ArchivedLogs:Rushing Things

Rushing Things
Dramatis Personae Ash, Jack
In Absentia	2015-06-12 '
Location <NYC> Lower East Side
Historically characterized by crime and immigrant families crammed into cramped tenement buildings, the Lower East Side is often identified with its working-class roots. Today, it plays host to many of New York's mutant poor, although even here they are still often forced into hiding. Tonight, heat and humidity have overridden Jack's desire not to attract attention or gawked at. That's why this evening, there's a pair of baggy workout shorts, sneakers, and an old t-shirt walking down the sidewalk tonight. On his way to the safehouse for the Fight Club, the invisible teen's got a waterbottle floating at his side where his hand should be. His shoulders are tense though and he's hoping trouble isn't attracted his way tonight. Well, trouble that he isn't going to on purpose. Ash is making his way to fight club as well, wearing a pair of brown cargo shorts and a gray (and dingy) tank top. He's got a cap pulled down over his head with the bill shadowing his face, but doesn't make any other attempts to hide his features. He is also pretty relaxed for what he's heading toward, his gaze locked on the ground, studying the asphalt as he walks. The clothing draws his attention and he raises an eyebrow before shaking his head and laughing. "One would wonder, with as warm as it is, why you wouldn't just go commando. Most the rest of us wish we could." The laughter draws Jack's attention and he ends up smiling invisibly when he sees who it is. Of course that comment has him blushing and laughing some himself. "Technically I am," he admits sheepishly. "At least in the uh...usual sense," he explains, moving closer to Ash so they don't have to talk as loudly. "I'll admit I was tempted though." "The usual sense doesn't count in the heat sense." Ash adds when they draw closer. "There are probably other considerations, like chafing and sweat, on top of being run into on crowded streets." He wets his lips before asking, "So, you, uh, fight?" Not being a regular, it's tough for him to know, his nose wrinkling up as he considers the safe house up ahead. "I'm not as worried about running into people. I can avoid them pretty well," Jack replies. "I do have to worry about the other stuff though," the invisible teen agrees. He takes a deep breath before he answers. "Yeah, most of the time," he replies quietly. "I...mean I don't every time I go but I do sometimes. You fight too?" "Ah, Sometimes. I do not do it too often. I fight and my head goes some place else. It is - isn't very pleasant a lot of the time, but other times, I just need to do it." Ash scowls and slows his steps, reaching up to scrub at the back of his neck. He glances in Jack's direction but doesn't stare long. "Today is just one of those days." Jack listens quietly, slowing down so he doesn't get too far ahead of Ash. "I think I get it...I mean I don't know exactly what its like but...sometimes you just have to do something to get it out of your system," he says, shoulders rising with a little shrug. "I'm just...I want to learn more than just what the school is teaching. How to fight better so I can help out if there's trouble again." "This... isn't exactly the best place to learn. I mean, it is, but it isn't. How much has the school taught you already? I mean -- you haven't been going there long." Ash comes to a stop on the corner, off the street, turning his attention up to a street light that is flickering on against the setting sun. "This... this hurts. This'll teach you how to endure pain and to turn it into survival because you have to. It's all the base instincts. Don't you just want to be a kid?" "Not as much as others yet but I'm still learning," Jack shrugs again. There's a long pause as he considers that question, Jack shifting the water bottle he's carrying to the other hand. "I...I would and I do try to just do...plain stuff but," he sighs. "I mean...I already got shot just for being what I am. And then there was the whole future thing," Jack shrugs. "I figure its better to try to be prepared than not." "I don't think fighting here is really going to prepare you for getting shot. It's not exactly a gun... or arrow range. And the future -- Jack, things are pretty hard as they are. I just... well, I'm not really anybody to you, so I can't really be telling you anything. Just don't like someone in a rush to lose what little of their innocence they have left." Ash slows his speech after a moment's consideration and takes a deep breath. He raises a fist to his chest and makes a small circular motion. "You're a friend," Jack points out quietly. "And thank you," he takes a breath as well. "I just...I don't know," one of his sleeves lifts as he rubs the back of his neck. "I'm probably not making sense," he sighs. He shifts his weight as he tries to think of the right words to use. "I promise I'm not trying to lose innocence on purpose at least." "Well, okay. But - don't go rushing into the future. That is all I can say." Ash turns toward the safe house and starts walking again, heading in. Jack follows along with an unseen smile. "I'll do my best not to," he says. "I like the present a little too much for that anyway."