xp_logs | Alani & Jay | Housewarming Gift

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(slightly backdated) With the Guthries arrival, Alani makes a point to meet Jay.

Since the younger Guthries arrival, Alani worried she hadn't given Jay the attention he deserved. Which was why she was knocking on the door to the room he shared with Sam, with a echeveria succulent she'd propagated. "Uh, Hi, I'm Alani, aaaand I have a housewarming gift for you." She called through the wood, hesitant smile starting.

Jay opened the door like a sleepwalker, wings drooping and hair greasy. He's really only had come out of the suite once or twice so far and that was only to fly. "Your Sam's friend. One who did this apartment up for us?" he asked flatly.

"I am, yes, but I made my friend do most of the lifting." Alani flashed a smile, offering the potted plant. "I didn't know what you might like so it was a lot of guesses, so... sorry, if there's anything you don't like I can look for something different."

He stared at the potted plant for a moment before taking it from her. He was no good with plants, but the thought of a housewarming gift was mighty neighborly. He attempted something anywhere near a smile for the welcoming gesture. It didn't quite reach his lips, let alone his eyes. "There's no need t'be so kind. Thank you." Then he paused. He was sure she knew, her being a friend of Sam's and all, but he still had manners to mind. "I'm Jay."

"Sorry, it's my aloha spirit. If I could cook, I woulda made ya something, but... I want you to like me, not remember food I cursed you with." She laughed at her own abilities goodnaturedly, forcing her demeanor and voice to remain bright. "I didn't want to assume, but it's very nice to meet you, Jay. I- I also work a little at the library here in the mansion, if you like reading. I don't mind doing house visits."

Jay nodded. "I reckon you have a good selection here," he said diplomatically. He didn't want to say he wasn't sure he could focus enough lately to read, even if it was something he had enjoyed before- (Why did everything have to remind him of her? The poetry he liked was all Julia, Julia, Julia, and nonfiction made him think of reading her textbooks aloud to her). "I was thinkin' I might give one of those old scifi books Sam likes a try if he still has 'em." He was trying not to make it clear how much the conversation was taking out of him.

"Oh, perfect, we honestly have a pretty decent selection." Alani nodded. Unable to come up with any normal topics she would usually lean on when meeting someone new. Nothing she knew seemed entirely right to talk about, so instead she mentally flipped through everything she knew. "I don't know how much interest you have in it, but if you want to check out the limits of your powers or anything like that, there's a group for newer people to help them."

"Right." Jay had no interest in that. Just having wings was enough. He shifted his feathers uncomfortably, still not used to having them out all the time, even if his back and wings so much less. And then, because he wasn't sure how to back out of the conversation. "Sam never said what you do. Or whatever the term for it is."

"I... don't think I ever actually told him, actually. Funnily, my power doesn't come up much. I, uh, am a human chainsaw. I can disassemble matter into - well, nothing, if I go far enough. Not really a fun party trick. I also can breathe underwater. Real grab bag shit." Alani offered a slight shrug. There was no mention of the red symbols on her skin. "Didn't know about the water thing until after I rocked up, but it tends to be what people call me in for."

Jay nodded, moving to grip the side of the door. "Think he mentioned your schooling more, yeah. Sorry if it was rude to ask." He didn't ask about the red symbols. He figured that they were tattoos and didn't know if it was a cultural thing. "Thanks again for the plant," he said, glancing back behind him. "I'm sorry for not invin' you in."

“The most interesting thing about me, I get it. And never rude, I work with kids and their questions are worse.” Alani smiled but took a step back to signify she understood the lack of invitation. “I’ll leave you to it, but feel free to reach out if you need anything or if I can do anything for you.”