WELCOME TO NEXUS.

[~*Silver Fox*~]

((CMF: Strife [Silver Fox]: Sinister Labs: Permanent Record))


"Not like Sinister's ever tried to keep us here. The man just sends his lapdogs after us whenever there's a mission," -- "it was the 'agreement.' You join Sinister's group of happy killers, he lets you do whatever you want, but as soon as he needs you... the pets come barking."

What a ridiculous agreement. She might as well have stayed with Weapon X or took her chances running. It was just another chip on the side of 'why?'. Why would Silver Fox agree to allowing this Mister Sinister vampire-looking scientist basically taking her from one prison to another? One cage for another? One leash for another, albeit with longer slack? Strife didn't /get/ it and it was aggravating. Isis would have assumed, had assumed, that whatever the reason was...it was good enough to just go along as things were. She'd have them stay here. Strife, however, saw this for the WX replacement trap that it was and refused to stay. She wanted to know why, sure, but wouldn't be cowed into stay because of it. Fox's reasons were unknown to everyone and if she wanted it to go unquestioned then maybe she should have had the common sense to /tell someone/. You know, like..I don't know, /Maverick/. He was their mate right? She should have felt an urge to say so...unless she'd buried it? Could that be buried?

Strife gave Nord a curious look. Well, he had no scent. Scent was very key for ferals and maybe the lack of having her mate's scent invading her senses had helped in burying whatever instincts would have - should have - arisen. Hm.

"So, leaving is easy. Its staying away that's hard," Zero said. That..was a very good point. Strife's slightly fanged smile was telling. "Doesn't mean it can't be fun," she quipped. Actually, getting hunted down - again - wasn't really topping her list of things she'd like to do, but staying her ranked even lower so.. You have to pick the lesser of evils right? Pick your poison? Stay in the cage or run and be hunted? Okay, so maybe not fun. Won't be alone this time though... Strife wanted to think that it wouldn't be as big of a deal. She didn't know anything terribly delicate, not that she'd be moved to do anything 'heroic' against Sinister anyway. Also, unlike with WX, Fox was not a pet project of Sinister's. He hadn't 'made' her - trained her, experimented on her, tortured her, brainwashed her, jumbled up her mind, twisted her into something that could never revert to its original form.

So what should the vampire care? Get another feral and another sharpshooter. They wouldn't be Fox and Zero, but so? Think of it as a way to work on that 'team' dynamic. The others could pick this time and maybe they'd get along like one, big Marauder family. ... Or something like that.

Zero pulled her close, not by the hand this time, but by throwing an arm around her. Strife cocked her head at him, liquid disturbia flashing under fleshy covers. Mm? "Who?" Eh? He didn't know. "You know," she said, "the girl that gave Isis a walkie-talkie. Long dark hair, kind of moody...she told Isis her name but I can't quite remember."

"Why not?" Honestly, it was the easiest question she'd asked all day. Or ever.

===

Teleporting to Spain was not fun. Teleporting didn't agree with Fox while she was in this..condition. Dizzy, nauseated - wasn't her healing factor supposed to be doing something about this? The woman was sort of laying out on..grainy..stuff. Sand? She was on sand; at least there weren't any rocks stabbing into her back. The dark-haired woman groaned and swore under her breath before rolling onto her knees. Ugh..what a miserable way of travel. Fast, efficient, but it screwed with the scales in her head and that wouldn't do anyone - Nord least of all - any favors.

As it stood, the woman moved over to her partner. Funny, he seemed to be doing better with this than her. Mgh. Her eyes blinked open, but it wasn't Strife's blue disturbia or Isis' frosted mirrors or even Kayla's contradictory wild-child doe eyes. Undiluted silver looked at Zero curiously for a moment.

Blink. Head shake.

Strife's untamed blues were in place now. Trick of the light? Strife plopped down on the sand, ignoring the little particles that Spain's ocean breeze blew into her unbound locks. "So...can we hijack someone's home now?" Like she was asking if they could go grab a sandwich. She tilted her head. "What? Is something on my face?" Maybe the teleporting had warped something? Crap, that wouldn't be good..

[Mystic Frost]

[CF: Sinister's Laboratory: "Permanent Record"]

Nord lay down on top of the beach silently when they appeared. How'd they ended up here again? They'd been standing up earlier with Fox in his arms. She'd been warm. The German reflected on how warm and soft her toned body had felt back on their trip from Russia. It'd be nice to so unabashedly go at one another again. Was that wrong to think? Fox was a beautiful woman. Disturbed, but beautiful. Hardly sexually inexperienced too. Seemed there was little the female mercenary couldn't do.

Before they'd arrived Fox had mentioned bringing someone along. He'd almost forgotten about the girl that'd been there when he 'found' Fox again. She hadn't stuck around long. Well, if Fox wanted her around he didn't mind--much. Third wheel and all, but it was important to help the mentally broken woman feel comfortable. Besides, there weren't many people Nord knew of as a 'friend' to the feral. It'd be good for her to have as many 'friends' around as possible.

After a moment, he turned his head to the side to look at the other mercenary. Teleporting hadn't gone well with Fox, it seemed. When she began to gather herself up to standing again, however, the man let out a long, held breath and got to his feet first. He found it disorienting in his own way, but Nord did have the benefit of being relatively mentally stable before hand. Perhaps Fox felt some sort of psychological vertigo?

He held out a hand for her to take in case that mental imbalanced caused a physical misstep, especially over shifting sand. Watching her, his lips parted slightly at the hue of her eyes. The visual image of Fox's eyes snapped back into Strife's tempest quick enough, however.

She plopped down unceremoniously then, just as he'd expected, but with less uncertainty and more getting her bearings without fighting to hold up her balance. Whatever it'd been, Strife wasn't aware of anything being different. He could be imaging it. "Nothing, Strife. What do you mean hijack someone's home?" The German knelt down before her. They were taking an entire house over now? "Is that the first thing we do on a vacation?" A faint smile tugged at his lips at the thought. First, acquire wealthy household. Second...? Third, have an excess of 'fun.'

He looked around at the area, giving a slight nod of his head. "I suppose we should find somewhere for shelter. It would be nice if we could stay somewhere for more than a few hours," he commented, doubting Fox remembered how brief their last excursion had been. Not that she'd disappoint him in not starting another scene, though; seemed to be a universal trait.

[~*Silver Fox*~]

He'd been looking at her funny, but said nothing was amiss. Of course, his expression had been brief, very much so. As brief as her eyes had held the color of luminous silver. Strife concluded that she'd been seeing things. Should it be worrisome how easily she accepted a potential, albeit minor, hallucination? Maybe, but Strife had stopped concerning herself with her mental health ages ago. That kind of time was best spent on other things, things she could do something about. There were things that could be done about her mental health too, perhaps, but Strife wasn't going to volunteer to let someone go rifling through her mind. They'd likely do more harm than good, or lose themselves in the disjointed mess she liked to call her mind.

"Nothing, Strife. What do you mean hijack someone's home?" He seemed more amused than worried about her fondness of stealing large items that would definitely be missed. "Is that the first thing we do on a vacation?" Oh, hm. Vacations. "I suppose not, though I've never been on an actual vacation." Not really. Weapon X didn't exactly provide for vacation days or paid leave. Being that that time period was all Strife knew, 'vacation' was a foreign concept. Isis would be in the same boat. You'd have to define 'vacation' for Kayla, if you could manage to unearth the AWOL remnant. Fox..Silver Fox would conclude that she had tried vacationing once. The period of foolishness when she had tried her hand at a 'normal life'.

It hadn't ended well and further cemented the branding of 'monster' in her head.

"I suppose we should find somewhere for shelter. It would be nice if we could stay somewhere for more than a few hours," he said lightly.

Strife did not know of their brief 'time off' in Russia, though she would have enjoyed the memories thoroughly no doubt. Therefore, the disturbed remnant interpreted that as Nord wanting to stay in Spain, or even the beach specifically, for an extended period of time. The dark-haired feral shrugged. "Okay, we'll stay here then." She pointed a ways down the coast. "I can see a more forested area down that way, likely grounds that people don't just go hiking through." The beach transitioned into wilds that tourists and even people that called the country home would not feel the urge to venture into. The feral in Strife, the animal, was attracted to the idea of living in there as an alternative to kicking someone out of their residence or searching for an empty one. "We can build a house in there somewhere, if you'd prefer that to kicking someone out of their house." Less questions from 'concerned' neighbors too.

Neighbors. Strife grimaced internally. Pass.

[Mystic Frost]

Nord looked over at the woman and echoed, "Here?" just after she'd said it. She continued on about a forested area, lack of intruders, and building a house in there. Wait, building a house? Fox went from stealing a house for a time to building a house? Either she was making a hell of a leap or she was set on getting a house for some reason. Bit sudden though. After all, Strife/Fox barely accepted him as their 'mate' and now she was thinking about settling down long term?

"All right," the German still was thinking about the hows and whys. "But seeing as how this is your first vacation," Nord stepped in closer and slowly put an arm around her to turn her back toward the city, "most people just rent a hotel room or suite. It's like," how to put it in terms she might understand, "being deployed for a short time on assignment to a specific locale. Housing leaves paper trails. Cars aren't welcome by law enforcement." Sounded like a good way to put it. Weapon X didn't give many long term assignments, but maybe she'd had a few days once to track someone or something down?

"But," he turned his eyes to the woman at his side, "if you want to camp in the trees, we can make it work." Until the law enforcement found out at some point and someone wound up hurt--more than likely the law enforcement officers. Couldn't really say the idea was a bad one, but the modern world wasn't much for squatters. At least not anywhere close to a beach. Maybe he could find a permit for their little plot of ground later? Best of all worlds (as long as he didn't end up sleeping on a tree root).

Oh, one more thing, "What about that young woman you wanted to contact?" Hopefully it wouldn't be too much of a problem getting her there. Not that Nord would be heartbroken if it was just him and Fox, alone, on the beach.

[~*Silver Fox*~]

Strife, even as she spoke, was thinking...WTF? House? Make a /house/?

"All right," -- "But seeing as how this is your first vacation," Strife was distracted from her confusion by Nord turning her so that she faced the city, "most people just rent a hotel room or suite. It's like," -- "being deployed for a short time on assignment to a specific locale. Housing leaves paper trails. Cars aren't welcome by law enforcement."

Strife wanted to say that this 'house' business, especially making one from scratch out in some secluded forest area that was probably some sort of preserve, was just animal instincts. Got a location, got a mate - get some stomping grounds. She wanted to say it was survival instincts. Food, water, shelter. And given that it was her, some feral experiment monster freakshow, only two of the three were particularly necessary. She wanted to claim it was a mission mindset. Find somewhere to lay low until it was time, somewhere away from people.

Strife wanted to call it a lot of things, but she could tell it was something else. She sneered internally - something /not hers/. That presence that had been lurking about was leaking thoughts in, somehow throwing them in with Strife's own to make it seem like she had come up with this. But the motive - motive tipped her off. There was only one purpose to it, this stupid house business. Of course they should stay in a hotel or something, any merc - whether she remembered it or not - would do that first. Hotels were easier, better, not norm--. Strife massaged a little roughly at her temples, fingers threading into her hair and eyes fusing shut. Not my thoughts, not my /thoughts/!

This wasn't Isis screwing with her as some sort of payback and the Beast wasn't patient enough for these tactics. It had to be this looming remnant - she knew it was a remnant - was doing things that none of the rest of them could do. Was this one closer to their complete self and, therefore, had more influence? More power? More roughing of the temples.

"But," and Zero once again brought her from the edges of snapping, "if you want to camp in the trees, we can make it work."

Strife ceased her abuse of her temples and released her hair. "No, you're right. A hotel is a better choice right now." Head scratch. "Where do you want to go from here? We make for a suspicious-looking pair and you don't seem to like the idea of me robbing people." And she seemed a little too ready to do so. Steal a house. Steal some clothes. Steal some money. It'd be nice if she knew where her whole self, Silver Fox, kept her freaking safe houses. Solitary, antisocial nut.

"What about that young woman you wanted to contact?"

"Who has the memory problem now? That girl from the skating rink - Laura! She gave me a walkie-talkie.. But we're probably out of range now." How inconvenient. "She last told me..Isis.." Annoyed pause. "/us/ that she was doing something. I suppose it would have been in New York since she was still in range." Smirk. "Don't you remember? She said she would hold you responsible if anything unfortunate happened to me." Actually, this was when Isis had been in control, but Strife had been very much around. "I believe you were stuck with Isis at that time." Isis...who was still mysteriously quiet. She'd either wandered off or this looming remnant had done something... Should she tell Nord?

She regarded the man briefly before shooting the idea down. She didn't want to bother him with this.. She tilted her head. "But we can find her later." Fortunate, since she was way over in Japan. "We should spend time alone together." And no, that wasn't the territorial mate talking, not wanting some new young thing sniffing around her mate right now. But alone was good, just Nord, Strife and whoever else was in Fox's fractured mind.

[Mystic Frost]

"Suspicious?" Nord looked back at Fox when she decided to chime in. "I do not look suspicious. I'm German. We blend in." Aside from the mercenary outfit, the bandoleers, the sidearms, and appearing out of nowhere. "If anyone asks, I, a German, am on vacation with my American sweetheart," he explained as he put an arm about her waist. After a split second he looked over at her with a coy smile, "That always works for the Russians, I hear." At least in the movies.

As he looked ahead, however, he cleared his throat and then took in a deep breath. "So, vacation... no stealing things if you can avoid it. No killing, unless they deserve it. Generally, nothing that involves law enforcement interrupting our down time." It was rather easy, but then Nord had gone on vacation before. Sort of. Fox? Well, she probably never went on vacation. Took jobs for fun or sport, maybe, but they were still jobs. At least, given how serious--or seriously messed up--she was Nord didn't expect she'd just wandered off some place, settled down for a week, and avoided confrontations.

A quick nod, he reflected on their very brief meeting. "Laura. She was with us for all of two minutes before she felt things had gotten 'awkward.'" Too touchy-feely? All the same, it seemed the only means of contacting the woman were out of the question. More to the point, Fox had a change of heart and was fine letting the other woman continue about whatever it'd been she had to do to escape Nord and Fox back in New York City. Just the two of them then. Nord liked that. Might not be safe, anything could happen, but if things went well then they could simply enjoy the company.

"Let's head in to town. We'll find a place to bed down and then get a change of clothes," the German declared, answering Fox's original inquiry. "After that... well, maybe we'll find a brochure or ad that'd interest us. If nothing else I'm sure there's a shooting gallery around." Nord laughed quietly before start forward on the beach, offering Fox a hand if she'd like to stay close. He didn't doubt she could manage to hold her own balance, if she chose to go it alone. "Actually," the thought came to him, "is there anything you've ever wanted to do? Say, after Weapon X was utterly destroyed? Hang gliding? Surfing?" Movie? Theater? Did Fox have any hobbies that didn't center around violence? At least hang gliding could satisfy any sort of Adrenaline craving a person might have.

[~*Silver Fox*~]

"Suspicious?" -- "I do not look suspicious. I'm German. We blend in." Strife took in Maverick and his gear. Yes, yes, nothing at all suspicious about that get up..and the armaments he was loaded up with. No...nothing to see here. Strife could overlook it, sure. She wasn't one to talk in her not-exactly-casual apparel. And we all know just how well-armed Fox can be even when she appears not to be armed. The woman raised a slender eyebrow. "Yes, I can see that."

"If anyone asks, I, a German, am on vacation with my American sweetheart," he claimed while wrapped an arm around her waist. Strife rolled her eyes. "Sure, we'll go with that story." Of course, due to the Cosmic Cube fiasco, Silver Fox had regained some pigmentation previously lost to her. She had not regained the sun-kissed earthen hues of ages and ages passed, but she had gained enough pigmentation to possibly pass for being native to Spain. She had the dark hair, the coloring.. But not the eyes. Hah, what Spaniard woman bore blue eyes? So American girlfriend it is.

He looked over at her with the first easy smile she'd seen on him..ever. Mind you, there hadn't been much to smile about, but it was a good look. Strife resolved to try and not mess it up. But you're a monster and monsters destroy things, a matter-of-fact voice told her. Not interfence, this was a mental torment of her own. Fox's own. Whatever. Well..she'd just have to be..a well-behaved monster. Or find something else to destroy so she'd have enough decency and sanity left to give Nord some semblance of what he deserved for putting up with the living rotating door of issues known as herself. Them. Silver Fox?

Whatever.

"That always works for the Russians, I hear." The joke would be more amusing if Strife knew/remembered that they had been to Russia. Would that story have worked then? Maybe kept that woman off Nord? Maybe we'll see if the women of Spain are as bold. Then we'll see if Strife is just as territorial. Fun times possibly ahead - yay.

"So, vacation... no stealing things if you can avoid it. No killing, unless they deserve it. Generally, nothing that involves law enforcement interrupting our down time." Ah, rules. "No stealing, none at all? But it's very effective, efficient even when you need things." Clearly not a graduate of any ethics school. But these weren't anything unreasonable. She sighed internally. Best behavior indeed. "I can do that; I'll be good," she promised. Or she'd try really hard and hope no one set her off.

"Laura. She was with us for all of two minutes before she felt things had gotten 'awkward.'" Or the conversation turned a little sexual..courtesy of Strife pestering Isis if memory served. Mm, she'd look the other feral up later. In the mean time, she was trying this cover story out. Girlfriend. Girlfriend who wasn't going to do anything illegal with a very good reason.

"Let's head in to town. We'll find a place to bed down and then get a change of clothes," -- "After that... well, maybe we'll find a brochure or ad that'd interest us. If nothing else I'm sure there's a shooting gallery around." He laughed a little on the last part, but Strife had perked up some at the words 'shoot'. He began to walk up the beach, pausing only to offer his hand to her. Strife looked at , puzzled, before she realized he just wanted to hold her hand - that closeness thing. Mm, she liked the warmth of his hands.. And she could rub off her scent on him some more. Strife reached out and took Nord's proferred hand.

"Actually," -- "is there anything you've ever wanted to do? Say, after Weapon X was utterly destroyed? Hang gliding? Surfing?" ...? Maybe Fox did or didn't. Maybe the others did. Strife? The woman blinked before coming to a disturbing realization. "I have never thought of it before. I was always so focused on getting out, on destroying Weapon X... It seemed so daunting, so impossible, that I never got around to what I would do if it actually happened." At this stage of memory, Fox had yet to try [and fail] her hand at normal life. It was just a dream, laughable at times it felt, but still wanted. Strife thought for a moment. "We could just try things at random and see what sticks? Do you like water sports?" That's what he had named yes? Water sports?

[Mystic Frost]

"I know," Nord replied simply as he escorted her along the beach toward the city. There were people around, of course, but he completely ignored them. Acknowledging them or trying to be sneaky out in the open just invited questions and people to feel like they needed to call the police. Outright ignoring them, on the other hand, could get them to think you were exactly where you were suppose to be and by doing anything other than keeping their whore mouths shut they'd be interfering.

As for Fox? Well, he had pretty much knew she hadn't thought about "After Weapon X." Wasn't hard to see coming. She was fixated on destroying it. Kind of like an unhealthy fixation on destroying terrorism. You don't destroy tactics; you make them archaic or a waste of time and resources. Neither were particularly easy. Chaging the philosophy of an entire country was, likewise, difficult and the most effective means of preventing domestic or foreign terrorists. Took years. Decades. Look at how slowly racism was slipping away? Pretty slow.

"Water sports?" The German looked over at Fox curiously as they neared a street. At least they could stop collecting sand all over or in their boots. "What type? Skiing? Racing? Jet-skis? You know in water sports there are no bullets flying or boats mashing into each other?" Nord smiled, wondering if Strife had any humor in her. He was trying to loosen up and not think about what they'd left behind. Considering how Fox was fixated on slamming faces into the ground, however, he wondered how easily vacationing would come to her.

Nord kept an eye out for a hotel, motel, inn or whatever else they had up and down the street they came to. After a few seconds and gently tugged on Fox's hand to guide her down the road toward a place he'd spotted. Why venture far from the beach? Nice view. She was thinking water sports anyway. Near that lovely forest she'd picked out. Besides, money wasn't exactly a problem. Maybe Fox didn't have her backup accounts on hand (or in mind), but Nord kept a means of acquiring room, board, and toys. After all, he was still dressed to kill; no loss of gear here.

[~*Silver Fox*~]

Nord seemed content to stroll around like everyone else needed to get with the program and gear up. Strife, inexplicably, found it funny. But she had plenty of practice walking like she was the one running things around here, so she walked with equal confidence. The people on the beach stared, clearly, but since Nord and Strife seemed not to care or become alarmed, they made their own conclusions. Roleplayers? It was very realistic costume work. Maybe it was a shoot? They were attractive enough, but no cameras to be found. A movie? Again, no cameras. Could be practice. Could be tourists. Could be a pair of weirdo foreigners and that was just how they dressed in their home country. Who knows? No one on the beach had the nerve to approach and ask.

And that was best for everyone.

"After Weapon X," he reiterated aloud. She shrugged and he didn't seem surprised by that either. Strife wondered what exactly it took to surprise the German next to her - but not in a way he wouldn't approve/like - before..before.. Hm. I suppose it's 'before nothing'. There was no need to put herself on a time limit. No Weapon X, no creepy employer person that she didn't know. They could do as they pleased, kind of, while on the run. It was a..daunting thought. No missions, no experiments, no pokes, prods, and general unpleasantness. She could just be here with Nord, who only wanted good and nice things for her, and that would be all. He clearly expected very little in return - kind of gave her a shit feeling, she'd have to do something about that - other than some sort of clarity on how she was feeling or what she was thinking. Oh, and of course, he'd rather she didn't do anything that could potentially bring harm to herself. He was very firm on keeping her in one piece.

"Water sports?" he parroted, looking over at her. There seemed to be a street ahead. She blinked back at him. What? Was that not what he'd been talking about? "What type? Skiing? Racing? Jet-skis? You know in water sports there are no bullets flying or boats mashing into each other?" Strife snorted with a devious smile. "Who says that can't somehow be arranged? I think it'd be more interesting that way." Strife would, in that case, most certainly love the game 'chicken' then. Assuming that game was popular in this age. "But I guess it's better that it doesn't - they might not like it if I win all the time." 'They'. Not others looking in her head, but actual people. Also daunting. She'd be interacting with people without a target in mind. They'd just be...people. No one had to die or be sabotaged or smacked around or reported on or otherwise harmed.

Until someone did something stupid and then it'd be up to Nord, most likely, to keep Strife from reacting violently.

Maverick scouted for possible lodging and Strife tried to think of other things 'normal' people did. It was taking quite some effort. She wanted to ask Isis, but the other remnant wasn't answering her, even when deliberated baited or called. She'd know if a remnant perished right? There was no reason that Isis shouldn't be awake and aware right now. Isis didn't answer, but that mysterious presence - remnant, one of them, had to be - pushed back at her. Strife jerked back as if struck, mentally and in the real world, and placed a hand to her head. It didn't hurt, not badly, but it felt..weird. She felt a little sick. What was happening /now/?

For the sake of appearances to nosy voyeurs, Strife covered by just huddling closer to her 'German boyfriend who had whisked her away on this fancy vacation'. It was funny to think that anyone was buying this... She should probably lie down or something to get everything in order, but Strife didn't want to and likely wouldn't be easily convinced into doing so either. The dark-haired remnant just walked along and tried to pretend that she wasn't weirded out. "Do people hunt for fun?" Beyond survival, need for food, or just because that was what the mission entailed. Ah no wait, he was spoiling her again - asking what she wanted. He wandered into mess after mess because he followed to protect her when she went off and did what she wanted. The smart option now, had to be something else.

"But you seem more familiar with..these things. What do /you/ want to do? I'm sure I'll like it." Strife would either be pleased in truth or on principle, that is, simply because Nord liked it and that had been the point to begin with.

[Mystic Frost]

"Who says that can't somehow be arranged? I think it'd be more interesting that way. But I guess it's better that it doesn't - they might not like it if I win all the time."

Nord looked over at the violent woman. He was sure a few bullets, some explosions, and watching pursuers biting waves would be fun, but it would also involve the local law enforcement. Besides, grand chases were better left for the real deal--which happened far too often as things were. Doubtful they'd get rusty taking one, actual vacation. Not to rain on the parade, though, the German replied humbly, "I didn't know you were in to paint-ball." The man chuckled softly, betting Strife had never played paint-ball in her life. Why use fake bullets when the real thing would suffice?

"Do people hunt for fun?"

Walking down the street, Nord occasionally glanced over at the woman at his side to make sure Strife was doing all right. Sad thing was, acting like a civilian for her must be like letting an animal that'd been trapped in a cage their entire life out in to the wild. What strange things to see. How did she fit in to a world that didn't involve violence of one form or another? Weapon X never had thought about anything but living, breathing weapons.

"Some. Others oppose it; they feel killing for sport, instead of survival, is a waste of resources. Some are even concerned about how the animals feel," Nord explained, not quite sure how he felt about the latter bit. Animals felt emotions, but were they something worth getting all riled up about? The adamant types wouldn't eat it even for survive; hardcore types wouldn't eat almost anything from an animal to survive; and militant types wouldn't eat anything at all from or related to an animal. Seemed like a lot of work to go against the grain. Didn't schools teach people about the food pyramid any more?

Guiding Strife into the building, Nord made his way over to the counter and had them arrange a room for the two of them. He spoke pretty fluent Espanol, though the German accent was a tad obvious.

"But you seem more familiar with..these things. What do /you/ want to do? I'm sure I'll like it."

When the man on the other side of the counter stepped away for a moment, Nord turned his head to look over at Strife with a smile. She was sure she'd like it, was she? Bold statement. "Careful, a man might think sitting around watching T.V. would be the greatest thing in the world." Nord wasn't above it. A man could only kill, run, and think for so long before taking a break was all that kept him sane. "First thing we need to do is find something more appropriate to wear. Eventually some law enforcement officer's going to get nervous seeing us like this and force us to waste several hours in a pitiful interrogation attempt."

After their host returned and handed over the keys, Nord pulled back from the desk and handed Strife one of them. "Shopping, or would you like to unwind upstairs first?" Shower. T.V. Sleep. Something else, ahem.

[~*Silver Fox*~]

"I didn't know you were in to paint-ball."

Eh? "Paint ball?" Strife puzzled over that for a few moments, before drawing a logical conclusion. They were talking about shooting things. Paint ball alluded to balls of paint. So clearly this had to be some sort of sport or game involving people shooting each other with..balls of paint. That is, painted balls. Strife tried to imagine shooting others without the expectation of them dying or being in immense pain. She made a face. "People do that for fun?" Well being shot for real didn't often rank high on people's 'Things I Do For Fun' list. "I imagine this is a painless game only aimed at shooting down people's pride or dignity. You can't look very dignified with large blobs of paint all over you." Comments like those indicated a 50/50 chance of Strife being coerced into such a game. Perhaps such a game should be leveled by her playing on her own team against a large, opposing group. Nord would be left to check her 'toy gun' for paint ball ammo, rather than the real thing. Because anything else is cheating right? ...and it would attract the local law enforcement..

"Some. Others oppose it; they feel killing for sport, instead of survival, is a waste of resources. Some are even concerned about how the animals feel," her companion said. Indeed, Nord was very knowledgeable with these normal life things. Must have had practice with that no-man's-land topic from a while ago, trying things with a woman that was allegedly more stable and put together. Didn't work out, he said. Strife imagined that was something of an understatement, but she wasn't going to ask. It didn't work out and that's really all there was to know. Anyway, so some liked to hunt and other didn't to the point of saying that it was barbaric to hunt living, breathing, /feeling/ animals.

As a Native American, Strife guessed that she should appreciate all living creatures. Also as a Native American, she should probably appreciate that animals had their purposes and sometimes they had to die - for food, for clothing, for survival. Sometimes just out of self-defense. Strife shrugged. "It sounds wasteful to hunt for no reason. It even sounds a little sadistic - hunting for the thrill or something, rather than need for food or some other purpose." But that was just her she guessed.

Strife looked around, reflexively mapping out the area. Exits, seize points, trap points, anything that looked particularly breakable or susceptible to bullets, potential projectiles and weapons, structural weak spots in case...oh say, a bomb were to go off. What? It could happen. Of course, why would the man at the counter suspect that? Maybe this foreigner's lady friend had a short attention span or didn't speak a word of the language herself. Not to knock her either way, the foreign man with Spanish fluency had good taste in company. Strange attire and all.

"Careful, a man might think sitting around watching T.V. would be the greatest thing in the world." Strife gave Nord a suspicious look. Did he really want to do that? She couldn't recall the last time that she sat down and actively did anything so...not active. Maybe she was an action junkie? Lived for the moment? The thrill? The rush? Not really, she just wasn't used to it. If Strife was slowing or stopping, then it was to re-charge before she got herself killed for a careless mistake borne of exhaustion. Feral science experiment or not, even she couldn't just go on and on and on forever.

Well..if Nord wanted to watch TV..she could..shower or something. Or clean her weapons. Something productive like that. Or she could amuse herself by seeing to it that Nord found watching those television programs rather difficult with certain distractions in progress.. Heh. "First thing we need to do is find something more appropriate to wear. Eventually some law enforcement officer's going to get nervous seeing us like this and force us to waste several hours in a pitiful interrogation attempt." Strife snorted, entertained by the thought of anyone trying their luck at interrogating /her/. She would, doubtlessly, not be impressed.

"Shopping, or would you like to unwind upstairs first?" Strife filter = deal with people or be alone with Maverick. Strife smirked, opting out of feigning innocence. "Clothes can wait. Let's go...watch some TV." Because that was obviously what someone like her would vote for. Then again, she'd rather lay and watch TV than deal with some idiot clerk in a mall... Strife then reminded herself that Nord said something about not doing anything illegal, even if she wouldn't get caught. No stealing, she told herself.

[Mystic Frost]

The German turned to regard his beautiful, if woefully confused, companion. Girlfriend? Hell if he knew. He'd wing it--like much of his life. "Painless?" Well, to them, hell yes. "It stings if you don't wear adequate protection. For most civilians that's painful enough. Plus," he nodded, "there's walking around showing how poorly you are at hiding." Or unlucky. Bad timing and what not. Some day people would complain about "camping" as people did their best to avoid displaying themselves for all to see as a target, opting for the stealth kill from afar.

Maybe the lack of true suffering wouldn't interest her, but Nord wondered if he could get Strife/Fox on paint balling. At least there'd be fewer corpses on the streets. Then, when an enemy appeared, she could change her load out. Wasn't like Nord was suggesting them become free-loving hippies or something. Like that'd ever work. Maybe if they had their memories erased, but you know how that goes... sooner or later it all comes back, or you're not ready for an old foe, and all hell breaks loose.

When Strife offered up an opinion on shooting animals then, he couldn't help but examine her for a moment in silence. He hadn't expected Fox to say something like that. She wasn't a monster, killing people left and right, but she didn't hold back when the situation warranted it either. To say nothing of sport-killing guards watching over you in a desert. Well, they were still enemies. Civilians or non-combatants probably fell under the same category as hapless animal. "Personally, I get enough shooting in my life as it is." Small joke accompanied by a small smile. Maybe too much shooting.

When she then answered her own question, despite her initial suspicion regarding television just a few moments prior, the German mercenary smiled and held out his hand toward the elevator. "Maybe we'll find something to entertain ourselves with?" Strife couldn't possibly have swung from doubting his threat of being a lazy nothing to willful indulgence. So what did she have planned?

He turned and had the clerk send up a meal and some wine before Nord started for the elevators himself. Well, if they were going to relax they might as well get something to eat too; they'd be more apt to enjoy the moment and not dwell on how their bellies complained.

As he slipped inside the elevator with Fox, Nord smiled over at her as he held a key up. "They only had a large room with one bed available. Guess we'll have to share." Oh, did he order only a single bed? He'd been so absent minded he'd forgotten. Tsk. What could he have been thinking? As he pressed a button for the fourth floor, the German looked forward through the closing doors, smiling without another word.

[~*Silver Fox*~]

"Painless?"

Blink. Head tilt. "Is it not?" Maybe it was more fun than that? "It stings if you don't wear adequate protection. For most civilians that's painful enough. Plus," -- "there's walking around showing how poorly you are at hiding." Strife seemed to be taking the explanation a little..more seriously? "So this is a strategic game with a purposeful stipulation of minimal cover." Oh, so people played these sorts of games in normal life? Interesting. "And these paint balls, though non-fatal, can hurt if they strike unprotected body parts? There is armored gear for these games?" Strife seemed to like the idea of paintball, though it was a toss up as to whether it'd be a good idea to let her play with anything other than expert players that could take the hit to their pride. Among other things. "I think we should play this game some time."

Strife either ignored or remained oblivious to Nord's quiet studying. It wasn't that Strife was a closet animal lover or that some mysterious soft spot in her adamantium armor. Strife simply wasn't terribly interested in wasting ammo on non-targets. If she didn't have a reason to target you, then that was the end of it. She wouldn't go out of her way to kill or kill for sport. The idea of killing for sport hit just a little too close to home with certain issues pertaining to whether or not she'd fall to her more volatile feral side. The bloodlust. She fought that and fought hard. And anything that could contribute to her losing to her inner beast had to be staunchly avoided. So no sport hunting for her. If she hunted animals, it'd be because that was her only source of food. If she hunted people, it'd be because she was under the impression that you deserved it and could not be dissuaded otherwise.

"Personally, I get enough shooting in my life as it is." A quick glance showed Nord offering her another small smile. She smiled back slightly, pondering over whether that he meant that in some way. Delivered as a joke, but perhaps there was some truth? He was guiding her to avoid harming people or anything else that would attract the attentions of the local police. Though that may just be practicality speaking. Not everyone wanted to 'add that something special' when they were already on the run. Because nothing said special like adding on the local cops to your list of pursuers.

"Maybe we'll find something to entertain ourselves with?" Oh, that was possible indeed. Not that Strife was the type to be easily amused, but she usually didn't have much trouble acquiring entertainment for herself. The question was: Would Nord be entertained by the same things she found entertaining?

Nord headed for the elevators and Strife dutifully followed. Sure, she only got on after visually clearing the immediate area and examining the elevator with no small amount of suspicion. But she /did/ get on before the doors closed of their own accord and that's what counted. Her companion held up a key and informed her that their room was large, but - oh noes! - had just one bed. "I'm sure it'll be fine as long as you don't hog the covers." Was it her or did he sound a little smug? She gave the man a look, one eyebrow raising as the doors closed. She turned back to the doors with a slight smirk. "You don't mind if I sleep in the buff right?"

[Mystic Frost]

Nord looked over at Fox, not sure what to make of her interest in the game. He really hadn't expected her to like it, but then they hadn't been in a social setting since...ever. Russia didn't count. "Some wear 'armor.' Others just wear a few layers of clothing. Everyone wears a helmet or goggles; no one wants to lose an eye over a game." The German smiled, watching Fox for any signs of disappointment. Not that he couldn't keep from getting his gun off, but if Strife really liked this idea Nord would have to keep it in mind.

When they got on the elevator together he watched Fox study the environment before slipping on with him. Cautious. Kept her alive, no doubt, but Nord doubted someone had the place rigged all ready. They'd just gotten here. Though there were some precognitive mutants that liked taking all the mystery out of life. Didn't matter, what was important was the woman had gotten on and seemed happy enough on their way up to the room. Maybe he was still tired, but part of him really didn't want to just lay back on a bed and zone out. He was probably too on edge to sit still for long anyway.

Looking over at her and then at her reflection in the door, Nord grunted thoughtfully. "That depends," he replied to Fox's lewd declaration, "are you planning on raping me while I sleep?" Subtle wasn't he? Did Nord need to find a Priest to exorcise the demons out of Fox before they went to bed? Maybe he should exercise them personally. What plans did Strife have in mind? The entire Fox-Strife-Isis-Whoever issue he'd put aside in favor of staying sane and not second guessing every move he made with her. Fox hadn't objected the last time they went at it, and hadn't said to never bother her again. Besides--

Nord smiled, but kicked himself mentally for nearly going down that road again.

When the elevator opened Nord stepped out in to the hallway and looked back at Strife. "Looks like our stop." He started moving down the corridor toward their assigned room number. Seemed best if he let her prowl about at her own pace while he helped guide her to their destination. Hopefully her suspicious nature wouldn't find something, because this was one German Mercenary that really did just want to go on vacation... even if only for a little while. They'd figure everything else out later.

[~*Silver Fox*~]

"Some wear 'armor.' Others just wear a few layers of clothing. Everyone wears a helmet or goggles; no one wants to lose an eye over a game." Strife didn't sulk, though she thought it'd take some interest out of the game if people had on armor. Do you know how irritating it is to shoot people with armor? Now if you had good intel, you'd be prepared with a gun that could easily pierce this armor. Conversely, if this was a surprise, then you had to shoot and hit the armor. This would obviously fail, save for some fluke that had you draw a gun that could do what needed to be done. If it failed, you had to change guns. Now your target has been tipped off and they've called reinforcements and they're looking for you.

Now you have to just go down and take care of them personally. Hacking through armor with her claws was just so uninspired - effective, but she liked to keep her distance when taking someone down usually. Up close and personal should be saved for more personal vendettas. But what did she know about personal? She just went on the missions. Anyone she wanted to kill up close and personal was in charge of her-- No, no wait. That was..the past. Maverick said Weapon X was gone. Unverified, but he would know right? And why roll the dice on running with a partner that didn't know what all they were running from? Then again, Silver Fox was a good bet even when she didn't have the full picture. And man did she have experience in running, in /living/, without the full picture!

"That depends," -- "are you planning on raping me while I sleep?"

Strife tilted her head. "Are you implying that you'd refuse me if I tried something while you slept?" Now she kind of did want to fool around while he slept, just to see what he'd do after all. She liked to think that he wouldn't be able to sleep through such a thing, but who knows? Strife didn't know what she wanted to do with Nord--okay, so maybe that's a lie. She did have an idea. It was the same idea Isis - where /was/ she anyway? - accused her of when they'd initially 'met' Nord. Strife was the most emotionally aware. She felt, maybe too much, and the results left her a little..off-center mentally. So she was the openly aggressive, openly violent, openly smiling/smirking/slight laughing, openly wanting to sexually advance upon their mate. The key word is 'openly'. Nord wouldn't have a wall of ice to contend with, but perhaps Strife's mentality was a different sort of wall. Hard to say which wall he found easier to scale.

"Looks like our stop." Nord patiently humored the feral as she went about examining area. Not much to scrutinize. She supposed the place wasn't deserving of her intense suspicions. But she was too accustomed to going places she wasn't supposed to go, to do things she wasn't supposed to do, to kill people who'd do the same to her if they knew she was around... But no one's trying to kill you here. Nord wouldn't do that to you. Theoretically. Fox was familiar with the notion of betrayal, had done it herself. However, the woman couldn't really recall the sensation of being betrayed herself. That required trust and she didn't fork that over easily. Or at all. ..until now? She looked over at the man calmly guiding her along their path. Did..she trust him? Strife pondered that. She'd believed in about everything he'd said to her. She'd followed him to some foreign place among foreign people. Anything could happen to her here. He could tell her anything about what had happened to her, them...Silver Fox..in the mean time. Filling in the blanks.

Reaching the room, it occurred to Strife that she had no key, but she shouldn't force the door. Nord had a key, he could open the door. "Won't they think it strange that we have no luggage?" Should they take some? No, no, Nord said no illegal business - that included taking things that didn't belong to her with no intentions of giving them back. Once inside the room, her partner again humored her paranoid sweep of the room - one bed indeed - and the bathroom. She came out of the bathroom, took one look at the man, and huffed. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you found my scrutinizing amusing." Then again, maybe he was just as paranoid, but didn't have to look around because she was doing so. Should she find it complimentary that he found her to be so thorough?

She paused before something very obvious occurred to her. "I'm hungry. Is it safe to go back out or do you want to order in here? We don't have money, but I suppose you wouldn't approve of me procuring funds in a less-than-nice manner." Pause, turn, frown. "How are we paying for this room?" She smirked. "Are we just going to leave without paying, make a run for it?" Strife seemed enthused by the small challenge of ditching the bill. A mini-mission, it could be.