ArchivedLogs:Too Personal

Too Personal
Dramatis Personae Ash, Jack, Kaine	2015-05-17 '
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. Ash is returning home from a local farmer's market with a couple grocery bags of fresh veggies in each arm. The sun is strong and the air is warm, but it could be worse. He's dressed in cargo shorts, the pockets on his thighs filled with tomatillos. He is wearing a largish brown shirt over the tan leggings and flip flops on each foot. In one hand, he has a frozen drink, orange in color, with swirls of sweet white cream. He is sipping quietly as wanders home, glancing in at the guerrilla gardening as he goes. Jack is glad its not worse out. He's in jeans and the lightest hoodie he could find as he makes his way down the street. He's out with a friend today, hood up even if his head isn't down. "So did you want to got to Evolve or check out that game store?" Jack asks his companion, nodding down the street. He's about to say something else when he notices something out of the corner of his eye and looks over. The invisible teen perks a little when he spots Ash, an unseen smile forming on his face. "C'mon," he chimes, lifting an empty sleeve to wave to Ash as he leads the way over. "Hey." "Kind of wanted to see about picking up the new Mortal Kombat." Kaine replies, one hand in the pockets of his dark jeans. "Should have worn a different shirt too." he grumps, reaching up to rub at his sleeveless 'Training to go Super Saiyan' shirt. A nod is sent Ash's way when they finally make it over, "Howdy." Ash pauses when he hears the greeting, one not so commonly used in New York City. He turns and spies the form of the mutant teen he knows and one he doesn't recognize so readily. He puts a smile on his face and waves his drink, head tilting a little as he reads Kaine's shirt. "What are you guys doing out and about today?" "I think we have to hit another store for that," Jack replies. Not that he's entirely sure. "Just being out instead of cooped up all weekend. Maybe go buy a video game," he replies. "This is Kaine. And this is Ash," he introduces the two, gesturing from one to the other and back again. "Pleasure to meet you." Kaine says, flashing a warm smile and a wave of his webbed hand. "Just trying to get out and about, try and find a vape shop that won't card me. Been meaning to pick up some cbd oil, but I couldn't take it back to school. So would have to figure all that out." "Ah, wow, you know, Um..." Ash just stares at Kaine for a moment. He just pulls his drink to his lips and starts top sip. He turns to Jack with raised eyebrows and a concerned look before it fades to vague discomfort. "Oh, cool. Sometimes I play video games. I have to go over to my friends' house because we don't have a tv at my place, but that's cool. Means I get to see my buds when I want to play." Jack looks a little uncomfortable at the mention of vaping and what he's assuming is oil illegal for their age too. At least as much as empty clothes can. "Kaine, man..." he trails off with a sigh. He gives Ash as apologetic look as he's able but focuses on the video game topic. "I'm still not all that good at video games. Tend to get my butt kicked every time I play," he chuckles a little. "Except Mario Kart. I'm actually pretty good at that." "What? I'm pretty sure it's legal, or they wouldn't sell it. Not to get you high or anything.. I just hate taking pills for anxiety." Kaine's lips purse and it's his turn to look uncomfortable. "Just... Pretend I mentioned sports ball or something." "The thing is... I know nothing about you except you are in school, have anxiety, and don't like taking pills. I mean, if you want to be known for those things, that's cool, it's probably good to know some of that up front, but you might want to start with something a little less personal maybe? Like, what your favorite color is, or a movie you saw recently that was pretty cool?" Ash takes another sip and the moves the bags so that they hang from only one hand, the straps pressing uncomfortably against one wrist. He moves over to a nearby bench to set his stuff down. "Or like Jack here. MarioKart King. I suck at that game. I swear, it's a skill set I was not born with." Jack just nods a little as Ash explains things. There is a little concerned look and dip in his shoulder when it registers what Kaine is taking those pills for. He'd mentioned them in the past but not their purpose. Making a mental note to ask about it later, Jack chuckles. "I have no idea how I'm so good at it. I just get lucky with those little question mark blocks I guess," he says. Eyes fall to Ash's back and Jack tilts his head curiously. "What have you been doing today?" "I'm just honest, a bit too honest, unfortunately." Kaine reaches across his chest to grip onto his arm, it isn't obvious at first but his hand appears to be icing over. "Should have went with the movie. Saw Her recently, was really good. End made me a bit teary, but most movies like that will." "People are uncomfortable with honesty. It's like walking around naked and asking people not to stare." Ash shrugs again and settles down to sit next to his grocery. "Her, eh? Is that the one with the AI? I don't think I've scene it much yet. I'm still waiting for the summer blockbusters. I had a lot of fun with Pacific Rim when it came out." He shifts his attention back to Jack. "Oh, I've been shopping. Got lots of veggies. Going to make dinner tonight - and maybe roast some spring peppers after that. Love a good roasted pepper. They taste amazing." "That one's not a problem for me," Jack tries to joke a little to lighten the mood even if he's blushing at it. He listens quietly as movies are discussed, still learning and catching up himself. He moves to lean against the bench and hums. "What big blockbusters are coming up this year?" he asks, curious. "I should try them sometime if they're that good. What're you planning on making?" "Yeah, where he falls in love with his computers operating system." Kaine confirms, the ice on his hand turning to snow and drifting further down the sidewalk. "Don't usually go see the movies, not even sure if we had a theater back home." "You... shouldn't do that." Ash adds after a moment, wetting his lips. "The cops can arrest and fine you for using mutant powers in public. It's pretty expensive. Upwards of five hundred dollars. It's nice that it's cooler, but it's also not necessarily great to do right now." Ash scrubs the back of his neck with his free hand. "Ah, I don't know. I know Mad Max opened this weekend and there's this guy in it that looks a lot like my bud. I want to see it so I can tease him about it." "I haven't seen that one either," Jack says thoughtfully. His head tilts in confusion at first when Ash mentions the mutant power fine and he looks around. Spotting the snow has his shoulders tensing a bit and he looks around as if expecting cops to appear. "Yeah...some hassled me just for existing awhile ago. Acting like they thought I was lying about not being able to turn this off," he comments, just a little warily while still looking around. When he's satisfied that they aren't about to be bothered by the law, the invisible one lets out a sigh of relief. "I don't think some of them care if we don't have a control over it...they just want the excuse," he adds. He falls silent for a moment before focusing on the movie conversation again. "I haven't been to a theater since I was a lot younger. Catching up with DVDs and that Netflix thing," he says with an unseen smile. "Planning to take him to tease him right after the movie? Or even during it?" he asks Ash. "Yeah, and that sucks because I /didn't/ do that on purpose. Sometimes it just happens with my emotions." Kaine huffs a bit. "It's a pain in the ass, part of the reason I only like to come into the city to get piercings or pick up stuff I can't get closer to school." "Yeah, I know how it is, but you gotta be careful -- maybe take the pills even though you don't like them. Talk to your teachers if you're having problems? Find someone who'll listen." Ash softens his tone and tries to be comforting, his brow etched with concern. "Can't get anything from a vape store if the cops take all your money," he adds with a shrug. "Ahh. Maybe I'll see if he wants to see it with me. That'd be cool." "I know how that is," Jack murmurs sympathetically. His TK still acts up if his emotions gets out of check. "I don't know if it'll help at all but maybe some of what my advisor told me about how to keep my TK under control can help," he offers to his friend. He shifts a little awkwardly at Ash's answer and glances at Kaine before speaking up again. "If he doesn't want to...maybe...next weekend you and me could go?" Kaine starts to say something, but Jack's question towards Ash just has him flashing a small grin. "It'd be the highlight of his week, trust me. Otherwise he's stuck watching movies with me and making smalltalk about how much I hate warm weather." "Next weekend is memorial day weekend. There should be plenty of time to go see a movie." Ash gives a little smile before he raises his gaze to Kaine, his expression light and energetic. "You can come, too, if you like. We can make it a group activity, then we don't have to wait to see if my friend doesn't want to go." Jack is glad the blushing can't be seen right now. He rubs the back of his neck a shifts his weight as Kaine chimes in, giving him a quick but invisible smile. He perks up at Ash's answer, hood falling back. He jumps and quickly pulls it back up, looking as happy as he can with just floating clothes. "Great," he replies. There's a pause when Ash mentions making it a group activity, Jack glancing up at Kaine. "I'll try to make it, yeah." Kaine gives Jack a conspiratorial nudge though. "Though I might be getting a new piercing if I have the money, so no telling how that'll go." Ash scratches at the back of his neck for a moment then gathers his belongings. "Okay. I'll see you around then. I got some stuff in here that should be refrigerated. You guys have fun, okay?" He stretches his shoulders before heads on his way home. Jack can't help the slight shiver that shoots down his back at the mention of a piercing but he still gives a quick thankful but embarrassed look to Kaine. He nods as Ash starts to stand, doing the same. "We will. See you later," he offers. "Let's go find a place to get that game," he says to Kaine. Kaine nods slightly, offering a two-fingered salute. "Peace." His attention drifts back to Jack, "Should be a place near here."