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Growing up in Chicago meant that Ollie was comfortable in the cold weather; was more than equipped with layers upon layers to keep out winter’s chill, had a heavy coat to drive off the worst of slow or rain or other condensation.

That didn’t prepare him for Antarctica.

It was cold as sin, when he stepped into the Antarctic base – cold enough to steal his breath away and turn his nose into a faucet almost immediately, even after he’d taken some of the equipment kept behind closed doors. The locals gave him strange looks as he stepped in to help patrol – probably a bit surprised by the bright youth of his face, what little of it could be seen between scarf and skullcap, or maybe by his enthusiasm.

None of that mattered. As always, he was happy to be useful. Happy to be doing something. Happy to be off the island that served so thoroughly as home, that sometimes felt a bit like a prison. Happy to meet new people, even if they didn’t care that much about him.

He was humming under his breath when the horseman first appeared: as wrapped in layers of fur as he was, dark on dark with glimmering silver embroidery, hair a pale fluff over her face. She met Ollie’s eyes and then, slowly, smiled a challenge in his direction.

He didn’t hesitate. He drew his weapon and fell into a ready stance almost immediately, surprise only sending adrenaline through him. He didn’t mind a fight.

She turned to face him instead of the shield, and in response, Ollie lifted his chin – darting out with both weapons, this time, to slash through layers of her clothing, to tear chunks out of the fear that served to keep her there and moving. She caught the barrrier with her backswing, seemed prepared to launch an angry retaliatory attack at him, but she was too late.

His strikes had landed hard and true, and before she could take a single step toward him, she dissipated. It left Ollie, panting slightly in the freezing Antarctic air, still ramped up to go and completely uninjured and feeling, just slightly, disappointed.

He would very much have liked to keep going, just a bit longer. He turned in place to see if there were any other enemies, and when he saw the area clear, he slowly lowered his weapons.

Disappointed.

HP: 50/50
SHIELD: 20/30
DMG: 10
HORSEMAN HP: -3