15982/Crane Games and First Dates

Crane Games and First Dates
Date of Scene:	29 September 2023
Location:	The Arcade
Synopsis:	Gabby and Joshua have a sometimes fun, sometimes awkward first date. #tinyfacebear :3
Cast of Characters:	Joshua Foley, Gabby Kinney

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Joshua Foley has posed:
A few nights ago when Gabby and Joshua had talked, they had shared their mutual enjoyment of the so called crane or gatcha machine. Gashapon, otherwise known as capule machines, may arguablly be worse than crane machines - as when you use a crane machine, you can at least see what you are aiming for. While the Gacha machine could just be full of commons and no rare toys and you'll never know!

Having found an arcade that has both along with arcade machines of various types from Pac-Man to the latest DDR, Joshua had texted Gabby with directions to the arcade once they had hashed out the details of when and where to meet for their first date.

Joshua stands outside the arcade, waiting for Gabby. He fidgets with the sleeve of his jacket, a leather bomber style with collar. Beneath is a button up black shirt and he wears blue jeans with a belt and a well worn pair of Chucks. He had spritzed a bit of sandalwood cologne on, not enough to overwhelm Gabby's sense of smell that he knows is hyper sensitive.

He glances across the street at the florist and considers running over there to buy her some, but he worries that if he leaves, she'll show up and assume he bailed. So indecision keeps him rooted right where he is.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
It's not long before that little motorcycle, the Honda Trail, that Gabby had pointed out as hers cruises up. There's at least easy parking there and she manages to snag a spot without any waiting. True to her word she wears a Rebel fighter designed helmet that's pulled off with a shake of her hair to let it fall free.

As for what one should wear on a date to an arcade? She's got black leggings, and boots (the better to ride a motorcycle with), but over it all is a large, comfy sweatshirt with a faded logo of 'FLYNN'S ARCADE' on it. Naturally.

Lifting a hand over toward Josh she flashes a grin at the golden boy. "Hey Josh, hope I didn't keep you waiting." It only takes a second to tuck her helmet down into it's spot on the back of the bike, and head over to properly speak without having to raise her voice. A little sniff comes as she realizes he's wearing cologne which earns a little lift of her eyebrow. "Okay, at least it's not 'amber', that might have been a bit too on point."

Joshua Foley has posed:
When Gabby arrives, Joshua lights up. Is it the light or did his golden skin get a hue brighter? An arm goes up in the air to wave to Gabby as she debikes and he waits for her to get parked and come over to him before he speaks. "You look nice!" he comments, realizing that he has totally overthought this and is well over-dressed.

At her question about waiting, Josh shakes his head. "Just a few minutes, train was running ahead of schedule for once." Then she starts on his scent, and his fingers press together in front of him. "Too much?" he asks her, before trying to chase off that insecurity demon with a smile. "Figred we could work up an appetite playing games and then grab a bite to eat?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney gives a little shake of her head at the question of 'too much.' "No, it's not bad. I'm honestly a bit more worried about all the noise inside," she has to admit with a glance toward the building itself thoughtfully. "I was wondering if I should bring some sound cancelling headphones. Though maybe that would be overkill." Her head rolls side to side with a little tired, 'I dun wanna' sort of face being pulled. It all happens breifly only to result in a shrug at the end. "Too late now either way. I'll survive."

Again she grins rather easily. "Food is always good. That sounds like a great plan. So I guess we should...?" Looking again to the arcade, then back to Josh, she bites down on her lower lip. A single deep breath is drawn in as she fidnsd herself fighting her own uncertainties just a moment before she reaches out to take his hand. A bit daringly.

It's hard to meet his eyes for the moment. Hand holding was simple, yet... "Let's have some fun," she blurts for lack of knowing what else to say.

Joshua Foley has posed:
Joshua winces a little. "I should have thought about that." he admits as she talks about the headphones. "You know, in Japan, they have shops that are just crane and capsule machines? I've seen some YouTube videos on them and they look awesome. Like five floors of machines."

When she suggests going in, Joshua was just about to turn to head in when he feels something warm in his hand. Looking down, he notices that Gabby has taken the initative and taken his hand and he immediately feels the heat in his cheeks, nearly to the point where the blush could be seen through the golden skin.

He doesn't pull away, instead, he moves his hand to settle more comfortably within hers. "Let's!" Josh replies haltingly as well. She can probably hear his heart race when she took his hand and he is trying so very hard to mute his biokenesis to feel out how she medically feels at the moment.

He leads the way into the arcade. It's Friday night, so it is appropriately busy, as they head over towards the card machine. "I really miss tokens." he admits to Gabby. "I always wanted to collect tokens from different arcades, I hear stories about places like FunCo Land or Aladdin's Castle, and how they used to be all over the place." He uses his free hand to take out his wallet and pulls out a twenty to issue himself a card and starts to pull out another to pay for Gabby's, unless she stops him.

"Want to do the crane machines first, or some DDR, racing games or a fighting game? I'll warn you now, I main Guile."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Nervous? Tense? Did her hand feel clammy? Probably not given her own healing factor kept her pretty level in reactions most of the time even if she FELT like she was nervous as hell suddenly. The only real 'date' she'd been on with Tommy had been to explore a decomissioned nuclear power plant on some urban trekking. Hellion had been more of a group-date scenario. He always had people around him. Bunny was... well, Bunny was Bunny. It was hard to feel nervous around her.

Gabby gives a quick nod as she falls into step beside him entering the arcade. There's a little twitching tightening of her grip as the sounds assail her causing her face to scrunch up as she works to focus on one or two things instead of *Everything all at once.*

The card machines are regarded thoughtfully with a nod. "Yeah, I get that. Probably would be interesting carrying around a pocketfull of coins, too. Easier to tell when you were getting low so you don't blow all your money on one machine then just have your card be empty," she reasons with a lopsided grin.

Aaand she does let him pay for her. Though she remarks, "I'll get dinner for us. Only fair."

Joshua Foley has posed:
Joshua gives Gabby's hand a reassuring squeeze. "Do we need a code word if you feel the need to bail, like pistachio?" he asks her as he gets the second card and passes it to her in agreement for the exchange. "You might regret that, I'm feeling peckish." he teases lightly, his first attempt to try to get her to smile.

Spying the crane machines over in the corner and remembering that this is what they had originally talked about, Joshua gives her a gentle tug. "I see them." he says, nodding his head over at the brightly colored and lighted machines.

One is filled with plushes of Pokemon characters, Pikachu wearing Ash's hat, a Carmander with a >.< face, an Eevee all :D and a Bulbasaur with little vines whipping around. Next to it is a machine filled with teddy bears all wearing liederhosen, with one really big teddy bear that wearing liederhosen and has the alpine hat with feather. There was a manufacturing error on this bear, as it has no face -- until you look at it's nose and realize there's a little tiny :3 face there.

The ones next to it carry various inflatable toys and the ever popular you can win a PS5 if you match the key with the lock!

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney glances up at Josh's suggestion of a safe word with a small shake of her head. "It's a nice thought, but no. If it gets too bad I'm just gonna bail. I'm pretty good at that. I mean, speaking up for myself not... not bailing." There's a long pause as she recalls a few past memories. "Okay maybe a bit. I used to be really bad and if I got bored I'd just say 'yep I'm bored bye' and leave. I *try* not to do that much anymore... but there are times I'm like, got to burn off some energy, or get fresh air, or whatever."

The rambling explanation comes while she continuese to hold Josh's hand, apparently forgetting that she had been holding it. It never hurt to relax a bit at least. Plus there were other distractions here: Sight, sound, smells--Let's not think too much about that one. It's actually nice she can focus on the scent of sandalwood and Josh in that regard.

"Oh! Oh they have Pokemon--" she starts. Starts, and then stops as she just... comes to a complete HALT in the middle of the floor to stare wide-eyed at another machine.

"....tinyfacebear!" It comes out as a breathy squeak of words a bit higher pitched than how she usually speaks. Clearly THIS is where they were bound to go. "I have never needed something more in my life."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Will you at least warn me if you're gonna bail? I mean, unless it's my fault that you're bailing, then I totally would get you not telling me." Joshua comments, his hand fidgetting a little.

As she is telling him about the pokemon machine, he's pulled to a sudden halt when she stops in the middle of the floor. He lifts his brows and watches her expression before he laughs. For a moment, his fingers shift, lacing with hers for a quick squeeze before releasing. "Then I shall take the first crack at trying to win it for you!" he announces as he goes to scan his card. After he does so, the crane starts to move, and he chews on the inside of his cheek.

He manuveurs the crane about, glancing at Gabby. "Tell me when to drop it?" he asks her and when she gives the cue, he drops the claw.

The claw swings around, dropping, falling along side the bear, scraping it, and hits the arm. As it pulls back up, it looks like a fail - until it catches on the hat. The claw pulls the bear up by the hat, when it hits the apex, the bear sways, but doesn't fall, as the claw moves horizontally and drops it in the pize slot where it promptly gets stuck to need to be taken out.

Joshua blinks, stepping back a little and has the shocked Pikachu face meme downpat. Welp. That was completely unexpected.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney shakes out of her obviously derailed train of thought when Josh steps over to attempt a win. Naturally she follows after. Her hand flexes a time or two feeling the warmth of his hand lingering now that it was no longer in her grasp.

"Of course I'll tell you. I'm not that rude. Just mostly rude," she jokes as she turns to the side of the machine to watch where the claw was going. She'd heard if you viewed from the side rather than the front it was easier. So when he asks to tell when to drop, she does just that.

And in it goes!

"HOLY SHIT! That was AWESOME!" Gabby's fist pumps the air a single time as she hops on the balls of her feet wooping with obvious glee. If that didn't get the attention of an attendant to get the prize free, nothing would.

"How the hell did you manage that!? We should go buy a lottery ticket!"

Joshua Foley has posed:
"I have /NO/ idea!" Josh admits, shaken out of his shocked state by Gabby's sudden burst of excited energy. "Totally your fault, though! You must be my good luck charm." A wink at her, without even thinking. It felt natural and right.

The attendant, a young woman who looks like she's just so excited to be here and not at home binge watching Vampire Diaries comes over to the machine. "Oh. You got the big one." she says, and frowns. "Boss said I'm not supposed to give that one. But he's not here because he'd rather stuff his face on a Friday night instead of giving other people hours." She gets out her set of keys to open the machine. She gently untangles the bear from the claw and offers it to Joshua. "Congratualtions or whatever." she mutters as she wanders off, yelling at someone. "IF YOU PUKE ON THAT, I'M NOT CLEANING IT!"

Joshua hups the bear, feeling it's weight and then presents it to Gabby. "For you." he says, his cheeks renewed with heat at the idea of rewards for winning her such a prize!

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney opens her mouth to protest when the girl says that she wasn't supposed to give it away--Why the heck was it in the machine then? DUH! But thankfully she just doesn't care. Score one for apathy!

When it's handed over to Josh, only for him to offer it to her, she squeals with delight. She's still bouncing on the balls of her feet. "Thankyou!" The words are barely out when her arms fling wide to hug the teddy bear in a tight grip. And Josh, if he's behind it, it's an all in one bear-Josh squeezing hug.

"This is so cool maybe we should hide it if they're not supposed to give it out but oh man I don't have a car we should get an uber or something!"

Joshua Foley has posed:
"We could maybe put it behind the counter until we're ready to leave and then carry to dinner and strap it to the back of your bike to take home?" Joshua suggests and he barely has the words out before he's getting Gabbybear hugged. His arms reach, finding Gabby, squeezing her in return, lingering there a moment before he pulls back.

"Unless you want to take it home now and we can come back later?" He puts out all the options, because he totally can see she loves that bear. "Personally, I'm not ready to leave you yet." he admits quietly and gives her a smile.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney bouncy squeeze and hops from foot to foot. It's a little dancing jiggle of a hug. If that bear weren't in the way Josh would be getting QUITE the excited hug more than he already was, apparently. It's only once he's held onto her for a moment that she finally relents, clearing her throat in an attempt to regain her composure as a MATURE and RATIONAL ADULT.

"Ahem. I'm fine just carrying it for now," she admits still grinning. "Though I do want to try some of the games, too. Plus there's still dinner and--" her eyes light up, "Maybe we can get him a high chai--Eeer no nevermind that." There was definitely going to be a teddy bear in a chair though.

"SO, ah, which game next?"

Joshua Foley has posed:
"We can take turns co-parenting, but it's totally going home with you at the end of the night, Belinda might try to steal the bear if I bring it back to the shop." Joshua comments with amusement as happy Gabby calms down just a little.

Looking around as he tries to figure out where to go next, he moves his hand, settling it on the small of her back. "Do you want to try a dance game or a fighting game?" he asks her. But he's making his own decision, leading more to the fighting games, maybe in deference of knowing that all the music at the DDRs may overwhelm Gabby's hearing.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Belinda does have very good taste, too," Gabby has to agree as she knows the girl as well. A grin cracks over her features though as she finds them heading for the fighting games. The hand on her back doesn't gain a remark, but she also doesn't move away. Even if it means she has to hug the bear a bit tighter so that she doesn't end up accidentally elbowing Josh from being so close.

"Seems like dancing games would be a good 'end of night' activity, since we're probably going to be a bit tired after," she reasons in apparent agreement with the idea of the fighting games. "You said you main Guile, right?" She's already narrowing her eyes considering her best course of action as they come up to the latest Street Fighter cabinet.

Reluctantly the bear is placed down by her feet so she can just kind of lean up against the machine trapping it there between it and her legs. JUST IN CASE.

"All right, let's go!" Her own gaming card is raised up with a grin flashed, and she swipes to start selecting her own character.

Joshua Foley has posed:
As they are making their way over to Street Fighter V Alpha, Joshua moves his hand away and gives a little space so she can handle the bear better. "So did you know that originally Bison was supposed to be named Vega, Vega was supposed to be Balrog and the boxer was going to be M. Bison?" he asks.

"They changed the characters because they were worried that Mike Tyson would sue over the likeness of a boxer named M. Bison. He once said he would have been flattered but probably not sued." He shrugs his shoulders after sharing the random fact about the game.

Swiping his card, he signs in as player 2 and starts scrolling over to Guile, hitting the the High Kick button to make his skin black with glowing yellow hair. It seems kinda appropriate.

With his decison made, he waits to see what Gabby chooses for herself.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney hovers breifly over Chun-Li who was always a great staple. Plus the kicks. However... after seeing what he does to Guile she can only give a little snort at the color palette change. A quick three tap of her joystick leads her over to Cammy.

Then the game starts. It's her first time playing Cammy so she's knocked out the first round. Second though? It's a win. Third... Gabby's doing rather well even if it is close.

"So isn't Cammy supposed to be a clone or something? I forget the back story." The idle conversation comes as she continues to fight up until the result comes out. Her arms are thrown into the air with a whoop before she catches herself.

"Er... Sorry."

Joshua Foley has posed:
When she selects Cammy, Joshua's eyes rise. Really? It seems to ask, but she seems to know what she's doing. As they start the first round, Joshua works the baiting Gabby into jumping over sonic booms to strike her with a sonic kick when she comes back down.

When she asks about Cammy, Joshua explains. "Not a clone, but she does have a scar on her cheek. She was an MI6 agent with Delta Red that was captured and brainwashed by Shadaloo. Eventually, she is freed from Bison's control and fights Shadaloo. Eventually, it's hinted that she and Guile became lovers."

And of course as he's explaining all that, she's kicking his ass. She's figured out the cannon spike goes under the sonic boom and manages to strike and stay close before he can cancel into the sonic kick, taking the second and third rounds.

With Guile on the ground, Cammy turns to show everyone her thong and gives a thumbs up. Joshua laughs as Gabby celebrates and he shakes his head, his smile for her warm. "You won, nothing to apologize for! Just glad I didn't wager anything on it." he teases, suggesting that he had something in mind. "Wanna go again or find something else?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Ah, I thought I remembered something about clones... Or maybe some were made of her or something." So much for gently broaching the topic of her history! The fact that the character was apparently one that ends up in a relationship with Guile wasn't intended, but... "Ah, at least the scar's on point," she teases lightly. It was still a good character to play, especially once she got the hang of the special moves.

"We can go again if you like. It seems like you're fond of the series with all you know. Nerd." She's just teasing of course, and it's clear by her grin that she is. "Should I give you a handicap?"

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Yes, later she was cloned." Joshua explains. "They were called the Dolls. Bison convinced Cammy that she was a clone of him, but that was later retconned." he explains as he blushes at her calling him a nerd. He clears his throat. "I liked video games when I was a kid." he admits. "Along with skateboarding and basketball."

After opening up a little on his hobbies, she asks him about a handicap. "Oh, okay, Gabrielle." comes the challenging tone, Joshua puts his hands on his hips. "You're that confident, why don't we put something on it." Not that he has any idea what that would be as he loads up a fresh credit.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney snaps her fingers as the explanation is given, as if that was what she recalled. "I never got much into this but I knew some folks that kind of were. I knew I remembered *something* like that." Her attention turns back to the game with card held up between fingers preparing to swipe again. "What'd you think about that storyline, then?" She asks. Purely offhanded and not at all to test the waters.

Though he then dares to use the full name.

Gabby's eyebrows dart upward with a soft, "Oooh, full name. Okay then Joshuthan, what's the wager? I'm in."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"I thought it was interesting. I mean, young me was more shocked that Poison was a transsexual woman that got turned into a biological female when brought over to the States. Clearly not the strangest storyline of the series." Joshua responds. "Older me, the one here and now, lot more accepting of the weird and strange." he admits quietly, a glance down at his hands.

"If I didn't... I wouldn't have found myself attracted to you and asked you out." he responds, his fingers fidgetting with the joystick.

The she calls his bluff and he's caught flat-foot. "I... I didn't really have an idea. I was going to suggest a kiss. But I'd rather earn that if you really wanted to, so... winner picks the next game?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney actually does turn her attention away from the game fully as Josh starts to explain the 'old' him wouldn't have found her attractive. It earns a tip of her head while watching his expression with clear curiosity written on her features. She holds back a bit, chewing on the inside of her cheek, rather than blurting out exactly what it was she wanted to ask. So instead she just offers, "If you want to talk about it, we can. I get how the past can be difficult."

The mention of a kiss causes her to grin again though she has to stop and think on that before nodding. "Yeah, I think it's a bit soon to be betting that. Next game works. Or maybe winner gets to choose what we get for dinner?" Either way, whichever bet they go with, she swipes her card again. Sometimes it was easier to deal with things when you were distracted.

Joshua Foley has posed:
"I've talked a lot about it, Gabby." Joshua admits as he finally picks Ryu, as a change of pace. "Maybe not to you, but you know most of the story. Reavers, mutant powers, raised by a family that taught me to hate. I wouldn't have been attracted to you because I wouldn't think you were pretty. You are. It would have been the mutant powers. I've had a year plus to grow up." he admits, he turns to face her, his hand reaching, if allowed, capturing hers.

"I'm working on it. It's gonna be a long road, so if you don't want to go down it, I'd totally understand. I'm gonna talk to some of the staff at the school, see if I can find some form of absolution for myself." He removes his hand and starts to turn his attention back to the game. "We can do both. Game and dinner choice." he agrees finally.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
The words don't completely fluster Gabby. It's his reaching out to cup her chin his hand. A quick breath is drawn, and held, as she finds herself staring at him intently unable to break his gaze. At least for the moment.

"Yeah, I know. But you were willing to look past what you were taught and make your own decisions too. That says a lot about you," she points out with a little clearing of her throat. "Right. Game and dinner. And maybe I can tell you a bit about my history then, too."

She should be on her game. She wasn't. She'd swapped to Honda unintentionaly and that was just an entirely different move set, and she just... Doesn't find the rythym right. Ryu can Hadouken her character into oblivion.

Joshua Foley has posed:
Joshua shows no mercy. It was game on, and Ryu is not all hadokens, but a series of spinning kicks into shoryukens that uppercut poor Honda into oblivion in straight rounds. She will get no chance to mount a comeback.

When he pulls back, that intense look of concentration melts into a smile. "...when it's something worth going after, I'm willing to go all out, Gabby." he responds to her as he considers now that he won. "How do you feel about pizza?" he asks her as he starts to lead the way to the next game that they have lined up. A racing game. "After this, we can do DDR and head out to eat and talk some more?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney holds up her hands in a helpless shrug as she's easily defeated. "Hax," she states, though with a grin that shows she knows she was good and truly beaten. The teddybear is not forgotten as she picks it up to carry while turning to follow Josh through the arcade. "Pizza is always good. I can definitely manage that."

Joshua Foley has posed:
After a couple of more games, including an exilirating round of DDR -- where they were a rather well-matched duet, but when they went into competition, Joshua managed to distance himself from Gabby, who was trying to dance for two.

Leaving the arcade with their prize, Joshua brings up the Google Map to the pizza place and offers his hand to her. If she accepts, he'll try to lace his fingers with hers as they head to the pizza parlor.

The smell of fresh dough baking, garlic and toppings is heavy as they step inside. The seating is open and Joshua settles in at a corner table that's a little out of the way, so that people don't immediately see the golden-hued mutant when they come in.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Tinyfacebear ends up getting the seat across from Josh, and next to Gabby. His place of honor comes with a napkin on the chair beneath him so that any hidden bits of sauce that might linger from past patrons doesn't end up on his fluffy plush butt. And he stares. With all his tinyface might at Josh.

:3

Gabby takes up a spot beside him to be able to look across the table at Josh as well, but with less of a fixed facial expression for obvious reasons. Hers wasn't stitched on. "Okay. So. You're right, I know a fair bit about you, Josh. At least," she reasons while sweeping her finger over the surface of the table to draw some circles in spilled salt that was left there (or maybe sugar?) idly. "What I learned from when I first met you as well as what I've heard since you came to join us in the JLD." Looking up she flashes a grin. "So what would you like to know about me? Because I'm liable to start spilling a lot if I don't get a starting point."

Joshua Foley has posed:
Great, so he gets Gabby and tinybearface stare. Joshua may wither under the attacking duo! Settling down in his own chair, he takes a menu, looking over it idly when Gabby states facts and he nods.

Part of him wants to ask why she agreed to date him if she knew as much as she knew, but he shoves that question way deep down in the insecurities of himself. Instead, as she continues, he lifts his head, for his blue eyes to meet hers.

"Isn't that the whole point of a first date?" he asks her. "To learn more about each other and see if you might be compatible for a second date or more." he suggests to her lightly.

"Yes, I want to know as much as you want to share, Gabby." he finally decides and folds his hands in front of him as he looks to see if there's a waiter coming over to take their drink order.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Why did I agree to this date?" Gabby's eyebrows raise a bit as she just stares at Josh a long moment. "I know you know how good you look. The fact that you seem like a decent person is a huge bonus. Even if you made mistakes in the past... We all have in our own ways. Nettie would not have even given you a chance, much less adopted you, if you weren't worth it."

"I mean." A glance is cast around breifly to ensure no one was IMMEDIATELY around to hear. "You've seen the skulls, right? Those aren't all *old*, you know." Nettie, slayer of Nazi's, collector of skulls.

"As for me... I'm okay with pepperoni and olives but if you try to put mushrooms on a pizza we're going to have issues," she remarks just in time for the waitress to walk by and hear a normal conversation instead of talk about dead Nazi's. A quick wink is offered to Josh along with a grin.

"I'll have a Coke. Full sugar, keep it coming."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Well, now we know that the other finds each of us attractive?" Joshua offers a bit lamely, because he needs the filler time to formulate his real response as he looks up as the waitress comes over. "Large pepperoni and olives, and I'll have a sweet tea, please." With his order placed and the pizza order as well, Joshua turns his attention back to Gabby.

"Yeah, I've seen them, I've heard Nettie tell me not to clean them, so I understand that they're important, you clued me into why they are important and I can respect that." Joshua admits.

He draws in his breath and scoots his hands just a little closer to Gabby. Clearly a slip, right? "I appreciate everything that Nettie's given me. But you're one of the leaders of the team, and you could have said no. But you didn't and you gave me a chance. So I appreciate that and you as well."

Then a smile, warmness reflected in his blue eyes as he considers her. "But we're supposed to be talking about you, unless you still have questions about me? I don't think I can present a better argument for us going out, but I want to know about you." he finally admits. And then he adds a quiet, "Please."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Yeah, they're Nazi skulls," Gabby states point blank because they WERE. If he hadn't clued into that by now he would learn soon enough. At least she warned him not to touch them. They were real after all. And ick for that matter.

When his hand slides closer she drops her eyes down to it staring a long moment indecisively. They'd held hands a few times tonight already, but doing so while sharing her past was a bit different. Vulnerable. A deep breath is drawn, and she pushes her hand forward to grasp his giving a squeeze.

"That storyline about Cammy being brainwashed into thinking she's a clone of M. Bison, and being cloned herself... Isn't so far off from my actual life." Green eyes dart up to watch him a moment while she allows herself a small, tight-lipped smile.

"I'm okay with it. It's who I am. I know some people don't like clones though and... Heck. I'm the tenth clone of my run. Only two of us survived. Those are my 'sisters' I talk about." Her weight shifts awkwardly in her chair. "And Laura is the one we were cloned from. Only, she's a clone, too. A female version of Wolverine."

"So... yeah. That's me. My other sisters didn't get the x-gene. Maybe because we're duplicates of a duplicate, I don't know. Maybe because the lab that had the DNA tried to tweak it so that it could come up with more variations of the mutation. Whatever the reason, it didn't work. By the time they came to the last few of us they just gave up and decided to use us for guinea pigs for other experiments."

"When we found out *I* was a mutant, my sisters helped hide it. They helped protect me. They... They were used as killers for the labs, but they never let ME kill."

"I know how to though."

Joshua Foley has posed:
Joshua feels her fingers on his and squeezes hers in return. As he listens to her story, he can't help but to draw parallels. He didn't have any siblings, she had many, even if they are all clones of each other.

Her family tried to protect and hide her when she was discovered to be a mutant. His family couldn't get rid of him fast enough.

"There's a flip side to my power..." Joshua starts quietly. "You know I can heal. But when we were in Greece, I killed with that same power. And when I did, it turned me black. Again, you probably know that."

"I guess what I'm trying to say is... we both know what we're capable of and doing our best to be responsible with it." He runs his thumb across the top of her hand and adds, "And the rest of the Cammy story was that she was able to defeat her programming and through her, she was able to save all but one of the Dolls that were clones of her."

A close of his eyes in thought, before blowing out a breath, head tilted towards the table. "She and you, were able to make something better out of yourself than what you were created to do. You lead now, you have good friends, better allies. It doesn't matter who you were a clone of, who your father was. What matters is that you are who you are now."

He draws back his hands, only to count on his fingers. "Witty. Sharp. Articulate. Beautiful. A leader. Someone people come to for advice. Reliable. Honest. And you make your point succiently and without question. And I'm glad to know you and to have a chance to see where things go."

With that, he lowers his hands, looking back up into her face again to wait for her reaction.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"I... I don't always feel like that, you know." Gabby pauses at saying this to look down at her own hand with lips pursed once more. They quirk into an easier grin with her eyes flicking back up to his breifly once more. "I mean I know I'm doing better than I was meant to be. I know, but there are other things too that I'm not always great at."

"I'm also not the only one in my head. I mean. I *am* but..." Here she pauses again scrunching one eye shut. "I should let you know. Especially if we're getting involved. There are times I have 'flashbacks' kind of? Only they're not from this world."

"One of the enemies we fought before I took over the JLD were old ones from another dimension trying to break into this one. They tried to take over several of us to use as their 'keys' to this dimension. A couple tried to convince me by letting me see... no... *be* a version of myself from one of the worlds they took over."

Her hand flexes a few times on the table while talking about this. More than a few. Her fingers stretch out, and flex, and then clench before starting again. Each finger tapping out as if testing that it was really there. "I'm happy to say she didn't give up fighting them either, but she went through a lot and so she's also part of my brain now. She lost a hand. For good. There are times I feel like I have a phantom hand even though MINE is real."

"I'm just saying, sometimes, I kind of have PTSD of my own already and then this too and it's weird I know."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"We're all weird." Josh admits, and his hand moves to cover hers again. "I mean, I died and came back and then Hank shoved my hands into someone's chest to heal them. That wasn't weird at all."

"All I can promise you is that I'll listen. I'm not going to be able to solve much outside of hugs and encouragement and that's only when I'm not dealing with my own crippling doubts and insecurities. I'm trying really hard right now, because..."

He sucks in his breath. "I want to." he decides. And before he can say anything else, the waitress is coming with their pizza and he withdraws his hands, all those nagging doubts and securities all in the back of his head as he picks at one of his fingernails, his eyes concentrating hard on the table.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Ohthankgod pizza. Pizza was, much like icecream, one of the great unifiers of awkward conversations. Gabby sits back in her chair a bit to allow more room for the pizza to be set down as well as the drinks that came with it. Almost instantly she's reached for the glass of Coke to open up her straw and carefully, neatly fold it in a zig-zag pattern in preparation of blowing it across at Josh.

Phooot.

A grin is offered back as she tries to lighten the mood just a bit again. "So, right then. Okay. We both want to be here. Great." A pause and she blurts out, "You ever dated before?"

Joshua Foley has posed:
Thunk. Struck in the head, Joshua looks up, startled out of his own dark thoughts. "I'm here, I'm here!" he responds with a laugh, golden cheeks a little brighter.

Then she blurts that question and Joshua nods. "We talked about that?" he can't remember. "I had a few dates with Jubilation before she realized she had the hots for her roommate. So, who knows, maybe I'm the reason she turned?" he shrugs his shoulders. "At least with you, I already know you're bisexual so there's that. And I'm okay with that, for what it's worth."

He takes a slice of pizza for himself, and then glances across at her. "So... is this the point where we consider a second date?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Well yeah you mentioned her... And Jubes was always kind of," Gabby wiggles her hand only to shrug. "So I wouldn't say that was you, specifically. As for me, I..." She pauses a bit considering. "I guess it's more like, depends on the person in my case? I can go either way but I'm not like 'oh wow that woman is hot' though, yes that does happen sometimes."

A slice is snagged as well without so much as a moment of consideration for how hot it may be. It's folded in half New York style to take a bite which she chews, and gulps down thoughtfully. "I more meant like if you had any other experience or if I'm going to be corrupting you horribly or something."

Joshua Foley has posed:
Joshua takes a bite of his pizza. He was chewing away happily before suddenly Gabby attacks him brazenly with a flirt, and a crude one at that. He coughs and sputters, managing to grab a napkin to get the offending piece of pepperoni that got stuck in his throat out! Oh, there's a new shade of gold and red in his cheeks.

"I've kissed a girl, a little bit of touching, but no, never like... all the way..." he manages, clearing his throat and forgoes the straw to straight chug his tea before he swallows and his eyes meet hers and he manages a smirk. "I wouldn't mind you corrupting me." he admits finally, a swallow as he finishes off the tea.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
That... actually causes Gabby to pause a moment uncertainly as she regards Josh. The bite of pizza is chewed slowly like a cow mulling over some cud before she finally gulps it down and opts for a very long chug of her soda. "Nothing wrong with that," she admits, though she does seem... worried.

"... Look I had a sex education before I even had sex. Knew a guy who was dating a succubus and ... Yeah."

"I mean I was kind of joking about 'corrupting' you but now I realize I have a lot more experience with demons and stuff now that I think of it."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"I had sex education as well. Just never had a chance to practice." Joshua frowns a little. He probably just blew it, and he realizes that, "I was just trying to play off what you said. But I'm awkward and not exactly as sure of myself as most people are."

A small sigh escapes him. "Sorry." he manages as he waves for the waitress so he can get a refill on his drink.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney holds up a hand at that apparent slump in his confidence. "Stop that. You're fine. It's me over thinking things." She shifts in her chair again glancing to the side trying to gather her thoughts on the matter. "This, right here, this dating thing. I've not really done THIS before. And I'm overthinking things. Usually I just..." Here she pauses cracking a grin while looking back, "Like you said 'go with the flow.' Even in my last relationship we were all just hanging out so often it just kind of became, 'Hey why don't we give it a try?'"

"Every other time was ..." She pauses, thinking. "Probably not stuff I should talk about at the dinner table. Anyway. Uh." A deep breath is taken, and she suggests, "Movie next time?"

Joshua Foley has posed:
It's hard for him not to assume it's him. He's not the great romantic, and Joshua is well aware of his short comings. "Yeah, we can do a movie next time." he agrees. "You get to pick the movie, though." There's a touch of a smile and then it warms.

But he also assumes that is Gabby's way of cueing that she's ready to leave. "Should I call for the check? It's probably getting late and I didn't mean to keep you out so long. I was just enjoying our time together." A fidget and shrugs.

"And wasn't quite ready for it to end. But it's all good!"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"I'm not trying to rush, just come up with ideas and think and..." Gabby scrunches her face up again. Dropping her head forward she drags her fingers through her hair with a frustrated noise in the back of her throat.

"So uh. Fuck. I don't know."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"It's okay." Joshua says with a shake of his head, he moves his chair to be closer to her. "We don't have to do everything tonight. We have each other's phone numbers, we can text, or call and talk or something."

"I'd say we could have a nightcap at the shop, but yeah, that wouldn't go over well."