Private Finished Alley Reunion

"Better to look into the future than think what could've been. Now we can share drinks between all of us. Well, most probably not me, alcohol doesn't fit my meal plan. But I'd be happy to offer my company. And I'm an excellent designated driver."
Brünhild smiled, she was unexpectedly happy about the thought of all of them meeting up together. The night they had escaped had cost them the lives of many comrades. So the ones Brünhild had escaped with were now special to her, and all those years traveling around the world not for one day had she forgotten about them, or stopped worrying about them. So seeing Rene, Zachary and Helmut was the first thing in decades that had brought her true joy.

Brünhild wanted to sigh when she heard her old nickname, assigned by Helmut, but it was too nostalgic so she just smiled.
"On this island I have very much become one of the thorns, Helmut. Before there just weren't many other rose options. If I continue going with this analogy."
Brünhild chuckled a bit. The whole rose among thorns name was a reference to how Brünhild was the only female among their group, but on this island there were countless females much more attractive than her.

Helmut was able to get a small laugh out of Brünhild by calling himself a grandfather.
"In theory you are one, at least on human standards. You are almost 90, after all. And I'm a grandmother just the same. We have both just aged remarkably well. Besides, I can't see anything but good things coming along with experience."

"Words of common sense."
Brünhild chuckled. She had been taking great care to bury the fact that she was wanted in several countries in the world, of course as an unknown killer. Her picture had never been taken and witnesses were minimal. Brünhild was good at what she did.

Brünhild was slowly getting slightly peeved at this analogy, as she did not consider herself a rose in any sense of the word. But she didn't let it show outside, and her annoyance was still overpowered by the other positive feelings she had.
"Thankfully I was never the one to care about being a rose. Although I still agree to disagree on this analogy."
Brünhild knew Helmut wouldn't stop using the nickname he had given her, part of her didn't want him to stop. It was a sign of a bond between them, part of their memories. That was what mattered the most to Brünhild.

Settling down. A dream Brünhild would probably never see to completion. She shook her head slowly at Helmut and smiled a bit at him.
"No, I haven't had the luxury. And I suppose, like the saying goes, I haven't met "the one" yet."
That saying had always been at the back of Brünhild's mind. It was somehow a nice thought, that everyone had the one person they were meant to be with. Although it was probably untrue.

"There's no need to disassociate, if you wish to call me a rose then I won't stop you."
Brünhild smiled a little, in a way giving Helmut a permission to call her with the nickname. Although he didn't exactly need permission from her.

Helmut seemed like the kind of person, who'd eventually want to settle down. Brünhild was like that too, but she didn't have that luxury, like she had said earlier. Brünhild had accepted her life was going to be that of a wanderer, never in the same place for too long.
"You say 'prior to living here'. Are you planning to resume search? This island is full of people older than you that look younger than you. No worry about concerned parents, at least."
Brünhild said and chuckled, but there was concern in her eyes. She could somehow sense Helmut yearned to share his life with someone.
"Any man or woman would be lucky to have you."

"More accurate question, I believe, would be where haven't I been? Before and after we saw each other in Japan I never really stopped moving."

Helmut was right, when looking for a possible partner you had to take into account your own situation and how it would affect them and their situation. Which was why Brünhild had always just looked for temporary partners. But to Brünhild's opinion Helmut deserved someone, especially since he seemed to long for companionship. Or at least more so than Brünhild did.
"I suppose you're right. Nevertheless I wish you luck, since that is about the only thing I can do."
Brünhild answered and smiled a bit.

"Ah, yes, I remember. We were quite the sight back then. The world has changed a lot, to a degree where I was offered a job as a space mercenary. The me 60 years ago would have laughed at that idea."
Brünhild chuckled and looked at her bandaged hand similarly in thought like Helmut. But when he spoke again Brünhild looked at him. She had almost forgotten, Helmut...had had a family.
"Home...I cannot really say anything to that, I have never had a home. But I trust your judgment, and I trust that you'd go visit your home if you felt like it was time."

Brünhild smiled back ag Helmut, when he wished her luck.
"Thank you, old friend."
Brünhild answered, she hid the slight hint of sadness in her tone well. She had no plans to look for "the one", not now or perhaps never. It wasn't that she didn't wish for it, but her reasons were the same as Helmut's. If she did find a person she loved Brünhild didn't want to mix them in her life or the messes that came with it. Brünhild was a predator, and she was protective of the ones she cared for. And that meant keeping them away from danger, away from her personal life. That same applied to Helmut, Renè and Zachary and all her friends.

"I wouldn't call it a dream, I would call it a suitable occupation."
And it was also an escape route for Brünhild when she eventually would commit murder.

Brünhild smiled a bit, reassuringly, and touched a hand to Helmut's arm briefly in an attempt to show her support and sympathy.
"You are one of the bravest men I have every encountered during my years, Helmut. And if going home is a hurdle you one day wish to tackle I believe you have the capabilities to do it."
Brünhild glanced over at the register when she felt a gaze on her, the salesperson was looking at her and Helmut with a clearly irritated expression. Most probably because they hadn't bought anything.