfortunately contain Handsome Jack, and he knows without being told that Jack will want Angel back, so he can't relax.

She's not gone for very long, though, and she's smiling when she returns to him - she's exhausted from traveling, but there's still somehow a spring in her step. It goes with her smile. Seeing her look like that...it feels good.

He jerks his head in a short nodding motion in response to her request.]

I'm ready for my closeup!

[He keeps pace with her as they walk back, shortening his stride and matching hers, while Murder Chicken frolics and chases around both their feet. As soon as it's close enough to spot Janey's Cyndaquil, however, the little Torchic runs ahead, waddling as fast as its little chicken legs will go, to say hello and introduce itself.

They catch up to the enthusiastic Torchic a few moments later. He meets Athena's eyes first, and nods in greeting - a sharp, upward jerk of his chin. Then he blinks his gaze over to Janey, and is immediately taken with her scars, tilting his head and hunching down a bit to get a better look at the ones on her abdomen.]

Bad. Ass. What'd you kill?

[Someone should probably tell him it's rude to ask about other people's scars, especially during introductions. He probably won't listen, but at least he'll know.]

[zoomied]

[ ... That sure is a psycho, yep. Zoomy checks out the little murder chicken, sniffing and pawing at the little guy. It looks like they're off to a great start already.

And then he asks about her scars, and she's taken aback. But it could be worse? Janey kind of assumes he doesn't know better because, well, psycho. As long as the guy's willing to learn, Janey doesn't have any problems with questions he asks. If he continues to act like... well. You know. She might have a problem then. ]

Bunch o' kraggons. Like skags, but on the moon. [ Ahem. ] But you probably shouldn't go poking your nose into people's scar stories when you've just met, yeah?

[kissmyaspis]

[Athena bristles a bit at the sudden choice of subject. It's not like she tries to avoid Janey's scars... not that she can, really. Hell, she likes them. They're proof that Janey fought against things that could've very easily killed her and came out on top. They're proof that she's a survivor.

And yeah she thinks they're pretty sexy. Not that she's going to admit that to Krieg of all people.

But she knows the topic of how she got them is a sensitive one. So she takes a firm step forward when he asks, but as Janey tries to shake it off, she calms down a bit.]

Right. It's a story for another time. A time when we're all not out in the open, at least.

[... look she's trying not to look angry, but she's. failing. because when has athena ever been able to keep her anger in check.]

[brokencode]

[Even Angel, the paragon of patience that she was, couldn't help but cringe. She shifted, a hand coming to rest on his bicep, large against her diminutive hand. Bowing her head, she gave both the women an apologetic glance, before a firm nod to herself.]

They are right. We can discuss this land more later. This is the only town I could have come out in. If Jack wanted to, he could intercept us here. I would rather not tempt fate. [Straightening herself up, Angel turned her gaze fully toward Athena.] You are the experienced one here. What is our next step?

[fuelthefire]

[He blinks and straightens up at Janey's admonishment. He's not super worried about Athena's expression, because as far as he knows, she always looks angry about something. It's actually when Angel places a gentle hand on his arm that he realizes he may have said the wrong thing.

Nice faux pas there, buddy.

Look, etiquette is hard, okay? How's he supposed to know what's okay to say and what isn't until he says it and gets a reaction? Besides, scars are a weird thing to be sensitive about! He's got tons! None of them are as impressive as Janey's, and he doesn't remember how he got half of them, but he's got them!

Noted, however.]

Laterrrr.

[His voice is a quiet grumble as he pronounces the word. He twitches his gaze away from Janey and over to Angel when she touches his arm, and then back over to Athena again when Angel asks her question. It's a huge relief to have the whole "deciding what to do next" thing safely in someone else's hands. He hadn't realized how much lacking some sort of direction had sucked until Angel had shown up and given him a new one.]

[zoomied]

[ At least he's learning. That's a relief. Janey still places her hand over Athena's to give it a brief squeeze. It's alright, it says, and Janey hopes it calms her at least a little.

Angel's question prompts her to glance from the girl to Athena. ]

Onto the next town, right, hon?

[kissmyaspis]

Uh.

[Athena can feel the back of her neck heating up now because oh my god Janey you're doing this in front of people. But hey, at least... at least that snapped her out of her anger mode...?]

Right. There's a fast-travel station we can use to get to the town I've been staying in. Ecruteak City.

[brokencode]

[Angel noted the small display of affection with a smile. It was good to see the gladiator, whom Jack had always portrayed as cold and heartless, display any amount of warmness. It was just further evidence of all of her father's lies.]

Lead the way then.

Angel was more than eager to get moving. Not just to be out of Jack's path, but to settle in. Janey had already proven herself a worthy, kind companion, and Athena was the one who had offered to care for her, at no benefit to herself.]

[Angel could trust these people.]