ArchivedLogs:Queue

Queue
Dramatis Personae Dusk, Fiona, Mai, Tag
In Absentia	2016-12-27 "We met under a bridge in the rain."
Location <NYC> Evolve Cafe - Lower East Side
Spacious and open, this coffeeshop has a somewhat industrial feel to it, grey resin floors below and exposed-beam ceilings that have been painted up in a dancing swirl of abstract whorls and starbursts, a riot of colour splashed against a white background. The walls alternate between brick and cheerfully lime-green painted wood that extends to the paneling beneath the brushed-steel countertops. There's an abundance of light, though rather than windows (which are scarce) it comes from plentiful hanging steel lamps. The walls here are home to artwork available for sale; though the roster of prints and paintings and drawings and photographs changes on a regular basis it has one thing in common -- all the artists displayed are mutants. The seating spaced around the room is spread out enough to keep the room from feeling cluttered. Black chairs, square black tables that mostly seat two or four though they're frequently pushed around and rearranged to make space for larger parties. In the back corner of the room is more comfortable seating, a few large black-corduroy sofas and armchairs with wide tables between them. There's a shelf of card and board games back here available for customers to sit and play. The chalkboard menus hanging behind the counter change frequently, always home to a wide variety of drinks (with an impressive roster of fair-trade coffees and teas largely featured) though their sandwiches and wraps and soups and snacks of the day change often. An often-changing variety of baked goods sit behind the display case at the counter halfway back in the room, and the opposite side of the counter holds a small selection of homemade ice creams. A pair of single-user bathrooms flanks the stairway in back of the cafe; at night, the thump of music can be heard from above, coming from the adjoining nightclub of the same name that sits up the stairs above the coffeehouse. Evolve is crowded today! Bustling, cheerful; maybe the unseasonable springlike weather is bringing out a Good Mood in people. /Dusk/ certainly seems to be in one, anyway, as he pushes open the front door with a quiet tinkle of bell. There's a broad bright (veeeeeeery sharply fangy) smile on his face -- bright and brightly /amused/ as he checks his text messages. "-- not that I can blame him," he's saying over his shoulder -- holding the door open for someone just behind him. Even in the crowded room with its cadre of Unusual Patrons, Dusk kind of stands out -- not so much for his scruffy-plain looks or drab clothing (black cargo pants, Vans sneakers, a t-shirt with the Alliance Starbird on it) as for the truly /enormous/ wings that grow from his back -- today they're coloured pale, pale blue like glacial ice, with an uncanny sense of depth that shifts with their movement, their thin membranes appearing at times almost translucent. He gives the room kind of a /wince/ as he looks over the bustle and the very long line that comes with it. "... whoops. Hope you're not starving /immediately/." Mai is already seated at a table, notably alone despite the quite crowded state of the cafe, there is a plate on the table front of her, but it only has a few crumbs left of whatever was there originally, the big mug of tea next to it instead is still nearly half-full, though seemingly forgotten for the moment as her attention is down to her phone that she is fiddling with, browsing something in the net. She doesn't seem to be in anyway particularly cheery mood, which might explain why she is alone at the table, but which is the cause and which is the effect is a mystery. Trailing in Dusk's wake, Tag is dressed as brightly as his companion is drab. He wears a black t-shirt covered in streaks of almost luminous color, like comets trailing glimmering tails all around him, a knee-length pleated skirt that looks all the world like a schoolgirl's uniform in cut, but is colored in brilliant tiers of rainbow hues, and metallic pink Doc Martens. His shoulder-length hair is loose and wild, a cascade of silver and icy blue that hides half of his face. "Ugh, yeah no..." he's saying as he lets the door close behind him. He looks somewhat less surprised than Dusk at the crowd, and smiles, magenta eyes sparkling. "I'm /pretty/ starving but not about to fall over just yet." A brief pause as he reconsiders. "Well. You /might/ have to carry me the last few steps." Fiona follows in after Tag - not that she's /with/ them you see, but there's a bit of a line to get in the door, and she's in it. Slightly stunned, maybe even bewildered by the two in front of her; she's never seen anything quite like either of them and well, that causes her to stare. Not that they probably notice that much, seeing as she's behind them. "Oh man... this is gonna take forever. I should have just raided the pantry," she murmurs, mostly to herself. She's dressed rather inconspicuously - long black leather coat down to her knees, snug blue-jeans, boots, and a grey turtleneck. It ALMOST makes her stand out next to Tag. "S'alright." Dusk's cheer is /undaunted/ by lines. "If /either/ of you pass out from starvation --" One of his large icy-blue wings is gesturing expansively to Tag and Fiona /both/, "I will carry you over to the couches." A long crisp-white upper thumbclaw flicks -- back towards where Mai is sitting. "Then probably eat your food." Mai is browsing over news archives, specifically articles linked to a certain shootout few months back between the police and anti-mutant terrorists in chinatown, its amazing how much information can be found from the internet about any specific topic, she is just about to narrow her search for the identities of the terrorists, when something colorful is caught from the corner of her eye, which makes her to glance towards the people currently in line, arching a brow slightly at the rather flashily dressed Tag, that admiration of the unusual lasts for a few moments, and she is already turning her head back towards her phone, when she stops, and narrows her eyes some, there is something familiar about that woman, well from this distance at least Tag at the moment looks mostly like a woman with that school girl outfit and all, it takes her a few moments to connect before she calls out in mandarin. <Hua Tsai-Hong, is that you?>. "/So/ generous," Tag pipes. Following the line of Dusk's wing, he glances back at Fiona. "He says that like it would be some kind of /challenge/. Say, you look kind of familiar, have we met?" He bounces up onto his toes and then settles back down, as if too jittery to hold still. "Well, I'll /try/ to stay conscious. My food is yours if I should fall, but if you drink my caffeine, I'm fightin' ya when I wake up. It'll be hilarious." His smile widens into a grin, and his whole person seems to brighten--literally? The colors of his clothing and hair and even the somewhat winter-bleached yellow cast of his skin all look more vivid all of a sudden. And just as suddenly, it all dims again. It takes him a moment to pick Mai out of the crowd, and he lifts a hand to wave. "{Oh, hi! Um...sorry, I'm not sure I recall your name. Ling Mai?}" Fiona jumps a little when Dusk turns back to talk to her, and also blinks in a surprised fashion at Tag, "Hmm... do you live in the Commons down the street? I'm staying there over Christmas," she nods. She's not sure whether Tag is talking to Dusk or her on the bit about the caffeine, but makes note, "I'll stay well away from that, then..." there's a long pause, as if she forgot something. "If we have met, I don't think I got your name... I'm Fiona," she offers, then looks back and forth between Mai and the colorful girl (that's definitely a girl, right?) that she's been talking to. "She's Fiona --" Dusk is offering this just a moment before Fiona /herself/ offers it. He does not look particularly abashed about this potential bit of Possibly-Stalker-Vibes, explaining just a beat later: "We both live at the Commons. I handle the security shit there. Have to create all the new guest keys when someone checks a guest in. I promise I'm not a creeper or anything I meant to say hi at Sunday brunch but I accidentally -- slept through it." One wing drapes in a casual jostle over Tag's shoulder. "I will /entirely/ throw down with you. We do it in Smash Bros it might even be a fair..." Dusk's words trail off at the greeting Mai offers to Tag, though. His brows pull together -- that wing tightens a little bit more snug around Tag's shoulders. "Someone you know?" A little cautious, perhaps. Mai sets her phone down on the table and motions for Tag, and presumably the people with him as well, to join at her table, giving a smile and a wave to Fiona as well once she notices her right next to Tag. She nods in affirmation to Tag's question, but doesn't respond with any more words for now, likely not wanting to shout any more over the whole crowd in the cafe as she already got a few annoyed looks from some of the patrons, and instead waits for Tag to come within normal conversational range. The blue in Tag's hair is slowly going silver. "Yeah, I live in the house with all the swirly colors on it at the moment. Probably saw you at one of the communal meals, then. My name is Tag." He offers Fiona a very small bow that drops even more hair across his face. His shoulders tighten fractionally, then relax beneath Dusk's wing. "Oh, {sorry}, um, they're--" He hesitates when Mai waves him over, biting his lower lip. Then continues, more quietly, "--we're kinda old neighbors? Or our families were, anyway. I should go. Be polite." Though he isn't actually /moving/ yet. "N-no, it's not that creepy," Fiona assures Dusk - even though... well it's SLIGHTLY creepy. She gives Mai a little wave, but isn't about to get out of line and lose her spot. She's been waiting DAYS to eat here, DAYS! "She's cool," she assures Dusk. Well, mostly cool, anyhow. The dragon girl gives Mai a little beckoning wave, "If we go over there we'll probably lose our spots in line, though, yanno? Though, I can hold yours for you," she nods to Tag. "Uh -- huh." Dusk sounds unconvinced, though whether this is directed to Tag or Fiona is anyone's guess. "Go? You're about to die of hunger, remember. Your tea is at severe risk." His wing presses in absent rub against Tag's back. He scoots up a couple steps when the line moves. "I'm Dusk," he adds, in belated afterthought to Fiona: "My housemate checked you into our place. You just in town for Christmas or you staying?" Mai can't really leave her spot either or without a doubt someone would claim the table, so there is a slight dilemma. She is in no hurry though so does not mind waiting a few moments for the trio to get through the line if needed. Dusk is given a curious look, but she does not know him so not more than that for now. While she waits, she turns her attention back to her phone to see the results of her search. Apparently two of the gunmen escaped, though their identities are unknown, however she does find the name of the group they belong to, Patriotic Brotherhood, somekind of radical human supremacy group, she frowns slightly as she saves that name on her phone and then closes the web app, slipping her phone to a pocket, she can look more into that later. Now noticing her tea again, she takes hold of the mug with both hands and takes a sip as she turns her attention back towards Tag, Fiona, and Dusk, to watch their progress in the line. "You get used to Dusk kind of knowing everything," Tag assures Fiona in a mock whisper. His hair is almost entirely silver-white now, though a faint iridescent shimmer is beginning to creep into it. "Yeah, I think I need my stimulants first," he agrees sheepishly, leaning into Dusk's wing. "And calories, I guess." He cocks his head at Fiona. "So, you're one of Geekhaus's crew, then?" "Ah, Geekhaus?" Fiona peers through her glasses at Tag, pushing her constantly-falling-down glasses back up onto her nose. "Hrm. I mean, maybe? I'm not... really sure. I kinda wandered in one night with Paige in the rain and Flicker agreed to let me stay for a while... But, hopefully not too long," she offers an apologetic look to Dusk, "Someone I met has a school they want me to go to... I'm new to New York. So hopefully that works out," she pauses, "If not I've been told there's some tunnels that're nice? Or I just go back to camping out... I guess it's been about a week since I got here. It was nice to have somewhere to stay on Christmas. Everyone's really nice." "Not /everything/," Dusk objects, amused. "/Like/ I have no idea what kind of tea you're going to order." After only a small pause: "... but most other things I like to keep my ear to the ground on." Though one wing stays draped over Tag as they edge up toward the front of the line, the other lifts in a small shrug. "Well, Flicker signed you in for a week so -- uh. New Year's I guess?" Now that their turn is coming up, he's scrutinizing the menu. "Tunnels like the Morlocks? They're under the city. And I'm glad you had a place to come. I know holidays can get shitty on you own. You come here looking for something particular? Here like New York, I mean. We seem to attract a lotta freaks." Mai nurses her tea mug with only the occasional small sip from it as she waits for the trio to get through the process of getting their food, her attention focused mostly on Tag and the constant subtle shifts in her colors, which is quite fascinating, and even sort of relaxing to watch. She did not actually know that Hua Tsai-Hong was a mutant, though now it is quite obvious, either that, or she has a real wizard as hair stylist! "Oh, I see!" Tag nods, the rainbow sheen in his hair growing more pronounced. "I hope your search goes well, but enjoy your stay, too, while you're here. Speaking of which, there's game night at the Commonhaus tonight, and you're certainly welcome to join if you like that sorta thing." Arriving at last at the counter, Tag flashes the barista a bright smile. "{Hello!}" is in Spanish, "I would like a tofu banh mi, french fries, and a bai hao oolong, {please.}" He fishes a twenty-dollar bill from a shiny holographic purple wallet to pay for his purchase. "Game night? Like, tabletop games?" she wonders...? Also, she very much didn't understand practically ANY of those words that Tag just spoke as he ordered, but as she's up next and WAS NOT AT ALL thinking about what to get, she swallows nervously and... "Ah, can I just have... what she had?" she jerks her head towards Tag, digging around in her pocket. She'd heard this place was free if you didn't have money, but neglected to look into how that worked and so... she'll figure that bit out later. The overall level of confusion threatens to spill out of her. "He." Dusk's correction of Fiona's reference to Tag is light and casual; automatic and without any actual admonishment. "And yeah!" Brighter, excited: "Tabletop -- board games, card games. Sometimes people roleplay it's kind of anything goes in terms of what /kind/ of games. Just nice to have some fun to look forward to each week, y'know?" His wings fold back behind his back; he offers the barista a warm smile and warm greeting before putting his own order in for a bowl of pho and double-shot mocha with almond milk. In lieu of wallet he has a cell phone, whose screen he taps against a scanner by the cash register. "Y'aright?" His brows have quirked up at Fiona's confused air. He steps aside, leaning against the display cabinet to wait for his food. Mai sets her mug back down on the table after realizing that it is empty, tapping her fingers against the surface as she watches the three she is waiting on to finish up their business in the line, which seems like it shouldn't take much longer. Its amazing how long few minutes can feel when waiting for something, whereas she spent who knows how long earlier fiddling with her phone without really paying much attention to time at all. "Some people just hang out and socialize," Tag adds brightly, "or watch. There's always a table dedicated to games for non-gamers. /And/ there's food." He watches Fiona, brows furrowing slightly and then smoothing out. "Just pay what you want," he tell her, sotto voce, "no worries." Now that he's closer to Mai's table, he shifts over to stand at the foot of it so he can keep an eye on the counter where the food comes up. "{My condolences for your loss,}" he says in formal Mandarin, bowing deeply. Then, dropping back into English, "Hope you're holding up alright." "He's something else," Fiona's gaze follows after the colorful one, then she blinks, "I'm okay. Just, I um. What IS Tag having?" she wonders. For that matter, what is she having? She looks massively relieved when Tag explains things to her, but still opts to at least slide a crumpled looking five to the cashier, looking a bit apologetic. Stubborn pride surprisingly won't allow her to pay /nothing./ "That sounds awesome. I haven't gotten to play anything in a long time." "It's a kind of Vietnamese sandwich. /Delicious/. And tea. And you should totally come, then! Our house is the one that's got a huge-ass bat on the roof in Christmas lights." Though the food will take longer, Dusk snags his coffee and Tag's tea when they come up, lazily meandering after the smaller man toward Mai's table to offer out the cup of tea. "Yo." His scruffy-bearded chin lifts in a nod to Mai. Mai now when the group is moving closer she can actually hear their conversation, though the first part is what Tag says to her, which draws her expression quite serious, before nodding, though he does reply in english, since it would be somewhat rude to speak in a language only part of the group can understand. "Thank you, doing okay considering I suppose... though its been rather rough, its not easy to find proper job without education, and have to live in rather crummy neighbourhood as result. But I am sure I will figure out something. How is Hua Tian-Shin?" she inquires in return, before giving a smile to Fiona. "It is good to see you again, Fiona." Then gives a curious look towards the rather exotic looking Dusk with a smile and a nod given in response to the greeting. "So, who's your friend?" this is asked collectively from Fiona and Tag. Tag accepts the mug Dusk holds out with a high-pitched "Gracias!" He blows on the tea for...not nearly long enough, judging by the wince when he takes the first sip. Still, the breathy color in his hair blossoms into a full-bodied rainbow swirl. He hums and nods occasionally while Mai speaks, and at length replies, "That's rough, yeah. You know, my mother's getting up in years, and could really use another hand around the shop now that me and my siblings all have other jobs of our own. If you like books. Lots of books." His eyes go wide, the irises shifting dramatically from magenta to teal. "Oh, no! I'm so rude! Um. This is Dusk. Dusk, Ms Ling Mai. And...right you already know Fiona." He blushes fiercely. "We met under a bridge in the rain," laughs Fiona, looking over. Bookstore? Pointy ears perk a little. That sounds like a pretty fun job. Probably nice and quiet but who knows about working with an unknown old lady. That might not be cool. She keeps silent for now. Mai probably needs a job more than she does anyway. Yeah... this Xavier's thing is DEFINITELY going to work out. Eventually, Fiona's tea comes up as well, and she blows on it. Carefully. "Mucho gusto, -- /Mai/, you said?" Dusk has a quick faint widening to his eyes, quick bright curl to his smile, before he lifts his coffee in salute. "Under a bridge in the rain? That sounds kind of. Picturesque." His expression scrunches -- kind of sympthetic at Mai's predicament. "Sucks. Think the whole city's been in kind of a -- slump for a bit. I hear the job market is /rough/." He's blowing lightly on his coffee, cupping it careffully in is hands. Mai gives a curious look to Tag at his offer, her eyes brightening some, and while it might be unknown old lady to Fiona, it is definetily not that to her as like Tag mentioned earlier, they have been kind of neighbours for years. "Really? That would be really cool. I mean... its not like I am huge expert on books or anything... but how hard can it be?" she wonders, and at least she can read Chinese so she can actually understand the titles of all the books in the store. "Would sure beat the current job I am in, and would definetily be nicer to work for someone who I know." Then she gives a slight giggle at Fiona's explanation of how they met, and elaborates to Dusk. "Well, not literally met under the bridge, more like we went there after we met to escape the rain... it was -freezing- also!" she notes. "Oh and nice to meet you, Dusk? Thats an unusual name... although I am kind of getting used to those by now!" Tag nods at Dusk in agreement. "Poetic, really. Possibly wasn't as nice to actually be caught in freezing rain, though." He shrugs, sipping his tea again, more boldly this time. "Being a reader helps, but don't have to be an expert. Just have to know how to use Windows and ready to shelf a lot of books." He rolls his eyes, which have gone a brilliant shade of gold. "Well, and be willing to put up with my mother's fussing. She'll expect punctuality and good work ethic and for you to generally act like a Good Chinese Girl." He frowns. Hesitates. Then finally ventures. "Speaking of unusual names, I prefer to go by Tag now. Most places. Mom'll still call me Tsai-hong, but, if you wouldn't mind..." At some point during the conversation, the food arrives - Fiona takes it upon herself to go get it, setting down the two banh mis and Dusk's order on the table. There's a bit of cautious eyeing of the food, but it looks pretty good - except for those tofu chunks. She's never seen those before. They look a little jello-ey... hrm. But she'll give them a shot anyway - mainly because she's quite hungry (despite the giant hannukah dinner/christmas brunch meals back at the commons the previous days). After a little, she picks up the sandwich and begins eating and well, there's not much to say about that, nor does she say much. Munchmunch. We can assume good food was had and... Fiona probably went home at some point. Dusk's wing shifts just slightly as Tag's name -- then his -- are called at the counter. He brushes it lightly against the smaller man's back, thumbclaw flicking toward the counter. "That's us. I should get going I got hella cleanup to do before gaming." Quick, easy, the smile he flashes Mai. "Hasta. Good luck with the job search!" He's snagging his bag of food with a thanks when Fiona brings it, wings folding back in tightly when he turns to weave through the tables and head off home. Mai gives a light laugh at Tag's words. "Oh, don't worry, even if I might not look like it now," she motions over her rather western style clothing, "I was raised like a proper Chinese girl and haven't forgotten that. You do seem to have changed quite a lot from what I remember though... Tag." She observes with a motion at the very colorful attire and that almost hypnotic hair. "Looks really pretty too." Turning then to speak to the other two, only to notice that its just the two of them at the table anymore, just having enough time to lift a hand to wave after Dusk's retreating form.