Welcome

Cleaning the Kitchen

“See? No good at words.” Jane grinned, feeling silly. She couldn’t think of the word she wanted to say, and boop- out popped something completely different. It wasn’t intentional, and before she could say anything else, their food appeared. Jane started in on her’s, keeping her mouth busy so that she wouldn’t go on to say anything else embarrassing,

He chuckles once. Like a quick jerk of his shoulders and a small puff out of his nose when Jane went The Hulk grammar on his ass. That is around the time when the food came and he looked away because hello strange waiter it’s nice to not look at you. He then stares at the food curiously, having not ordered these item(s) off the menu himself before.

Is This Yours?

Gamzee almost said “I dunno,” but caught at the last second that it may have been a poor choice. Instead he went with a shrug and a “Probably. So where’s the trouble happening at?”

“If you’re talking about the ruined homework assignment, I’ll get the page for that right now.” Having a goal in mind helped out too, and he took the ruined paper out as well as a sign of good will of what brought Gamzee here in the first place, putting it right next to the text book turned toward yesterday’s task.

The first rule about Martial Arts Club is we talk a lot about it.

She put her fists up in her own preperation, doing as she had always seen in the movies. It has made it seem like this moment of concentrating on their target with their fists held up in the air had given them the momentum they needed to beat the ever-loving shit out of their opponent. She tried to punch the air, slower than she had expected herself to. She still felt as if she had done a good job on the whole punching the air thing.

#the first rule about martial arts club is #alleycatcupid

“Alright, you have successfully punched the ghost in the face. That ghost is going to cry home about it to his mamma and the mamma is gonna say something like ‘well you shouldn’t have been in front of the girl’s way, couldn’t you see she was training?’” He taps the tower made for being punched and kicked with a palm, standing at the side of it. “Now try hitting a more physical and less spiritual target. Twenty rights, twenty lefts.”

The first rule about Martial Arts Club is we talk a lot about it.

She raised her eyebrow at him for a moment and then nodded, reaching for the bag. She dug through it for a while until she found a pair that fit her well enough. She put the discarded pairs back into the bag, setting it back where it belonged before turning back to Davian. “I’m ready.”

#the first rule about martial arts club is #alleycatcupid

“I want you to hit it fast and hard, just a straight lunge and nothing fancy. Like this.” He demonstrates the proper technique, both arms and hands raised in front of his chest with his knuckles pointing skyward. In one slow movement he brings his right fist into a punch while the left reeled back, shoulders following the direction of the arms. “Give me twenty rights, twenty lefts. I’ll count for you in case you lose track.”

Cleaning the Kitchen

“You’re close, though I do love to read, I’m not the best reader when it comes to people. Words, sure, I could do that all day and night.” Jane shrugged a little, leaning her chin on her hand. It seemed unladylike, giving her a slight double chin, but her blue eyes were still curious, watching him fidget about. Crap, she was probably making this more uncomfortable than it needed to be. “Sorry, I’m being really invasive right now. I’m just…” Jane sat up straight, straightening her fork and knife over the napkin.

“Uh.. I don’t think you can be invasive without asking questions. Not that I want you to ask any question you feel like since this isn’t some sort of interrogation scene with a single cop and a guy who supposedly did the crime having some sort of standoff, but a standoff of first impressions that’ll last forever in the back of your head, gnawing at your subconscious like a woodpecker at a tree-” He stops himself for a second to look back at her, ashamed.

“But that’s just what I think.”

Is This Yours?

Gamzee watched Davian mess with the table and then the tap, and surmised that he was meant to sit at the table. He hoped. “So, where’re we getting our start on at?” He accepted the water but forgot to drink from it, setting it down on the table instead.

“Depends. You’re starting on Chapter X in science class too?” Good, NOW they were making some progress. Progress is always a great distraction from social devastation.

Cleaning the Kitchen

Jane only smiled, returning a few moments later with everything they would need for their food. She settled down across from him, crossing one leg over the other almost daintily. “Well, tell me about yourself some more, who is the mysterious stranger, Davian?”

His eyes scoured the cafe before they rested on Jane. He would then glance over the food and let his fidgety hands play with the glass or whatever was containing the edibles. “I’m an open book.” He mumbles.

Cleaning the Kitchen

Jane turned to order their food and drinks, taking a numbered card and ushering Davian towards a table in the back. “Napkins and silverware right? Need any sugar for your drink or…” She asked curiously, hanging her purse on the side of the chair.

Davian moves to sit on the chair opposite Jane, shaking his head and looking towards the nearest window. This wasn’t going well, and he could feel it. This was a mistake. Just another person he disappoints in the end..

The first rule about Martial Arts Club is we talk a lot about it.

Meulin took the jump ropes, nodding at him as she followed his instructions. She completed the jumping jacks and stopped, looking at him for more instructions or something else to do. “Anything else, Strider?”

#the first rule about martial arts club is #alleycatcupid

“You ask that like you think we’re gonna be done anytime soon. Let me worry about what you’re doing and you worry about doing it.” He taps the side of a bagstand, taken straight from the gym and still in good shape. Not a tear on it. “Find some boxing gloves that fit you and we can start.” He gestures toward the equipment around where he found the jumprope. Yes, all this stuff does go back into the school’s storage and doesn’t remain up here. Don’t want anyone stealing anything, after all. Davian brought everything up here himself... with the help of the club director.

Not a Reel Dad, Not a Good Daughter.

Eyes flickering over to the Strider as he admitted his intentions had Meenah’s throat constricting a bit, nausea bubbling at the back of her esophagus as she bit her lower lip. What she was doing probably did look suspicious to bystanders, but when she was busy getting there and doing what she had been doing for months there was no consideration going towards what her actions might imply. She was… All she wanted was to take her lessons and get a chance to talk with Mr. Glubly and maybe get a second of approval. It was pathetic, at least, that’s how the Peixes felt afterwards. Like somehow, it was bad for her to sorely want his approval. Maybe because it was selfishly fuelled, but she wouldn’t admit that to everyone in the room.

As Meenah turned her gaze over to Davian and Colby, she watched as the older gentleman stood up, mumbling something about grabbing the three of them drinks as he walked off with his cane, ruffling Meenah’s hair a bit as he strode past. Looking down at her feet and trying poorly to hide the relieved smile that was breaking its way across her face, the Peixes reached up to twist a lock of her hair between her fingers, gaze turning back to the Strider as she muttered halfheartedly, “Hook, I don’t care dafuq ya thought it hooks pike, boat it ain’t what it hooks pike. Mistah Glubly… He’s a good man. Alwaves has been.” She started, trying to find the point other ramblings as she lowered her voice to a whisper, “He’s a good man. Da bass. Wave moray than I could ever be. I jus’ chum here to hake mah lessons, an’ finstead of payin’ money I kelp him ‘round here. He can’t… He needs me. Not as much as I need him, boat he needs me.” She hushed, raising her head and giving the Strider a pleading gaze, “Shoal don’t hake dis awave from me. From him. He ain’t a reel dad, an’ I ain’t a good daughter, boat… I… We need each otter.”

#not a reel dad not a good daughter #mer gangsta

Davian wasn’t ready. He wasn’t ready to be called out of how irresponsible of him it was to just assume that dire events were taking place. He wasn’t ready to face the judgement of someone noting to him that he too was sneaking out for his own purposes, which was the only reason why he caught Meenah doing something as innocent as getting piano lessons. Being left alone with her was a great honor, because there was a good chance he’d die by her hands before the words gutted him open like a fish. It would be a great honor to be slain there on the spot before his thoughts caused his mind to commit mental suicide. They instead harbored Meenah’s words in the lighthouse that was situated smack dab in the middle of an island in the maelstrom of his cranium. He braced for something else, maybe being tossed around in the dirt outside again when he stuttered out the next line. “IpromiseIwon’ttellanyone.”

Is This Yours?

Gamzee entered the room at Davian’s invitation, but he hovered awkwardly, not sure where to sit. “Uh, yeah, water’s all to being just fine.” He started glancing around the room while Davian went looking through his backpack, trying to seem like he knew what he was doing, but then he couldn’t decide whether it was rude to check out his stuff like that and opted to just space out at a spot on the wall.

At Gamzee’s words, Davian finished up with placing everything they would probably need on the table in the living room before getting up to grab his... study buddy(?) a glass of water. Straight from the tap. Delicious!

The first rule about Martial Arts Club is we talk a lot about it.

Man was he good at introductions. No one else was here yet but she guessed that was just fine. More training time for her and more time the so-called instructor could work with her rather than just letting her fall through the cracks. She nodded, bringing her feet together and her arms to her side, quickly reversing the motion and extending all her limbs outward. She counted thirty more times before she stopped and looked back at Davian.

#the first rule about martial arts club is #alleycatcupid

“Twenty jumps with the rope.” He hands the piece of equipment to her, noting her form and trying to gauge what could be improved.

Cleaning the Kitchen

Jane felt instantly bad, nudging him with her arm and frowning a little. “Hey, uhm,” she began, her cheeks turning a little pink before frowning at herself more than anything. Well, that hadn’t gone too well at all. Shit. “Sorry, I can get a little over excited and drag on jokes and such. It’s time to stop beating that dead horse, Jane! Or, well. No, that’s not how it goes. Shoot.” She blushed more before realizing it was her turn.

Davian sighed, appreciating Jane backing off of his implied... whatever. He didn’t want to think about it too much. He wasn’t comfortable with jokes like that when it had to do with someone’s... anything, unless it was planned out and established well ahead of time, like for a rap. He nods and looks away, pointing at the register for Jane.

Not a Reel Dad, Not a Good Daughter.

As the piano teacher glanced between the students, Meenah poked her head around his broad shoulders to glare over at the Strider, eyes blazing as she gritted her teeth. If she was going to get in trouble for defending herself, she was at least going to make sure the other student felt the full wrath of a Peixes, that is, until his mouth opened a bit and sounded somewhat apologetic. Scrunching up her nose with uncertainty on what she heard, Meenah just turned herself to face the other direction as she crossed her arms, trying to avoid meeting Mr. Glubly’s unhappy gaze as best she could. She could deal with most people being mad at her, but Colby Glubly’s disapproval had the teen heiress shrinking in her seat as the waves of inadequacy tickled the shores of her mind.

It was inappropriate for her to admit it, but Meenah liked Mr. Glubly - not in a romantic way, but in a fatherly way - and often used him as a replacement for her own father. A parent she had wished was still around to be a figure for her to look up to. It had been years, but the bitter wound was still open and left the young Peixes wishing her dad was still around to be the defining force in her personality. Mr. Glubly was a lot like him, he was firm in his beliefs, but still had a new age way of thinking. Him and Meenah immediately went well together when she started taking lessons from him, and the almost apprenticeship Meenah was getting had that hole in her chest feeling a little less empty. It was something of a strange relationship, but sometimes the people who aren’t related by blood made the best family for each other.

Crossing her arms as the large piano instructor finished cleaning the students up and headed off to put his first aid kit away, Meenah turned her dark gaze back over to the Strider that had attacked her, unsure how to feel as she pulled out a cigarette and lit it quickly, puffing smoke into the air and hissing, “Jus’ shoal ya know, ya betta tank Mistah Glubly shore patchin’ ya rude bass up. He ain’t desurfed havin’ tah eel wit that, an’ I’ll fuckin’ reely hake ya life miserabubble if ya don’t.” She muttered as Colby Glubly walked back in, snapping the cigarette out of Meenah’s hand and butting it out with a scowl as he pulled over a chair, sitting across from the students and demanding an answer as to what they were doing. Voice going quiet, Meenah just huffed out lowly, “I ain’t done shit. Was jus’ chummin’ in shore mah lesson when dis buoy gone jumped me. Wasn’t fuckin’ doin’ nofin to hurt nomoby when I was breakin’ curfew.”

#not a reel dad not a good daughter #mer gangsta

Meenah was making sense. In fact, there’s very little where she wasn’t. Making sense that is. He was in the wrong here, and it was about the time where he should admit his mistake. If only there weren’t people around. Strangers, in fact, who definitely won’t forgive him for such an extreme assumption. Maybe if he could pretend they weren’t actually there and he was telling the father all his sins in one of those booths.... Davian shuts his eyes from the world, from their glances, from practically everything, and he was in a happy place of sunshine and birds. Perhaps they wouldn’t even notice his eyes closing beneath his shades.. “Thank you.” That was directed at Colby, although it may have been vague. “When I saw her... I didn’t think she came here under the best intentions. Everything was... grim, in my eyes. Why would she sneak out to someone’s house of all things? That’s what I was thinking..”

Cleaning the Kitchen

Oh boy, this was going to be fantastic. Her own gambit was going to skyrocket teasing her partner in grime. “Are you raising an objection on me then? Whatever for, Davian! That’s not very nice of you.” Jane pouted, the fiend, moving forward as the next person ordered their things.

“Never!” No objections were to be had if Jane was calling herself cute in this case. He might have said that a little loud, and now he was rubbing his arm and feeling kind of bad that the conversation had lead to this point.

Is This Yours?

Gamzee only realized that he’d shown up empty-handed once he’d already stepped into the room. He glanced down at his loose-hanging fingers and hoped that he wasn’t supposed to have brought anything. He hangs in the doorway awkwardly, and then blinks up at Davian. “Hey, brother. So, we gonna be getting our study on in here?”

Another place good idea if Davian didn’t hate the other areas that students normally study at. One exception was the roof, but that was a private sanctum for him. He beckoned Gamzee inside, turning to the backpack he had placed on the table in the living room. “Yeah. Want anything before we start? I think we have some Doritos and... water.” He needs to find his Captain Obvious hat with the Wow feather accessory.