Summary:Alex (Phobos) steps in to help Carin out from some people harrassing her, and the two bond over history and self defense. Log Info:Storyteller: None |
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Saturday, Washington Square Park just outside of the New York University buildings and the quad is busy with the comings and goings of the people visiting. Most of them aren't students, for on the weekend they flee or rush off to enjoy the time. Yet the park draws tourists, if only because of it being featured in Friends from years ago. It also has that beautiful Arch which seems like it belongs more in Paris than New York.
But there are a few other draws for people. And for one particular youth named Alexander Aaron, that draw… is the bank of gourmet hot dogs being sold either off the side of the various food trucks parked nearby… or off the carts that are rolling around with merchants calling out their sales pitch.
Usually he comes here after a tough class. But these last few days have been filled with curiousity and wonder. So he perhaps felt he had earned it. Thus the young man is settled under the tree he normally choose, legs folded and his backpack set to the side. In one of the loops hanging off the backpack there's a wooden bokken sword that looks as if it's seen quite some use.
But it's what is in his hands at the moment that has his attention, as he's busy chomping on a foot long chili dog with the works.
It's probably the raised voices that catch attention…a rough male voice heckling someone for being a mutie and putting him off his lunch, joined, a couple others snickering. "What, don't like that girlie? Get yer freaky pale ass back ta da sewer or whatever ya came from…
A girl's voice, more hesistant. "I just…look, I just wanna get a hot dog, okay? I'll go after that.
"Dat's a proper New York dog, toots, for New Yorkers!" There's a few snickers from the pair of other men who are appear to be hemming in the girl in question, as only her coppery red hair is visible easily between them.
'You need to keep to yourself, boy.' The words filter back to him somewhat even as Alexander lifts his eyes upward a bit. 'Don't make it obvious. Our family has eyes everywhere. Be wary.'
Old words that had often preyed on Alexander's thoughts even as he looks up at the sound of raised voices. It's disharmonious, he can tell. The way the negativity and the ill-will feeds into the voices. And for him he can /feel/ the fear from whence those words come.
His hot dog is lowered, and Alex looks at it, then he sets it aside on his backpack, perhaps hoping the ants won't get to it before he can get back to it. Then he stands up. A few quick strides as he hops down that small decline of the hillock that leads to the tree where he was sitting. Then he hops over the small wall and onto the cement walkway. A quick stop near one of the vendors even as the men harangue the pale young woman. Two dollars are handed over quickly in passing to the vendor as he snags two of the plain hot dogs off his cart.
It's holding these two dogs in hand that Alexander seems to step in at a decent moment between words sent back and forth between the men and Carin. The bright blond youth extending one toward her as he says, "Hey, hon. Sorry they were out of mustard."
But then he looks over at the guys that were hassling her and peers at them curiously. "What's up?"
Up close, the girl is slender, and not the tallest. Not underfed now, but she looks like either her genetics run to the short side or she didn't get a lot to eat growing up. Her skin is alabaster white, without a hint of color to it, which appears to be reserved for the bright coppery red hair cut short on her head, and her emerald green eyes that are widened with a little hint of fear from the men…then a bit of confusion followed by a look of relief as she quickly moves towards Alex, taking a dog and standing a bit behind him.
"That's fine! No problem…um, we should..go find a place to eat? Over there maybe?" she says hopefully, as she stays close, trying to ignore the three men who at least are distracted from picking on her.
he loudmouth in the middle snorts. "Fuckin' mutielover. Whatsa matter kid, ya can't find a real girl?"
Alexander's smile is warm and his blue eyes are bright as he looks between the other men and lifts his free hand in a small wave, "Hey guys, catch you later." And as he says that he turns and starts to move with her, gesturing with a slight nod toward his abandoned backpack under that tall oak tree that's a little off the sidewalk way.
But, instinctively, he makes sure he's between her and the men and will lag his pace just enough to make sure he's a good bit closer to them than she is, just a casual stride while holding that hot dog.
Sure it gives them his back, but perhaps he's just hoping that they're less inclined to take a swing at a guy about their height and dressed like a student of the campus they're near. But he lifts his voice, to perhaps sell the illusion, "So hey, what did you say for that essay question, #19?"
There's a few nasty comments tosses after, but the men seem less interested in harrassing a couple than a girl by herself. Brave of them. They head off as the girl lets out a long sigh. "…thanks." she says softly. Up close, she's shaking just a bit as the adrenaline runs down, glancing over to you a bit. Up close, the huge green lightning bolt that covers the right side of her face is more clearly defined…must be important for her to get one that's so obvious?
Carin runs her fingers through her hair with her free hand, taking a deep breath, then grumbles. "Jerks. I just wanted a hot dog..' Her accent is definitely not New York, having the softer tones of a Chicagoland native. "Um, I'm Carin…"
Though it looks like he's smiling and nodding to her, she can likely see how Alexander's eyes are more upon the men, yet not looking as if he's watching them. He nods a few more times, even as he sits down next to his backpack, and liberates his chili dog. No ants, yay for small victories.
But then they're out of line of sight and he looks back to her, pale blue eyes meeting her gaze with an easy warmth of sincerity as he says, "Hey, it's ok."
Then he extends his hand and says, "Alexander. Or Alex. If you want."
"You can uh," He offers her the other hot dog, "Can have these if you want? Sorry no toppings."
Another glance spared for where the men had gone, then he looks back to her. "I promise not all of New Yorkers are like that. I mean, I'm not one… so I'm not like an authority or anything. But yeah."
And with that he takes a bit of his really absurdly loaded chili dog.
Carin takes the other hot dog as it's offered, blinking a bit as she watches. "Nice ta meetcha Alex…" she says, idly juggling one of the hot dogs to a nearby bench. "An' it's fine, ou don't usually find Chicago dogs anyway. Plain is fine, I'm just totes hungry." And she demonstrates that by taking a big bite out of the first dog, chewing as she nods in response to the comment about New YOrkers, before she swallows.
"Yeah…yeah, I know. There's always a few assholes. An' I stand out…" she says, idly making a motion to herself. Which, really, she might be noticeable without the pale skin, dressed as she is in tight fitting cut offs, the edges of the pockets just visible that look very well worn by this point, and a bright pink midriff shirt with a cartoon panda dressed in leather armor with a wooden sword that reads 'Noob' underneath it, not to mention the converse sneakers. And the neon green short skirt she's wearing over the shorts, for no particular reason.
Really, she kinda looks like she just took a dive into a thrift store and nabbed whatever fit well and was in decent shape.
Which she did.
"Um, but thanks again, Alex. I appreciate it." She smiles a little shyly. "Don't get saved too often by random strangers."
"Don't mention it," He waves at her from his place sitting cross-legged on the ground, perhaps five or six feet to the side of that bench. Another bite is taken of his hot dog and he finally cracks open the soda that he'd gotten with it, the can hissing as the seal is broken.
But then he tilts his head a little and he extends it toward her, "Here, if you're thirsty. I have a bottle of water in my backpack." And if she wants it then he'll hand it over to her and grab that bottle out of his pack with a little bit of twisting. But if not then the soda is all his and he'll drink!
Either way he smiles and leans a little to the side against the trunk of the tree. "I sorta know what you mean. My dad a while ago told me that I should do my best to do well, but not like… stand out too much. Since people that make waves get targeted. I mean, I can understand what he means? Right? But it still sucks."
Carin flops down to sit nearby, continuing to almost inhale her first hot hogs as she wolfs it down. Then licks her lips, before snagging the second one, then blinks and accepts the bottle. "Oh! Thanks.." she says, her mouth a bit full, before she swallows, then looks a bit guilty. "I can totally pay you back for th' dogs an' the water…" she offers. "I got money."
She mmms then tilts her head. "…oh? Yeah…I guess so. I mean, I can't exactly hide as much…not in summer. can't exactly wear a hoodie or somethin'." She shakes her head, then runs a finger along the lightning bolt over the right side of her face. "An' this kinda stands out too."
"Oh nah, don't worry. I'm on a foodplan." Which, is a little bit of a fib, since he didn't pay for these with his foodplan. But still, separately it's a form of truth! He draws one leg further into his lap, sitting a little to the side like a yoga posture as he continues to rather unabashedly eat that chili dog, pausing long enough to wipe a napkin across his mouth now and then.
Once he's got it to a good place, he nods along with what she's saying and then says, "I went to school with a girl who Had Differences." Having Differences, the polite way of saying mutation. "She was furry, and had fangs, and sure some guys gave her a hard time. But most of the people thought she was great. I asked her to homecoming once, but she was already dating this fella."
Carin furrows her brow at Alex, nonetheless, apparently not entirely buying it, but not willing to call him on it either. "Well..okay…" she murmurs, then listens at the explanation. "Really? Did ya go to school in New York?" she wonders curiously. "I…um, didn't really get to attend high school, so i don't know nothin' about that." There's a resigned tone to her voice at that.
For a moment he looks up a little, seemingly pained as he murmurs, "Jersey," As if that admission were worse than anything else possible to be said. He takes a breath and bites one last bite of that hot dog then sets it down and pushes it away, apparently done. He wipes his lips with his napkin then crushes it and sets it on the small hot dog sleeve.
"But it wasn't bad. There were a few of us who were like… the odd kids out? So we hung out a lot. There was Chelsea, the girl I mentioned, and me, and Otto, and Wendy, and Allen, and Tanner. We all had our weirdness."
The pale mutant looks wistful now. "It sounds nice…that ya had a group an' all that ya got ta hang with." she murmurs, then taking a big bite out of the second dog. She definitely has an appetite, at least, as it begins rapidly vanishing against. "Mmph…didn't have none of that, I mean…I had foster stuff. Always changing, so it was hard ta really find a group to hang with."
"That must've been hard," Alex says as he looks across the way at her, now shifting his seat to draw his knees up and rest his arms upon them. His clothes are baggy, loose slightly too large white t-shirt with a big TEAM BANZAI logo on it. And jeans that are a bit baggy, but his white sneakers seem to be nice and fit well. Yet with those subtle idiosyncrasies, it's hard to imagine Alexander as someone being on the 'out' of the crowd for whatever reason.
"And then you come here and you got some jerks giving you grief." He crinkles his nose a little and tilts his head to the side. Though there's a brief moment as he considers her, gaze shifting a little to take in the subtle definition of her form, the way she holds herself, the subtle tension. His eyebrows lift slightly but he says naught in that brief moment. Instead he says, "Does… does that happen often? People giving you grief?"
Carin fidgets a bit at that, her eyes dropping to avoid Alex's. "…yeah." she mumbles, then stuffs the rest of the hotdog into her mouth, chewing, before she swallows a moment later. "I mean, I kinda stand out as a mutant. Can't really hide it. Even if I could color my hair, my skin doesn't really tan or stuff. I guess I could spray tan but that seems…I dunno, tacky?" she offers after a moment.
"Well," Alexander says as he tilts his head to the side, "I mean, there've been people with pale sun sensitive skin before. And I mean… you look really stylish." His smile is bright, vibrant as he tilts his head the other way now, almost like a quizzical canine and with sentiment just as pure. "And, I mean…"
He uncurls a hand toward her and says, "You're pretty super cute, my roommates would probably wander over and stumblingly ask for your phone number and then run off blushing if you smiled at them." A cute way to put it.
"If people are bringing grief to you, it's probably more something in them. Nothing you should need to do to deal with it. Beyond maybe learning kung fu."
Carin blinks cutely at that. "…stylish?" she says after a moment, seeming to get a bit shy now. "Um…thanks?" One might assume she doesn't get a lot of compliments…or she doesn't realize she's being complimented, anyway.
She definitely blushes cutely and there's absolutely no way her skin doesn't show that clearnly when it happens. Like now.
"Um, well…I…I can defend myself I mean, I generally just…get away." she says after a moment. "I don't really like gettin' a fight if I can just run away."
"Well the look works," He offers, not giving more critique than that. He grins and meets her eyes with his own, looking between her irises as if seeking what her thoughts might be and smiling with what he sees there. "And good, that's a pretty good philosophy. No need to hurt people if you can extract. But I'm glad I stepped in since it's been really nice to meet you."
He glances over his shoulder towards the large NYU building entrance where all the admissions offices and advisors are, then back to her. "Are you a student here? If so we can compare schedules and maybe we can wave as we pass in the hallways." He grins, as if this small offering of friendship was a great momentous thing.
"O-oh?" She looks over at the NYU building, as if realizing it's there as she hesistates. "Oh, well, no…" she sighs a bit. "I mean…um…foster kid, so, school was kinda…hit or miss. I don't got my GED yet, but I'm goin' ta a private school out in Westchester right now? Sort of like…um…a scholarship thing." she say slowly.
I mean, how do you say 'because they rescued me from an AIM training center and I don't have any family left that I know of'? Seems kinda harsh. Also just…weird. And she doesn't want to seem weird, just…normal. As normal as she can get.
"Um, but maybe I can go here when that's done! I mean, I'm doin' lots of catch up classes now, but I'm doin' pretty well. Except for history an' stuff like that."
The golden haired youth grins and seems genuinely enthused to hear that for Carin as he says, "Oh hey, that's pretty cool then. Maybe in a year or two if you remember me." Then when she speaks toward the subject she's having problems with his already bright eyes gleam at this small chance to share of something that he loves.
"History is totally my major." His hand touches the center of his chest and then he gives a few nods. "So if you get into problems I can try to help." Then his brow knits a little, "I mean, mainly the Classical Era. Ancient History. Rome, Greece, Egypt. That sort of thing. But I mean, my dad made sure to give me the rundown on most everything."
"See," He nods a bit and then says with some authority on the matter, "It's Fate we met here. The powers that be want you to pass your history class." His lip twists, knowing how silly that sounds.
The girl perks at that, her green eyes hopenful. "Really? Oh, that'd be /totes/ helpful! I mean, there's so much I'm catchin' up on and it all gets jumbled up in my head an' stuff. All the dates and people and stuff like that." She tilts her head. "Well…I do need lotsa help in my world history stuff. I barely know American history an' stuff." She wrinkles her nose. "An' I'm finding out th' stuff my teachers taught me is kinda wrong or propaganda or stuff in some cases too."
The girl shifts forward eagerly, leaning on her hands. "Would ya really wanna tutor me? I mean, I could come out here ta the campus an' stuff! It's not a problem, if they don't mind me bein' on campus when I'm not a college student." Because super speed makes getting aroudn without a car real easy in New York.
"I mean, I could…" He offers, head tilting to the side as the idea starts to become reality, and thus he considers scheduling. "I mean, I know it's a hike for you to get out here." No idea how it's maybe a minute tops for her. He lifts a hand to rub at the back of his neck thoughtully.
"Lemme check my phone." Alexander reaches back and pulls out his phone in a little black plastic protective sleeve. He swipes a thumb across it to activate it and peers at his class schedules and other obligations…
"So umm… I was gonna start teaching this self-defense class thing, so Thursday's are rough…"
"Like mebbe every other Sunday evening for a bit? I could manage. Or heck just give me a call and mebbe something in between classes?"
Carin cocks her head at that curiously. "That's not a problem, I can get inta town easy, I come in just ta explore an' stuff lots." she admits. "It's nice ta get out and see stuff."
She pulls her legs in, sitting crosslegged now as she watches Alex go through his phone. "What kinda self-defense do ya teach?" she wonders curiously. "Like, th' whole stabbing people in th' eye with your keys ta run away an' stuff like that?"
"I umm, I'm not sure yet?" Alexander as he extends his phone towards her, clearly expecting her to sync it up with hers so they can share numbers. "Like, I talked to some friends, and they were having some problems. And these other friends were wanting some more advanced training. And…"
For a moment she can see that hesitation, just a ghost of it as he looks at her, but then he decides no harm in sharing just a little bit of himself. Since normal people do this sort of thing, right?
"And I've sort of trained since I was a kid. I've taught other people before. But a self-defense course for new people? I need to figure out how to do that first."
He looks thoughtful and then adds, "So I was thinking starting with like, exercises, build a foundation for the first half. And then the second half techniques in commonly used situations. Most benefit the fastest? I dunno."
Carin pauses, mulling something over as she frowns to herself a bit. "Um…I mean…I…I've learned some of that stuff. So I know how I was taught, but it doesn't…I dunno if it would work for everyone." she says slowly after a moment. "But yeah, exercise is good, an' then doing things slow at first. Um, pads maybe? It kinda hurts without th' pads." she adds, frowning more at some memory she's reliving.
"Um…I could…help? Maybe? I dunno, I've never taught it, just been taught it, an' I know the things I didn't like that I wouldnt' want someone else ta haveta do?"
Alexander's smile is warm as he meets her gaze, "Well whatever we do, you'd be welcome there, sure." But then his eyes widen a little and he says, "Though, ok, if you go there… my roommates will probably be there. And you might have thought I was kidding…"
He shakes his head with a grin, "But seriously, Tanner and Justin… they're… like a bit introverted? Right." Which is a nice way of saying what she probably thinks he's saying. "So they might be a bit like…"
For a moment he bites his lower lip and for the first time she might see a hint of trepidation in his youthful features. But then he confides in perhaps the nicest way he knows how. "Well, when they're around young women who are attractive, they sometimes are jerks. Not to you…" He extends a hand out towards her as if bracing her for the bad news. "More like, to each other? And they get competitive? So just a heads up. Cool?"
Carin blinks slowly at that. "Oh. Uh…okay? it's cool" she confirms, if a bit tentatively. Like she's not expecting that would be an issue with her still. "I mean, as long as they're not tryin' ta grab stuff they shouldn't or somethin'." There's another long hesistation after that as she gives the air of someone working out how to say something. "So…uh, what style do you do? The stuff I know is kinda more..um, vicious?" You know, the sort they'd try to teach killer cyborg soldiers with powers and all that. Definitely will not be using the bladed "murder gloves" they made her wear.
"Oh no, no nothing like that just." Alexander's eyes widen as he summons the rather… really quite embarrassing memories for them and shakes his head. "They like, might try to impress you with their knowledge of like… Gundam trivia or something? At the worst. They're harmless."
But then she asks him about martial arts and his brow furrows as he listens. "Krav Maga?" As if supplying the answer she's looking for, since that's one of the more vicious styles he's aware of. "Personally I first started in Sambo and Greco-Roman wrestling. Mainly these drills my father started with. But then we moved on towards the Japanese styles, a lot of jiu-jitsu and Okinawan Karate."
He tilts his head a little, "You know when I first saw you I thought to myself that if those guys took a swing at you, you'd be able to take them. You're really in good shape, and… you sort of look like you can handle yourself." How he came to that answer is anyone's guess.
"Ummmmmm….yyyyyes?" Carin says, in the worst attempt at trying to play it cool ever. "Sorta like that. I don't know any of the ones you mentioned though, or I don't think I do." Her brow furrows as well, before she smiles a bit. "Um, well…like I said, I'd rather just run away, but, um, yeah, I take care of myself. Lotsa running. I mean, it's something I can do well, at least?"
The suggestion being seeming that other things she does not generally do well at."
There's a pause, then she says uncertainly. "What's Gundam?"
"Giant robot thing," Alexander says dismissively, one hand lifting to gesture to the side as he smiles. "But.."
He tilts his head the other way and looks to her, "You don't know what martial art you've studied or do you not wanna tell me for some reason?" He then holds up a hand, "Which is ok, I mean I know some people like to keep it to themselves in case they ever have to get into a realsy real fight."
Then he shifts his head the other way, so doglike as his smile reaches his eyes, "Or I mean, we could spar and you could show me some time."
There's fidgeting now. "…I guess, um, I don't really…know? If it has a name." she admits, a little reluctantly. "I mean…um…so, uh, I had a…a head injury, so I don't remember a lot of stuff. Amnesia, you know?" She sighs. "But I don't know if they ever told me what style they were teachin' me, to be honest. We could spar if ya want to find out though?" She hesistates. "I mean if ya got pads." Because she's a little afraid she might hurt someone reflexively with some of the moves she was taught.
"Oh that sucks," Alex says a hand lifting and extending slightly toward her on instinct as if to make sure she was okay. But it's an impulse he checks and lowers his hand, acting like he was just going to pull up /that/ particular blade of grass.
"But I can understand that. I'm sorry you had such an accident that must be terrible on top of everything else."
But then his smile returns a little, hesitant as he asks. "But now you're like… a professional fighter with only muscle memory on how to fight, so you totally whup people when you need to but sort of do it on autopilot? Like that gal in that one movie?"
He crinkles his nose, perhaps even teasing her a little but then he adds. "But sure maybe stop by after one of the classes? Should have pads and things out. Just call me."
Carin smirks a bit at the teasing tone, but mmms. "Well…most of th' stuff I remember is from th' trainin' right now." she admits, then sighs. "It's..it's a long story. I wasn't really wanting ta be in th' class, mostly. But I didn't have a choice." She nods. "But yeah, I can fight. Mostly, um, I'm better at locks an' breaks an' freedom of movement, or just disabling people. I'd rather break contact than stay in a fight." she explains after a moment, then nods. "Sure. I can do that. Just let me know where it's gonna be and when's a good time?"
Another nod, "Sure thing," Alexander smiles to her and grabs his backpack, starting to pick up his trash around him as he pulls it together. "I need to get to the lab, I'd offer to let you come with if you wanted but it's prolllly gonna be pretty boring." He says as he unzips the pack and tosses in the bottle of water, then rezips it with the whir of metal teeth.
"We got our numbers right?" He checks his phone to make sure their numbers populated and if not he'll try again unless she objects.
"But it was really nice to meet you, Carin. Don't let the jive turkeys of the world get you down." His lips curl gently and then he offers his hand, "Take care, okay?"
Carin will tug out her phone and exchange numbers at that point, then giggles a bit as she pushes herself up, tossing the now empty water bottle into the trash with her hot dog boxes. "Whatsa jive turkey?" she says with a grin. 'That's silly…." She hesistates, then reaches out, gently taking the hand and shaking, smiling shyly. "Sure…you too! And..thanks again. I really owe ya, if I can help ya out somehow."
"Help out someone else who needs it if you see 'em?" He asks of her, and then he'll pat her on the shoulder before he releases her hand and then starts to step on by, heading towards the Science building that's just across the way. "Seeya!"
And as he walks away he'll slip into the crowd, but before she might well lose sight of him he'll turn around and wave again, even if she's not looking in his direction.
Carin smiles and waves back, bouncing on her toes a bit, then turns, starting to wander off, a little smile on her lips. Not every day she meets someone…nice. She's kinda looking forward to the sparring…and the tutoring. She snorts. "…man, I actually WANT ta study? What's wrong with me…" she grumbles, turning into the main street, then blurring as she seems to vanish, a rush of wind following her as she jumps to speed. Probably time to get back home…