January Alt Event [OPENish]

[blesstherains]

WHO: Any characters not specifically being used for the Hellfire Club Event
WHAT: Volunteering to help disadvantaged and underprivileged mutants in the cold harsh winter.
WHERE: District X (located in Alphabet City, Manhattan)
WHEN: Middle of the week
WARNING(S): With the FoH possibly jumping in, this could get rough.



At the very least, the snowfall wasn't blizzard strength today. But it was making the work of unloading the trucks at the community center difficult. But the kitchen was cooking, the fires were going, and up and down the block, families lined up to get blankets, to get food, and get some hope from a group many of them considered to be heroes for entirely different reasons than most did...

The X-Men.

Comments

[deceases]

[ Of course Natsuno has not a single clue what exactly the people were like that Luvander is talking about, but.. well, he has a general idea if he's drawing the comparison to him right now. They must've been part saints though to be able to put up with this guy. He sure can't. That's exactly why he's lingering here near the blonde instead of just walking on. Since he can't deal with him. Yeah. Totally.

.. or, well, maybe someone has to make sure he doesn't try to just get up and go on with taking more and more into his own body. ]

I'm not worried about you. [ It comes flatly, but despite it not sounding too defensive, it comes out of his mouth oddly quickly.. almost instinctively so at the word "worry". ]

It's just that I'm pretty sure they'll just replace you with someone even more annoying if you die, knowing my luck. This is insurance. [ He heaves a sigh. ] Because I know you're stupid enough to get right back up and go on even now.

[theveilisin]

[That is in fact probably exactly what Luvander was planning to do once he'd healed a bit more. Not that he'd been planning on doing much more, he is at least aware that he's approaching his limits, but a few more little favors couldn't hurt, right?

But now that Natsuno has gotten him to sit down, standing up again seems like a much greater obstacle than he'd anticipated. He's tired, and whether he allows himself to show it or not, he's also in pain.]

You know, at least I'm honest about it when I'm fussing over people. [The smile he directs at the other boy as he leans back gingerly is rather fond, however.]

There's nothing strange about being concerned for people, even if you do find them annoying, my dear. Being annoyed with people is at the very least 50% of all friendship, I'm pretty sure.

[deceases]

[ Wow, he can be honest about it?! Sometimes?! A little bit? At least he did tell Kaori and Akira to get on that bus really firmly and not come back.. not like he explained himself, but hey, that's fussing. Openly. Even if he just seemed really angry.

... Okay, so maybe he's not too good at this, sue him. ]

That'd imply we're friends.

[ Because yes, he's even going to deny that. Deny every social interaction ever. ]

I didn't come here to make friends. We're just roommates, and if something happens to you, then I know karma is just going to make me get an even more annoying roommate to replace you.

[theveilisin]

[That makes Luvander laugh quietly, and if Natsuno had really expected the fondness in his smile to decrease, then he's destined to be disappointed. If anything, it increases, because Regina knows he's had his share of prickly personalities to deal with, and in a way Natsuno's way of acting is kind of... sweet.]

You're really shit at this, aren't you? [Once more that hint of coarseness that isn't normally a part of Luvander's flowing and often nonsensical vocabulary. He shifts a bit once more, momentarily having to fight down a wave of nausea, but he manages to grin at the other after a second or two.]

Friendship's usually got very little to do with intention, you know. I didn't come here to make friends either - I came here as a political refugee. But that doesn't mean I can't or don't consider you my friend, and there's very little you can do about it.

[deceases]

That's not true.

[ All of it, but he's specifically aiming at the last part. Because, you know, talking about it like this is a lot easier than actually acknolwedging any of the other friendship stuff Luvander says! What if he might catch the friendship cooties, okay, this is a serious concern everyone should have. ]

I'm pretty sure there's stuff even you can't heal from.

[ Are you seriously saying you'd kill him just to stop the friendship, Natsuno. Is this really how far your tsunning goes in every single attempt to deny the friendship. Is it.

Look, it's easier than acknowledging Luvander isn't all that bad to be around and that Natsuno just can't help but naturally feel obligated to be his personal babysitter because otherwise the guy will just run straight into an early death. ]

[theveilisin]

There are some things.

[He says it so lightly too, indicating the scar on his throat offhandedly before carefully pulling his scarf back up to cover it. Well, he had healed from that, eventually, but probably only because he had passed out - and the people from the UN had still had to stitch him up a bit. It's the only scar he has.]

But honestly, my dear, I don't think you have the determination for that sort of thing. For all of you terrible temper, you are not exactly an unkind person.

[As far as he's seen, while Natsuno can certainly count rudeness and bluntness and a number of related character flaws to his repertoire, there is not a truly malicious or cruel bone in his body. Luvander laughs softly.]

Honestly, there's no point in trying to deter me. I've liked far worse people than you.

[deceases]

[ Honestly, it's not even that weird to hear those last lines. Natsuno's already figured as much too, honestly. In that sense Luvander is so weirdly alike to Tohru. They both refused to leave him alone, no matter how distant or unkind he tried to be.

It's probably why he's already given up on most deterring methods and is instead playing mother hen.. not that he'd ever admit it out loud, naturally. ]

Never thought about finding better company?

[ There, let's distract attention away from Natsuno as the topic. And all the stupid "my dear"ing. Can't you drop the flair for once, Luvander? ]

[theveilisin]

[He really doesn't know how to drop it, and only does so by accident at times when he's upset. He shrugs a little bit awkwardly, letting out a small laugh as he rubs his hands together to keep them warm. It's harder to remember dressing properly too when you never get sick and you're unable to actually freeze anything.]

For a long while I didn't have a choice, you know, even when I wanted to. In case you hadn't noticed, I tend to get on people's nerves, and I was a lot smaller and weaker than many of the others. [He wrinkles his nose a bit, remembering how rough the first couple of years had been at time, even if Yesfir had always stood up for him.]

Now, I guess I'm just permanently damaged. I like being around people who aren't so easy on me, who will give me a hard time. I mean, not like some sort of self punishment or anything, let's not go spilling psychology all down our shirts.

I just... I guess I prefer people who won't sugarcoat things.

[deceases]

[ There, Luvander. Have a knock against your head (not too hard, but not particularly gentle anyway - he can hold his strength in when it's needed) to make you feel a little warmer.

Or maybe it's just since Natsuno actually looks a little miffed. Not that he usually doesn't, but this feels like it's more on purpose. ]

Don't call yourself permanently damaged. You're just a weirdo.

[ .. there's a difference between that. Probably. ]

A really annoying and unbearable weirdo, but if I'm going to be stuck with you, then at least stick to that. [ "Don't put yourself down so much" is what he means to say, but.. you know, it's Natsuno. He's perfectly good at being blunt with everything else, but not when it comes to caring. ]

[theveilisin]

[There is so much Luvander is so very bad at saying, too, despite his constant prattling and his penchant for melodrama. Words of honest thanks, for instance, and appreciation for the way Natsuno is obviously looking out for him. Maybe it's just as well, since it would probably just make them both feel awkward and embarrassed, but he still felt like he owed him as much.]

There's nothing wrong with being a little bit damaged. [He says the words mildly enough, but they really do mean something, for both of them. Luvander is hardly a psychologist, and Natsuno doesn't do the whole sharing thing, but it's not like Luvander can't tell that Natsuno is not like the average careless teenager either. He doesn't talk about his past, and he has a far harsher outlook on life than people in general. Luvander has seen that sort of thing before.]

There are some things... well, they should damage you a bit, or there's probably something far worse wrong with you. [He scratches at his throat, smiling faintly.] Anyway, it's good for reminding you that you're still alive, right?

[deceases]

[ He lets out a breath that would almost sound like a laugh if it wasn't for the fact that the one making the sound is Natsuno. ]

Don't even talk to me about alive.

[ It's not said bitterly, despite it being a sentiment that's very closesly linked to where he comes from and what he's dealt with in his life.. but, you know, it's Natsuno. He's just never going to be open about any of this shit ever, it's how it works.

Glancing back over to the other guy, his shoulders relax a little bit again. ]

Ready to get moving yet or not? Being permanently damaged is not enough of an excuse to keep sitting there, or at least I'm pretty sure it's what the teachers would say.

[theveilisin]

[Luvander huffs out half a laugh in turn, and somehow it feels like they've managed to accomplish something important, as tenuous and strange as it still is. They know where they stand, at least a little bit, and considering how faint the protests had really been - for Natsuno - Luvander can't help but feel like maybe he doesn't mind them being friends. He just... prefers not to put definitive words on it.

He grins at him, letting out a theatrical little sigh.]

Just because you've got a healing factor people think you never need even a moment's rest. It's my curse, I suppose. [But he really does feel a lot less nauseous, and his nose seems to have stopped bleeding, and that's good enough for him.] Very well, my charming slave driver. For you, and only for you, I shall make the herculean effort of getting up again.

[deceases]

I'm so flattered.

[ FLATLY... extremely flatly. Because he's learned by now that the only way to deal with Luvander is to not protest the way he puts things or he'll only get more embarrassing. It's easier to just deflect them flatly, like he's some sort of brick wall the other's words can't move through.

And his actions speak louder than his words, in any case. After the blonde is done talking, Natsuno moves, practically hoisting the other guy up by his sides. It's not hard to do it when you have his kind of strength, okay. ]

And that doesn't mean "run off to immediately heal three more people". For the record.