#;operational

A cocked brow. “Really? Well it’s definitely not mine. And K’ doesn’t have the hips for these.” He gave the hem of the lacy underwear a gentle tug. Much too wide for the resident fire hazard’s scrawny body. Not that lace seemed to be something he would even wear in the first place... And he wasn’t hooking up with anyone at the moment, to the cyborg’s knowledge. Or if he was, he wasn’t bringing them - and their underwear - back here.

“I’ve seen a lot of strange things in my life...” It was a staple of KoF tournaments, after all. And even before then, during his time working in NESTS, he’d encountered all sorts of oddities. “But humans with monkey tails is a first.” And that wasn’t even taking into account the strange energy his sensors were picking up...

Getting ahold of the Don of Southtown was an impressive feat in and of itself. But having the privilege of chatting to the man himself over coffee was unheard of; rarer than hen’s teeth, even. Between protecting the town and what seemed to be a lengthy search for something or someone, the poor fellow likely didn’t get much time to relax and indulge in these sorts of trivialities. Maxima reached for one of the powdered doughnuts in the middle of the table, bike jacket whispering with the motion. He’d left the heavy ordinance body behind, both as a sign of peace and to remain inconspicuous. That wasn’t to say he wasn’t still armed and dangerous, however. One could never be too careful, after all.

It was after dunking the end of the doughnut into his coffee and taking a bite that he finally decided to speak. “My partner didn’t stir up too big a fuss during his stay here, I hope?”

“Challenging a complete stranger you just met to a fight is a little odd, don’t you think?”

One look at his heavily built 6’9 physique seemed to attract these fired up wrestler types to him like ants to sugar. Though this was the first time it had happened to him in a non-tournament setting. And this was supposed to be a relaxing outing, too... One where he could have a small break away from the super powered teens he looked after and their shenanigans. Maxima sighed, running a hand through his hair. Judging by the man’s expression and the tautness of his body - an obvious tell that he was itching to throw fists - he’d probably get dragged into a fight even if he turned down the offer. A weary sigh left his throat. Better to comply and get it over with, he supposed.

With twin massive crates on his shoulders, Maxima followed along behind Pendles, traversing the treacherous path into one of his hideouts. He was careful to place his feet in the exact same spots the roa did. And paid careful heed to any and all verbal instructions that were uttered, to the letter. His scanners could pick up a fair few of the traps, but not all, and he’d rather not have an acid bath or lose his handsome head to them.

Having that part of the journey eventually end with their entrance into the main room was a small relief. Though he still gave the digs a short, wary appraisal. He could pinpoint a few more traps here and there. Evidently, Pendles was a very cautious snake. And clever, much of what he was picking up very well-hidden, and in likely spots for thieves to try sticking their hands. 

Maxima didn’t look up from chopping up vegetables for tonight’s dinner, an action almost as soothing and instinctively ingrained as touching up his sideburns. They’d be having stew tonight, among other things.

“You know. I had my doubts about you, initially...” Well, he still did, but he kept them private. Even if the strange readings his scanners kept picking up from her put him on edge. “But it’s been good to have you around, Naomi. If only because it’s made K’ become less withdrawn.” In all the years Maxima had known him, he didnt think he’d ever seen the kid smile so much and so freely.