The Noodle Incident Pt.2

The thessian was already upset, Voltham having driven her up a wall. Well not necessarily Voltham but everything in it... well three things in it. First there was Steven, then those two voids. She'd left Blane Manor after Steven had pushed too far, Psyis finding him awkwardly posing in the hall in a towel. Deciding spending her time was better spent flying around Voltham instead of giving Steven more chances to show off in the hall after he'd showered.

Patrolling had gotten dull, not because of inactivity but simply because half the alleys in Voltham were dedicated to petty crimes not worth stopping. Homeless squabbles, small time gangs, illegal gambling and other illict sports, nothing on the level of FearForm or the mysterious voids. So, as she'd searched and actually discovered one of those burnt-out areas in her pulses she'd stopped and landed immediately already breathing heavily in excitement, she'd finally found some action.

Now she was standing at some absurdly complicated intersection where the buildings had become something akin to cake slices. Across from her inside of a tiny shop she could finally see it. Psyis pulled her hood a bit lower carefully keeping her hands in her pockets as she kept her red eyes locked on it. The thing was smiling and chatting idly with some human cooking noodles.

Psyis' smile growing in confidence, the thing was completely unaware of her presence. She'd attempted a stealth of her own after studying its void last night with Crusher. She couldn't erase herself, but she could mirror the passing humans. It wasn't as clean at removing information, not good as the void, but it also kept it from detecting her in the same way. Not a blank or a thessian, she was just another random human or at least she should be according to nearly any senses out there. She was copying everything from their pulse, their biological signatures, even mirroring that deafening human chatter.

Still that things abilities were impressive, even this close she couldn't read that nothing. Simply resolving its shape better as she stalked it through her psychic mirror. That vauge void slowly resolving through layers of clarity as Psyis wrapped her pulses around it. There was a gun in its waistband something she could sense now even through the multiple layers of clothes.

Its mind was still a void though, a space in her own psychic senses. Psyis letting her powers run over every inch as she tried to peel back that ability. Her powers so far ineffective it was impossible to know if it planned on causing harm. She could physically stop it from harming anyone, but she'd need to get closer.

Psyis quickly crossed the street, not bothering with the lights as she simply dodged the cars. Ignoring the few horns as she kept her powers trained on its hands. They were moving towards his pants, she might be too late, if he pulled now. No, Psyis reminded herself that she could just stop the bullet with her powers from here. Still, she breathed a sigh of relief when she closed enough distance to just jump the thing when it drew.

Flinging the door open to watch as instead of pulling a gun he simply adjusted his guitar case higher on his shoulder. The one with the gas mask in it Psyis reminded herself not to drop her guard. Chest still rising and falling quickly as her adrenaline surged, carefully walking around the thing as she approached the counter. Giving a quick glance at the shop owner as he spoke, Psyis taking stock of the situation from the cook's mind.

"Take a seat," The shop owner gestured towards the bar where Izime was sitting, still working on the first order. Not turning towards the gray hooded figure, he could see in the grills splash mirror. "Let me get these noodles on and I'll take care of you next."

Red eyes turning back Psyis watched as the thing spared her half a glance, as if it had no clue she was probing at the edges of its shape. She almost sneered, carefully feeling around each layer of its nothing as she began to create a sense for feeling it. Her mind churning as she tried different methods of undetectable probing each edging closer to a full-on telekinetic touch. The heroine holding back, waiting on the thing to give her the tiniest reason.

Izime glanced over his shoulder at the person who had just entered feeling like he was being watched. The slim figures hood was drawn and obviously looking down, so it had just been his imagination. They were a bit cleaner than your usual Voltham native but nothing too unusual. Stereotypical gloomy looking Voltham dweller and probably as easily pissed off as the rest of the damned city. Definitely as easily pissed off, the woman was already looking to chew the cook out judging by her attitude.

Not wanting to bother with any drama Izime turned on the stool he had taken and leaned on the bar. Watching the shop owner instead, the three orders of noodles going into the water that was already boiling. The dry wheat noodles going limp quickly as the owner threw some strips of beef to sizzle in the wok. A few squirts of a dark thick chili sauce and a splash of oil left the cook wiping his hands from the steam as he prepared to take the angry lady's order.

"The same as my friend here." Psyis didn't bother with actually reading the menu or waiting for the cook to ask, instead she had been checking the shop owner's thoughts on the 'it'. The cook giving the two a bit of a look before quickly turning back to add the second order into the same batch unaware of the intrusion.

Psyis carefully taking the information she could while still keeping her guard up. It had just been assumed to be a rough looking homeless man; one the cook had been intending to seat a bit further away before seeing to her. The face she could see and the one the owner was feeling sorry for both felt like an odd mask taped to a invisible thing in her mind.

The owner's protective thoughts had convincing her to make a move sooner rather than later, Psyis stood both her fists clenched waiting for something. A provocation, begging, an attack whatever it was she was prepared. Who needed to read minds she had been through hundreds of battles, what could this thing do that she hadn't seen before?

Izime glanced out of the corner of his eye at the gray hooded female that had just spoken and was now posing like she was going to fight. That voice was eerily familiar, but he couldn't really place it. Quickly going through his mental list of previous 'customers' in this little line of business. Nope no friends, well at least not any women that was for sure. Maybe a drinking buddy or two but beyond that it was Cradle and Wesson, family.

"I've got good tastes." Izime turned back passing over the obvious invitation for conversation, instead just shrugging at the cook. Choosing instead to call out to his bond, already preparing for a bit of trouble on his end.

Cradle we apparently have a new friend.

 Friendly Friend! Or Friend?

You tell me, they're sitting right next to me.

 Coming. Now.

Izime felt his muscles release that bit of tension as he heard Cradle confirm that it was on its way. No need to feel his own tension when his bond was already sympathizing, worried that anything could have slipped its detection.

Izime did his best to ignore the feeling of eyes on him, made all the more obvious by the creaking to his side. He refused to look, Izime had done enough deal to develop a sense for when things were at risk of popping off. When things like this went down it was best to remain inert, a noble gas that simply refused to react when the more volatile elements started popping off. The woman was waiting for him to make a move, had stormed in looking for a fight. That was a move he didn't plan to make and a chance he wasn't going to give, thats what Cradle was for.

Instead Izime planned to get his noodles and hopefully leave with his backup poised to strike just outside, though if it did come down to it there were some actual spells he knew. Not much use against a real superhero but some pissy Voltham native?

He'd manage just fin-GrrrRRRRrrrRRRRRrrrrrRRRRwwwwrrrrrrrrrrrwwwwwrrr.~

Thoughts of the fight quickly disappearing as a low rumble came from his midsection and began to build. The growl not stopping and growing in volume until even the pissed off woman seemed to lose a bit of her fire. Trying to hide his embarrassment as his stomach growled Izime leaned his elbows on the counter, dropping his head in shame. Stubbornly ignoring the growl that was now trying to compete with the passing traffic in volume as he stared at the tiles on the floor.

Psyis had been so focused on that moment, the one when the villain finally made a move that the sudden noise had actually made her jump a bit. A bit uncertain now that it was actually here to rob the shop owner and thoughts about her irritation disappearing in mutual embarrassment as she stood threateningly over the poor thing. It sounded hungry, really hungry. Half-starved if the over full minute of stomach growling was any indication. The thessian's shoulders and chest dropping a bit, all she could see of it were those ears that were as red as her own eyes.

"Sorry." Izime finally spoke as the grumble broke with a final gurgling, the heat from his face building between his arms. "I, ahh'fuck that was embarrassing."

Even the noodle chef who'd been tense ever sense he'd laid eyes on the woman in that hoodie had given a pause, glancing between the two he offered some service on the house. Whatever was going on between the two his grandmother would be ashamed if he'd let someone leave their families noodle shop hungry. Besides whoever these two were it'd be best to stay on both their good sides, this was Voltham after all.

"Give me just a minute, I'll even top it off with some extra as an apology." The shop owner wasn't sure if the two were friends, but he certainly didn't want any trouble. Having seen enough already to not mess around or embarrass his ancestors. "No charge."

"Apology fo-" Psyis began to ask until the shop owner ducked his head to focus on the things order, the story in his mind filling her in soon enough. The shop owner was probably safer not letting it stay inside and eat, her tension returning now as her mind warned her of a second void approaching.

"I'll pay," Izime shook his head as he considered his second rule: no debts to nobodies. Reaching back to grab the card in his pocket he could feel the tension rolling off the woman next to him, "card like I said."

Izime could feel the shaking in his hand stop as Cradle's voice came into his mind. That bit of tension leaving him as his bond finally appeared nearby ready to act.

 Here. here

To my left.

Cradle quickly landed on a window adjacent to the shop, tilting its head and zooming in for a better view. Cradle cocked its head as it turned to look at the person sitting in the noodle shop its scans already deducing the problem. Izime had already decided the alien was stupid so why worry?

 Stupid Purple? Hurry eat!

Stu-Get in here. Now!

Izime tried not to laugh out loud as Cradles confused voice came back, the shake immediately returning as he was informed Miss Psyis was the pissed woman. He wasn't the least bit ashamed to admit the thessian scared him, that was the main reason he'd done his best to keep her out of the toxin's way. No, the person who'd lined up to tackle him so hard he'd enter orbit somewhere around Sirius was standing next to him just begging for an excuse.

Cradle don't make me say it again.

 No. Bird in shop bad.

 Bad Cradle. Bad Bird.

Cradle preened itself as it considered just what Izime was asking. There had been several ordeals already where it had sat and listened to very detailed reason on why it couldn't go in just any store. It wasn't like stupid purple was hurting Izime, Cradle stopped preening. The worry it had tossed aside returning as it asked itself.

Why was stupid purple in the exact same noodle shop as its nest program and how had she evaded its detection?

The father hexagon powered bio-raven quickly began adjusting its own scanning methods, those it had considered perfect. Having a bit of difficulty, trying to track a mental power outside of the usual spectrum it had to consider. Its eyes altering in color as it quite literally began to develop lenses, sensors, and readings that focused on Stupid Purple's Thessian energies.

A rare species as only one of them existed, so little of Cradle's time had been dedicated to detecting her powers. Simply using their clouds of nanites and bond to countering the oft seen heroine had worked so far. Now Cradle was watching as fields of odd soft powers rolled from the thessian's body and lapped like soft waves against Izime. Those energies carefully working through the threads of his clothes before fading just above his skin.

The alien was preening Cradle's nest program with her powers, that was fine. Izime needed a good cle-WAIT WHAT!?!

Cradle cawed loudly flapping its wings as it began to get upset in a protective emotional sense over its nest-program being touched so familiarly. Stupid Purple was running those odd energies under Izime layers of clothing like Cradle did to its own feathers. She was nearly under his inner cloth down, clearly violating a member of their unkindness! That wasn't right, she wasn't his mate and certainly not close enough to even touch them let alone preen Izime the defacto leader of their two bird Unkindness.

 No pets! Stupid Purple! No pets!

Cradle dove, flapping to gain speed as it crossed the intersection, not bothering with the commotion it might cause. Simply exploding into a cloud of particles that slipped in around the cracks in the door, the fast form hardly not even disturbing the rising steam outside. Intent on stopping the nosy poking alien who was touching Izime.

Dropping his head slightly the cook watched in the grills mirror as the third child of trouble came into his shop. This final and even odder creature not bothering to ring the door as it came in with its shifting form and landed on the shoulder of his first guest. The cook considering for a second mentioning the signs outside, the ones that would have avoided this entire problem in the first place.

No homeless/No loitering and right below it, no pets... if only he'd stuck to those rules.