13544/Upworld Experience

Upworld Experience
Date of Scene:	23 June 2021
Location:	Bushwick (Mutant Town), Brooklyn
Synopsis:	Kit was nice. It was entirely too confusing for Marrow.
Cast of Characters:	Marrow, Kit Killovarras

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Marrow has posed:
It was late. The witching hour as they called it. But this was New York City. The city that never slept. It was valid. There were still plenty of people out and about, even in Mutant Town. That was the nickname for Bushwick, an area with many mutants had taken up residence. Finding there was comfort in being around others that understood their gifts and challenges.

There weren't really stars visible in the sky, thanks to the lights of such a big city interfering. Though the moon hung high in the sky, casting it's glow. The temperature was comfortable enough, humidity low. There were the usual sounds of vehicles on the roadway, yellow taxis the most prevalent although there were some of those ride companies sharing the road with their little labels in the front windows.

Marrow had come above ground tonight. Dressed in a pair of jeans, a few holes in them thanks to the bones that ripped through the fabric at various locations. She had on a sweatshirt, which fit oddly thanks to it covering the larger bones sticking out of her back. The hood was pulled up, around her face, helping hide her from view. Although Mutant Town was more accepting of visibly obvious mutants, it didn't change years of preferring to hide her face when above ground.

Tonight she was on a mission, seeking out food to take down to her people.

Kit Killovarras has posed:
Meanwhile, having just recently found his way into this part of town, Kit is wandering around, taking in the sights and occasionally stopping to awkwardly apologize when he bumps into someone. He's worn his hoodie open tonight and whats more, his hood is down, revealing everything about his beast-like features from his muzzle and ears perked up atop his head, to the tail trailing behind him, slowly swaying back and forth. He's got a bag of something in his right hand, his left grabbing up what looks like seeds of some kind from it on occasion to pop into his maw.

Marrow has posed:
The restaurant was just ahead. They always had a plethora of things she could get. So much waste in Upworld. She would have thought the mutants here would be less so than the idiotic humans. How silly of her. Maybe it was because they were the pretty ones. So many of them at least, even here in this haven for mutants. They could pass as humans.

It was enough to disgust her.

She shoved her hands into the pockets of her hoodie, coming around a corner. Just up one block and there would be an alley leading to the back of the restaurant. While she knew the sewers better, she could traverse these areas with equal skill.

As she rounded the corner, she had to pause to let the other mutant pass. That did get her attention. Tall, canine in nature. Not the least bit human unless one counted the vaguest physical structure. She watched him as he passed, tilting her head back enough to look up at him that her hood fell back. Revealing her own obvious mutant attributes as tonight she had a brow of bone that was growing outwards, almost like barnacles, along the right side of her head. Her left cheek had several more bits, as did her jawline on that side. No telling what was under the hoodie but the lumps and bump shapes did give an idea her face wasn't the only one marred in this way. Even a few larger bits were sticking out of the holes in her jeans.

She fell into step with the stranger then glanced over to the bag. "What's that?" No small talk, no hi how are you. That wasn't really her nature.

Kit Killovarras has posed:
Kit pauses for a moment when he's addressed, visibly lowering himself a little bit, his shoulders dropping down for a moment as his head lowers. It almost looks like he's about to apologize for something, but then it registers what was said and he perks up a little, "Hmm?" he tilts his head slightly, finishing a mouthful of the bags contents, then tilts the bag a little as he says, "Roasted termites. Want some?" with a warm smile.

Upon a closer inspection, he's not lying. The bag is full of what looks like termites, roasted with some sort of flavoring powder mixed in with them, though there is very little powder in comparison to the tiny dead creatures.

Marrow has posed:
It's interesting seeing a smile with his facial structure. Yet there was no doubt it was a smile. While some might be at a loss talking to someone like him, she was not the least bit bothered. In fact, his appearance wasn't that extreme where she'd come from.

When he offered some of his food, for a moment Marrow was surprised. She frowned a little, obviously trying to figure out what his angle was. He must have an angle. No one on the outside gave anything to others. Not unless they wanted something.

"You..sure?" She waited to see if he was going to snatch the bag back yet he seemed to keep it there. She reached in and took a few of the treats, tossing them into her mouth and chewing. "So good. Nutty."

Kit Killovarras has posed:
Kit watches her with those mismatched eyes, chuckling a little as she tries them, "Well that's a surprise, last few people I've offered them to were grossed out by them." he says, never really losing that cheerful demeanor. Then he reaches into the pocket of his hoodie and produces another bag, tossing it to Marrow. "Sadly, I don't know if you can buy them around here, I haven't found any in shops since I got off the boat, but my family sends me a few bags of them a month.

After a moment, he looks around a little again, his eyes wandering a little as he muses, "I've never seen a place like this before. Normally I have to hide what I am, but it's mostly mutants here."

Marrow has posed:
As the bag was tossed her way, Marrow caught it easily enough. "Where I come from, we aren't squeamish about what we eat. You do what you must to survive." To the extreme where she was brought to adulthood. Not something to be shared with others of course. "I've never tried those but there aren't a lot of termites where I come from either." Not a lot of wood there for them to munch on nor the giant mounds that could be found some places.

"In this area of the city, yes. They call it Mutant Town. Mutants gather here, feeling there is safety in numbers." She lets out an annoying snort. "They are mostly the pretty ones still. Some like me. Like you. Don't fit in so easily."

Kit Killovarras has posed:
Though his ears fall ever so slightly at that last comment, he never loses that smile as he shrugs. "I haven't really fit in anywhere before. Regardless though, the people here don't run away screaming about monsters when I walk past." the last little bit said with a little chuckle. Then he stops to think for a moment before he gives Marrow a glance and tilts his head, "Hey, do you know where I can find a shop? I hadn't thought about it, but I'm running low on supplies and if this part of town is so accepting of mutants, I might be able to go shopping without having to look like I'm about to rob the place."

Marrow has posed:
"There's quite a few. Most aren't open this late. A couple of convenience stores. One two blocks this way." Marrow motioned with a hand in the direction they were already walking. "Opposite side of the road. Called Henry's Place. You can pick up most essentials there though he's a little overpriced cause he knows he has the market cornered for the late night crowds. If you wait until morning, there are at least a dozen you could try. From clothes to food to whatever you can imagine."

Which brought her to that alleyway she was going to need to go down. She paused there, her forward momentum abruptly ended. "Some restaurants and things too." She looked at the one they were next to. "Like this one. It'll open around lunch time. They have great steaks."

Kit Killovarras has posed:
When Morrow stops, he turns to look at the restaurants sign, tilting his head ever so slightly. "Huh, I'll have to give it a try one of these days." Then he gives a glance in the direction she'd mentioned. "Henry's, hmm? Essentials.." he pauses for a moment, his ears folding ever so slightly before he murmurs, "Wonder if they sell flea powder." more to himself than anyone else. Then his ears perk up suddenly and he glances to Marrow again with a little chuckle, "By the way, sorry, but I don't think I got your name." Then he offers a paw, "I'm Kit."

Marrow has posed:
There was that long moment of her looking at his hand like he'd just offered her a nuclear weapon. Maybe it was because he might have fleas after what he'd said. Truthfully, this was not what she was used to. Ever. Even the other Upworlders she'd dealt with were not generally this--nice.

It was so weird.

She took the paw in her own roughly callused hand. "Marrow. Good luck on finding what you need." She was actually wishing well to someone. This was the strangest night ever. "I'm going to go get some food." She hooked a finger oddly in the direction of the closed restaurant.

Kit Killovarras has posed:
There's a moment of confusion after her comment about 'getting some food', then one of his ears folds to one side as and there's a moment of understanding. After a moment, he reaches into the pocket of his jeans, producing a fold of cash - about $100 in total - and offers it to her. "Grab yourself a steak or something tomorrow too." he says with a warm smile.

Marrow has posed:
She actually took a step backwards. Like he'd drawn a weapon on her and threatened her. As she stared at that bill then at his face. Now he got the frown, a darkness coming to her expression as she eyed the bill then looked up to his mismatched eyes.

"What the hell." And for a moment, she was about to slap that bill out of his hand. She didn't need charity from the Upworlders. But, he wasn't a pretty pretty. So why was he trying to give her money?

She clenched her fists in her pockets then pulled a hand out, reaching to try to snatch the offered bills. Not for the charity. Not for herself. Never for herself. But that could buy a lot of food for the Morlocks. Fresh food instead of what she was going to rummage out of the dumpster behind the restaurant.

"Why are you helping us?" Us. Not me. Perhaps a clue that this was something greater at play. Or she thought of herself in some weird way to use that phrasing.

Kit Killovarras has posed:
Not a single hint of confusion when the word 'us' is used, nope! Kit just keeps that friendly smile for a moment, only letting it fade a little as he explains, "Because I know what it's like to have to do that." He gives a little shrug, then his expression gets a little less cheery. "And if you're on a run for more than just yourself, it means it's more important that you can get something fresher too." He gives a glance into the alleyway and adds, "Or, heck.. Maybe even just something to boost morale."

Then he takes a few more of the roasted termites from his back before rolling one end and slipping it into the pocket of his hoodie, popping them in his mouth after a simple, "Oh and if I've offended you, I apologize, but I'd rather show someone kindness than walk away knowing I could have helped. There's too much cruelty in this world already and you're right, we don't fit in. So it's better that we do what we can to help each other."

Marrow has posed:
She took the money and tucked it into her pocket. Marrow was still watching him like he was an alien. Because they were so different from mutants, right? Not if one looked at the big blue guy in Metropolis. No, even aliens were pretty.

It was so unfair.

"If you ever need help, go down to 37th." She pointed the way they had come. Back toward the corner she had some around previously. "To the manhole just down from the corner. Come down. Someone will be along within twelve hours on patrol. Tell them you know me and they'll get me." It wasn't going to get him directly to the main Morlocks. She didn't know him well enough for that. But it would get him somewhere they patrolled to allow for him to reach her again if needed. Not like she had a cell phone. Or coverage down there.

Kit Killovarras has posed:
"Manhole on 37th," he repeats, then gives a nod and offers a smile. "I'll remember that." he says, his smile brightening again. "If you see me around town, feel free to say hey. I don't really have a place to call home at the moment, so nowhere to really find me, but I tend to wander." Then he gives another look around, his ears perking a little bit as he adds, "And I think I like it around here. This place gives me a chance to air out my fur a bit."

Marrow has posed:
"It does. They will be more giving and accepting. As for homeless, we can set you up a pallet below. If you opt to go somewhere your fur won't be quite as airy," Marrow adds with a little chuckle. And she actually comes close to smiling. Something she never does except amongst her own people. Unless it was a feral smile before killing someone.

"I need to go. They are expecting me back soon and will send someone out if I don't come back at the right time." Nice she has family or friends that worry about her.

"Nice to meet you, Kit."

Kit Killovarras has posed:
Kit nods and smiles, "Get to it then, I'm gonna stop by the shop, then see about heading back to my tree." He starts off, glancing over his shoulder after a few steps to offer a warm smile once again and adds, "And it was nice meeting you too, Marrow." Then he's off to find Henry's and see if they have some flea powder. Who knows? Maybe he'll get lucky and they'll have some in stock.