37 Days and counting
Not that I'm anxious or anything. Just excited. High school graduation. So close I can taste it.
Guess I'm just ready for some change. Don't think I'm the only one feeling it.
<> Ancient Oak Tree
Amidst the many other trees that dot the verdant front lawn of Xavier's Institute, there resides this perfectly enormous oak tree that looks to have weathered many a decade in its lifetime. Its knotted trunk is proof enough of that, so thick that even some of the largest, most elastic mutants have difficulty getting their arms about it. As one's eyes travel up, this massive trunk branches out into similarly sturdy branches almost disappearing amidst the greenery. From one such branch, a whimsically placed tire swing hangs (although the students will assure you that it still gets plenty of use!), and squinting upwards, the suggestions of a treehouse are visible amidst the leaves.
It's a weeknight afternoon, and anyone standing out on the front porch just might see an occasional glow against the growing twilight. They'd have to cross the lawn, though, to see John back against the oak, legs stretched out, with a pile of shredded leaves at his side, lighter at attention in his hand. He seems to be amusing himself by dropping bits of foliage into the air and letting small arcs of fire consume them before they reach the ground. Fine motor skills. It's /practice/, really.
Un-huh. Jubilee knows BS when she hears it, and that'd be her response should John try that line on her. Her approached is fairly noiseless, hands balled deep in the pockets of her light jacket, though her legs are bare in jean shorts. Wishful thinking here! "If I'da known there was a bonfire, I'da brought out the bag of marshmellows with me," she calls out, almost behind him.
"Bonzer idea, Jubes," John says, peering over his shoulder as he brushes the grass, charcoal and plant debris off his pants. "You go get the marhsies and some sticks, and I'll have it roaring by the time you get back." Neverthemind that he doesn't have to actually /move/ to do his part. "Whatcha up to?"
Jubilee drops down to sit catti-corner against the tree to him, bouncing her knees against the ground to try and keep the goosebumps from taking over her entire body. "Goin' stir crazy, Gus." Gus, as in Grumpy Gus. A long standing nickname that was just this moment decided upon by the player. "Amuse me."
"I could juggle," John replies, eyes widening. "If I knew how, that is. Or I could--- no wait, I don't know how to do that either. Oh oh oh! I know. I'll eat fire for you." That gets a bit of a smirk. "Jean's the one who gave me the idea. Even suggested I join the circus."
"Wes and I are goin' ta join the circus. After we get back from our study trip ta Europe," Jubilee announces solemnly. "But I don' think I'm gonna be all that entertained, knowin' the trick an' all. Think you could burn Bobby's shorts for me?" Random? No... Vengeful? N-... ok, we're not going to push it.
"While they're on 'im?" John's eyes flicker with playful deviousness. "Probably not without burning him. So the circus for you too, hmm? Guess mutant powers are good for something after all. And what's this about Europe? First I've heard of /that?/"
Jubilee shrugs and grins, aiming her finger like a gun and popping a budding leaf overhead. "Hey, I earned more 'n a few bucks doin' tricks in the mall. How much harder can circus work be?" The fragments of the leaf float slowly down. "I'm tryin' ta talk Jeannie into settin' somethin' up. He's just gotta convince the parental units. Lookin' like it might be a summer trip. Hey! You should come to. We can make it the Ultimate Senior Trip."
John eyes Jubilee a moment. "Now yur just being nice. Sure you'd not want a grump like me along," he says with a wink. "Besides that might spoil all the fun of Jean's Senior Trip she's thinking of planning. There's beer involved..." he singsongs. Re-enter the devious, albeit slightly haughty I-know-something-you-don't-know, conspiritor.
"As if," Jubilee snorts, rolling her eyes and no doubt giving him immense satisfaction when she then eyes and breaks down. "What senior trip? I haven't heard 'bout anythin' in the works." And that's saying something.
"Sooo, tell me about these plans for Europe, then," John says, yes, just a bit taunting there. "Maybe I just might be interested."
Jubilee says, "I already /tol'/ ya everythin' that we know. We've asked. Jeannie's said I gotta convince her, and basically if they'll give their okay, Wes' parents'll probably go for it to. Specially if he actually manages ta graduate," Jubilee responds, turning slightly and pulling her knees up, wrapping her arms around them and facing him. "So big secret there. Jus' a half-baked idea that's... bakin'." She screws up her face, and one might remember that Jubilee and machines don't get along very well.
"You're very convincing," John replies dryly. He stretches his arms above his head with a yawn. "Yeah, actually, I've got about the same. Jean said she's thinking of taking some of us to Quebec before the end of the year. Let us have at it on the town. Better to experiment there legally or something like that. Guess they're loosening up a bit with some of us graduating. Man, us. Graduating. Can you believe it?"
Jubilee punches his shoulder lightly and flops back against the tree. "Brat. And, yeah, I know what you mean. Graduating. Like so freaky. I mean... I kinda don't know where I'm supposed ta go from here," she admits softly, lifting a knee to pick at a scab. "So not into the college thing. 'least not right now. Kinda... Kinda wanna see what I can do, ya know?"
"I do, actually," says John, crossing his arms and leaning back against the tree. "As good as it's been... well, heck, we live a pretty sheltered life. Jean, Scott. They don't even try to pretend anything else. Sometimes they tell us stuff, but really, we're just their students to be protected. Maybe the Prof is right and humans and mutants /can/ live together peacefully. But we gotta get out there and try first. Yeah, kinda wanna see what I can do too. And yeah, definitely not college. Yet. Though I might gotta sign up for a class to stay, I guess."
Jubilee nods in a vague agreement with his words and sits there in uncomfortable thoughtfulness for a moment. "C'mon", she crows, crawling to her feet. "Let's go burn crop circles in the front lawn." ... eh, what?
"Crop circles?" John asks, scrambling to his own feet. "Maybe we should do it in the /back/ yard in that case. Kinda don't want to get kicked out with weeks to go."
Jubilee smirks and grabs the edge of his sleeve, tugging him after. In the direction of the back yard. Yeah.
John allows himself to be tugged along without complaint. Not that it'd be much use to complain anyways. Jubilee doesn't tend to listen once she gets a scheme in her head. /That/ he has learned, and even if nothing else in acadamia was gained at Xavier's, that's a lesson valuable enough to make it worthwhile. "It's nice to have someone else to burn stuff with."
Clinton
Clinton, or Hell's Kitchen as it is commonly known as by the locals, is definitely one of the worse neighborhoods of New York. Although crime rates have been cleaning up in this section as opposed to what they used to be, it is still not uncommon to hear the explosion of gunfire out in the alleyways at night or the occasional prostitute leaning in wait against a graffiti'd wall. The rent here is low, and only a few brownstones don't lend it a particularly homey feel. However, if you're looking for somewhere cheap and have the guts, well...Hell's Kitchen is it.
Jay leaves the 'safety' of Paradise Villa, and steps out onto the mean streets of Clinton, or Hell's Kitchen, as the locals know it. Its not a good idea to be out on the streets at night, but Jay's tough. As he walks along, he hears a hail of gunfire somewhere a ways off, and shakes his head.
John's tough too. Or so he's wanting to prove tonight. It's not /extremely/ late, just late enough to add that edge of the forbidden to a walk through the streets. Really, he's just wandering, not quite ready to get outside the city, not really any destination within. His leather jacket is zipped tight, despite really a lack of need for it, and his hands are shoved deep inside the pockets as he trudges along.
Jay continues on his journey, until a grungy man runs into him. "Oops, excuse me, buddy." A grunt is all the man gives in return, and so he continues on. Then, he instinctively reaches to his pocket, and feels that his wallet has been loosed. He turns around, to see the bum running away, probably with said wallet. He looks around for a second, and sees noone that would alert anyone of import. So, he pulls out his medicine balls, and gives them an aerokinetic-enhanced throw. They hit the bum, and he hits the ground. Jay walks up, catching the medicine balls en route, and grabs the wallet from the bum. "Shouldn't mess with people like that, bud."
John is making his way down the street, minding his own business, when BAM, the bum on the next block goes down. It's a bit far to make out the specifics, but he hesitates just a moment, then keeps on walking, sidestepping the man on the ground as he approaches. Just keep walking. Don't get involved. Well, we'll see how well that works for him. He offers a slight nod of acknowledgement to the man standing. Mugger, muggee? Don't screw with John, he'll not likely screw with you.
Jay looks nervously at the man as he walks. He curses himself lightly, "... Dangit, you did it again..." Man, hes gotta change this habit about using his powers in public. Hopefully the guy near didnt see him using em. Regaining his composure, he attempts to begin conversation with the man. "Hey, bud. Yeah, this aint how it looks. He tried to mug me, thats all. Name's Jay, whats yours?" He smiles, then sticks his hand out, in attempt to shake.
John hestiates in his stride, glancing over at the guy. "Uh, sure. No worries," though his voice doesn't quite carry the reassurance. "John," he finally offers, reaching out for a quick shake, then plunging his hand into his pocket. "Yah, tried to mug you. That's some ra--" and whatever he was going to say, John for once thinks better of it and clamps his mouth shut.
Jay, being the ever-friendly guy that he is, continues on to ask, "So, what brings you down to Hell's Kitchen? This is a pretty tough neighborhood, if I do say so myself..."
John is not an overly friendly guy, especially to near strangers. "I can handle myself just fine," he says, immediately turning defensive. Not really fear, more perhaps defiance in his voice. "How about you? Don't seem to be the sort of guy that hangs out here either."
Jay looks slightly surprised, then regains composure. "Oh, no, bud. I didn't mean anything by that, just askin. Me, I live out here. It's not much, but it's a living. I was just wonderin. Im just your everyday friendly kinda guy, ya know. Here, just to prove Im not trying to rob ya, lemme buy you a drink. Do you like Coke?" he asks, with a broad, beaming smile.
Well, if you're not trying to rob him... hopefully not trying to hit on him either. John lifts an eyebrow suspiciously. Still, free coke. "Uh, sure," he finally agrees, glancing around the area. "Place to grab a drink around here?"
Jay smiles. "Great. Come on, theres a 7-11 around here, a little ways this way. Or, If you'd rather somewhere to sit down, There's a McDonalds. Which would you rather?" he asks, in a friendly tone.
"Macky's is fine," John nods. Brightly lit, at least. Not that he's scared, of course. "You... live around here long then?" His eyes again flicker toward the still stationery body beside them. "Yeah, we might want to move, I guess."
Jay looks at the body. "Yeah, good idea." he says, and the begin heading off to the left. "Well, I've lived here for about... hmm, a year? Yeah, about a year, I guess. Well, it starts out pretty tough, but you get used to it, after a while. Sometimes you have to use some force to keep whats yours, though. As you can see..." he motions towards the body they are walking from. "What about yourself, you stay in The Apple, or elsewhere?" he asks.
"Eh, just outside," John responds evasively. "From Sydney, though, 'riginally," he adds, perhaps not necessarily. Maybe he's just naturally cryptic, or overly suspicious. "I... can see that," he adds, not glancing back at the prone man. "You... get attacked often?" Oh, so maybe he /is/ a bit curious. And saw more than he let on at first.
Jay looks around, taking in the familiar sites. "Yeah, bout... maybe once a week. You get used to it, find out the 'tricks of the trade'. That guy back there, he was obviously a beginner. Mighta got a tourist, but he was way too clumsy. You gotta learn how to fight." He looks to his comrade. "So, youre from the Outback, eh? Are they mutant haters, like mosta the population here?" he ask, both inquisitively, and innocently.
"Eh, not from the bush, mate," John replies, a bit of a grin appearing. "People always make that mistake. Been there once, was eleven. Otherwise always in the city." He grows quiet at the mutant question. "Eh, some are, some arn't. Maybe less'n here. You always ask such random questions?"
Jay grins happily. "Well, I just like to know how people feel. You know, where youre from determines where youre goin. Good people usually make good people, bad people make the same. I just kinda like to know where people stand on important issues like that. Kinda like askin if someones pro-life or pro-choice."
"Which I don't tend to ask random strangers either, but whatever floats your boat," John says with a shrug. "No, can't say as I hate 'em myself." Nor is he ready to reveal anything further for the moment. His hands, however, remain deep in his pockets as they walk, one of them clacking the lid of the lighter within.
Jay opens the door of the McDonald's and steps within. "Hey, you do with or without Ice?" he asks John, in a friendly manner.
John steps in after the guy. So far so good. "Ice is fine," he replies, stepping off to one side for the moment. Free coke. Yaay. John's wallet certainly can appreciate that, even if John himself still seems a bit reluctant.
Jay steps up to the counter, and orders the sodas. After he gets the sodas, he comes back to the table, takes a seat, and hands one to John. "Me, Im not into ice. Waters down the soda." As he says this, he takes out his medicine balls, and begins working them in his palms. "So, what do you do for a living, John?" he asks in a friendly tone while smiling.
John watches Jay make his way back across the room, then takes the coke. It /seems/ safe. Nothing slipped into it. Oh, the dangers of an imaginative mind. "Thanks," he says simply before popping the straw from the wrapper and shoving it into the cup. "Still in high school, actually."
Jay chuckles. "Ah, man. I had to leave high school..." he looks nervous as he says this. "But that was a while ago. Now, I make do workin odd jobs. So, whats some differences between Australia and New York? Like, people wise, and such."
"Well, for one," John starts, "I could go get something real to drink. Legally. Though I guess that's not as much fun," he adds with a quick grin. "Everyone here talks funny. And run around, pushing and shovin to get on the subways. Too busy."
Jay grins, "Yeah, it is pretty busy in NY." Suddenly, Jay's watch beeps. "Crud, I gotta go. Later, bud. Maybe I'll see you around sometime. Man, when youre right youre right." He takes his leave.
Jay says, "I gotta go. Later"
Jay has disconnected.
Guess I'm just ready for some change. Don't think I'm the only one feeling it.
<> Ancient Oak Tree
Amidst the many other trees that dot the verdant front lawn of Xavier's Institute, there resides this perfectly enormous oak tree that looks to have weathered many a decade in its lifetime. Its knotted trunk is proof enough of that, so thick that even some of the largest, most elastic mutants have difficulty getting their arms about it. As one's eyes travel up, this massive trunk branches out into similarly sturdy branches almost disappearing amidst the greenery. From one such branch, a whimsically placed tire swing hangs (although the students will assure you that it still gets plenty of use!), and squinting upwards, the suggestions of a treehouse are visible amidst the leaves.
It's a weeknight afternoon, and anyone standing out on the front porch just might see an occasional glow against the growing twilight. They'd have to cross the lawn, though, to see John back against the oak, legs stretched out, with a pile of shredded leaves at his side, lighter at attention in his hand. He seems to be amusing himself by dropping bits of foliage into the air and letting small arcs of fire consume them before they reach the ground. Fine motor skills. It's /practice/, really.
Un-huh. Jubilee knows BS when she hears it, and that'd be her response should John try that line on her. Her approached is fairly noiseless, hands balled deep in the pockets of her light jacket, though her legs are bare in jean shorts. Wishful thinking here! "If I'da known there was a bonfire, I'da brought out the bag of marshmellows with me," she calls out, almost behind him.
"Bonzer idea, Jubes," John says, peering over his shoulder as he brushes the grass, charcoal and plant debris off his pants. "You go get the marhsies and some sticks, and I'll have it roaring by the time you get back." Neverthemind that he doesn't have to actually /move/ to do his part. "Whatcha up to?"
Jubilee drops down to sit catti-corner against the tree to him, bouncing her knees against the ground to try and keep the goosebumps from taking over her entire body. "Goin' stir crazy, Gus." Gus, as in Grumpy Gus. A long standing nickname that was just this moment decided upon by the player. "Amuse me."
"I could juggle," John replies, eyes widening. "If I knew how, that is. Or I could--- no wait, I don't know how to do that either. Oh oh oh! I know. I'll eat fire for you." That gets a bit of a smirk. "Jean's the one who gave me the idea. Even suggested I join the circus."
"Wes and I are goin' ta join the circus. After we get back from our study trip ta Europe," Jubilee announces solemnly. "But I don' think I'm gonna be all that entertained, knowin' the trick an' all. Think you could burn Bobby's shorts for me?" Random? No... Vengeful? N-... ok, we're not going to push it.
"While they're on 'im?" John's eyes flicker with playful deviousness. "Probably not without burning him. So the circus for you too, hmm? Guess mutant powers are good for something after all. And what's this about Europe? First I've heard of /that?/"
Jubilee shrugs and grins, aiming her finger like a gun and popping a budding leaf overhead. "Hey, I earned more 'n a few bucks doin' tricks in the mall. How much harder can circus work be?" The fragments of the leaf float slowly down. "I'm tryin' ta talk Jeannie into settin' somethin' up. He's just gotta convince the parental units. Lookin' like it might be a summer trip. Hey! You should come to. We can make it the Ultimate Senior Trip."
John eyes Jubilee a moment. "Now yur just being nice. Sure you'd not want a grump like me along," he says with a wink. "Besides that might spoil all the fun of Jean's Senior Trip she's thinking of planning. There's beer involved..." he singsongs. Re-enter the devious, albeit slightly haughty I-know-something-you-don't-know, conspiritor.
"As if," Jubilee snorts, rolling her eyes and no doubt giving him immense satisfaction when she then eyes and breaks down. "What senior trip? I haven't heard 'bout anythin' in the works." And that's saying something.
"Sooo, tell me about these plans for Europe, then," John says, yes, just a bit taunting there. "Maybe I just might be interested."
Jubilee says, "I already /tol'/ ya everythin' that we know. We've asked. Jeannie's said I gotta convince her, and basically if they'll give their okay, Wes' parents'll probably go for it to. Specially if he actually manages ta graduate," Jubilee responds, turning slightly and pulling her knees up, wrapping her arms around them and facing him. "So big secret there. Jus' a half-baked idea that's... bakin'." She screws up her face, and one might remember that Jubilee and machines don't get along very well.
"You're very convincing," John replies dryly. He stretches his arms above his head with a yawn. "Yeah, actually, I've got about the same. Jean said she's thinking of taking some of us to Quebec before the end of the year. Let us have at it on the town. Better to experiment there legally or something like that. Guess they're loosening up a bit with some of us graduating. Man, us. Graduating. Can you believe it?"
Jubilee punches his shoulder lightly and flops back against the tree. "Brat. And, yeah, I know what you mean. Graduating. Like so freaky. I mean... I kinda don't know where I'm supposed ta go from here," she admits softly, lifting a knee to pick at a scab. "So not into the college thing. 'least not right now. Kinda... Kinda wanna see what I can do, ya know?"
"I do, actually," says John, crossing his arms and leaning back against the tree. "As good as it's been... well, heck, we live a pretty sheltered life. Jean, Scott. They don't even try to pretend anything else. Sometimes they tell us stuff, but really, we're just their students to be protected. Maybe the Prof is right and humans and mutants /can/ live together peacefully. But we gotta get out there and try first. Yeah, kinda wanna see what I can do too. And yeah, definitely not college. Yet. Though I might gotta sign up for a class to stay, I guess."
Jubilee nods in a vague agreement with his words and sits there in uncomfortable thoughtfulness for a moment. "C'mon", she crows, crawling to her feet. "Let's go burn crop circles in the front lawn." ... eh, what?
"Crop circles?" John asks, scrambling to his own feet. "Maybe we should do it in the /back/ yard in that case. Kinda don't want to get kicked out with weeks to go."
Jubilee smirks and grabs the edge of his sleeve, tugging him after. In the direction of the back yard. Yeah.
John allows himself to be tugged along without complaint. Not that it'd be much use to complain anyways. Jubilee doesn't tend to listen once she gets a scheme in her head. /That/ he has learned, and even if nothing else in acadamia was gained at Xavier's, that's a lesson valuable enough to make it worthwhile. "It's nice to have someone else to burn stuff with."
Clinton
Clinton, or Hell's Kitchen as it is commonly known as by the locals, is definitely one of the worse neighborhoods of New York. Although crime rates have been cleaning up in this section as opposed to what they used to be, it is still not uncommon to hear the explosion of gunfire out in the alleyways at night or the occasional prostitute leaning in wait against a graffiti'd wall. The rent here is low, and only a few brownstones don't lend it a particularly homey feel. However, if you're looking for somewhere cheap and have the guts, well...Hell's Kitchen is it.
Jay leaves the 'safety' of Paradise Villa, and steps out onto the mean streets of Clinton, or Hell's Kitchen, as the locals know it. Its not a good idea to be out on the streets at night, but Jay's tough. As he walks along, he hears a hail of gunfire somewhere a ways off, and shakes his head.
John's tough too. Or so he's wanting to prove tonight. It's not /extremely/ late, just late enough to add that edge of the forbidden to a walk through the streets. Really, he's just wandering, not quite ready to get outside the city, not really any destination within. His leather jacket is zipped tight, despite really a lack of need for it, and his hands are shoved deep inside the pockets as he trudges along.
Jay continues on his journey, until a grungy man runs into him. "Oops, excuse me, buddy." A grunt is all the man gives in return, and so he continues on. Then, he instinctively reaches to his pocket, and feels that his wallet has been loosed. He turns around, to see the bum running away, probably with said wallet. He looks around for a second, and sees noone that would alert anyone of import. So, he pulls out his medicine balls, and gives them an aerokinetic-enhanced throw. They hit the bum, and he hits the ground. Jay walks up, catching the medicine balls en route, and grabs the wallet from the bum. "Shouldn't mess with people like that, bud."
John is making his way down the street, minding his own business, when BAM, the bum on the next block goes down. It's a bit far to make out the specifics, but he hesitates just a moment, then keeps on walking, sidestepping the man on the ground as he approaches. Just keep walking. Don't get involved. Well, we'll see how well that works for him. He offers a slight nod of acknowledgement to the man standing. Mugger, muggee? Don't screw with John, he'll not likely screw with you.
Jay looks nervously at the man as he walks. He curses himself lightly, "... Dangit, you did it again..." Man, hes gotta change this habit about using his powers in public. Hopefully the guy near didnt see him using em. Regaining his composure, he attempts to begin conversation with the man. "Hey, bud. Yeah, this aint how it looks. He tried to mug me, thats all. Name's Jay, whats yours?" He smiles, then sticks his hand out, in attempt to shake.
John hestiates in his stride, glancing over at the guy. "Uh, sure. No worries," though his voice doesn't quite carry the reassurance. "John," he finally offers, reaching out for a quick shake, then plunging his hand into his pocket. "Yah, tried to mug you. That's some ra--" and whatever he was going to say, John for once thinks better of it and clamps his mouth shut.
Jay, being the ever-friendly guy that he is, continues on to ask, "So, what brings you down to Hell's Kitchen? This is a pretty tough neighborhood, if I do say so myself..."
John is not an overly friendly guy, especially to near strangers. "I can handle myself just fine," he says, immediately turning defensive. Not really fear, more perhaps defiance in his voice. "How about you? Don't seem to be the sort of guy that hangs out here either."
Jay looks slightly surprised, then regains composure. "Oh, no, bud. I didn't mean anything by that, just askin. Me, I live out here. It's not much, but it's a living. I was just wonderin. Im just your everyday friendly kinda guy, ya know. Here, just to prove Im not trying to rob ya, lemme buy you a drink. Do you like Coke?" he asks, with a broad, beaming smile.
Well, if you're not trying to rob him... hopefully not trying to hit on him either. John lifts an eyebrow suspiciously. Still, free coke. "Uh, sure," he finally agrees, glancing around the area. "Place to grab a drink around here?"
Jay smiles. "Great. Come on, theres a 7-11 around here, a little ways this way. Or, If you'd rather somewhere to sit down, There's a McDonalds. Which would you rather?" he asks, in a friendly tone.
"Macky's is fine," John nods. Brightly lit, at least. Not that he's scared, of course. "You... live around here long then?" His eyes again flicker toward the still stationery body beside them. "Yeah, we might want to move, I guess."
Jay looks at the body. "Yeah, good idea." he says, and the begin heading off to the left. "Well, I've lived here for about... hmm, a year? Yeah, about a year, I guess. Well, it starts out pretty tough, but you get used to it, after a while. Sometimes you have to use some force to keep whats yours, though. As you can see..." he motions towards the body they are walking from. "What about yourself, you stay in The Apple, or elsewhere?" he asks.
"Eh, just outside," John responds evasively. "From Sydney, though, 'riginally," he adds, perhaps not necessarily. Maybe he's just naturally cryptic, or overly suspicious. "I... can see that," he adds, not glancing back at the prone man. "You... get attacked often?" Oh, so maybe he /is/ a bit curious. And saw more than he let on at first.
Jay looks around, taking in the familiar sites. "Yeah, bout... maybe once a week. You get used to it, find out the 'tricks of the trade'. That guy back there, he was obviously a beginner. Mighta got a tourist, but he was way too clumsy. You gotta learn how to fight." He looks to his comrade. "So, youre from the Outback, eh? Are they mutant haters, like mosta the population here?" he ask, both inquisitively, and innocently.
"Eh, not from the bush, mate," John replies, a bit of a grin appearing. "People always make that mistake. Been there once, was eleven. Otherwise always in the city." He grows quiet at the mutant question. "Eh, some are, some arn't. Maybe less'n here. You always ask such random questions?"
Jay grins happily. "Well, I just like to know how people feel. You know, where youre from determines where youre goin. Good people usually make good people, bad people make the same. I just kinda like to know where people stand on important issues like that. Kinda like askin if someones pro-life or pro-choice."
"Which I don't tend to ask random strangers either, but whatever floats your boat," John says with a shrug. "No, can't say as I hate 'em myself." Nor is he ready to reveal anything further for the moment. His hands, however, remain deep in his pockets as they walk, one of them clacking the lid of the lighter within.
Jay opens the door of the McDonald's and steps within. "Hey, you do with or without Ice?" he asks John, in a friendly manner.
John steps in after the guy. So far so good. "Ice is fine," he replies, stepping off to one side for the moment. Free coke. Yaay. John's wallet certainly can appreciate that, even if John himself still seems a bit reluctant.
Jay steps up to the counter, and orders the sodas. After he gets the sodas, he comes back to the table, takes a seat, and hands one to John. "Me, Im not into ice. Waters down the soda." As he says this, he takes out his medicine balls, and begins working them in his palms. "So, what do you do for a living, John?" he asks in a friendly tone while smiling.
John watches Jay make his way back across the room, then takes the coke. It /seems/ safe. Nothing slipped into it. Oh, the dangers of an imaginative mind. "Thanks," he says simply before popping the straw from the wrapper and shoving it into the cup. "Still in high school, actually."
Jay chuckles. "Ah, man. I had to leave high school..." he looks nervous as he says this. "But that was a while ago. Now, I make do workin odd jobs. So, whats some differences between Australia and New York? Like, people wise, and such."
"Well, for one," John starts, "I could go get something real to drink. Legally. Though I guess that's not as much fun," he adds with a quick grin. "Everyone here talks funny. And run around, pushing and shovin to get on the subways. Too busy."
Jay grins, "Yeah, it is pretty busy in NY." Suddenly, Jay's watch beeps. "Crud, I gotta go. Later, bud. Maybe I'll see you around sometime. Man, when youre right youre right." He takes his leave.
Jay says, "I gotta go. Later"
Jay has disconnected.