Pre-barbeque

[24d_245t_tcdd]

Even aggressively under-socialised heroes with virtually no external hobbies or entertainments have certain chores which they must do, regardless of inclination, time, or other pressing matters. Chores such as the utterly mundane need to go shopping. For food. Plain, ordinary, food.

So, of course, Agent Orange is not dressed as himself, but rather as his secret identity, which is rather more secret than most. He is wallpaper; about as ordinary as it is possible for a man to get with virtually no feature standing out sufficiently to be a starting point for a description should he be witness to or suspect in something.

He was standing in the vegetable section of the store, a Whole Foods because he found the price an equitable trade for the quality of foods, doing meal planning for the week as he judged the benefits of asparagus versus those of bok choy.

Comments

[futures_of_ash]

Rachel blinked and stared at James for a while, obviously thinking hard while the rest of the team kind of debated the merits of such an approach...

"I've never attended school." Any school. "I just live in one."

Oh. Right. Quiet table now yes.

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"I would offer to enrol you," James said blandly (enough that between that and his natural lack of expression it was impossible to tell if he were joking or not), "however I am fairly certain that you would have no peace with a letter of recommendation from Agent Orange."

[futures_of_ash]

"Power school or real school?" Rachel asked curiously. "Power really isn't a problem?"

"She could teach any psionics class you care to name and a host of others I doubt anyone has yet to feel the need for." Hank offered proudly, it was a very clear, almost uncle like pride.

"But if attending taught you the system they use and how it's run..." Kitty countered, thinking it over.

"...I'd probably scare them if they didn't like my recommendation from James." Rachel finished with a grin.

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"Either." he allowed, "Cross-dimensional travellers are not unknown, so we have a couple of schools set up to assist in integration of persons from alternate realities so that they can live normal lives.

"As well, my recommendation would not be disliked, it is simply that as a complete logistical unknown people would spend much of their time attempting to grill you on my particulars."

[futures_of_ash]

"Ah, then I would get angry before I scared them." Instead of doing it unintentionally!

"As anyone would." Kurt agreed, stealing a pea pod from the remainders on the table. "Given that you are a friend in either incarnation and one does not simply hand out such particulars no matter the prompting."

Plus...well, yes, that calm statement was a little worrisome. Hank was making a mental note. "Rachel, please no killing foreign government officials or even lightly maiming. It wouldn't go over well in the long run."

[24d_245t_tcdd]

James took another bite of salmon, chewed and swallowed, and then stated, "I cannot blame my government for it's worry. They are used to having files on all of those who practise vigilante justice and the fact that I am a complete cypher worries them."

[futures_of_ash]

"Well, the other option is to show up at a school, find the person in charge, and make a personal request." Kitty tapped her fingers thoughtfully. "You can be a little...intense...when you want something Rae." That left Agent Orange out of the picture?

"Governments worry," Rachel agreed. "With cause in the case of vigilantes a lot." Yes, she was thinking of people like Frank Castle. "But you don't have a record of undue harm or killing, right?" So...why worry?

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"I have never killed." he was able to state firmly, reaching up to a hat that was not there, "My modus operandi is minimal damage. It still bothers them to not have a line on me."

[futures_of_ash]

"You're doin' better than most, kid." Logan offered, sliding burgers onto the table and finally sitting down himself. A moment of fussing and he had his steak and burger, as well as one made to pass off to Rachel. Then he was relaxing with meat, a brew, and his teammates to lean on since barbecues were for slouching. "Just on that fact alone you're a damn sight better than most."

"Quite." Hank agreed, "and we shall do our part to support such endeavors." And mental health. A lot to support mental health!

"What kind of things do they actually want to know?" Rachel asked after poking her burger.

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"Name, age, powers if any, time active, kills if any, confirmed involvement in extra-legal activities, anything that they could use if needed to put me down or build a psychological profile."

[futures_of_ash]

Rachel tensed, very, very visibly at the term 'put me down'. Despite that she was still tryng to really grasp the issue at hand. "Why don't you give them something? Even if it's wrong?" Because a fake profile would possibly settle them down.

"That could prove problematic should they discover that the provided provenance was false." Hank noted quietly before reaching over to pat Rachel's shoulder.

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"Exactly. So long as I remain a complete cypher doing nothing but upholding the law they hunt me in an absent-minded manner which allows me full operation. If I were to begin actively lying I would become subject of a full-on manhunt."

[futures_of_ash]

"Oh," Rachel noted, thinking that over. It did make sense, when she thought about it. She just...didn't work much with the government. The one she was most conversant with was the British monarchy, and even that was kind of a skewed view. "Don't let them kill you." If at all possible.

"On that optimistic note, shall we?" Hank noted to James. "We can retire to my lab for measurements and readings while this lot attempts volleyball."

[24d_245t_tcdd]

He stood up after politely wiping his mouth and setting his eating implements on his empty plate, "Not dying is a large part of my goal, Rachel." he agreed before following Hank.

[futures_of_ash]

"Do you mind teleportation?" Hank asked once they had stood from the table. "It may be a lot simpler to have Kurt take us to my lab instead of walking you through the mansion proper." They were less likely to encounter others for example.

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"If it is best." He hates teleportation. He hates the loss of control involved. He'll deal.

[futures_of_ash]

"In this case it may be." Hank nodded to Kurt, who was happy to come over and get the pair teleported in a puff of smoke. "I'll come after the game, or Rachel will come ja?"

Hank's lab was...immense, and crowded, and underground somewhere! "Hmm, now, let's see, as far as equipment goes would you prefer a focus on offensive or defensive?"

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"Defensive. My nightstick works well for offence." It was simple and matter of fact. "I am comfortable with it."

[futures_of_ash]

"Wonderful!" Hank beamed and putz around a moment, looking at some notes and switching a burner off on something else. "How do you prefer to dress when you are patrolling? How do you prefer to be able to move? Bulk will be the initial issue i believe."

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"Hat, full-head covering mask, turtleneck, world war one era German greatcoat, trousers, combat boots, gloves." he recited, "I am more interested in dodging well than in going toe to toe with others. Seattle is very damp, everything must be water resistant and with good grip."

[futures_of_ash]

This? This would be a blue, furry look of Glee. That was SO MUCH TO WORK WITH! "Wonderful! Layers make this so much more workable! Do you employ any dampers? Inertia weaves? Kevlar at least? Though we can do better than that..." oh yes. Cheerful, cheerful scientist!

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"Currently I have Kevalr." he allowed, "Very little else. I am working with limited funding and rather a lot of it has to go into medical insurance."

He has the Best Medical Insurance Ever.

[futures_of_ash]

"When fighting what do you find yourself up against most often? We shouldn't overlook the odd flame thrower or lightning zap, but best if we can prevent the worst impacts." Stabbing and guns perhaps? Those were common in crime fighting!

"And do you end up on the inadvisable end of vehicles?"

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"Stabbings, guns, lightning, gravitational manipulation, fire, extraordinary strength, speed," he started listing...well. All the powers that he had run into. There was a mild mention of, "I am very good at dodging."

[futures_of_ash]

Hank took notes, lots of notes! Then he pointed at the corner of his lab. "There, that. We should certainly put that in your coat at least. Thin, easily powered I'll make a lightweight power source, and it tends to dampen and disperse energy impacts. And I'll work up something for kinetic impacts to add to your turtlenecks."