11528/A Public cookout

A Public cookout
Date of Scene:	22 May 2020
Location:	Bushwick (Mutant Town), Brooklyn
Synopsis:	Josiah meets Voodoo
Cast of Characters:	Firefly (Barrows), Voodoo, Nightingale

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Firefly (Barrows) has posed:
    The church has decided to come to Mutant town and have a large cookout. There is all kinds of food there, mostly louisanna southern food as Josiah is busy helping his parents cook and dish out plates. Every so often he would use his abilities to heal a random person, light glowing from his hand as he touches them. He then goes back to work serving food. There were gumbo, jambayala, Crawfish and even shrimp.

Voodoo has posed:
Priss, Voodoo, whatever she's called is here. Okay, maybe it's the cooking. Maybe it's the fact she's job hunting, or got bored and decided to explore around her hotel suite....whatever the reason, she's here and drawn to the food. Hey, that's food like she used to have...

Priss is in her jeans, half-shirt with the dragon on it, and stone set boots, and her hair's doen up in a pair of braides. She looks exotically beautiful...and she lingers for a moment on the edge of the crowd before diving in, head first, or elbows first. She's a lady, true, but not afraid to fight and scrap and claw and use things to get what she wants. Hey. Gumbo, jambalaya. food?

Alright, who set this lure for her?

Firefly (Barrows) has posed:
    "God watches those who are loyal to him. He even loves those that dont worship him, for they are still his children." Josiah says to a random person. He turns and see's priss and he stares for a moment. Catching himself he begins to make a plate with everything on it. Once finished he begins to head over to her and offer it to her with plastic silverware.

"You look a little out of place. May I offer you something to eat? Nothing but the finest southern food." He offers as he watches her.

Voodoo has posed:
Priss is used to attention..both good and bad. She nods and takes the plate. "Thanks" she nods and casts an eye over it and smiles. "You did good with this food and you're doing good work out here. So" she says leaning on a nearby wall, watching him while she eats. "So, you from my part of the world?"

Which is to say, the States

Firefly (Barrows) has posed:
    "Born and raised in a swamp outside of New Orleans." Josiah gives a smile and he nods. "My family runs a mobile church, we do things like this all the time, as well as spread the word of god." He says as he watches her. "This may sound a little corny but I have never seen anyone like you. Whats your ethinicity?" He asks curiously.

Voodoo has posed:
That gets an eyeroll and a 'wtf are you serious' look. "You are corny" she says with a nod, pausing spooning gumbo into her mouth. "What's my ethnicity? Just where you think you're going with this?" Priss asks, all but ready to throw the plate at him if he goes too far in her eyes. She nods to him. "So a swamp rat Cajun asking me what my ethnicity is?" she says, laughing. "What's your deal. You gonna ask me out or something?" she snarks, not that it'd be the first time....but....Priss cants her head at the gumbo and takes a spoonful into her mouth again, pausing to swallow before speaking.

Firefly (Barrows) has posed:
    "I have seen most people from around the united states." Josiah says as he shrugs. "I guess I never seen someone like you. Anyway No I am not asking you out. I already have a girlfriend." Josiah says as he watches her. He looks about before turning his attention to her. "So where you from?" He asks curiously as he waits for a reply, studying her curiously.

Voodoo has posed:
Well then. Color Priss surprised. "Grew up in the bayous and parishes, my parents died and I moved around a lot, but I was in school in East Baton Rouge" Priss begins with a nod. "I get a lotta guys wanting to ask me out but...y'know" Priss shrugs looking pleased. "Ain't said yeah, and I'm glad you got a girl really. She's a lucky girl indeed" Priss adds and nods. "So, Louisiana" she adds as if it's a secret. Given Priss's issues with the law...yeah

Firefly (Barrows) has posed:
    "I wont deny, you are very attractive. But I like this girl at school and I dont see myself leaving her." Josiah explains He watches her. "I been to baton rouge a few times." He says as he puts his hands into his pockets and watches her. "So what bring you up here? I came because my parents hope to make a church here." He explains.

Voodoo has posed:
"What bring me up here? I'm a dancer" Voodoo says with a nod as she adjusts her position on the wall, a shimmy here, canting her head a little there...

Nope, Priss isn't shy about this, not in the least nope. Looking to Josiah Priss grins. "Good luck with your girl. Ya noticed I'm attractive then huh?"

Firefly (Barrows) has posed:
    "She is attractive too." Josiah says with a grin and he nods. "Well it is hard to not notice you." He says as he looks back to the makeshift kitchen and then back to her. "So how are you enjoying New York City?" He asks curiously.

Voodoo has posed:
Prisss laughs. "I'm liking it, it's so busy and there's always something going on ain't there?" she asks looking thankful and relieved all at once, relieved she can settle in and relax in the Big Apple. So, so what if Priss has a run down ratty hotel suite? So? It's hers. Her spot on this planet. Which is good.

Priss looks to Josiah. "What bout you? How're you liking the big city?"

Firefly (Barrows) has posed:
    "I will be honest I prefer cities over rural areas. Most rural area has bigots which always has a problem with a child preacher or extremely religious people who believe that damning people is what god truely wants." He says as he shrugs. "To describe God can be done with single words. Justice, love, Compassion, honor." He says calmly.

Voodoo has posed:
"There's plenty of ways to describe God, yeah" Priss agrees. "But everyone has their own outlook on it" Priss shrugs and lazily waatches Josiah, "You prefer the big cities? Alright, you're good like that" Priss addds, "I work around the area as a dancer yhough so..." she says ann laughs. "They call me an exotic dancer, make of that what ya will. Don't worry, I won't be offended if I get called a stripper" Priss nods.

"Gotta make ends meet and stuff, ya know. No shame in showing off what you got if it puts food on the tablem right?" Priss asks. Oh yeah. She's totally a beacon of modesty

Firefly (Barrows) has posed:
    "Whatever it takes to survive, one does it. After all, judge not lest ye desires to be judged yourself." Josiah says calmly as he watches her. He shrugs. "My family lives off the donations of our parishioners, so we arent the type to judge how one earns their money." He explains calmly. He Then looks to her eyes. "So what do you do if someone decides they want a piece of you?" He asks with concern.

Voodoo has posed:
Voodoo shakes her head,"Who judges those who judge others too fast?" That's what she's thinking, and saying, the food in her hands being picked at/ "Who gives anyone the right to judge others?" she asks looking a little restless and unimpressed with bigots. Voodoo, being what she is, she can see the bigger picture and can understand all sides of this. Her feet are metaphorically, set. She can be snappy and judgemental too. "Besides, Chaque hibou aime son perchoir"

Yes. Yes, she did just call Josiah an owl and said he loves a perch. Alright, fine, she was going for church, but...perch is funnier in her head.

Firefly (Barrows) has posed:
    "Nothing wrong with it." Josiah says with a grin and he watches her. "So have any good friends here in the city?" He asks as he looks to the people getting food. "So whatcha plans? Besides beating off men and women with a stick?" He asks curiously as he studies her.

Voodoo has posed:
"They'd enjoy it too much" Priss fires and grins. "No, wait, that's something best left for the sleazy alleys in the Bronx and the, ahem, interested parties" she adds. "Plans for myself? Have good food, good times and maybe head back to my hotel room and take a few hours sleep before work" she admits, looking pleased at her mundane, ordinary existence. Hey. Demonites can come knocking, she'll deeal with them, before or after her dances. Hey, why not get a new friend to dance while she slips out the door? Not that it's hard to spot her in sequins, apparently...somebody figured Priss needs all the sequins.

Watching the crowd, Priss sighs. "Y'know what bugs me?" she asks. "I work as a dancer. People love to just give me costumes that are one long long series of sequins, and they absolutely insist I wear them. I'm not in Vegas, no, I'm here. I thought the state had decency laws?"

Which, let's be fair, Priss isn't sticking to at some nights...

Firefly (Barrows) has posed:
    "Its men are mostly attracted to boobs and shiny things. So seeing boobs covered in sequins is the best of both worlds." Josiah says with a shrug. "Well I do enjoy being with you. Feels good to have someone from my neck of the woods to talk to." He says with a smile.

Voodoo has posed:
Priss gives Josiah a look. "So does your girlfriend know you're saying these things to me? I mean, I'm a stripper" she points out. "You're talking to me about boobs and sequins and what men like. You talking from experience, mon ami?" Priss asks. She's feeling a bit sorry for this guy's girl, really...

"Shaking her head Priss looks to the crowd then back to Josiah. "So you're saying all the strip club and dive bar owners want women with, mmm, qualities right? And men flock on in, yes? How does areligious man know about these things?"

Firefly (Barrows) has posed:
    "The church has had to defend strippers and prostitutes from mobs. Atleast our church did." He says with a shrug. He clears his throat and watches her. "Anyway, Is there anything you like doing which doesnt involve stripping? You like to dance yes?" He asks curiously.

Voodoo has posed:
Voodoo considers her words carefully, spooning gumbo into her mouth. "Yes. But if you were hoping to get pointers" she beginss plunging the spoon into the mess. "Now, if you were hoping to get dancing lessons from me or ask if I like to dance, think about what I said my profession is" Priss nods. "I dance for a living. Do you think I hate it?" she says and watches Josiah. Priss isn't in her work clothes, nah. Casually dressed, sure, but she's nowhere near her work clothes.

Watching Josiah for a moment, Priss shrugs. "I like to do a lot of things. Including not being a homewrecker, oui?" she adds and begins listing things on her fingers. "I like to clean my hotel suite, I like to read, I like exploring the city, I like normal, everydaythings" she asserts. Because her life is weird and goes off on tangents, true...

Firefly (Barrows) has posed:
    "I am a terrible dancer." Josiah says with a faint blush. He chuckles and shakes his head. "I step on toes and kick shins too much." He says as he watches her. "I been meaning to explore more of the city. I like healing people and teaching the word of god." He says as he watches her. He walks to the kitchen and comes back with a plate of food for himself.

Voodoo has posed:
Voodoo swears profusely under her breath. Great. Great. Priss got stuck with somebody who can't dance and is coming off as a typical man. Just great/ "So your church protects those others deem 'unholy' or 'sinnful' yes?" Priss asks, doing the air quote thing with her fingers on one hand. "Doesn't that go against your religion, ya? Sinners go to Hell and all that" Priss asks. Oh she's trying to lay a trail of breadcrumbs. "I know religion takes all sorts, ya, like the guy shouting at the top of his lungs lettuce are the new anointed vegetable Messiah. But" Voodoo offers. "Religion has all sorts. The mutant hating people in the world follow a church. It is their religion, oui" Priss nods definitively. "You cannot convince them otherwise, can you?"

Firefly (Barrows) has posed:
    "Anyone can find Redemption. Even the devil." Josiah says between bites as he watches her. "We try and protect those who need help, and provide help. If they cant obey our rules we ask them to leave." He says as he Watches her. "The real danger is zealotry."

Nightingale has posed:
     It had taken a lot of pleading, a lot of begging, and going on and on about the dangers of 'cabin fever', but finally, Shannon had managed to secure permission for a brief afternoon outing to attend the cookout in Bushwick. There was, of course, the caveat that she run if there was trouble, and not try to be a hero--but that might perhaps be easier said than done for a healer in training. It felt wonderful to get out and stretch her wings. Forget an Uber to Bushwick--those things on her back weren't just for show!

     It was as simple as following her nose once she got within range. Landing was a more graceful affair than might have been for her some months ago, sending the hem of her light blue sundress fluttering. Minds out of gutters, dear readers--she'd mastered the art of wearing a dress and still preserving her modesty in-flight! With the sundress, she's wearing her favorite daisy-toe flip flops, and her pale gold hair is long and loose except for her trademark ice blue braid on the left side of her face. As she settles on the ground, her wings tucking themselves in behind her, she looks around, just taking a deep breath and enjoying the brief trip outside.

     Life was good.

Voodoo has posed:
Whatever Priss was going to say is quieted as Shannon lands. "Wow" Priss mutters, "Did the poor owl fly through a Hot Topic?" she mutters. See. Priss is less sundress and more...her current attire. Looking over to Shannon again, then Josiah, Priss shakes her head and digs more into her food, munching on it.

Firefly (Barrows) has posed:
    Josiah turns to see Shannon land. "Thats my girlfriend. Here I will introduce you." He says as he begins to walk to Shannon. After getting her a plate of food he brings her over to Priss. "Shannon, this is a new friend of mine. Come to find out, we both are from Louisanna." He says, his cajun accent showing. He throws his plate away after finishing it.

Voodoo has posed:
Priss has one thought, and it's not the nicest around. Of course, being a telepath, she could dig around in their heads but....she's content to ask, in Creole. So, you're dating an oversized goose?

Curse Priss being perfectly good at languagees. hey, it's a tep up from owls, really. Geese have a majesty and a style to them. Priss nods. "Ya, your boy here was asking if I like dancing and giving me job advice. I don't need that much job advice. He's an awful dancer" Priss saays with an amused look, the joys of listening attentively/ "Got any beignets?" Priss asks suddenly.

Nightingale has posed:
     "Oh? Anywhere near N'awlins?" Shannon cracks a smile over at Voodoo, moving over to join the odd pair who both find themselves so far from home. "Took a trip there with my family once, when I was about nine. Couldn't get enough of all the music on just about every street corner in the French Quarter." She offers her hand to Voodoo, dipping her head by way of greeting. "Name's Shannon. And..." She bursts out laughing, shaking her head. "That's the first time anyone's called me a... goose, was it?" Opinions on Josiah's skill as a dancer are kept to herself, though there is a bit of a wry smile at the mention of such--and rueful wiggling of her toes. Enough said.

     But the talk of beignets trumps all. "Oh gawd, I hope so... beignets and chicory coffee...."

Voodoo has posed:
Priss looks eager for chickory coffee and beignets. "Ya, goose lady" Prisss says. "I actually grew up in Baton Rouge and wentt to school there, yeah I moved around a lot" Priss adds sadly. "After my parents passed, but oui, coffee and beignets" Priss nods. "I'm Priscilla. Though I go by Prisss" she adds and takes the offered hand. "I don't want to know what else you've been called"

Mostly since Priss can just find out in Shannon's head if push comes to shove