16246/The couch is proverbial

The couch is proverbial
Date of Scene:	03 November 2023
Location:	Josie's Bar
Synopsis:	Laura and Kiden catch up. They talk about romance and the surprising revelation that Laura Kinney is an ace matchmaker. Sadly they also talk about their depressing histories and not even fruity drinks with little umbrellas in can lighten the mood after that.
Cast of Characters:	Kiden Nixon, Laura Kinney

---

Kiden Nixon has posed:
It's been days since the weekend ended, practically an entire week!

Kiden sends Laura a text... MEET @ JOSIES 6PM? :D :D

She'll be there well in advance, posting up at a table and declining a drink, stating that she's waiting for a friend before ordering. She's dressed in some of the clothes Laura lent her, this one a pair of pvc leggings in a shiny black with knee-high boots, a bra that matches the pants under a purple knit sweater that's fashioned specifically to let the underclothes be seen through it.

She's looking at her phone and wearing a decently goofy smile as she sends out a text, then tucks it away and does her best to compose herself. As if Laura won't be able to tell everything just from her scent. And the fact that she has one of Conner's leather jackets draped over the back of the chair.

Laura Kinney has posed:
Getting a message through to Laura Kinney is often a challenge. Thankfully to ensure she doesn't miss out on potential leads she checks her various message services often. Usually via very elaborate and convoluted secure channels. When she finally gets the message? Well she responds with typical Kinney brevity.

A single thumbs up emoji. Because no-one can map your keystroke patterns if there aren't enough data points to form a pattern.

She arrives well before six. Not that anyone would know it. As she spies on the location from a nearby rooftop. Gauging the scents of various patrons. Making sure no covert operatives are nearby arranging a snatch and grab.

And when she finally officially arrives? It's in 'going out' clothes that're a little... less noticeable than the old clothes she shared with Kiden. A black leather jacket of her own, ideal for motorcycle riding, over a black t-shirt. Plus some jeans and sturdy boots. More biker chick than party girl. But at least she doesn't look like she's going out for a run or on her way to a yoga class.

She slides herself one of the empty chairs at the table. "Sorry I'm late," she notes. The time on her watch? One minute past six. "Are we here for drinks? Or risking the food?" Dive bar food often surprises people. Either it's remarkably good. Or it's surprising just how bad the food poisoning can make you feel...

Kiden Nixon has posed:
"I could stretch the minute out into an eternity, buuuuuuut that would be a dick move," Kiden flashes a grin towards Laura and looks towards the bar. "Definitely drinks. But also food. I've got an iron stomach after all this time, and if bar food can bring you down then we need know what they put in it."

She fiddles with her fingers and glances to the bar, then the pool table, then back to Laura and grins, "So. How much do you already know, and what gaps should I fill in?" Because she's absolutely positive that there's a certain amount of information that Laura's already gleaned from her.

As a waiter begins to approach them, she glances to Laura and lifts a brow, "ID?" Because she doesn't. Not even a regular ID card, let alone a driver's license.

Laura Kinney has posed:
"Just because I can't get sick it does not mean I enjoy eating bad food," Laura points out. "I'll buy the drinks. Until you've been sorted out with..." She looks at the approaching waiter. "The things you need." IE fake IDs.

She sniffs the air.

"I don't need my enhanced senses to tell that's one of Conner's jackets." She tilts her head. "I do wonder how many jackets he must go through. Probably he buys them in bulk. They get ruined in combat so often.." Not to mention the ones he lends to friends and family. "Perhaps you can tell me what you wish to share and any important details. Like have you got a stable living situation?"

Kiden Nixon has posed:
"True. But I assume that if it's bad, you can probably smell it before I'd know if it's bad," Kiden flashes a grin towards her friends. She flicks a glance towards the waiter, then shakes her head at Laura, "Not yet. Soon though, I think."

Chuckling, she gives a nod, "I asked to borrow it, promised I would bring it back pristine." Kiden drawns in a breath and smiles, "Well. We're dating. And.. he's letting me live with him, at his apartment." She flushes and murmurs, "He's... very nice. And so hot." Pausing, she waits for the waiter to take the orders, letting Laura handle drinks while she orders two orders of cheese fries, two cheeseburgers.

Once the waiter has left, Kiden leans in towards Laura and whispers, "He took me to a club. We danced. We went back to his place and... it was great. The whole night was just... amazing. And it's all because of *your* advice!"

Laura Kinney has posed:
"That's true," Laura admits. "We can have a few drinks, wait for someone else to order, and if it smells bad we'll find somewhere else to eat."

Carry out recon, assess the situation, and if the situation is against them make a tactical withdrawal.

She raises an eyebrow. "Oh? I hope you are not going too fast." Because she never rushes into things. Ever. "You should try get your own space as soon as you can. It can be a lot on a relationship if you are around each other constantly very early on."

She blinks a few times.

"I've never really thought of him as hot. Conner is a bit like a brother." She watches Kiden ordering food and winks. "Or we can bail while they're cooking our order."

She puts in an order for two bottles of beer each to begin with. Followed with a pitcher of some sort of fruity cocktail.

"I think someone might have been hitting on me recently," she confesses. There's a pause before she adds "It was great? The night out? Or going back to his place...?"

Kiden Nixon has posed:
Chuckling, Kiden lifts a shrug and grins, "If there's a problem, I can get us out of here before anyone knows there's a problem, or even notices us." She just smiles at the waiter and watches him go before looking back to Laura.

She lifts a shrug and glances down at her hands, "Maybe? But... this is the first guy that I've ever really.. liked. I just... well. You know me, Laura... I don't ever do things by halves. It's all in or nothing at all." She flashes a brief grin, then nods. "Working on that, though."

Clearing her throat, she grins at Laura, "That mean I'm dating your brother? You gonna give me the speech about not hurting him? Cause.. I don't think that's going to be a problem." Kiden pauses, a goofy smile on her face, "I *really* like him. And he's been nothing but great with me. To me."

"He's definitely hot, though. Like... really hot."

Her brows lift sna her smile grows, "Oh yeah?? You have to tell me about it. And who!" She blushes hotly and murmurs, "Uh... all of it.. including going back to his place."

Laura Kinney has posed:
"There will be at least /one/ problem," Laura says solemnly. "You only ordered two burgers and fries. So we'll have to get a second round if it's good." The beers come first, because they have to mix up the pitcher of mystery cocktail and find the little paper umbrellas, and X-23 slugs it back like water. Which it might as well be.

And yes, she did spring for the imported beers.

"We have that in common," she admits wryly. "We tend to go to extremes. Although if anyone was going to get the warning it'd be Conner. He's not the one who would be in a vulnerable position if you split up. Which is why it's really important you get your own place soon."

She motions for Kiden to drink her beer.

"It's too early to say. But no-one has ever said they 'wish to know everything about me' before," she muses. "All of it? You two are already.." She sniffs the air. Probably this tells her everything. Even things Kiden does not wish to share. "Hopefully it was enjoyable."

Kiden Nixon has posed:
"Oh, I just figured that was the test round. We can order more as soon as we verify that the food is edible," Kiden chuckles, giving a nod to the waiter as he returns with the beer. Waiting until he leaves, she plucks up one of the bottles and takes a swallow from it. She's not super in any respect outside of her particular power, so she has to be more careful in her drinking.

Nodding to Laura, Kiden reaches her beer across and clinks it against her friends, "That we do. But that's part of what pulled us together and made us friends." Taking a pull from the bottle, she very nearly snorts it back out her nose, hwoever, having to press the back of her hand to her mouth to get the beer swallowed the right way before she lets out a laugh. "Nooooo, no warning Conner. I've been a street kid for five years. If things went unexpectedly south with him and we split, I can survive just fine until I'm situated."

Taking another few swallows, she adds, "But. I met this girl, Phoebe? She's made me a pretty good offer for work. It would mean I could get my own place, be self-sufficient... sounds pretty sweet. She said she's a friend of Conner's? It would get me a day job, and I could still maybe be part of your guys' group outside of work, too."

She hurries to finish up her own beer, setting the bottle aside. Her brows lift up and she grins, "Reeeeeeeeally? That is *promising*. I'm interested." Kiden blinks, then blushes at the sniff, but can't keep the grin off her face, "*Very*. It.. he.. was my.. first. It was.. *is*.. amazing. *He's* amazing."

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura shakes her head. "No going back to live on the street," she states. "If you really want to bail I'll pay for a a motel room. The people me and Conner work with often take out criminal groups that superheroes can't touch. And when you work in Gotham most of the valuables will 'disappear' before they reach evidence anyway. So why bother leave them to be stolen when I can use it to do good?"

And by good she means off the books covert operations.

"Yes. Phoebe is a good person. Adopted by the Wayne family. She's technically a Gotham celebrity. Been kidnapped by supervillains before. Appeared in the papers." She leaves out that she's a superhero for now. It's not her secret to reveal. "And before you ask how I know which Phoebe you mean..." She taps her nose. "I always know."

"I don't really date," she admits clinking the bottle of beer. As they bring over the big pitcher of cocktail that's using canned fruit to disguise the cheap spirits. "I've had 'relationships' but they were mostly just..." She makes a gesture. "/Arrangements/." All physical no emotional. "There isn't much to tell yet. We had donuts, talked, and then I dropped her off. We did make plans to hang out again though."

Kiden Nixon has posed:
"Ugh... you KNOW that I don't do charity. I take care of myself. I've been taking care of myself since I was 15." Kiden sticks her tongue out at Laura, then adds, "Just extra incentive to keep being happy where I'm at. Besides... I.. kinda want to get to know everything about *him* the way your girl wants to know everything about you." She grins, "We're just.. sharing an apartment while we're doing it."

She looks at Laura and offers, "You know if you ever need help with anything like that.. I'm there. With your group or without. I'm a text away, and I will literally be there before you can send the emoji."

Nodding, she smiles, "I liked her a lot. She has a couple of adorable dogs, too. Good, happy dogs. Good sign of a person.. look at their dog. See how it's been trained, how it behaves, and how it reacts. Great way to tell if someone's an asshole without having to talk to them." Both her hands come up and Kiden laughs, "I stopped questioning your talents years ago. Learned to trust them, though. You have good instincts."

Taking up the new bottle, she lifts a shrug, "I *never* dated. Or had... arrangements. Now here I am, hooked up and happy and... I still don't know how I got so lucky. It's like... like reconnecting with you changed everything. And.. you really did give me great advice. I did the clothes and we did the dancing and.. I was brutally honest... and it worked. Crazy, but... it totally worked. All of it. And I have something now with someone that I think could be... really great." She lifts a shrug and smiles at Laura, "Laura Kinney, matchmaker."

Laura Kinney has posed:
"Do not think of it as charity," Laura says with an emphatic nod. "Or that you have a choice. If it comes to it I'll track you down and sneak cash into your pockets while you sleep."

There really isn't any arguing with X-23 once she's set her mind on something. It's like trying to stop the tide with a straw.

"Phoebe once had a birthday party," she says with a smile, pouring out two glasses of the cocktail while Kiden has her second beer. "And ninjas were trying to go after her. But myself, Conner, and the rest of the group kept stopping them without her ever being the wiser. I believe they were ninjas. We had to hide the unconscious bodies. One got slid down the bowling alley. I think it was a strike."

The Outsiders have some weird social gatherings!

"My tactical instincts are better than my people skills. But people are not really as complex as they think they are. We're all just animals. Even Conner."

Her head tilts to one side. "Did he explain his personal situation?"

Kiden Nixon has posed:
Kiden gives Laura a gimlet stare for a long moment, then reaches for her beer and sips on it. "Only one problem... if I'm all broke up over a breakup, can't guarantee that cash wouldn't go straight to pills and shrooms and... well, you remember." She DOES have a history of drug usage. Heavy drug usage.

It wasn't until the group had been together for awhile that Kiden started getting her shit straight, and after it broke apart, she fell back into old habits again.. her sobriety is a pretty new thing, still.

Listening to the story, Kiden laughs at the lengths they went to to give Phoebe a good birthday party. "Sounds like a really great bunch of friends. I hope I get to be part of it someday. Hell, maybe I'll actually celebrate my 21st birthday." She flashes a grin at Laura, "But I doubt there will be any ninjas coming after me. Gangbangers maybe. Not ninjas."

"Your instincts are pretty damn spot on, tactical or otherwise. You knew I liked him, told me to go for it.. even gave me advice on how. And it worked. And... I'm happy. I barely remembered what happy was." Kiden flashes a grin, "So I'm glad he is."

She blinks, then shakes her head, "We haven't dug into the, ah.. personal background stuff. I haven't really told him about all the... stuff.. that happened. I figure maybe after we make sure we're copacetic."

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura Kinney snorts. "I'll make sure to scare every dealer you've ever met shitless first then," she says like it's no big deal. "Dealers are all the same at heart. If they cost of selling to someone is too high they won't sell to you. I estimate I'd only need to dangle a few off rooftops before word got around that you're off limits." Maybe drop one to show she's serious.

"The last time it was my 'birthday' we fought assassins on a train. It was not much of a celebration, but it prevented anyone from arranging a surprise party for me. Plus the target for the assassination attempt survived." She drinks her second beer while the fruity cocktails settle. "I won't spoil any of the surprises then. But you will probably have some interesting getting to know you talks."

Kiden Nixon has posed:
Kiden clucks her tongue at Laura and sighs, "Make me get all new dealers in a whole other town... fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine... but if I DO end up heartbroken, I'm coming for your couch and your company." She fingerguns at Laura and makes a 'pew' sound.

"My last birthday... I don't even remember. The days all just.. blur together. Maybe I was hungry, maybe I had food. I don't know if I worked at all that month... I know it wasn't as cold as I thought it would be. Nice treat." Kiden lifts a shrug and offers a wry smile, "No parties, surprise or otherwise.. no assassins either, though." She lifts a shrug and smiles, "I'd be willing to risk ninjas and assassins for a birthday with good friends."

Laura Kinney has posed:
"I don't have a couch," Laura says with a shrug. "Most of my safehouses are not intended for comfort and relaxation. The New York one is entirely open plan. Weapons, ammo, food and water. The bathroom there isn't even a room." Those open lines of sight make it nearly impossible for anyone to enter without X-23 having perfect line of sight. Her place is one big killbox for anyone visiting without her permission. "Which is why I recommend a motel."

And while it's set up for tactical advantages it does make social aspects... awkward.

"Hanging out with my Gotham associates will certainly expose you to assassins and ninjas."

Not to mention supervillains. Aliens, ghosts and who knows what.

"I remember everything. Good and bad. Not quite eidetic memory but I am trained to absorb information and retain it. Every place I've been, every person I've met, and everything I've done. I can recall like it was yesterday."

Kiden Nixon has posed:
"Couch is proverbial, Laura. I've slept in back alleys and on rooftops, on fire escapes, and benches. I am quite confident that I can, in fact, sleep on a floor in a warm room where I'm not exposed to the elements." Kiden chuckles and shakes her head, looking at Laura, "And before you say anything else, remember. You cannot move faster than me. No matter where you run, I could follow." She flashes a grin.

She's also shared a one bedroom apartment with five other teens. There's no such thing as social awkwardness!

Lifting a shrug as she sips her beer, Kiden offers, "There is nothing in this world more ugly than a human with a hate-on, Laura. You know that as well as I do. Assassins, ninjas, demons, ghosts, Hell.. the Easter Bunny on a bender. There's nothing quite like seeing your fellow person stare at you like you're the monster."

"I don't. And that's probably a good thing. I've had some baaaaaaaaaaad trips. But I remember enough. I remember why I ran. Why I'm still running."

Laura Kinney has posed:
"Did any of those places have shaped explosive charges fitted so the entire location could be destroyed at a moments notice?" Laura wonders aloud. Finishing her beer and starting on the cocktail. It's not good and those little paper umbrellas might have been back behind the bar since before Kiden or Laura were born. But it's not as awful as it could be. "Because my safehouses are usually very very dangerous for anyone but me."

Key lesson. Never push any buttons at Laura's place. What looks like a TV remote could send the entire place up in smoke.

There's a sad sigh. "One thing I have discovered. At some point you have to stop running. And realise that whatever made you ran? It should be afraid of you. That's why I'll never stop hunting the people who created me. Even when the last few survivors are on their death beds. Eventually I will see them all gone. Everything they built reduced to scorched rubble." And then she'll salt the ground so nothing can ever grow there again. Only then once The Facility isn't even a memory will she rest.

Kiden Nixon has posed:
"Not that ever bothered me. But... I'm faster than the explosions, so..." she pauses, then adds, "okay, not *faster* but you know what I mean." Kiden offers a grin towards Laura, "Could always test the theory. See if I can get to them all before they blow up?" She shrugs, "Might be fun. And it would give you a new challenge to overcome for your safehouses if it works."

She takes another drink and looks down into the bottle, then back up to Laura, "One problem. I'm not running from someone. And what I'm running from doesn't know fear, won't ever be afraid." Taking another swallow, she finishes her second beer and eyes the pitcher distrustfully. "It isn't the ganbangers that I'm afraid of. I could run circles around them. Literally. Knock them into next week."

Kiden pushes up to her feet and grabs Conner's jacket from over the back of the chair, slipping into it. "I'm a mutant. My family isn't. The last time they saw me... I was just like them." She pauses and looks at Laura, "I watched my father die. I'm not sure I could handle my mother, my brothers... looking at me the way those hateful bastards do."

She lets out a small smile and murmurs, "Think I'm gonna go.. take a walk. Maybe to Metropolis. Maybe farther. Gotta be back for dinner, though. Promised Conner. So.. catch up with you later, yeah?"

Laura Kinney has posed:
"It's underground and the walls, floor and ceiling and rigged to explode," Laura explains with a wry smile. "You're fast but where do you run when there is literally nothing but explosions?" And a secret escape tunnel that only Laura knows about. "But no. I don't want to test it. It takes forever to set up a good safehouse. I'd rather save blowing it up for when it gets breached by a villain."

"I didn't mean running from a specific person," she says with a shake of her head. "It was metaphorical like the couch. When the time is right you should tell Conner some of your past. I think it'd help for you to talk to someone who... can give better advice than me."

It's not a situation someone could snikt their way out of after all.

"I'm glad you're doing okay though. If I need any advice regarding the person who.. you know.. Well I'll be sure to call you."