Exchanging Names at Last

"Come on Cradle." Izime scratched at the black beak that was nipping at him accusingly, "Shes way out of our league both of ours, that's Miss Psyis."

Izime still refusing to release the bird as Miss Psyis little tantrum had riled it up once more. The bundle of black metal feathers looking all the more puffed and chicken like the longer it wiggled about attempting to escape. Sighing with his own frustrations Izime glanced around the alley they'd ducked into. A few cans and papers still settling from the psychic pulse that had no doubt been looking for him.

"Fight good." Cradle croaked back not quite convinced the two couldn't hold their own against the alien. Squirming still, it was cooling off a bit though. The ruffling of Cradles squirming its own form of self-inflicted punishment, all that careful preening ruined.

No longer so agitated at the alien that had tried to invade its bond that it was willing to directly disobey, though that massive blast had certainly been one loud call it still didn't get through their bond. The shielding nanites still absorbing and wasting away the thessian's energy. Now it just wanted down so it could fix all the plumage that had been mussed about during Izime's cradling of it.

"You sure do but not her," Izime nodded sitting down the bag of food so he could give the ravens crop a good rub, sill stern in his refusal but proud of his bond's fierce nature. Ordering Cradle to burn off that angry energy quickly, "now stay down here and get all that fight out of your system."

Izime gave a slight toss of the balled raven, forcing Cradle to take to wing. Watching as the bird cut an impossibly tight circle in the narrow alley and landed back near him. Hopping around for a moment before fluttering over to the bag of take-out he had just placed down. Izime's slight irritation at Cradles disobeying disappeared as soon as the raven opened its beak.

"Eat." Cradle ordered back happy to share in the cycle of care. Hopping towards the bags of noodles Izime had sat down and giving them a few cursory pecks. Finally managing to pop one of the boxes open, it nodded at Izime with pride, "Eat"

Giving a few flaps Cradle took off a little ways, landing on the edge of the dumpster for a moment before taking off once again. This time doing a tiny loop in the narrow alley, making sure it listened to Izime's orders to fly low and play about. Cradle keeping itself well down inside the alley and performing a little aerial display for Izime.

"I will," Izime clapped his hands in order to get the ravens attention as it picked up speed. Not wanting Cradle to get too excited and decide to fly off, picking a fight with a certain alien. "But you play down low and no scanning, you two were fighting over that shit and, We. Don't. Start. Fights. Cradle is a good bird."

Izime ignored the taunting Cradle was doing as the raven was indeed playing low, directly near his head. Instead reaching out and grabbing the box Cradle had opened out of the plastic bag. Looking around for a moment inside he found the wrapped chopsticks beside a chilled bottle of water. Sitting the box on the edge of the nearby dumpster Izime tore the sticks apart and tossed the paper in, before sitting down against the dark green steel to eat.

Smells be damned he was probably a few days away passing out from not malnutrition again. Actual nutrients and not just calories of some kind was a must right now. Glancing up Izime stopped during his second bite, Cradle's voice bringing his attention to the bird. Who was currently doing a surprisingly accurate impression of a woodchipper combined with a blender, all while still flying.

"Fight good." Cradle called back passing its bond as it slowed its flight, letting the various feathered blades twirl about just to prove its point.

"If we get hit, we hit back, but no starting fights not even name calling," Izime shook his head denying the raven again, carefully standing so he didn't spill his box of noodles. "Cradle is a good birdie not a mean birdie."

With zero thought to the feathers of death Izime walked over blocking the bird physically mid-flight. Smiling as Cradle halted midair, Izime gave it an admonishing with his chopsticks. First a tap on the head before giving the hovering mech-raven a poke in the midsection before it hovered higher to escape. Izime paused for a moment eyes leaving Cradle as he looked at the shadows that stretched along the bricks. Ignoring the happy wiggles Cradle was giving at the title of good birdie, eyes drawn to the part of the shadow that wasn't straight lined.

Fuck I just needed to eat.

Izime thought to himself as he tried to shove the noodles in just that tiny bit faster. At least wanting to make the most of the now familiar looking hooded silhouette staying above them in the alley, not just dropping in to harass them again.

"Cradle, go play far!" Izime waved his hand trying to conceal his anger as he quickly finished his first box of noodles. Hoping the bird would simply take the chance to roam around Voltham freely.

The bond was closed tight enough that Cradle wouldn't be able to sense his thoughts about their company, but this needed to be settled without the bird around for now. Apparently, she wanted it settled as well, so Izme tried to send his more aggravated half away. Cradle was obviously still looking for a fight.

Izime wiping the sauce of his mouth and taking a few swigs from the bottle of water in the bag before tossing it back into the bag. Looking at the still waiting raven in held expectation, gesturing again to take the opportunity with a bit softer tone this time. "Go play, go eat Cradle."

"Play low?" Cradle landed on the nearby dumpster tilting its head in confusion. Izime had definitely told it to stay low because he knew Stupid Purple was searching. Even Izime had felt the pulse earlier and now he said Cradle could go high?

"Not anymore, this is important so listen. Go play somewhere for 1 hour and actually play, no scanning none! You can even go eat at the snack on some radio towers or something, I'll be fine but," Izime waggled his fingers hoping Cradle still trusted his snaps despite the time it had failed them, giving a pause as he considered who he was about to talk to. "If I'm not here call me."

Cradle hopped down to the street, pausing for a moment not sure it had been that good and almost positive something else was going on. All the same it didn't want to waste the opportunity. Eating items off the forbidden menu was reserved for special occasions like its hatching day, so it was best to take to the air now while Izime was still being really generous. With a final hop Cradle decided to depart giving a tilting look back before bolting away.

"Eat!" A black streak cried joyfully as it rocketed out of the alley. Psyis heard the bird go flying off, a bit shocked at the sudden speed. Ducking from the current of air before risking a glance back down into the alley, only to see another face looking back up at her.

Izime breathed out of his nose in frustration, ignoring the warmth of thai chili as it worked its way out his nose. The hood of his coat crinkling slightly as his neck was tilited, eyes watching that bit of white that had made their eavesdropped so easily identifiable. The long mohawk waving gently in the unshielded winds of the roof, Izime had figured she'd be by quickly but not immediately. At least figuring he'd had time to eat before... well he was working on super-hero time here so maybe it should have been expected.

"Do I need to talk you down too?" Izime called up loudly, glaring at the purple face that was looking down at him, "If you can be nice, I'll talk for a bit."

Izime's eyes went wide as the thessian jumped from the roof and just fell, that crazy woman! White mohawk standing properly as she descended from the air rushing past. Even her hoodie billowing and giving Izime a rather embarrassing view under her shirt. Teal eyes quickly glancing away from a toned and two-toned midsection towards the more comfortable bricks.

"I." Psyis started to yell back down, giving a cautious glance towards the sky before simply shaking her head and hoping off the roof. The bird had disappeared already and certainly hadn't heard her... probably. Looking down instead to see the ground as it came whistling towards her.

Trying to stifle a laugh as the man quickly backpedaled away from her landing spot as she had just let gravity take her. Halting just a hairs breadth from the pavement Psyis caught herself and brushed at the wrinkles her fall had caused. Pulling her hoodie a bit straighter before finally releasing her grip and allowing her feet to touch the street below her.

"I'm sorry about the thing at the noodle shop." Psyis offered her own attempt at a conversational truce at least, brushing her hair out of the way as she led in with an apology.

Brows holding steady but tensely as Psyis tried a proper introduction this time, an attempt at keeping her cool instead of just coming in capes drawn. She wasn't going to offer some excuse, that steven had upset her or she had been looking for a fight. Those were both childish and one man had no reason to hear, the other was an even worse excuse. Still, she had to get something to show for the trouble she'd caused dark night without causing more trouble now.

"I can promise you Cradle is not so don't poke my bird and don't poke me." Izime shook his head at the psychic's shallow apology gesturing with one hand while reaching for more noodles with his other. "I can't even say I'm OK with the concept of you kicking in a door to just kick in someone's mental doors without a valiii"

Psyis was at first upset that he'd tossed aside her apology, again the man was just dead set on being rude. That flicker of anger lasting only a second as Psyis finally got the first real response out of him, the brown eyes furrowing as his teal eyes ran over her arms and to her hands before returning. Giving her an accusatory glare that had tripped her irritation mid slide, she hadn't done anything this time!

Izime trailed off his hand stopping, giving a sideways look at the alien's empty arms. The alien had ordered the same as him, a triple bowl of Thai pepper beef lo mein. Izime knew how fast he could eat and for once found himself hoping someone could eat faster than him, though he knew what the more likely option was. Anger seeping into Izime's bones, not even wanting to look at the hero anymore. Everyone here was so damned wasteful towards damned near everything, no respect for the cards luck had handed them with this reality.

"Where are your noodles?" Izime asked after taking a steadying breath, doubt slowing his words as he already knew what the answer was, she didn't even smell like chilies.

"I um..." Psyis looked back down the alley, it wasn't far, but that sidewalk can had looked, well wet was probably the best description. Shame creeping in as she decided to finish answering him honestly, "threw them a-away."

Holding her head a bit lower in shame as she saw the expected reaction come, she had fucked up once again. Psyis watched as the homeless man's shoulders dropped with nothing but absolute disappointment in her. The noise she had waited for didn't, however. Instead of cursing or yelling he immediately closing his bag back with a twist. Glancing at the street and the trash around them as he took a deep breath, obviously trying to calm himself. Casting her the occasional quick glance before rubbing at his face and ordering her to remain.

Though with a much softer tone that carried the heavy weight of helplessness with that disappointment.

"I..you just," Izime shook his head running a hand through his hair in sheer agitation as he considered his options. Seeing as Stupid Purple had decided to earn her name solidly this time and wast food. Izime stomped past her pointing at the alien and then at the ground as he made a decision. "You stay here."

Izime recalled the front of the shop and snapped his fingers. It wasn't a thing he usually did, using magic so openly and appearing at a busy intersection but it'd only take a minute and honestly? The thessian had pissed him off well and good now, the first alien he'd met living any sort of decent life and she was no better than the Lux Winthor, wasteful and ignorant of all they'd been blessed with.

Psyis kept looking at the bag of perfectly good food the man had just left behind with a snap, his intentions obvious. Harassing him had been forgivable, probably a usual considering how he dressed. Maybe the who and why was a bit unexpected but that hadn't crossed his line. Pitching an entire bag of food certainly had.

A few minutes passing, the noodles sitting in the bag reaching out with their beefy goodness and cursing her with a twinge of hunger. The order had looked good, and she'd trashed it for the stupidest reasons. Even after paying for the food, if she hadn't wanted it she could have given it away. Dark Night and Dark Squire could have waited, it wasn't like it had even ran and if she'd been a bit more reasonable, she could have just taken the bag with her.

A still unfamiliar crackle behind Psyis giving her a start though she wasn't really surprised when she turned to see a very judgmental pair of teal eyes passing her. The bits of dirt drawing darker lines in his frown as he stormed past her, a familiar bag in his hands with bits of other refuse still stuck to it. A bit of something dark and thick pooling in a corner of the clear plastic, whatever it was it certainly was cola.

Walking over to the dumpster he looked between the two bags as if deciding something. Psyis swallowing dryly as she considered what she might do in such a situation. Punishments should fit the crime after all, so it would be deserved to make her finish the meal she had bought. He wasn't that cruel though, besides being a bit of a demon gave an advantage to psychological warfare. Izime intending to take the psychic on an entire guilt cruise let alone a simple trip, complete with multiple stops and a dinner-show.

"I don't care if you aren't hungry." Izime sat the trashed bag down, pulling out a half-crushed paper box. It was at least the better looking out of the three, nodding he looked at one of his own un-trashed containers, "You ordered it you're gonna eat it."

Taking his chopsticks and pouring a bit of water over them Izime gave them a hard shake before wiping them on his pants. Popping the the top of the nicer box he stuffed them inside. Finally taking both he walked back over to the Miss Psyis with every intention of making her eat crow.

Psyis avoiding even looking as he approached, the weight in those eyes feeling like a headman's ax. Izime stopped raising a brow, just a foot away and she still hadn't spared him a glance. That was fine the psychic didn't need to look, she was the hero after all; she could handle a bit of crow. Izime looking at the boxes of food as he tried to recall the entire speech he had prepared in the meantime, wanting to play the proper villain at this exact moment.

The stupid alien had pushed his buttons since they'd met, so it seemed fair after all.

"I know a little girl in Centropolis that would fight her own dad and me before she'd ever believe The Miss Psyis would be anything less than perfect. Her hero would never waste a bit let alone a meal. We've been using you to convince her to eat onions for years, you can't finish a box of noodle?" Izime gave the noodles a few shakes of guilt before shoving the untrashed box of noodles into the alien's chest. Ignoring the soft cushion as he applied a bit of force, "Eat it."

"I... uh" Psyis looked down at the box she was being 'punished' with as the soft paper box folded slightly, the force pushing against her hoodie and into the valley of her chest. The unwrapped and already used chopsticks were a bit uncomfortable but he had cleaned them as best he could. That was the worst of it however. The box in Izime's hand was actually exposed to everything in that trashcan, the paper already holding a dark stain from that something in the bag.

Though that same hand was currently driving a box of noodles into her cleavage, Psyis glanced to chastise him for thinking he was slick. Red brows furrowing only to relax, finding a face that had none of her discomfort. She didn't need to read the man's mind to know he wasn't using this as an excuse to get close to her, this was an entirely noodle focused situation. The man's gentle push building as the box crinkled further, his gaze on her not faltering in the slightest.

"That man cooked two orders, and we scared the shit out of him so someone's eating them and you were half the problem if not the whole damned thing. I don't care about the trash, not one bit," Izime pinched a clump of noodles between his fingers nodding towards the good carton, "and I'm not getting my ass kicked by Shya because I made her hero eat trash like us, even if that would be the better lesson. Eat the damned noodles Psyis."

Izime quickly pulled his hand free as two purple and blue stripped hands reached up to take the box, a bit surprised to not hear any more arguments. Even more surprised to see the alien actually take the chopsticks in her delicate looking hands, watching as she carefully swirled a clump of noodles. Giving a curious sniff as she eyed the thin strips of beef mixed in with the lo-mein and herbs, all coated in a heavy reddish oil as she took the bite. Psyis wondering for a moment who was the hero here, not that Izime had saved the day but... where exactly had he learned that level of attitude that could talk down to someone like her?

No, he wasn't a hero but what kind of monster would she be if she went against him now? Wasting food that she knew very well others on her planet were dying for quite literally. She wasn't going to refute him, the argument he'd made was solid if personally based, besides the noodles smelled really good.

Psyis glanced at the spicy smelling noodles before finally stuffing the entire clump in her mouth and chewing thoughtfully. Glancing about the alley idly before glancing up for half a second, covering her mouth in embarrassment as she caught an eager nod from her side. The man's next words still irritating, somehow, even when he was being nice. The peppers were the perfect touch of heat and something she'd have ordered herself, though it seemed her pleased look had only inflated his ego further.

"Told you I had good tastes." Izime felt his smirk widen as the thai chilis the cook had added extra f started to kick in. The psychics purple and blue cheeks blurring in with a mix of magenta as the heat from the chili's was filling her body.

Izime finished filling his own mouth before sucking his own fingers clean of the delicious oils that had dripped over them. Noodles weren't exactly finger food but that hardly stopped a dedicated individual. Izime quickly stuffing in two more finger fulls before he even attempted to chew. Not ashamed in the least after the few years of being in this world.

If someone wanted to get judgy they could go a round with the strangelettes and get back to him, see how much they cared about table manners after their table changed its state of matter. Until then he'd just keep eating and mind his own business just like they should.