Logs:Blink and the Birdseed Bandit

Blink and the Birdseed Bandit
Dramatis Personae Akihiro, Blink
In Absentia	2020-02-19 'I know a lot of wholesome criminals.'
Location Central Park North
Central Park North is slightly quieter than its southern counterpart, being further uptown and slightly out of the bustle of the City - insofar as one can escape the bustle of the City even here, in the acres of green and blue that make up Central Park. The reservoir is in the northern half, providing miles of jogging and biking trails along the clear water, as well as benches for people to sit and rest. Akihiro has taken residence on one of these benches, bundled up in brown houndstooth tweed overcoat with a green and black striped tie peeking out, a pair of bespoke burgundy trousers, and a pair of brown suede brogues. Despite the expensive looking outfit the man doesn’t appear to be doing anything aside from smoking a pipe and reading an actual newspaper. Every so often when the coast is clear he reaches into his coat and throws out a handful of seed for the nearby birds and squirrels. A spark of purple light among the trees swirls outward into a glowing oval portal. Blink steps through, peering left and right as she does so from beneath the hood of her black cloak, generously trimmed with pink and purple knotwork that matches the long tunic cinched with a green sash over darker purple pants and black boots. She strolls nonchalantly onto the path as the portal shrinks back down and vanishes behind her. She's carrying some kind of hand pie wrapped in foil, and as she comes near the scent of curry is strong and savory. Her huge green eyes linger on Akihiro and she hesitates but finally does approach his bench. "Hey," she says casually, though there's tension in the way that she's carrying her shoulders. "Are you -- sorry if I have the wrong person, but I'm sure I've seen you at some..." She hesitates, glancing down at his hands, blushing. "...mutant community events?" “Mutant community events?” Akihiro aks, feigning insult. He folds the paper in his lap and places the wooden pipe between his teeth, puffing on it, and producing a cloud of earthy smelling tobacco smoke. The indignation soon fades and he offers a grin from around the pipe, showing off his sharp canines. “I’m just fucking with you. You’re the one with the portals, yeah?” Sliding over he makes room on the bench, in case Blink wants to join him. Blink's eyes widen even further at Akihiro's apparent offense, and she starts to shift backward before relaxing at his recognition. "Yeah." She's blushing harder now. "My name is Blink." She sits down on the bench beside Akihiro. "You had me going for a minute there! How're you doing?" “Akihiro, a pleasure to meet you.” Akihiro moves his pipe to the opposite hand so he isn’t blowing smoke in Blink’s face. “I’m doing alright, aside from some kid screaming at me to not feed the birds. Still feeding the birds though.” As if to make a point he throws out another handful of feed mix. "Akihiro," Blink repeats, nodding. "Nice to properly meet you. Friday nights are...kind of a lot! You're real tough." She watches Akihiro toss out the birdseed, frowning. "Why shouldn't you feed the birds? New York pigeons eat way worse things than literal bird food designed for birds." She picks off a corner of her pie crust and tosses it out into the feeding frenzy before taking a bite herself. “Apparently they’re pushing a law to make feeding animals that aren’t confined illegal.” Akihiro rolls his eyes and tosses out more food. “It’s mainly my healing factor, but I appreciate the compliment.” “You’re really something yourself though. One of these nights I should get you to beat my ass.” "When they outlaw feeding pigeons, only outlaws will feed pigeons?" Blink smiles, small and careful. "I bet the healers love you. If I can survive the first few seconds in the ring with you, you might be in trouble." Her unnatural green eyes dart to the back of Akihiro's hand again. "But that's a big if." “Probably be the most wholesome crime I’ve committed.” Akihiro takes a long drag from his pipe and clenches his free first. “I don’t have to use my claws, hell if I’m being honest most of the fights I’ve been in I’ve let them hit me.” He turns to actually look at Blink now, “It’s not really much fun for either of us if it’s always one and done.” "I know a lot of wholesome criminals." Blink shrugs, nonchalant. "I guess some people fight those fights for fun, but I do it to push my limits. Learn how to fight when it's really life-or-death." She looks up to meet Akihiro's eyes. "Not that I don't fight for fun sometimes, outside the club." “Has it been?” Akihiro doesn’t break eye contact ad throws more seed out. “Life or death I mean. You ever killed a person?” Blink's pupils dilate, all the more visible and disturbing for her enormous irises. "Guess it depends how you define it. The people I've killed didn't stay dead very long because the healers are very good at what they do." Her hands tighten around her lunch, deforming the pie in its wrapping. "It's as close as I want to get, for practice. I pray I never have to for real, but I'm afraid I might someday." She hesitates. "Have you?" “Hundreds? Thousands? I’ve lost count honestly.” Akihiro replies all too casually, but his eyes harden slightly. “Served in various campaigns all over Europe and Asia. It’s been almost thirty years since I tried to transition back to civilian life.” Blink doesn't actually look all that surprised by his admission, although her pupils grow bigger still, making her eyes look strange and black in a ring of bright, bright green. "So is Fight Club kind of like...a part of your transitioning?" “I’ve never seen so many mutants before. For a long time I thought I was some kind of freak, maybe even a demon. After living with that fear somewhere in my brain for decades, the levee bursts.” Akihiro makes a wide sweeping gesture before looking back to Blink. “Just look how many of us there are now. I can’t sit by and let them be used the same way I was, and I can’t let them find a ‘cure’. I’m just doing my part to make sure those who want to prepare are prepared.” "I...think I understand that, a little." There's a small lift to Blink's tone, uncertain. "I've had a strange life, and for a while I was in a place with a lot of other mutants, but it was still nothing to New York." She hesitates again. "I don't know everything you've gone through, but it sound pretty awful and I'm sorry you had to deal with that. I hope things are better for you here, now." She smiles, still slight and close-lipped, but a little crooked now. "And I appreciate you helping the rest of us prepare." “Most off that was a lifetime ago at least.” Akihiro lets his eyes close and he takes a few puffs from his pipe, covering the top so it starts back up. “It could be a lot worse. I could be back at Khe Sahn instead of feeding the birds and chatting with a beautiful eyed acquaintance.” Blink nods. "Bad experiences don't always just go away with time, though. I guess maybe I just haven't given it enough time." Her head dips slightly at the compliment, though she doesn't quite go so far as to try and hide her unnatural eyes in the cover of her hood. "Could probably be better, too, but I'm glad I'm making your wholesome crime spree a little more pleasnt." “Some things never really leave, but it gets easier to live with them.” Akihiro reaches over to pat Blink’s shoulder if she allows the contact, his eyes still closed. “I might not be very good at expressing my feelings but I always enjoy company, even if it’s somewhat bittersweet.” "In that case, here's hoping neither of us accumulates too many more bad things we have to learn to live with." Blink accepts the pat on her shoulder, and even though she is a little stiff she doesn't seem frightened, at least. "Well, we don't need to talk about feelings," she concludes, smiling again. "But...can I have some of that bird seed? I want to get an early start on my criminal birdfeeding." “I’ve got a few hundred years in me, so I’m sure there’s room for a few more fuck ups.” Akihiro opens his eyes and shoots Blink a pretty genuine smile. “It just so happens I picked up two bags earlier, so I suppose I’d be willing to part with one.” Opening his coat he reveals a messenger bag, from which he produces an unopened bag of seed, “Give ‘em hell.”