log: Matt and Arthur

[x-daredevil.livejournal.com]

Matt goes to visit the newest member of the mansion.



Arthur was starting to gradually warm up to the idea he wasn't in a prison. He had been held captive before — there had been an episode on how to escape prisons, afterall — but never seriously. They likely did not provide clothing and edible meals in a real prison.

Still, he had yet to venture far from his room. He had been stuffed in a fairly empty hallway and the man was thankful for that. He currently had enough going on in his head than to feel the pressure to entertain.

Knocking on the guest room door where Arthur was by kicking it gently with one foot, Matt balanced a tray of food with a stack of books carefully. He had great balance, but sometimes other things did not. He was curious to meet the reality TV star other than at the really awkward meet-and-greet autograph thing he had gone to. He'd gone more for the hanging out with friends than any real care for Arthur Centino. Now that he was at the mansion (and Cecelia had slapped him), he wanted to meet this guy.

"Hello there!" Arthur was all bright smiles at the new comer, although this quickly morphed into a long, concerned look with heaps of drama that were likely wasted on Matt. "Do they only have redheads provide rations here? Are you all gingers? Will I have to dye my hair to fit in?"

"Yes, you must be a ginger to live here," Matt replied solemnly, then grinned and offered Arthur the tray of food. It was a pretty good lunch if he had to say so, with homemade sausage and pepper pizza. He'd made it himself, "You're not a red head then? Sad. It's a little known fact that it's not actually blondes that have more fun. It's just that there are more blondes than red heads in the world so they had to compromise before there was an uprising."

He gave the kid a long look. That should be... "Colorblind or blind? I don't mean to intrude, but I'm exceptionally blonde."

"Blind," Matt clarified, "but there is a guy here who's colourblind, too. When our powers combine...we still don't manage all five senses properly. It's sad," but kinda funny, at least to him.

"Heh. That's funny." And he meant it too. Arthur was currently surrounded by a pile of newspapers and magazines. Someone had lent him a tablet. If Matt was the type (or able to) sneak a look, he would see that they all talked about a certain television and film star's violent weekend in Nevada and other Mojo defacing. None of these things were front page news either. "What's your name?"

"I'm Matt. We met in Avalon," it wasn't surprising that the guy didn't remember, he probably met a lot of people often. "Anyways, I brought you lunch and some books so you don't get so bored."

"I've, well, found ways to keep myself busy." Arthur was guiltily thankful that this kid couldn't see that all of the articles were about the reality star's collapse of a career from the last week. "It is good to see you again! I sincerely hope I did not snub you or try to kill you or any number of things. I have a doctor's note."

Ah, the infamous doctor's note. That could solve a multitude of problems, "You handed me a bottle of water, actually," Matt replied, "I had no idea who you were. I've seen your show, but....even with my powers, TV screens are a little out of my ability."

Powers. He'd still have to get used to that. "Well, I am glad that you have no reason to come in here and punch me in the face then." He beamed, choosing to ignore the fact he wasn't recognized.

"Other than the fact that you got slapped by Cece and she's kinda the epitome of calm and stuff," Matt shrugged, leaning against the wall, "You wanna explain that one? She's my homie."

"No," he shrugged, "There are a million things I would rather do than explain that."

That was very final. "You wanna rethink that answer?" Matt suggested, posture and voice still mild. "'Cause she's a grown woman who makes her own decisions, but that doesn't mean I just let other people hurt her all willy-nilly."

Arthur sighed. "Listen. I've had a long week of people poking around in my head, but if Doctor Reyes is such a close friend, you should likely take it up with her. She slapped me, and her reasons are actually her own."

"Yeah, but see, I gotta make sure you don't do it again. That's the thing," Matt wasn't going to let Arthur off quite that easily, "I won't go in your head though. Not my thing."

​"Uh huh." His voice had soured toward deadpan, and he straightened to look more directly at the stranger. "I sympathize with what you are trying to do here and all, but I am the worst person to explain anything that's happened to me over the past year. I don't care to go into it with a stranger, and that must suck from your perspective, but please take my word that I never meant to hurt Doctor Reyes."

Matt nodded, accepting that Arthur meant it about not hurting Cecilia. His heartbeat and pulse supported that. Having a built-in lie detector helped a lot, "Alright," he agreed, "I believe you. Sorry about...you know. Your celebrity and stuff. I guess it sucks? I'm not sure exactly..."

"Oh, life is completely awful and I'm watching everything I built fall apart around me as I try not to accidentally bad luck people into a hole. But, it could be worse!" The chipperness in his tone and earnestness in his bearing was completely at odds with his words.

"Yeah, okay," Matt did feel for the guy, but not too much. "When you're done having your pity party, come by the rec room. Pretty sure we're gonna be playing video games most of the afternoon and evening," well, the others would play and he would heckle everyone as needed.

"Please. Parties have balloons. And alcohol. This is good, old-fashioned brooding."

Matt laughed, "You get to drink alone then, I'm the sober buddy. But I'm definitely not the safe ride. But I'll get you balloons."

Arthur's eyes shined that he's just been promised a pony. He eyed the books and food guiltily. "You're being very kind, Matt. Thank you. I'm just in a sour mood and you threw me off with the overprotective big brother stick. The invitation is appreciated, but I am afraid that I'm all peopled out for the next month or so."

This was, perhaps, untrue, but Arthur did not find the idea of hanging out with a bunch of teenagers when he could potentially blow them all up with luck very comforting. It also felt good to wallow.

Matt shrugged, "Suit yourself. Offer stands if you change your mind," he wasn't interested in forcing Arthur if he wasn't interested.

That was all that Arthur really wanted right now. Aside from his life back, maybe. "If you all decide to actually do something outside, though, I would be hella down."