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]

"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."

[24d_245t_tcdd]

James nodded and remained seated where he'd been put, "I will want to test everything before using it in the field, of course."

[futures_of_ash]

"Naturally," Hank nodded. "If you could spare one of your coats and sweaters I shall get things integrated. When that is done I will have Rachel bring you here for a test run in the Danger Room." The Danger Room was easy to monitor after all.

"I will also discuss the possibility of a permanent entrance to your world."

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"I will ask Rachel to bring them in." he said with a nod, "I am not certain that Rachel thinks a permanent connection is wise."

[futures_of_ash]

"Rachel worries, greatly, about many things." Hank admitted. "She would no doubt be considering the wisdom of connecting two unrelated realities, though I doubt we will be experiencing nazis from your world as we have from others." In fact he was almost certain!

"I believe the shielding and control we can put upon a single entrance and your need for therapy far outweighs the risk of accidental convergence of realities. There simply isn't enough similarities between our worlds to cause an issue."

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"Some neo-Nazis, but not that many. The Third Reich has long been defeated." he agreed. As for the rest of it he simply nodded to allow Hank to talk. It wasn't really something he had any experience in, after all.

[futures_of_ash]

"We once connected with a world where Hitler had won," Hank admitted. "Or rather the Excalibur team did. It wasn't pretty, and occasionally there are still nightmares involving an alternate, dead version of Kitty and the like." The Excalibur team had, admitted, a lot more experience with alternate realities.

"Consider a place where w doorway could be easily accessed by you and only you."

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"We will have to rig a doorway in my basement." He said after a moment, "I have no other place."

[futures_of_ash]

"Do you have a security system?" Important question!

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"Of course." he said with a faint proto-smile, "The best that I could buy, with the best I could do to add onto it."

[futures_of_ash]

"Then your basement sounds about perfect." Hank grinned and poked a few things. "Deciding where to have it come out on this end is actually harder."

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"I would like something where the most limited possible number of people have any idea it exists, let alone where it is."

[futures_of_ash]

"And somewhere that can provide access to the therapist you settle on." Hank leaned on a counter, thinking. "And where strangers are less remarked upon." Someplace downtown then, not near the mansion.

Perhaps..."We park the shuttles to SWORD in their own building, and there are rooms and access tunnels held in reserve there."

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"I am having to trust you." he pointed out. He had no reason to, other than his instinctive trust of Rachel, but given that...well. He had no knowledge of this world.

[futures_of_ash]

"And I shall endeavor to be worthy of it." Hank promised simply. He would do his best. "SWORD is the offworld access point for most alien immigrants. Another face wouldn't be noted nor draw curiosity."

[24d_245t_tcdd]

He nodded, "I do not wish to leave much of a paper trail here, either. I am not fond of paper trails."

[futures_of_ash]

"No paper trail aside from notes your therapist takes." If the portal was in the garage of the ships, and if they had a door only James or a select number of X-men could open to get to it...yes, it might work. "Also I am a medical doctor. I would like to give you a few prescription to start on. Do you have an allergies?"

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"No." he said to the comment about allergies, "What kind of prescriptions? Likely side effects?"

[futures_of_ash]

Hank preceded to give a list of what he had considered, and why, it was a standard list for many people actually, and it could only help against that eventual 'decent into sociopathy' thing.

Also? Help with the sleeping at night.

Granted there was an adjustment period.

[24d_245t_tcdd]

He nodded slowly, "I will try it for six months." was his eventual response.

[futures_of_ash]

"I would also be happy to take you on as a patient, should the need arise." Hank offered, writing out a script and...calling it into a pharmacy nearby. "I have access to many surgical techniques that your world may not, and more I am well versed in vigilante injuries. I will not require coordination with your therapist, though should they decide to shift your medications or take you off them entirely before the end of the six month period I would appreciate a note from you informing me of such."

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"My life has become very strange in the past few months." James said mildly, "I will do so."

[futures_of_ash]

"Association with Rachel seems to do that." Hank admitted easily. "She complicated our lives immensely when she showed up, and she seems to be holding true with you. Naturally you could refuse to participate in anything she planned and turn down her offers of company, but your presence here implies that you have no intention of doing so."