11006/A Fantastic Coffee

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A Fantastic Coffee
Date of Scene: 07 February 2020
Location: Four Freedoms Plaza - Ground Floor
Synopsis: Sightseeing at Four Freedoms Plaza, Vi runs into Flash Thompson who is in the midst of dealing with his past
Cast of Characters: Flash Thompson, Vi




Flash Thompson has posed:
    The series of buildings and storefronts that make up the Four Freedoms Plaza are all interconnected. Some above ground, with walk ways and pass throughs. And some below ground with the subway stop there and the small businesses that all grant their small portion to the hum of activity in that area. During most parts of the day it's a hustle and a bustle, with people moving hither and yon. And portions of the larger buildings having prominence in some ways.
    Like how the coffee shop in the lobby of the Freedom Grand Hotel is partially enclosed to grant an illusion of privacy to the patrons within its walls. And yet it has elaborate mirrored windows and a glass ceiling that lends some ethereal aspect to it as well. For now, however, the aesthetics are lost on at least one of the customers in there.
    Eugene Thompson, Flash to his friends, has been nursing the same cup of coffee for the last hour seated at his table in the wheeled chair. His back is to the wall. Perhaps out of habit. And he has on the surface of the tray in front of him his cellphone that sits there and seems almost to be taunting him with the number that's keyed in...
    But the red phone button to complete the call seems to taunt him.

Vi has posed:
Vi wanders around the lobby of this part of Four Freedoms Plaza. She's wearing a pair of jeans and a light grey sweatshirt with a jacket overtop. At the moment, someone might be able to recognize the sweatshirt bearing the SHIELD logo if seeing a sliver of it would click, though most people probably wouldn't.

The nineteen year old has a pamphlet in hand from the New York Bureau of Tourism. She pulls it open and glances at a map, her face looking a little perplexed for a moment, then closing it back up. Vi looks around some more and then spots the coffee shop. The teen heads over into it, moving to the counter.

"A cup of..." she says and then pauses as she's looking at the board behind the clerk. Vi's brow furrows a little bit. "Fan... fantaystic.... no, fan... tastic. Coffee? Is that like regular coffee?" she asks the clerk. He's a bored 22 year old and he says, "Yeah. You know. Fantastic Four. Fantastic Coffee."

Vi looks at him a little blankly. "Ok, but I just want one of them," she says. He rolls his eyes like she's made a joke, and goes to get her the coffee, passing it to her. Vi goes and adds cream and sugar. Lots of cream. Then moves to find a table, sitting down at one a spot near Eugene and opening back up the pamphlet.

Flash Thompson has posed:
    She's settling in, getting her coffee just the right way she wants and for all that effort the blond guy one table over doesn't notice. At least not right away. Instead he's sitting there with one hand now beside the phone, that miracle of modern communication gently nudged a few times left and right, causing it to spin a quarter turn with each touch. His jaw tightens, extends, tendons working as if something really didn't sit well with him.
    And if one were to be watching they might even get some hint of insight into where he must be with whatever inner monologue must be going through his thoughts. It's all in the expression on his handsome features. The way his eyebrows lift, the way his head tilts, as if arguing and convincing himself.
    And then he hits that button. The phone is lifted to his ear and he takes a deep breath as it rings, exhales slooowly, then when it goes to message he talks in a tone that likely wouldn't carry beyond the next table or so.
    "Hey, I'm trying to reach Peter Parker? Sorry if this is the wrong number. But this is." There's a pause then. And one might get the impression that he'd just freeze. Stop. Give up on the message.
    "This is Eugene. Thompson. Flash? From, you know. Back in the day. Right? Hey Peter. I know, I know. You're probably thinking to yourself, what the heck does Flash want? And yeah I totally don't blame you for..."
    Another pause, "For feeling however you feel. I wouldn't presume though to like, think you feel a particular way. But hey. Man. How are you?"
    Then there's a warning beep letting him know to hurry it up.
    "But oh, right. I would like a chance to. Talk? If you. If you wouldn't. Entirely hate the idea? So ok. My number is... well. You probably have it now. Right?"
    <BEEP>

Vi has posed:
Vi takes a tentative sip of the coffee as if to avoid burning her mouth. Given that she removes the lid again and stirs it and blows on it a little, it seems the test sip was a good idea.

The petite brunette rests an elbow on the table on her head on her hand as she studies the map. Her lips move as she has a look of concentration on her face. The map seems to hold her interest at first, but then as Eugene Thompson finally places his phone call, the young woman perks up a little bit.

Vi glances over, a bit furtively at first. When it seems like Eugene is focused on his call enough, she looks over a little more openly. A curious expression of some sort comes to her face as Eugene's call goes on.

Vi keeps watching Eugene as he talks. It's quite possible he might catch sight of her perusal before she's had time to look away.

Flash Thompson has posed:
    For Flash the world was compressed into just the phone and him. And nostalgia. Or perhaps merely memory. With the call now dead it's tossed back onto the tabletop with a click and a clatter, leaving it there on the tray that had likely been there when he arrived. His blue eyes keep on it for a time...
    And then he looks up and there's a Vi looking back at him. His eyebrows contort in that slight way when a person wars with a variety of comments, only for it to settle on something at the least polite as the muscles of his features slip into a smile.
    "Hey." He lifts a hand, fingers flaring a bit. Then he sniffs sharply as if clearing his nose. Looks at the phone, then back at her. "Old friend."
    A beat.
    "Sorta."

Vi has posed:
Vi sees her eavesdropping was noticed before she can look away. She manages to suppress the small frown that results as she realizes just how accepting she's gotten about being noticed by people. Her old skills are not second-nature like they used to be.

There's a moment's wonder whether that's a bad thing.

The brunette teen gives Flash a gentle looking smile. "Sorry, I didn't mean to..." she says, giving a little wave of her fingers towards his phone rather than finishing the sentence.

"So not sure if it's your friend's number or not?" she asks. "Or, someone that the parting didn't go very well?" she asks. If she knows that it's a nosy question, it doesn't seem to reveal any embarrassment in her expression as Vi asks.

She picks up her coffee again, taking another sip now it's had time for a bit of the hottest contents to evaporate out and cool it off. She glances down at the cup. "Hrm. Just tastes like coffee, not Fantastic Coffee," she comments loud enough he can hear.

Flash Thompson has posed:
    There is a certain freedom that comes along with... anonymity, or rather not knowing a person. Nor likely seeing them ever again. In the city people can live on the same block and rarely ever see each other. Perhaps that has some part to do with why he looks across the way at Vi and actually finds himself considering answering openly.
    But then he seems resigned about the idea and answers, "All of the above?" Since he might be entirely wrong. On multiple fronts.
    He looks to the side at the people around them, and there are some to be sure. But two of them have their heads down in their laptops, another is looking at his phone, and the last has ear buds in and seems to be listening to some music. So there, amongst several other people, they may well be somewhat alone-ish.
    "So you know that goofy stuff they make you do when you've screwed things up and you have to 'make amends' right?" He uncurls a hand and waves it to the side, as if that was enough of an answer.

Vi has posed:
Vi tries to figure out what goofy stuff and making amends Eugene might be talking about. She gives a nod of her head and lies, "Yeah. So, doing that I guess?" Vi is a pretty good liar. She takes a sip of her coffee, maybe working out some of it. "So, it'll feel better after you talk to him? That's the idea at least?" she asks.

Vi turns her chair just a bit more to face Eugene. She unzips her jacket now she's been inside for awhile and is suitably warmed by the heating and the coffee. The SHIELD logo is pretty visible, but one would probably be hard-pressed to think she's actually affiliated with them given her age.

"How likely are you to get in touch with him do you think? And...I guess it means a lot to you, if you're going through it?" she asks.

Flash Thompson has posed:
    "Ehn," Flash replies, a little too abruptly. But then he seems to bite the corner of his lip as if chastising himself. He shifts his weight to the other hip, adjusting his seat and frowning a little. It's only then that he notices the cold cup of coffee in front of him and picks it up to take a sip before he elaborates.
    "It's not so much about making yourself feel better." There's a pause, just a heartbeat's length, before he adds. "At least that's my interpretation of it."
    His wheel chair creaks a little as he turns it to face Vi a little more, "Unpopular opinion time. I'm not a big fan of the twelve step thing as written. The whole surrendering yourself as powerless to a higher being blah-de-blah. That smacks of weakness and not taking responsibility for being an..."
    He looks away, then back. "For being a jerk."

Vi has posed:
Vi listens to Flash, her attention mostly focused on him. Her eyes do roam whenever there is something to draw them. A new customer coming in, a woman with two kids in tow, a boy and girl, the girl in a Fantastic Four costume shirt and the boy's T-shirt with a cartoon likeness of The Thing on it.

Vi looks back to Flash as the newcomers head over so the mother can get herself a cup of heaven, while the kids talk to each other excitedly. Vi pulls a little notepad out of an inside jacket pocket, pulling a mechanical pencil clipped to it and then writing something in the pad. If Flash looks over, he can probably read she wrote, "12 step thing". Above it is a little list of things, some crossed out, others not. Right above the new entry is "Doors that move in circles" and above that is "people wanting to clean your shoes".

She finishes writing, her penmanship not the best, and glances back to Flash. "So, it's for your friend... Peter? Rather than being about you?" Vi asks.

Flash Thompson has posed:
    "Sort of?" Eugene pushes a hand through his hair and the sleeve rides up a little, a military tat briefly visible as he rubs at the back of his neck thoughtfully. Then, instead of elaborating, he looks over at the woman and the children, than at Vi... then the general crowd.
    He takes a deep breath and gestures her over, "Might as well sit at the table if you want to hear the whole head shrinking craziness." He likely does notice the notepad, but doesn't mention it for now.
    So he leans back, chair creaking as he pulls on the small lever and shifts it back and to the side, opening up his small alcove for company. "It's sort of for him, sort of for me. But not how people usually think they think it is."

Vi has posed:
Vi rises from her chair, sticking the notepad and pencil back into her pocket and grabbing her coffee and the pamphlet. It appears to be a list of places in New York worth sightseeing.

She slides her chair back in and moves over to take a seat at Eugene's table. "I'm Vi," she offers, the name rhyming with 'sigh'. After a moment the girl extends a hand once she's set things down.

After any introductions, Vi nods slowly. "So you're apologizing kind of. And... that probably would make you feel better in the long run if you feel like you need to apologize?" she asks, the words turning to a question near the end.

She glances at his wheelchair. "I know someone else who has one of these. His has a... motor thing in it," she comments. "Does that have anything to do with what you're going through?" she asks.

Flash Thompson has posed:
    "Most people call me Flash, or Eugene." Eugene accepts her hand and gives it a small shake then waves her over to the seat next to him. He then adds with a wry half-smile, "Or Gene. Usually one of those works."
    That said he turns back and nods at her first question, about the apology thing. Then he gives a small 'heh' as he murmurs in reply, "Yah, they asked if I wanted one with a motor but I figure I should, you know. Exercise." For a moment he looks down at the chrome metal and the padded arm rest, lightly tapping it, then he shifts his attention back to her.
    "Anyways,"
    "So yeah, the apology. Making amends. Surrendering responsibility. I don't think that's what it's all about." His voice lowers a little as he leans forward, resting his elbows on the table.
    "I owe this guy, because when I was a bit younger than I am now, I was a real..." He shakes his head and flares his hands again, as if not wanting to murmur the proper word in mixed company. "Just a grade A jerk. But it's not about me making myself feel better. Because really I don't deserve to feel better. It's more... giving him his chance to tell me to my face what he thinks and to be right and know that I know he's right. For him maybe he doesn't even care, maybe he's already forgotten me. But if he hasn't, then good. Maybe he can get something positive from that."
    He grabs his coffee again, "Me? Well. Maybe I'll be able to look back to talking to him and feel fucking ashamed as I should. Right? Maybe that'll help me be a better person down the line."
    Then he seems to realize he just cursed and frowns then adds, "Sorry."

Vi has posed:
Vi's head tilts a little bit. "Nothing to be sorry towards me," she tells Eugene with a little shrug. She gives a small nod of her head then as if this is all making a little more sense to her. Maybe it's a bit weird to her, the notion. But it also might kind of makes sense.

The young woman hesitates a moment, looking thoughtful. The mother of two gets her coffee and guides the two kids to a table, setting down a lemon bar in front of both of them. "So we'll get a picture out front for Daddy, and you can pose like the Fantastic Four and be superheros."

Vi hrms quietly. "Oh, they are heroes," she says, to herself, but easily loud enough that Eugene can hear the words. Her English is softly accented, perhaps a bit of Eastern European, perhaps also a bit of British English mixed in. It's a very subtle accent though.

Vi refocuses on Eugene, looking thoughtful again before seeming to come to a decision. "The person you called. Peter? Peter Parker was it? Is he about your age? And dark brown hair?" she asks.

Flash Thompson has posed:
    As she murmurs that particular name, the blonde with the blue eyes looks at her from across the table with his forehead furrowing in consternation. He lifts a hand, pointing a finger in her direction as one eye scrunches up, wary and suspicious. He continues to point at her, the finger bouncing a little as if to emphasize the point then he finally speaks, "You know him."
    He shakes his head and lifts his eyes toward the ceiling as if requesting help from the almighty. Then Flash looks back to her and says, "Look. Just... don't repeat what I've said. Or give me like a week or so head start. This is sorta like that whole... Quantum thing?"
    Those blue eyes shift to the side as he tries to dig into his memory for the name of whatever it is that he's describing. Naturally he fails to come up with it. "The thing where if you're observing something that you change it by doing that?" His tone of voice lifts up at the end there.
    "Anyways, don't tell him."

Vi has posed:
Vi pulls out her notepad and flips it open, writing in it, "that hole kwantum thing where you chang something". She closes it up and puts it away before saying, "I've met him, I don't know him real well. I won't say anything if you don't want me to. I'm good about that. Staying quiet I mean," she tells him.

"Talking is what gets people into trouble I think. I was hesitating whether to say anything at all. Though I kind of felt like... you opened up to me. So, I should maybe repay that trust. The name was what made me look over," she tells Flash. Vi brushes some hair back, tucking it behind an ear. She mostly lets her hair hang free, and it's a little windblown from being out on the streets on her way here.

She gives Eugene a little smile and a nod. "So, no worries. If nothing else, well I don't know if you have a good phone number for him. I don't know his phone number either, actually," she says thoughtfully. After a moment she takes out the notepad, tearing out a page and scribbling down a number. Though she has to think for a moment to remember it. "Here's my number though. If the one you have doesn't work, I could try to get word. But, I'm not saying anything unless you ask me to," she assures him, sliding the paper over to Flash.

Flash Thompson has posed:
    "Ah, see, now this won't work." Flash says, "Us getting to know each other I mean." Though he does accept the number and gives it a glance, then looks back up at her. His lip twists as a myriad of thoughts flit through his mind and each one seems to subtly shift the gleam of amusement in his eyes.
    "Only reason I confided in you was because you were a stranger." He touches his cup of coffee for a moment, then takes it in hand. "Safety in anonymity, freedom in expression. If we get to know each other then voila, all of a sudden you have insight into things and an edge on me that's not entirely fair."
    "But..." The paper is folded up with the number intact. He pockets it and then adds with a faint smile, "I'll keep it in mind?"

Vi has posed:
Vi gets an expression somewhat curious and puzzled, the dark brown eyes looking over to him. "Why would knowing something about you not be fair?" she asks. "When you get to know other people... don't you... get to know other people?" she asks, not having planned it to come out like that. But it's what sounds right to her.

"Believe me, my life is probably more messed up than yours," she tells him. "Not that... I'm sorry. That may have come across bad?" she says, Vi looking at Eugene and not sure if it did or not. "I don't mean what you're going through isn't something serious. I just mean... if there's anyone in this city who isn't going to judge? It's me."

The teen gives a little shrug of her shoulders and then takes a sip of her coffee, the cup almost empty. "I'm sorry I surprised you, though."

Flash Thompson has posed:
    "Well," Flash straightens up a little and for a moment he winces slightly, reaching down to massage at his thigh, frowning faintly. But it's a quick spasm and gone, leaving him to resume speaking to her with that same easy-going way of his. "If I knew we were going to get to know each other, instead of just a one off meeting, then I probably wouldn't have been quite so forthcoming since a confession on being a right shit to another human being doesn't really endear you to people. Right?"
    A deep breath is taken as he chews on his lower lip a little longer. Then he nods a few times, sparing a look after that mother and her children, something she had said perhaps registering then. He shakes his head and looks back toward Vi. "See if I expected we'd get to know each other, I'd hide my more troubling bits, and keep them hidden until like we'd hung out three or four more times at least."
    That's the moment, of course, when his smirk returns.

Vi has posed:
Vi considers that for a moments. "Right, so that's the part that isn't fair, then," she says with a slow nod. She sets her cup down on the table, the paper cup making that little hollow thunk that confirms it is empty.

She purses her lips a moment in though, a hand moving to scratch at her cheek. "I grew up somewhere terrible. Oppressive. I had never heard of New York. Or the United States. I've only been here for a few months. I'm learning to read, and do math. And learning about the world. Which is... I'd have never believed it was like this if anyone had told me," she says, Vi's voice soft, and her tone serious.

She swallows and clears her throat. "And I'm going around seeing sights in New York today. But I should probably get back. If you want, you can call me. It doesn't have to be about the other thing. It could just be to talk to me if you wanted," she says, rising from her chair and pulling her jacket on over the SHIELD sweatshirt. Probably not a real common thing to see, that. Not exactly a tourist sort of purchase.

Flash Thompson has posed:
    He may not make mention of it, but Flash likely notices. His blue eyes lift and lower, giving her a once over but perhaps not in a way some might assume. He nods slowly in time with her words then straightens up a little as well. As she tells him about her upbringing and her only now becoming familiar with matters in this part of the world he says two heartfelt words.
    "That sucks."
    She starts to gather her things and he nods, "Be sure to go see the Natural History museum." For an instant his eyes seem to slip past her, looking beyond her shoulder, then back to her gaze. As if he felt he needed to defend himself, or his opinion perhaps... he adds, "Dinosaurs, and all."
    When she begins to depart he lifts a hand, "Goodbye, Vi."