Boardwalk, Saturday Evening

[flipped-god-off.livejournal.com]

There was only so long a man could be a recluse before he drove himself insane. When you were as restless as Jason was, that time became even shorter before he finally grabbed a light jacket and swept out of the apartment. He didn't know exactly where he was going but that didn't matter.

As he walked, he memorized the color of the gravel, the sidewalks, the buildings. He memorized street signs, shapes, sizes and distinctive details. He built the entirety of the island in his head and locked it down, saved it for later. It might be good for a quick escape.

There was likely one way off an island, like most small islands. If that was taken out, Jason would have to be creative. Or he would have to die and that was not an option.

His path found him on the boardwalk. The rail was cold beneath his hands.

Death.

He hadn't been on a boardwalk in years. At that time, there had been vendors, cotton candy and people. This time, it was quiet. Jason kept his eyes on some faraway point but was not distracted. He wasn't built that way.

[Open, of couuuuuuurse!]

Comments

[funnyways.livejournal.com]

A woman with a cane walked along the boardwalk. It was obvious she was blind, but she walked proudly.

She stopped when she could hear the man's breathing.

"Evening, sir," she greeted.

[flipped-god-off.livejournal.com]

He'd heard her coming but hadn't turned, making sure he'd seem just like another man. Just a normal person taking a breather on a boardwalk.

"Hello," he said, keeping it simple. His eyes shifted towards her, taking note, details, anything he could. She was blind. That didn't mean anything but the stated fact. "Nice evening."

[funnyways.livejournal.com]

"The weather is at least mostly agreeable," Mina said, smiling even if she wasn't quite looking in Jason's direction. "It's quiet out here, which can be quite nice."

[flipped-god-off.livejournal.com]

"I like the quiet," he agreed, nodding. "It's helpful when you want to think. Though, this island, I can hardly imagine it not being quiet."

It was easy. Even with the slashing sharp memories of those he'd killed assaulting his mind, he could still fall back into his old self, blending in, disguising himself without a mask.

[funnyways.livejournal.com]

"A little quiet from time to time suits me quite nicely," she said. "Strange for a professional musician, I suppose."

She turned her head, hoping she'd finally figured out quite where he stood. "Mina Harker, sir."

[mouthy-merc.livejournal.com]

Finding his way out of the gun shop--after some time spent mourning Jean with a random dog he'd found there--Scott also found himself on the boardwalk of emo.

Jean always loved them...

He nodded to the other man there, not really noticing him in all his pain.

[flipped-god-off.livejournal.com]

Another visitor. The only thing that moved were Jason's eyes, shifting to greet the man with a barely perceptible nod. The man's posture spoke of sadness but Jason wasn't going to ask.

It wasn't his business. He wasn't a therapist.

[mouthy-merc.livejournal.com]

Damn right it was none of his business.

...unless he was a mutant. A mutant named Jean Grey. Or any other female telepath not related to him ever.

Scott stoically looked out into the ocean. They could share their pain silently. Like men.

[flipped-god-off.livejournal.com]

"Is there something the matter?" Jason finally asked. Some silences were fine. Some were the precursors to chaos. Jason wanted to prevent the latter. Talking may have not been his first choice but it was the one he chose.

[mouthy-merc.livejournal.com]

The only chaos was in his heart. His achey breaky heart.

"Other than waking up in a strange place with an insane man?"

[saveonpostage.livejournal.com]

Catwoman was counting off the steps on her shirt treasure map.

"Fifty paces to the north!" she said aloud. "One, two, thrrrrrrrree..."

[flipped-god-off.livejournal.com]

There was no need to turn when he heard this person because she was making enough noise to hear from miles away. Counting. It sounded insignificant enough but he could never tell.

He didn't turn but it was obvious that he did hear her, did know she was there.

[saveonpostage.livejournal.com]

She certainly noticed him. Meow.

"Hello therrrre," she purred. Yeah, literally.

[flipped-god-off.livejournal.com]

And that almost caught him off guard because...she'd purred. He'd been witness to women using their voices to get what they wanted but this one had purred.

"Hello." Polite, light. "Nice night, isn't it?"

[loverlyviolets]

She couldn't stay in the bar all night, and really the weather wasn't California, but it wasn't as bad as Vivian had feared. It was hard starting up in a new town, but the boardwalk looked like it was getting plenty of traffic, so maybe this would be a good place to...stretch her legs.

[flipped-god-off.livejournal.com]

A new arrival, female, pretty. Jason had long ago stopped letting himself think with the wrong head but that didn't mean his interest wasn't piqued.

She hadn't spoken so he kept quiet, turning his head slightly to show that he'd noticed her approach.

[loverlyviolets]

Reeeeel 'em in, Viv. Reeeel 'em in... she could hear Kit say in her ear. Vivian put one thigh-high-boot-covered foot up on the seat of the nearest bench, and really stretched her leg.

[flipped-god-off.livejournal.com]

If he pretended to not notice what she was doing, it would rouse more suspicion than anything.

And she did have very nice legs.

So, he looked. He let his eyes linger on her leg and then let them wander up to her face.

She was pretty.

[mouthy-merc.livejournal.com]

Those were some... interesting shoes.

Scott didn't let his gaze go beyond that. Because he was a married man. Widowed. Whatever.

If those were in white, he'd think Emma was around.

[loverlyviolets]

They weren't in white, though. They were in black. Patent leather. Shiiiiiiiiiny patent leather. It creaked a little when it flexed, like, say, if somebody bent their knee a little.

[mouthy-merc.livejournal.com]

Scott suddenly looked up, shaken out of his reverie about white boots like that and long legs and---JEAN. He betrayed her with his thoughts!

"Sorry."

[memberslonely.livejournal.com]

Lindsay was already in a foul mood. Dex blew her off. Lizzy was acting insane. What the hell was going on with people today?

And then she spotted Loki and breathed a sigh of relief. Finally someone to vent with.

"Dex blew me off and my roommate has gone batshit," she said approaching Jason. "What the fuck is up with people today? Something in the drinking water?"

[flipped-god-off.livejournal.com]

Her approach was quicker, more purposeful than the rest and Jason straightened, one hand staying on the rail, the other dropping to his side. A free hand, a myriad of things to do.

"I haven't had any of the water," he said as she approached. He hadn't thought of the water. That had been foolish. "I don't know what's wrong."

Probably because he didn't know a Dex or her roommate. He could admit that in time.

"I haven't noticed any problems."

[memberslonely.livejournal.com]

"Oh come on," Linz said. "You always notice this kind of shit. Or something weird happened to you as well. C'mon. I need to vent about this crap and for you to agree with me."

[flipped-god-off.livejournal.com]

"I haven't really run into too many people today," he said, almost apologetically. She seemed to know him and he wondered if that was a memory he'd lost, never to get back. "My coffee was cold. Does that count as weird?"

He was trying. Badly.