ArchivedLogs:A Friend for Dinner

A Friend for Dinner
Dramatis Personae Fiona, Flicker, Paige, Tian-shin
In Absentia	2016-12-24 "I hope you like latkes and sufganiyot."
Location <NYC> Harbor Commons - Courtyard - Lower East Side
This courtyard is the lush central hub of the surrounding Harbor Commons, bound in on three sides by rows of duplexes and triplexes, cutting upward at the sky with the sharp thrift of a minimalist's style, neat lines and bountiful windows, boldened with accents in wood towards the upper stories, stone towards the base, the whole of the compound sealed in by a low stoneworked wall that opens entrance gates to the streets beyond at its two far corners, smaller gates at building back doors. The fourth side of the courtyard is open to the East River, the ground forming a slight decline, controlled on one side by micro-retaining walls to form wide steps where picnic tables sit beneath the nominative shelter of a trio of dogwood trees, accessible by ramp. The other side is allowed to slope at its natural angle, a wide open yard space, until its cut off at the river's edge, where a massive pair of oak trees stand, a staircase leading away up one of their thick trunks. The yard itself is carpeted in an organic flow of emerald grass swirled through with wending channels of smooth-paved cement walkways, flowing naturally away from the building's front entrances, where some are arced by trellis, some flanked by hosta plants, fern and lilies, a few laid in gentle switch-backing ramps for wheelchair access, before forking off at matching angles to sites of small garden installments. Bird feeders and baths suspended from the necks of small lamp posts, a rock-lined koi pond, a sleek gazebo tucked to one side in simplistic varnished wood, its southern side overgrown with a mass of thriving grapevine and a caged-in barbecue pit under its sheltering roof. A play area and proper garden are within sight off another branch, until finally all paths spiral in like wheel spokes to a shared common house at the center of all traffic flow. Some time has passed following Paige's incidental meet-up with Fiona in Central Park and it's probably an hour or so before the sun will set. Their trip to Evolve was unfortunately, but understandably, disappointing as they found the cafe closed for the holidays. Still, the blonde girl seems to be rather insistent that the other mutant come with her to the Commons, all the while also telling her that she really has no standing to actually let her into the place. "But I mean, I'm sure there's someone we could find. It's Christmas Eve, so I'm guessing people will be at least a little bit more willing to let someone in. Not that they're, like, mean or anything or wouldn't normally do that." She bites her lip as they approach Commonhaus. "It's a very friendly place. There's even a brunch tomorrow. For the holiday and all that, you know?" Fiona follows along behind Paige, at this time rather dripping wet from the cold rain that was ongoing (at least earlier). "I'm not gonna lie, that sounds amazing," the younger girl replies. She is also (still) carrying her pack, which is by this time probably rather water logged as well. "You really think they will let me stay though? I don't wanna bother anybody... I mean, I'm sure there's already a lot of needy mutants out there..." Her tail curls pensively while they approach the commons again. Tian-shin is just emerging from Funhaus, freshly showered and resplendent in a silver brocade stand-collar tunic with pale blue piping and similarly blue stylized bats, tight black jeans with pale blue stitching, and black platform boots. Her hair is coiled up in an elaborate braided bun at the back of her head, held in place by a hair stick decorated with an iridescent glasswork snowflake. Her makeup is subtle yet impeccable, just a ghostly hint of white-blue eye shadow glinting like frost on her eyelids. She wears a Chinese longsword across her back, its scabbard and hilt--perhaps somewhat surprisingly--matching the colors of her outfit. She spots the two younger women and viers toward them. "{Oh, hello,}" comes in Spanish, though she continues in English after. "Guest for the dinner tonight?" In grey corduroys, loafers, a black and blue striped polo, Flicker isn't very dressed for the weather -- but he doesn't have far to go, either, from his house to the Commonhaus. He has a shopping bag hung over one arm -- his other arm is markedly Not Flesh, a brightly colorful prosthesis that makes exactly zero attempt to disguise itself as organic. Segmented, claw-tipped, resembling a tentacle more than a human arm, today it's been painted up in dip-dyed shades of metallic blue with glittering silver stars and snowflakes dotted along its length. The smile that lights his heavily scarred face is warm when he sees Tian-shin, his path starting to curve towards her though he stops when they both intersect the other women. "-- Paige. And --" A very small tilt of head as he looks to Fiona. "New friend?" Paige blinks in surprise as she and her companion are soon approached by not one, but two Harbor Commons residents, one of whom is slightly is more familiar than the other. "Er, yes. I mean, at least I was hoping that she could join us? And, uh, hi!" she replies with a hopeful look to Tian-shin. "Hello and yes." This to Flicker as she returns his smile, eyes glancing over his prosthesis, but not lingering. Her gaze then shifts to Tian-shin's outfit. "Her name is, uh, Fiona and she's, you know, kind of...lost and needs a place to keep warm at least for the night. Oh! And a shower, too, if possible." Fiona blinks, perking up a little, "Hey! I'm not lost, I'm just, umm..." she trails off, "Kind of cold, and wet, and tired and I don't-have-anywhere-else-to-go-please-don't-kick-me-out?" she squeaks, looking between Flicker and and Tian-shin. More nervous tail-swishing while she takes off her glasses and compulsively cleans them with her shirt tail for the hundredth time today. She idly wonders, at that moment, if she is the first stray that Paige has brought home or not. Tian-shin's smile grows wider when she catches sight of Flicker, though she had not /looked/ particularly reserved before, not even by comparison. "Ah, welcome to the Commons, Fiona. I'm Hua Tian-shin, I live there." She gestures back at the building from which she had emerged, not only decorated with lights and garlands but painted in fantastic shimmering swirls of iridescent colors. "We're gearing up for a feast tonight to kick off Hanukkah, and there's always enough to share at these dinners." To the rest of the request, she hums quietly, considering. "I'm not sure about /procedure/ on that, since Paige is still a guest, too, but we /do/ have the space and the means. I guess someone else just has to sign her in?" She glances at Flicker, one slender black eyebrow arched. "Woooah." Flicker's brows lift. His 'Hi, welcome,' is offered in sign language, smile just as warm. "I'm Flicker. My house is -- less colorful." He sounds a /little/ rueful as he says this. Eyes drop to the swishing tail. Lift back to Fiona. "Yeah, we're having Hanukkah dinner -- I guess not soon. Later. And there's showers upstairs if you want 'em." His claw-hand waves. Up. Toward the upper windows of the large central house. "It's Christmas we're teeming with company nobody'll mind another. I can sign you in for tonight. I hope you like latkes and sufganiyot." Other than offering a quiet, "Well, she -was- lost," and a chuckle at the young man's comment, Paige seems content to wait quietly as Tian-shin and Flicker work out the arrangements. When they get back to her and Fiona, the blonde girl's ears flick and she grins, bumping the dragony one with an elbow. "See? I -told- you they're super friendly here. And their food is amazing. Thank you -so- much. Both of you." She pauses for a moment before speaking again. "I'm guessing we'll see you both at dinner and brunch then? I'm really looking forward to both. It's been a...uh, difficult time lately. Just trying to keep close to friends." "I mean, yes! I mean, I don't really know what those are, but, I'll eat pretty much anything!" Fiona has grown into a MUCH less picky eater during her time being homeless, many things that should probably not be eaten. She looks /very/ happy indeed that she probably won't have to spend another night sleeping under a bridge. Then suddenly, spontaneous hugging of the Paige-goat. Very tightly. Like, 'not thinking oh god maybe I can't breath' tight. "Oh, yes, I'll be at both." Tian-shin bobs her head. "We take most common dietary needs into consideration, but if you have unusual or severe allergies, it would be good to have a heads-up." Her smile softens with a kind of fondness when Fiona embraces Paige. "Come on inside, if you like. Way early for dinner still, but it's warm and it's probably less overwhelming if you get to meet people as they trickle in." Flicker's blush is quick and deep at the thanks. His head bobs once. "I'll be there. Though if we don't get to chopping there won't be a there to be. There's a mountain of onions ten feet high to get through." Hopefully for everyone's eyes, this is a small exaggeration. He heads for the house, tapping his key to the lock and holding the door for the others. "Come on. I'll see you all tonight?" Paige gasps sharply and her entire body tenses as she's grabbed. Not only is she taken by surprise, but the arms around her bring a recent, raw memory to the forefront of her mind - one of another hug, too brief, shared with her brother only two days previously. The blonde girl seems distracted, staring vacantly for a long moment before blinking and turning her attention to her new friend. Her hands clench and relax and she seems unsure of what to do with her own arms, raising them for a second as if to return the hug, but then finding herself too squished to do so. "Fi-Fiona," she manages to get out, crushed as she is by the tight embrace. "It-It wasn't me. You should be thanking them." Her ears give a flick and she adds, "C-Can you loosen your arms?" Once released, she furrows her brows at Flicker. "Onions? Huh. And you sure will." To Tian-shin, she nods. "I tried to do that when I first got here. It, uh, really helps."