DATE: 05/20/Year 2
LOCATION: World #52113 - Beach City
The waves seem quieter these days, Steven thought, staring out at the water. The Atlantic sparkled with moonlight, a picturesque view with the silver coin of the moon high above, but the waves rolling in felt heavier, slower somehow.Maybe it's just my imagination.
He tore his eyes away from the horizon, trying not to imagine the stillness that lay out there beyond the barrier. The wind ruffled through his dark curls, and he breathed a deep sigh. In, out.
They aren't gone, he had been told. Just... taken over.
There was a chance to come back from this. To get them back. He held onto that thought.
His bare feet hushed against the sand, and then grass as he stepped over the divide between the beach and the beginnings of the big hill that made Lighthouse Park. He had abandoned his sandals somewhere in the grass. He'd trip over them again sooner or later, he figured, pink plastic glinting accusingly at him from green shadows.
For now, Steven sat, folding himself gently into the grass without minding at all that cool dew soaked through the seat of his jeans to the skin beneath. His silhouette was a broad shape against the lights of the city behind him as he leaned back onto his hands, staring up at the inky darkness above.
"We'll meet again... don't know where, don't know when..."
The quiet hiss of waves and movements of tiny crabs in the earth were overturned by a cacophony of thunderous proportions.
Waves were disturbed by an upheaval of water, splashing against the shore more roughly a mile or so down from where Steven had planted himself. A rasping, gasping, spluttering cough and an upheaval of water displaced from salty lungs crashed against the shore much like the noise had shattered the quiet scenery. It made his lungs B U R N.
It had been sink or swim. Being made of nearly 50 tons of metal and flesh, of course, he sank! It had been a fight to launch himself to the water's surface every 20 or so minutes for some god damn air, and even then, he nearly didn't make it. The last few hundred feet had been drowning madness as his lungs screamed for oxygen that wasn't available. Now it was. Every breath was greedy as a shiny metal carapace glistened in the sun, spotted with miscellaneous travelers. A particular starfish was stuck to his shoulder, and bits of kelp and seaweed clung to his sharp armor.
One, wet, dog-like shake sent a crab sailing down the beach as he coughed raggedly again to assure his lungs were clear of water. Then, that massive spiny helm plopped on the sand, sinking into it as calm waves lapped across his back. Man, he was tired. Blearily, agitated eyes scanned the horizon, the peaks of sandy dunes showing off their tall grasses in the fading light. Where was he? Didn't matter; it was dry.
From a distance, it might've looked like the ocean had just coughed up some... hairball. Some indiscriminate kelp and driftwood. But kelp wasn't black and hairy, and driftwood normally wasn't covered in cherry red paint either. Even at a distance, it was easy to pick out the IMMENSE shape against the waves.
He had to move; this was a beach, and usually sophonts loved the dreadful places.... One shaky arm slipped downwards to try to press against the sand. All he managed was managing to lift his head from the sand before it ungracefully plopped right back into the sand with an "UNF!".
Waves were disturbed by an upheaval of water, splashing against the shore more roughly a mile or so down from where Steven had planted himself. A rasping, gasping, spluttering cough and an upheaval of water displaced from salty lungs crashed against the shore much like the noise had shattered the quiet scenery. It made his lungs B U R N.
It had been sink or swim. Being made of nearly 50 tons of metal and flesh, of course, he sank! It had been a fight to launch himself to the water's surface every 20 or so minutes for some god damn air, and even then, he nearly didn't make it. The last few hundred feet had been drowning madness as his lungs screamed for oxygen that wasn't available. Now it was. Every breath was greedy as a shiny metal carapace glistened in the sun, spotted with miscellaneous travelers. A particular starfish was stuck to his shoulder, and bits of kelp and seaweed clung to his sharp armor.
One, wet, dog-like shake sent a crab sailing down the beach as he coughed raggedly again to assure his lungs were clear of water. Then, that massive spiny helm plopped on the sand, sinking into it as calm waves lapped across his back. Man, he was tired. Blearily, agitated eyes scanned the horizon, the peaks of sandy dunes showing off their tall grasses in the fading light. Where was he? Didn't matter; it was dry.
From a distance, it might've looked like the ocean had just coughed up some... hairball. Some indiscriminate kelp and driftwood. But kelp wasn't black and hairy, and driftwood normally wasn't covered in cherry red paint either. Even at a distance, it was easy to pick out the IMMENSE shape against the waves.
He had to move; this was a beach, and usually sophonts loved the dreadful places.... One shaky arm slipped downwards to try to press against the sand. All he managed was managing to lift his head from the sand before it ungracefully plopped right back into the sand with an "UNF!".
Several things happened at once. The first was the noise-- a kind of deep, rushing gasp, like a whale surfacing, which, for a moment, was exactly what Steven had thought it was. Then the crab happened, bouncing across the sand like an errant skipping stone, before landing at his feet.
"Aw! Poor little guy!" Steven was already reflexively reaching towards the-- surprisingly not dead-- crab. Then his brain caught up with him, and his head jerked up, eyes wide.
CORRUPTION!
For a moment, everything seemed to freeze. Then his body was scrambling upright without him, heart pounding. Steven's shield formed on his wrist with a panicked little plink of Gem magic, and he instinctively brought it to bear between the giant and the rest of the beach. He probably looked quite the sight-- 6'11" of broad shouldered muscle, wielding a big, glowing energy shield, but inside, Steven was screaming.
Not again! Not again!
But--
The gemstone where Steven's belly button should have been pulsed once, responding to his panic. The light drew his eyes downwards, and broke the spell for long enough for him to reach out empathically.
That... didn't feel like Corruption.
It felt... irritated, maybe a little scared. And there was definitely a mind there, something focused and intelligent.
He watched as it clambered up onto the beach, then collapsed.
Oh! Oh no... It was hurt, whatever it was...
Steven glanced between the giant and the crab, then quickly dismissed his shield and scooped the dazed crustacean up in one hand before hurrying over, spraying sand in his wake. Stars... why was it so hard to run on sand?!
"Hey!" he called, "Hey, are you alright?"
He stopped at a safe distance, of course. Steven didn't sense any malice from the giant, but well... those claws and teeth looked like they meant business.
"Aw! Poor little guy!" Steven was already reflexively reaching towards the-- surprisingly not dead-- crab. Then his brain caught up with him, and his head jerked up, eyes wide.
CORRUPTION!
For a moment, everything seemed to freeze. Then his body was scrambling upright without him, heart pounding. Steven's shield formed on his wrist with a panicked little plink of Gem magic, and he instinctively brought it to bear between the giant and the rest of the beach. He probably looked quite the sight-- 6'11" of broad shouldered muscle, wielding a big, glowing energy shield, but inside, Steven was screaming.
Not again! Not again!
But--
The gemstone where Steven's belly button should have been pulsed once, responding to his panic. The light drew his eyes downwards, and broke the spell for long enough for him to reach out empathically.
That... didn't feel like Corruption.
It felt... irritated, maybe a little scared. And there was definitely a mind there, something focused and intelligent.
He watched as it clambered up onto the beach, then collapsed.
Oh! Oh no... It was hurt, whatever it was...
Steven glanced between the giant and the crab, then quickly dismissed his shield and scooped the dazed crustacean up in one hand before hurrying over, spraying sand in his wake. Stars... why was it so hard to run on sand?!
"Hey!" he called, "Hey, are you alright?"
He stopped at a safe distance, of course. Steven didn't sense any malice from the giant, but well... those claws and teeth looked like they meant business.
Heretic was busy whuffing salty air from his lungs when a strange sound bounced about the beach, much like the crab had. A shimmering sound, mixed with steel. Someone drew a weapon. His eyes widened like saucers and his head SHOT up from the beach to flick towards the sound. And that's when he saw him, a large... pink man. At least a good portion of him LOOKS pink at that moment, with that immense shield held between them.
-HISSSSSSS-
Immense dark mane bristled from the things back when it beheld the armed man. A large man at that, not as large as him of course, but large enough to do some damage to him in his weakened state... At least if he kept his chin on the floor- He scrambled briefly against the sands to try and peel himself from the sands, creating thick divots in the wet silt beneath him. If anything he dug himself deeper.
The man came sprinting towards him- A rumbling -HHHHRRRSSSS- is what he got in response. At least at first. Its eyes flicked over the beast, landing on the disoriented little crab in his mitts and up to his concerned looking face. It grumbled, jaws peeling open to sniff in the tall man's general direction. He smelled like... small towns, and obnoxiously beach scented soaps. There had to be a beach town nearby, one that this guy hailed from.
There was no hint of malice in the beast now, but there was definitely a punctuated FEAR. The weapon was whisked away into the nothing, leaving that gem in the middle of his stomach to gleam in the light...
He was in the right place.
The voice that finally answered him back was a distrusting "Who are you?" His voice was deep like a mountain valley and course, and in no way accepting of any silly business if Steven HAD any. Of course, his bristled way of speech was punctuated by a ROUGH cough, turning his head to spit out some disgustingly big glob of sand infused drool before blazing green eyes whipped to face Steven, not daring to let him slip from his sight for more than a moment.
-HISSSSSSS-
Immense dark mane bristled from the things back when it beheld the armed man. A large man at that, not as large as him of course, but large enough to do some damage to him in his weakened state... At least if he kept his chin on the floor- He scrambled briefly against the sands to try and peel himself from the sands, creating thick divots in the wet silt beneath him. If anything he dug himself deeper.
The man came sprinting towards him- A rumbling -HHHHRRRSSSS- is what he got in response. At least at first. Its eyes flicked over the beast, landing on the disoriented little crab in his mitts and up to his concerned looking face. It grumbled, jaws peeling open to sniff in the tall man's general direction. He smelled like... small towns, and obnoxiously beach scented soaps. There had to be a beach town nearby, one that this guy hailed from.
There was no hint of malice in the beast now, but there was definitely a punctuated FEAR. The weapon was whisked away into the nothing, leaving that gem in the middle of his stomach to gleam in the light...
He was in the right place.
The voice that finally answered him back was a distrusting "Who are you?" His voice was deep like a mountain valley and course, and in no way accepting of any silly business if Steven HAD any. Of course, his bristled way of speech was punctuated by a ROUGH cough, turning his head to spit out some disgustingly big glob of sand infused drool before blazing green eyes whipped to face Steven, not daring to let him slip from his sight for more than a moment.
Woah, okay. Guy was skittish.
Steven gave the crab a quick peck on the top of its shell, then carefully set it down to scuttle off, as good as new. Slowly, holding both of his hands up to show that he had no weapons and meant no harm, he lowered himself into the sand to sit, legs crossed. It was cooler there, in the long shadow the giant cast.
"My name's Steven," he told him. He pitched his voice gentler, trying to sound less alarmed than he originally had, though Steven was still very much alarmed on the inside. A spooked giant didn't seem like something that was great for anyone's health, so the less chances he took, the better. Not that this was Steven's first encounter with such a being, but the Diamonds had significantly less... teeth, and look what damage they were capable of.
"This is Beach City. I live here. No one's gunna hurt you, okay?"
Did that sound ridiculous coming from a creature a tenth of Heretic's size? Yeah, probably, but even if Steven hadn't had his empathy, he would have been able to tell that the giant was scared. Of him? It was hard to tell, but he certainly didn't seem to want to let Steven out of his sight.
"What's your name?" Steven asked. Maybe if they were on a little more familiar grounds, he would let Steven help him. "Are you hurt?"
Steven gave the crab a quick peck on the top of its shell, then carefully set it down to scuttle off, as good as new. Slowly, holding both of his hands up to show that he had no weapons and meant no harm, he lowered himself into the sand to sit, legs crossed. It was cooler there, in the long shadow the giant cast.
"My name's Steven," he told him. He pitched his voice gentler, trying to sound less alarmed than he originally had, though Steven was still very much alarmed on the inside. A spooked giant didn't seem like something that was great for anyone's health, so the less chances he took, the better. Not that this was Steven's first encounter with such a being, but the Diamonds had significantly less... teeth, and look what damage they were capable of.
"This is Beach City. I live here. No one's gunna hurt you, okay?"
Did that sound ridiculous coming from a creature a tenth of Heretic's size? Yeah, probably, but even if Steven hadn't had his empathy, he would have been able to tell that the giant was scared. Of him? It was hard to tell, but he certainly didn't seem to want to let Steven out of his sight.
"What's your name?" Steven asked. Maybe if they were on a little more familiar grounds, he would let Steven help him. "Are you hurt?"
Heretic couldn't stop the expression that crawled across his face when the large man... KISSED the crab and then sent it on its way. That seemed unhygienic - After, the man splayed his hands to show they were barren of weaponry. Shortly after, The man plunked down to sit in the sand, giving him his name and the name of the city. The titan glanced briefly at the distant grassy dunes and then back to the man trying to make a peaceable approach.
No one's going to hurt him, hm? Heretic's eyes tightened, scanning the man's face for any hint of deception. All he saw there was... something soft and doughy, this was no battle hardened warrior. He was a beach bum. It was written all over his face, and clothes, and demeanor. The sandals were the kicker. Being this close, he could feel the pattering of an alarmed heartbeat pounding against the man's sternum.
Heretic's eyes darted from Steven and to the crashing waves behind him when he asked if he was hurt, and what his name was.
"Heretic. No," he answered brusquely. What a conversationalist- He was also a big fat liar.
Large taloned hands shuffled under Heretic's chest to press down on the sands beneath, allowing him to shove himself forwards enough to drag his body upwards to a kneeling sit. One of his legs didn't obey his command to be yanked from the sea, causing his mane to bristle and an agitated growl to rattle through his chest. The titan yanked his leg forwards from the ocean with more force, revealing a crusted and rusty anchor chain wrapped around one of his ankles. The titan frowned, despite being able to make much of an expression it was easy to see in those virid green eyes.
Immense claws flexed as the titan raised one hand, and then LASHED out at the thick chain around its ankle. Its claws make a -SKRK- as it nearly cut through the thick iron, ribboning it. It clattered to the sands in multiple chunks as the titan now checked its freed ankle.
Sopping wet mane drooped to one side of its hulking form to reveal a dent in its chassis, one that looked like a chain had been whipped across its back.
As Steven was sat in the sands, rather suddenly the beast shook its immense mane like a mutt, sending sand, kelp, and horrific amounts of water to come raining down on the surrounding beach, including Steven. That mane PUFFED far more than it had been, almost looking like a porcupine fish or like a lion with a bad hair day. Said lion with a bad hair day was now clawing through his mane searching for an itch that couldn't be scratched. It was driving him INSANE.
No one's going to hurt him, hm? Heretic's eyes tightened, scanning the man's face for any hint of deception. All he saw there was... something soft and doughy, this was no battle hardened warrior. He was a beach bum. It was written all over his face, and clothes, and demeanor. The sandals were the kicker. Being this close, he could feel the pattering of an alarmed heartbeat pounding against the man's sternum.
Heretic's eyes darted from Steven and to the crashing waves behind him when he asked if he was hurt, and what his name was.
"Heretic. No," he answered brusquely. What a conversationalist- He was also a big fat liar.
Large taloned hands shuffled under Heretic's chest to press down on the sands beneath, allowing him to shove himself forwards enough to drag his body upwards to a kneeling sit. One of his legs didn't obey his command to be yanked from the sea, causing his mane to bristle and an agitated growl to rattle through his chest. The titan yanked his leg forwards from the ocean with more force, revealing a crusted and rusty anchor chain wrapped around one of his ankles. The titan frowned, despite being able to make much of an expression it was easy to see in those virid green eyes.
Immense claws flexed as the titan raised one hand, and then LASHED out at the thick chain around its ankle. Its claws make a -SKRK- as it nearly cut through the thick iron, ribboning it. It clattered to the sands in multiple chunks as the titan now checked its freed ankle.
Sopping wet mane drooped to one side of its hulking form to reveal a dent in its chassis, one that looked like a chain had been whipped across its back.
As Steven was sat in the sands, rather suddenly the beast shook its immense mane like a mutt, sending sand, kelp, and horrific amounts of water to come raining down on the surrounding beach, including Steven. That mane PUFFED far more than it had been, almost looking like a porcupine fish or like a lion with a bad hair day. Said lion with a bad hair day was now clawing through his mane searching for an itch that couldn't be scratched. It was driving him INSANE.
"Oh..kaaay..." Steven sounded a lot less than convinced.
"Well, uh... It's nice to meet you, Heretic. Though um, I guess probably it could be under better circumstances." He sighed and scratched the back of his head, running fingers through thick black curls. "You sure you don't want me to take a look at--"
Heretic suddenly dragged himself forward along the sand, leaving a massive groove in his wake that filled with seawater, and Steven winced at the sound that he made. It was hard to tell if that growl had been pain or irritation, or a little bit of both. He seemed caught on something, though, or maybe Heretic really was more hurt than he was admitting.
Steven followed the giant's gaze with concern, but a moment later, Heretic gave a mighty jerk, and something rose up from the surf behind him like a rusty leviathan. Steven was halfway to his feet when he realized what it was.
Just an anchor. Oh. Not some kind of... mutated sea creature or anything. Well, that explained what he was doing in the water. Steven watched as he cut himself free, his brow furrowed.
"Um... someone didn't... put that on you, did they?" he ventured cautiously. He threw his arm up absently to shield himself from the sudden spray as Heretic shook himself, but didn't react much more than a small scrunch of his short, round nose. Life living on the beach with a bunch of super powered aliens often got messy. Amethyst had done a lot worse. Anyway, it was hot, and a little bit of water never hurt anyone.
Steven pursed his lips to the side though, thinking as he watched Heretic search himself. He gave an indecisive little squirm where he sat, then slowly got up and padded across the sand towards him, clearing his throat a bit. He didn't want Heretic to think that he was trying to sneak up on him.
"Do you need... help with anything? I mean... you're pretty dinged up. Maybe there's something I can do?"
"Well, uh... It's nice to meet you, Heretic. Though um, I guess probably it could be under better circumstances." He sighed and scratched the back of his head, running fingers through thick black curls. "You sure you don't want me to take a look at--"
Heretic suddenly dragged himself forward along the sand, leaving a massive groove in his wake that filled with seawater, and Steven winced at the sound that he made. It was hard to tell if that growl had been pain or irritation, or a little bit of both. He seemed caught on something, though, or maybe Heretic really was more hurt than he was admitting.
Steven followed the giant's gaze with concern, but a moment later, Heretic gave a mighty jerk, and something rose up from the surf behind him like a rusty leviathan. Steven was halfway to his feet when he realized what it was.
Just an anchor. Oh. Not some kind of... mutated sea creature or anything. Well, that explained what he was doing in the water. Steven watched as he cut himself free, his brow furrowed.
"Um... someone didn't... put that on you, did they?" he ventured cautiously. He threw his arm up absently to shield himself from the sudden spray as Heretic shook himself, but didn't react much more than a small scrunch of his short, round nose. Life living on the beach with a bunch of super powered aliens often got messy. Amethyst had done a lot worse. Anyway, it was hot, and a little bit of water never hurt anyone.
Steven pursed his lips to the side though, thinking as he watched Heretic search himself. He gave an indecisive little squirm where he sat, then slowly got up and padded across the sand towards him, clearing his throat a bit. He didn't want Heretic to think that he was trying to sneak up on him.
"Do you need... help with anything? I mean... you're pretty dinged up. Maybe there's something I can do?"
Heretic's eyes squinted when asked if someone had placed the chains on him. Heretic guffawed outright. " No. I was on board a fishing vessel heading for shore and the damn anchor broke-!" he stated, a hiss on his tone as he dragged his leg closer to himself, flicking free flecks of rust with a talon from his ankle. Claws scratched at the stretchy fabric that lined the plating there. He had tried to cut the damn chain many times underwater but the resistance of the water against his frame kept him from doing any mighty swings. Fighting for air made that even harder.
Heretic paused to pull a starfish free from underneath his knee plating, frowning at the offensive thing. He sent it sailing back into the water with a flick of his wrist. " I'm going to find a way to fine the damn captain of that boat", he growled angrily. A slew of mutterings escaped the titan, something likely to do with cursing the captain for not keeping the ship in top shape, how the chain could have killed someone, ect ect.
Steven stood and plodded forwards, the titan's head jerking to face him as if the movement took him off guard, even before he cleared his throat. Whatever he was, he was an ants guy. Only a moment was spared to appraise the man stood before him, green eyes traveling his now mildly wet form. Specifically his eyes traveled down to his wrist to see if it was bare. The titan's head split strangely at the seam to reveal thick conical teeth.
-WHUFF-
-HUFF-
He was catching his scent from the distance he still had, the breath of the immense being causing the sand to tumble around Steven's ankles. This stranger smelled like... roses? He didn't see any gardens around- Odd... Then again this rounded man was odd to begin with, considering the gemstone piercing… If it was a piercing it was humongous.
"You have a phone?" he decided to question then, hiking his chin up at Steven, jaws finally closing.
"Considering how you... Are. I'm going to assume you know about the agents or are one. And if you are, you're new cause i don't remember seeing your face anywhere on my docket," he remarked, leaning down enough so that his eye was more level with Steven's, the mans reflection showing in the deep orb there.
Heretic paused to pull a starfish free from underneath his knee plating, frowning at the offensive thing. He sent it sailing back into the water with a flick of his wrist. " I'm going to find a way to fine the damn captain of that boat", he growled angrily. A slew of mutterings escaped the titan, something likely to do with cursing the captain for not keeping the ship in top shape, how the chain could have killed someone, ect ect.
Steven stood and plodded forwards, the titan's head jerking to face him as if the movement took him off guard, even before he cleared his throat. Whatever he was, he was an ants guy. Only a moment was spared to appraise the man stood before him, green eyes traveling his now mildly wet form. Specifically his eyes traveled down to his wrist to see if it was bare. The titan's head split strangely at the seam to reveal thick conical teeth.
-WHUFF-
-HUFF-
He was catching his scent from the distance he still had, the breath of the immense being causing the sand to tumble around Steven's ankles. This stranger smelled like... roses? He didn't see any gardens around- Odd... Then again this rounded man was odd to begin with, considering the gemstone piercing… If it was a piercing it was humongous.
"You have a phone?" he decided to question then, hiking his chin up at Steven, jaws finally closing.
"Considering how you... Are. I'm going to assume you know about the agents or are one. And if you are, you're new cause i don't remember seeing your face anywhere on my docket," he remarked, leaning down enough so that his eye was more level with Steven's, the mans reflection showing in the deep orb there.
Steven suddenly had a very odd inclination to hold his hand out when Heretic opened those jaws and began whuffling at the air between them, to offer up his scent better, as though Heretic were an oversized dog. A very, very large, very pointy, and very grouchy oversized dog.
Steven, in his infinite wisdom, caught his reflection in those teeth, and resisted the urge. He held carefully still instead, though he did scrunch up his face a little as the giant's breath stirred his curls around his ears.
And then Heretic seemed to relax somewhat, and those jaws closed. Steven couldn't help but feel like he had passed some sort of test.
"Oh, um, yeah--" he blurted, already fumbling for his phone. "But just a heads up, it doesn't really--"
Wait, wait, wait-- agent?!
"Yes! Yeah!" Steven nearly dropped the phone in his surprise. "Um, I dunno, I guess it's been a couple of months?"
He didn't guess, though. Steven counted every second, every last one that ticked away from that terrible day when his world had been swallowed by nothing, when he had failed to protect a planet-- a universe that had looked up to him as their savior. But peering too closely at that feeling risked it rearing up and devouring him whole, and Steven wasn't confident of his ability to climb out of that pit this time.
"I'm an artifact hunter," he told Heretic. Steven reached up to flash the little badge he usually kept under his jacket, only to realize belatedly that he wasn't wearing it today. He smoothed his hands awkwardly down his t-shirt instead. "And a junior medic. I don't really stay at the Omphalos, though, so maybe that's why we haven't run into each other? I'm usually here when I'm not working. Or I guess sometimes Sanctuary. Beach City needs me though, so I don't really have a lot of time for exploring."
Steven didn't have his Key Gauntlet on either at the moment. There wasn't much point here in Beach City. It was where Steven lived after all. And honestly? It kind of itched after a while. He didn't blame Heretic for maybe taking him a little less than seriously.
"I'm sorry to hear about the boat thing. That's-- yeah, that's really irresponsible of them..." Steven turned his head, scanning the horizon as though he could spot the errant vessel and help Heretic glare it down. "Someone could have gotten really hurt! I mean-- you did!" He gestured empathetically at the dings across Heretic's body, then grimaced sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head with one hand. Right, Heretic was 'fine'. Directing attention to just how much he clearly wasn't was bound to make the other agent grumpy... well, grumpier, anyway.
"Annnyway. Um, so what do you do? And uh, what brings you to Beach City, I guess? On... a boat? Were you surveying something?"
Steven, in his infinite wisdom, caught his reflection in those teeth, and resisted the urge. He held carefully still instead, though he did scrunch up his face a little as the giant's breath stirred his curls around his ears.
And then Heretic seemed to relax somewhat, and those jaws closed. Steven couldn't help but feel like he had passed some sort of test.
"Oh, um, yeah--" he blurted, already fumbling for his phone. "But just a heads up, it doesn't really--"
Wait, wait, wait-- agent?!
"Yes! Yeah!" Steven nearly dropped the phone in his surprise. "Um, I dunno, I guess it's been a couple of months?"
He didn't guess, though. Steven counted every second, every last one that ticked away from that terrible day when his world had been swallowed by nothing, when he had failed to protect a planet-- a universe that had looked up to him as their savior. But peering too closely at that feeling risked it rearing up and devouring him whole, and Steven wasn't confident of his ability to climb out of that pit this time.
"I'm an artifact hunter," he told Heretic. Steven reached up to flash the little badge he usually kept under his jacket, only to realize belatedly that he wasn't wearing it today. He smoothed his hands awkwardly down his t-shirt instead. "And a junior medic. I don't really stay at the Omphalos, though, so maybe that's why we haven't run into each other? I'm usually here when I'm not working. Or I guess sometimes Sanctuary. Beach City needs me though, so I don't really have a lot of time for exploring."
Steven didn't have his Key Gauntlet on either at the moment. There wasn't much point here in Beach City. It was where Steven lived after all. And honestly? It kind of itched after a while. He didn't blame Heretic for maybe taking him a little less than seriously.
"I'm sorry to hear about the boat thing. That's-- yeah, that's really irresponsible of them..." Steven turned his head, scanning the horizon as though he could spot the errant vessel and help Heretic glare it down. "Someone could have gotten really hurt! I mean-- you did!" He gestured empathetically at the dings across Heretic's body, then grimaced sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head with one hand. Right, Heretic was 'fine'. Directing attention to just how much he clearly wasn't was bound to make the other agent grumpy... well, grumpier, anyway.
"Annnyway. Um, so what do you do? And uh, what brings you to Beach City, I guess? On... a boat? Were you surveying something?"
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