"I've been fine. Just a little nostalgia, and whatnot. Speaking of Guardians, I've got one all the way out on Curacao. That luxury planet out in Cortez. A friend of mine has been holding on to it since the Task Force went down. If you ever need it, It'll be there."
Anders motioned for a waiter to bring him a glass of water, and began to speak again. "And how exactly did you turn up here? Even for a social visit, its a bit odd."
Mason smiled, thinking of the real reason he was here, it was odd, and maybe a bit illogical for anyone but him.
'Thanks for the offer, but I think I'll be just fine, you should know, as for why I'm here'¦ It just seemed like a good idea at the time. It gets a bit tiresome to be around people who constantly bother you and pretend to admire you, despite the fact they've no idea who you really are. 'Least most of the Legionnaires don't pretend to do so, nor are they afraid of me. It is strictly a respect thing.
Not that I mind people at this particular time, I would just prefer it was someone with something genuine to say, you know?'
Anders cracked a bit of a grin as the waiter dropped off his glass of water. "Yeah, I know. So that's why you're here. Tired of people pretending that they know you, despite only knowing the tip of the iceberg, so to speak." He rotated his right shoulder blade briefly, then continued. "To be fair, you've got quite an intricate mind, and its a miracle anyone actually knows you fully. I know I still don't."
'Actually the only person who does know me 'fully' so to speak is probably on her way to the grave.'
Mason furrowed his eyebrows, he felt that should bother him at least a little, but it didn't bother him at all. Maybe this had to do with the fact it hadn't come to pass yet, but he had a bad feeling. He decided to pursue the conversation with Anders further to get his mind off it.
'You know me well enough, and we obviously have something in common. Our lack of 'morales' as it was put to us, wasn't it?'
Mason grinned, thinking back to a pair of gunships they blew up, and an irate captain screaming insults at them all the way down, even with the wrong words.
"Oh yes, we have no "morales". Those Tridente pilots really were very intelligent, huh?"Anders laughed heavily, and took a drink from his glass."Don't forget that it is cowardly for 2 fighters and a Dreadnought to take on two Rheinland Battleships. For it is three versus two, and must be unfair and be for cowards."He smiled as he thought back of the much simpler times of yesterday."Good times, I suppose."
Laughing along with Anders, Mason looked back down at the table, he had just remembered the last place he had seen him outside this bar. Instantly he remembered another reason he was here, and all of a sudden it seemed like he was just stuck.
'Good times indeed, but like everything else they do come to an end. Whatever begins afterwards isn't always good unfortunately, but we can't choose not to deal with what cards life hands us. I can't tell if you're lucky or unfortunate to have had the early experience.'
He eyed Anders carefully across the table, as if he were appraising a gem before a sale.
"I'd say its a mixed blessing. When you experience it earlier, it puts more pressure on your mind. If you had a care-free beginning, you wouldn't have so much on your mind for so long. But I'm forced to play the cards that I've been dealt, and have to carry the rest of the life. But to an extent, it's for the best, as I'll have this kind of experience early. What about you though, what was your early adult life like?" Anders raised a questioning eyebrow, as he had never heard about Masons early life.
'Well, I lost both my parents by the time I was 16, even though they're both still alive today. You could say my early adult life was one of independence and freedom. I ran off to West Point as soon as I was finished with school on Colorado, and that was that. Beyond that it's just a long list of mistakes; you'd be my age by the time I got through them all.'
Mason grabbed his flask and took a sip of its contents, his gaze seeming calmer. He set the flask back down, lazily making eye contact with the young man across the table.
Anders eyes glazed over as he thought of his parents. He hadn't talked to them in years... Hm. I don't know where my parents are, I haven't even talked to them since I got since off to West Point at 16. Wonder what they would say if they could see me now." He sighed heavily, and gazed around to room once more.
'Hm'¦ what they say would depend I guess; it would probably be dependent on what they see first. Might be better to think about it in reverse order and go from there.'
Mason stood up from the table, and stopped near Anders, leaving the flask where he previously sat.
'If they see what I see, I doubt they'd be too upset. My mother would probably be happier if I was here than where I am now, actually. You've to live your own life, despite whatever reaction your decisions bring you. Anyway, I should get out of here, before someone comes looking, thanks for the time."
Mason gave Carl a light pat on the shoulder, quietly finding the exit, with his hands in his pockets.
