[center][h3][u][b]A Cordial Conversation[/b][/u][/h3][i]Collab with [@yoshua171] and [@LemonZest1337].[/i][/center][hr]

Even from the bathroom Silvia was able to hear the hungry reporters still scrabbling for any bit of information that the PRT or Protectorate would provide. And it seemed that it wasn’t too much info given how long the noise persisted. Like a frightened cat Silvia krept out of the bathroom cubicle and peaked her head out of the bathroom. Seeing no immediate people she’d need to worry about she let out a brief sigh and walked out of the bathroom.

Silvia slowly made her way outside, and while there were still reporters looming around they were mostly packing up and headed out, their thirst for the next big scoop seemingly sated for now.  Silvia then thought about what she would do for the rest of the day, and was honestly stumped. Rug had been fed and was mostly too lazy to walk despite being so young.

She decided to take to the air, crouching down before launching herself skyward, her wings powering her flight. It was always peaceful up in the sky, just birds and the occasional aircraft. Though this time she saw a massive alien squid monster. Knowing it was Outsider Silvia couldn’t help but be curious as to what he was doing.

Being the socially awkward dragon she was she couldn’t just fly down and ask him what he was doing, oh no she’d just have to follow him. Yes that was the logical way to deal with her curiosity.

Outsider on the other hand followed the ambulance taking G4M3R to the hospital. When it arrived he shifted back to his human form and helped check the man in. Once things were taken care of--which unfortunately coincided with his emotions fading back to their natural state--he exited the building, still in costume.

He took stock of the time he had left in the day since the main event on his mental itinerary had been effectively canceled. It turned out there wasn’t much else to be done. So he took a walk and eventually found himself in a less suburban park, where he took a seat on a bench and relaxed a bit. He found that he was feeling a bit tired and so rather than go home or walk more he just let his mind wander.

Silvia’s creeping seemed to go unnoticed by Outsider, Silvia was pleased by this. She had no idea how she would explain her decision to follow him around. She couldn’t place her finger on why she was so eager to follow him either, the two had hardly spoken. Silvia did recognise that Outsider was indeed good looking, but Silvia wasn’t enthralled by looks alone. Perhaps it was his abilities that were interesting? How he used them? Why he used them? Good heavens Silvia had so many questions for him now.

Snapping back to reality Silvia focused in on the now stationary Outsider. He looked like his head was closer to the clouds than Silvia’s, perhaps he was more distressed by the events with the rockers than he was letting on. Silvia had to talk to him now. But not to figure out things about him, now it was to check if he was alright.

Slowly descending Silvia made her way towards Outsider, avoiding trees and civilians. She landed on the grass behind Outsider, and for once her landing didn’t make a jarring clang. [color=darkkhaki]”H-hello again!”[/color]

The corner of his lips twitching down, Outsider turned his head, caught a glimpse of something metallic and vaguely person shaped, before he turned further to get a better look at her. His eyebrows raised slightly, then he turned away, “Hey there Sylph,” he responded, his voice only several shades away from monotone. He sounded disinterested, but not in any personal way. Just like he’d acknowledged her and there was little else to say.

[color=#B8EEFF][b]“What brings you here?”[/b][/color] He asked, but there was no emotion in it. No curiosity, though the question implied such.

Silvia circled the bench and took a seat next to Outsider, shifting her tail so it would rest in a semi comfortable position while making sure her wings didn’t bump into him. [color=darkkhaki]”I was just wondering how you were doing. I-uhh saw you sitting here looking a little distant. Wanted to check in on you.”[/color] She was careful not to let any info out that might make it obvious she’d followed him. Admittedly even leaving out the full truth made her stomach churn a little.

Glancing at her from the corner of his vision, he shrugged faintly and turned his gaze forwards again. As he stared into the trees of the quiet park he spoke, [color=#B8EEFF][b]“I’m alright. I guess I’m...”[/b][/color] he paused a moment, assessing the far away echoes of his feelings, [color=#B8EEFF][b]“...a little weird about the other Minutemen. Or well...I guess they’re not Minutemen anymore.”[/b][/color] His lips turned down slightly and there was the briefest moment of tension before he let out a sigh.

[color=#B8EEFF][b]“I guess the Minutemen are done, actually. Can’t be a team on your own after all.”[/b][/color] The words rang of sadness, but his tone sounded bored, disinterested even.

Silvia’s face dropped as Outsider spoke. Slowly her hand drifted onto Outsider’s shoulder leaving a soft chill on the area of contact. [color=darkkhaki]“I-I’m sorry to hear that… Being alone is never good…”[/color] Retracting her hand she shifted on the bench awkwardly. [color=darkkhaki]”Maybe sometime in the future we could make a team together. Heh…”[/color] Silvia actually hoped she’d be able to at the very least work with Outsider every now and then, or that he got some other people to form a team with. She didn’t want to see Outsider sadden due to being alone, though at the moment he seemed to be handling it in some capacity. Acting detached might be his coping mechanism…

While most might tense at the strange effect of contact with Silvia, Jake didn’t seem to notice. He let her say her piece, but as she trailed off he remained silent for a time. His attention seemed set on the swaying of trees in the wind, and the faint echoes of conversation carried to them from afar as people went about their days. They got some looks, but the park was empty enough that they weren’t drawing too much attention.

Straightening, Outsider got up from the bench. Looking back down at Sylph he forced the slightest of smiles onto his lips. It was faint and it only [i]just[/i] touched his eyes, but it was better than nothing...not that she’d know. “Perhaps we can someday. For now it looks like I’m flying solo and you’re with the Protectorate.” He turned his eyes away, but before he left something occurred to him. How would she contact him if she wanted to discuss a team?

He looked back to her, [color=#B8EEFF][b]“If you want to talk or meet up again, you can contact me on PHO, my user handle is Outsider.”[/b][/color] He paused a moment, considering that there might be a handful of people with similar usernames, [color=#B8EEFF][b]“Ah...my account is verified, so you’ll be able to tell which one is me.”[/b][/color]

Silvia watched Outsider stand and smiled up at him as he didn’t seem against the idea of them working together. But he made the point that he was running solo and that Silvia was with the protectorate, but that wouldn’t get in the way of them being a team would it? And if it did they could at the very least be temporary partners right? Something to ask Inkscape or someone else high up later.

Silvia held in a sigh when Outsider brought up the PHO, she’d tried her best to avoid it. So many people so many words… Well at least she had a good reason for using it now. [color=darkkhaki]”I’m called Steel Tempest…”[/color] Silvia rubbed her shoulder. [color=darkkhaki]”I thought it sounded cool…”[/color] Silvia then stood up, stretching out her wings briefly. [color=darkkhaki]”I do hope we end up working together. Flying solo can get lonely.”[/color]

He felt the echo of a laugh in his mind, but the emotion never built in his stomach, never overflowed, and so was never heard. Instead his lips quirked up faintly and a brief glimmer passed through his eyes. [color=#B8EEFF][b]“I don’t let it bother me,”[/b][/color] he said in response. He liked the username she’d chosen as well, but he wasn’t sure how important that was. [color=#B8EEFF][b]“I like the name by the way. Good choice, I’d say,”[/b][/color] he shrugged a bit and took a few steps forwards and away from her.

[color=#B8EEFF][b]“Well...keep in touch. I’ve got some civvy business to take care of,”[/b][/color] he forced a small smile onto his lips, then gave her a short two-finger salute, before his body became a blur of light before vanishing. In less than a second the air distorted and then pushed out in a gentle breeze as his Second Vessel appeared.

His hollow voice echoed out, even as emotion surged through him in a reassuring wave of sensation. [color=#B8EEFF][b]“It was nice talking to you,”[/b][/color] he commented, and this time it sounded genuine, like she’d heard him earlier. Turning from her, he began swimming through the air, accelerating rapidly into the air...and then into the distance. He would perhaps head to a secluded spot, [i]just[/i] big enough for his form. Then transform and change out of sight.