Logs:Gig Economy

Gig Economy
Dramatis Personae Akihiro, Sarah
In Absentia	2019-09-22 "Who doesn't have more than one job, living here?"
Location <NYC> Central Park
Perhaps the most famous urban green space in the world, Central Park's over 800 acres of green and blue is a popular escape from the City's hustle and bustle for residents and visitors alike. It houses not only stands of trees and water features, but Belvedere Castle, the Alice in Wonderland statues, and the Central Park Zoo. Those 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. Like she has been the past several Sundays, Sarah has set up shop by the Alice in Wonderland statues. The 'shop', to her great delight, has grown some; what was once two folding chairs and a homemade sign has turned into two folding chairs, a homemade sign, a small folding table, and a small, triangular canopy that is weighed down with water bottles. As such, she has a spare bit of shade to spare for her customers, and doesn't seem to be too bothered by the heat of the day. Dressed in a navy sleeveless romper that has a pattern of yellow butterflies and lavender, white, and turquoise flowers, along with her yellow converse, Sarah is currently in-between customers and seems to be in good cheer. Thankfully the weather has cooled some with the rapid approach of winter, which makes Akihiro look less out of place as he zips his beige London Fog jacket up. While this covers up the bullet holes in his shirt it does little to conceal the dark splatters of blood that sparsely coat his jeans. Blending in with the tourists he moves through the park, putting distance between himself and whatever trouble he left behind. “Would you look at that,” he pipes up upon noticing Sarah’s new setup, “business has been kind, eh?” He offers the woman a bright smile, even though he doesn’t really know her. Sarah brightens at the familiar face, though it takes a moment to place it. "Oh, hi!" she greets with a wave. "Yeah, it's been going well! I'm working on an upgraded sign next." While it has a few new portraits, the sign is the same poster and cardboard sign as the last time Akihiro saw it, a bit more beat up and worn with time. "Want to take a seat? I can make a discount for returning customers." “How could I say no?” Akihiro shoots Sarah a grin, thankful for the alibi. Unzipping his jacket just a touch and pushing the sleeves up he takes a seat across from her. His eyes drift back in the direction he just came from for a moment before looking back at Sarah. “I imagine it’s hard to keep the lights on as a portrait artist. Have any other work right now?” "Oh yeah. Who doesn't have more than one job, living here?" Sarah opens her pencil bag, digs for a plain black and a sharpener. Sets to putting those two things to use. "I do this, I pour coffee, probably gonna have to find something else." She's oddly cheerful at the prospect, or at least nonplussed. Such is life. "What about you? What do you do to afford portraits?" “Nothing right now.” Akihiro admits, rubbing at the side of his neck. “I had a law firm I ran here in the nineties, ended up moving to the west coast though after some kingpin ran my business into the ground.” “I’m looking for something to kill the time though. Always figured I’d be spending time with my grandkids by now. Not even sure if I have any children though.” 'The nineties' brings a slight pause in Sarah's movements, a confused wrinkle of her brow before - oh yeah, this guy is old. "Why not open another law firm? If that kinda thing doesn't expire, at least." Blowing pencil shavings off of the table, Sarah opens her sketchbook to a blank page and flips over a small hourglass between herself and Akihiro. "It's not that hard to look for family nowadays, either. You know, 23andMe and that stuff? Maybe you'd get some matches." “It was also a lot easier to pretend you have all the qualifications in the nineties.” Akihiro says with another small laugh, fondly remembering the little front he had. “I’m thinking maybe I’ll walk dogs or get a job as a bartender.” He shifts forward and his jacket falls open a bit more, showing off one of the red ringed holes in his shirt, though there’s a lack of a wound underneath. “Honestly, I’m not sure if I should try. They’d of went there whole lives without me.” His face contorts as another thought crosses his mind, “What if they didn’t inherit my mutation? Imagine finally meeting your father and he looks young enough to be your son.” "Those are two jobs that are always hiring. Also servers, janitors, housekeeping services," Sarah says, sketching away, "and bouncers at bars." She glances up with a wry grin, though there is a second of hesitation as her gaze catches on the marring of Akihiro's shirt. There's no wound. Maybe a style choice she hasn't seen before, like the fake bullet hole stickers for cars? She goes back to her drawing without comment. Reaches into her pencil bag with her left hand to grab a kneaded eraser that is nearly too full of graphite to be of use anymore. "I don't know about the-- age thing. But I think the other may depend on how they feel about it. Worst that can happen is you reach out, they say 'No thanks', right? If it were me..." She chews on her bottom lip, eyebrows drawing together. "If someone reached out and was like 'Hey, I'm your actual mom,' I'd at least want to give it a shot." Akihiro glances down at his chest then straightens back up, “Sorry about that.” “If anything they’d be bitter I’m sure. One night stands used to be a much bigger deal.” He lets out a sigh and looks to the sky. “I think I’ll give it a shot when it’s safe.” “Sometimes actual parents can be disappointing though. It’s best not to build them up in your head too much, y’know?” Sarah seems unable to hold back a bemused snort. "Yeah. I know." Molding one edge of the eraser into a thin point, she uses it to erase any guide lines she doesn't need anymore. Squeezes it between her fingers when she's done. "You'd be a better judge than me of what kind of parent you would be. But..." There's a slight pause, a glance up at Akihiro through a lock of pink hair that's fallen oven her forehead. "What if they do have your mutation? Maybe they want to be able to talk to someone who knows what that's like." "Then that means I'd better stay away." Akihiro says matter-of-factly. "Besst case scenario nobody ever noticed, but if we're being honest, that's not very likely. Even if they managed not to get hurt, or pop their claws in front of some stranger, people tend to notice when you don't age." He takes a deep breath and flexes his hands into fists, calming himself down before he gets too worked up. "It's been so long I barely remember having parents, so I doubt I'd be a good one." There isn't an immediate answer to that. While Sarah's cheerful expression remains, a flurry of emotions war in her eyes. She never stops drawing; sand is still running through the timer, after all. "Do you think that matters?" she eventually asks, words slow with thought. "That people can't be good parents unless they have them?" “Of course not.” Akihiro answers with a small shake of his head. “But it helps if they’re good people. Don’t get me wrong I’m the best at what I do, but what I do isn’t very nice.” Pushing to his feet the man digs out a crisp Benjamin and passes it over, apparently not concerned too much with actually getting his drawing. “Stay safe out here, kid.”