9970/It's a Living

It's a Living
Date of Scene:	09 November 2019
Location:	Club Evolution, Mutant Town
Synopsis:	Andrea comes to Club Evolution to see Jay. A good time is had by all with some surprises in the mix. Angst to follow in the future.
Cast of Characters:	Icarus, Rage

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Icarus has posed:
After a bit of chatting with his brother, Jay had accepted a job at Club Evolution as a busser. He would also get on stage if he ever chose to, pretty much for amateur night. He hadn't done so yet. For now, he just was one of the people that was ignored, working through the tables and cleaning them before more patrons would take up the spot and the process would repeat over and over all night.

It was a living. Not challenging. Pretty mindless. Allowed him time away from the school and put money in his pocket. That was the important thing. He would have money to be able to send home to Ma this way, and afford the few things he might need while attending school.

He was dressed casually. Baggy jeans, an oversized t-shirt with a hoodie thrown over that. There was no sign of his wings at all. He preferred to keep them hidden while working. He couldn't even explain why, it was just a choice he had made from day one. It was like he was back home, keeping them from being seen when he was anywhere but at his house. He would let the wings show at Xavier's but not the club.

Rage has posed:
Heading into the club is Andrea, who desperately needed to get out of the school and cut loose with some energy. Hopefully someone is on stage tonight to kill it. Otherwise, this will be a night of drinking soda and probably people watching.

After taking a seat at a table and plucking a menu up, she flips through the pages a bit before she notices a familiar red head working the tables. So, perhaps she did know that he was working tonight, and that is all the excuse she needed to drop by and support him. As her eyes track him keenly, she props her chin up in the palm of her hand, scribbling in a journal with the other as her pen swipes along the lines of paper freely. Le-Sigh.

Icarus has posed:
It's Friday night so hopefully there will be someone performing later. At the moment, their regular DJ is spinning and the dance floor is overflowing with people.

Jay moved toward the next table, eyes on the littered top filled with bottles and glasses. He carried a large plastic tub under his left arm as he moved to start clearing it. As he did so, he glanced at the tables around to be sure none of them needed to be cleaned. Which is when he spotted Andrea.

"Hey, didn't expect to see you." He put the last bottle in his tub and walked over to her table.

Rage has posed:
"It's Friday night and I'm bored. I figured this would be the most hopping place tonight." Andrea says as she smiles at him, settling her eyes into his. Brushing some dark hair away from her eyes, she gives him a grin.

"When are you going on break? I want to dance with you." The way she says it, it's not much of a question, more of a request. The wolf is riding her hard tonight it seems and she's feeling antsy. Her fingers tap the pen against the journal a few times. Tappity tap.

Icarus has posed:
"In about five minutes. Actually it'll be my dinner break so I'll have 30 minutes off the clock," Jay offers as he glances down to the pen tapping away then back to her face with a bit of a smirk. "So you might be able to convince me to dance, if you don't mind sharing a plate of nachos too?"

After all, he needs to eat to keep up with all the messy tables. Wouldn't do him passing out from hunger on the floor. He might get trampled.

Rage has posed:
"I love messy nachos. I suppose you can have those first." Andrea smiles as she continues to tap the pen along her journal, then brushes it along the paper again to add another two words to the sentence she was writing. "Why aren't your wings out?" She asks him curiously.

As she closes the journal and tucks the pen into the coils, she rises up and shrugs out of her jacket to reveal a shimmery silver dress that hits at the knees along with a pair of white flats. She may have dolled herself up a bit before going out. Hint of make up, hair styled.

Icarus has posed:
"Then I'll get those into the kitchen as soon as I take this load back." Jay shifts the bin he is holding to indicate what he's talking about, as though she couldn't figure it out. Weird how people do things like that. At the question, he gives one of those boneless sort of shrugs. "Don't bother with showing them around here. They usually cause questions. And I know we are surrounded by other mutants but they still seem to cause questions and I am here to work, not explain that yes, I can fly and yes, they are red and no, I'm not an angel who fell from heaven and I don't need their digits."

As she takes off the coat, he can't help but take in her attire and he nod even as a tiny blush stains his cheeks. At least it isn't visible in the lighting of the club. "You look amazing, as always."

Rage has posed:
"Take the wings out when we go dancing." Andrea says with a smile, practically glowing at the compliment. "Please." She says as she gives a small twirl of her body to let the dress whisk about her frame. "And thank you for the words. You look quite professional yourself, Jay." She sways her body back and forth to loosen her ankles up and to keep a bit of blood flowing through her. Her eyes? Locked on his, happy.

Icarus has posed:
"I...we'll see." That's all Jay is willing to give her about the wings. "Let me go get this put away. Back in a few minutes. With nachos. You want something else to drink while I'm at it?"

He glances at her soda, wondering if she might need a refill. Once he confirms the answer, it'll be off to the kitchen for a bit to get food, drink (maybe) and then clock out for his lunch break.

Rage has posed:
No refill for her. It's just a diet and one may seem enough for her. Andrea watches him go, grinning to herself as she tucks some brown hair back behind her ear. As a guest pops over to talk to her, she finds herself being flirted by a courageous young man of an impressive build. Get her number? Maaaaybe later. She does take a picture with him though and signs his cell phonecase with a marker she finds in her purse for these rare moments.

Throughout the conversation, she keeps glancing over to where Jay wandered off to, waiting.

Icarus has posed:
At about the eight minute mark, Jay was weaving his way through the crowd. He carried a glass of coke in one hand and a tray of nachos in the other. The large, share-size order. He was making a meal of it and he figured she would enjoy them too. Even had extra toppings because why not?

As he came to the table, he set down the items and gave a glance to the guy talking to Andrea. And odd feeling started to unfurl in the pit of his stomach but he repressed it. He even had a stack of napkins since he had the feeling they would need them. No little plates. He hadn't even thought of that, figuring they would just eat from the tray. "I didn't think to ask if you were good with jalapenos. Hope they won't be a problem."

Rage has posed:
"Alejandro was it? It was nice meeting you." Andrea says to the young man she's speaking with once Jay arrives. "I hope your soccer career continues to take off. I'm a huge soccer fan. I'll cheer for you when I see you on TV this weekend." The latino man leans in and brushes a kiss to her cheek. So brazen!

The entire time, she just grins, confident and cool, and once Jay takes a seat, she reaches out to settle her hand against his shoulder. It's a simple gesture, but one that allows Alejandro to 'get it'. As he saunters off in hunt of new prey, she slinks down into the seat next to him and plucks a chip up with a jalapeño, taking a bite from it. "I love them. I don't mind a kick to my chips." She double dips rudely into some sourcream before lobbing the rest of the chip into her mouth for a crunch.

Icarus has posed:
Jay just sits, sipping his cola and waiting for the conversation to end. When the man leans in to kiss her cheek, Jay's eyebrows lift up a bit because unless she knew him, that seemed to be crossing the line. And since she wasn't sure of his name, needing to confirm it, that meant they were not a friend of hers.

The hand on the shoulder is recognized for what it is. A warning for the other man. Jay waits until he has wandered out of ear shot before glancing at Andrea. "Want me to go teach him some manners?" The Southern boy in him wasn't pleased. As for double dipping? He had siblings. If he hadn't died from it by now, he was pretty sure he was safe.

Rage has posed:
Not seeing bothered, Andrea takes another chip up and swirls it about in some cheese and sourcream. "For what? He was hitting on me. He took a shot and I commend him for it. It's flattering and he was cool. He plays for the pro soccer team here in the city. That's pretty cool."

Giving him a grin, her brows lift upwards some at his reaction. "If I was upset by any of that, I'd have handled it and shut him down easily. He wrote his number down on a napkin for me." She giggles as she points to it with her chip. "I"m not going to call him though if it makes you feel better."

Icarus has posed:
"None of my business. I know you can handle yourself. Just..not right to be that forward with a lady where I come from." Jay mutters as he seems very intent on the nachos. "No skin off my teeth if you want to call him."

He picks up a particularly loaded chip and manages to pop the whole thing in his mouth but ends up with cheesy quacamole fingers. Need to wipe that off. He grabs a napkin and cleans them thoroughly. "Oops. That was the one with his number, wasn't it?" It's unreadable now as he puts it back down on the table. "Too bad."

Rage has posed:
"Well, you aren't in Kentucky, Jay. This is New York and guys have more swagger here. I like confident guys that can step up and lay it all out there. No games. No beating around the bush." Andrea watches him pluck the napkin up and wipe his hands off, her brows lifting up even higher now.

She plucks another chip up in her fingers, then leans into him so that she can whisper against his ear. "I got dressed up so I could look good dancing with /you/." She says, as if to put a staple on where her loyalties lie tonight.

Icarus has posed:
"Swagger is one thing. Kissing a girl you just met, even on the cheek? Rude." Jay is not going to see this differently. That jawline gives it away as he gets his stubborn look.

But then her confession and there is an immediate change. He can't help grinning. "Well in that case." He waves over one of the servers. "Would you put our food and drinks some place safe for me while we hit the floor, please? Thanks, Myra." As the woman wanders off, he pulls his hood off over his head. The tshirt follows, leaving him in the tank top he normally wears which shows off his arms and those red wings. A shifting of them to tug them out of his waistband and he flutters them behind him getting comfortable.

"Shall we dance?"

Rage has posed:
Continuing to grin at him, Andrea rises up to her full height and smooths down the fabric of her shimmery silver dress. Myra takes her purse as well to keep it safe. As Jay takes his shirts off to reveal his wings, her smile only brightens. "There you are." She says as she reaches out for his hand, winding her fingers into it as she leads him to the dance floor.

The DJ is spinning some amazing tracks tonight with a feverish pitch and heavy bassline. It's the type of music to get the heart pounding and the sweat pouring. In the 'pit', the temperature is higher from the sea of bodies mashed upon each other, dancing and enjoying the chance to cut loose.

Once they reach the gathered bodies on the dance floor, she turns to him and pulls him close, allowing her body to instantly find the beat as she begins to move along in time of the rhythm. She knows this song. It's a popular one on the top hits, just remixed to make it more club popping.

"Show me what you got."

Icarus has posed:
"Ma'am, I don't know you well enough for that," Jay says with a bold wink. Out on the floor, with the rising heat from all the moving people, the thump of the bass like a second heartbeat pulsing through them, it is easier to be more bold. Besides, he tends to lose himself in the music. Doesn't matter what kind.

He wraps his arms around her, pulling her close as he falls right into step with her. He keeps up easily and while he won't be out earning money from his fancy footwork, he can 'cut a rug' as they would've said in the old days. It is easy for him to catch the rhythm and ride it, taking her along with him.

The best news? With his wings, people are giving them a bit more room than they might have otherwise.

Rage has posed:
"Maybe if you're lucky, you'll get to know me real well by the time we're done dancing." Andrea counters back to him in jest as she slides her arms about his neck as she is pulled closer by his arms. Her heart is pounding in her chest, blood howling through her veins at how he takes charge of her and the dance floor.

She moves with him, matching his pace as her hips rock and fingers play in the back of his hair. Her eyes stare straight into his with a wide grin. She is obviously enjoying herself. A night to cut loose. Hot guy. Amazing music. Pretty dress. For the first time in awhile, she feels more like herself. A more 'back then' version of herself, rather than the more intense show she puts on with thicker skin.

With his wings out, she can feel the crowd's eyes upon them, recognizing her, wondering who /he/ is. Pictures will be taken. The gossip rags most likely will have a few paragraphs to slip out into the public. She doesn't care. She revels in the attention they are receiving. He deserves to be seen like this.

Icarus has posed:
He has to either yell to be heard or lean in closer and talk in a more normal tone, since a whisper would be lost entirely in the noise of the music and crowd. Jay leans in close to her ear. "Does seem to be a good way to learn more about someone, doesn't it?"

Then he leans back, giving her a bright smile as he just enjoys it. Of course, he only has a limited window of time but for now, he's letting himself get the most out of it. A beautiful woman in his arms. The music thundering around them.

Oddly, he often forgets just who she is. When he first met her, he was as awestruck as many that might be seeing her on that floor, though he played it off as best he could. Not everyday someone meets a chart topping singer. But now? Now she was Andrea, his friend and something special in his life. While he wasn't ready to entertain too much, there were hints there of things that might be someday. If he let go of his past. That always being the problem.

For the moment, he just took advantage of the extra space, giving her a little spin then pulling her back in close against him as they continued to dominate their little corner of the dance floor.

Rage has posed:
There is a wolf behind the eyes of Andrea as she is delighted by his words, by the way he moves, how he spins her about the floor. She throws her arms upwards, showing off the dress as it whirls along her body, showing off the strength of her legs as she bobs and bounces with the music.

When they come back together, the music suddenly slows down as the DJ makes some type of statement, most likely a dedication to another couple. It's a romantic track, a bit of R&B, a slow jam. A smile tugs along her face as she looks up at him, then curls her arms about his neck and shoulders as she steps into him to gently sway and rock, placing her head against his shoulder.

Icarus has posed:
As the music shifts, Jay's arms are open and waiting as she steps in close. He wraps his arms around her waist and holds her gently, letting her mold to him as they sway in time to the music. He rubs his jawline gently atop her head once then just settles in for the feel of her warm and relaxed in his arms.

He folds his wings around her as well, giving her that cocoon of feathers in addition to his arms. Then he begins to sing. Very softly, meant just for her, along with the words of the song, despite it being a femal vocalist being played. It was his own voice, nothing fancy with his powers.

"Never used to wanna get out of bed
But his morning, this morning
I woke up with an idea in my head
And I'm soaring, yeah, I'm soaring

EVerbody before
Pinned my wings to the floor
And they walked away
But baby now that I'm yours
I know I'm worth so much more
And I gotta say

That I got a new perspective
All 'cause you respect this
Finally liking what I see...

Rage has posed:
As she listens to him sing, Andrea rubs her cheek in against his chest and closes her eyes, just filling her ears with his voice, and the feeling of his arms about her. She listens to his heart beat with her ear pressed against it. Her fingers trace small circles along his neck and shoulders, swaying her body back and forth with his.

She sings the chorus with him as her voice joins his, though softer so that he can have the lead. F
"It's all because of you,
All because of you,
No one's ever loved me the way you do,
Givin' me a new perspective, seeing my reflection,
From a better point of view."

She holds him tighter in her arms as she sighs happily, her warm breath spilling against his chest, followed by a brush of her nose against his shirt. It's as if the entire world has been pushed away and all there is his him, his wings, his voice.

Icarus has posed:
As she joined in, he couldn't help smiling a bit. It was a stolen private moment in the middle of a busy club surrounded by hundreds of people. Yet they might as well have been alone as the song continued.

"Something about the way
You looked at me on that first day
It felt different, felt different
And I can tell by the words that you say
That you get it, you get it

Everbody before
Pinned my wings to the floor
And they walked away
But baby now that I'm yours
I know I'm worth somuch more
And I gotta say..."

The song continued on that way, another chorus then he reached down to tilt her head up so he could look her in the eyes. A single index finger under her chin, ever so light and delicate,if she cooperated.

"When I look at you
I feel like the whole world just got a little lighter
When I look at me through your eyes
I realized that maybe I'm a fighter

And maybe I'm worth fighting for."

The song continued but he stopped singing, staring down into her eyes for a long moment. His wings shifted, rising up to shield them from onlookers, giving them a privacy curtain. He started to lean in closer...

Suddenly he remembered something and he froze, inches away from a kiss. He started to pull away.

Rage has posed:
As she sings along with him, Andrea finds her heart pounding feverishly in her chest. She can feel the moment between them building, like a raging fire that has been ignited. As he tilts her chin upwards, her head lifts so that her eyes can lock with his, staring deeply and drinking in his handsome gaze.

Her hands still about his neck tighten, drawing herself closer as she can feel the warmth of his breath against her lips. Her head tilts, seeking his mouth, but she comes up empty as he pulls back. She lets out a soft breath, her fingers brushing through the back of his hair. ".. it's okay." She whispers to him.

Icarus has posed:
The confusion was there. The warring emotions written clearly in his eyes, which were more blue than green tonight. "I..."

He swallowed hard then leaned in, stealing that kiss. It was brief, fleeting, a brush of his lips to her without pushing for more. A moment of sweetness that was gone all too soon while his heart was thundering in his chest.

Then he was raising his head and she could see the pain there, the worry that he had betrayed a memory. "I...I need to get back to work. I'm sorry." For the kiss? For having to go back to work? He couldn't have answered that himself if she asked.

Rage has posed:
As their lips meet, Andrea's mouth returns the gesture. Soft and sweet with a hint of strawberry chapstick. He can probably feel her body shiver against his as she holds him closer, even if it's for the briefest of moments.

"Do you want me to wait for you to get off work and drive you home?" She says as her knuckles brush along his cheek, still wrapped in the warmth of his wings. Her heart is pounding furiously now, her cheeks flushed red and warm. "I still have some dancing left in me."

Icarus has posed:
"Not sure. Need to go find someone after work that's local so probably best you head back. I'll get there pretty late." Jay is now a bit upset with himself. He likes her. More than he should. But to like her is a betrayal of a memory. So he is finding himself with guilt starting to fall in around him, like dirt into a hole that will smother him.

His wings finally unfold and return to a position behind him, allowing people to get a look at them again.

Yet at the same time, he liked it. He likes spending time with her. He liked kissing her. He needed to talk to Sam. "I...up to you. If I get another break later, we could dance again." He just needs to keep his lips to himself!

Rage has posed:
The young girl slides her hands down into his, squeezing them as she stares into his eyes. "You know I will stay if you want me to. You know I want to keep dancing with you. I don't want to dance with anyone else tonight. The club knows who I'm here for by now."

Andrea's heart hammers again, her ankles antsy as she rocks back and forth with the music in the air. Her eyes are shining and full of life. She can feel his apprehension, scared that he will take steps back after taking one step forward. "This has been the most fun I've had in awhile, Jay. I'm glad I came out to see you." To see him. Not the club or the music. But him.

Icarus has posed:
Jay squeezes her hands back, ever so gentle. He gives her a slight smile and nods. "Me too. I haven't just let loose and danced like this in a long time. You bring out that in me again." He flushes slightly but then takes that step backwards, literally not figuratively.

"I'll be sure to get in another break later. I mean what's the boss going to do? Fire me? Ma would never forgive him."

Rage has posed:
"See if you can sneak in two breaks." Andrea says with a smile as she continues to hold his hands, watching him with a grin. She sways her hips back and forth so that the dress can catch the sparkling lights that flicker about in the club, creating a myriad of colors.

"And I mean it, I'll wait for you to get off and we can drive back together. Maybe get something to nibble on before we head back. Just spend the rest of the night together and enjoy it. It's nice outside. Crisp. Clear skies."

"You made me feel special tonight, Jay. Thank you so much."

Icarus has posed:
"Don't be silly," Jay says with another soft smile, expression open and honest.

"You /are/ special, Andrea. Very much so."

And with that admission he gives her hands a last squeeze then rushes off toward the kitchens so he can clock back in and get back to work.

He doesn't go get his tshirt and hoodie though, remaining with his wings visible when he gets back to bussing tables. For her.

Rage has posed:
As he heads off, Andrea is quietly gushing as she wrings her hands together, giggling softly to herself. Then, when the music drops a huge beat and takes off, she gives a spin of her body, then gets back into it as she makes a spectacle of herself on the dance floor, showing off thousands of hours of routine, lashing out with emotion and reveling in the music.

If she a lick tired earlier, her batteries has been completely recharged. She has enough gas in the tank to go all night now, easily until his next break, where she will hope to create another moment between them again.