Issue 1 Downtime

Melissa finally had to bite the bullet and go to Maldon. And given how long it had been since she was out in public proper, she was a little apprehensive. Still, the environment of the Rose & Crown was oddly comforting as she settled in at a table with a drink.

((Open))

Gar moved his way through the pub and took a stool. He chatted with the bartender a bit and handed over a sheet of paper before he turned in his stool and scanned the room. He spotted Melissa and lifted his beer in salute and recognition, remembering her from the games.

Melissa returned the salute, smiling at him. She motioned to one of the empty seats at her table.

He nodded and moved over to join her carefully. "Hey, Gar." He offered his hand to her.

"Melissa," she said, shaking his hand. "You were on Blue Team the other night."

"Yeah, for all of twenty minutes." He watched the bubbles in his beer. "Saw you lay the 'Tinkid' out, though sorry about the fall at the end."

"My fault really," she said, "Mind blasting someone who's holding you in the air isn't the brightest move ever."

"Hindsight. We all do things in the moment we're not proud of. In fact, trying to find work to help make myself scarce at school."

"That's a shame. The school's supposed to be a haven, not something you need to run away from."

"I'm...not sure...it's the place for me. The game...sort of made me question my reason for being there." He looked sad for a moment then smiled. "Besides my little sister's developed a new fascination with make-up."

"All girls do at some point or other," she said with a smile. "What's to question though? Hell, I've done the superhero gig and I'm there now." And it'd be a shame if you left.

"It's complicated. I need the education but I have the feeling I'm not welcome. It's nothing new really, but I'm trying for my sister. I'm just thinking I may be better suited for a hermitage."

Melissa contemplated that for a moment. "I don't think hermits are even suited for hermitages. I honestly think everyone's still trying to figure out the pecking order. You're new and that upsets things until they have a chance to settle down. I wouldn't really worry about it."

"I'm just trying to stay out of Vertie's way. I do alright alone, she needs...a 'pack'. A healthy one." he finished his beer and signaled for a second. "So, you've already done the "hero" gig, huh? Aren't you going at it a little bass ackwards?"

"Family business," she said, finishing her own drink and motioning for another. "Mother 'retired' when she got pregnant with me. It's always been sort of expected of me." She pulled out her phone and pulled up a picture. She turned it around to show it to Gar. It showed a beaming, attractive older woman standing behind a slightly younger Melissa. Melissa was dressed in the costume that Gar had seen her in during the game. "First night as a hero," she commented.

Gar nodded, "Looks like we're in a similar boat. Having followed the 'family business' and now trying to find and follow our own path." He lifted his glass as Melissa's arrived. "Here's to overbearing "family obligation"."

"And here's to trying to get away from it," she said, raising her glass in return. "So your sister has the empathy thing going. I assume you've got something feral going on."

"I do, feline. Teeth, claws, night vision, the whole deal. The pride of the Pride." He lifted his drink again and took a drink.

"Cool. I sometimes wonder what that would be like."

"It's got it's ups and downs. I have a shorter fuse then most humans...longer the most wild animals. My nose got me in trouble at the game. Kay has a scent that I recognized as something very dangerous at the time...it sort of set me off."

"Sounds like you're relying on your instincts a bit too much," she said, taking a long pull from her drink.

"Actually the opposite. I know what Vertie's capable of and I was holding myself back to keep her from effecting me. When she passed out, it all came rushing in on me. Then I smelled Kay and thought her toxin would be like that of the globefish and at her size...I panicked." He shook his head. "Not my best moment."

"I was kind of busy at the time, but I caught enough of it to agree with your assessment."

"Gee, thanks." He chuckled.

"Just saying," she said with a slightly tipsy chuckle. "Stuff happens. As long as you learn from the mistake."

"Oh, it's one of those life rules. I do not go up against Vertie, but she talked me into it, said it would be fun. I needed to make friends." He smiled, fangs showing.

"Well, you're making one right now," she said, smiling back and clearly not intimidated.

"Ah, the power of beer goggles." he smiled at her and waved over the lone server to order something to eat. "So, I'm not too rough and broody for ya'?"

"Hey, just because I'm tipsy doesn't mean I've gone beer goggles yet," she said. "You've been a little broody since you sat down. It's better when you smile."

"It's a delicate balancing act." He shook his head, but was still smiling.

"Being tipsy or you smiling?"

"I would think both, but I've never been tipsy. The word itself and the behavior of those who've claimed to be so, seem to imply it's directly tied to one's balance. As for my smile, it's sent more then a few fleeing for the nearest exit."

"Well, I'm still here," she said, leaning on one hand. "So smile some more."

"Far be it from me to turn down a request from a lady." He smiled as the food arrived.

Melissa switched chairs and scooted around the table to sit closer to Gar when the food arrived. "Much better," she said, picking at the food. "I wasn't lucky enough to get the healing factor thing, even though I can get all the other typical bruiser attributes. Makes things a little difficult sometimes."

Gar's brow lifted, but he focused on the food. "That sucks. Can't imagine how that works out, being able to deal out but not be able to take it. That's rough."

"Oh, I'm crazy tough when I'm pushing, but yeah, can't quite shrug off some things," she said, lifting her glass for emphasis. "And it shuts off my telepathy, which sucks."

"I don't know. There're a few people I've know who's minds I'm very glad I couldn't read. I've found that my nose and eyes tell me plenty. Telepathy takes the fun out of things."

"Oh, I've had enough training to avoid the casual mind read," she said, "but... it's like... what if you had to forego your heightened senses for your healing factor to work?"

Gar thought for a moment. "Man, that would be weird...like suddenly going bald kind of weird."