ArchivedLogs:Being Scarce

Being Scarce
Dramatis Personae Jack, Kaine, Sergio
In Absentia	2015-08-22 "I don't want the gates to get knocked down by a bunch of stampeding ladies either."
Location <XS> Gymnasium - B1
For a mutant school, this is a pretty standard gym, even if its sturdy construction to handle mutant powers is less standard. Still, it is designed along normal lines; setup for a basketball court, standard equipment -- punching bags, rubber mats, standard assortment of balls, weight training equipment, the usual fare. It is large, and as well-appointed as the rest of Xavier's tends to be. It's been a stressful day at Xavier's, at least for anybody worried about the protesters outside the gates. Kaine is apparently one of those people and has found his way down to the gym. Dressed in a pair of basketball shorts and a wife beater with his hair tied back in a ponytail, he's in the middle of hitting the bags. More than a few yellowish bruises cover his exposed flesh, and a fresher looking bruise is now calling his face home. Separated from his body once again, Sergio steps clandestinely through a wall. He looks through the eyes of everyone else in the gym, which at this point is Kaine. Unseen, his psychic avatar knits its brow as he empathizes with the other boy’s feelings. It’s not done with his powers, rather their experience. He came here to escape the perfect view of the protestors from his room, and the frantic calls from family back home. With his body to exhausted and limiting, he only wishes he had the capacity to blow of steam. Jack's been worried as well but he's spent most of his day hiding. It's pretty easy for him, like now. A pair of worn sneakers and basketball shorts have been in an out of the way corner of the gym, the invisible teen's been working on a set of push ups. Eventually, he does decide to make himself known though. Finishing up his mini-workout, Jack speaks up. "How's your eye, Kaine?" "Hurts, but I've definitely had worse." Kaine replies nonchalantly. "How about you, you doing alright?" He asks, hitting the bag a few more times before heading over to grab his towel and water. He dries his face off before taking a swig from the bottle, which frosts over shortly before meeting his lips. Sergio watches Jack approach, gleaning his roommate's actual appearance off of Jack's own peripheral, and his reflection in the metallic workout equipment that he passes. He's too close by to make it convincingly seem like he just arrived, but figures it's better than letting any more time pass. He opens his arms and offers a goofy, invisible smile from where might as well by right in between them. << Hey, guys! >> Jack pauses, humming slightly at Kaine's reaction. He expected a startled one but he's pleased he didn't scare his friend. Through his reflection, Sergio might be able to notice his currently shirtless roommate gave himself a haircut sometime between getting home last night and now. "I'm doing alright. Didn't get hit last night," he says, glancing at some of Kaine's bruises. When Sergio makes himself known, Jack glances around on reflex. "Hey, Sergio." "Yo, Sergio." Kaine greets with a two-fingered salute to nowhere in particular. "How's it going? Besides being stuck here with angry bigots gathering outside the gates, anyway." He seems about as calm as always, but there's something in his eye and the way his jaw is clenched that gives away how on edge the teen really is. << Nice haircut, Jack. Hot date? >> Sergio mocks chummily, his voice projecting into their minds from simultaneously in front of them, and around them. The disembodied voice hesitates, and goes low as if afraid of being overheard. << I... slipped out there. Just for a sec. >> << Wish I hadn't. >> Jack pauses mid step, blushing invisibly. "N-no," he sputters. "I mean I'm going to ask a guy out when we can go down to New York again but...umm..." he shifts awkwardly. "I just needed a haircut..." he trails off. He falls silent as the subject he's been trying and failing not to think about comes up. He glances up at Kaine when he notices the tension and frowns at Sergio's admission. "What happened?" "I imagine the same thing that happens when you get a bunch of self righteous idiots together. Probably wouldn't like anything better than to tear the school down, kill a few of us, and throw the rest in camps." Kaine supplies darkly. "It's ridiculous." << Uh-HUH. >> Sergio voice goes up an octave as if it's trying to stay afloat, at Jack's admission. He searches for a reflection of Jack to gauge his roommate, but fails to find one. << It was just for a sec, I mean, I was pretty scared of getting in trouble. ...They were just talking to each other about well, us. It was... >> Sergio may sound distracted, as he continues to look for that reflection. << Hurtful, man. But yeah, you're uh, pretty much on the nose, there. >> Jack sighs as he hears that news, shifting to lean against one of the machines. This puts him near one of the shiny chrome machines so there's a reflection even if it isn't a very good one. "Well...at least I know there's no reason to give into the temptation to sneak down there myself..." "I think we all know how it'd go if I even tried it. Teacher would see me from a mile away, besides, I'd probably have to spike somebody." Kaine exhales through his nose. "It's some fuck shit. Should go down there in my swim wear with a sign that says 'go home freaks'. See how they like that shit." << Some of the teachers can see me. And they have X-Men out there, too. Who knows what some of those guys are capable of? >> Sergio scrutinizes the reflection as best he can. << You should, though. A handful of those self-righteous hypocrites would probably get a big kick out of it. >> << /So, you gonna tell us about the poor dude you're about scam on or what?/ >> Jovial, the voice in the air prods the question in a quick, light-hearted tone. "As good as spiking might make you feel, it probably wouldn't help anything," Jack remarks. He smirks a little at Kaine though. "Right...you just wanna go down in front of the cameras in those tiny shorts. Show off a good looking mutant for the world," he teases lightly, trying to lighten the mood a bit. "Telepaths can detect me...otherwise I could sneak down there without anyone noticing," he says. Sergio's question gets Jack blushing again. "What? Scam on?" "You're right, I don't want the gates to get knocked down by a bunch of stampeding ladies either." Kaine says, almost keeping a straight face before having a brief laugh. "Might get me a spot on Bill Maher's show though, get to chat with the man himself on the state of mutant affairs. And making fun of Faux news is a definite plus." << Alright, fiine. Play dumb and blush. >> Sergio continues to tease. << I'll stop putting you on the spot about it. >> Obviously, the telepath's expression and any blush that might creep up his cheeks is masked by the fact that he neglected to bring them with him. << I bet the first Xavier's student to offer to do an interview would get a /lot/ of attention. ...and a lot of /de/-tention. >> When Sergio mentions he's blushing, it registers with Jack that he must be near something reflective and he lets out an embarrassed little noise. "Oh man..." he trails off, rubbing the back of his neck. After a few moments, he makes a little noise of agreement to what Sergio says. "Detention until way past graduation..." "I have a snowballs chance in hell of getting on that show anyway." Kaine lifts his shoulders in a slight shrug. "But I love it. Only news I watch, really." << You have a better chance than I lot of people, I’m sure. >> Sergio encourages jokingly. << Especially if you go ahead with that original plan of yours. >> Projecting the sound of a sigh, Sergio draws his attention away some. << Alright. I ought to get back to myself before I wet the bed or something... >> He looks back to the pair, only really seeing them through their own eyes. << Later. >> Of course, there never ever is any telling when or if he leaves when he's in this state. "Dude..." Jack shakes his head at his roommate. "See you later," he offers, not sure if the other is still there or not. After a few moments, Jack lets out a breath. "I'm gonna hit the showers then go find somewhere else to hide till tomorrow...maybe the library." "Yeah, it's about time to hit the showers and take a nap. It's time to take a break from adulting for today." Kaine says, bringing a hand up to cover a tired sounding yawn. "Should warn Taylor beforehand, I'm a bitch when my naps are interrupted."