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]

"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."

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"Mmm." it was a non-committal sound, accompanied with a small shrug, "It seemed important to her."

[futures_of_ash]

"Less the event and more the people involved would be my guess." Hank chuckled softly and made a few more notes. "You, and the handful of us here that she seems to fret about. It must be comforting to have us all in one location for a time." Or so Hank would surmise!

"Regardless, I do believe you'll find yourself here more often if you do not have the urge to deny Rachel."

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"I do not understand people enough to guess." was the simple response, "I understand that likelihood. I will take what steps seem appropriate at the time."

[futures_of_ash]

"And my mind seems to enumerate theories at a frightening rate so I end up with far too many likely scenarios." Hank chuckled. "I'm sure you'll do your best." but it was Rachel.

He'd feel sorry for James, were he so inclined.

[24d_245t_tcdd]

James wouldn't mind the sympathy, but wouldn't ever admit it either. "I am able to come up with theories. I simply try to keep myself flexible enough to react to the one which actually occurs."

[futures_of_ash]

"You can automatically discard any that require a nefarious agenda on Rachel's behalf." Hank laughed cheerfully and and waved toward a set of stools. "They shouldn't be too long in coming to collect us now."

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"According to a team mate." was the quiet response, "My paranoia keeps me alive."

[futures_of_ash]

"Well, yes, according to a teammate." He agreed easily. "Who has observed her far longer. If files on her would be reassuring I could ask if she would be comfortable with that." Because Hank didn't want paranoia to ruin a burgeoning friendship!

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"I cannot trust you yet." it was simple. He'd take the pills to a chemist before taking them, even. That was his life.

[futures_of_ash]

"That is fair," Hank admitted. "The offer will remain open unless Rachel requests otherwise." Because some information everyone should know. It helped them watch for..d.anger signs in each other?

It was an odd life, super heroing.

"On an unrelated note, should you ever have ideas for upgrades or problems you wish help with, equipment and technology wise, I am always open to side projects." And it was always the 'See, I was wondering if...' things that proved the most entertaining!

[24d_245t_tcdd]

James nodded absently and then more firmly, "I will keep notes on what does, and what does not, work."

[futures_of_ash]

"That would be incredibly useful. Thank you." Far better than the 'bring broken things back to lab and saying it didn't work' routine. That one got tedious after a while.

"Kurt and Kitty won," Rachel announced, coming through the far door.

[24d_245t_tcdd]

He nodded at Hank's thanks, wondering what kind of foolishness it takes to not give your supplier feedback. Probably the foolishness of those with powers who do not have to depend on technology.

"Oh?" he asked Rachel, turning towards her when she spoke.

[futures_of_ash]

Feedback was wonderful, when people remembered and when circumstances permitted! Still, yes, the fallacy of the powered.

As for Rachel, well, she grinned and shook sand from her hair, undoing braids so she could get all the grains out. "They move well together, and Logan and I haven't trained together in weeks. He just got back from a mission elsewhere." With other people doing other things. "We managed to trip each other once or twice, so that gave them two points on us."