1729/A Catch Up

A Catch Up
Date of Scene:	18 May 2020
Location:	Washington Square Park
Synopsis:	Alexander and Heidi chat about how life and recent events are going.
Cast of Characters:	Alexander Aaron, Heidi Ingerdottir

---

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    The end of the semester, end of the year, and ESU is showing it. Attendance is down, there are fewer people rushing hither and yon. And during this last week most people are focusing on their finals. Either studying for them, getting to them, or taking them. Though for the youth known as Alexander Aaron, having completed his for Happy Harbor and choosing not to attend the last few days...
    That's left him in a sort of limbo. Awaiting the new semester with the university he's chosen. And also left him with a few numbers in his cellphone he had considered on calling when he had a chance.
    So it had been recently that he had sat there on the bench in the open courtyard through the administrative buildings, one leg drawn up under him, that Alexander had thumbed through the numbers and dialed one if only to send a message. Once that was done he just sat there with his backpack at his side, looking thoughtful as he waited.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
There are very few people who have Heidi's phone number, and even fewer who actually use it. So, when the message was received, it was /very/ promptly returned (the chime had genuinely startled her).

> I HOPE YOU ARE WELL. I AM WELL. THINGS ARE WELL. HOW MUCH IS SUPPOSED TO GO IN ONE OF THESE MESSAGES? I FEEL AS IF THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE BRIEF.

She still hasn't figured out how to turn off caps, or maybe she just doesn't want to at this point.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Looking down at the phone the Olympian smiles a little, lip curling wry at the words sent across the ether by the Asgardian. He shakes his head slightly and lifts his gaze upwards as if uttering a small prayer to whatever being might answer the whims and wishes of other deities.
    But then he types out, tippity taps on the phone, << I'm ok. I'm in Washington Square if you're around. Also how is pup? >>
    That sent he lifts his black t-shirt collar to lightly brush it over his brow, then shakes it to cool off a little what with the small heat wave.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
> MOLO IS BEST PUP. STILL TINY BUT HE THINKS HE IS BIG. WASHINGTON SQUARE? I CAN BE RIGHT THERE, I AM NOT FAR.

It seems to be accurate. That or she happened to know of a convenient rooftop for where to land Eira. In either case, Heidi appears at one side of the square, seeking out Alexander visually. Once she notices the bench he's perched on, she makes her way in that direction.
"HAIL!" She calls, exuberant as ever.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    The youth had spotted her when she entered, for in truth Heidi Ingerdottir did stand out amongst the people around her. But then the hollered greeting which draws eyes and second glances, that solidifies it. Their eyes meet and a smile lights on his lips though he looks a touch amused. He lifts one hand to offer greeting and then waits for her to wander close enough for polite earshot.
    "Hey, Heidi." He shifts in his seat a little and sets his backpack off to the side, turning his head to look upon her and gesture to the seat near. "You should catch me up on everything that's been going on. Ok? Ok." He nods once.
    For it is decided.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"You seem very interested," Heidi says, perhaps sounding a touch surprised. She does, however, actually move to sit next to him once the backpack's out of the way. "I am not certain my life is entirely filled but I have been making new friends and eating new foods, so I suppose there is that."

She pauses, and it's a long one. "Are you alright, Alexander? I am getting the sense that you perhaps aren't."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Just trying to get caught up on things." Alexander says as he looks sidelong toward her, "Though some events have passed for me. I believe my uncles should leave me be for the most part of late since I did what they wished of me." He turns more to face her, drawing his leg up into his lap like some yogic half-lotus. His arm rests along the back of the bench as he meets her gaze.
    "There was this whole event. It wasn't good, but it's over now. Met a lot of SHIELD people." His eyes slip to the side thoughtfully as he tries to figure out what to relate and how.
    "I'm officially graduated. Going to ESU soon. Not going to go to the ceremony stuff. Have some time to kill." A pause as he tilts his head back to her, "Tell me about your friends?"

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"Well, there's Kami," Heidi counts them off on her fingers. "She is a goddess and also apparently very famous for her music. I believe I will have to find a way to watch one of her concerts soon. She is very powerful. There is also Sally who is very energetic and forgets things a lot and also has a sister who looks just like her who is mischivous and sometimes replaces her. She has taught me a great many things about food and video games."

Heidi glances back over, offering him a smile. "I am certain you can meet them sometime, if you wish. They are good friends with each other and the three of us will sometimes do things as a group." She pauses. "Like when we went into that gambling den and I fought in a cage and Kami got into trouble for simply being good at things." She nods. "All kinds of adventures."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    As she speaks Alexander watches, his manner reserved and calm. Though when she speaks of Kami at the first he just sort of grins and shakes his head, looking away, but then nods as if he understood all about her. "Oh I see. They sound like good friends."
    Then she considers the chance for them to meet and he nods a little, "Sure, that might be fun. I think we've have a good few things to talk about and all."
    Though what draws him up short is his eyebrows rising when she mentions fighting in a cage, "Oh hey, did you win? That sounds like you guys are sort of good influences with each other, but also bad influences. Which are the best kind of friends to have."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"I did win, although their champion was very strong. He had good training and I feel as if I should send some kind of apology for knocking him out at the end, but I needed to make sure my friends were alright." Heidi grins broadly. "But Sally made a lot of money off of the fight and promised to buy me something nice, but I am not sure what I am getting but she seemed to imply I needed more clothes."

She looks down at herself, as if to inspect if her clothes needed to be replaced at all. "I believe they are good influences. They allow me to be myself and to explore new things on Midgard."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    A small exhalation comes from him, not quite a laugh, a little chuff. He looks away and for a time might look like he's not about to say anything, or to comment. To just let it lie and let it go. But then he tilts his head askance and murmurs to Heidi with a smile, "I think... I know Kami. But might be someone else. Though chances are it's not."
    He nods a little, "But tell her hi from me next time you see her?" And he'll leave it at that, still smiling a little. "I know a few Sally's though..." His eyes distance thoughtfully, then he tilts his head to the side, "And to be fair I could see almost any of them hanging out with Kami. Hnh."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"I believe if you knew her you would likely remember her. One does not just forget a goddess of thunder and noise. I have promised to one day introduce her to Prince Thor. I think that will be a very interesting meeting..." Heidi really is curious about it.

"In any case, I believe you should meet them both if you have not. They are wonderful friends."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Ah," Alexander looks down, lips twisting up into a smile as he leeeans back on that benchseat, eyes distancing before he looks back to her. "I think then it is rather likely that we know of each other. For you see, there was a time that I was..." A pause, a faint ghost of something flickering past his eyes, but then gone.
    "I was in the presence of many of the deities the Japanese worshiped in their time." He lifts a hand slightly, "S'where I came into possession of Grasscutter. And if it is Kaminari goddess of Thunder, then we are... good friends I should say."
    Despite a small matter of a war waged around them.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
Heidi looks delighted. The idea of friends knowing friends seems important to her. "I suppose that you must have met then. Kami is a lot of fun and told me stories. She said she sunk a bunch of ships? I have decided it deserves a poem since no one has done it. It will certainly be an epic one."

She looks over. "You do meet a lot of interesting people and do some interesting things, Alexander. I suppose I should not be surprised."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "That was when I was younger, to be fair." Alex rests both hands upon his leg, pulling it up further into his lap and looking a little pensive. "We're on good terms, but those were kind of crummy times." He takes a deep breath and frowns a little, but then smiles back up at her.
    "Speaking of crummy times." He murmurs, "You remember how we met?" A mention to those wild creatures of shadow that accosted him and in turn led her and Sif to leap to his aid. Despite his protestations.
    "My uncles and all. I think that's mostly resolved now."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"We all have crummy times," Heidi points out. "I am certain she would be delighted you are doing so well." After all, he /is/ doing well, right? She leans forward a bit to listen to him. "Things are well? Are you sure?" It's not that she doubts him, it's more that she wants to make sure there's nothing hanging over his head.

"If there is anything you need, Alexander, let me know."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Mmm," She can tell that sound when it comes from him. When he's disagreeing or hedging for time to choose the right words when an answer is not easily brought to the fore. He looks to the side and makes a face. "I'm not upset. It was not a good time. And I will be fine."
    He tells her that little, but then he says quietly. "I've learned that I have a conscience." His lip twists up a little, "And a sense of morality I thought I didn't have." He turns then to face her more directly, unfolding that leg from the half-lotus and instead planting his foot flat upon the bench, wrapping his arms around that knee as he considers her.
    "But I'm out of school officially now. Somewhat because of it. And I'll be going to ESU. But also SHIELD is more aware of things. I'm more on their radar. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"It sounds as if your life is moving forward well," Heidi agrees, looking him over. It's a visual once over, like she's trying to discern if he's okay. "Those are good lessons to learn, Alexander. Morality and a conscience help determine a person's character... and ability to care. I feel as if everyone should learn what those things mean to them."

She tilts her head to the side. "Why do I feel as if you are unhappy?"

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Again there's that hesitation, but it's more caused by him biting at his lower lip while his brow furrows. Hazel eyes lift to meet hers and he tells her. "I went to the celebration that my uncles were feuding about. One felt it was an insult, the other felt it was an honor given. I was to go and decide. I did. The celebration is ended for now."
    He takes a deep breath and frowns, "But the people that were there, that were... guilty of horrible things. They are likely going to get away with it. I had them." A pause as he looks to the side, "And I could have made them pay for what they did. But now..." He shakes his head and frowns.
    "So I've been thinking about whether I did the right thing or not."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"In some things, I have found, there /is/ no right answer, there is only the answer you decide on. There are things wrong with whatever choice you make, the one you pick is just the one you feel you can live with." Heidi offers him a gentle smile. "It is only you that can decide where you stand with things, but it's not wrong for you to decide one way or another. That is something personal. It is so for /many/ things in life. Do not decide because the world tells you it is 'right' or 'wrong' when you feel you should choose something else. You make the decision."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "I know, and I know what it would have cost me, perhaps." There is a small shake of his head given as he looks to the side, and then back to her, "I just..."
    He lifts a hand to the back of his neck, "This is the first time I've felt that now, because of me, because of my lack of action within these societal confines... people might be hurt or killed or worse because of me. Because of my inaction."
    A breath is taken as he shakes his head. "I feel as if I pawned off my responsibility to SHIELD."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"Would the consequences hurt you or them more? Because if you would be more severely hurt, I believe the action made sense." Heidi frowns a bit. "I am certainly one for taking personal responsibility for something, but if you were in danger because of it... I understand not doing so."

She shrugs. "Or you could do what many in Midgard do and put on a mask to right what they feel is a wrong committed."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    The blond youth extends his jaw a little, worrying at the inside of his cheek thoughtfully and he says, "I had intended to kill them, I would have survived." His arm slides off of his knee and back onto the rear of the bench, supporting his weight as he leans to the side, the other eases down so he can lightly drum his fingertips there and he turns his head back to look toward her.
    "But it would have likely changed my lot in life. I would have endured. Perhaps I would have continued in some ways with my old life. But perhaps it was selfishness. Wanting to be Alexander for a time longer than becoming Phobos."
    A small shrug is given as he looks across to her. "So maybe I am just loathe to surrender my... mortal life. I guess." That said he shakes his head. "But anyways. I don't know. It sucks." His lips twist, "And I don't want to talk about it."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
There's a small frown. Heidi lets out a slow breath... but doesn't push it. "Perhaps there are other things to worry about instead. Are you looking forward to school? I often wonder what Midgardian education is like. Perhaps I should take a class. History would prove amusing, I think. I am not sure Midgardians have it all correct." She pats his arm in a comforting gesture before dropping her hand back to his side, leaving no trace of the prior topic.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "You could always come with me," Alexander offers with a smile as he tries to push things back into their right compartments. To leave the past there for now. "People are free to audit the classes and observe. Though..." His lips twist a little, "You might want to try to be a little incognito. A classroom of college freshmen will..." He exhales a little, rubbing the back of his neck as he looks away.
    But then he looks back and adds, "Well, they're pretty thirsty, and the presence of a tall beautiful blond Asgardian gal might be a smidge distracting."
    He does chew on his lower lip for a moment then adds, "Or hey, I plan to record the notes, I could send you those?"

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"I will say that I am always distracting, Alexander. I do not know how to be otherwise. Surely you would not suggest I change who I am to appease a bunch of 'college freshmen'?" Heidi tilts her head to the side at the suggestion, but she smiles at him. "I certainly would appreciate your notes. I always feel as if I should learn more about Midgard while I am here... there are times I feel terribly out of place."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Well more that if you make a habit of it, the professor might throw you out." Alexander says with a wry smile as he nods to her. "But sure we can try it either way and if nothing else I can get you my notes." That said he leans in and closer to give her a hug, just a small one with his cheek against hers and when it breaks he'll turn his head to touch a small kiss upon that same cheek.
    Easing back he'll hold one of her hands and give it a squeeze. "Anyways, I just wanted to catch up and all. I should let you get back to running with a bad crowd with Kami and that Sally person." His lip twists amused.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
The affection is returned, though Heidi still looks suspiciously at him. "I know you do not want to talk about morality and whatnot but is there anything else wrong? I feel as if..." She's not entirely sure how to describe whatever it is and ends up leaving the sentence entirely unfinished. "You are still my friend, Alexander. It is not as if you have to shoo me off to hang out with others."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Oh you know." Alexander rests his hand on hers as he straightens up a little, "I was just going to go back to my apartment, mope some, listen to some Morrisey, be horribly emotional." All of those words delivered with a certain dead pan tone as he smiles at her.
    "I'm fine." He reiterates and then adds, "I just perhaps feel a little unmoored. A little without the normalcy of routine I was used to. I'm not sure what I'm going to do."
    A deep breath is taken, "I'll probably run around, get into trouble, see if I can tempt fate." His lip twists a little. "I dunno, what do you think I should do?"

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
Heidi offers him a smile. "I think you should not retreat into yourself, but embrace your new-found time and freedom. Make new friends, try new things, live life a little. Perhaps a little trouble could be fun, but do not withdraw or be horribly emotional. It would be a shame to deprive Midgard of your presence even for a little while."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    A small laugh comes from him, "Fine fine," He rolls up to his feet, hopping the last distance and straightening with a long /streeeetch/ before he reaches down and _grabs_ his backpack with an exaggerated gesture as if annoyed he had to get it. Then straightened he tilts his head back to her, "C'mon let's go grab a hot dog? Ok?" And with that, as if it was already decided, he starts walking.