ArchivedLogs:Galaxy Cat

Galaxy Cat
Dramatis Personae Marinov and Paige
In Absentia	2017-04-02 "But fuck this guy in particular extra"
Location <NYC> Central Park South
Central Park South is home not just to the park itself, but also to the Belvedere Castle, the Alice in Wonderland statues, and the Central Park Zoo. These areas tend to draw tourists like a magnet - it is, perhaps, for that very reason that places like Bethesda Terrace tend to attract more New Yorkers than not, if just to escape the press of tourism that infiltrates the whole city. As the temperatures increase, so do the numbers of people who are occupying the parks. Joggers, dog-walkers and other assorted wanderers move about minding their own business in the early evening, getting in their activities before dinner proper. Marinov, sporting a new fur pattern, and a white dress with a small amount of gold embroidery, falling loosely down to their mid-thigh. The teen wears a couple of bracelets around each of their wrists, thin hoops that are gold in colour. Their fur, however, appears to be coloured in order to resemble a galaxy pattern, with swirling blues and purples on a black backdrop, along with bright white spots meant to be stars. They tap out on their phone a reminder to their friend: 'Don't forget, I have a new dye job, but you should be able to spot me.' Paige's appearance is quite subdued and dull compared to that of the felinoid teen once she locates them. She offers a wave in their direction before she shoves her phone into the back pocket of her jeans. In response to the warming weather, her sweatshirt has been replaced by her black cardigan. As the goat girl approaches Marinov, she is clearly having trouble taking her eyes off of their new fur pattern. "Is it really dye? How did you manage to do that? You said someone helped you?" seems to be her means of greeting as she tilts her head with her ears twitching in curiosity. "Is that a new dress as well? It looks wonderful on you, you know? I like the gold. And I like the fur." Marinov raises a hand in greeting, "I don't think it's really dye, no. I think it's just a different colour now, yeah. Tag helped me out with it, you mighta seen him at one of the social events at your place. And by 'helped me out with' I mean, 'did everything because he's amazing'. But yeah, I think it goes well with the new dress I finished, yeah?" They look rather pleased with themselves and add, "I remembered to take pictures of myself with my original pattern and everything, in case I want to get it reversed or whatever. Going for the whole, 'galaxy creature' sorta look with the fur pattern. It's pretty wild what Tag can do with colour." They give a bit of a shrug and then ask, "So how're you? Up for today's walk? At least it'll be nice out." "Ah! I will never not be amazed by the fabulous clothing you create," Paige praises of the teen. "And it really doesn't turn back on its own? The fur, I mean. That's -- that's so -awesome-. I don't know if I'd ever want to do something like that with my fur, but you're rocking that look -ridiculously- well." The horned mutant appears to be in a rather good mood, if not indicated by her tone, then at least by her large grin as she lights up. "Yes! Today. Today is warm. Did you know it could get warm? It's almost like it's -Spring-, you know? Not that we should ever expect the seasons to arrive on time, right? And -- and I think I've been getting better at walking. It no longer hurts so much!" She looks quite gleeful at this piece of news and she gestures with a sweep of her hand before she starts moving. "Well, let's be honest," says Marinov brightly, "I'm pretty good at rocking looks." They gesture forward and start walking at a bit of a quicker pace than they usually try to lead Paige with, "Glad to hear that your walking doesn't hurt so much anymore. It took me awhile to get used to my feet as well, back a couple years ago, but like... I dunno. Not as long as lots of other people, based on what I've read in forums and stuff. Everyone's journey's a little bit different, yeah?" "It's been four months. Almost," she informs her friend as she gestures idly with her hands. "I didn't -- I didn't really mark the day, but I'm pretty sure it's been like four months. Yeah, there's some people who apparently get used to it practically overnight? I don't know, that always seems a little, you know, fishy. But who am I to question that, right? I mean no one's the same, yeah. I think it also kind of depends on your level of support. You've been really helpful to me -- I mean even just walking with me - that's super helpful. I really appreciate it. It means a lot to me." Her tone is very sincere and she pauses in her speech for a moment before furrowing her brows slightly. "Can you believe it? We've almost known each other for five months. That I -did- mark down." "I would've given you advice on how to walk with different sorta feet, but hooves are sorta outside of my expertise. But yeah, it's probably been about four months, wild how time flies..." says Marinov, scratching at their starry cheek lightly. "But I don't think it's fishy. After the change, I sorta understood how to use some of the additions. I could bring out claws, even if I didn't even have the muscles that do that before. Anyways... tell me about what you've been getting up to this last week or so? Anything new and exciting?" "New? No. Exciting, maybe?" Paige replies as she reaches up to scratch above an eye and then back along the side of her face towards her ear. "I mean, not really? I went to visit Mai again. It's -- it's the same old shit," she admits, letting out a sigh as her shoulders slump and her hands fall to her sides. "She doesn't ... she just belongs in there. At least for now. As for the exciting, I got a ride back from an MID sergeant named Eric. He's the one who arrested Mai to begin with. Him and Officer Kelly. But a bunch of people told me not to trust him, so I don't know." The horned girl offers a shrug with this. "It's hard, you know? He was there. For Mai's arrest. Him and Officer Kelly and Mai and I - we're the only ones who know what went down. And Mai's version is as different as you can get from what I think really happened. And, even then, I was talking with Officer Kelly most of the time." There's a pause as she bites at her lower lip. "But I'm not going to see her anymore. Not because of the trip. Two hours each way isn't really that bad. It's not like I have anything else to do, you know. But it's just torturous being there talking to her." "Ah, yeah, I was going to say that... maybe you should stop visiting her. 'cause... I dunno. It seemed to not be doing you any good to be seeing her... Like every time you came back, it was like you were being worn down," says Marinov, crossing their arms over their stomach tightly. "As for Eric... People told you not to trust him? I know him, sorta. I met him before, and he's sometimes around Evolve. Was anyone who was telling you not to trust him more like generally, don't trust the police? Or was it sort've a thing like, don't trust the police, but fuck this guy in particular extra? 'cause I get the former, and I'd say the same, but the latter... I don't know enough about him to say." "The ... the second one. A few people -- you know, people I trust and stuff -- said that he was a particular um ... hazard? I don't know the word. They said they have a history with him. And he kind of said the same. That, well, I shouldn't trust cops because all cops are bastards and that there's a history. But you've met him?" Paige's ears twitch as her eyes study Marinov before she shrugs. "Good to know he's somewhere I can find him. I mean -- I just mean that the thing with Mai. It hasn't ended for me. I'm scared it won't. I'm scared of her. It hasn't even been three months since that royally fucked-up day. It's just nice, like I said, to talk to someone who was there, to someone who knows what happened. Even if his story is going to be different than mine. But ... what about you? How are you doing? How are you holding up? And your festival! Only a month off, right?" Despite the fact that it clearly appears a bit strained, the goat girl offers a smile to her friend. "Yeah, I've met him. Seen him around. Came across him in a bar, but didn't recognize him then as the cop who hands around Evolve a bunch. Which I think, after the whole firebombing situation, the MID cops started to hang around there more," says Marinov, nodding slowly. "But yeah. You shouldn't trust cops. Cops cause way too much harm to people like us." They shrug a shoulder and say, "I have been doing okay, getting the word out, at this point volunteer recruitment is kind of the most important thing. I've got the word out to lots of artists and am in communication with them now, Taylor helped me out there a bunch. Otherwise, just doing school stuff. I've been trying real hard to pick my grades up, 'cause help from some of the teachers was contingent on that sorta effort." Paige scratches at her opposite ear. "Yeah, I just...Never mind, it doesn't matter," she quickly concludes with a shrug of her own. "So you've got more people working for you now?" This is said with a sly grin. "How does it feel, being a diva? It's what you wanted, right? How many artists have you gotten in touch with? What kinds? This is just so -cool-, you know? Fucking impressive is what it is." The horned girl nods along with her words. "And that's awesome that Taylor's helping you out. And, yeah, it totally makes sense that your teachers would be more interested in you learning than doing. Even if they're often one and the same." Eyes flicking briefly to her hooves as the pair walk, the goat girl soon narrows her eyes. "Wait. Wait. What? Hold up - why were you at a -bar-? You better not have been drinking. I will -- I will call your parents and I will tell them what happened. You better not have been drinking." Whether or not her threat has merit, it would appear that the older of the two is taking this matter quite seriously. "I am not a diva yet. Just getting something like this off the ground is really great," says Marinov with a satisfied seeming expression, "And... I dunno, lots of artists, visual, music, performance art... Just like I wanted, really. It's gonna be a lot of work, but a lot of fun. You're still down for volunteering, yeah?" Their ears fold back slightly at Paige's reaction to their going to the bar and they say incredulously, stopping in their tracks, "Call my parents? The fuck? Are you kidding me?" "Of -course- I'm still down for volunteering," The goat girl begins, taking a few steps further than her friend before realizing they have stopped. Her posture deflates and her own ears press downwards when she finishes processing Marinov's words. "I -- I'm s -- My apologies. You're not -- you're not supposed to be in bars," she counters with a slightly whiny tone and a concerned look on her face. One of her hands rubs at the opposite arm beneath the cardigan. "You could get in trouble and get a record or something. It's just risky, you know? And Eric doesn't, -can't-, get drunk. He told me. You said yourself that you shouldn't trust cops. "I mean drinking underage isn't really something you get in a lot of trouble for, but ... just be careful, alright?" She sighs again and closes her eyes, looking a bit defeated. "And you're already careful, I bet. You don't need me telling you this shit, telling you how to live your life. Just forget I even said anything, okay?" "Yeah, well, I wasn't planning on running into the guy when I went there," says Marinov, ears swiveling between the backwards and forwards positions. "But yeah, of course I'm being careful when I do stuff, but sometimes I dunno. I just wanted to let loose a little, exams were done, and I had a bad time at a karaoke thing a few nights prior that I was still sour about. Sometimes I just gotta do something or else I'll just fucking explode." "Yeah, -shit-. I'm sorry," Paige offers as she stands in front of the teen with her ears angled downwards and her hands wringing each other. "I didn't mean to judge you, but I fucking did. You don't deserve that at -all-." The horned girl falls silent for a few moments. "I trust you. I know you make smart decisions. I'm sorry about that karaoke shit, Tay. That -sucks-." Then, in an awkward attempt to change the topic, "How -- how did your exams go? Ace any?" "Even if sometimes I'm not making smart decisions, I'd rather you not call my parents, yeah?" says Marinov, still with a heated tone, though they start walking again. "I've gotta put on a brave face for them or else they'll worry. They keep up with the news. They know the world is gonna fuck me over. But sometimes I don't want to be putting on a face. I just want to forget it once in awhile, do something fun." They exhale sharply and continue, "I tell you stuff 'cause you're my friend. If you want to act like a parent, I'll just be more selective in what I tell you. But yeah, I'd rather just be trusted to handle my own shit, you know?" Paige stays behind for a few moments, rubbing at the back of her neck silently before hastening to catch up with Marinov. "You know my birthday is coming up," she offers while gesturing idly with her hands. "My -twenty-first- birthday. In May." This is said with a slight hitch of her brows towards the teen. "We could -- could do something. Not like ... not like at a bar or anything, but ... something." After she trails off, she soon brings up her hands, waving them in a warding fashion. "Not because of you! I just mean bars aren't my scene and all, you know? Maybe after the arts festival? A dual celebration?" "Geez, you did a one-eighty there pretty quick," says Marinov, brows raised slightly in surprise, "I wouldn't ask you t'do that, since you seemed to find it so objectionable just a second ago." They shrug lightly and say, "If you want to do a celebration, I'd be happy to, just don't want you doing something you're not comfortable with 'cause I'm sorta peer pressuring you." They shrug one shoulder in just a tiny motion. "When is your birthday again? I dunno if I have it in my calendar." "Yeah, well, you're supposed to celebrate this stuff, right? Being able to drink and all that shit? I'm not saying I -get- it ... because I -don't-. I don't know - I bet if I were still at school, there'd be at least -some- people pressuring me," Paige confesses with a shrug. "The eleventh of May. I'd rather not be alone that day." Marinov draws their phone and looks at the screen, to enter Paige's birthday as a noteable date. "Well, I mean, that's a Thursday night, and as an upstanding young scholar, I should not be out late on a school night, you know," says Marinov, taking on a serious tone, before they add, "I'll be around, but I expect I'll be around more on the weekend proper still." "Ah and a -very- upstanding one at that," the goat girl remarks with a sly wink. "I am certain you will be studying hard as usual and rocking the best outfits." That said, Paige eyes Marinov over. "Fuck. That really -is- a fantastic fur pattern. But, yeah, it's a Thursday. We'll work something out, I'm sure." "Studying, yeah..." says Marinov, sighing softly, "I am doing okay in most of my classes right now. I'm not a genius like some of the people at Xavier's. It seems like it'd be neat, being that perfect like valedictorian type of person. With the brains and the passion for learning and everything..." They kick a foot out lightly at the grass. "Make something of myself, you know? Anyways. Thanks, yeah, I think this fur pattern is amazing. If anyone but Tag was doing it, I don't think this look would even be possible." Paige offers the felinoid teen a soft smile. "You're on your way to doing it, you know. Making something of yourself. Being smart isn't always about getting good grades. I mean, you -want- to do that because that's what gets you into a good college and stuff. That and, you know, the SATs. Which suck. But part of that is knowing how to take the test. You've already got a great network of folx, you know? For when you graduate and shit, if you don't go off to college. And with this arts festival, you're going to know even more people. Sometimes I envy you, but other times I'm just glad I don't have to do the homework." "Yeah, I want to go to college. I mean, my parents have been saving up a long time for me to go, you know? I don't want to let them down," says Marinov, eyes pointed ahead, "I have an alright network, yeah. I mean... I'll figure it out, right? I've got time." "Plenty of time, my friend," Paige assures her friend. "You don't even need to go to college fresh out of high school, though sometimes I hear that is highly recommended. And it's better at college anyways. You don't have classes all the time, you can do what you want, relax when you want, study when you want, no curfew. Also some continued protection from the alleged 'real world', you know? Instead of getting the regular cops called on, you'll get university police - for better or for worse. Just keep doing what you're doing and you'll be good."