|
|
Post by Skin on Aug 23, 2004 23:23:10 GMT -4
The Institute was nice, but Angelo still felt odd there. It was a welcome excuse to be out as he got a feel for the rest of the town that was his new residence. Wanderings led him in good time to the mall, which worked out well considering the better part of hs wardrobe had been stolen upon arrival.
Upon entry, Angelo didn't jump at any kind of shopping. His feet led him to a central bench, upon which he flopped rather unceremoniously, residing to save his meager cash for the moment and pass his time by watching the people go by. What kind of person did Bayville offer...
He peered out from under his usual hood that kept most of his face in shadow, watching shoppers move about. Some were mallrats, just wandering, while others looked like pack mules, barely able to be seen past the loads of bags they carried. It was interesting enough to play observer from his position for the time.
(Tag Jubes)
|
|
|
|
Post by Jubilee on Aug 24, 2004 0:44:58 GMT -4
Jubilee scrubbed her hands through her hair, yawning and blading slowly today. Yes, she was sure now that she was never drinking again. Hang overs were a divine punishment, and she so couldn't understand why Gambit would keep getting drunk after the first time, when you felt like this the morning after.
Patting down the pockets of her bright yellow coat, she brought herself to a halt outside an icecream vendor. Food was the one thing she had to pay for, since she couldn't just five finger discount it. But that didn't mean she couldn't lift the money to pay for it from someone else's pocket. She ran her fingers over the glass protector, humming to herself while the counter drone looked bored.
"Double chocolate fudge brownie and the coffee espresso. In a waffle cone. With chocolate fudge sauce and whipped cream." She waited for him to make it, then handed him the money as she took the cone in the other. Jubilee looked for somewhere to sit and enjoy the icecream, blading slowly and darting quick licks as she headed for the benches to sit down. She was good at rollerblading, but chancing it that she would lose her icecream was not something she was doing.
|
|
|
|
Post by Skin on Aug 24, 2004 1:05:38 GMT -4
This was getting to be a show. Watching people pass, a few stood out more than others. A babysitter had flown past, desperately chasing the child apparently in her care, scrambling to get back the handle of the child leash the toddler trailed behind. That was just funny. Very good entertainment passed in the form of small, tight-knit groups of very pretty chicas, but he could do no more than fantasize. He doubted they'd like his color. Joking it off as elephant boy, alien, or zombie would not be helpful.
A glaring color soon came into his shrouded vision. Little chica skating through, past him, to an ice cream vendor. He'd never seen a coat like that in his life. Even if he had, he didn't expect anyone would actually wear it. She seemed to don it with pride.
Angelo didn't immediately go back to his people watching. Rather, it was now only person. He watched her with interest get the high-chocolate confection. What a sight she was. More than just the coat, he found himself trying to get a clear look at her face. Pretty. Vaguely familiar.
With ice cream in hand, the girl skated to the line of benches, sitting only a few down from him. Trying not to be obvious, Angelo glanced over. Where had he seen that face...?
It slowly dawned on him as he remembered his first night in town. Raising his hands, he made a box with his fingers, glancing through like a director, as if that somehow confirmed it. X-Files girl! He immediately dropped his hands after, hiding the unnatural hue as he tucked them back in his pockets. She was Jubilee, another of the old team he didn't recall.
After the way Jono and Paige had reacted to him, curiosity overcame the gray teen. Would she know him out of the blue? Did she remember any of it?
At the same time, Angelo wasn't feeling quite bold enough to ask yet. If she didn't know him, she probably wouldn't have the best reaction. He knew his cover made him look instantly shady, and taking the hood down would be little improvement. Still watching her, he didn't have a clue if she'd noticed or not.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jubilee on Aug 24, 2004 1:11:25 GMT -4
Jubilee could feel someone watching her. Like, *watching* her and concentrating on her rather then just the usual skim past everyone did of their surroundings. Licking industriously at the cone in her hand, she sat down and sprawled on the bench, perfect picture of lazy casualness as she slid the pink raybans down across her eyes. Ostentatiously to shield her eyes from the sun; but the real purpose was to hide her eyes so she could unobtrusively scan the area for the person who was watching her.
She found him after a bit, a guy sitting on a bench near her. Jacket hood drawn over his face and hands shoved deep in his pockets. Down to the cone now, she started to eat around the edge with careful little bites, thinking hard. It could be someone who she'd recognise as an enemy of either Remy or Magneto. Her attachment to them, and especially to Remy because of the Assassin Guild hating his guts thing, had made her a target in the past.
But this guy hadn't made a move yet. So...she'd wait and see. Jubilee could be extremely patient when she felt like it. Coming to that desicion, she nodded to herself and proceeded to enjoy her icecream. Still keeping a watchful eye on the guy in the hooded jacket.
|
|
|
|
Post by Skin on Aug 24, 2004 1:31:28 GMT -4
Her eyes disappeared behind pink glasses as bright as her coat after a few moments, and it seemed she was oblivious, as he couldn't see past the pink to her own looks.
Clueless to her awareness, Angelo looked away finally. He realized eventually that he was doing the annoying stare again. He tore his eyes away, realizing tact would be good to introduce. He stared down at his suddenly-fascinated sneakers, looking less pretty well worn. He glanced back at her again, still working at the cone, but wasn't so gaping about it this time around.
Jono's the psychic one. Only one way to find out...
Taking a deep breath, Angelo leaned forward, trying to make himself known now.
"Hola." He greetedly amicably, clearly directing the word to her. He waved slightly, but the gesture was quick, color not too noticeable, escpecially given the gap between.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jubilee on Aug 24, 2004 1:36:54 GMT -4
"Hey," Jubilee said perkily, sitting up.
And contact is made...ok, I don't recognise the voice. So, odds are it's just a guy. Who has gone extremely out of his comfort zone to try and start up a conversation. Promising.
Despite what she had said to Gambit about his reaction to her kiss, Jubilee's feminine pride was smarting bad.
She slid the sunglasses back off her face and tilted her head slightly to look at the guy more closely. Now that they were talking, she could.
|
|
|
|
Post by Skin on Aug 24, 2004 1:51:30 GMT -4
Angelo grinned at her bright reply, something that could be made out through the shadows. A good reaction was always welcome. She didn't seem too offput by the fact he kept himself shrouded. Maybe she knew, maybe she was just an optimist. There was still nothing definite as to where she was on all of this reality business, but he had a good feeling. He opened his mouth to go on, but blanked for a moment on what to say as she pulled back her own cover. Blue eyes. Rare.
"Good ice cream?" He managed to reply, knowing that it wasn't what he had meant to ask. The question seemed a rather lame as an opener. His hood proved helpful as he dully rolled his eyes at himself. While she had taken off the shades, he didn't make any move to have his features more visible, not yet.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jubilee on Aug 24, 2004 1:55:44 GMT -4
"Chocolate is always good," Jubilee said, nodding slightly.
"YOu're not one of those heathens who doesn't like chocolate, are you?"
She gave him a mock suspicious look as she finished off the last couple of bites.
|
|
|
|
Post by Skin on Aug 24, 2004 2:11:38 GMT -4
"Nah, it's good stuff. Also, don't got a death wish." Angelo smirked at the suspicious look she gave him before he put her worries to rest. It was clearly playful, which was more encouraging than the question itself. She was friendly, but didn't know that about him. She hadn't really shown any signs of recognition. Another of the no-memory bunch perhaps...
"So," he continued with general friendly conversation as she finished off the frozen treat. "What brings you here, 'sides the cones."
|
|
|
|
Post by Jubilee on Aug 24, 2004 2:16:59 GMT -4
"Boredom," Jubilee said, licking her fingers clean of some icecream that had dripped down onto them.
"Sometimes it's like aaaaaah, I just need to get out! Clear me head a little. Know what I'm saying?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Skin on Aug 24, 2004 2:25:24 GMT -4
Angelo could understand her feeling easily. Boredom was as good a reason as any, but the way she elaborated, it seemed that the mall trip was a needed escape.
"Comprendo. Been cooped up for a while at home, or tryin' to avoid stuff on your mind?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Jubilee on Aug 24, 2004 2:28:36 GMT -4
"Bit of both," Jubilee said thoughtfully.
"Quid pro quo. What brings you out here, Spanish speaking guy?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Skin on Aug 24, 2004 2:41:08 GMT -4
"Ah," Angelo nodded sympathetically. "Evil. But at least there's this escape for an afternoon." He gestured once again to the mall, a motion he did quicker than most to tuck the hand away again.
Jubilee turned the question back on him after her small response. Shrugging, he replied.
"It's a place to be. Much more to what I'm used to than the other places in town. Just hanging around."
He had caught the nickname but did not address it immediately. He stood from his bench, closing the gap of empty benches. He hesitated getting too close, as the hood did not work well at tight range.
"Name's actually Angelo. ¿Y tú?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Jubilee on Aug 24, 2004 2:44:46 GMT -4
"People get a bit snooty around New York. But I'm from SoCal, so I can outbitch anyone here if I have a mind to. But it's just so much more fun to be a mallrat."
Jubilee grinned as she watched him get up and walk over. Progress.
"Angelo, huh? Everyone calls me Jubilee; or that goddamn kid in the yellow coat."
|
|
|
|
Post by Skin on Aug 24, 2004 2:54:23 GMT -4
Angelo snickered at the comment. "You don't say. I just came from LA, likely a different part of the area."
Smiling, Angelo made a mental note. She came from the high class, but unlike most anyone from that social group, she was friendly, not a princess. Refreshing.
He was relieved that she responded to his motion with a grin, rather than some distasteful look. He sat again at the end of the bench directly next to hers, as close as he dared for the moment. He grinned amused as she provided the name. It was weird to now be the one who already knew that detail.
"I take it you're big on the fiestas." He joked.
|
|
