(Untitled)

[neededproof]

As surreal as it was, the whole experience of getting tossed back and forth between the island and Newport in a time that wasn't his own, Ryan wasn't as fazed as he maybe should have been. It seemed natural somehow -- not the part where he'd been in some dream world of Seth's making, but how complicated it all was. His life on the island had, for

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[heatedrod]

If there was one thing Johnny hated most about this place (other than not having his powers, not having Sue around, not having money, no bikes, no cars, no...okay, there was a lot he didn't like), it was the clothes box. That he had to shop for clothes from a cardboard box said a lot. What, he wasn't sure, but it did.

Still, he did his time just like everyone else, heading down whenever he was bored just to pass the time. If he got something good out of the deal, then it was a plus.

"Yeah, hey," he told the guy, practically waving him off to head over to the clothes box.

It wasn't that Johnny was rude, really. He was on a mission. That there happened to be a pretty girl in the same spot he was headed...well, for once, that was a coincidence.

"Hey there," he greeted, giving her a warm smile. "Come here often?"

[humanquagmire]

Well, that's more like it. Taylor's perfectly aware Ryan doesn't really care what she has to say, which isn't anything new, but he's familiar and that counts for a lot around here. Actually having the attention of a hot guy, though? That counts for a lot more.

"Well, hello yourself," she says, smiling sideways at him. "Only as often as is strictly necessary. There's only so much a girl can handle in the way of sequins and gauze in any given week."

[heatedrod]

"Switch girl for guy and I'll agree with you," Johnny replied. A quick glance down showed that he did indeed have a variety of sequined shirts and pants to choose from.

Not even the Skrulls were that cruel.

[humanquagmire]

"Oh, but I'm sure this would look just darling on you," Taylor joked, reaching down to pull up something in neon blue she was hesitant even to describe as a shirt in the first place. Tossing it back, she rolled her eyes. "Whoever coined the phrase 'Beggars can't be choosers' never had to live on this island."

[heatedrod]

"Or New York city on no income," Johnny chimed in. Not exactly the best of memories, but hey, he knew what living the poor life was like, at least. It gave him depth.

[humanquagmire]

Taylor laughed, nodding. "Well, I never tried that," she said, "but it certainly doesn't sound fun." The closest she'd come was trying to make it in the States with nothing but Euros and the ability to put things on the family tab.

"Well, not as fun as New York City with an income." Smiling, she offered her hand. "I'm Taylor."

[heatedrod]

"I don't reccommend it. New York on a disposable income is the way to go." Sometimes Johnny wondered how the hell Pete managed to live on a teacher's salary and still be Spider-Man on the side.

He took Taylor's hand, giving it a squeeze more than a shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Taylor. I'm Johnny."

[humanquagmire]

"A pleasure indeed, Johnny." Taylor smiled, reaching up to brush her bangs back from her eyes. "I'm a West Coast girl myself, but New York really is something. Although I still say Paris beats it any day of the week." No matter how poorly her most recent sojourn in France had ended, it couldn't mar her memory of the city.

[heatedrod]

"Oh, no way," Johnny says, bringing hand up to his chest, covering his heart as though wounded. "I'm afraid I can't stand for anyone sullying the good name of my fair city. Not even someone as pretty as you."

[humanquagmire]

Taylor couldn't entirely help it if she actually giggled at that. Pressing a hand to her heart, she shook her head. "I suppose I might be a little biased," she allowed. "And maybe I just missed the best parts of the city. It's difficult to really know a place as a tourist, you know. It's a shame you can't give me a proper tour."

[heatedrod]

"Yeah, shame," Johnny echoed, actually sounding regretful. He had a well laid out plan for out of town women that worked ninety-nine percent of the time. But hey, at least improvisation kept him on his toes. "Tell you what; if you ever end up in New York again, look up Johnny Storm and we'll make it a date."

[humanquagmire]

"What, like the superhero?" Taylor asked, laughing a little. It hadn't yet occurred to her he might mean exactly like.

[heatedrod]

"Exactly like the superhero," Johnny said, oblivious to anything but his own pleasure at his name being recognized. That feeling never got old.

[humanquagmire]

"You know, the people who say comics are just for boys totally forgot about him," Taylor said. The grin faded, though, as her eyes widened at the revelation of what she'd said and heard. A month and a half might have been time enough to accept the idea of these things, but not to expect it. "Or... you, I guess. Oh my gosh, wow, sorry, I'm not usually so..." She shrugged.

[heatedrod]

"Cute?" Johnny offered, grinning. He knew there'd been an upside to that Roberto guy writing up comics about them. It wasn't always kids who picked up the comics, though he was more familiar with teenage girls writing letters to him in purple ink than girls who read comics.

[humanquagmire]

Taylor laughed, ducking her head. "I could live with cute," she said, glancing back up with a coy smile. This, she could definitely get used to. It wasn't often, after all, that hot guys complimented her, let alone erstwhile superheroes. The guys in Newport had been too busy avoiding her to think she was cute, and Henri-Michel had been an altogether different experience. "I was thinking more like clueless, but I prefer cute."