V A N G U A R D

“I stopped letting Earth food disappoint me a long time ago. It’s simply not worth it.”

“I did not expect to see royalty here of all places, but it is a pleasure to meet you.” Nikolai himself was not impressed, but he did have to act as a normal person would, which has always proved a challenge. “Please, before you forgo the entire planets food give pelmeni a chance. I assure you it’s delicious.”

“I’m surprised. America usually loves to waste their resources on pointless things.”

Melissa Gold, AKA Songbird. Would be good to be on good terms with her. “Yes. A nation of hedonistic tendencies and fleeting fancies. You’d imagine they would be capable of doing it right. But alas...” He trailed off with a sigh. 

Daisy eyed the Russian man as the two of them stood in the pickle aisle, wondering if he was talking to her for a brief moment. But judging by the look he was giving her, he unfortunately was. “Uh, yeah. I dunno, I guess pickles aren’t really my thing. Are they better in Russia or something?”

Daisy Johnson. Code Name: Quake. He remembered her files. Someone of great power. Good to stay in her graces. “Belarus too.” He said thinking of the land of his birth. “But yes. Matter of survival however. Only way to get produce in winter for longest time.” He said with a nod. “That is not good small talk, is it?”

“Have you tried pickled red cabbage, mate? Not sure you’ll find any good ones in America either, though. The food here in general is kind of rubbish.”

“That I have. It is not bad. However, pickled pears are what I crave this time of year.” He replied thinking back to his days being raised and groomed to be a super soldier, getting very few treats. “Yes I agree. Everything is filled with their processed granulated sugars. Bees make honey and it tastes better, why not use that instead?”

“Maybe you should order some from Russia if ours are that bad.”

“You act as though I haven’t already, James.” Nikolai responded sealing his most recent failed pickle jar. “But I refuse to pay express shipping. It is a scam meant to exploit those with weak wills.”