ArchivedLogs:Hipsters

Hipsters
Dramatis Personae Billy Jack
In Absentia	2015-04-25 '
Location <XS> Gardens
From indoor gardens to outdoor, though without the protective greenhouse glass the back gardens do not last all year round. Still, the gardens out here are well-tended and well-worth spending time in, as well. The paths winding through the beds of flowers and herbs and vegetables spread out through the school's back grounds, tended by students as a credit class. Benches offer seating and a small pond is home to koi and turtles, as well as a few frogs. At the far back edges of the garden, a droning buzzing marks a few stacked white boxes as beehives. Just after dinner, the sun is still in the sky. In narrow white slacks and a collared shirt, he lounges with his legs beneath him on the grass by the little pond. His windbreaker, white with a silvery-white Xavier's emblem on the back, rustles as he extends his arm to underhand throw a ball no larger than a cat toy. The baby-blue ball bounces down one of the garden paths and sure enough, Billy's guinea pig sized dog bounces right on after it. There's a high pitched bark, and the sound of his license tags jangling. One student didn't make dinner tonight. No, Jack's fresh out of the infirmary and a little scolding. He'd popped some of his stitches when he tried to work out a little earlier. He was just a little restless. But freshly stitched and on orders to take it easier, the invisible teen's decided to head outside for awhile. Just a pair of worn jeans, sneakers, and an Xavier school t-shirt today, Jack's still moving a little slower as he makes his way along a garden path. The high pitched bark makes him look around and he smiles invisibly when he sees Billy and the dog. "Hey," he greets as he approaches. Cocking up his white-blonde eyebrows over the rims of his thick, perscription wayfarers, Billy props himself up on his elbows, "Hey there!" He offers a bleachy smile, "Getting some fresh air?" Taylor circles Jack at a trotting speed, his little tail wagging at a hummingbird's speed. His thumb-nail sized mouth can barely hold onto the ball and he almost drops it twice, but manages to keep it. Being careful to not accidentally step on or kick the tiny dog, Jack makes his way over and nods. It registers a second later that he doesn't have a hood on to even hint at the movement and he chuckles a little. "Yeah, I may not be able to enjoy the weather much but I figured I could at least come out and go for a little walk." Being careful to not accidentally step on or kick the tiny dog, Jack makes his way over and nods. It registers a second later that he doesn't have a hood on to even hint at the movement and he chuckles a little. "Yeah, I may not be able to enjoy the weather much but I figured I could at least come out and go for a little walk." "Well, I think that counts as enjoying it," Billy offers, optimistically. Reaching out, he tries to pluck the ball away from Taylor but the dog resists and runs away with it. The blonde laughs, losing his balance a little as he makes grabby hands at the dog, "I can't throw it if you don't give it up!" Yellow-green grass stains mark up the knees of his pants, but he doesn't seem too concerned. Jack sits down carefully, grass bending and pushed where his hands touch the ground. He laughs as well when Billy loses the tug-of-ball but ends up wincing and pressing a hand to his side. Eventually he sighs and mutters a curse. "It could count. I was just looking forward to getting more...active when the weather stopped being miserable, wet, and cold," he says. "Just relaxing today?" "You will," Billy muses, "It's just like, the beginning of it being nice out." He holds up a white-gloved hand to his brow and wrinkles his eyes to stare out over at the invisible boy. The clear lenses of his glasses gleam with reflected sunlight. "I'm glad you're not sulking inside. When I was shot last summer, it was like, almost all I ever wanted to do." "Unless I die from boredom," Jack tries a joke. He turns his gaze to the sky for a moment, just enjoying the sun and clouds for a bit. "I'm more...angry than sulky," he admits quietly. Jack falls silent and eventually looks back to Billy. "How'd you get shot?" “You’ll live,” Billy says darkly, rolling his eyes, “Let me know if you want me to talk somebody into giving you some extra credit assignments.” He purrs out a laugh, holding out an open palm for Taylor to drop the ball in. When it looks like he just might do it, Billy makes to grab for it and spooks the puppy away. “A skinhead,” the blond offers, pouting a little as he presses his fingers to his bicep where he was struck, “I don’t really know the what or why. It all happened pretty fast but my uhhmmm, /friend/ made himself metal and the bullet like, ricocheted.” Jack sighs. "I know. Just...trying to be funny..." he trails off. Letting it go, he watches the second attempt to get the ball away from the puppy. He ends up snickering a little when Taylor gets spooked away. "Fast for a little dog," he remarks. His unseen expression becomes more serious as Billy tells the story of his shot. "Man...glad you both weren't hurt worse. Bullets and skinheads suck," he says. "Your uh..friend was okay too, right?" Billy presses his pout into a smile of reassurance, bowing his head, "He's fine." By his tone, there was never any reason to doubt. He darts his hand forward, scooping up the dog, "Gotcha!" Taylor play-growls and wiggles around to break free, dropping the ball in Jack's general direction in the process. "That's good to hear at least," Jack replies. "I just hope there's less shooting in general in the future," he murmurs. There's an unseen smile as Billy catches the dog and Jack glances at the ball. He picks it up carefully and watches the wriggling dog. He'll give it a little toss when Taylor breaks free. “I second that hope,” Billy chimes, laughing quietly. His eyes can’t help but be drawn to the ball, as it seemingly rises into the air of it’s own accord. He let’s the puppy in his hands free to trip over himself chasing it. His brow tightens, “I’m sorry that happened to you.” Jack gives the ball a little shake to get the puppy's attention then sends it lightly bouncing along. He watches the chase for a few moments before letting out a slow breath. "Thanks...I...I'm still a little shocked someone actually shot me with an -arrow-," he says quietly. "Pfft. /Hipsters/," Billy slowly shakes his head. He looks on as the puppy darts into some shrubbery after the toy, With a little grunt, he repositions himself on the grass and stretches out his legs, "Ever since that like, /zombie thing/." That gets a laugh out of Jack. It turns a little wheezy after a wince though. "Oh man..." he trails off, pressing a hand to his side again. "Yeah, I heard that's when people started using them more. Not even the first time Jax...I mean Professor Holland-Zedner got shot with one. What's next, nut jobs running around with swords and shields. Or challenging people to joust?" "I hope not. Horses don't like me. It's the antiseptic smell," Billy peeks over the rims of his glasses, holding out a gloved hand as if to steady the teen, "You alright, there?" He smiles, "Professor Holland gets in these situations more than your average bear. I'm sure this is the only time, in life, that you will have been shot with an arrow." He looks out the corners of his eye in thought, and then back, "Not counting psychic arrows." "Could mean you'd win all the jousts. Their horses would run away," Jack says with an invisible smile. "Yeah," Jack exhales when steadied. "Laughing just hurts right now," he replies sheepishly. "I hope you're right. Wait...psychic arrows?" “I guess I’d be a White Knight,” with a deadpan shake of his head, Billy waves off the idea of the psychic arrows, “It’s highly improbable.” A smile draws the corners of his mouth up and as Taylor returns, he gently lures the puppy into his lap. “I should head back to the city before it’s too late,” he sighs, rising and holding the squirming animal to his chest, “You’ll heal up soon enough. Don’t drive yourself too stir crazy.” "In shining armor," Jack adds. "Okay..." he trails off. He's still curious about the psychic arrows but he lets it go. "I'll try," he replies with a chuckle. "Be careful getting home," he offers. "Always good meeting up with you." Brushing specks of dirt and grass off, Billy smiles, “Oh, I will. Everyone always yells at me for driving like a mom.” He laughs, bouncing the dog somewhat to satiate him as he walks in towards the mansion, “You, too!” He waves.