Logs: Cookout

[x-daredevil.livejournal.com]

As things get started, Matt meets Alison Blaire. It goes about how you'd expect when you're a teenage popstar trying to be normal and a mid-20's lawyer who doesn't listen to her music.



The grill was going strong as people began to arrive from the mansion. Matt knew it was difficult or stressful for some to come since they were obvious mutants, but he had extended the invitation to all regardless. He was interested in being social. Letting his hearing shift from the grill to his uncle's talking near the ledge, Matt returned his attention to the food over he was sure everything was okay.

Reaching for his beer, he took a sip and then turned to the teen a little ways away, "Want a burger?" He asked her, not sure who she was, "With or without cheese?"

Sunglasses, Alison decided, were ultimately redundant.

It was hot and bright and sunny and the perfect day for a barbecue. Alison had tossed on the top half of a swimsuit and an off-the-shoulder tee with some logo on it she didn't recognize. (That was how people dressed for these things right? Alison thought that was right. At least, it was close enough). Add in a pair of over-sized sunglasses purely for aesthetics, tie back her hair, and go mingle.

At least, that had been the plan. Somewhere along the line, 'mingle' had turned into 'slink awkwardly around the edges of the groups and try to work up the courage to join in a conversation'.

She'd apparently drifted by the grill in her mingling, because someone had mercifully decided to start a conversation with her instead of the other way around.

"What?" It took her a minute to realize that the man at the grill was, in fact, talking to her. "Oh, yeah, sure. With, if you don't mind."

Grabbing a slice of cheese, he laid it on a burger to warm and cook with it for a moment. "I'm Matt," he said, not offering a hand since he was busy cooking. "I don't think I know you. The journals can make things funny in that you can talk to people without meeting them face to face in the same building," at least with other online forums, the chances that someone on there is near you is slim. At Xavier's it was almost guaranteed."Oh, yeah, right. I haven't actually used mine yet, have I?" Alison tugged on a pigtail. She knew she'd forgotten something. "My name is Alison. Alison Blaire. It's nice to meet you." She took his hand and shook it.

"Alison Blaire?" that name sounded familiar. "Isn't there a singer or something with that name? Some teenybopper?" He didn't listen to that sort of music too much, but he had overheard something at work, one of the girls he worked with did or something. Teenybopper pop was ubiquitous anyways, he had probably heard it without realizing, "Anyways. That would explain it. I'm only at the school on the weekends anyways. Matt Murdock."

And there it was again. Somehow she was surprised she'd made it this far without running into someone who knew her. She shouldn't have been surprised. Not really.

The off-the-shoulder sleeve slid a little further down her arm. "Yeah," she said, suddenly smiles again. Her voice wasn't quite as chipper anymore. "Yeah, that's me. I'm on a bit of a vacation right now, I suppose."

She rubbed at her neck. "I've not really been at the mansion much myself. I just finally getting settled in, really. Was hoping to meet new people here, actually."

Oh. Oh. Shit. He hadn't expected for the real Alison Blaire to be here. "Well, enjoy your vacation," Matt replied, trying not to sound too surprised, "I'm a lawyer if you need any advice or anything," he offered, "but I'm glad you're here."

"Thanks, I'll try." Hardly a vacation if you never intend to go back, right? More like a retirement. She wasn't that person anymore. She wasn't!

Alison glanced at the grill. "I think you're burning the burgers."

"Here," he slipped a burger on a bun and handed it over, "Enjoy. How're you liking Xavier's so far then?"

"Thanks." As far as it went, it was a good burger. At least, she thought it was. Certainly better than the fast food junk she had to sneak whenever she'd wanted one in the past, anyway. "It's been... an experience." she said carefully.

Lacking anything else to say in polite company, she took a bite of her burger.

...damn, that was good.

"Meaning not the best?" Matt chuckled, "What's going on then? You don't have to tell me, but as a fellow newbie, I might be able to answer questions and help."

Alison shrugged, pulling the off-the-shoulder sleeve of her tee back up. It'd drifted a little too far south, to her annoyance. "It's pretty good. I've just not been there much. Been trying to get used to living a normal life again, I suppose. That and shopping," she laughed.

She leaned forward. "The people are so weird, though. The guy who met me at the door kept offering me a taco," she whispered, smiling. "So like, I said; an experience."

"Okay, I haven't had that experience there," Matt had to say. "It's...a lot like college in a way. In terms of the weirdness. In college, the stupidest things make perfect sense at 3am and you do them. Sober, even," or drunk. Alcohol took already bad ideas and made them worse. "What were you expecting?"

"I dunno." At least she was honest. "I'd... never really done the boarding school thing before."

There was that. "I lived in an orphanage for a week once," Matt offered, dubious about the similarities, especially given the short amount of time, "It sucked. Sorry I'm not more helpful."

"Those... don't really sound the same at all." She took a bite awkwardly. Then another. At least the food was good. So she had that going for her.

"So... what do you do, anyway? You said you're at the mansion on weekends?"

"I'm a lawyer," Matt explained, "I work here in the city and trying to commute back and forth to Westchester is a lot, especially by public transit. Which is part of why everyone had to come here for the cookout," and because his brother was about to leave and he wasn't sure inviting his uncles up to Westchester was a good idea just yet. Clint was a mutant, they weren't.

Speaking of his uncles, they were headed over to him, "You leaving?" he asked. They had said they weren't staying long.

"We are. Enjoy everything and we'll see you for dinner soon," Steve said, giving Matt a hug followed by Andre. "Also, she's cute," Steve faux-whispered.

"She's also about 16," Matt replied, amused, "Thanks for coming, you can matchmake me later."

Alison just smiled at them. She'd had fans like these before. They weren't nearly as bad as that one time a woman had tried to hook her up with her son in the middle of a promotional event. The tabloids still wouldn't let her live that one down.

At least these two seemed nice enough. "Friends of yours, Mister Matt?"

"My uncles," Matt replied as they left, "It's sorta complicated, but basically, they took me in after my dad died. Clint is their adopted son, but we call each other brothers. They want to be grandfathers and....we're not helping them achieve that," he didn't sound all that broken up about it. He wasn't ready to settle down and get married and all that yet.

"Everything in your own time. That's what my aunt always told me." Alison watched them go. "Back when the agency was pressuring me to fake a hook-up with this guy they repped as a promo. Something about celebrity couples and some new record deal. She stepped in and shut that down hard." She trailed off, suddenly realizing she'd started rambling.

"I guess I'm just saying to not worry." And now she was giving relationship advice to someone she just met ten minutes ago. Awesome, Alison. Real smooth. You should probably just stop talking now, really. Before you say something stupid you won't be able to take back.

So she did. Took a bite out of her burger instead.

Matt grinned, amused not only by the advice, but the anecdote as well. "Well, the good news is that they stopped trying to hook me up with their friends daughters in high school and I've gotten slightly better at asking girls out without making a total fool of myself. But I'm not worried about it all. I kinda like being single right now anyways," it gave him more time for his nighttime hobby.

"I'll try to not be too disappointed," Alison said, sticking her tongue out at him.

He took the unclaimed food and put it on a plate for people to take as they wanted. "Call me when you're 18."

Alison just laughed. "I'm glad I made it today. It's... nice."


Later on that evening, Matt meets Rogue face to face. It's not nearly as bad as it could be. In fact, it's friendly.



Rogue had no idea why she was at this random party for someone she'd never met before. In fact, she'd had every intention of going home right after work, but that seemed less interesting than food.

She had been isolating herself since Adrienne's party and it really had to stop. Social Rogue needed to come out. Plus, Angel agreed to meet her there, so that was that. Angel was good that way.

Having no idea what to bring, she stopped at a bakery on her way over and bought a random assortment of cookies. A good guest never showed up open- handed.

Arriving a bit late, she was happy to see others there already. That made her feel less awkward. Seeking out the host, she headed that way. May as well introduce herself right away.

"Hi," she said, holding her box close to her chest. "Ah'm Rogue. Ah brought cookies."

"Hey, Matt," he replied, offering to take the box of cookies. Clint was manning the grill for a moment so he could take those and put them on the table for anyone who wanted them. The rooftop wasn't fancy and he hadn't put much effort into making it festive other than hauling a couple folding tables up and the grill, but then that's what happened when he decorated. "Glad you could come," he had seen her posts on the journals, the name sounded familiar anyways, but he hadn't met her yet.

With nothing in her hands, she hugged her waist and smiled again. "Sure, Ah wasn't positive if'n Ah should come, but Ah was curious. Ah ain't had a chance ta meet ya afore and Ah'm pretty nosey," she confessed. "You've been around for a month or so right? Ah saw you at Adri's party...". Rogue blushed a little as she suddenly remembered checking him out with Wanda. "you have nice legs," she added cheekily.

"I invited everyone. You're part of 'everyone,'" Matt pointed out, "And uh...thanks? I work out?" he'd never considered his legs nice before or any other body part in particular. Maybe his face was reasonably decent, but that was because he'd been told he was cute often enough. "So. Any questions for your nosy nature then?"

Rogue had to stop and think‎. She hadn't really thought of any questions before coming, but now that she apparently had his undivided attention, questions were filling her head. "Have you always lived in New York? Why are you only at the mansion on weekends? Do you like crowds of people? What's your power?"

Those were a lot of questions especially back to back! Making sure that she was done before he answered. Holding up a finger, he began to tick off her questions one at a time, "Yes, always. I work here in the city and commuting by transit is a bitch. I don't actually, but I have learned to deal with them. And finally, enhanced senses. Minus the obvious." The glasses weren't for show.

"Minus the obvious what?"‎

Matt pulled his glasses off, his gaze somewhere slightly to the right of where Rogue was standing, "I'm blind," he stated, "Now. My turn to ask questions? Or do you need a moment?" He could vaguely hear Clint snickering, but whether it was at them or something else, he wasn't sure. He hadn't paid attention.

The blindness was obviously a moot point but she felt embarrassed she hadn't noticed. ‎ "Ask away," she said, waving a hand in the air. "Ah'm an open book, really.". She frowned suddenly. "Unless you're gonna ask about the last ten yeahs or so.". Rogue tapped her head. "Amnesia after a mini coma.". She gave a laugh. "Ah'm kinda a soap opera character.". She even had the multiple personities to go with it. "But go ahead! Ah'll answer. Ah like talkin' bout mahself."

Most people did. Slipping his glasses back on, he considered. Did he really want to ask questions after something like a mini-coma and amnesia? Then again, he had said he would, "Favourite pokemon?" he asked, getting to the real important questions first. "Do you like roller coasters? And boxers or briefs?"

"Pikachu," she answered immediately. "You jus' can't go wrong with somethin' that could kill you if you cuddle it wrong." She might have been projecting something there. "Roller coasters are okay‎, but they're boring when you can fly. And I prefer thongs, but thanks for askin'." Another laugh. "Nah, boxers. Briefs can only be pulled off by underwear models. And even then it looks strange."

"There's always boxer-briefs," Matt pointed out, "the best of both worlds," and significantly more comfortable. "You can fly?"

Rogue put her hands on her hips and quirked an eyebrow. "Well now, that was a trick question then. And Ah sure do fly," she said, brightening up. "Ah can fly, got me some super strength, and invulnerability." She paused before continuing but it was only fair she be honest. "Ah also absorb people through mah skin, but don't worry, Ah'm always covered up so y'all don't have to be scared."

That made Matt snicked a little, "I never doubted that you were unsafe," he assured her. That wasn't why he was laughing, "Sorry. I'm amused. The blind guy and the girl who can't be touched. That's....either a really bad movie or a joke waiting to happen."

"Oh!". She hadn't even thought about it, but now she couldn't stop laughing. "Clearly we are meant ta be friends, cause otherwise no one else would be able to appreciate this situation. Am Ah keepin' ya from your guests, by the way? Ah don't mean to."

Letting his hearing roam for a moment, Matt shook his head slightly, "Nah, it's all good," he replied, "but have you gotten anything to eat? My brother burns stuff if you don't watch him, but it's pretty good."

Rogue looked around the rooftop, but she didn't see Angel yet. "That's your brother?". She peeked over to the bbq. "Y'all don't look alike....and food would be good. Ah came right after work," she said motioning to her work clothes. "You can't tell but Ah'm dressed in stylish, uncomfortable business attire. You'd think Ah could wear work out gear since Ah'm workin' for Adrienne, but nope...gotta look good.". She sighed. "Ah ain't a very good grownup."

"We're both adopted," Matt explained, not getting into the details of it all. "I was wearing a suit earlier. I changed for this," suits were the uniform of law. He had on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt now with sneakers, "Anyways. Come get a burger or something."