15779/The Grind in Bushwick is Harsh

The Grind in Bushwick is Harsh
Date of Scene:	02 September 2023
Location:	Bushwick <Mutant Town>
Synopsis:	Joshua and friends run afoul of people looking for Shield Maiden and are rescued by Yuriko. Introductions are made!
Cast of Characters:	Joshua Foley, Yukio

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Joshua Foley has posed:
In Bushwick, the younger of the mutants are always trying to find a way to pass the time. In the gutted out ruins of a business that had long been abandoned, a group of kids had set up a skate park.

They're in their at the moment, a mutant that looks like a human sized Gecko, another mutant with hair made of tendrils, and then there's Josh. His skin is completely black, the color of Onyx as he is skating, flipping his board into an ollie as he sticks the landing and makes his way back to where the other skaters are.

They're chatting and setting up a camera on a tripod to record their session, just seeming to have a good time for the moment!

Yukio has posed:
Yukio has spent most of her time around the Xavier Mansion since coming to the United States. But one has to set out now and then to truly see what a new place is like, and having some free time today, she decided to explore Mutant Town. Dressed in wide sleeved haori, jika-tabi on her feet, and her hair dyed pink, she tends to stand out in the crowd. The beauty of Mutant Town, is that everyone is looking so wildly different, it's a spot where she doesn't quite stand out that much.

Spotting the group of skaters, she approaches without interrupting, observing from a distance.

When Josh performs his trick, she politely claps from afar.

Joshua Foley has posed:
Hearing the applause, Joshua glances over and catches a glance at the pink haired girl. Her applause may have caused him to blush, but with the darkness of his skin, it's entirely impossible to tell.

Giving the mutant Gecko a fistbump, he waves towards Yukio, acknowledging her response. But she's not the only one that has arrived. Coming in after the young woman is a small group of four guys. Two are armed with chains, one with a baseball bat. One with nothing visible. "Hey!" he yells out at Yukio. "You with the pink hair!"

"You the mutant bitch that broke my brother's kneecap!" he growls. "He said she had pink hair, just like you!"

The littlest one of the skaters immediately gets scared. "It's those guys I was telling you about!" he alerts the other two mutants. "The ones that tried to attack me on the way to school earlier this week!" He's already trying to run away.

Joshua, in the meantime, frowns. Sheilds? He knows someone that uses shields. And pink hair. "I think you got the wrong person!" he calls out.

"Shut up, freak!" the guy yells back. "Or my bat will be adorned with your brains!" With that, he's starting to move towards Yukio. "So, you her?" Yes or no, doesn't really seem to matter.

Yukio has posed:
Yukio starts taking steps towards Josh when he waves at her, but is stopped when the others that showed up call to her. She turns to face the four guys, tilting her head ever so slightly in a diffusing gesture, "why are you being rude?" She asks upon being referred to with the b-word. "I don't know your brother. I am not onry one with pink hair...yes?" She tries to diffuse the situation without resorting to violence, until she hears they are bullies from the younger skater who is starting to escape. It seems to settle her resolve, as she takes one meek step backwards to sell those guys on the fact she's being intimidated. "Not me...I promise you." Her eyes seem to lock on the guys with the chain, as her lips curve in a bit of a smile, "will you hit me with those chains? It's very scary...please don't."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"See, she's not her!" Joshua calls out towards the four, even as he is trying to find a way to interject himself. He looks over at Yukio in apology as the guys are trying to form a loose semi-circle to pin the three remaining mutants in.

"Awww, look at the brave little freak trying to protect the scared mutie chick." the main guy says, mocking Joshua, before the one with the chains smirks. "Naw, not going to hurt your pretty little face."

Instead, the chain lashes out at Joshua, hitting him, and the black-skinned mutant yelps in pain as he backpedals, holding his arm.

Too late, they're commited.

The Gecko, in the meantime, is doing his best to make sure the younger mutant gets away before he comes back to help the two that remained.

Yukio has posed:
Yukio is rather thankful to have Joshua speak up for her, for once because he may help this be resolved without fighting, but another, is he serves as a good distraction to make sure those guys aren't fully focused. Especially when she's selling them on how intimidated she is.

"Nice of you not to hurt my face," Yukio says her eyes darting to the attack on Josh, and back to the one who seems to be leading this wouldbe gang. "Just for that...I ret you live."

Just as she's done saying her words, she darts at the guy who was talking to her, flips over him, and lands behind him while twisting his arm to subdue them behind his back, leaving her in full control of his position. "I think you should call your friends off," she whispers in his ear, "otherwise I will you show you what my 'mutie' abirity is..." it's a rather good gamble on a threat, what with people who throw around the term 'mutie' expect mutants are able to do.

Joshua Foley has posed:
Joshua hisses in pain, backing away from the others. If Yukio is paying attention, what could have very well been a broken arm has started to change from black to gold, and is cracking itself back together.

The gangleader, the one with no visible weapon was about to draw a blade on Yukio - but it's entirely too late. He is thrown into the air, landing ton his face as she successfully subdues him. "Ow! Dammit!" he cries out.

Then she's whispering to him and he quickly complies. "Guys! Let's get out of here!" he calls, the other guys looking at the leader in confusion, but with him telling them to lead, they start to back off, but not without glaring daggers at Joshua. He'd probably been easy pickings.

Yukio has posed:
Yukio introduces more pressure to the leader's joints, just to give him a sense that she could have broken both his arms if she wanted, before she gets up and lets him go. "Smart choice...remember, love not war, always healthiest choice."

She backs off, but first keeps her eyes on the guys to watch them actually go, before she'll approach Joshua, "I would ask if you okay, but, you rook fine. That is...your ability? It's like, Buddha."

Joshua Foley has posed:
When Yukio lets him go, he sneers one more time at her and the gangleader is running off with his cronies. Joshua watches them, not saying anything until they are gone as he looks down at his arm, the golden skin a stark contrast with the black skin he had been wearing for the last few days.

"It is..." he doesn't sound proud, or happy about it. He sounds pretty sullen, actually. "...I'm just a freak that heals no matter what's done to me..." he murmurs, glancing down at the ground.

Yukio has posed:
"Freak...?" Yukio looks confused as Joshua disparages his own magnificent ability, "I think it is...heavenly, god-like, you should be proud." She seems to mean it too, the way her face radiates when she tries to cheer Josh on. "Thank you for speaking up for me...who do you think is the girl they were looking for?"

Joshua Foley has posed:
"I know of another pink haired girl. Her name is Bunny... she... she tried to help me once. I don't know where she is now." Joshua admits and shakes his head. "Everyone knows that I'm a mutie." Her smile is not quite infectious. "My parents kicked me out. And I'm just now finding my way." He looks to her. "You're very pretty though. I'm Joshua..." And he kind of cuts himself off from sharing more, instead offering his hand to her. "Thank you for helping me."

Yukio has posed:
"Bunny...like animal? How cute!" Yukio maintains her cheerful smile, "I don't know what happen, but, if she hurt those guys, she did right thing! They are trash." Pointing at her nose, Yukio quips, "I am mutie too, so that is fine." She blinks at his parents kicking him out, and for a moment says nothing, before managing a quiet, "my grandfather sent me away here, but, I think it is different. Her hand shifts to cover her mouth when he mentions she's very pretty, and she lowers her head towards him, offering a quiet, "thank you, thank you," followed by a gentle taking of his hand for a rather dainty handshake. "You are very welcome, you herp me too, so we are even."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"I guess..." Joshua sounds unsure of that, she did all the work after all! He draws in a breath and chuckles a little. "I don't think your grandfather said you were an abomonation of God and are going to burn in Hell for being a freak." So that's where it all comes from.

"Someone took me in though. I work in her shop and she makes sure I'm taken care of." he explains. "Speaking of, I probably should get back to that, I have a whole library of things and stuff to alphabatize."

Yukio has posed:
"No, no," Yukio instantly agrees and doesn't even try to argue otherwise, "I am very sorry your parents are blind," she offers while bowing at Joshua, "it is a...burden." Without asking for permission, she reaches to hold Joshua's hand, as she looks him in the eyes and offers, "with a reflection of Buddha, you do not belong in any hell." She is quick to let go of the hand, before taking a step back, looking a little embarrassed at having allowed herself such a gesture. "Who is the woman that took you in? Just her name? She is a good woman. Tell her I thank her for that."

Joshua Foley has posed:
The grasp of his hand causes Joshua to blush and freeze up a moment before she releases him and he calms down and draws in a cleansing breath. "Her name's Miss Nettie. She has a magic shop." he explains, and considers, before taking out a pen and piece of paper and scribbles down an address. "Here." he offers her the paper. "But I will tell her thank you." And after she takes the paper, Joshua moves to take up his skateboard to head off. "I'm sorry, I didn't get your name."

Yukio has posed:
"Miss Nettie...interesting name," Yukio remarks, as she takes the piece of paper offered her. "Thanks, I will visit when I have a chance."

"I didn't get yours either..." Yukio says, before introducing herself, "I am Yukio, pleased to meet you," she gives a restraint bow, clearly someone already noted to her that it's better to let go of the habit.

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Joshua." he offers again, and smiles slightly. "And thank you again." With that, he moves away from the young woman, getting on his skateboard to head off back towards home.