9552/A Reunion

A Reunion
Date of Scene:	09 January 2022
Location:	Downtown - New Troy
Synopsis:	Despite his kingliness Arthur still manages to be nerdy. Kal is awesome though.
Cast of Characters:	Arthur Curry, Kaldur'ahm

---

Arthur Curry has posed:
    If there is a time that one could call quiet around the Hall of Jusice, it's the morn each Sunday. Metropolis is a hectic city at most hours, but the seventh day of the week tends to find New Troy slowing down, relaxing, and only a handful of people out and about compared to the work week.
    Especially around Freedom Park outside the Hall proper. The wide swathe of greenery with its periodic fountains and occasional tree with bench for sitting and rest. Only a few people are out this time of the morning. One such person being the man known as Arthur Curry. Another... being the man he's speaking to. Lucio Bezini, owner of Lucio's Brats and Dogs, a business that is wholly composed of a single cart that he pushes along from place to place. And each Sunday morning his route takes him here, through the park.
    And each Sunday, time permitting, Arthur is out here snacking on one of those bratwursts.
    "So, Lucio. Man. You do good business out here?"
    "Yes, very much so, Mr. Curry. You get the joggers, and the mommas, and the children. It starts slow but as the day goes along... it is brisk." His tone is even, amused, polite.
    Which has Arthur giving a nod in reflection. "You know, I could maybe talk the crew into doing a hot dog day or something?"
    "That would be a good thing, though my time it is spoken for outside of these hours. You understand, yes?"
    "Sure, I'll see what I can do, man."

Kaldur'ahm has posed:
In a town of strange sights, this one is up there: a thin-framed black teen walking barefoot across the park not only with no jacket but with no shirt sleeves on this cold winter day. Dark, stylized eel tattoos encircle his arms and vanish up his shoulders under his sleeveless shirt. Upon his back rests an odd metal backpack.

He seems to be heading in the general direction of the Hall of Justice, but a very alluring scent has attracted his attention and he shifts course to head toward the hotdog cart. As he approaches, his eyes open a little wider and then a smile blooms on his face. He starts to trot in the direction of the vendor cart. "ARTHUR!" he calls out with some excitement. He eventually comes to a halt. His breathing is calm and relaxed; that little run was nothing for the kid. "I cannot believe I found you!"

Arthur Curry has posed:
    "It seems you have an admirer," Lucio says with a wry smile as Kaldur calls out Arthur's name even as that tall figure turns to look upon the features of the youth heading over in their direction. Perhaps there had been a moment when Kaldur wouldn't have recognized the figure. In profile he looks all rough and ragged with those blue jeans and that heavy grey hoodie on. But when he turned his head to the side those features are unmistakeable. That wild hair, scraggly beard, and the pale golden eyes.
    That's gotta be him.
    And when his name is called out he turns, features shifting foreboding as he affixes a stern glower to those eyes of his, his expression grim while the young Atlantean breaks into that run.
    Only for as Kaldur draws nearer, closer, his eyes widen slightly and a scoffing exhalation is heard. "Kaldur?"
    "Is that you?" And he breaks open into a wry grin, laughing a deep booming laugh as he /steps/ forward two strong steps and /slams/ his hands upon the shoulders of the other undersea dweller. "That _is_ you innit? Damn kid, you got tall."
    As he talks he steps back to get a look at the younger hero. Another thump to the shoulder, "All tough and running around on the surface. What're you doin' here, man?"
    Then he jerks a thumb over his shoulder. "You want a brat?"

Kaldur'ahm has posed:
Kal is.../exceptionally/ strong despite his slender swimmer's build. The most-powerful human bodybuilder who attempted to shoulder slam him would have better luck slamming a brick wall. But, of course, Arthur is much, much stronger. So Kal stumbles back a few steps, which widens his smile even more. This is likely what passes for a hug between these two, and the younger Atlantean seems quite satisfied with it.

"Maybe in some other life I will be as tall as you!" he says fondly to the Atlantean noble.

He turns to the vendor and says enthusiastically, "I am Kaldur'ahm. It is pleasant to meet you."

Then back to Arthur. "What does it mean, a brat?"

Arthur Curry has posed:
    "Give it time," Arthur says pointing at Kaldur, perhaps not knowing exactly how old the younger man is, but he turns away before he can be corrected and speaks to the food vendor. "Lucio, set my man up here. Bratwurst with the works."
    As he places the order and Lucio sets to work he turns and says to Kal, "It's a food, sausage thing for surface people. Yummy, don't ask how it's made." Which is likely not hugely reassuring. But he gives him a pat on the shoulder now and laughs, "Man it's been forever. What're you doin' here?" He turns to more directly face Kaldur, shaking his head slightly. "You have a message? Or wait... you up here for the Embassy?" Since, to be fair, Arthur doesn't keep track of too much scuttlebutt beyond what filters to him through friends and family.
    "Here you go, two bratwursts with everything. Something to drink?" Lucio hands over the sausages in their paper cartons.
    "Some waters?" He checks with a glance at Kaldur just to make sure he's down with that, then nods back at Lucio.

Kaldur'ahm has posed:
With a glittering smile and a small bow, Kal accepts the bratwurst from Lucio. "Thank you." It's possible that Arthur can tell from the way that Kaldur'ahm is interacting with Lucio, he thinks Lucio is Arthur's servant. It's a natural mistake. The man is serving food and Arthur is an important noble.

He inhales a deep whiff of the bratwurst. "This smells so good!" he exclaims. "I am very hungry." The young Atlantean takes a big bite from the bratwurst. At first, his expression seems to indicate that he likes it. But after a couple of moments he slows down his chewing and his expression drops a bit. With a small look of distaste he reaches into his mouth and starts pulling stuff out. It's the bun. He has never eaten bread before and he definitely does not seem to like it. The saliva-soaked pieces of bun drop to the cold ground.

"This is a very interesting...kind of...food," he says, trying to smile politely to Lucio so as not to offend him.

Arthur Curry has posed:
    "Ah, bread. You'll like baked goods. Maybe. Eventually." Arthur says, having grown up on them, however. But he laughs and gives a nod, "Head on over there, I'll be with you in a sec." That nod indicates a benchseat along the sidewalk. It'll put their backs to the Hall of Justice and the city proper before them.
    After that he turns his attention back to Lucio, "Don't mind him, Lucio. Kid's new in town." As he says that he grabs his wallet out of his jeans, unseals it from its plastic bag, and then produces a twenty and hands it across the way. "Thanks, man."
    Lucio smiles and gives a return nod, "See you next week, Mr. Curry." That said he turns and starts to push his cart down the sidewalk and away from the two Atlantean.
    Rolling on back toward the bench, Arthur drops into the seat, "Alright, spill it. What's up?"

Kaldur'ahm has posed:
Kal gives Lucio a bow. It's a small bow, like one would give to the servant of someone who is of superior status. "Thank you," he says to Lucio.

Then he heads over to where Arthur told him to go. To him, Arthur's suggestion is a command that must be followed to the letter. So he does. As he walks toward the bench, he treats the brat's bun more like a handle. Before each bite he peels away bun and drops it to the ground, leaving a trail of bread pieces as he walks. No doubt a seagull or two swoops down to pick up pieces as they fall.

Once the Atlantean noble returns, the brat is completely consumed, and somewhere along the path that Kal walked the paper wrapping is lying on the ground. The concept of littering and trash removal is not well known to him. You catch a fish, you eat some of it, and leave the rest just floating there. Something else will eventually come along and eat what you didn't.

"Spill what?" he asks curiously and genuinely. He glances around them curiously as though searching for something.

Arthur Curry has posed:
    "Surfacer lesson number one," Arthur says as he leeeeeans forward and grabs up the wrapper, scrunching it in his hand and then holding it with the same hand he holds his own brat. His he doesn't eat as fast, and first he says, "If you have trash or refuse, you gotta hold onto it until you find a receptacle for it. I'll show you when we get set to leave."
    That said now he takes a bite of his sausage and chew-chew-chews for a time. Swallows. Then he finally answers that question. "Spill it, is... a surfacer phrase. It means 'tell me your information'. In this case I'm asking you to tell me what brings you here."
    He takes another bite, then hands the bottle of water over to the youth. He twists the cap off of his own, then takes a sip.

Kaldur'ahm has posed:
Kal nods in understanding when Arthur explains the rules about littering. When the Atlantean noble twists the cap off of his bottle, Kal watches him closely and then emulates the action. But thin plastic is something that he likely has never used before. He grips it too strongly -- like most Atlanteans, he's fucking /strong/ -- as he uncaps it and a geyser of water erupts up to his face. In an unintentionally comical move, he actually tries to drink some of it like one might drink from a water fountain. He mostly ends up with a wet face and very little in his mouth. Of course a wet face, even in this cold winter weather, doesn't bother him in the slightest. Trying to cover up his mistake, he nods sagely to Arthur. "This water is very good. Thank you."

"I graduated from the Conservatory of Sorcery," he explains, referring to the elite magic academy in Poseidonis. "I had to make a decision what to do next. I did not want to return to military service so I decided to wander. Then it occurred to me to try to find you." He smiles. "And I succeeded."

Arthur Curry has posed:
    At the comic attempt at drinking Arthur does chuckle a little, but he stifles it with a hand and a slight cough, but chuckles nonetheless. Shaking his head he nods, "It's pretty decent." The water.
    Then his eyebrows rise as he hears the reason. "You've graduated already?" Arthur's brow then beetles as he looks to the side, then back at Kaldur as if the young man must be having him on. "Did you do so well you finished early or?"
    But no that's unheard of right? His eyes once again distance as he ponders and then he murmurs, "Shit has it really been that long?" And he actually touches a fingertip to the fingers of one hand as he 'counts' it out then shakes his head again. "Man, time flies. I feel old." He heaves another laugh then eyes Kaldur.
    "Well you found me, yeah. This is..." He gestures behind them, "The Hall of Justice, it's where the League comes together, when we try to protect the world. I'll introduce you to people."
    Then his expression hazes a little, "You're staying?"

Kaldur'ahm has posed:
The young man's face blooms in a pleased smile. "Yes. I am eighteen annual cycles now!" he exclaims. Given that, like many Atlanteans, he finished his primary education and entered compulsory military service at the age of 12, and was accepted into the academy at the age of 14, being 18 is somewhat stately.

When Arthur uses the term 'Hall of Justice,' Kal's eyes light up. He turns and peers at the building. He has always been a creature of duty and honor and that name resonates with him with utter perfection. "The Hall of Justice," he repeats in a somewhat awed whisper. He turns to Arthur then quickly gets off the bench and goes down on one knee, bowing his head. "My king, I would be honored to pledge myself to your service, to live and die at your command."

Arthur Curry has posed:
    Turning at the same time to look over at the tall building and its almost regal front, Arthur lets a touch of warmth and pride enter his voice as he murmurs quietly. "Yeah," For once... not deriding what it is that they do.
    Instead he sits there and looks at it, his smile twisting upward. But then he looks back toward Kaldur and when the young Atlantean turns back to him he'll see the older man's features shift a bit at those words uttered to him. A hand comes up as if to fend them off.
    "C'mon Kal." He heaves a small scoffing laugh then says, "Namor is king. He rules and I stand ready to protect Atlantis. But. He rules."
    Then he exhales slightly roughly and makes a face when he looks away. "You don't need to do that, kid." Then he self-edits and adds, "You don't need to do that, Kaldur." He looks back at the young man, looks him over up and down, then shakes his head. "Man, eighteen. You're welcome to stay if you want to aid us. I'm sure you can be of great help. Can probably set you up with quarters. Or hell, you can crash at my place up in Maine." Since the travel time for Atlanteans that far isn't /that/ much.

Kaldur'ahm has posed:
There is a moment of...tension in Kal's body -- his shoulders tense, his jaw clenches -- at the mention of Namor's name. But the young man would not dare to contradict Arthur in this way so he holds his tongue judiciously. He a smart man of strong convictions, and despite his young age he has the wisdom not to contradict his elders.

He returns to sitting on the bench. "I will stay. If you feel this dry world of air-breathers is worthy of protection and guidance then I do too. I will not let you down." BUT in his own way he CAN be sassy, so he slyly adds "My king" to the end of that sentence. A playful glimmer can be seen in his eyes as he does.

Arthur Curry has posed:
    A small snort comes from Arthur as he shakes his head, then pushes himself up to his feet to tower over Kaldur for a moment. Like some stern depiction of Zeus he glowers so, but then he gestures with a nod and a roll of his shoulder to the side. "C'mon. Let's go get you squared away and we can move on to Surface Life Lesson 2. Trash cans."
    That having been said he turns and starts moving along the sidewalk in the direction of the Hall of Justice. And also a conveniently placed garbage receptacle.