Streets of Fandom, Sunday evening

[nadiathesaint]

It was a windy, damp, dark evening, exactly the kind of weather Nadia despised, but she found herself in no hurry to get back to the dorms.

Sunday evening. Back to classes and routine, tomorrow, and she wasn't looking forward to that.

Vegas had seemed like a breath of fresh air, getting to ghost about, wandering through crowds of people who'd have no idea that she was lying her ass off about everything about her. Being back in Fandom meant being back to just being plain Nadia.

So she shoved her hands into the pockets of her coat, her bags slung over her shoulders, and wandered through the streets for awhile, taking the most circuitous route back to the dorms as she could.

[ooc: as open or closed as folks desire]

Comments

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

"Rather nasty evening to be out on foot," Alfred commented from the doorway of Cafe Fina as Nadia passed by.

_{[[Modded your route!]]}

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia shrugged. "I've been out in worse."

[ooc: you filthy route modder!]

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

"Yes, but I doubt that was by choice. What keeps you out in this rain?"

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia shrugged. If she told Alfred that she was just walking back to the dorms after the trip to Vegas, he'd point out that she was walking in the wrong direction.

"I'm just walking. Thinking."

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

"Well, forgive me for being a worried old man, but I find that it's a wonderful excuse for getting people to do what I want. Couldn't you also think in a place the wouldn't give you a terrible cold?"

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia turned her face up into the blowing rain for a moment, then shrugged. "I probably wouldn't say no to a cup of tea." She readjusted her bags for a moment. "If I tell you something, would you promise not to tell Walter?"

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

Alfred smiled. "Of course. Would you say no to a bowl of soup as well?"

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Soup would be nice. Thank you."

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

Alfred stepped backwards into the restraunt, turning to the side. He bowed a little and extended his hand in. "Then welcome to Cafe Fina, Miss Santos. Open on Sunday for the short period of now until whenever you feel like leaving."

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia smiled slightly at that, then headed for a table near the window and slung her bags down to the floor.

At least she could be pretty sure there'd be no kitchen staff members seeking revenge as she ate there tonight.

She tried to organize her thoughts on what to tell Alfred and how to tell him.

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

Alfred pulled a cup from under a table and poured some tea into it from a pot sitting next to restraunt paperwork. He placed it in front of Nadia with a carafe of milk and a sugar bowl. "I'll see about that soup."

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia added rather a lot of sugar to the tea, then proceeded to just kind of sit there with the tea under her nose for a long moment. It really was a bit cold out.

She had to tell someone, and of the various wise adult type people on the island, she was surprised to realize that she trusted Alfred the most.

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

Alfred came out with a tray of steaming chicken noodle soup. "Sometimes the simplest things are the best."

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia nodded a little absently. "Thank you again, sir." She set down her cup and paused a moment, taking a deep breath. "I don't know how much you know about what happened to Walter a few weeks ago."

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

Alfred fetched his cup of tea and sat down in front of Nadia. "I know what caused him to fall ill."

[nadiathesaint]

"Do you know what made him get better?"

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

"I assume the doctors. I delivered a file on his unique condition to them earlier."

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia shook her head. "The doctors at the clinic had no idea what to do. He was dying. Then Schrodinger showed up."

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

"Schrodinger?" Alfred asked.

[nadiathesaint]

"You know, the kid with the cat ears? Has an unnerving tendency to just . . . be somewhere?" Nadia shook her head. "Anyway. He showed up and said he knew someone who could help. A doctor." She paused again. "A German doctor."

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

Alfred nodded. "And he did?"

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia nodded. "But he said he wanted something in return, first. From me."

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

"Ah. What did he want?"

[nadiathesaint]

"I don't know. He said something about studying me. My brain. I think he knew about Rambaldi. But I haven't heard anything about it, since. Just . . . I agreed, and then Walter got better, and nothing."

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

"How did he do it? Heal Walter, I mean."

[nadiathesaint]

"He had Schrodinger give Dr. Wilson a big needle. I don't know anything more than that. Just that Dr. Wilson kept asking me if I was sure about it, and I kept saying yes, because I didn't want him to die."

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

Alfred nodded. "Do you know anything else about Schrodinger or his German Doctor friend? Anything that might say what they plan on getting out of this?"

[nadiathesaint]

"Just that he works for some private research company out of South America and he knows Walter from 1999."

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

Alfred nodded and made a mental note to do a little nosing around.

There are advantages to working for the Batman.

"You worry it might have something to do with Rambaldi?"

[nadiathesaint]

"He said that my brain was . . . 'unique'? Rambaldi is the only reason i can think of for anyone to think I'm anything special."

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

Alfred nodded. "Have you told anyone about him and Schrodinger? Are you afraid that they'll harm you?"

[nadiathesaint]

"Just you. What if they can undo what they did to save Walter? The doctor said he didn't want to kill me, but I have no idea what he might try to do."

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

"Well, not to scare you, but there are things that are very very horrible and still not death. What was this doctor like? Did you get a name?"

[nadiathesaint]

"Just 'Herr Doktor'. He was really . . . smug. Like he knew something no one else did. And I think he really annoyed Dr. Wilson, but it was hard to tell. I couldn't really follow their conversation."

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

Alfred nodded. "Well, that doesn't help narrow it down. Are you worried for anything? Should we approach the administration about it?"

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia thought about that for a long moment, looking down at her cooling soup. "No. It might not be anything. I don't want them worried for no reason. I just had to talk to someone about it. And I don't want Walter to find out."

[badassbutler.livejournal.com]

Alfred nodded. "Eat your soup," he said. "And always come to me if you're worried about anything."

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia smiled slightly. "Thank you. That means a lot." That said, she obeyed and picked up her spoon to start on the soup.

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

Billy had spent the entire day out in the rain. Bundled up, and often standing under shelter, but still, outside. He was currently headed back to the dorms for a warm shower, and hot chicks cocoa.

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia offered him a glance and a brief wave.

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

"Hey." Billy noted the luggage. "running away or returning?"

[nadiathesaint]

"Vegas trip."

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

"Win any money?"

[nadiathesaint]

"A bit."

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

"Better than the alternative. I'd offer you an umbrella, but,I don't have one."

[nadiathesaint]

"That's okay. But thanks."

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

"You need any help with the carrying?"

[nadiathesaint]

"No, thanks. I've got it."

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

"Okay."