10178/Adjusting

Adjusting
Date of Scene:	24 November 2019
Location:	Backyard - Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Andrea and Brad talk about shopping and adjusting to new lives with mutant powers.
Cast of Characters:	Haunt, Rage

---

Haunt has posed:
Seated over on one of the ruts created by the battle that took place in the yard not too long ago, Brad is dressed warmly: his usual white winter coat, layers that include gloves and winter boots, and a hat. Holly, the black lab, is having a moment of fun with Brad; she's off way down across the yard towards the lake area, chasing a ball. A bit later she picks it up, and starts to trot back.

A closer look at Brad will show that he is just sitting there: but is visible (!), in black glasses, with Holly's seeing-eye dog gear in a pile to his left.

Rage has posed:
Heading out into the yard is Andrea, who is looking perky and happy. She's dressed in a new black leather jacket, a solid green t-shirt and a pair of slim fitted flex jeans. She spies Holly first as her eyes track the dog running down the yard, then spies Brad afterwards. "Hey, Brad!" She calls over to him as she heads to where he is sitting so that she can join him. "How're you doing?"

Haunt has posed:
"Hi," Brad calls back. He isn't sure who she is at first, so he waits for her to come over. Her voice, when she asks him more, clarifies who it is. He smiles, though it isn't aimed at her truly: just in general. Holly is still making her way back over.

"Terrible! I heard there were Avengers out here the other day, and I missed them," Brad laments. "That would have been neat."

Holly now arrives, and brings the ball to Brad's knee. She touches there, and then waits for his hand, and puts the ball in his hand. He sits up to really throw it hard, and it wings away with Holly in pursuit.

Rage has posed:
"I am sure you will get a chance to meet them again." Andrea says as she leans over to bump her shoulder with his. "I've spent some time with them before and they're really nice. I got to sing for Tony Stark's birthday party last year. It was exciting. I still talk to his team at times about potential jobs, so maybe next time I can introduce you."

Haunt has posed:
Brad's eyebrows lift over the edge of his glasses, and he laughs softly, shaking his head. "I hope you realize sometimes how insane your life is," Brad observes, settling his palms against his knees, head tilted, his smile mild, thoughtful. "I dunno what I'd even do, meeting one of them. Heh. Anyways." Brad shrugs, pulling up a smile.

His hair is not gelled, and it's coming out the front of his hat towards the left side in a fluff of sandy brown. "What're you up to?"

Rage has posed:
"Not much. I'm just getting my legs stretched out and some fresh air. Got a bunch of Christmas shopping done last night so that was neat." Andrea says as she gives him a wry grin. She takes a few moments, then tilts her head. "Hey, wait, you're totally visible. No backpack?" She raises her brows upwards. "What happened?" She asks with some excitement rising in her voice.

She takes a moment to give him a good looking over, her grin widening. "Are you able to see me by chance? Or are you still blind?" She reaches up to brush his hair away to one side with a grin.

Haunt has posed:
"Urgh, shopping. Sorry to hear that. Shopping frustrates me, it involves being led around by my mother who'd just pick the things anyway, and I had no say because I couldn't see them. Like, why was I even present. Always the worst experience," Brad shudders. "Window shopping is like 'watching' a movie with subtitles. No thanks."

Brad then smirks a little at first, pleased, and a little embarrassed. He blushes when she touches his hair; he didn't see her coming. But his grin then appears, bright and pleased. He's very happy about this, but isn't trying to brag. Just because it changes his life doesn't mean other people will care about it. "One of the teachers helped me to turn my invisibility off a little; sometimes I'm able to relax enough to do it, but it's not all the time, at least. I'm trying to control it. Still really blind, because my eyes are messed up. It's bright out here. But I'm trying to get some sun, even if I can't see for jack."

Rage has posed:
"That is really awesome!" Andrea says, excited for him. "Control is important and it's the first step to fixing all of this. I'm so stoked for you!" She wraps him up in a quick hug for a half second before letting him go. "I told you that this school is awesome and can help out."

"As far as shopping goes, we had fun. It was Samuel, Nathan, Jay and myself. I tried to convince Jay to go into Victoria Secrets with me so I can try on some undies and he bailed."

Haunt has posed:
Brad laughs as he's drawn into the hug: his happiness leaks out some as he hugs her back, willing for the moment to actually put an arm around her and squeeze. He's athletic, and aware of his strength, and doesn't push at all. He drops the arm right away when she draws off him.

"I've never been in there. For obvious reasons. Is it just racks of girls' underwear?" Brad asks. "Doesn't seem so bad. Better than a bookstore, where everything is just a rectangular blob."

Rage has posed:
"Yes, racks of underwear and bras. I even told him I'd model them for him, but he was too busy being a 'gentleman' to take advantage of it." Andrea laughs as she rolls her eyes upwards and to the side. "To be honest, I'm more of an Aerie shopper than Vicky Secrets. You only go in there if you have a boyfriend and you're actively trying to get his pants off. I may as well start wearing grannie panties at this rate."

Giving a stretch of her body, she pops a few joints in her back. "I bought him and his brother a leather jacket and got one for myself too. What about you? You want one? You look like you could make it work."

Haunt has posed:
"A leather jacket? Maybe. I wore the hell out of my athletic gear, team jackets and stuff. That used to be my thing. Now it seems pretty sad, since I can't play, so I left all that at my parents'. Fashion was pretty much 'who gives a fuck' after going blind, and half my clothes turn invisible on me, so like," Brad chuckles and coughs.

"Sorry, that isn't what you asked. I mean, of course I'd like a nice jacket, but you don't need to do that." Brad plays with a shoelace, while Holly returns with the ball. Brad throws it again for her.

"Gifts are hard for me to sort out, so, maybe best to just not do them for the holiday," Brad says, lamely.

Rage has posed:
"If you want a jacket, I'll get you a jacket." Andrea says with a giggle. "You'd look good in it, and you and Jay can maybe match. He got a brown one, I got a black one." She says as she pops her collar a bit. "It can be my Christmas present to you." She assures him.

"Don't worry about getting me anything. I like playing Santa Clause for my friends. It's important for me." She gives him another gentle bump of her shoulder against his.

"This is my Senior year an I won't be back next year so I wan't to do nice things for everyone on my way out the door. Leave my mark so to speak, show everyone that I love 'em."

Haunt has posed:
"I can't see you, of course, but sounds like Jay's missing out on a great show," Brad says kindly, moving a hand towards her knee roughly to attempt to pat it in a friendly way. "I wouldn't take it personally, though. I think he'd say no to everybody." Brad shrugs his shoulders, drawing his hands towards his lap. "I admit I'm jealous: all these people with vision turning down great shows. Sucks." Brad smirks.

"I've known you like, two weeks," Brad chuckles. "It's okay on the gift thing. But if I were gonna say a color? Black."

Rage has posed:
"Yeah, but you're already in the brat pack." Andrea giggles at him, leaning in against his shoulder. She props her head on it, smiling. "Well, maybe when you get your sight back, I'll give you a show." She drawls out in a teasing way.

"I don't take it personally that he doesn't want to get naked with me. I know his situation. It's one of those things I gotta either wait it out or see if someone gets the balls to ask me out. You may be shocked to hear this, but celebrities don't really get a lot of attention in the romance section. Add on top of being a mutant? People give me a lot of space."

Haunt has posed:
Brad doesn't mind her leaning in, it's fine by him, by his relaxed body language. "I might finally be able to give someone /else/ a show, now that I'm not invisible all the time," Brad boasts playfully back, drawing both his arms forwards and flexing his biceps. He laughs a little... and flickers. He's briefly invisible, just the coat there, then not, then back again. It's like frames are skipped in a video.

Brad reacts, lifting one palm to press fingers up under the glasses in the center, against his eyes. "It's all right. I know I'm not... eh, nevermind."

Rage has posed:
Laughing at his antics, Andrea gives him a playful swooning noise as he flexes his biceps. "During the Spring and Summer we tend to do community football and baseball, with powers, so you will get your shot to show off and have some fun. It's actually a great time. We do a huge BBQ and we picnic it up."

"You're not what?" She asks curiously, brows lifting upwards at stalls. "What's wrong?"

Haunt has posed:
"Being visible doesn't mean anyone's interested in seeing," Brad chuckles. Holly's returned, wagging and tired, and Brad signals her to give over the ball. "Don't worry about it. I've accepted reality. I should go in, though, starting to get cold." He stands up, with a cursory blind brush of his butt with his hands, and bends to pick up Holly's gear from where he'd put it down. "Thinking maybe a hot drink?" he says, but he's turned quiet and serious, as he starts to go back towards the mansion. He's inviting her, but he's made himself sad.

Rage has posed:
"What are you talking about? You don't think you're attractive?" Andrea says as she slides off smoothly to land on her feet. "Have you not been noticing the fact you practically have two girls fawning over you every time they're around you?" She says with a raise of her brows. "My dude, if only you knew what girls say about you guys in the lockers." She hooks an arm about his shoulders, giving him a comforting squeeze. "If I wasn't obsessed over Jay, I'd probably Alpha up and make a move on you myself. You are hot, you're cool to hang out with, and I think you're a nice guy. Look at how far you've come so far being here only two weeks? Keep your confidence up. You're amongst your kind now, where we see you who for you are, and we like you. You got a group of besties now who will always have your back."

Haunt has posed:
Brad abruptly turns invisible. His jacket, pants and shoes remain, but he's abruptly headless: the hat was a snug style, and disappears. It entirely masks his expression and blush. It also suggests either he's hiding on purpose, or his powers have emotional link. Or both?

"Fawning? They're not, are they? I mean... are they? I can't see them. It's..." Brad trails off, his tone turning frustrated. "Yeah, okay. I feel like a lot of the time people either are pitying me or making fun."

Rage has posed:
"Uh.. yeah. They are. You're crush worthy, Brad. No one here has made fun of you, or showed you any pity. We all have our shit." Andrea says, then slides her hand down into his to pull them to a halt. "Brad, for the last two years, I've heard nothing but voices in my head, telling me to hurt people, to be victorious, to tear people apart. It happened after I got hurt really bad with a head injury and instead of getting it fixed, I was too scared of what people thought and so I just sucked it up and lived with it. I was afraid that people would pity me also, treat me different. Now that I'm fixed, I feel free for the first time in awhile. I feel healthy. I never would have asked for help if it wasn't for my friends."

Lifting his hand upwards, she gives a twirl beneath him in a playful dance move. "You just need to believe in yourself, and believe in us as your friends. If you need a shoulder, a hug, a jacket, a pick me up, all you need to do is ask. OKay?"

Haunt has posed:
"I wanted everything to suddenly be perfect if I could turn visible, I guess. It's not that simple. I just need to get over it. Harder said than done. I'm glad you're such a quick healthy fix. I am glad for you. Mine's great. Just still blind. I know it's happy and all. But it's not enough." Brad smiles at her as she playfully does the dance move, adjusting: he's able to dance, and twirled her with a decent ability to lead.

"I'll ask though. If there's something others can do. But most of this is just in my own head," Brad chuckles. He releases her, and signals Holly. "I think I need some time to think, though. Thanks, Andrea." Brad smiles, and withdraws: still invisible, and maybe hiding.