Log: Matt & Korvus go to a rock concert

[x-daredevil.livejournal.com]

Matt and Korvus head into the city to an all-ages concert. Their night ends early though when Matt starts to lose control of his powers and begins to struggle with the drug usage by people around him.

Trigger warning: Drug Addiction



The club was crowded even though it was early, but that was probably because it was open to all ages. Matt and Korvus had their hands stamped as they went in since they were underage. Matt's hand was firmly on Korvus' shoulder so that the other man could guide him, his white cane clutched in his other parallel to his body to announce to all that he was blind. He didn't really need Korvus to guide him, not with his powers, but it was easier this way for everyone. There was no way that Matt could pass as sighted with his sunglasses off anyways and it would look strange if he wore them at night inside.

It was crowded and Matt's senses were assaulted almost immediately even though the band hadn't started playing yet as they worked their way through to find a spot. He already had earplugs in to help against the noise, but even still his nose was bombarded with scents and even his body was noticing all the various people brushing up against him. He did not like crowds and while part of that was because of his blindness, it had more to do with his powers, but he wanted to hang with Korvus and see the band. So far though, Matt was tense and nervous, disliking where they were.

Korvus led them toward the back and into a grouping of tables that were raised away from the main floor. While he often attempted to move around the groups, it was a punk rock show and that meant he didn't have too much of a problem bulldozing through anyone that didn't want to move for him. Before long he took Matt's hand from his shoulder to set it on the back of a chair, the tiny table only having two so that it would be easy to avoid anyone that came to speak with them if his friend wanted to.

"This will be a good place." Korvus offered over the volume of the bustling room. "Would you like me to purchase drinks for us?"

Matt was getting overwhelmed so he nodded, grateful for the assist in finding the chair and for the offer of drinks, "Water," he agreed, pulling his wallet out and making sure he had a $5 bill to hand to Korvus. He'd brought money with his, carefully counted out and folded so he would be prepared. He hadn't wanted any big bills and didn't carry anything larger than a $10 now.

Korvus pushed the money back into Matt's hand politely. "Water is commonly free in America." He observed, as if his companion didn't know. "I will be back momentarily."

"Not bottled water," Matt replied, trying to give Korvus the money again. "And I'm not drinking anything I don't open myself." That was a safety thing.

"I will not allow you to be drugged." Korvus offered helpfully as he took the money. "I expect you will be caring for me, as well. Wade told me the term is Wingman."

Matt trusted Korvus, but that wasn't the point. This was just basic safety at a place like this, "Good," he replied, "And yeah. Except usually wingmen help you get the girls and stuff. Not so much drugs."

"Should I bring back girls as well?" Korvus asked. "I am in a relationship with Meggan but I am sure there are many here that would enjoy meeting you."

Flipping Korvus the bird, Matt couldn't decide if he was serious or not. "I'm good with a water," he replied. Somehow, he suspected that if he said yes, Korvus would somehow go and do just that and while Matt definitely liked girls, he didn't like the implication that he couldn't meet them on his own or that he needed someone to help him get one or anything. Plus, he kinda liked Sue still.

"As you wish." Korvus said before heading for the bar to order. He took the gesture in jest, assuming it was just another joke he didn't understand.

It took a while for Korvus to get back and one of the bands began to play. Matt tried to enjoy the music, but even with his ear plugs it was too loud. Damn. How did people handle this?! Even with normal hearing, this was insane! It wasn't that he didn't like it though, it was just too much. The migraine was coming, but he ignored it, just taking the water from Korvus once he returned and taking a long sip to try to clear his head a little. It helped, but not enough. "Thanks, man," he yelled.

"You are welcome!" Korvus called out over the music in return. He sat with his back to Matt and the table in order to face the band, watching as they played.

It didn't matter what way Matt faced in relation to the band, he could see everything remarkably well with his sonar, it was so loud. About halfway through the set though a smell began to get to him. He knew what it was immediately. He had never smoked nor wanted a smoke, but he knew what marijuana smelled like. Tensing, he gripped his water bottle tighter. He didn't want pot. He hated how it smelled, it was gross. That was why he had never done it. Well, that and the one time he'd tried to buy it he had gotten arrested. He could ignore it. He would. It was just going to blend away into the smell of cigarettes, sweat and bodies, no problem.

Korvus was oblivious to the scent of marijuana, he simply didn't recognize it like he did tobacco. With his attention focused on the concert, the young man wasn't capable of picking up any signals from Matt even if he might have noticed them. "This is very energetic music!" He called out to his friend after a couple songs passed, looking back to see the expression the headache was giving him.

"Yeah!" Matt agreed, trying to feign enthusiasm. He liked the music, it was all just too much. He could feel the bass in his bones, the smells of people and the drugs, it was all getting to him. Badly. "You like it!"

"Of course!" Korvus agreed. "Punk rock music is associated with many traits which I enjoy greatly."

"Cool!" Leave it to Korvus to talk like an English professor or something like that at a punk rock concert. That really didn't bother Matt outside of interpreting what he said into more colloquial English was almost beyond him right now.

He waited a few more songs, growing more and more agitated, then the band took a break. Thank goodness. Matt was basically gripping his cane like his life depended on it, focused more on controlling his powers and ignoring what was going on around him. Just because the band took a break though did not mean the music stopped. A DJ simply put on something recorded, just as loudly. "Korvus?" Matt finally asked, "I need to go. Now."

Silently, Korvus stood and moved to Matt's side to help lead him out through the main doors and into the fresh air. "I suspected it would become too loud for you in there."

"You couldn't smell it?" Matt asked, surprised. He held onto Korvus' shoulder, grateful for the quiet assist. He didn't usually need to be led around anymore unless it was in public because others expected it, but right now it let him focus on other things.

Korvus held a hand up for a taxi as the pair spoke. "Smell what?"

"Drugs," Matt replied, not releasing Korvus, "Pot, mostly. There was other stuff too. Smelled awful." He was relaxing a little now that they were out in the cooler air. "You wanna just take the train home?"

"I have not smelled drugs before." The sheltered man noted as he began to move them toward the nearest subway station. "I would not recognize their scent."

"Oh," Matt was grateful to the fresh air (well, as fresh as it got in New York City), "It....bothered me. And then it was loud and crowded and...yeah," Matt still didn't feel up to speed, but he was beginning to relax. "There a place to get a snack nearby? Someplace quiet?" Not that the city was ever very quiet.

Korvus looked around at the question, "I can see two coffee shops nearby and an Italian restaurant."

"Whatever's closest," Matt decided. He needed a minute and maybe a drink or something. "Sorry about being a buzz kill."

"I don't know what that is." Korvus said with a laugh as he led them to the nearby restaurant so they could get something to eat. Matt looked upset and he knew the younger man liked pizza.

Once they were safely ensconced in a booth at the Italian place, Matt sucked water through his straw as he waited for his hot chocolate and tiramisu to arrive. "'Buzz kill' means 'to ruin a good time.' And I ruined yours," he explained, feeling a little better. His brain was feeling all sorts of mashed, but he was cooling off now and didn't feel like he was being overwhelmed.

Korvus laughed softly at the explanation, "That is only a problem when reality does not meet one's expectations. I attempt to avoid those troubles by freeing myself from expectations. They prevent us from fully experiencing reality."

Everyone had hopes though, even if they weren't always expectations. It was of themselves, of others and of experiences. "I guess..." Matt replied, not really wanting to argue, even though he disagreed, "Well, so long as you're not mad," Of course, Korvus was an RA and any time a student said they needed to leave because of dealing with drugs, well....it was something that just happened.

The waitress came with their food then and Matt wrapped his hands around the hot chocolate, taking a tiny sip of the too-hot liquid. The burn from it felt good and helped to cut through everything in his head, "So what's new with you?"

"College is difficult when combined with Resident Adviser duties and volunteering." Korvus offered as a topic while he poured himself a cup of the hot tea that had been delivered for him. "Has high school changed significantly since last year?"

Matt shrugged, "It's bigger now?" he offered. "Since I'm caught up and not trying to do two grades worth of work at a time that helps make it a little easier. I have more free time. Kinda been thinking of seeing if I can get rides to church to go to CCE. Haven't been in a while," years. Since before he had gone to Xavier's, though he went to Mass every week. "Keeping busy helps me not to focus on the addiction, you know?" He still had therapy and counseling and drug tests and all that, but the less he focused on it the easier it was. That was why the concert was so hard, he'd just been surrounded by it.

Korvus nodded, "I am glad you are doing well against the addiction. In Eastern philosophy there is a belief that people are addicted to many things, from materialism to expectations. If you feel any of those reflections may be helpful, I can offer books on the topic."

That was not as reassuring as Korvus probably intended it. "I kinda don't want any addictions," Matt replied. Granted, what he was working on with his counselor was trying to have healthy addictions, but he didn't want any addictions. He was reading a lot and working out more doing his gymnastics and the trapeze for class, which he didn't think was an addiction per se. "That's sort of what my therapist says though, about learning healthy addictions instead of unhealthy ones."

"If you do not want any addictions, you will have to learn how to make every action a choice and how to be aware of everything around you." Korvus insisted. "That is the essence of many Eastern philosophies."

Matt thought about that for a while before he replied, "That...sounds difficult, but not any more so than using my powers like I do. Maybe. If you have any books to recommend...? I can see I'd the library has them in Braille." Korvus smiled, "There are lectures and audio books I have access to. Eastern philosophy is often better spoken."

"That'd be cool, thanks," Matt agreed. He wasn't a fan of audio books, but it was more the thought than anything else. He could always try them out and see how it went anyways.