14669/The Process of Learning

The Process of Learning
Date of Scene:	12 April 2023
Location:	Near the Central Park Zoo
Synopsis:	An agreed-upon meeting leads to more learning of things between Beast Boy and Essix.
Cast of Characters:	Gar Logan, Essix

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Gar Logan has posed:
Same zoo as before, only this time the two agreed to meet up somewhere outside it. Gar wasn't hard to find, being green of course, but in which form would Essix arrive?

He's there as a cat, markings reminiscent of a bengal breed, though it isn't exactly the same sort of striping as a 'mini tiger' would have. That'd be more of a toyger instead.

Casually, he licks a paw and uses it to groom over his head, the tip of his tail swaying occasionally.

Essix has posed:
Bench, garbage can, a bush, a branch of a tree, there were so many choices that Essix has actually been a little overwhelmed. She remembered he'd said something about a game of finding each other, but honestly she just wanted to be able to meet and talk. In the end, she'd settled on a large pigeon, one of her favorite forms.

Sitting on a branch she was able to see people arriving to the zoo, purchasing tickets and then going inside, so she was able to see the green cat. Making the simple pigeon coo, just very loudly, she launches herself down toward a large bush so that she can shift into a human form and walk out the other side like she'd been in the bush the whole time.

Gar Logan has posed:
Of course, people don't hide in bushes. Not normally. Pigeons that coo at cats especially don't. So, Gar's attention is on the bird and the display, leaving him to get up and hop to the higher level of a nearby bench to watch.

By the time she walks out, her face is recognizable even if it's not the exact same face as the first meeting. It helps if it is.

From somewhere behind him, he finds, of all things, an emery board that he manages to grasp in one paw, making a show of filing at his claws. It's a mimic of a popular meme. "Fancy seeing you here," he remarks, his cat features curling into a fangy grin.

Essix has posed:
The face may be deformed and distorted but Essix has learned to keep the same face each and every time. It's her face, even if it's not right, at least it's the face she imagines would be hers if she were human.

Walking toward the bench she actually stop dead in her tracks to stare at him. First he's green, something he can't control. Then he's a cat, something he can control. And now he's filing his nails, likely drawing all kinds of attention to him... how? How does he do that without fear of... something?

Collecting herself, she continues to the bench to just watch him with a lopsided grin, "I find that both amusing and a little worrying, but mostly amusing."

Gar Logan has posed:
There are reasons, some of which may or may not come out. The cat switches paws, making a performance out of it, then the item is flung back behind him, no-look style.

Back to studying her, he paces across the bench from one side to the other, tail swaying in the process. "And why is that? Because you don't expect to see a cat filing his own claws? Because it's not normal?

A moment later he's relaxing on the bench with his arms back behind his head, legs stretched out before him crossed at the ankles. He's in a red and white bodysuit that leaves arms bare from the shoulders, legs bare from about the knees, with fingerless gloves of some kind up to the elbows.

"I've never been normal."

Essix has posed:
Essix takes note of the people who stop to look at him, both as a cat and now as a person in a... costume? Everything around her is observed, even the direction the wind is blowing on a lovely Sunday morning, the position of the sun, who is getting close, who is far away.

"I..." she starts, then stops for a moment. She has to find the correct words to explain, while at the same time process the costume he is wearing. It's lovely to her, the choice of colors, the way it fits his form, but she finds herself wondering where it went when he was a cat.

"As I mentioned before, the couple of times I revealed myself to humans, they did not react well," she explain, certain of her words. "They all seem to... know you, in fact they seem quite comfortable with you no matter your form. I am not accustomed to that, and thus... I worry."

Gar Logan has posed:
Gar Logan's very human expression shifts to maintain his amusement. As much as she pays attention to all the things she can around her, his focus is more casual, cool, calm, collected.

"It probably helps that I've been doing this for years now. I'm one of the Titans, and I've done some acting. I'm a pretty public figure. That's just the way it is," he explains, gesturing around him. "So I don't worry about eyes on me. Sometimes, I get to take a picture with someone or sign an autograph for them."

Essix has posed:
This new information is added to previous information Essix obtained about him, and the explanation matches up perfect to the reactions of the humans around him. She would be jealous if she actually knew how to feel jealous, instead she seems content to know the answer and smiles.

"Thank you for explaining that," she expresses, moving a little clover before touching his arm. She probably should have asked, but she didn't. "So, this is the way you were born?"

Gar Logan has posed:
The musculature of Gar's arms is well-defined, marking him as someone who clearly focuses on keeping himself in top shape. Where the contact is made, she can note there's a slightly fuzzy texture in place. Not exactly furry, but not exactly not either.

"Ahhh, no. I used to be the cutest kid you could imagine, but very normal. I wasn't always the color of spinach." Not that he's going into detail about that right up front.

Essix has posed:
Essix's touch is gentle, careful, as if she really is just curious and not looking for something specific. "I see, cutest male human kid," she states, and does in fact try to imagine it, which bring her eyes up to his face. She has many more questions, perhaps too many, but for the moment she settles with having gotten to ask just one.

"You have the facial structure that indicates the rounded cherub face of a baby or child, and thus you would be considered the cutest, or another word, adorable." So that's what happens when Essix rambles and doesn't ask questions, she defines.

Gar Logan has posed:
Gar Logan digs up his phone and scrolls through it before coming up with a couple photos that look pretty old. Well, they're definitely old because as he turns it around, it reveals a child with normal white skin and so on. "See? Proof," he states, before tucking the phone away once Essix has had a peek. "I could have been the poster boy for some magazine or two."

Which leaves the question of how he came to look like this. "Cherub? Well, adorable fits, but look. I'm all grown up now. Imagine that!"

Essix has posed:
As the picture us found and shown, Essix smiles broadly and nods. "The image in my head was accurate! Cherub face, round, large cheeks, cute and adorable," she offers then looks back up at his face. The smile doesn't falter as her eyes seem to study his now adult face.

"You grew up well, and your shade of green is actually rather lovely, more broccoli than spinach," she adds, then reaches up to trace her finger alone the shape of his cheek bones. "I am interested to know what happened, how it is that you went from that cherub boy to this handsome green man, but that is up to you to share or not. I understand these things to be personal."

Gar Logan has posed:
Gar Logan rolls his eyes, but his expression remains amused. "Yeah, I would have looked like this, except not all green all over, but I kind of got bit by something that had a virus that is lethal to cute, cherubic boys and every other human out there."

Clearly, something special happened to prevent him from joining the ranks of the dead. What could it be?

A few people watch for a moment longer before going about their business.

Essix has posed:
Too many people, that was the problem. Essix remembered now that asking personal questions in a public setting was never a good idea. Humans were private people, they preferred to keep things to themselves.

"Would you like to go some place else to talk?" she asks bluntly, canting her head. "I do not have a permanent home, but I am certain there are private locations where the topic of conversation would not be overheard."

Gar Logan has posed:
"What do you mean, you don't have a permanent home?" Gar asks, squinting up at the other one. "Are you renting? I get that some people don't consider that a permanent thing, but it's still a roof over your head."

Moving to his feet, he turns to take a few steps down the sidewalk outside the zoo, hands at his hips. "Yeah, I think that'd be fine with me. It doesn't have to be too far."

Essix has posed:
Essix cants her head once again, watching him start to walk away. She wasn't certain if the fit of the costume he was wearing was meant to accentuate certain parts of his body, but it most certainly did.

She let's him get a little a head before standing up and following after. "I do not have money, nor a roof, nor do I need those things," she states, still watching him from behind. "I have a bucket at my mentor's home that I regenerate in."

Gar Logan has posed:
"That's..not exactly what I was expecting to hear, 'I live in a bucket.' And not needing food or sleep or any of that," Gar explains, pausing to glance back over a shoulder before he continues along. "And you're fine with that? You mentioned a mentor?"

Essix has posed:
Catching up to him with a few longer strides, Essix smiles brightly at him, there's even a sparkle to her eyes. "Human require a building, called a house or apartment, in which are rooms. They require things, clothing, beds, chairs, and food. They require a place for their waste, a place to sleep. I require none of those things," she explains with that smile.

Looking back to the direction they are walking she seems to skip a long happily. "I am still young, so I require time in my natural form to regenerate. My natural form is a viscous liquid that would, well... spread out, so a lovely bucket is used to contain me while I regenerate. In human terms, it is a very decorative bucket, and was a gift."

Now she pauses to look at him, head canting for a moment. "My mentor is Nightwing, but that's all the more I can say."

Gar Logan has posed:
Gar Logan stares at Essix, rubbing the back of his neck. "I mean, not needing those things is pretty convenient, but that sounds like it'd get boring real fast. Some of the best things involve clothes, food, things like that. Entertainment, too."

He registers amusement at the favorable description of her bucket, but he can only shake his head at that. It isn't something he's got direct experience with to compare to as a state of being. "I'll have to take your word on that," he notes.

It's when she brings up that name that he stops to stare. "Hold on. Did you just say Nightwing? As in Nightwing of the Titans, aka Batman's first sidekick, aka one of the few with a nicer butt than Beast Boy? We're, like, best buds! Or at least friends and teammates, even if he's not around like he used to be."

Essix has posed:
The smile remains on her face as they continue to walk, an actual skip to the way Essix walks. She has no cares in the world and it shows. She seems to enjoy just being, observing, listening, this experience as a whole.

When he stops she stops and blinks, looking at his face. "Nightwing, yes that is what I said," she replies, a confused expression on her face. "We have not talked about titans or batmen, or his nice butt... but you know him?"

Gar Logan has posed:
Gar Logan's attention is primarily around Mr. Black and Blue, if costume colors were used for someone's name. "Uh, yeah. He hasn't told you about any of us? He was one of the founders of the Titans. That was way back in 2012, back when I was like half as old as I am now. I wasn't one of the first, but I joined a few years later. I wanted to be a Titan from the moment I saw them. So, yeah, you could say I know him."

Essix has posed:
The smile returns to Essix's face, and her eyes sparkle once again. "We have only had one real lesson, so it does not surprise me that he has not mentioned all the people he knows," she then explains. "He told me how important secrets are for some heroes out there, so perhaps that is why he had not mentioned the Titans yet."

She offers him her hand, and whether he takes it or not, she continues walking now. "I cannot explain why it is, but I need to learn about heroes and the way the system of justice works for the places I visit. Nightwing was present at an event in Gotham where gangs were fighting one another, I uh... may have had something to do with that fight." She sighs, not talking more about that particular part.

"I saw other heroes there, each with a different way of combating humans with guns, but Nightwing with the batons, that seemed the most likely to match what I can do, so I slipped into a pouch and went home with him."

Gar Logan has posed:
"Ah, well, you probably shouldn't do things like that, sneaking along with somebody that way. It can be dangerous when it comes to..yeah, secrets," Gar explains. "And that's another thing. You should be very careful about anything people like us tell you. I'm pretty open with who I really am, but it's kind of hard to hide that when I look like this. But he's got to keep who he is secret, and so do a lot of others. It isn't safe if the wrong people find out."

Without thinking much of it, he's ended up with her hand in contact with his. He's just a friendly type, unafraid of contact. "Gotham's a dangerous city, and Batman is one of the people helping to keep it safe. There are others like us who help him out."

Essix has posed:
Essix doesn't hold onto his hand tightly, just enough grip to keep a hold, no more. "See, you understand the secrets," she continues with several nods. "I cannot tell someone elses secrets, no matter what. I know the importance of them, that what Nightwing does and who he is requires that no one know... except those /he/ trusts to tell." Her tone is serious and yet she seems proud to know this secret and that she won't give it away.

"I like you a great deal, you are very kind and likely a very good friend," she then says. "But until he says that he knows you, I can't say much more than I have. As for safe... there are only a few things on this planet that can hurt me, I do not worry about getting hurt."

Gar Logan has posed:
"Oh, I've got that covered, and I'm the bestest friend," Gar says, drawing out his phone from some side pocket in the costume that blends in seamlessly. "Check it out. We're on Wikipedia, we have a bunch of fansites dedicated to us, and of course stuff like this." He scrolls through some photos, quickly moving past..quite a few of some dapper-looking green feline with a very Cheshire-like grin - there's a reason for that - before coming up with one. It's him looking like the goofball he often is, snaggletooth sticking up amid a cheeky grin, while Nightwing himself looks like he's got the patience of Job (while not smiling). "See what I mean?"

"Still," he adds, "Better safe than sorry. But you can ask him about me sometime. It's good you can't really get hurt though, but for all you know you just haven't run into something yet that can do it."

Essix has posed:
Instantly Essix's eyes are on the phone and the images he shares. Every word spoken is filed into the memory to go with the images. Her smiles softens, seeing Gar with his friends and allies, and sure enough there's Nightwing. For most that might be enough proof, but she gave her word and she cannot break it.

"You have lovely friends," she offers, taking in every photo before looking up to his face again. "I can see that you do know him, he is a tolerant friend. I will be sure to ask him about you, I promise."

"I have been shot by one of your guns, stabbed by a very large knife," she begins. "I was run over by a vehicle tire, though that was an accident on my part, still... did not hurt. I know the two most dangerous things that I must avoid, other wise there is nothing harmful. You may be right though, there may be something else, I only have genetic memory and experimentation to go by."

Gar Logan has posed:
Grinning his more normal grin, Beast Boy (for he is still in costume, so it applies) tucks the phone away again and says, "We're all pretty much family. Once a Titan, always a Titan. That's what I say." Though he grimaces at the descriptions of what's happened to her, he shakes his head in apparent relief. "That's good, then. Just..try not to think that you can always use that as an excuse to be reckless."

He glances down at the hand, grip still light and loose, but they gradually make their way off from the zoo. "Anywhere you're thinking of going next? I could tag along if you want to talk more," he offers.

Essix has posed:
Essix nods quite a few times to Gar's warning about not taking for granted that she is safe. "I am never reckless, I never assume I am safe," she explains with a soft sigh. "I always feel... out of place, so I am always careful and I take a long time to decide an action before I take it."

She pauses then to look at him with a slight giggle, "I have no where to go, I thought you were leading."

Gar Logan has posed:
"Good. Remember that and you should be pretty safe. And you should think about different, uh, containers to sleep in. It's got to be pretty boring always seeing the same stuff around you. I mean, if you even see when you're like that," Gar remarks prior to pausing.

He narrows his eyes at her, head tilting. "I'm leading? I thought you were leading? Is anybody leading around here?" He'd gesture with both arms out, but one's a little busy. "Maybe we can just keep wandering aimlessly and see where that gets us after a while," he suggests.

Essix has posed:
Another rather girlish giggle escapes Essix as he professes not being the leader either. "We are already wandering," she laughs, still holding onto his hand. "We might as well continue the wander and see where we end up. I would very much like to observe you and your reactions to the places we might go."