(no subject)

[my-names-jonas.livejournal.com]

WHO: Noh-Var, Jonas/Vision.
WHERE: A random cafe.
WHEN: Sunday, December 28th, evening.
WARNINGS: None
SUMMARY: Noh-Varr anonymously requested a meeting with Vision. Vizh is obliging.
FORMAT: Paragraph

The coffee on the table was cooling. Vision knew this without tasting or touching it, as he had been in the small cafe for twenty minutes - and the mug had been present for fifteen of those. He'd ordered it to seem normal, even though he had no intentions of drinking it given his current dress. Jonas was wearing his armor, but he'd altered its appearance to look like his human self. It had been the only logical choice for a meeting with a potentially hostile unknown.

He had been surprised when he checked the comm and found a locked-down post directed at himself, curtly requesting this meeting. There was no name given, and the originating communicator was unfamiliar to him. After some creative hacking, he'd found that it belonged to a Plex and gained an appreciation for his or her programming skills. There had been some interesting encryptions in the homemade firewall that this comm had. It was really very clever, and Jonas intending on telling Plex that - provided this wasn't a trap.

While he was aware that he should have let someone know what he was doing and where he was going, Vision had decided against informing other Young Avengers. They could have been invited, and, for all he knew, they were. No matter which he told, they would have insisted on coming, and that seemed like a bad idea. The stranger clearly wanted privacy and would not enjoy uninvited guests, especially not with the way the Young Avengers had been squabbling amongst themselves.

"I do not wish to order yet. I am still waiting for the rest of my party," Vision said, cutting off the approaching waitress who doubtless wanted to take his order. She shrugged and walked away, and he resumed watching the passerbys outside, occasionally scanning the faces of the other patrons for someone familiar. He had been early, but the other was dangerously close to late now.

Comments

[spacecockroach.livejournal.com]

Noh-Varr was actually feeling nervous for the first time in a long time. He didn't know why, considering there was little reason for him to be, but the feeling was gnawing at him anyways. He reasoned it was only a bit of excitement due to the fact he'd been planning this for a while; all the coding required to protect the message had been difficult to accomplish when he only had Starktech to work with, along with a few other--sometimes downright primitive--bits and bobs. Like making fire with two rocks: feasible, just less intuitive than with a lighter.

He pushed the door to the coffee shop he'd decided to have Vision meet him at. He'd hoped the neutral, crowded place would help put the android in a less defensive state. The android would be right, even wise, to be wary, but Noh didn't want him to leave simply because the meeting place was too suspect. His choice had been the correct one; the place was bustling and it seemed the only free spot was across from a dark-haired youth with a firm, serious expression. Noh-Varr used the time it took for him to shed and put away his coat to contemplate the other man. Surely Vision would not arrive in such a place with his full armor visible, so a disguise was the clear choice. The facial features seemed correct, and the look of calm focus was appropriate, but the real tell was the heat of the coffee; as Noh approached, he could discern no soft volute of steam from the cup, indicating that it had either been served less than piping hot, or been left to cool for at least a few moments. This man was waiting, and probably for him.

"Vision?" He inquired, coming closer, sincerely hoping he wouldn't be made a fool of. He schooled his face into total neutrality, just to be safe.

[my-names-jonas.livejournal.com]

He'd seen the alien enter and was grateful that the helmet allowed for an easily controlled facial expression. It wouldn't be appropriate to appear as shocked as he was. Vision had no idea why Noh-Varr would wish to meet with him, and few of his hypotheses would culminate in a positive experience. However, the location was ill-suited for an attack and was of Noh-Varr's choosing, so Jonas resolved to give him the benefit of the doubt - until he made any sudden movements.

"Yes," he said simply, inviting him to sit down by means of a gesture towards the empty chair across the table. The way the man had been able to immediately identify him in spite of the crowd irritated Vision. It was due to a lack of foresight on his part, as there were shapeshifters who could blend seamlessly. Teddy, for example, had managed to convince several longtime Avengers that he was their friend Hank Pym, and Jonas couldn't even go unrecognized by a stranger in a crowded cafe. He would have to analyze this later. "You wanted to see me, Noh-Varr?"

[spacecockroach.livejournal.com]

Noh-Varr settled into the chair opposite Vision, gathering his thoughts. He was glad his instincts had led him to the correct person and made a mental note to have some sort of way to locate his target in the future. He let some warmth seep back into his expression, letting Vision know he wasn't going to become hostile any time soon, at least. He kept his gaze politely lowered, but not submissively tilting his head. His hands were on the table, fingers loosely twined.

"Yes. I apologize for the rudeness of my address, but I was afraid giving my name would incur your hostility, or that of your friends. I have no intention of attacking you, which is why I chose this place, hoping you would be more comfortable." He looked up as a waitress arrived, ordering a regular coffee, black. When she was gone he continued, "I will not keep you long; I brought you here to begin the repayment of my debt towards you."

[my-names-jonas.livejournal.com]

"Your name certainly would have garnered additional... attention." By which Vision meant suspicion. To begin with, he never would have attended this meeting if he had known that it was with Noh-Varr. He would have had Wiccan and Speed present, at the very least.

That is, if they would agree to come. He had a hard time dealing with his team that wasn't right now. Jonas was sure that Captain America wouldn't have let him agree to this, so it was for the best that he was alone. "There is no debt. We acted as anyone with our abilities would in that situation. I did not do it in hopes of future compensation."

[spacecockroach.livejournal.com]

"Then you understand the precautions I had to take," Noh confirmed. When Vision made as if to refute the debt, he frowned. "No, I have...life-debt towards you; I owe you my mind, I owe you my freedom." It was hard to put into an alien language the military terms of his upbringing, the indoctrination among brothers. Word was law; promise was sacred. He looked away, looked back, tried to find the words. "As a prisoner in the cube, I could not remember my own name. I was in such constant pain I barely remember you or the other Young Avengers, if that is still the name of your group. You were kind to me, when so many humans were not. I am certain that many of your colleagues would not have done what you did, after I nearly killed all or you."

His fingers flexed against the polished wood of the table. "Only know that I am in your service should the need ever arise."

[my-names-jonas.livejournal.com]

"I understand. You did not wish to have the entire Young Avengers - yes, that is what we call ourselves - present, as well as the Runaways and possibly a few Avengers," Vision replied after some consideration. "That is, of course, provided that the meeting were allowed to take place at all. Some of those present that day were less keen on repairing you, but the effects of damaged programming are woven into my history. I believed that the potential improvements were well worth the risk, and I am pleased to be proven right."

He watched as the alien almost fidgeted: his eyes were shifty and his fingers restless. Was he still nervous? Possibly, but it was rude to scan vital signs. Jonas didn't want to continue to refuse the gratitude, as that would be considerably ruder. "Thank you. Should I need your assistance, I will not hesitate to ask for it." Perhaps if he allowed Noh-Varr to work with them, he would consider the debt repaid. This offer of near-fealty was making Vision uncomfortable.

[spacecockroach.livejournal.com]

Noh-Varr smiled, almost tentatively. He relaxed a bit, picking up his coffee when it was brought to the table. "That's a generous compliment. I did not allow it to go to waste; the Cube, once I took over, became a haven." Without going into too much detail, he described the improvements to its detention system, the neural rerouting program he had used, through Plex, to convert the convicts' emotional states from rage and despair into quiet introspection. "Of course, without the Plex system here, my technological capacities are...more limited," he admitted, looking displeased. It was true that he felt much more vulnerable without the Plex-advisors, generals and other databases to look to for knowledge. He was a good problem-solver, but it had been a particularly useful ally in strange and dangerous times.

"You have a history of damage? Pardon my indiscretion," he apologized, "but the technology you use appears to be much more advanced than anything I've seen where you come from. How do you obtain repairs?" What he'd seen had surpassed even what Iron Man wore, the android's entire skin shifting and responding to the slightest stimulus.

[my-names-jonas.livejournal.com]

"Haven is an interesting choice of words." Vision wasn't exactly suspicious of Noh-Varr, but he had no data on the alien at all, aside from their previous encounter. He didn't like the unknown; it took away what was usually one of his primary strengths, knowledge, and put him on his guard. "Luckily, all of the tech I require came with me."

He didn't answer the questions for a minute, staring down into his cold coffee as he considered what it would be prudent to say. "The nanotechnology of my current armor is self-repairing. Previous incarnations were not so fortunate."

Why am I so bad at this god

[spacecockroach.livejournal.com]

"You are perhaps correct," Noh amended with a frown, "but I do not believe it is too grand a word in comparison to the abhorrent conditions previously seen in the Cube. Those kinds of re-education centers existed on Hala; my Hala at least. Certainly better than throwing someone in and throwing away the key."

He gently turned his cup, watching Vision hesitate without speaking; he listened to the carefully chosen words and nodded once. "I see. From what i have gathered, all those here who brought a weapon or piece of technology with them were in physical contact with the object in question."