15925/Let's Go Out To The Ballgame

Let's Go Out To The Ballgame
Date of Scene:	23 September 2023
Location:	Yankee Stadium
Synopsis:	Mark invites a Titan to a baseball game. Jon and Mark talk fathers, families, space politics and making friends.
Cast of Characters:	Mark Grayson, Jon Kent

---

Mark Grayson has posed:
Invinicble is really trying hard to make new friends and in-roads with the Titans as of late. With that in mind, he had a couple of tickets to the Yankees game. He was going to ask Bunny, but she was at work today and wouldn't be available. He had posted a notice on the Titans BB:

I have an extra club level seat for the Diamondbacks v Yankees after helping out with a recent thing. Anyone wanna come? Meet me outside Yankee stadium. I'll wear a blue armband.

As the fans are filtering in, Mark is outside. He's wearing a Diamondbacks jersey with a long sleeve undershirt, a blue ribbon tied at the left bicep. A pair of sunglasses cover his eyes and he finishes the look with blue jeans and sneakers.

Jon Kent has posed:
Jon Kent is wearing a Metropolis Meteors jersey and a pair of jeans, having landed not far away and making his way over on foot. No need to call too much attention to himself. "Hey, there you are!" he calls out to Invincible. "It's me, Superboy. No, the other Superboy," he says with a grin. Not that he wears a mask, but it's kind of a running joke anyway.

He's a well-built young man, with broad shoulders and striking blue eyes. His black hair is shorn short on the sides and a little longer and floppy up top. He'll give the other boy a handslap as he trots over, "I guess I'll be rootin' for the 'backs since I'm here with you," he grins. "Can't stand the Yankees anyway. New York and Metropolis are always gonna be rivals."

Mark Grayson has posed:
When Jon arrives, Mark offers up a grin. "Was starting to wonder if anyone was gonna take it up!" Extending his hand in a shake, he considers what's being said and nods. "I'm well... you know. But I think I can trust you enough."

"Call me Mark." After the handslap, he chuckles. "I helped rescue a family in Phoenix, they insisted on it." he admits with a laugh. "But yeah, the Yankees stink. Glad the Meteors swept them this season.

He's the classic Asian-American look, with slightly bronzed skin, short black hair that is not as floppy as Jon's and a wiry build. Handing over the other ticket, he leads the way to the turnstyles, he asks, "So... is he your father? Or like... something else?" he asks curiously. "I'm finding it interesting that I'm part of this whole new generation that only knows about my father through stories and such."

Jon Kent has posed:
Jon Kent smiles, "Jon," he says. He tends to keep his last name to himself, since this timeline's version of his father remains secretive about his identity. In his own future, the truth had long since come out. Sometimes he feels a little trapped by it all - he feels uncomfortable lying, so he does his best to just be oblique about it.

Of course, then Mark just comes out and asks and Jon decides to give in. If he can't trust his fellow Titans, he's probably in a bad state anyway, "Yeah," he says. "Well, sort of. I'm from a future timeline. I haven't technically been born yet. I might not be born in this timeline. We'll see, I guess," he says. "I've heard of your Dad, but, like I said, future, so I was already two generations removed."

Mark Grayson has posed:
The elevator goes up to the club level, and the rows of food stands for purchase. "I'm thinking a hot dog, popcorn and lemonade to start?" he suggests as he moves to fish out his wallet.

"Oh wow. No, no timeline for me. My mom was rescued my dad. They got together, married." As he places his order, he moves aside for Jon to place his. "Had me, and then... I can go more into that when we're in our seats." He's not exactly comfortable discussing that out here.

Or fully try to untangle Jon's own strange timeline. It's a long game, he'll figure it out!

Jon Kent has posed:
Jon Kent nods, "Hot dogs a must, can't go to a park without a dog. I'll get some nachos, too, just to save me having to go back and get some later," he says.

The two stand in line to get their snacks and Jon ends up giving in and getting a hot pretzel, too. Kryptonian metabolisms are luckily very forgiving.

"My mom's human, but she's, like, the best human. Even dad has trouble keeping up with her. I kind of wish I took more after her. She's so strong, like, mentally. Ferocious. I tend to lack, uh, aggression. I'm not super competitive. Like, I like sports, but I also kinda hope both sides have a good time," he jokes.

Mark Grayson has posed:
"Same here. I mean, my mom is a human. But we're both boys, we're always gonna hype our moms." Mark teases. With food secure, there's a scan of tickets and then the club room is open. It's got a few chairs, air conditioning! and a few little fan items set aside. It also has a table to set the food down on, always a plus.

The club level looks down on the stadium from the third base line and the game is already in the mid first with a no run tie.

Taking his seat, Mark sets out his food. "So yeah. Continuing from earlier. My dad lost his powers. No explanation or reason why. It just happened." he shrugs. "When I was young, when he'd tell me about Viltrum, he said that they went out for the betterment of other worlds and that no Viltrum has ever travelled as far as he had."

"I bought that until I met a blonde one that's my age a couple of weeks ago."

Jon Kent has posed:
Jon Kent gets into his own seat as well, taking a long sip from his drink before starting to take down the food. After a few bites, he nods in agreement.

"I got lucky. My parents are both pretty great," he admits. "Busy as hell, don't get me wrong, but I always had my grandma to watch out for me, too, keep my feet on the ground, so to speak."

He cocks his head at that last from Mark, "I take it he didn't live up to the billing?"

Mark Grayson has posed:
"Oh no, she's great!" Mark admits and then he shakes his head. "I think she's actually ahead of me. My dad spent my whole life hyping me up that someday I will be even more powerful than him."

A chuckle as a ball goes foul and falls just short of the club level before his attention returns to Jon. "Told me a story once, about how he was able to move an asteroid, the size of Texas. I'm just barely able to lift a semi-truck at the moment." A sigh of his breath and he takes a drink.

"Does your dad heap any expectations on you?" he asks. "Is it just a me thing?"

Jon Kent has posed:
Jon Kent runs a hand through his hair, "Never from Dad himself. I probably put a lot on me. I mean, he's Superman. He's the greatest superhero the world has ever known. No offense,' he says with a half-grin. "I'm biased, but I'm not sure anybody would argue he's at least in the conversation. How can there not be pressure? If anything, I think he tried to make me -not- worry about it, to tell me that it was okay whatever I could do, whatever I decided to do. But I knew I couldn't just sit on the sidelines. I had to do my part. That's the responsible thing to do, right?"

"I like saving people and makign the world a better place. I admit I...don't like fighting very much. I don't want to hurt anybody. As powerful as I am, it's too easy to..." he shakes his head. Bad memories.

"Maybe your powers will grow stronger. Maybe they won't. As long as you're fighting the good fight, power isn't really that important."

Mark Grayson has posed:
"We're both biased." Mark winks cheekily and leans back. "But like I said, all I have is what dad's told me he's done. I hope that maybe, I can visit the Justice League Archives or something and actually see him in action. You're lucky, in that regard."

"You don't have to fight all the time." Mark encourages gently. "I mean, I get in exercise in the morning by moving around I-beams at construction sites to make the day easier for the workers. And there is so much humanitarian stuff out there, as Eve would say."

"Thanks for the support though. I haven't had many contacts since I first came on scene. And now, I'm trying to learn how to help and support others. You know, the Titans, all that. And if that ends up holding me back... "

"Then I'd rather have friends and support and not be all powerful, than to be alone."

Jon Kent has posed:
Jon Kent nods, "I sometimes feel alone. This isn't my time, even though it seems a lot like it sometimes. But then I see the little differences and I know I'm not...that I don't necessarily belong here. But maybe I do. Dad was sent from a faraway world to make his home on Earth. Maybe me coming from my time to here is like that. A chance to do some good. It would've been easier if I'd been sent as a baby like him, though," he chuckles.

"And I'm glad to be of help. Friends are...good. I've gotten to know a few other heroes, but we're often so busy, y'know, saving the world and stuff that there isn't much time to get to know each other."

There's a crack of the bat as one of the Diamondbacks hits a homer. It starts to head towards him but Jon lets out a very subtle blow of superbreath to send it slightly to the side to land amongst a group of schoolkids.

Mark Grayson has posed:
As the ball changes directions, Mark laughs. "Makes you wonder if anyone ever did that to change the course of a game." he comments with a wry smile as he goes after his hot dog finally. "Yeah, I don't connect on that whole traveller from another world thing, more the 'always been among them' vibe."

"But yeah. Friends are great. I'd be glad to call you one." he admits quietly. "So maybe saving the world can be more integrated with hanging out at the Tower more."

A quick grin. "Think we could convince them to do a baseball game?" he asks.

Jon Kent has posed:
Jon Kent grins, "I think it might be hard to get a full team together, although the Flashes could probably just play offense and defense at the same time," he jokes.

"Basketball might be easier. Three on three. Plus, less likelihood of someone hitting a ball so hard it goes into outer space," he jokes.

"And yeah. I'm glad to have you as my friend, too," he smiles, offering some of his nachos.

Mark Grayson has posed:
"I dunno, Caitlin as a power forward would be really scary." Mark admits with a laugh and takes a couple of chips to snack on, offering popcorn in return.

"All I know for sure is that everyone out there... and beyond, needs our help. I didn't realize how far until we did that trip to New Krypton a while back. Still don't understand why the Green Lanterns attacked."

Jon Kent has posed:
Jon Kent shakes his head, "I don't know. In my timeline, there had been corrupting influences into the Green Lantern energies into the past, some enough to drive individuals Lanterns mad. But I've never seen a group of them act out like that. But I also understand that, to many, the reforming of a Kryptonian colony is...terrifying. I think some of the Kandorians, who never lived amongst humans, don't really understand just how intimidating we can be."

He sighs, "I'm sure Superman and some of the others are looking into it. But yeah, we just put in the work and help where we can. Leave the glory to the sports heroes," he smiles.

Mark Grayson has posed:
"Ugh. Politics are hard enough. Space politics is worse." Mark admits. "But yeah, I can see the issue with it... I mean, somewhere out there is a whole planet of people like me. Maybe thankfully so far away they may never show up here." He finishes off his hot dog and chases it with some lemonade.

"Yeah, us youngins are just in the bush leagues back here on Earth." he comments teasingly. "Not that we don't have pleenty of work to do!"

The game passes by, scoring is at a premium and it looks as if that one run from the D-backs may carry the game.

Jon Kent has posed:
Jon Kent nods, "I try to learn about how to do diplomacy. I think that's a better long term solution to things than war and fighting. But when you don't even know what the conflict is about, how do you even solve it?" he sighs.

"It would be nice if Metropolis' teams made the playoffs sometime. We're always close but never quite there. But hey, at least we're not Gotham," he says.

Mark Grayson has posed:
"Yeah, their whole life was in the bottle. I can understand it. But I also know the fear of folks here. I mean, they freak out over other humans that get powers through genetics. Never made any sense to me."

As the game comes to an end, Mark takes out his phone and taps a few things to bring up a QR code. "Ever want to chat or need help, let me know?" he asks of Jon as he starts to pick up his trash to depart.

Jon Kent has posed:
Jon Kent grins, "I will," he says, giving the other hero a pat on the back.

"Yeah, I don't get the whole 'mutant' fear either. Some people just wanna be prejudiced, I guess," he sighs. "But it'll get better. Everything will. It did in my world. I have high hopes for this one."

Mark Grayson has posed:
"You and I both." Mark admits. "We'll meet up in five hundred years and compare notes." A grin at Jon and he tosses his trash before heading out the door.