Logs:Be Normal

Be Normal
Dramatis Personae Flicker, Jax, Rasa
In Absentia	2019-09-25 "It's going to be a creepsome circus extravaganza!"
Location <NYC> Chimaera Arts - Dumbo
This is just one of the many abandoned warehouses in DUMBO, and like many of them it has recently changed hands. /Unlike/ most of those, however, it does not have some corporate developer's sign out front promising a transformation into luxury condominiums or a boutique shopping center or the latest concept restaurant. Instead it's marked by a piece of weathered but wildly colorful plywood propped up on a stack of broken pallets, which reads "Chimaera Art Space!" above "chimaera.org" in smaller letters. The warehouse is moderately large and decorated with graffiti art in various styles--some of it recognizable as the work of renowned local street artists. A pair of monstrous scrap metal sculptures, perhaps still works in progress, flank the entrance. The building itself has undergone significant renovation recently, complete with wiring, plumbing, and a modular partitioning system. The grounds, too, have been cleaned up, ramshackle fences torn down and rusting detritus removed in favor of reclaimed (and brilliantly repainted) outdoor furniture ringing an impressively engineered firepit. "Captain America?" Jax's voice is hushed, but even in his near-whisper it bleeds excitement. He's over in a corner of the large warehouse, dressed in vividly colorful mismatched knee-high socks, black capris, layered deep red and orange tank tops, chunky bright black and red platform sneakers, enormous mirrored sunglasses with glittery red rims, his eyeliner and nails an iridescent oilslick-black. His hair has undergone a seasonally-appropriate change in fiery yellow-orange-red ombre. The both he's in is only half-partitioned off, segmented from its neighbor but with its front side left open to the room at large. Just now, he's leaning across a large slab of wood that's been tipped up onto its side and failing entirely to keep the bright grin off his face. "You take 'go big or go home' very seriously, don't you?" Across from Jax, Flicker is not, currently, working. Maybe he intended to! Who knows. Right now he's just biting down on his lip, his face furiously red as he intentlystudies the reverse side of that board. Save for a few extra scars -- honestly hard to notice for those who don't know him well, among his thick web of them -- and his dark hair now clipped fuzzily short, he looks much the same as he ever has. Neatly pressed khakis, dark grey polo, his arm mottled pale browns and whites like the peeling trunk of a birch. "It's not like I was planning on --" He scrubs a hand against his cheek. His eyes flick very briefly up to Jax, one side of his mouth twitching as he says, "... but I didn't want to go home." Rasa arrives some time around four, decked out in layers of form fitting cotton, carrying a large duffel. The scarf obscuring zir hair and face is pulled away as soon as ze enters the safe embrace of Chimaera's grounds and walls, looking to be nothing more than an average New Yorker on their way to yoga class or some such nonsense. It just so happens that zir skin is a cheery yellow pink, petals blossoming at zir hairline. Ze starts for the base of a girder that leads up to the ceiling when ze spies friends. The immediate impulse to run over is stunted, hesitation cooling the tone of zir flesh, before ze chooses to walk over with purpose --- and a little slower. Watching faces to judge zir welcome. "Sometimes, these things just happen." The amusement is fading from Jax's expression, his smile softer, now. "But however you got there, m'glad you..." He hesitates, his brows knitting. "Wait, I should be glad, right? He weren't like a jerk or nothing? Cuz, supersoldier or not, I will throw down with him." Focused on Flicker at the moment, he doesn't immediately notice Rasa's cautious approach. "No!" Flicker's immediate protest is vehement. A second later, quieter, with a small shake of his head, "No. He was... he was really sweet, there's no..." His blush hasn't faded at all but he is at least looking up, now, looking Jax in the eye. "No need for fisticuffs. It's just been a lot to -- I mean I don't know about -- hadn't thought much about --" Already fumbling for his words, his train of thought derails entirely when he notices Rasa drawing slowly closer. At first he ducks his head again, but then looks up with a quicker smile, a nod of greeting. Embolden by Flicker's greeting, Rasa picks up the pace a bit, adjusting the straps on zir shoulder, nervously. "Hi!" Ze starts, brightly. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything private." Ze bites zir lower lip as zir gaze darts between Jax and Flicker. "I just saw you and had to... you know." Does he know? Do any of them really know? The look on Rasa's face suggests ze may not either. Especially as nervous thoughts start scrawling down the fringes of zir face. what am I doing? what can I say that isn't stupid or something that hasn't been said a billion times. casual. be casual. stop freaking out. be normal. "Say 'Heyy.'" Ze offers a bright grin. ugh, just .. shut up. "Oh hey!" Jax looks up, his smile bright when he spies Rasa. He gives Flicker a brief questioning look at the thought of interrupting. "Hey is likely a fine start. You just here to practice or --? I'm trying to convince Flicker to teach again. We've had so many inquiries about when's his next workshop." "Oh, no, we --" Flicker's face was just starting to lose its redness but now it returns, deep. "We were just -- we --" Only he's looking back to Jax now, suddenly uncertain. "I don't know what's private, really. There's probably a middle ground somewhere between Shane and --" He gestures vaguely down at himself. Looks up at Rasa with a small smile. "It's good to see you." "It's good to see you again." Rasa offers, brightening as ze takes a final step forward, settling into the group. "I figure privacy is... whatever you're comfortable with. So..." Ze shrugs sheepishly and looks over at Jax to answer his question. "Oh. Yeah, kinda. I have to iron out the final choreography for my contribution to the Halloween party at Evolve." Jax nods in agreement with Rasa. "I'm sure there's a middle ground. What you're comfortable with, what folks 'round you are --" He sits up straighter, laying the slab of wood he's been holding down on its side. "Oh gosh! I ain't even started thinking on my costume yet. I'm sure whatever you're doing is gonna be amazing an' I gotta give it the honor of dressing proper." "Halloween party?" Flicker perks, giving Rasa a curious look. "I've been so out of the loop. Are you performing there? That does sound lovely." His brow creases just slightly. "What kind of event is it going to be? Do you need any help with -- all of it?" "It's going to be a creepsome circus extravaganza!" It's impossible to say those words in a monotone voice, but Rasa doesn't shy away from the master of ceremonies resonance. "Ghouls and goblins and bats and burlesque. Everything a nice mutant community needs to celebrate the holiday in style. And I'm sure we need help. I've mostly had my brain focused on the performers, but decorating's gotta happen soon, I suppose. October is coming." Ze grins at the pair and then focusing on Jax. "I have never once seen you not dressing proper -- but I do look forward to whatever amazing costume you choose!" "Flatterer." Jax's accusation to Rasa is cheerful and far from un-pleased, as he looks down at his current outfit. "An' I'm sure if there's gonna be any kind of a set, a hand with construction wouldn't go amiss. Oh my gosh," his hands clap together excitedly with Rasa's announcement, "are you MCing, that voice was great. -- Anyway," he's continuing brightly to Flicker, "you could just dress like you always do but slap the nametag on, half of everyone is afraid of missionaries." "I could help," Flicker agrees a little hesitantly. "If you need by construction done, I mean. I don't want to presume." His cheeks flush dark again, eyes wider. "People aren't scared of missionaries!" His protest sounds sort of uncertain, though, soon followed by a dubious, "... are they?" His teeth worry at the inside of his cheek, but not for long before he's sitting up straighter, a brighter excitement in his expression. "Oh! It's a circus thing? One of my --" He hesitates, fingers tracing quick and jittery against the edge of the board in front of him. "This woman I met recently. She's really into --" He gestures up, now, at the ceiling fixtures overhead, "all that." "It is flattering truth. Flattering and truth. And... I don't think so. I haven't actually discussed it with Shane, but seriously. Do you really think he will pass up a chance to wear an extremely fancy suit?" Rasa teases Jax brightly at first, but zir tone quiets as ze refocuses on Flicker. "Please, presume. I didn't know if you'd even want to do stuff with us because of recent stuff, so I didn't ask. I have no idea how to get back to... normal stuff, where we don't do normal things because... of worry and all -- " ze falters momentarily, unable to find the right words before blurting out, "but I want to!" I sound like such an idiot inscribes itself on zir collarbone. "And if you know someone who's into aerial stuff, you should introduce me!" "I think it's always hard figuring out how to get back to normal." Jax shrugs a shoulder, offering Rasa a crooked smile. "Just do what I do, bull your way ahead and hope someone'll tell you to hit the brakes if you're being too much. But honestly I don't know any solution for it than just -- going for it. Offer all the Normalcy Options and assume folks'll jump in when they're ready." His smile brightens. "And really what better time than Halloween for getting out of your head?" "I'll introduce you," Flicker promises. "And I don't know! Maybe on Halloween, Shane will want to wear rags for a change." He bows his head, his fingers going still for a moment as he examines the board. "To be honest, I don't know how to get back to normal, either. But it does kind of make it easier," the smile he tips up at the others is small, "just to be asked."