13180/Exploring Mutant Town

Exploring Mutant Town
Date of Scene:	03 May 2021
Location:	Bushwick (Mutant Town), Brooklyn
Synopsis:	Iceman and Rogue spend some time hanging out and conversing in Mutant Town.
Cast of Characters:	Iceman, Rogue

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Iceman has posed:
Bushwick is a cool neighborhood full of cool people. And some crime. But that's neither here nor there. The reason for being here today is so that Bobby can show his buddy Rogue around and introduce her to some of the folks there. He's dressed pretty casually, button up short sleeve shirt, khaki shorts and loafers. It's a beautiful day to go exploring Mutant Town, especially as an awesome mutant himself.

Iceman waits on a street corner for his friend, but he's already found himself chatting with a charcoal skinned dude with red eyes and the jacket from the Thriller video. Drake says, "That jacket is dope, man! I mean, it's hot out, but I don't blame you for wearing it for a second."

Rogue has posed:
Cool neighborhoods are cool, and Rogue is sort of the type to check places out. Especially when they come recommended by her friend, Bobby. Of course, since she's going to a place where mutants seem to be accepted, she has no qualms flying into Bushwick and landing just beside her best buddy. "Alright. M'here. What're your other two wishes?" She asks Iceman before nudging into him with a shoulder.

It may be warm out, but due to her other main power, Rogue has to be careful with what she wears. Today it's blue jeans, combat boots, a black long sleeved shirt with a white tee shirt over it that reads Southern Hospitality : This ain't yo' momma's chicken an' grits!, and black gloves. All for the sake of not risking any sort of skin to skin contact because that could render horrible results. "Seriously tho, what's up?"

Iceman has posed:
"Hey girl," Bobby greets his friend warmly, bumping his shoulder back into hers affectionately. "Just talking to the ghost of Michael Jackson."

"The zombie, I mean, I got the jacket, man," The fellow Bobby's talking to replies to him with a grin. "I got it online. Wasn't too hard to find, I wear it all the time or else my skin soaks up too much heat. Anyway, I gotta bolt, girl needs me to pick up some sandwiches." And off he goes with a wave.

Iceman looks back to Rogue after waving at the guy and says, "I just thought it would be fun to check out what's going on here in Bushwick. Figured we could grab some lunch and see if anything interesting is going on."

Rogue has posed:
Rogue beams a smile to her friend as he bumps back into her and then looks to the one he's referring to the ghost of Michael Jackson. She actually lets out a laugh and then nods. "I understand the need to wear a lot of clothing for reasons. It still looks really dope, man."

As the man trots off then to do his thing for him and his girl, Rogue takes a side step from Bobby, lifting a hand to run fingers through her hair. "I ain't been here before that I can readily recall. Seems like a nice place though." A look around as she speaks. "Lunch and a walk around. If I didn't know you any better, Bobby, I'd think this was a date or somethin'..."

Iceman has posed:
"If I was the kind of guy to date a woman, you'd be at the top of the list," Bobby tells her with a smile and a little wink. "I just wanted someone to hang out with today and I thought you'd appreciate a trip into the city to see where our kind of folks live." The neighborhood isn't the nicest but it's certainly vibrant and alive. Lots of folks doing lots of things. The young man gestures down the street and says, "There's a really good diner around the corner, if you want some diner food. Otherwise there's a good little mom and pop Italian joint that does a mean Sicilian style pizza."

Rogue has posed:
"And thus the dreams are shattered..." Rogue says, but it's playful and she's still all smiles. "I do surely appreciate the trip, and the time with you. I feel like a lot of my time lately's been taken up playin' hero. It's nice to just slow down a moment, y'know?" That Mississippi accent is thick, and she tilts her head when he discusses places they could go eat. "I mean I heard of this place enough, just ain't ever managed a visit, sadly. An' I could go for either, really. Diner or Italian... so it's up to you since you know this place better."

Iceman has posed:
"Yeah, I understand that completely," Iceman tells his friend with a nod. "This isn't the nicest neighborhood all the time, but there's a lot of genuine, caring people here. A good sense of camaraderie. Everyone here belongs, kind of like at the school." He starts leading the way down the street, "Alright, lets get some Italian, then. I might do the chicken parmesan. Nothing I've had at this place has been bad."

As they stroll along Bobby will occasionally give a smile or a nod to the folks they pass. As they pass a news stand the vendor calls out to the pair, "What a good looking couple! Need some dirty mags to spice up the ol' love life?"

Bobby looks momentarily out of place as he turns to see the guy and a look of recognition flashes across his face, "Hey Jim!"

Rogue has posed:
"I mean, there's a lot of places that are like that. So I get it. But it's a slice of home to those who live here, and wanna be accepted. It's the kinda place one would wish they had if they didn't grow up here. Ain't much different than the backwaters of 'Sippi." Rogue offers as they walk along. When he mentions Italian, she nods her head. "That sounds right nice..."

The man that calls out to them and offers a dirty mag has Rogue actually blushing a bit. It's the fact that Bobby recognizes the man and she chuckles some. "Is there going to be anyone you don't readily know here?" Asking this before she walks up to the vendor. "I'll take a couple of what yer sellin'. Maybe toss in a copy of Southern Living if you have it." And she grins.

Looking back to Bobby she warns, "If you make fun of me, I swear I'll knock you out."

Iceman has posed:
"This place is where I'd want to live if I wasn't at the school," Bobby says to Rogue as he moves over to the news stand to peruse the wares. "How you been, man?" he asks Jim.

"I'm good, Bobbo. You know me, though, always hustling," the vendor says as he pops some beef jerky into his mouth and washes it down with Mountain Dew. Looking at Rogue he nods, "Alright, I'll get you the good stuff, good lookin'." He piles up a couple of newspapers and the magazine she requested before saying a price. It seems reasonable.

Bobby looks at Rogue and laughs, "I know you're good for it so I'll keep my mouth shut."

Rogue has posed:
"I dunno where I'd be if it weren't for the school. Well, specifically if it weren't for Xavier givin' me a chance even after I fucked shit up." Rogue offers, and then she hears the price for the things she's buying. Reasonable, yep. She manages to pay the guy in cash - cause she has pockets today and could carry her little wallet. Then takes the newspapers and magazines. "Thanks a lot. I appreciate it."

Stepping back over to Bobby then, she shuffles the stuff in her arms until it's comfortable. "Good boy. Now, shall we?"

Iceman has posed:
"I'd have gotten my neck stretched if it weren't for the professor and Scott," Bobby says. "That or I might have had to hurt a lot of people. No idea what would have happened to me."

Jim nods to Rogue and says, "You two have a good one. Thanks for shopping at Jim's quality newspapers!"

Bobby goes back to leading the way, enjoying the atmosphere and the day. Soon he'll point out the little Italian joint and start heading for it, "Here's the place."

Rogue has posed:
"Being manipulated and causin' bad things to happen... I'm surprised the Professor actually took a kindness to me." Rogue admits as they begin to walk down the street again. "And I have hurt people...so...be really glad you never did. It sucks."

Then she kinda looks away, shuffling the papers and magazines around again. "Anyway." They've come to the Italian joint and she smiles. "Gods it already smells amazin'...is there anything you recommend?"

Iceman has posed:
"Yeah," Bobby says to Rogue before he goes quiet and contemplative.

At the restaurant, however, he moves to hold the door open for his friend and says, "Everything is awesome. Egpplant parmesan and Sicilian pizza are probably the best things on the menu, though."

As the pair enters a middle aged man is waiting to seat them. He's a friendly sort who speaks with a faint Italian accent, "Welcome! Just the two of you? Right this way."

Rogue has posed:
Rogue gives a nod of her head and a smile as he holds the door open. "Thanks Bobby." Before they're greeting by the man set to seat them. She follows along and aside Bobby, giving a thought to his recommendations. "I'll peek at the menu, but this is the second time you've mentioned their Sicilian pizza and now I think I might have to try that."

Once they get to the table, unless Bobby beats her to it, she'll pull out her chair and have a seat. "Or we get the pizza to split, and something else each...or whatever." A pause. "We splittin' the check?"

Iceman has posed:
"Yeah, let's split a pie," Bobby tells Rogue as he sits down across from her. "We can split the check. This place isn't very expensive, though, so if you're hurting I can grab it." He doesn't even look at the menu.

A younger copy of the host wanders over and smiles, "Hello, my name is Luigi. Do we know what we'd like to drink today? The house red is quite good with the pizza I heard you two talking about."

Rogue has posed:
"I mean I ain't really hurting, per se, but I also wasn't quite prepared for the random purchase on the street. I could probably pick up my half of the tab." Rogue explains and then shrugs. "Split a pie it is..." She, on the other hand, does look at the menu.

When the waiter comes up and recommends a wine, Rogue just bites her lower lip some. "Ah, not really in the mood for alcohol. Just a soda will do. Pepsi if you have it, otherwise Dr. Pepper." She offers this before looking at her menu again.

Iceman has posed:
"I got it, girl," Bobby tells Rogue with a smile. "I'll reinforce gender stereotypes and all that." He's not particularly serious about that last bit. Looking at the waiter he says, "I'll have a Pepsi as well."

"Very good, I'll be right back with that while you two think on what you'd like to eat," the young man says as he heads to get their drinks.

Rogue has posed:
"Gender sterotypes are for people who believe such a thing should have ever existed. That's not the case here. We're /friends/. So if my *friend* wants to pick up the bill, so be it." Rogue offers this with a smirk. Then she shrugs.

"So we're splitting a pizza, you're having chicken parm, right? Hmm... suppose I might go with the alfredo. That looks pretty good."

Iceman has posed:
"Your friend is more than happy to pick up the bill, Rogue," Bobby says with a big grin. Then he nods, "Yeah, that is good, too."

When the waiter returns he's brought sodas and he's ready to take the lunch order. Bobby will fill him in on it quickly and then turn to his companion, "I can't wait for you to try the food here. It's so good."

Rogue has posed:
Rogue looks to the waiter and adds in her own order of shrimp alfredo with a little extra sauce. Then she looks to Bobby once more as the waiter leaves. "I hope so. Otherwise you'll be doin' a little more than payin' for the ticket." She jokes with him before settling back in her chair.

"So...what /really/ has been going on in the world of Bobby Drake recently? I feel like I ain't see you in forever..." She asks of her friend while reaching for her Pepsi to take a drink.

Iceman has posed:
Bobby also leans back, taking his soda with him so he can have a drink. Then he shrugs his shoulders, "Just keeping busy with school stuff. Attending some classes of my own from time to time, too. Gotta keep up with the accountant life, make sure I know all the ins and outs of the business so I don't accidentally make the school embezzle too much money."

Rogue has posed:
Rogue chuckles a little and shakes her head. "School stuff is slow for me cause most the kids are well behaved and don't ever really get detention. The ones that do tend to try not to now cause I've started makin' 'em clean the Danger Room." She chuckles then, taking another sip of her soda before setting it down again. "Otherwise...I helped save some mutant kids that got 'napped...and I'm helpin' in the search for another. Think I might have told you that already." Then she rubs her forehead. "Not to mention... well..." She trails off then, looking away for a moment.

Iceman has posed:
"I've usually got something school related on the back burner," Iceman says with a little chuckle. "I'm glad kids are learning not to get detention any more, though." Then he nods, "It's good to get out and help people whenever you can. I've got to get back out in the field, it's been too long for me." When she trails off he grows quiet to let her make decisions without butting in.

Rogue has posed:
"Yeah. I thought about maybe doing something a bit more at the school, but really I enjoy the field work a lot more I think. Goin' out an' makin' a difference, y'know?" Rogue offers before she's trailed off, looking away a bit. "Still. I kinda feel a bit empty inside sometimes. Like I'm only good for what I can offer...which is my strength and my flight...and those aren't even *my* skills. They're...stolen." She looks back. "My skills force me to be the loner... that was likely evident enough last night." She pauses. "I'm getting kinda tired of it, I just...I just want to have a slice of normal for once."

Iceman has posed:
"You do what you can with what you've got," Bobby tells her with the slightest of smiles. "Doesn't matter where your powers come from as long as you do the right thing with them and as long as you've been at the school that's your M.O." His head nods deeply, "Yeah, it'd be great to have a shot at normal."

Rogue has posed:
"You could though. You know? You can show up at Scott and Jean's house, pat them on the back, share hugs, hang out..." Rogue says. "What did I do? Hopped up on the roof because that's where the misfit belongs." A sigh. "You all can dress for the weather, and enjoy the pool or the hot tub, and just...just...hang out. Like. Without much of a care."

The food likely arrives by this point, causing Rogue to pause mid rant.

Then she just shakes her head. "Anyway. I know I'm bein' stupid. Just...sometimes it sucks to have your place in the world confirmed."

Iceman has posed:
"That's true," Bobby says to Rogue, though he too pauses when the food appears. He goes to work splitting it up so that they each get some of the pizza as well as the meals they ordered.

"I hope that someday you can finally be around people without having to worry about your powers kicking in. You know we'd do anything for you, though. We're your friends and we're here for you no matter what happens."

Rogue has posed:
Rogue nods. "Yeah. Hank is actually working on something for me, cause I kinda lamented to him too. Which makes me feel worse. Like I'm stuck on this one frame of thought and I hate it." She smiles though and then shakes her head. "Sorry Bobby... I'm not trying to pull the mood down or anything." She stirs her pasta a moment. "It'll all work out in the end, just the path getting there is like, bleh. You know?"