Viper doesn’t turn to watch him talk, but he doesn’t need to. The Lady sees for him, translating the hand movements into automated speech and relaying it through his helmet. He taps his fingers against the opposite arm, silently thoughtful, stopping by a rack of weapons to pick up and absently examine a reserve Hemlok.
“You’ll walk out of here when I say you can walk out of here.” He aims the gun at Adrian, tilting his head to look down the sights. His finger squeezes the trigger, and there’s a CLICK. He turns to hang it back on the rack.
“My name is Viper. You’ll refer to me as sir.” A bright red glow eclipses Adrian as the Titan behind him leans down. She plants her hands on the ground either side of him, boxing him into that small space with her forearms. At that proximity, it’s easy to pick up on the ticking and humming sounds emanating from her chassis.
“That is the Lady,” her pilot introduces her, his voice softening with pride. “Take a good look, kid. You’ll never see another Titan like her.” The nigh indomitable queen of the skies, defeated once but never again. “Now, I’m going to ask you some questions. If you refuse to answer, or lie, I’ll let her do whatever she wants to you. Understood?”
He picks up a Havoc next, running a hand along its surface as he searches for critical flaws in the weapon. “What can you do? What are your abilities?”
Having a gun pointed at him was not surprising, though it was quite unnerving. He stood there, stiff as a board, and stared directly ahead all the while. For a moment, he was back in the laboratory, with a few of the soldiers running him through tests and ordering him around. There was always this distinct feeling of helplessness in those times for he was nothing more than a rat in a cage, for their entertainment to poke and prod at while the researchers took notes.
Oddly though, no one had actually pulled the trigger at him up this close. The metallic click made him tense like he was expecting pain, and he seemed almost confused when none came. Empty, Adrian thought, feeling a sense of unease crawl up his spine. It only grew when the man - Viper - introduces himself as 'sir.' The formal name seemed to get Adrian's attention, lips curling to expose bared teeth, even if it was just a momentarily display - a learned response borne out of hatred for many of the monsters who willingly flaunted that title in the laboratory.
His discomfort only amplified as the Titan loomed over him. He knew it was an irrational fear, but he could almost feel her breathing down his neck. Adrian's lips thinned and he stood a little straighter. Being examined was nothing new, it was basically the standard procedure to him at this point. Weapon or not, he didn't care. Not like the man would actually shot him, right? There weren't any people to watch and pay money to see. His death would be a waste for the bloodsport.
An annoyed look crossed his features as he tried to explain his tricks of the trade. 'I have an aura that affects my team, making all their actions quicker. Its cue is auditory, but... outside of the games, you can only hear it if you're paying enough attention.' Adrian did not think that Viper could even hear it through the thick padding of the mask, nor over the bells and whistles of the Titan. 'This cuff,' He shifts his leg to draw attention to it, 'Is my savior and my curse to bear. I can activate it to gain extra speed, though it... hurts me for its price.'
He adjusted his stance and casually hid the ankle monitor back behind his other leg as he stood there, feeling scrutinized. The final ability was difficult to explain to people who had not witnessed it, nor experienced it. 'I have... connections, I think, to the void. In times of great danger for the team, I can drag us all into the upside down. Not for long. Only a few seconds. But nothing can touch us, or see us. We are free to move around and reposition. However, it's costly, and I must recuperate after to fully regain my senses.'
A few moments of silence were spent between them, and the young man lazily crossed his arms. He didn't give the Titan the satisfaction of cowering, feeling a rush of petty anger, and he stood there perfectly postured, relaxed. True, he might've been shaking in his boots, but he was trying his best to keep a poker face on. What he really wanted was just to sleep, he wasn't even hungry anymore.
