10103/Grabbing coffee with popstar besties.

Grabbing coffee with popstar besties.
Date of Scene:	19 November 2019
Location:	The Coffee Bean - Manhattan
Synopsis:	Drake and Dazzler go shopping for her concert. She is still popular. He is now a butler.
Cast of Characters:	Slipstream, Dazzler

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Slipstream has posed:
It's a chilly Tuesday in Manhattan and Drake had sent a text over to Allison a few days ago about trying to find some time to catch up and hang out. Now that his powers are under control, and he's joined up with the Legion of Superheroes, his life is a lot more stable Even though he misses his friends in the Avengers, he still keeps in touch with the world's greatest superheroes, but this new change is more his style.

Currently the video game hotshot and Overwatch league champion is settled in a booth as he watches the front door with a pair of coffees in front of him. One for him, and one for his friend. He knows what kind she likes. He is dressed in his Overwatch bomber jacket, a black shirt and a pair of worn bluejeans. He is tapping away on his phone with his thumbs, laughing to himself as he hears his phone chime. He's in a group with the 'guys' on the ship as they joke about and meme on each other.

Dazzler has posed:
When you're an international star...or is it intergalactic...dimensional? Who knows. Alison's got one of those faces that gets her recognized, for good and bad sometimes. To combat that she's not at all hiding, instead she's opted for dressing in her best holiday knit dress and fuzzy boots with an adorable sock hat, and the brilliant smile of someone that knows they are being watched.

And she is. There's a buzz that accompanies her as she moves down the street, stopping now and again when people want to talk to her. Then she's letting herself into the coffee shop with a quick look around until she spots Drake, a hand lifting upwards to give him a wave before heading in his direction.

Slipstream has posed:
Famous in his own circles, Drake is happy that he only gets recognized in Arcades or at LAN events. Three time world champion Overwatch League players can slip through the cracks and no one would even blink an eye. As he watches Allison head down the street from his window vantage, he can't help the grin on his face as he props his chin up in the palm of his hand. He is both amused and entertained as he watches her get hit up for autographs and pictures.

Waving in return to her when they meet eyes, he gives her a grin and nudges the coffee in her direction upon the table. "Hey Alleycat." He chuckles. "I see your adoring fans are out in full force. That's so cool. How's your morning going? Been awhile since we could hang out. I've missed you." He sips at his own coffee. "You want me to get you something to eat?"

Dazzler has posed:
"Hey!" Alison replies as she drops herself into a seat at the table, her eyes flicking towards the window and the fans that she just breezed through on her way inside. "It happens."

It's spoken with a fond amusement about her adoring fans being out there in full force. "It has been //forever//, oh my god. But no, nothing to eat. Just coffee." Which he's already gotten, and she reaches for it with a fond smile in thanks.

Slipstream has posed:
"It has been forever! I kinda miss going out and stopping bad guys with you. The world needs more of The Drazzler in it." Drake says as he uses the coined nick-name for them, even though she always found it obnoxious. It's a terrible name and even he knows it. "I live on a spaceship now with super heroes from the thirty-first century. So, that's new! You remember Mon-El, right? Goes by Lar. My best friend. He finally asked me to join the team. It's pretty crazy. I just came back from Planet Aeon where I was sent out to protect a science team. I got to see flying ice dragons! Can you believe that? It was like some straight out of Lord of the Rings shit. It chased me around. I probably should be dead."

As he sips his coffee, he just keeps grinning. He looks so happy. A far cry from the depressed and emotionally broken Drake she first met when Glorith tortured him. "How are you doing? Did you keep up with the live streaming to showcase your music or did you get on to a new label?"

Dazzler has posed:
While he tells the condensed version of his recent adventures she takes a careful sip from her coffee, watching him with a small flicker of amused smile. When he mentions Tolkien and ice dragons, however, she shakes her head, "No...no, ice dragon was in that show, Game of Thrones. It was a dead thing, though.."

The question about eh streaming and the label both get a shake of her head, "Neither. I got caught up with something, and sort of forgot to keep at it."

Slipstream has posed:
"What's Game of Thrones?" Drake doesn't watch a lot of TV, past or present. Give him credit for even knowing what Lord of the Rings is. His head tilts a bit in confusion as she admits she isn't using her platform. "Oh? Is everything okay?" He asks as he curls his hands a bit tighter about the coffee cup. "What did you get caught up in? Can I help out?"

Dazzler has posed:
"Oh, no!" Alison replies with a laugh, shaking her head before she reaches a hand over to rest her hand briefly on the back of his, "It's nothing that needs help with. I've already taken care of it...out of town, you know how it goes sometime, right?"

There is then a quick sip from her coffee before she sets it down, leaning forward, "So tell me about your new friends?"

Slipstream has posed:
Turning his hand over, Drake squeezes her hand in his. He brushes his thumb across the top of her knuckles. "Okay, if you're sure. You know I'm a phone call and now probably a teleporter away." He says as he gives her his usual optimistic smile. "So, my new friends are the Legion of Superheroes. They're from the thirty-first century and serve sorta as Intergalatic space protectors. They travel about to different planets and solar systems and help out, but they do a lot of work on Earth. So Lar is our leader. He is kinda our Superman. Lyle is the Invisible Kid. His powers are kinda obvious. Braniac Five is a super genius who is a big time scientist. Um.. there is Cosmic Boy also. Impulse is another speedster. Oh! Alex Powers from Power Pack. He just joined our team too! He's the oldest one with the gravity powers. It's awesome being on a team of heroes in my age range. We have a great time. It's like a bunch of brothers and sisters just pranking each other in off time and then going hard with it in combat."

Dazzler has posed:
"Right, invisible." It says it in the name. Dazzler takes a sip from her coffee before she sets it back down on the table, her fingers lacing together before settling in her lap as she leans back in her seat.

"I'm glad, Drake. I really mean it, very glad that you have found yourself a place in the world, with people you get along with. It's //really// important."

Slipstream has posed:
"I liked being on the Avengers, but I was so out of my league there. It's hard to stand next to Captain American and The Hulk and Iron Man and feel like you really fit in. Those guys are like .. /amazing/. I had no business being there." Drake says with a laugh. "But Mister Stark saved my life in more than a few ways, so I will always worship the ground he walks on. Maybe one day when I get older I can rejoin, but I think I'm in a good spot right now. You knoooow, we are still holding open auditions." He teases as he tips a wink to her. "If you wanna go save the universe with a bunch of dorks and see ice dragons..." He lifts his brow upwards.

Dazzler has posed:
Dazzler shakes her head at the offer, "I should focus on things here, not on planets..." She waves a hand outwards, indicating what the planets she means. "But thank you, for the offer of coming to audition." Which seems to be an amusing thing. "Age, though...that has nothing to do with it. It's comfortableness..."

Slipstream has posed:
"It's fun though. The things I can see now is crazy. It puts our life into this weird perspsective, knowing we aren't the only things out there. Seeing new planets and stars. Getting screamed at by aliens when your spaceship cuts someone off by accident. Space rage is real." Drake gives a slow, playful swing of their joined hands together along the table. "So, what is your plans down here? Getting back in the studio? Going to rejoin the Avengers?"

Dazzler has posed:
"Like road rage. Only in space?" There is a shake of her head at the question of the Avengers, "No..not rejoining anything." She shrugs her shoulders faintly, eyes flicking towards the window to study the street outside, "I was asked to make a guest appearance for someone's concert, at a club here. Figure that maybe I should focus on my music...see if I can't get some studio time. These days you don't even need to be signed to get play, the world and streaming is one giant mixed tape."

Slipstream has posed:
"Yeah, like road rage in space! It's why I'm not allowed to drive the spaceship." Drake says with a cheeky grin. "I'm glad to hear you're getting back into music. Who are you going to play with and what club? I can show up and scream your name and wear a Dazzler shirt or something. Maybe the one of you in rollarblades and that silver bodysuit." He says with a waggle of his brows. "I set that whole Twitch streaming thing up for you. Do you want me to help you get back into it? I still average about fifty thousand viewers when I go live. I can keep hosting you and shoving people at your channel. I loved the stuff you were doing with it last time. You sounded incredible as always."

Dazzler has posed:
"Andrea Jackson."

It's a name. And Alison nods faintly, "Maybe. Is Twitch still a thing?" It's so confusing! She doesn't keep up, even though she honestly probably should do a better job of it. "But you're welcome to come, soon as I get the date in stone I'll shoot you the info."

Slipstream has posed:
"Wow, really?" Drake says with a chuckle. "That's awesome. That should be an amazing concert. She sang at Superman's funeral and Tony Stark's birthday, and in Genosha real recently. I got her albums on my phone. I'll try and make it if I can. I do have to go back to Aeon with the team because we're researching some issues. The scientists that were supposed to protect the ice dragons may not have.. been doing.. ethical things.. and so now we gotta get involved and police it."

Dazzler has posed:
"Have I lost my number one fan already?" Alison wonders with mock-worry, a hand lifting to cover her mouth before she laughs, "I'm glad that she's doing well, honestly. It's a good sign that." She seems to believe every word spoken, and doesn't look worried at all about her own position in the popstratasphere. What is sad, though, for real sad, is the unethical treatment of dragons. "I hope you make it right."

Slipstream has posed:
Laughing, Drake says. "I don't know if I can compete with your top ten fans. I'm just lucky enough to have you as one of my best friends." He brings her hand up to kiss the top of it. Mwah! "The thing about the dragon is that the lady had this yellow serum that told us will help the dragons survive the changing climate since they are endangered." He drums his fingers of his free hand on the table. "But the dragon reacted so badly from it it went ballistic. We found out afterwards it was pumped full of nanobots or something. So.. I guess it /could/ be used to help the dragons, but it could also be used to control them. Depending on how you program them. So, we need to make sure it's on the up and up. We linked it to some shifty space science firm."

Dazzler has posed:
"So..." Alison pauses, then shakes her head before she lifts a hand, sliding it over her head to indicate nanobots and things are out of her league. Then she drops her hand again, "I've full faith, though, that you'll find what you're looking for, and take care of the space dragons."

Slipstream has posed:
"Well, I'm sure the team will be all over it. This stuff is so over my head that it doesn'tmake any sense to me. Brainy is like a IQ of three thousand or something and Lyle is also a super science guy. When those two talk it may be in a different language. They use words that seem to be made up on the spot. I just find myself going cross-eyed and playing Flappy Hippos on my phone to pass time away." Drake laughs as he rolls his eyes upwards. "I'm just happy to be down here on Earth today and hanging out with you. Got the whole day free. Whatcha wanna do? We can do a movie, can snag lunch, can do both. Whatever you want."

Dazzler has posed:
"All day?" Alison laughs at that, shaking her head, "You can't possibly have an entire day, just to entertain me." She lifts a hand, like she's checking a watch on her wrist that isn't even there.

"Maybe we can take a walk, and get lunch. I might do a bit of window shopping, see if I can't pick up a few things for the show." Alison decides after a moment.

Slipstream has posed:
"Ally, for you, I'd stop time all together and hang out with you in a single moment. You were there for me, through my physical therapy, through my injuries, and you know.. other stuff. You're one of three people in this world I would take a bullet for. Two of them are also invulernable to bullets, so really I'd be wasting my time but the thought is what counts, yeah?" Drake takes another long drink of his coffee. "That and it's been so long since we hung out. I'm down for a crawl through the mall or Times Square. Hopefully we don't get attacked by ninjas again. Though this time, I can use my super sonic speed to power you up like a battery. Boom!"

Dazzler has posed:
"Please don't take a bullet for me." Alison actually looks honestly concerned about the possibility, a frown passing across her face before she wipes it away with a smile, "Maybe instead use that super sonic speed to just move me over an inch so that no one needs to take a bullet for anyone?"

Slipstream has posed:
"Life is situational, Dazz. You know that, you're a superhero. Would I /enjoy/ being shot by a bullet? Nope! But if I did, I'm sure I'd survive it. I can rewind some injuries but we got like super bactine on the spaceship." Drake says as he lets go of her hand and uses it instead to prop his chin up again. "But most likely I'd be able to save you with my speed. Mostly. I'm sure. I can outrun bullets."

Dazzler has posed:
"I know that life is situational, and that everything in it can change at any moment. For any reason." Alison replies with a ghost of a smile passing across her lips, "That doesn't change the fact that I would prefer that you don't actually take a bullet for me, super bactine or not." She gives him a direct look at that, making certain that he knows that she's very serious about it.

Slipstream has posed:
"I too would prefer to not take a bullet, but I still would, if it meant life or death. It's what we do, Ally." Drake says as he bobs his head. "To be honest, I'd take a bullet for that barista too. She's really sweet and gives me extra whip on my coffee. But there is no point in me having these cool powers and putting on a uniform if I'm not willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. I will always look for another avenue of success, but if I had to, and I mean /had/ to." He reaches out with his hands to squeeze of hers between them. "You know I would."

Dazzler has posed:
"I know, but..." Alison pauses, looking for the words, "Not everyone needs you to. Like your two other friends that you'd take a bullet for, some of us are capable of taking a bullet for you instead."

Slipstream has posed:
"It's the thought that counts! Let's not say a bullet then. Let's say a laser beam, or a punch from the Juggernaut, or blah blah. I'm just saaaaaying I'd have your back." Drake flashes her a grin. "Okay, so we're going shopping then? Is popstar shopping like a big dramatic deal, where we go in for a shirt and we walk out with twenty bags of hats or something?"

Dazzler has posed:
"Popstar shopping is the same as anyone elses shopping, at least with me." Alison replies with a laugh, one that might give rise to the fact that the shopping is going to be very different from what he's used to.

Or she's just messing with him

Slipstream has posed:
Blinking his eyes for a few moments, Drake stares at her in a dubious manner. "You are jebaiting me." He drawls out with a laugh. "Fine, I will carry your twenty bags of hats like a good butler." He says as he hops up from the table, then holds his hand out for her. "I could use some new shoes anyways. Being a speedster is hell on the soles. I burn through them pretty quickly."

Dazzler has posed:
"You fly around on a ship with super bactine, but said space aliens can't make you a pair of shoes that can withstand really fast moonwalking?" Alison wonders with a laugh as she gets to her feet, slapping her hand down on his before she breezes for the door. "Try and keep up, then." The tease is thrown casually over her shoulder as she goes.

Slipstream has posed:
"I got tactical boots for my uniform!" Drake laughs as he grips her hand tightly, then leans down with his other to slide it around her. He hikes her upwards into his arms princess style and gives her a knowing look. The world around them blurs in a bright blue vortex of light and they find themselves on the street, followed by another 'blink' as they jump down the street, block after block. It's as if he is pushing off on one foot at a time. The air about them crackles. "Am I keeping up?" He says as he continues to zip forward, zig zagging through crowds of people, causing the air to rumble at a sub-sonic level, though he doesn't create that old blast he used to. He has control now. Real control.

Dazzler has posed:
"Hey!"

It's a good natured protest, and she's smart enough to not try and get down while they are moving, because that would probably hurt worse than leaping out of a car moving at 60mph. So instead she waits until he decides to stop somewhere before she starts to try and get back onto her own feet, a hand moving to smack his arm, "You passed the shoe store! I needed new heels."

Slipstream has posed:
As they come to a stop in front of the mall, Drake's shoes are smoking and he has to give them a bit of a stamping out. "They got shoe stores here!" He says, trying to flinch away from the smack with a laugh. "They have like five of them. Do you want me to take you back?" He asks with a laugh. On his wrist, his bracelet is beeping at him and flashing a code 'orange'. "Shh." He hisses, giving his arm a wiggle. "It's fine."

Dazzler has posed:
"It's a mall." Alison shakes her head at him, because of course it's got like five stores. Then she glances at the bracelet on his wrist, reaching for it with a frown, "Drake, what's this?"

This, in case he isn't clear, is the wrist she waves in his face.

Slipstream has posed:
"Oh. Uhh.. it keeps me alive?" Drake says with a nervous grin. "Green means good, Red means dead. If I use my powers too much at once, my body kinda tries to rip itself apart to bring itself back to the other reality I was trapped in, and it's painful and messy and you may need a mop. It's cool. I just chill out and it goes back to green in a bit. So, I just have to wear it for the rest of my life, or until Brainy comes up with a way to fix me, since he says he has it already figured out."

Dazzler has posed:
There is a very slight narrowing of her eyes, "I do have a ride." Because that is a lot less messy then him exploding all over the place. Theoretically. Either way she releases his wrist, waving towards the door so that he may proceed her through it, at a reasonable pace.

"I can't remember the last time I was actually in a mall."

Slipstream has posed:
"I'm fine. Really." Drake says as he follows after her, letting out an exasperated huff. "It's cool that you caaaare though." He says as he reaches out for her hand, giving it a small swing as they head through the mall. "Same. I can buy everything online that I need. It's all automated. I just feel like there is so many stores here that I don't know how to choose." He grins at her. "You're really getting heels? That's hot."

Dazzler has posed:
"Or just better stores outside the mall?" Alison probably isn't the shop online sort, even if it'd save her from having to face crowds. She's probably not the shop endlessly sort, //anyways//.

"Alright, so you need new shoes, I need something for the few minutes I'm on stage." She glances around until she spots a map, heading towards it to see if she can locate the right stores.

Slipstream has posed:
"Well, I usually just buy Adiddas sneakers since they're cheap and they feel good on my feet. I can snag them at Footlocker or whatever, so let's go find your store first. Let's get me being miserable and uncomfortable about hanging out in a girly store out of the way." Drake laughs as they head past the numerous stores as he gives quick glances into them.

"What else are you going to wear? A dress? Something more popstarry? Rollerskates?" He asks as he gives her hip a gentle bump. "Also, if you like Bobba tea, they got a place here that is awesome. Mango is my fav."

Dazzler has posed:
"Not sure that I've ever had that before." Alison replies with a shake of her head, heading through the various walkways until they get to a store, and she steps inside.

It's a very girly store. There are pink things, and dresses. She starts to move through the racks of clothes, looking thoughtful, "I don't know what I'm going to wear at all."

Slipstream has posed:
"Pink! My arch nemesis." Drake says as he walks inside, finding all the eyes of the women suddenly stare at him, as if he just entered some forbidden territory. Gulp! They could also be staring beause he is hanging out with a world famous popstar too.

"I think whatever you choose will be amazing though. You're beautiful, Allie. You could make a garbage bag look trendy and hashtaggy or whatever. I think as long as you have fun, that's important." He plucks up some thigh high boots and turns them around to inspect them.

Dazzler has posed:
They might be staring because the one and only Dazzler just walked through the door of a MALL store like a normal person. She is doing her best to act as normal as possible, in fact. Which means that she continues to look through the dresses, pulling out a few before she moves to drape them over his arm.

Since he's willing to carry her hats. "It's about being comfortable, and projecting the right image, too."

Slipstream has posed:
"I'd be comfortable in just wearing this and making people cry with my terrible voice if I was on stage. You popstars are on a different level though. You guys do like fifteen costume changes and all those dance moves. It looks really complicated. I'd rather stand there and mumble away." Drake is carrying her dresses over his arm, following after her loyally and trying to look interested. They all look the same to him.

"Are you going to pop off that night and wow the crowd? What songs are you going to sing?"

Dazzler has posed:
"I don't know." Dazzler replies with a shake of her head as she starts to grab a few other things, adding it to the growing pile of things that he's carrying around the store. "I wasn't prepared to be singing on a stage, and it's last minute...and I just don't know. I want to do a few songs, though."

She picks up a pair of the boots he'd been looking at before, adding those to the mix, "But not upstage her."

Slipstream has posed:
Switching to two arms, Drake is glad that Mister America made him hit the gym so much and put on some muscle. This would have killed his spaghetti arms last year. "I don't think you'd upstage her. I do think this is exciting though. Like, it's huge, right? You ever watch wrestling? Like the old days? So you'd have Hulk Hogan right? He'd be getting his butt kicked by the 'bad guy', and the crowd is really into it, and then all of a sudden the spotlights hit the tunnel and freaking Macho Man Randy Savage just comes barreling down to jump into the ring to help the Hulkster out. The crowd loses their fucking mind."

"It's gonna be like that for you. You're gonna be the Macho Man, popping up on stage next to Hulk Hogan and the crowd will go ballistic. It'll be like one of those holy fuck moments. You know that right?"

Dazzler has posed:
"I do know that...but I never watched wrestling." Alison replies with a laugh, "It's not unheard of for a guest artist to appear...and I think we're not announcing my involvement. So it'll be a big surprise."

Another dress is added, then she begins to head towards the changing rooms, waving him inside, "Just set them down so I can try a few of them on."

Slipstream has posed:
"I bet people will lose their minds. I won't leak it, promise." Drake says as he follows after her with the mountain of clothes he carries, barely peeking over them as he waddles side to side. They are heavy!

He steps into the fitting room, then starts to hang them on the racks with a chuckle. "Oh, this one is hot." He says as he eyes a black dress with thin straps and looks like it covers just enough to be safe for work.

Dazzler has posed:
"Out." He might be pressed into carrying them, but he clearly doesn't get to stay in the dressing room.

Slipstream has posed:
Giving her a grin, Drake's brows lift upwards. His eyes roll upwards and he turns and heads out of the dressing room once he hangs up the last dress, chuckling to himself. "Fiiiine. I'll just sit out here..surrounded by all this pink."

Dazzler has posed:
"It won't kill you." Alison replies as he leaves, then she pulls the door closed to get down to the trying of things on.

She's quick about it, and when she comes out she's got only two dresses over her arm, and the boots.

Slipstream has posed:
When she comes back out, Drake is sprawled out in a chair, tapping away at his phone as a pair of girls are hovering over him.

"Oh my Gawd! You are Dazzler's butler! That is so cool!"

".. Uh, I'm not her but--"

"She's so pretty! You're so lucky to be working for her!"

".. I was an Avenger..."

"There she is! Dazzler! I loooove you!"

Drake slaps a hand to his face.

Dazzler has posed:
And this is where things go from "normal" to normal.

There is a flash of a smile for the girls, "Hi...thank you. It's //so// wonderful to hear that." She moves in to grab Drake's elbow, starting to steer him away from the fans, "If you'll excuse us, though, we've got some shoes to get as well."

Slipstream has posed:
"Your butler is cute!"

"I'm a superhero!"

"Bye Dazzler! Oh my Gooood, I got a great picture of her! She's so cool."

"I knoooooow! I /love/ her."

Drake gets dragged away by Dazzler with a huff as his feet scoot along the carpeted ground for a moment before he kicks into gear to walk in line with her.

"Well, Miss Blaire, where shall I butler you to now?" He says with an amused noise.

Dazzler has posed:
"Butle." Alison corrects the butler, glancing over her shoulder towards the girls to give a final smile before she pays for the dresses, gets the bags and heads for the door.

Notably, she carries her own bags, and keeps steering him along with her to make a hasty exit. "You butle. A butler is in charge of the household, and theoretically would not leave the house."

Slipstream has posed:
"They could have at least assumed I was your bodyguard." Drake laughs as he walks along with her. "I /can/ carry your bags by the way. I don't mind. I'm a gentleman." He says as he reaches over for them if she'll let him. "It's cool that people really do admire you though. Usually when I save someone, I get called Mini Flash or Budget Quicksilver. Like it's too hard to call me SlipStream. Brainy says in the future I end up becoming a big deal and I call myself Dynamite." His shoulders lift upwards. "What do you think of that name?"