Honestly, given her demeanor, he's not inclined to think it's overconfidence. She carries herself like a warrior, and has the kind of stoicism under pressure that tells him she's definitely been up to her neck in trouble before. If anything, he's even more curious about where she comes from and the sort of things she's seen, but that's obviously best left for another time.
She hesitates before giving her name, and that sort of clinches his suspicions: she's definitely been up to her neck in trouble before, and that trouble had likely followed her around, in some form or another, while she was back wherever she came from. He wasn't usually so quick to introduce himself, either, but Riku had assured him that no other Organization members were presently up and about. It was mission standard to simply observe and never get involved with the natives of other worlds, but... well, Axel liked to bend rules, either way. Besides, they were all out of their element and away from home in this place, so it didn't really matter.
He gives her a cavalier smile and waves a hand before going back to trying to swipe more of the mud off his coat.
"Ah, don't mention it," he says. "I'm a helpful guy." It's not really a lie. He likes it when people owe him favors, sure, but heart or no heart, it's not like it's easy to just walk away when someone is blatantly in danger. Besides, Roxas would have been angry if he found out he'd just let somebody drown in mud. "You seem like you've been in situations like this once or twice," he says with cavalier cheerfulness, despite their situation. "Maybe not... with the mud and the giant bird exactly, that feels pretty specific, but..." He gestures vaguely, then glances up to see that the flying creature seems to have moved on for the moment. "You seem like someone who can appreciate a good adventure when life throws you one."
"Appreciate might not be the right word." Not anymore, not like it had been once, leaving behind everything she had ever known for the sake of duty and answering the call. Diana has seen her fair share of adventure, and it turns out that adventure often goes hand in hand with destruction and danger. Responsibility is a heavy thing to bear when it results in losses not even she can avoid. She has enough of those behind her that she can't find it in her to relish adventure anymore, even if she is a steady hand in it.
Her mother had been right, after all.
"I am well trained to be capable in battle, certainly." And a part of her did enjoy the thrill of the fight, truth be told. It was fairly obvious in her presence and her expression when in the thick of it. Still, as much as a part of her feels at home on a battlefield, she doesn't relish it enough to pick fights pointlessly. If they can avoid the vulture, she'd prefer it. "You look like you could claim much the same." Despite his flippant tone, she hasn't missed the way he moves, nor the strength required to lug her out of the muck.
"Er, no offense was intended," he assures her. The tone of her voice had darkened a bit, like she was remembering less pleasant times (though less pleasant than caked in mud in a stinky, muddy swamp might be a tall order, in the moment). He ventures an awkward smile when she turns his own words back to him, and rolls his shoulders affectedly. "I guess I could say 'ditto'," he says. "I trained for a long time, it was part of my job." He rubs the back of his neck. "Didn't really like all aspects of that job," he admits, "but the learning how to fight has turned out to be pretty useful."
He casts his eye toward the sky again, squinting to look for the great bird, but he can't spot its menacing shadow anywhere, so maybe they're safe for the time being.
"Think we should go see if we can find some of the others?" he asks, looking over his shoulder. "I'm not sure how to even get out of this swamp, this is my first time planetside, how about you?"
"None taken." She offers a weary smile; distant perhaps, but still a smile just the same. It can be no fault of a stranger to not guess the bloody ties connected to her experience. It is not hard to see that she is a trained warrior, Diana will not begrudge the assumption that she enjoys battle. It just turns out the answer is a bit more complicated.
Finding others is what she showed up in the swamp to do in the first place, so Diana nods her head in assent to the suggestion. "I was one of the first arrivals, half a year ago. I know the way out, but we should see if there are others in need of help first." Then they could head out and make for safety.
If anyone can understand an 'it's complicated', it's Axel. He doesn't press; he knows it's none of his business, really, but he can't help but be a little curious.
"I'll follow your lead, then," he says with a nod. "Here's hoping nobody else is stuck in any mud."
At least there would be two people pulling, this time. He hadn't expected his stay in this new world to start off with a plane crash and a rescue, but he guesses there are worse ways to meet new people, so he'll take what he can get.
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❪ introlog #4 ❫ HISTORY LESSON - Diana Prince
Honestly, given her demeanor, he's not inclined to think it's overconfidence. She carries herself like a warrior, and has the kind of stoicism under pressure that tells him she's definitely been up to her neck in trouble before. If anything, he's even more curious about where she comes from and the sort of things she's seen, but that's obviously best left for another time.
She hesitates before giving her name, and that sort of clinches his suspicions: she's definitely been up to her neck in trouble before, and that trouble had likely followed her around, in some form or another, while she was back wherever she came from. He wasn't usually so quick to introduce himself, either, but Riku had assured him that no other Organization members were presently up and about. It was mission standard to simply observe and never get involved with the natives of other worlds, but... well, Axel liked to bend rules, either way. Besides, they were all out of their element and away from home in this place, so it didn't really matter.
He gives her a cavalier smile and waves a hand before going back to trying to swipe more of the mud off his coat.
"Ah, don't mention it," he says. "I'm a helpful guy." It's not really a lie. He likes it when people owe him favors, sure, but heart or no heart, it's not like it's easy to just walk away when someone is blatantly in danger. Besides, Roxas would have been angry if he found out he'd just let somebody drown in mud. "You seem like you've been in situations like this once or twice," he says with cavalier cheerfulness, despite their situation. "Maybe not... with the mud and the giant bird exactly, that feels pretty specific, but..." He gestures vaguely, then glances up to see that the flying creature seems to have moved on for the moment. "You seem like someone who can appreciate a good adventure when life throws you one."
no subject
Her mother had been right, after all.
"I am well trained to be capable in battle, certainly." And a part of her did enjoy the thrill of the fight, truth be told. It was fairly obvious in her presence and her expression when in the thick of it. Still, as much as a part of her feels at home on a battlefield, she doesn't relish it enough to pick fights pointlessly. If they can avoid the vulture, she'd prefer it. "You look like you could claim much the same." Despite his flippant tone, she hasn't missed the way he moves, nor the strength required to lug her out of the muck.
no subject
"Er, no offense was intended," he assures her. The tone of her voice had darkened a bit, like she was remembering less pleasant times (though less pleasant than caked in mud in a stinky, muddy swamp might be a tall order, in the moment). He ventures an awkward smile when she turns his own words back to him, and rolls his shoulders affectedly. "I guess I could say 'ditto'," he says. "I trained for a long time, it was part of my job." He rubs the back of his neck. "Didn't really like all aspects of that job," he admits, "but the learning how to fight has turned out to be pretty useful."
He casts his eye toward the sky again, squinting to look for the great bird, but he can't spot its menacing shadow anywhere, so maybe they're safe for the time being.
"Think we should go see if we can find some of the others?" he asks, looking over his shoulder. "I'm not sure how to even get out of this swamp, this is my first time planetside, how about you?"
Wrap on yours?
Finding others is what she showed up in the swamp to do in the first place, so Diana nods her head in assent to the suggestion. "I was one of the first arrivals, half a year ago. I know the way out, but we should see if there are others in need of help first." Then they could head out and make for safety.
8|b
"I'll follow your lead, then," he says with a nod. "Here's hoping nobody else is stuck in any mud."
At least there would be two people pulling, this time. He hadn't expected his stay in this new world to start off with a plane crash and a rescue, but he guesses there are worse ways to meet new people, so he'll take what he can get.