Logs:Awkwardly being awkward

Awkwardly being awkward
Dramatis Personae Cassy, Astrid
In Absentia	2020-11-05 In which a pre-dating date is planned.
Location XAV - Playground - Xs Grounds
Set on the still-expansive grounds around the side of the school, this area is to the outdoors rather what the rec room is to the indoors. There's a large basketball court out here; a fenced-off tennis court adjacent. Further distant there are setups for other sports -- a large track, a soccer field. Closer in to the school, though, in its own large enclosure adjacent to the basketball and tennis courts, is the playground, a huge expanse of equipment set up on alternating plots of slightly squishy flooring and mulch. Centrally there is a large sprinkler-fountain, not always on but it can be turned on with a push of a button; spreading out around this is the actual playground equipment, sturdy and varied. A huge dome constructed in honeycombed interlocked poles and rope netting rises hiiiigh for climbing; a large swingset holds four pairs of swings. A large roundabout in bright colours stands in one corner near a long see-saw. The huge bridge-and-tunnel castle structure at one end has many routes of entry, from poles to climb up (or slide down) to a small climbing wall. Monkeybars. Four different slides of varying lengths and spiraling. For the adventurous, between things to climb on and jump between and bounce across it is probably possible to skirt one end of the playground and back without touching the ground, though it might take a particularly adept feat of balance and agility. Or possibly wings. Classes are officially done for the day and the weather seems pleasant. The sun is still out and there is not a single rain cloud in sight, which is the one criteria Astrid looks for in designating a day to be rather pleasant. It is perfect light jacket weather and the gangly teen wears a hoodie. It’s not her usual oversized black hoodie, but one that is more slender and dark grey. Her jeans are a deep blue and torn at both knees while the usual maroon old skool canvas Vans are starting to wear down at the toes. A quick stop to her dorm was used to exchange backpack for skateboard and then cruising of the school grounds commenced. Everywhere she goes the low rumble of hard plastic wheels grinding along the various surfaces below resonate to announce her arrival. Her eyes catch sight of the playground, a part of the school she has rarely, if ever occupied. The mulch could be a nice soft surface to attempt new tricks into and avoid any harsh landings, so her path is set directly towards the outdoor equipment. As Astrid skates closer she'll likely spot there's already someone making use of the playground. Well, making use of is perhaps a strong term for sprawling across the top of the climbing dome in a precarious manner. Cassy is wearing her usual tights & shorts combo along with a ruffled white shirt and a formal jacket. It's not a million miles away from her Zatanna Zatarra Halloween costume except for being a touch more modest. She's even got a little top hat that's attached to her hair via a hairclip. Quite what she's doing sprawling on the top of the climbing dome is unclear. She's not making any noise or looking around. You might even assume she was sleeping if not for just how uncomfortable it must be. Never mind the risk of falling off.. Astrid starts to crouch, knees bending as she nears the spot where the sidewalk ends and the mulch begins. As she preps herself, she notices the other student sprawled out across the top of the climbing dome and quickly scraps her initial plan and instead simply pops the board up into the air for a simple kickflip, landing squarely in the mulch. Board is abandoned where it lands as she begins towards the structure. Pausing at the base of the dome, glasses are quickly adjusted before she tilts her head back squinting in Cassy direction with arms akimbo. Given how she’s dressed, there is no mistaking her for anyone else on the school grounds. “What’cha doing?” Not much effort is put forth to project her low voice. "Oh don't mind me if you're skating," Cassy calls out. The climbing dome seeming to rattle when she speaks. "I'm just listening to the world. Did you know Elephants can communicate over uh I think about two or three miles using infrasound?" There's a pause and she very carefully shifts to look in Astrids direction. "Scientists think they can also tell when a storm is coming just using sound. I'm trying to figure out if I can do that too. Tell when it'll rain. So far... seems... fine? I dunno really." Eyes briefly dart to the ditched skateboard before all thoughts on it are abandoned with a single shrug. “I did not know that about elephants.” Astrid plainly states as arms are now crossed over her chest and wide grin cuts across her face. “Infrasound? What’s that?” There is a brief pause as she eyes the climbing dome before craning her neck back to resume looking up in Cassy’s direction. “So… any storm heading our way ?” She rubs at the back of her neck before deciding this conversation would be much easier if she were also at the top of the structure. It doesn't take her long before reaching the top. "Infrasound is very low frequency soundwaves. Opposite of ultrasound. You can't really hear either of them although you can sometimes feel them," Cassy explains from up above. When it looks like Astrid is about to join her she adds "Uhm. So it's a free country and I won't stop you climbing up just..." She blushes a little. "Be careful how you sit up here. When I talk my entire body generates sound waves and they make anything I touch vibrate." She scoots to make more room at the top and avoids talking while Astrid is climbing. Just to be safe she sits up too. Reducing just how much of her is sprawled across the dome. "I don't think so. But I've never really tried this before so for all I know we might be heading into New York States first monsoon season." She grins. "How're things with you?" Astrid pauses about halfway up, head crooked back. “That makes sense… I think. Makes me think of a band I like...” She trails off continuing up to the top and taking a seat next to Cassy where room was recently made. She turns to face the other teen, twisting slightly. “Ah, I’ll be fine. Just make sure if I fall off you jump in the opposite direction, ok?” Her tone is flat, making it hard to say if she is joking or not. “That is really cool. So sort of like you omit tons of bass frequencies then?” She asks, shifting around until she faces straight ahead, looking over the rest of the playground. “If there is one thing I am used to, it is rain.” She smiles back. “Well… I guess not monsoon style downpours, but I’m sure I can handle that.” Head is tilted to the left, momentarily stretching out her neck. “Things are good with me. Nothing too exciting, but that’s probably good, right? How about you?” "I don't really understand how it works but you know people talk because air vibrates because of your vocal cords? It's like the whole of me is doing that. It's why I sometimes look a little blurry," Cassy explains, holding her hand out for inspection as she speaks. And it does indeed seem to be emitting her voice. "It's not really something I talk about 'coz... Well that's how rumours start right? But I didn't want you getting startled and falling so.." She shrugs. "Oh I guess I'm good," she muses. Not sounding entirely convincing. "I'm just an LA girl and this weather is already way too cold for my tastes. Guess it isn't helping all my friends back home are all.. you know throwing pool parties and sending me photos from the beach." Astrid nods repeatedly, eyes focusing in on the held out hand. “Ok, I think I am following you.” She takes her left hand and at first lightly touches the offered hand with just the tips of her fingers, getting a light feel of the vibrations. Both her eyes and smile widened. “Oh wow… yeah, that’s really cool.” And she slides her hand forward making further contact. Looking down, she realizes she’s practically holding Cassy’s hand and quickly jerks hers back. “Oh, sorry. Didn’t mean too…” she trails off, shoving offending hand into her hoodie pocket. There is further nodding as eyes fall back to the playground around them. “Really? Can you swim in LA year round then? Or is it uncharacteristically hot right now?” Her free hand is used to scratch at the back of her head. “Well, if it helps I can have my friends back home send you pics of all the rain and mud?” Cassy laughs when Astrid lets go. "Oh I don't mind," she says with a shrug. "Actually it's kind of a relief you're not weirded out. Most people tend to think it's too dangerous." She brushes her hair back behind her ear and takes a moment to check the tiny top hat is in place. "It gets cold at night but the daytimes can be pretty comfortable. Especially compared to New York. And I think most have heated pools anyway.. I never really thought to ask." There's another laugh. "I think we'll have plenty of rain and mud here soon enough. But thanks for the offer!" “It’s all about perspective, right?” Astrid’s smile softens. “And thanks for not telling my exploding ass to stay on the ground. It’s cool.” She chews lightly on her bottom lip, leaving short lived indentations. “I wouldn’t have even thought about heated pools. I bet that would extend any swimming season down there.” She looks down, watching as her shoe creases when she digs her toss into the dome’s bars. “I’ll admit to being pretty ignorant all things Southern California. Never travelled much as a kid. Would love to visit some day.” “Fair enough! Good, waterproof boots are a must.” She says with a laugh. "Honestly? I never even considered you might explode.... I was too busy worrying you'd think I was.." She coughs adopts a very accurate Xavier voice. "Using my power in an unethical way without your consent." She glances down and slips back into her regular voice. "It makes more sense, the heated pools thing, if you knew my old school makes Xaviers seem cheap. All my friends are kinda... you know... trust fund brats or studied super hard for scholarships." "But you're welcome to tag along if I ever go visit. I'll show you around and then if I'm ever out Portland way you can do the same for me." Astrid’s laughs loudly at the Xavier impression. “Oh, that is good! Naw, I’m far too dense to think that. Though now that you mention it…” She attempts a little light hearted soft elbow to the rib jest, but begins to lose her balanced and steadies herself by grabbing on the bars below her. “Seriously, thanks though. I try not to fret over it and hope others don’t…” she cuts herself off quickly, adding a quick correction. “That’s not to say I’m oblivious to what could happen. Just try to keep it to myself, you know?” She offers up a quick nod when tagging along to LA is mentioned, “It’s a deal. If you get to see all my friends' houses, you’ll see it makes the treehouse look cheap.” A chortle slips through her lips as she slaps her knee with her free hand. “Seriously, I can’t even fathom as this is by far the fanciest place I’ve been.” Cassy holds her hand out when Astrid wobbles. "You okay being up here? I can scoot back if I'm making it hard to balance." she offers. "If it's not too personal to ask... is it just getting hurt which makes you.. you know... go pop? Or is it any sort of surprise or shock?" She tilts her head to one side and sticks her tongue out "Introducing me to your friends huh? It makes it sound like we're planning a date," she teases, then blinks a few times before blushing. "Unless we are doing that? I mean I don't mind if we are but I don't wanna.. assume.. and now things are super awkward and I should shut up." “Oh, I’m fine.” Astrid laughs, grabbing the offered hand to help steady herself. “But yeah, I should definitely not be up here.” She grins. “Way too clumsy.” The laugher begins to die down as she twists again, facing Cassy. “Not at all. I think it’s stress that makes it happen unexpectedly. At least really stressful moments have been the common thread.” She returns facing forward, cradling her right wrist that was up umt recently plastered in a cast. “I guess I’m not entirely sure what all could be a trigger. Hopefully there won’t be any more surprise explosions once I can get a better handle on things, that’s for sure.” It’s a rare moment that lacks levity for Astrid as she quickly begins to turn red. “Oh, I, um… well… I meant…” Words are practically free falling from her mouth. “I wasn’t insinuating. But I didn’t mean. Not that I wouldn’t. Or meant not to.” She stops herself, taking a couple deep breaths. “I guess I would like it if that’s what we are doing, assuming that’s what you want?” Two more quick, deep breaths. “Are we?” She simply asks There is a pause while Cassy twirls her hair around one of her fingers. "I don't really know what the rules are for boarding school dating," she admits. "We could try go on a date to see if we want to.. go on a date?" Her brow furrows. "That sounds really stupid huh?" She sighs. "Things back home were a million times easier. Just do this silly card trick and say 'Hey wanna make out'." There's a little gesture with her outstretched hand and she produces a deck of card from somewhere. Presumably up her sleeve. "But if things don't work out we're like a few rooms away." "Also I'm pretty sure if we did that one of us would fall off." She chews on her lip, then nods. "We totally should. Right? Go on a date I mean not fall off." Astrid shrugs as a smile starts creeping back across her face. “Beats me.” She nervously starts tapping her left fingers into her thumb. The motion starts out slow and methodical before picking up speed. “Well, it does sound ridiculous.” She laughs. “But not necessarily a bad idea?” Any confidence Astrid had earlier has seemed to drain. Her eyes fall down to glance at the sudden appearance of cards as she readjusts her glasses. “Well… that would be a lot easier, wouldn’t it?” Another subdued laugh. “But you are not wrong in that.” She comments on the proximity of their rooms adding a brief nod. “But yes, We totally should.” She looks over to Cassy. “Go on a date and not fall that is.” She scratches at the back of her head. “So… the where and the when then?” Cassy shifts a little closer, leaning so she can get her cellphone from out her pocket. "Lets see," she muses. "Probably soon so we don't have time to second guess ourselves. As to the where.." She begins tapping a 'places to visit in New York and Westchester' into her phone. "Lets see what the internet suggests..." "Have you been on many dates before? Not to pry just.. I don't wanna suggest something you'll find boring." She scrolls down the results. "Haunted house? No... Wine tasting? Uhm.. I don't think that'll work either.." She shakes her head at the cellphone. "Can you ice skate?" “Soon works for me.” Astrid also shifts a little closer, digging her own phone out of a pocket. “Are haunted houses still happening in November?” She questions while squinting at her own phone. “Not that I think that’s what we should do, just kind of curious.” She briefly looks up before her eyes fall back down to the screen. “Oh, yeah, I really haven’t. My group of friends in Portland was, well, just that. A group of friends. What about you?” She turns off the screen on her phone and shoves it back into her pocket. “I can ice skate. I’m not good by any means, but can get around.” She starts tapping her fingers against her thumb again. “Yeah, that would be fun.” "So.... this maybe makes me seem kind of... bad but... a lot of my friends are also my exes," Cassy admits awkwardly. "And the beach was usually the first date of choice. Good excuse to buy a new swimsuit then go for a walk." "Cool. You can teach me and when I inevitably fall on my butt it'll break the tension." A grin. "I don't really know about the Haunted houses. My phone just listed them as a Fall date activity." She giggles "It also said for three hundred bucks we could spend forty five minutes with a cheetah at the zoo. But that seems pretty flashy for a first date right?" “Eh… I’m not judging.” Astrid shrugs. “Besides, not sure we’d want to hang out at the lake in a swimsuit any time soon.” There’s a short laugh. “It’s a deal. I’ll sort of teach you to skate and you’ll fall on your butt to break the tension.” She cracks a toothy grin. “And if all goes well and we agree that the date to see if we should date is a success, we can see if any of those November haunted houses are still open for date two.” She nods in agreement. “I’d have to get a job if I’m taking you to hangout with a cheetah privately. That could delay things.” "The school does have an indoor pool though," Cassy points out. "Although I can't swim and talk at the same time. Water carries sound much better than air so it would..." She coughs. "Probably be a little awkward for a pre-first-date." "Oh yeah do you have my number?" She wonders. "And just so you don't worry I promise I'll try extra hard not to overhear you so you still have your privacy. Unless you decide you want me to listen to stuff." The petite redhead shrugs. "It's only a couple of weeks of allowance for me but it's probably best if we split the bills for dates right?" She waits until Astrid has copied her number, if required, and then puts her cellphone and the deck of cards back in her pockets. "I better go get my purse and book the ice skating then. You going to be okay getting down?" “That’s probably for the best. First dates can be awkward enough, right?” Astrid smiles. “So no swimming. Maybe we should have started planning this by ruling things out instead of figuring out what we should do.” There is some more shifting as Astrid digs her phone back out of her pocket, turning it on with a swipe and opening up her contacts. “Eh, no need to be extra cautious. You’ll be better informed if you need to bail then, right?” She laughs. “On second thought, perhaps we need to get you some noise canceling headphones for you. Would that work?” Cassy’s number is quickly entered into Astrid’s phone and a quick text is sent off. “You should have my number too.” The phone is shoved back into her pocket. “How about I got this one, and if things go well, you cover the second? I mean, I kinda sorta asked you out?” She laughs again and leans forward, getting a better view of the climb back down. “You bet’cha. I’ll be just fine.” Cassy shakes her head. "Nope. My entire body absorbs sound. You'd need a noise cancelling onesie." There is a momentary frown as she considers this idea. "And I'm not sure I'd be cool living inside a deluxe extra padded mascot suit." Message received she puts her phone away. "I'll let you know how much it costs first, then we can decide? I bet New York skate rinks cost more than we're expecting." She shifts so both her legs are lined up with the same gap in the climbing dome, adjusts her grip on the bars, then tips backwards through the hole. Doing a little spin before extending her arms and dropping to the ground. She even lands with a little ta-dah flourish and wave of her hands. "And my Mom said Circus camp was a waste of money!" “Sounds like a plan.” Astrid watches as the other teen drops down through the bars with a spin before landing. She’s impressed and briefly contemplates how that would go if she were to attempt something remotely similar. The quick deduction is not well. She offers up a wave back, making no move to leave her current spot at the top of the dome. “I’m going to need to hear more about this circus camp.” Cassy looks up and grins, then looks around to make sure nothing went flying out of her pockets. She also adjusts the tiny top hat which seems to have tilted to a rakish angle. "It's just like Summer Camp except instead of wood working and kayaking you spend most of your time falling off a trapeze or dropping juggling balls." "I'll see you around!" She adds and then slips between the gaps in the climbing dome and skips off. Turning a little way to wave a goodbye. “Man, why wasn’t I sent to circus school.” Astrid shouts down to Cassy, forgetting she doesn’t really need to raise her voice to be heard. She raises her hand for another wave. “Of course! See ya soon.” She then leans back, laying across the top of the climbing dome in the exact same manner she found the other teen.