12918/Chasing Pavements

Chasing Pavements
Date of Scene:	29 March 2021
Location:	Bushwick (Mutant Town), Brooklyn
Synopsis:	The New Mutants track Gray down to make him an offer. The ball is in his court.
Cast of Characters:	Gray, SpyderByte, Prismatic, Nightingale, Faraday

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Gray has posed:
Today has been productive, so far. Even better, Gray managed to... aquire... a bag full of food without getting caught! The ragged looking teen is hiding back in an alley behind a dumpster, sorting through a grocery bag full of chips, candy, pre-packaged sandwiches, and even a couple of bottles of water. Yes... it's a good day, even though it is colder than the dark haired young man prefers. The only thing that would make it better would be if the microwave burger were actually hot, but you can't have everything, right? Best of all, he had enough money to visit his favorite dealer and is feeling pretty good right about now. Oh, sure. His jeans have a hole in the knee, but what's a little cold when you're feeling floaty and have snacks?

SpyderByte has posed:
The entire night Jeremy had stayed up, watching cameras, tracking and monitoring the new face that has hit his radar. There was just something about Gray from their last conversation that he could not move past. Like a tick beneath the skin. An itch.

He pinged a few of his teammates as well as Alexis this morning and let them know that he was going back out to find him, and maybe Alexis can provide some perspective. The Goth is making his way down the street, dressed in his gothic regalia that is half Neo - half loser. His shirt even says: Loser, across his chest in silver words beneath the black trenchcoat and bondage pants with purple chains. As he slows down to a stop at the alley, he motions to his company, then steps inside, heading towards him.

Sliding the phone into his hands, he holds it out as his voice, his real voice, comes through the speaker for a change. Siri is retired for the moment.

<< Hello again. I see you got some food. Been doing okay? >>

Prismatic has posed:
    Alexis Carr was making her way down the alleyway. Ratty jeans, her hair pulled up into a stretch cap, loose sweatshirt over a tee promoting some shit local band she kidn of liked -- back two years ago when the streets were home. She's wearing gloves as she picks through a couple of choice cans (sometimes bakeries throw away the damndest things).

    She's down the way, off to the side, providing the 'adult supervision' for the students on the mission -- and is more there as backup.

Nightingale has posed:
     Not too far behind Jeremy is Shannon, who's dressed down for her part in some old jeans that have seen better days, some well-worn old white sneakers, and... alright, maybe one part wasn't -quite- old and ratty, if you count the 'Mutie Cutie' t-shirt she's taken to sporting in recent days. Her hair's pulled back in a bun, with the exception of the little pale blue braid on the left side of her face, bedecked with three silver beads on the end. Her wings, while visible, are tucked in neatly behind her. Other than that, she just carries her little brown leather bag tied to her belt. She keeps a respectful distance behind, to provide support for Jeremy where and when needed. However, Grey was more familiar with him, so she let him ride point on this particular outing.

Faraday has posed:
It was a quick rundown of what they were going to get into, but Indira didn't seem to mind half-plans and suspicions. She's in fairly typical attire for her age bracket and a street scenario. Low slung black jeans with tears, a short and threadbare style vintage t-shirt with a faded Pikachu head on a off-white background. Over it is a cut-off black jean jacket. Literally cut off, by the looks of it. On her back is an old military-style pack that's hanging on one shoulder. She's quiet for the moment though expressions easy, though she's restless and shifting on the balls of her feet like she was always ready to move.

Gray has posed:
The unexpected sound of a vaguely familiar voice makes Gray jump, falling back on his butt with a curse and vanishing from sight. Unfortunately for him, both his backpack and the bag of food are left behind. See? This is what he gets for letting his guard down and not paying attention to what's going on back toward the street. Great. The spike of adrenaline from being startled has just ruined his high. Now, instead of feeling floaty, he just feels slow... Juuuuust great, "Leave me alone, dude." Disembodied voices are fun?

SpyderByte has posed:
<< I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I brought some more money. >>

Jeremy tucks his hand into his pocket to pull out his wallet, sliding out some bills.

<< I brought some friends. This is Shannon and Indira. We all go to school together. It's really nice, place for mutants to be normal and learn their powers and get a degree. See, she has wings. Just like how I can speak in my phone. Indi has static powers. >>

He doesn't need to go into details as he gives a glance down the alley to catch sight of Alexis for a brief moment. As he turns to lean against one of the walls, he slides down to his rump, easing his weight on the bricks.

<< You can uncloak. No one is going to hurt you or anything. >>

Prismatic has posed:
    Alexis apparently finds something that holds her interest, and likewise leans and slumps at the end of an alley on some cardboard and newspaper. She stretches her tired fingers and leans her head back, listening closely but not being obtrusive.

    She's listening for the footsteps of Gray coming her way.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon smiles lightly in the direction of the disembodied voice, keeping her hands in sight, open, and empty where they can be easily seen. "Wings and healing. Nobody's going to hurt you. But if you're willing, we'd just like to talk." Taking her cue from Jeremy, she also sits down on the ground, cross-legged and keeping her hands turned palms upward on her knees.

     But would it be enough to help set their new friend's mind at ease?

Faraday has posed:
"Yo." Chimes Indira at the appropriate moment in the vague direction of where Gray's voice comes from. Her smile is a quick one, the kind that seems to come natural to her. But for now, the dark-haired teen keeps to the quiet side of things so as not to overwhelm the situation. For now, she just remains where she is with one hand holding the pack in place and the other with a thumb hooked in her pocket.

Gray has posed:
Losing his stuff is more appealing than losing himself and Gray does start to try to sneak past the three teenagers, only for the sound of footsteps to stop when everyone starts sitting. Well then. It takes a moment, the homeless kid's hesitation obvious, but he does drop his veil. What's the point in staying hidden when they all already know he's there? Alexis gets a wary look and he jerks a thumb over his shoulder at the apparent chaperone, "And her?" He scowls, keeping his distance, but moving back to where he left his loot and every worldly posession, "Why do you even care?" The money is eyed, somewhat longingly, but he doesn't actually get close enough to take it. His attention turns to Shannon when she speaks, "... I guess it wouldn't hurt to just talk..." With that, he flops down to sit back where he was crouched earlier, pulling his things protectively close.

SpyderByte has posed:
<< I care because you're just like us. Mutant kids. >>

Jeremy slides out another twenty from his wallet. He has a ton of them in there for some reason.

<< Any of us could have been you at some point, but we were lucky enough to have someone reach out to us, give us a chance to be normal kids, go to school, learn to practice our powers, have school dances, get lunch in a cafeteria, learn math and English. Prepare us for the real world and college. >>

He tilts his head down the alley towards Alexis as she is pointed out, then glances back towards him.

<< That is Alexis, one of our instructors. She used to be homeless also, but sometimes she hangs out on the streets to help the homeless get food and resources. She is famous for her ability on the violin, but her mutant power is adaptive armor. It makes her the perfect survivor. >>

Prismatic has posed:
    "I used to busque outside the bank on 45th, until someone tried to stab me in the stomach." Alexis chirps, her British accent is clear as day as she leans her head back and gives a bit of a wave. "Don't mind me."

    And then she pops open a discarded box of day-old donuts, and plucks one out of the box.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon smiles, glancing over at Alexis. "She's one heck of a musician, a ballet instructor... and has a big heart." Tilting her head, she falls silent for a moment, considering what to say. "Each of us came from different circumstances, but we all were very lucky to have the opportunities we were given. Maybe... just maybe... if you let us, we could be that for you." Reaching for one of her wings, she has to scritch amongst the feathers, grimacing a little bit. Oh, the reality of having wings!

Faraday has posed:
"Handful of generations back," Indira says quietly as she leans herself against the wall with her arms crossing loosely over her chest. "A pair of my would-be grandparents were living in a Kolkata mutant slum. They made a deal to smuggle their way onto a boat next to the rats and came to the US with no money and no English, because they decided the risk was better than dying under a broken down log bridge. It took awhile, but, they got a proper roof over their head in the end."

"The doors there are open." She adds, "And they wouldn't close them on you either. If you decided it wasn't for you, you can go, but with a fair more lot of connections than you have one."

Gray has posed:
Gray will just sit and listen, for a time, picking a cold burger out of the bag of food to tear open and start eating while eying the bills Jeremy pulls out of his wallet. He makes a face, talking around a mouthful of protin and carbs, "Math and English? No thanks." He'll just stay an uneducated bumpkin, thanks, "I already know everything I need to to survive." When Alexis speaks, he flinches a little, cringing at the thought of being stabbed, and peers around the dumpster at her, "Ow." The box of donuts gets a longer look, but he just takes another bite of his burger. Shannon and Indira both get a snort, "Yeah, and how am I supposed to trust that all y'all ain't just looking to nab someone that no one else'll miss?" He shakes his head and tears off another bite, barely chewing before mumbling around the mouthful, "Been there, done that. No. Thanks."

SpyderByte has posed:
<< We're dressed way too nice to be gang bangers that are looking to steal your kidney. Four on one, we wouldn't have bothered with a conversation. With my mutant ability to shut this city down, followed by Indi's ability to tase you into a two week coma, there would be no point in even trying to make an offer. Tactically, this would be a waste of our time if we had a hidden agenda. >> Jeremy is rather blunt as he holds the twenty out to him.

<< My name is Jeremy, but I also go by Spider Bite. I got caught hacking several government computers that led to the exposure and take down of multiple officials across the country when they tried to sponsor and pass anti-mutant bills. I went to juvenile hall and the Xavier Institute was there to pick me back up when my parents decided they did not want to bother with their freak child. Now I live in a mansion with state of the art technology and surrounded by people who actually like me. This is the first chance I've ever had to be normal. >>

As he wiggles the twenty at him, his passive eyes glance over him for a moment, followed by a head tilt.

<< I was raped in juvenile hall. Believe me, I know what it's like to be hurt, to be broken, to be stripped of my humanity. I know how hard it is to trust other people. What's your name? Let's start small. >>

Prismatic has posed:
    "Because if we wanted to, we would already made off with you." Alexis replies as she stands, and she makes her way towards the group of kids, then crouches down near them, tossing the donut box in the middle. There's a little grease spot where something ran down the side of the box, but the donuts are all right. Mostly.

    That jelly donut looks suspicious.

Nightingale has posed:
     "I was one of the lucky ones," Shannon begins, adding her story to the ones being told. "My family and I lived in a pretty mutant-unfriendly area, and it would only have been a matter of time before they, I, or all of us would have been hurt or worse. They got me out of there, took me to talk to another one of our instructors, Dr. McCoy. They didn't know about the school, but managed to track him down. We lucked out. They're safe now, and so am I. So is Jeremy, Indira, and miss Carr. If the school was a place to nab kids that wouldn't be missed at all, then I wouldn't be there, because I do have those that would miss me."

     She smiles somewhat, tilting her head to one side. "Maybe I didn't go through things as horrific as Jeremy did, or what Indira's family went through, or miss Carr. But that just makes me even more keenly aware of what a chance we've all of us been given. Trust is hard. But maybe you could start small, like Jeremy said. Maybe start with just us."

Faraday has posed:
Grinning lopsided but wide, Indira adds, "And they found me in a box. Legit in a shipping crate and not a box marked free kittens. It was a sting operation to break up a trafficking operation where mutant kids were being nabbed off the street and send to who-knows-where. They'd grabbed me on my way home from school. Once the cops got me home, I got an invite to attend the school so I'd be closer to people who could help keep me safe. Couple of the others too who were old enough are there as well."

"So, having been that person yanked off a street, I can promise you that I'm not here to do the same. I am, in fact, emphatically and violently opposed to it." And she manages to say that cheerfully somehow. "We ain't here to tell anyone how to live their life. You do what you need to do, but we just wanted to come here to give you a new option to consider if you want."

Gray has posed:
When it's pointed out, bluntly, that Gray really is at a disadvantage (not to mention completely outnumbered), the homeless kid flinches and goes so still that it's possible he may have even stopped breathing. Tension wracks his frame, eyes squeezed shut as though he's preparing for the worst to happen. Then the other boy is introducing himself and, slowly, none of the tension leaving his shoulders, blue eyes crack open again. He swallows, having to visibly fight to get a mouthful that wasn't chewed enough down. He looks from one person to the next as they speak, breathing just a little too fast as he tries to process everyone's stories. Jeremy, in particular, gets a wincing look and a sharp little breath that isn't quite a gasp-- it's too quiet to be called a gasp.

Indira, though? Her tale has his eyes widening and making a choked little sound as he forces back tears. Apparently, that one hits a little close to home. For a long moment, he's silent, considering how safe it is to tell them his name. Hesitating, he licks his lips, expression wary, "Gray."

SpyderByte has posed:
<< Hi Gray. Do you want a donut? >>

Jeremy says as he nudges the box towards him, placing the twenty on top as well. He doesn't move any closer towards him. On top of the twenty is a business card for Xavier's Institute for the gifted. It's shiny and embossed with fancy font. It has a phone number on it and a direct email.

<< You should see our swimming pool. It's huge. >>

There is a small smile upon his face, one that is brief.

Prismatic has posed:
    "Pleased to meet you, Gray." Alexis gives a nod. She doesn't reach to shake hands or anything, but is plucking up bits of donut to pop into her mouth. "Alexis Carr, like they said." she states simply, remaining crouched but not sitting, like she's a spring ready to stretch out. "It's true. The pool is huge."

Nightingale has posed:
     Jeremy's smile might be small, but Shannon gets a grin that goes from ear to ear. "Pleased to meet you, Gray. They're not kidding about the pool, but they forgot to mention the kitchen. You wouldn't have to steal food. There's enough for everyone." She laughs softly, sitting back a little bit. "Some kids chill out by reading, some by playing games or music. Me, I enjoy both, but ask these three--when I chill out, it's in the kitchen, and I wind up having to make a double batch of whatever I'm cooking" She giggles softly, eyes a-twinkle with mirth."

Faraday has posed:
Indira's smile fades slowly as she sees Gray's face fall, and her expression shifts to one of somber understanding. The world's not safe. Some end up learning that more than others.

"More than enough for everyone." She murmurs with a glance and a soft grin aside to Shannon. "If she has anything to do with it. But it's a cool place. It's actually on a lake. There's a forest and a campground near the beach. It's a peaceful spot when you want to get away from the noise. even has some cabins."

Gray has posed:
"I... ain't been swimming in a long time." Gray hesitates for a moment before eating the last bite of burger and reaching for the donut box. The money and business card disappear into a pocket on his jacket and he picks something random from inside, shoving the box back in the direction of the others. They aren't HIS donuts, after all. He might hoard the food he gets for himself, but he's not going to keep what someone else is sharing. Mention of a kitchen gets his attention more than anything else has and his eyes widen a little, chewing on his bottom lip, "I-" It takes a moment before sluggish thoughts manage to turn into something close to sense in his head, "You said I can leave anytime, right?" There's a good bit of internal cursing, clearly visible in his expression, as he tries to come to some sort of decision, "And it's just school. Not anything weird." Like some sort of science experiment.

SpyderByte has posed:
<< It's just school, for mutants. No humans. Our teachers are mutants. One of them is Doctor Hank McCoy. He is the famous scientist. The blue furry one, looks like a cat. He teaches our science programs. He is my favorite teacher. >>

Jeremy scoots down on to his rear and draws his knees up to his chest as he leans against them. The chains jingle along his pants as he does.

<< You can leave anytime, of course. You can talk to Miss Jean Grey and Miss Carr more. They run the school together. They can help you get a room. I don't have a roommate. Then a schedule for classes and have your records transferred over from your old school. >>

He ponders for a moment in thought.

<< Do you have parents still or are they gone? >> Gone in many ways. He doesn't make a guess.

Prismatic has posed:
    "You'll have a modest stipend for some new clothes and some decor for your room, or half of a room if you are sharing." Alexis introduces the idea gently, in a quiet voice. "You'll have to take your standard classes -- English, language, ethics, maths, some physical activity class like ballet, martial arts, gymnastics -- or the Morning Run program. We have some interesting extracurricular classes." Alexis gives a small smile. "I teach an urban survival extracurricular, in fact, there's strings and theatre, auto mechanics --" she lists off a few different diciplines. "We're starting a driver's ed program in the summer."

    She purses her lips slightly, and gives a sidelong look to Gray.

    "Maths for three squares and a bed isn't a bad exchange."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon nods, and almost grins over at Indira in kind. "She's not kidding. I'm not the school chef or anything, but when I'm chilling out, why shouldn't I share? And it's true. Any one of us could leave anytime we wanted. Thing is though, we don't choose to. It's become home. Friends. Family."

     She stops to listen to Alexis, nodding a little to each class she brings up. "Been doing the morning run thing on my own for well over a year or so now. Miss Carr's ballet class is actually a lot of fun. I got to try the auto shop class last summer with Mr. Summers, and actually wound up getting to keep my project, which was a pretty sweet bike." She chuckles a little bit, grinning and ruffling her wings. "Kind of helped get the theater class off the ground when I approached Mr. Wagner with the idea a couple years ago and he went for it. We worked on Cyrano de Bergerac that year. If there's a class you'd want to see but it's not there, the teachers are pretty chill about coming to them with the idea. So there's that, too."

Gray has posed:
The jangling of chains earns a shudder from Gray and he nods, "Blue cat-guy. Got it." There's more nodding and an intensely thoughtful look on his face at the assurance that he would not be trapped at this school, if he did decide to make what is likely to be one of the biggest mistakes of his life. The question about his parents has all expression leaving his face, his voice flat and emotionless, "They're gone." The list of classes gets a disgusted look, though there's a snort at the mention of 'urban survival', "Think I got that one covered." Exibit A: He's alive! He waves off the thought of having to do math in exchange for somewhere to live and food that he doesn't have to scrounge, "Math never bothered me, too much." He nods to Shannon and frowns at the donut in his hand, "I'll... think about it." He gathers his things and stands, "I gotta go." Time and space to think are manditory, right now. The homeless teen takes three steps toward the street and vanishes from sight, the sound of his footsteps getting lost in the noise of the city.