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xp_logsAmanda decides to drop in on Mark's friend and make sure he isn't evil.
Admittedly, Amanda didn't have to come to this particular place for a bagel - there were plenty of places between Snow Valley's offices and the brownstone, after all, where such an item might be found. But after hearing Mark mention his friend Vic was working at this one, well, curiosity drew her to check it out. She'd seen Vic at Silver on occasion, but hadn't had a chance to speak to him. Nothing wrong with dropping by and saying hi now, tho'.
And besides, it wasn't like there hadn't been enough evil relatives, friends and associates in the past couple of years. Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there might not be another one lurking out there.
It seemed just like any of the other oh-so-trendy places in that area - Amanda grinned a little to herself as she went in - she had Pete's perversity in that she liked messing with these sorts of places by ordering things like "a plain cup of tea, done proper".
Victor was blue. He just hadn't cut it. They were looking for "someone with a little more experience." That job would've been such an awesome opportunity; instead, he was back at the bagel shop waiting on people. It was...well, it was work, thank God. He pasted a smile on his face, the picture of happiness and chipper: he didn't get paid to be mopey.
Besides. There'd be other opportunities. ...right?
Victor offered the blond woman, who was vaguely familiar, a soft smile. "Hey there, how can I help you?" See? Lookit that. Victor being all nice and helpful.
"Hi." Amanda glanced up at the menu, on the wall behind Victor's head. "Um, can I just grab a bagel with cream cheese and a tea? For here, thanks." There had been something not-quite-there about Victor's smile, and she was trying to figure out if it was the usual catering job fake face, or impending Evil.
"What kind of tea?" Plz to not let her be one of those quirky types who came to heckle them about "proper" tea. He was like so not in the mood. "We're having a special on our Wingut Green?" It had...stuff in it. And Victor wasn't full of impending doom! He was only incidentally evil - about evil as any naughty boy got, really.
Amanda wrinkled her nose. "Um, got anything without bits floating in it?" she asked. "Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Orange Pekoe, that sort of thing?"
"I think we have Orange Pekoe," he replied. He'd never heard of 'English Breakfast'. That sounded like a bad smoothie. "Would you like a bagel or a croissant?" Cause they had those two. And they were to DIE for. Or a muffin. If you need your bran.
"Bagel, please. One of the sesame ones? Plain cream cheese." Amanda leaned her forearms on the counter, gave Vic a grin. "And I should probably introduce myself, or I'm here under false pretences. Amanda. I work with Mark."
"You got it," Vic replied, going off to gather all of the stuff for his customer. He paused, then blinked, and then offered her a bit of a grin. "Oh," he said. "Well," he said, with a chuckle, "hi, then. Nice to meet you. You work at the club?" Maybe that's where he'd seen her before.
"Nah, the day job. The one at the think tank in Manhattan." Amanda straightened, watching him work. "Tho' I've seen you at Silver once or twice. Mark mentioned you were working in the area, and I figured I'd take the chance to say hi where we can actually hear ourselves talk."
"Think tank?" Mark and Victor were new friends, they hadn't quite reached bff status yet. So, Vic didn't know much about Mark's life, though he did know he had a second job. Victor never thought to ask what it was, he figured it'd come up in conversation. "What's a think tank," he asked with a smile, placing the bagel on one of the plates.
"Well, that's nice of you," Victor replied. It's not like he could pass up the opportunity to make any friends. "You guys must be wicked close, I don't think any of my old friends would go out of their way to visit someone and have a bagel at where they'd work just say hi." That was...nice. Sweet, even.
"We do research for various people when they ask for it, into mutant-related areas. All sorts of things. I'm assistant to one of the people there, and Mark's works the reception desk mostly." Amanda's stomach growled at the sight of the bagel, reminding her it had been, oh, probably a couple of hours since she last ate. Bloody bottomless pit - the joys of being an energy filter. "And Mark's a good mate." She grinned. "Besides, I'm a nosy cow, and had to check out the new face."
Victor laughed. "Mark is a nice guy," Victor replied with a soft grin. "I think he's the first decent friend I've made while here in New York." Which, was saying something. Though that didn't count the people he worked with. Uh. Not counting Steve. Cause he was mean. Vic tilted his head. "So, what would you like to know?" Since she was so nosy and needed to check on Mark's new friends. Vic would definitely be as honest as possible - he has to pass the bfftest now doesn't he?
"So, you're not a local then?" she asked. "Where're you from originally?" It was a nice easy opening.
"Nah," he replied, with a soft grin. "I'm just a small town boy from Texas," he said, with a charming southern accent to boot. Sure, it was fake (convincing, though) but it was true. "I moved here from Austin a few months ago. UT didn't agree with me."
Amanda raised her eyebrows. "Hassles with the mutant thing?" she asked with a slight hesitation that signalled he was fine to not answer if he wanted. From what she knew, Texas wasn't exactly open-minded as a whole.
"Nah," he replied. "The people in my town were actually very sweet. They were just glad I was alive." That wasn't to say there weren't a few bad apples. "It wasn't until I got to Austin that I really had to deal with that. And even still, college was just..." he shrugged. "I dunno, it didn't seem to suit me." Or maybe it was that college - who knew?
The response was a genuinely surprised look, and then a peal of laughter. "Fuck, mate, you must be just about the only Yank mutant I've met who hasn't got a tale of woe to do with manifesting," Amanda told him, still snickering. "Then again, most of the mutants I've met from here have been from Xavier's."
"Manifesting?" He tilted his head. He shook his head. "I never said that was easy. That hurt like a bitch." People thought he was dying. He blinked. "What's Xavier's?" He'd heard the name before. Hmm.
"Sorry, my mistake." Amanda shrugged a little. "Xavier's is a school, up in Westchester, specially for mutants. They do a lot of powers training there - sort of a 'for mutants, by mutants' deal, but they've got links with places like Muir Island Research Facility. If there's anyone who knows mutant powers and how they work, it's them. I passed through there a couple of years ago; quite a lot of people at the think tank have."
"Oh," Vic replied. "I think Mark mentioned it once." He handed her the tea she'd asked for, nice and tradition which...he had to be all covert about because the boss got all frowny. Luckily the boss was on the phone with his girlfriend. Or. Someone at least. "Sounds like a neat place." Power training, huh? Hmmm.
Tea, yum. Amanda blew on the hot liquid before taking a sip. "It does a lot of good," she said, inwardly amused at the irony of herself advertising the benefits of Xavier's. Her own experience hadn't been the norm, however. "'S not just for kids, either - there's quite a few grads that stay on, getting the training they need. My brother's a teacher there, actually."
"Huh," he replied. "I might check it out. Can't be too over prepared." Plus, considering his not really knowing the full extent of his powers, this could potentially benefit him. Plus, meeting other mutants would be interesting. "Do you have any contact info?"
"Yeah, just a sec." Amanda rummaged through her bag and pulled out a pen. Grabbing a napkin from the holder, she carefully wrote down a phone number, and Ororo's name. "Ororo - Ms. Munroe - she's a good sort and she'll see you sorted." She gave Victor a quick grin. "It's a bit of a madhouse sometimes, but don't let that put you off."
"Madhouse?" He chuckled. "Sounds like fun." Animal House for Mutants? Maybe? Yes...? No? K. "Well, thanks," Vic replied. "I might check 'em out. Can't get enough control, I say." Over powers, that is. "Tell Mark I said hey," he added, glancing over at the people waiting "patiently", shooting daggers at him with their eyes. Figuratively speaking, anyway. Literally would be...well, bad.
Amanda glanced over her shoulder at the queue, and shot them a semi-apologetic grin. "I will," she said, scooping up the bag with her bagel, and the tea. "It was nice chatting to you." Especially when she was pretty sure there were no 'evil' vibes there. "I'll see you around, maybe." And with that, she gave him a wave, and left the shop.
Admittedly, Amanda didn't have to come to this particular place for a bagel - there were plenty of places between Snow Valley's offices and the brownstone, after all, where such an item might be found. But after hearing Mark mention his friend Vic was working at this one, well, curiosity drew her to check it out. She'd seen Vic at Silver on occasion, but hadn't had a chance to speak to him. Nothing wrong with dropping by and saying hi now, tho'.
And besides, it wasn't like there hadn't been enough evil relatives, friends and associates in the past couple of years. Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there might not be another one lurking out there.
It seemed just like any of the other oh-so-trendy places in that area - Amanda grinned a little to herself as she went in - she had Pete's perversity in that she liked messing with these sorts of places by ordering things like "a plain cup of tea, done proper".
Victor was blue. He just hadn't cut it. They were looking for "someone with a little more experience." That job would've been such an awesome opportunity; instead, he was back at the bagel shop waiting on people. It was...well, it was work, thank God. He pasted a smile on his face, the picture of happiness and chipper: he didn't get paid to be mopey.
Besides. There'd be other opportunities. ...right?
Victor offered the blond woman, who was vaguely familiar, a soft smile. "Hey there, how can I help you?" See? Lookit that. Victor being all nice and helpful.
"Hi." Amanda glanced up at the menu, on the wall behind Victor's head. "Um, can I just grab a bagel with cream cheese and a tea? For here, thanks." There had been something not-quite-there about Victor's smile, and she was trying to figure out if it was the usual catering job fake face, or impending Evil.
"What kind of tea?" Plz to not let her be one of those quirky types who came to heckle them about "proper" tea. He was like so not in the mood. "We're having a special on our Wingut Green?" It had...stuff in it. And Victor wasn't full of impending doom! He was only incidentally evil - about evil as any naughty boy got, really.
Amanda wrinkled her nose. "Um, got anything without bits floating in it?" she asked. "Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Orange Pekoe, that sort of thing?"
"I think we have Orange Pekoe," he replied. He'd never heard of 'English Breakfast'. That sounded like a bad smoothie. "Would you like a bagel or a croissant?" Cause they had those two. And they were to DIE for. Or a muffin. If you need your bran.
"Bagel, please. One of the sesame ones? Plain cream cheese." Amanda leaned her forearms on the counter, gave Vic a grin. "And I should probably introduce myself, or I'm here under false pretences. Amanda. I work with Mark."
"You got it," Vic replied, going off to gather all of the stuff for his customer. He paused, then blinked, and then offered her a bit of a grin. "Oh," he said. "Well," he said, with a chuckle, "hi, then. Nice to meet you. You work at the club?" Maybe that's where he'd seen her before.
"Nah, the day job. The one at the think tank in Manhattan." Amanda straightened, watching him work. "Tho' I've seen you at Silver once or twice. Mark mentioned you were working in the area, and I figured I'd take the chance to say hi where we can actually hear ourselves talk."
"Think tank?" Mark and Victor were new friends, they hadn't quite reached bff status yet. So, Vic didn't know much about Mark's life, though he did know he had a second job. Victor never thought to ask what it was, he figured it'd come up in conversation. "What's a think tank," he asked with a smile, placing the bagel on one of the plates.
"Well, that's nice of you," Victor replied. It's not like he could pass up the opportunity to make any friends. "You guys must be wicked close, I don't think any of my old friends would go out of their way to visit someone and have a bagel at where they'd work just say hi." That was...nice. Sweet, even.
"We do research for various people when they ask for it, into mutant-related areas. All sorts of things. I'm assistant to one of the people there, and Mark's works the reception desk mostly." Amanda's stomach growled at the sight of the bagel, reminding her it had been, oh, probably a couple of hours since she last ate. Bloody bottomless pit - the joys of being an energy filter. "And Mark's a good mate." She grinned. "Besides, I'm a nosy cow, and had to check out the new face."
Victor laughed. "Mark is a nice guy," Victor replied with a soft grin. "I think he's the first decent friend I've made while here in New York." Which, was saying something. Though that didn't count the people he worked with. Uh. Not counting Steve. Cause he was mean. Vic tilted his head. "So, what would you like to know?" Since she was so nosy and needed to check on Mark's new friends. Vic would definitely be as honest as possible - he has to pass the bfftest now doesn't he?
"So, you're not a local then?" she asked. "Where're you from originally?" It was a nice easy opening.
"Nah," he replied, with a soft grin. "I'm just a small town boy from Texas," he said, with a charming southern accent to boot. Sure, it was fake (convincing, though) but it was true. "I moved here from Austin a few months ago. UT didn't agree with me."
Amanda raised her eyebrows. "Hassles with the mutant thing?" she asked with a slight hesitation that signalled he was fine to not answer if he wanted. From what she knew, Texas wasn't exactly open-minded as a whole.
"Nah," he replied. "The people in my town were actually very sweet. They were just glad I was alive." That wasn't to say there weren't a few bad apples. "It wasn't until I got to Austin that I really had to deal with that. And even still, college was just..." he shrugged. "I dunno, it didn't seem to suit me." Or maybe it was that college - who knew?
The response was a genuinely surprised look, and then a peal of laughter. "Fuck, mate, you must be just about the only Yank mutant I've met who hasn't got a tale of woe to do with manifesting," Amanda told him, still snickering. "Then again, most of the mutants I've met from here have been from Xavier's."
"Manifesting?" He tilted his head. He shook his head. "I never said that was easy. That hurt like a bitch." People thought he was dying. He blinked. "What's Xavier's?" He'd heard the name before. Hmm.
"Sorry, my mistake." Amanda shrugged a little. "Xavier's is a school, up in Westchester, specially for mutants. They do a lot of powers training there - sort of a 'for mutants, by mutants' deal, but they've got links with places like Muir Island Research Facility. If there's anyone who knows mutant powers and how they work, it's them. I passed through there a couple of years ago; quite a lot of people at the think tank have."
"Oh," Vic replied. "I think Mark mentioned it once." He handed her the tea she'd asked for, nice and tradition which...he had to be all covert about because the boss got all frowny. Luckily the boss was on the phone with his girlfriend. Or. Someone at least. "Sounds like a neat place." Power training, huh? Hmmm.
Tea, yum. Amanda blew on the hot liquid before taking a sip. "It does a lot of good," she said, inwardly amused at the irony of herself advertising the benefits of Xavier's. Her own experience hadn't been the norm, however. "'S not just for kids, either - there's quite a few grads that stay on, getting the training they need. My brother's a teacher there, actually."
"Huh," he replied. "I might check it out. Can't be too over prepared." Plus, considering his not really knowing the full extent of his powers, this could potentially benefit him. Plus, meeting other mutants would be interesting. "Do you have any contact info?"
"Yeah, just a sec." Amanda rummaged through her bag and pulled out a pen. Grabbing a napkin from the holder, she carefully wrote down a phone number, and Ororo's name. "Ororo - Ms. Munroe - she's a good sort and she'll see you sorted." She gave Victor a quick grin. "It's a bit of a madhouse sometimes, but don't let that put you off."
"Madhouse?" He chuckled. "Sounds like fun." Animal House for Mutants? Maybe? Yes...? No? K. "Well, thanks," Vic replied. "I might check 'em out. Can't get enough control, I say." Over powers, that is. "Tell Mark I said hey," he added, glancing over at the people waiting "patiently", shooting daggers at him with their eyes. Figuratively speaking, anyway. Literally would be...well, bad.
Amanda glanced over her shoulder at the queue, and shot them a semi-apologetic grin. "I will," she said, scooping up the bag with her bagel, and the tea. "It was nice chatting to you." Especially when she was pretty sure there were no 'evil' vibes there. "I'll see you around, maybe." And with that, she gave him a wave, and left the shop.
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