The Solider and the Problem Child (Aya) (Afternoon)

Johnson Locke walked through Suzie Q at a quick pace, this was easily his least favorite district. He did not like all the loud music, he did not like all the people, because it felt like he stuck out more than usual. There was nothing here that really interested him, the music was okay, but nothing like the songs they played on their transport copters.

Maybe he was just too old, it seemed like all the younger folks were always around here, and they were seeking the latest entertainment. Then he was here, a forty year old man, with shrapnel in his head, he could not stick out like a sore thumb more if he tried. He had passed various venues of entertainment including...the maid cafe. That was just so strange to the veteran, why the hell would any woman want to be in a costume and having to serve various men. It must have paid relatively well, otherwise, Johnson could not picture anyone working there. Whatever, it wasn't any of his concern, he just wanted to get back home at the moment. Though considering how the unexpected happened to him, it would not surprise him if something got in his way and stopped him.

The sounds of a scuffle caught Johnson's ears, ears well trained to hear the sounds of two people fighting. The man paused and looked in the direction of the alley, just what the hell was going on? He saw a young girl and an older man fighting in the alley, the fact that they were still fighting gave him the idea that they did not know how to take each other down, or they were evenly matched. Regardless, Johnson didn't care who started the fight, but he figured that the older man wasn't going to walk away from the younger girl, so he decided to put an end to it. Shortly, after they crashed into each other is when Johnson came up. He drew his fist back as he stepped into the man's view, and now that Johnson had a clear shot at the man's face, he would not miss his target.

Unless, the man was a trained fighter, which from Johnson's observation he did not appear to be, he would find the strong right from Johnson crashing into his face with enough force to send him sprawling if not out cold. All of Johnson's force and military training went behind that punch, and it would prove quite potent against an untrained combatant. More so considering he knew that people's face were most vulnerable against a strong punch. If the man was out cold then Johnson would look toward Aya, "You okay kid?" He would ask Aya looking down at her, checking for any serious injuries or if she had a few scraps and bruises. That is assuming that she didn't jump on him and attack him next. He didn't see her take any serious hits, but she might have when he wasn't there.

Relevant Traits:

Johnson wasn't expecting the most gracious thanks, but he wasn't expecting to be asked what he was doing. "Putting an end to it, and I'm sure you did. That's why you sat there and let him get free hits on you." He replied, noting the blood from her lips and bruises. "Nothing broken, but you need to get home and clean up the cuts on your lip. I've seen and had worse." He told her after he inspected her for injuries. He watched her go over and kick the poor sap he had just punched and then started fishing for anything valuable."He's out cold, no need to kick him and rob him." This kid was just one big problem child who was going to get in over her head one way or another.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a napkin from a restaurant, "Here, use this to clean your lip, it's bleeding." he stated offering her the napkin for her own use. "I hope getting into brawls isn't a hobby of yours, otherwise you will end up meeting someone who will make you regret picking a fight with them. So, what was this all about? Money? Or were you picking a fight just because it seemed like fun?" He asked Aya, watching her carefully. She seemed to be a bit of a loose cannon that needed direction or some way to vent her frustration, if he prodded her enough she would no doubt turn on him. Which might make a good lesson for her one way or another. She seemed angry at him already, and that no doubt meant that she wasn't far from taking a swing at him. That would be a mistake that she would not be happy about, as he was not afraid to knock her down a peg if she picked a fight. Right now, he just wanted to figure out what the heck had happened between these two.

This young woman was so very pleasant, and irritating all at once. It was no wonder that she got into fights, but she seemed to be strong enough to get through this challenge. He almost found it a bit funny how she thought he didn't know a thing about fighting. Did she think that he walked around with a piece of shrapnel in his head and an eye patch over an eye for fun? "You're right, I'm not your dad, and what happens to you is not any of my concern." Johnson said shaking his head, and tucking the napkin back into his pocket. There was no need to pick a fight with her, right now she was pissed at the world, likely for her own problems.

When she steps back, he raises an eyebrow, what did she expect him to pick a fight with her? Hardly, he had better things to do than fight a young girl, who thought she knew how to win a fight. "You win fights, that's fair, but that's the mentality that gets kids your age into trouble fast. You all think you're invincible and indestructible, well..." He said lifting up his eye-patch to show her his ruined eye. An eye a bullet took from him, and he was lucky that was all it took from him. It was almost a crystal blue, but no pupil, it just stared at her..and for him there was only darkness. Darkness from that eye, it saw no light, but would remain dark forever. He hoped she saw a bit of her future, because picking fights gets you hurt...sometimes in ways you will never recover from.





He lowered his eye patch, and turned to go ahead and start walking away. He wouldn't let his guard down around a loose cannon, he would glance back to make sure she wasn't dumb enough to try anything. If she hadn't pieced together that he had been through and done a whole lot worse than what she had, she was about to learn what it was like to lose a fight. Then she might realize how brash she was, and how dangerous it is to pick these fights.

Johnson turned around when Aya spoke of not saying she was indestructible, and how one eye is nothing to lose. She had a point, so perhaps this girl wasn't as reckless as he first thought. "No, you didn't say you were, but there was a time when I was your age and I thought that I was. Granted, you seem to realize the sort of danger that comes with picking fights. So you're a bit better off than me in that regard." He said shaking his head, she had a point though one eye was nothing to lose and the piece of shrapnel was just an expense of war.

"True, one eye isn't the worst thing to lose in comparison to what could be lost. Though if you're enjoying yourself then I suppose that is something worth giving your life for. That is something I can understand, and I guess I'm a little surprised that someone so young has found it so fast. Seems a bit rash, but maybe that's just because I'm not so sure what I want to do anymore." He said, patting his pockets...damn he didn't have any smokes. He had been through a lot, a lot more than this kid had been through, and she had no idea what he had seen. "Call me curious, but why do you find fighting so much fun?" He had a few ideas as to why, it was most likely the risk and adrenaline rush that came with it. She was a thrill seeker and fighting was unfortunately one of the ways to achieve those thrills. He had never seen someone so young, so full of life willing to throw their life away on a rush. It seemed so foolish.

This kid was so odd, at first angry and now seemingly at peace and even curious at if he had stopped fighting. "So you prefer being in a good scrap than a clean home. Well, everyone has their hobbies, some of them more dangerous than others. It's good that you have found happiness, and freedom, a lot of people can't find it throughout their lives. Life's going to get a hell lot more complex than it is for you as your grow older. I'm talking from experience here." He had quite a few years on her, and that meant he had seen his life change from something simple to something incredibly complex. It seemed to happen in a blink of an eye, and he always looked back to see if he could find out what caused it. He had yet to find it.

"Boring? Hell, I hope the fact that I haven't fought someone in a long time doesn't mean I'm boring. But to answer your question...I'm at an odd crossroads." He said, "My group doesn't have many military contracts after the eternal divide and to be honest, my company is still replenishing its losses. We've scaled down our contracts and commitments, but a part of me still seeks to go back out there and fight. However..." He said trailing off and he gestures to the city around them. "This city is fighting its own war, in the shadows a lot of it is beyond the sight of the regular folks like you and me. The fight against demons, terrorists, and those that protect our city. It goes on in the shadows, I can feel it in my bones." He said, it was true. There was a feeling in the air that made his hair rise on occasion, there was tension, a sort of tension that comes from conflict that pitches one side against another.

"I don't want to give up the fight, but I'm a relic of the past. My squad and I found out that military hardware and tactics don't do anything against demons during the Eternal Divide. It isn't a war I can fight, and that irritates me. Hell, maybe I am boring..." Dammit, now he really wished he had some smokes at this moment.

The solider eyed the kid carefully as she spoke, she said that he had to find strength. He had strength, it was just the wrong kind of strength, but she had a point of how he could do something with this strength. The way she looked at him as her mouth curled, she stated how she could break him in, and how they would get into some real fun. The solider felt some of his hair raise on the back of his neck, his eye focused on her intently as if trying to pierce her inner motivation.

"What the hell are you going on about kid? What the fuck are you even saying? Getting my ass kicked? Why the hell would I do that?" He demanded to know what on earth this kid was talking about. None of it made any sense! She was talking crazy, and the way she looked was even....crazier. Did demons come in human skin now? Was this a deal with some devil that he was being offered?

That chuckle was a bit too grim for Johnson's taste, and the advice that followed it did not inspire him with confidence. Demons....at night? He'd never seen anything like that, he knew they existed, but at night...he'd never see a single one at night. Was this girl crazy? The solider eyed her carefully, not really saying anything as she spoke. He paused for several moments trying to figure out how to respond to such a statement, he sure as hell knew that the advice was wrong. He'd gotten his ass kicked by demons before, and he wasn't even a bit stronger because of it. He wouldn't mention that of course, now was going to be the proper time to excuse himself. If she had gathered strength from demons as she seemed to imply then he wasn't talking to the kindest individual. If she fought and kicked demons' asses then she wasn't using conventional means, he had tried that and nearly died for it. This was a rather sticky situation, at first he thought he was helping some girl who was in trouble, but it wasn't as simple as it seemed.

"I've gotten my ass kicked enough in my lifetime from commanders, instructors, and enemy forces. I'd rather not get my ass kicked by demons too, though the idea of kicking ass with this strength does sound...interesting. Maybe it will give me the answers that I'm looking for, and a path to follow." He said rubbing his beard in thought, eventually he stopped and looked at girl. "Thanks for the advice, I'll be sure to keep it in mind, you might have just helped this solider find his path again." He said before looking down at the still unconscious man.

"I don't know about you, but I'm going to leave before this guy wakes up again. I'm not interested in continuing the brawl I just ended." He said nodding toward the guy on the ground, "Stay safe kid, and don't get your ass kicked by any demons." He said as he turned and began to leave the alley. He just hoped that he wasn't stopped this time around by some clever retort from the brat.

(Exit unless stopped)