15950/All the Meats!

All the Meats!
Date of Scene:	26 September 2023
Location:	Katz's Deli
Synopsis:	Gabby comes across Joshua on a dinner break, they talk shop, the past, and then each other - and somehow end up planning a date.
Cast of Characters:	Joshua Foley, Gabby Kinney

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Joshua Foley has posed:
The evening rush at Katz's is not as bad as the lunch one, which is why Joshua usually comes to the shop after he's done with work making deliveries for the Candle. The golden mutant has been eagerly welcomed into the shop since the whole incident when Nettie first found him.

With it being Yom Kippur, which doesn't matter to Josh, as he's not Jewish, but he loves the brisket sandwich and the potato latkes with applesauce and sour cream. He has an iPad open next to him as he's studying notes, his brows furrowed as he considers the article in front of him.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney had been strolling by on her way to the Candle when she spots that golden mutant inside, and reverses course to slip inside. Even if she wasn't intending to hit up the deli, it had been awhile, and seemed a good enough idea for dinner. Grabbing a tray with a drink and a Rueben she finds herself right in front of Josh's table.

"Hey, mind if I join you?" It had been awhile since she'd gotten to really catch up with him after all. Seemed like as good a time as any.

Joshua Foley has posed:
Glancing up from his notes. "Oh! Hey, Gabby." Joshua meets, a smile touching on his golden lips. He stands up so that Gabby can get seated before he returns to his own seat. "I actually was looking to talk to you, there was an incident up at Xaviers' last night."

Joshua considers this statement and amends, "So it was a Sunday at the campus, and in the process some new student boosted everyone's powers and Scott let loose a really powerful blast that injured people... and I went around healing them because I was like feeling the mode."

"Anyway, they've asked me to come back to the school. I think I will, but on my terms. I don't want to leave the team." he admits. "Nettie and the others, even you, have tried to make me feel more welcome than the school ever did. I feel wanted there. But I can use Xaviers as a means to an end to kept hands on study so I can be better help to our team." he explains.

"And I also just wanted to touch base and thank you for helping me and that I appreciated it and I'm totally info dumping, aren't I?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney sinks down into her seat when Josh stands to greet her. There's not much she can say before he does, indeed, info dump but she listens with a look of amusement. Right up until Xavier's is mentioned.

There's a hint of pain that flits across her features at that. The soda she'd bought becomes her means of attempting to hide it while she takes along slurp off the straw instead. Her history aside it didn't mean she shouldn't listen to him.

A wry grin comes at the end. "Josh you are looking at the Queen of Infodumping here. 'Gabby' wasn't just because my name is Gabrielle, you know."

Her weight shifts back in her chair while she grasps the straw to her drink pistoning it into the drink with a little squeak of straw-through-lid to stir up the ice a bit. "I get it. The school has a lot of resources. Just because you want to look into it doesn't mean you're not welcome here, too."

For a moment she bites the inside of her cheek lightly. "Just didn't really leave on the best terms myself."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"I didn't either. And I didn't want you to think that I was bailing right after you got me back on my feet." Joshua comments and adds, "Again." He takes a bite of his sandwich, chewing and swallowing before he chuckles.

"I just thought Gabby was a cuter form of Gabriella." comes the slight confession. "I'm still going on missions and helping at the shop at all. I'll just need to balance it with the school work. Which I'd have to do anyway if I went to a normal school."

"But... I didn't mean to bring up bad memories and I won't talk about it anymore." Then a slight smirk. "Or I guess, asking to see if you'd be available for school dances." A tease in his voice, before he takes a drink from his soda.

"Did Nettie tell you that I was able to heal her hand? At least for a little bit."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Gabrielle, not Gabriella. Though with as many people that call me that maybe I ought to change it," Gabby considers with a wry grin of amusement. "I mean it is, but ... I've calmed down a bit. When I was younger I used to just talk. A *lot*. A lot lot." The drink is placed back on the table so that she can pick a bit of corned beef hanging out the side of her sandwich off to pop into her mouth. "Hold over from being the one to keep my sisters entertained and stuff, I think. Or maybe because it was great to get to say what I wanted for once. Anyway, bad joke," she concludes giving a shrug again.

Her head shakes a little. "It's okay to talk about, I just wasn't expecting the topic to be brought up. My issue, not yours. I appreciate you telling me." A LOOK is shot toward him with a smirk. "And not just vanishing again."

A bit more tidying of the sandwich comes (can't let it all fall out) only to pause at the remark about dances. "Me? Dance? I mean sure if that doesn't make things weird. I don't get to do stuff like that really. And no Nettie didn't mention. That's *great* though, she wasn't sure any healing power would work on her."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Talking's fine, I like to talk. It's a great way to communicate!" Joshua admits with a laugh as he picks at some of the brisket on his sandwich. "That must have been hard, having to handle all your siblings on your own. I hope they're all doing well." A chuckle. "All good with you getting the last word." he winks at her.

"Yeah, my own time at the school is colluded. Tried to date Jubilee only for her to develop the feels for her roommate and then just not ever feeling like I felt in. It got to be too much, which is why I left and fell back with what was familiar... and bad."

"I mean..." he considers. "...we could try a date, just to see if it's all weird." he suggests. "That way you don't have to go get a nice gown and heels and be all awkward. Or you know, if you might want to do something else. Can you skateboard? You knew that was my go-to, right? That or basketball."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney purses her lips in a tight smile at 'hope they're all doing well' trying very hard not to blurt out what she usually would blurt out. Instead she takes a breath and says, "They took care of me more than I took care of them. I just tried to keep their spirits up." There's no remark of 'most of them are dead' even if it's true. She's getting better at not making things awkward!

The mention of Jubilee though earns a soft 'oof' of understanding. "Oh yeah her and Noriko were pretty tight. Then the dying and vampire thing..." she trails off with a sad shake of her head. She'd lost track of those friends ages ago. It was her own fault, really, but it still made her a bit sad. "Yeah. I get that. Familiar isn't always good."

Grasping the sandwich in both hands it starts t lift---and pause to place right back on the plate. "A date? Wait. Hang on." The usually very confident young woman regards Josh looking uncertain. "Are you... hitting on me? Because I have a really bad track record of dating, though the last one with Bunny and Tommy was good, just we kind of drifted apart and went our own ways but we're still on good terms and..." Now it was HER turn to ramble it seemed.

Joshua Foley has posed:
"I mean, I died too, so I can kinda relate to what happened to Jubilee." Joshua admits as he notices her expression and he almost reaches to take her hand to give it a reassuring squeeze, but stops himself short as he watches her hit a stutter step.

"Oh yes, I heard all about the new boyfriend that she can bounce quarters off of." Joshua comments with a roll of his eyes and then shakes his head. "She deserves happiness. You do too." he shrugs. "I still have a lot to repent for. So if it's a no, totally understand." It's a quick explanation as he starts to withdraw his hand to tear into one of the potato cakes, dipped in the sour cream, then the applesauce and snacked on. "Ever try these, they're really good."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"No! I mean. I'm not against trying. I just." Gabby pauses unsure of what to say. It finally takes a moment for her to realize why she's a bit surprised over it. "Just been awhile since anyone's asked me. Usually the other way around. Ah, anyway. We could try. I *do* own dresses, you know. Surprisingly," she teases lightly.

As for the latkes? Her eyes focus on the bit he dipped into the sour cream with a shake of her head. "No, I haven't actually. Just potatoes and onions isn't it? Kind of like a hash brown?" Let's hope no one around hears her and takes offense to that description.

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Sorta, but not." Joshua responds, and pushes the plate over to be between them. More than willing to share. "You can totally be scare sometimes, Gabby..." Joshua admits. "I /know/ that. But... in the last couple of months? You have shown me more care than a lot of people have. Even if we haven't connected, the others all talk about you and how great you are."

And then amusement touches his blue eyes, which seems to make them sparkle more in his golden skin. "Is that you suggesting we do something we have to dress up for? I'll have to ask Nettie for an advance on my pay so I can get a proper suit." he taps his fingers in thought. And then he gets out his phone and starts scanning for events. "Want to go see... oh hey, Off-Broadway showing of Little Shop of Horrors!" he suggests. "Or would you rather do something more involved instead of just sitting through a play?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Hey, you were the one that brought up a dress and heels," Gabby pointed out with a grin. He had after all, though it had been more about potential dances. The reassurance of not being too scary does cause her smile to broaden more significantly though. "Thanks. I mean, work aside, I know my scars kind of freak out some people. *I* don't mind them. I still get looks though." Sometimes sympathy, sometimes horror, sometimes just quick glances then looks away. Though as she's gotten older it was a bit less of the 'horrified concerned expressions' at least.

There were more important things at the moment though. Like a plate of latkes.

Reaching out to take one she gives it a dip into the sour cream as she'd seen Josh do. "That could be cool. Usually I don't get to sit around a lot though. So..." She trails off considering. "You skateboard, which no I didn't know. I've rollerskated some. I mean. Could just hit up an arcade or something simple, too."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Well, I was just thinking of things involving dressing up since I assumed you were rising to the challenge." Joshua responds, taking another piece of latke. "We can keep it simple, if it makes you more comfortable, Gabby. Dating is supposed to be fun, not a lot of work."

And then his eyes look up and curiously study Gabby's face. "May I?" he asks, lifting his hands, as if offering to cradle her cheeks.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"At some point, yeah, I just don't really feel up to dressing up currently. Probably closer to the holidays. I always feel like I should fancy up my wardrobe around then." A small admission at least. A bite of the latke is taken letting that tart and salty and yummy flavor entertain her for a moment. Long enought hat she ends up wriggling side to side in her seat clearly enjoying it.

"Mmmyep. New yummy found," she declares with a broad grin. A grin that falters to a sudden blush at his request.

"Ah... you're... not going to heal them are you?" The uncertainty that fills her voice mingles with the little embarassment at the suggestion of cradling her cheeks. Though indecisive, she finally mumbles, "Yeah. Okay."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"No, not going to heal them. If you can't heal them yourself, I doubt I can." Joshua admits. Instead, his hands cradle her face. His fingers are warm and soft but there's no accompanying glow. "As I thought." he says and as his fingers brush over the skin, feeling every little mark that is available.

"It's part of you and I'm sure I will not be the first guy that could consider you attractive." he releases her after a few moments and his hands go back to his sandwich. "I'll keep that in mind, about the holidays." Josh responds. "Hopefully I'll have some money saved up by then, otherwise everyone's getting the mixtape of my sickest tricks."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney is quiet for a few moments while he explores her face, and cheeks, with fingertips. The mention of being unable to heal her eyes skip away from his face. A quiet murmer of, "These were from before my powers emerged. That's why. They're just..." A part of her he says. She nods in agreement with a soft smile. "Yeah. They're part of me. My history, my family. I'm proud of them."

When his touch slips away again she turns her head trying to hide the red flush left on her cheeks. "Nothing wrong with handmade gifts or other similar items. I've done it myself, still do sometimes. Ah, anyway." Lightly clearing her throat she asks, "How's your sandwich?"

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Never said you shouldn't be proud. They made you who you are." Joshua shrugs and then she comments on the present. "Yeah, I want to do something nice this year. It's my first holidays with a new family, after all." he admits with a small laugh.

When she asks about the sandwich, he grins. "It's really good!" he admits, shifting around to take the little butterknife and cuts off a piece of the brisket sandwich over to Gabby.

"Okay, so we're gonna keep it lowkey and go to an arcade, then?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney grins warmly at the very thought of it. "That's fine. I mean just being here is good. Nettie's got her little rituals, too. Though..." she trails off a moment frowning. "There's going to be a point where she shuts the shop down for a couple of days and goes on a bender. I kept her company last year during it. So uh, you may want to avoid around that time given she likes going skyclad." her hand flits over her chest a moment. "Y'know, clothless." Fair warning at least.

The bit of brisket offered her way is taken before she does similar with her own offering a bite of the reuben over. "An arcade sounds good. I always wanted to try those Japanese style claw machines. There's SO many vids online of them."

Joshua Foley has posed:
As Gabby explains Nettie's ritual, Joshua's eyes go as wide as saucers. "Yeah, okay, I may stay at the school for that!" He has no want to see his adopted mom 'skyclad' or 'witches gone wild'. "Just text me when it's done and I'll come home." he offers to her.

Spearing the rueben piece with his fork, Joshua lifts it up with a fork to sample. "Ohhh, I'm getting this next time!" he decides, a small bounce for his enjoyment of it.

"Oh! I love those gatcha machines!" He lights up with excitement, he may even be glowing a little bit. "I've been watching videos on how to win at them and I'm so excited to give it a try!"

Then he sobers a little. "So... about the scars and all, I think if it's a wound I do not understand, or an old, naturally healed wound? I can't do anything with that. It has to be fresh."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Right? There's like five or six variations of them, and all these tricks you can do to get the cawl or poker thing to hit the prize right," Gabby gushes clearly having been addicted to watching those as well. "Plus the stupid bouncy music is just an ear worm. Prizes are usually way better than in a regular claw machine too."

Relaxing a bit she starts in on her own sandwich finally with another bite or two. It really was good. "Mm, yeah. Oh it's the anniversary of her wife's passing so... I mean, cheer her up yeah, but I'll warn you on the days she's doing the binge drinking." NO kid wanted to see that. She understood that very well.

"I think my healing factor is the same in a way. These were already long healed when it emerged so the state I was in at that time was kind of my 'base normal' state I guess."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"I can heal hangovers!" Joshua admits. "But I know that touching Nettie... has bad backlash. And I have a worse feeling." He goes quiet, worrying on his lip as he looks towards Gabby and then at his hands. "When I healed Nettie's hand. I saw images. My death. Her death. Terrible, horrible things. I am not sure what is tethered to her for that power she has..."

"But I'm scared that if she was to be cut off from it... you ever seen the movie 'Tangled'? When Rapunzel loses her hair...?"

"That."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney grows a little more serious at that. Without thinking much of it she reaches across to give his shoulder a pat trying to offer some small bit of comfort over it. "She's a necromancer. She hasn't died, but she's tied close to that sort of power, and that's part of why she's not supposed to be touched to begin with. Kind of the mixed blessing curse thing, I guess. ... You're right though. From what I *do* know, cutting someone like that off from their power is bad."

"Awhile back Corvax was destroyed in a fight. She had to ressurect him. It took a LOT out of her... I can only imagine the sort of things she has to go through." A little wry grin, and she can only shake her head. "I might be part of the JLD and one of the leaders but I don't do magic myself. I could probably learn. I just know how tempting it is for a lot of magic users to isolate themselves thinking that they're the only ones that can do what they do. I'm trying to *avoid* that with the group. Someone needs to hit them upside the head and remind them they aren't alone."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"That's how you get elder liches." Joshua says dryly. "I know that people are going to want to try to save her. I even wanted to. But I know better now. Way better." He shifts in his seat uncomfortably as he considers what she's saying.

"I don't know anything about magic, Gabby." he admits. "...I'm not 100 percent certain I can heal magical damage, like what if I did heal Nettie, but it was a fluke." He ughs. "No, they're not, and I try to do that when I'm in the shop."

Elbows table, head in hands, he ughs again. "What a pain in the ass it can be sometimes."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney can only shrug at that. She had no idea if it was a fluke or not, or what if he could heal magic damage, or what. "So what? Penicilin was a fluke, too. Sometimes that's how you learn new things in the first place. Besides, not all the damage we get is magical. Trust me there's lots of 'thrown into walls' or like that other necromancer that was smart enough to *set bombs* to bring a temple down on us."

"We can teach you some of the rest. The basics, guards, wards, what to never do--Like sharing your full name with any magical creatures."

Joshua Foley has posed:
Shaking his head, Joshua nods. "Yeah, I have a lot to learn. And to work with complex medical procedures as well." he admits.

While he's listening to the rest of it, he chuckles. "Does that mean I should not tell you my full name, Gabby?" comes the playful querry. She could be magical!

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney grins faintly at that, "Well, I'm okay but... Generally that's the rule of thumb. Usually just leaving out middle names is good enough, but in other areas, codenames are really going to be important."

Joshua Foley has posed:
Stretching out with a yawn, Joshua finds himself stifling a yawn. "I should get back to the shop to turn in. Gonna stay here? Or wanna walk back?" he asks her as he gets to his feet and polices up his trade. "You have my number... call me when you're ready to go out?"

He pauses, tray in his hands and smiles at her, his cheeks darkening faintly. "...I'm looking forward to it."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney looks up at the yawn when he stands, and realizes it is getting a little late. Her own sandwich wasn't done yet so she shakes her head at the question of walking back. "I should finish this up first. But... yeah. I'll see you soon," she assures. Only for a little sheepish grin to come at the end. "Yeah. Okay, Josh. Same."