Logs:No Filter

No Filter
Dramatis Personae Akihiro, Polaris, Skye
In Absentia	2020-03-04 "I know he cares, for what's that's worth -- I've read his Twitter and all."
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. It's well past lunch time for most people, the afternoon crowd thinning into the lull before quitting time. Polaris has just slipped out from behind the counter, hanging up her apron for the day and bringing with her two big mugs of coffee. She's lightly dressed, even by the standards of the mild weather the city is having today, in a green tank top with the graphic of a cartoon Babadook wearing a top hat in bi pride colors and skin tight black jeans. Her black wrist cuffs, belt, and stompy black boots are all heavily decorated with gleaming steel hardware. Her long green hair spills over her bare shoulders in loose, glossy waves. Setting down the mugs at the table her companion already occupies, she slides one across. "Here's your...syrup. I don't judge, but I don't know how you can drink this." Skye has been lounging sideways in a chair, her back to one of the walls. She's wearing a loosely knitted black-and-pink striped sweater -- its neckline wide enough to expose one shoulder a bright pink bra strap -- a pleated black miniskirt, thigh-high socks to match her sweater, and bright pink Doc Martens. "You are a goddess," she says, making grabby-hands at the mug of whip-cream-topped coffee drink as it's delivered to her. "And you shouldn't knock your glorious handiwork like that. I'm picky about my candy drinks." “I mean, they’re not wrong. About the goddess part anyway.” Akihiro chimes in as he walks up, shooting the pair a wink. He’s clearly dug deep into his closest, wearing a white Taking Back Sunday tee, a pair of black skinny jeans, and a pair of black and white converse. “When I get around to drinking coffee I usually take it black. Maybe I should give these creamy syrup drinks a shot while I’m here, eh?” Polaris drops herself into a seat and takes a long gulp from her own latte au lait, wincing at the heat. "I've played barista at enough anarchist coffeehouses that it doesn't count as 'play' anymore, but *that*--" She gestures disdainfully at Skye's mug. "--is a glorified frappuchino." Though here she stops short. "I'm not sure I'm actually allowed to say that here, since it's trademarked and all. Hey Akihiro!" She flashes an appraising smile at him. "You're just a touch too late to order me around, I just clocked out." This comes with a sharp, slightly crooked grin. Her hazel eyes skip to Skye. "Have you two met?" Skye sips delicately at her elaborate beverage and smiles. "This puts real frappuchinos to shame, and I'll say that as loud as I like." She sits up a little straighter when Akihiro arrives, but seems less alarmed than just guarded, though she relaxes somewhat at Polaris's reaction. "I feel like I've see you around here and there," she tells the man, "but I don't think we've been introduced. I'm Skye." She keeps her hands firmly wrapped around her mug. “Good to meet you.” Akihiro flashes a cheery smile and throwing up a peace sign. “Hopefully I haven’t been making too much noise around here.” Circling around he finds himself a seat, turning his attention over to Polaris. “I’ll have to show up earlier next time, try a couple different drinks. If I like them enough I might even throw in tip.” Polaris snorts, but looks pleased at the compliment all the same. "I'm glad you like it, anyway." She takes another sip of her coffee. "I dunno, I think you've been pretty unobtrusive. Skye just gets around." One dark green eyebrow arches elegantly. "You had better. Though honestly my coworkers put my coffee-slinging skills to shame." Her eyes sparkle as she hides a smile behind her mug. "...if we're still talking about coffee." Skye raises both eyebrows at Polaris. "I get around?" The eyebrows hike even higher when she turns to Akihiro, her expression muted but faintly horrified. Then glances at Polaris. Then back at Akihiro. "Were you even talking about coffee to begin with?" Her tone is a bit skeptical. "I feel like you pretty much just speak double entendre these days." “I was, for the most part.” Akihiro reaches up to rub the back of his neck. “I thought about applying here a while ago,” he changes the subject, “but funnily enough I’m not a citizen. Hell, pretty sure I’m legally dead.” Taking his lower lip between his teeth he looks towards the ceiling. “I should probably talk to Steve about it at some point.” "Sorry. I do, kinda, but I was mostly talk about coffee. Mostly." Polaris doesn't look all that contrite. Her expression clouds over suddenly. "There's folks can help you with that, though a lot them are working overtime. I know you're a badass, but still..." She shakes it off, gulps down more coffee. "Steve Rogers? Pretty sure he's both a citizen and legally alive, but even if he weren't, who's gonna give Captain America shit over that? He's a goddamned national treasure." Skye bites her lower lip. "Yeah, that doesn't sound so great right now, especially if you're..." She doesn't finish the sentence, but her eyes make a circuit of the room before returning to Akihiro. Then to Polaris. "Please, his lily-white ass wouldn't need to worry about immigration no matter where he was born. The All-American Hero thing is totally unnecessary." “When I was a boy I used to have one of those old propaganda posters with his face on it, up until my adoptive father destroyed it. Probably a combination of the war still being fresh, and me having an obvious crush on him.” Akihiro admits, his gaze falling on Skye. “Cap is good people. He doesn’t have to worry about it, but he does.” “Part of the reason I was recruited so easy was old Uncle Sam promising me I’d be like him, but instead it was six decades of assassinations and front line combat. Probably what they’d of tried to use him for if he hadn’t been declared KIA.” Polaris shrugs. "He seems alright," she agrees mildly. "There's folks I trust who trust him, and that ain't nothing." Then, as an afterthought. "I guess he ain't bad looking, either." Her eyes snap to Akihiro at his recounting of his service record, then quickly to Skye, then glancing around them nervously. "You know, I don't really have a filter, either, but it kinda freaks people out when you say shit like that out of the blue." Skye rolls her eyes. "I meant they're never gonna come after him. I know he cares, for what's that's worth -- I've read his Twitter and all." She drinks deep from her coffee, then promptly chokes on it, coughing desperately and drawing more glances than Akihiro's statement itself. The table rattles alarmingly beneath her white-knuckled hand for just a moment before stilling. She is sitting up more stiffly, though, both feet on the ground now. "Uh...yeah, consider me freaked out. Look, I got nothing against Captain America, ok? I'm sure he's a great guy." “Yeah. I should stop over sharing.” Akihiro sighs, leaning back in his seat. “I don’t care if they try and kill me, but it’s been a bitch trying to make friends.” Pushing to his feet he nods towards the women, gaze on the floor. “I’m sorry for interrupting, you both have a good rest of your day.”