16263/Slice of Life, Slice of Pie

Slice of Life, Slice of Pie
Date of Scene:	05 November 2023
Location:	Angelo's Pizza
Synopsis:	Mark and Gabby meet to have pizza, discuss Bunny and what's going on in their lives.
Cast of Characters:	Mark Grayson, Gabby Kinney

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Mark Grayson has posed:
While it's well-known that Mark is dating Bunny, he also has a healthy respect for Gabby. Even if she's Bunny's ex, they're still close friends and she helped him with the Juggernaut mess, so that earned her major points in his book.

Still, it might be a surprise when Gabby got a text.

Txt From Mark> Hey! Haven't talked in a bit? Mind if I catch up? I have a question to ask.

With it, he included directions to the pizza place. When she arrives, he's already there, fully healed and hale. A pitcher of cola is on the table with a couple of glasses - one of which is his. And the complimentary breadsticks have already been brought out.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Surprise perhaps, but ... a pleasant one. Gabby was more than relieved she was still friends with Bunny even if their relationship hadn't worked out. Being friends with Mark, too? That just made it better because she could be happy for them.

Though the text is a surprise it's not an unwelcome one.

TXT: Sure! And hell yes, I need a good slice, I've been out of New York for a week or so.

It's not too long for her to arrive decked out in jeans and a leather jacket that had been stuffed in a closet for just such weather as this. With a grin she slides into the booth seat opposite him already reaching for the empty glass intending to fill it. "Hey Mark, what's up?"

Mark Grayson has posed:
When he sees Gabby come in, Mark lifts his hand in a wave. "Hey!" he greets back, waving her over to the table. "I thought maybe Bunny would be available, but she had to bail for work. Someone's sick, need her on the piano." he explains.

He's in a sweatshirt and blue jeans and chuckles. "I haven't ordered yet, didn't know what you'd want on a pie." he admits. Which is something he should have asked before she arrived. That would have been smooth.

Which Mark is not.

"Anyway." he grins. "You good? Everything going well?" the concern is genuine - but at the same time, it's purposeful filler. He doesn't want to jump directly into why he texted her. That's rude. Especially since she's a friend.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney fills her cup with whatever cola was there before taking a big gulp. Green eyes fix on Mark regarding him thoughtfully as he goes through the usual things. "I'm doing pretty good actually. Reconnected with someone I had a few dates with a couple years ago that bailed on me, and he apologized and we're trying again. Said he got scared of screwing up and ran."

She shifts a bit in her seat so that she sits cross-legged on the bench seat. "So. What's on your mind? Seemed like you had something you really wanted to ask me and it wasn't pizza toppings."

"Pepperoni at the minimum, I'm okay with other toppings by the way."

Mark Grayson has posed:
"I'm glad to hear it!" Mark offers earnestly. Surely Bunny know, if not, he'll be sure to tell her later. "I wish you all the best, maybe we'll find a time for us all out to go together." Yeah, that can't happen except off camera.

And back to topic. "So, you've known Bunny far longer than I have." he starts, when the waitress comes over and he places an order for a large pepperoni. He's fine with a single topping.

And back to topic. "Anyway, the holidays are coming up. We're going to visit my parents for Thanksgiving. Huge step, I know. But she's excited about it." He looks thoughtful. "Anyway. Christmas is coming up. And I'm at a loss for what to get her for a gift. And I don't want to be lame and buy something at the last second. I thought about getting her some vintage roller skates, but she already has so many pairs."

"So o' clawed sage one." he teases, "What wisdom can you impart upon me?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney sits back a bit while slurping on her straw thoughtfully. Partly over the question, partly over the fact that she'd have to come up with a gift idea for Damian, too.

"Great, now I just realized I need to come up with a gift for him too!" She blurts out with a little laugh. "Ah jeeze. At least there's still time."

Her hair is idly flipped back over her shoulders in preparation of the pizza-yet-to-come so that she doesn't get it in the way while eating. It also gives her a moment to think. "Last year I got her lace charms for her skates. Little wings. I guess... I mean, how big is your budget, too? I don't want to suggest something like a keyboard if it's out of your range. I know she said she used to have an actual piano back when her folks had money if I recall right."

Her nose scrunches a bit in thought. "If not the skates, maybe some other safety gear? New helmet? Gloves?"

Mark Grayson has posed:
'A guft for him too?'

Mark doesn't push on it, instead he fouces on her question. "I have about two hundered squirreled away. I didn't really create a 'gift for Bunny' account until last month and realized we were serious." he explains.

"I could see about finding a second-hand keyboard. I'm getting ready to put a deposit on my own apartment and move out of the dorms so I don't have to worry about what happened..." With Bunny and Gabby having to find Mark.

"The only way we're getting an actual piano if there is one on Craigslist." he admits with a laugh. "I mean, I'd love to do that! But maybe next year?"

As they're talking, the waitress arrives with the pizza, setting it between the pair of thme. "Enjoy!" she offers cheerfully. And Mark gestures. "After you." He can get his slice after hers.

"A new helmet could work I know her current one got damaged when she was battling Doc Seismic."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Right? She shredded through one a few months back, too, so I know she's always needing some safety gear." There's a pause there as Gabby regards the pizza. Or more accurately, the memory. "She was really badly banged up at the time. Her brother had to drag her back home."

The thought is shaken off as she reaches for a slice opting to focus on that for now instead of the past that was upsetting. She had been worried. Really, honestly worried. "So yes, safety gear is important."

"I don't know if her apartment could fit an entire piano, but no one said used isn't an option. Craigslist is great for stuff like that. Or... I don't know about musical instruments but pawn shops always have used guns and stuff."

Mark Grayson has posed:
"Yeah, I helped get her a new costume..." Then he realizes, has Gabby seen her in costume? Mark takes out his phone and scrolls until he finds a picture of Mark and Bunny in their costumes and turns it for Gabby to see.

"It has some good armor to it to help with her shields - and the helm piece has some extra padding as well." He shrugs and pulls back the phone to put it away. "I may just keep it simple. It's our first Christmas together, don't really want to do something super extravagant. I mean we only just exchanged I love yous recently." he admits as he finally takes his own slice.

"And it's a solid idea. A helmet, some gloves. Thanks!"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Costume?" Gabby hadn't seen her in it yet. When the phone is pulled out to show she leans forward across the table for a better view. As it's explained she grins giving a nod of approval here and there. "Good, body armor is always good. I mean--I heal but body armor is important. You would not *believe* the amount of people I know that don't have any sort of armor whatever and they don't even heal quick!" A light shake of her head comes, and she lifts her gaze to arch an eyebrow at Mark. "Case in point."

Sitting back again she folds her slice in half (as you do) to take a bite chewing on it thoughtfully. "Yeah, don't overdo things too much. She'll like anything you get her. Though I might add to get a pack of stickers to add in. The more glittery the better."

Another glance is cast his way. "How are things going with you, anyway? You know, with 'work.'"

Mark Grayson has posed:
A glance around to make sure that they have some privacy and no prying ears. And even then, his voice lowers a little.

"I mean, I'm Invincible." Mark still has /some/ of that confidence that Gabby's seen now and again. "And I'm not used to fighting in armor. If it can hurt me, armor isn't going to help that much." he admits.

Back to his normal tone, he considers the question. "I do not think my father has hired anyone else? I can figure out why he did it. He wants me to be stronger. And he told me once, you only get stronger through struggle. By rising above. So maybe he thought he was helping?" A sigh at that. The road to hell...

"Work's going well. I'm helping the Titans and the Young Avengers when I can. Bunny's happy we're on a team together, and likewise happy that I'm not relying on being a solo anymore and accepting a team idea. Another thing my dad tried to drill home - I don't need a team." he explains.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Everyone needs a team," Gabby assures with a solemn nod as if this were something that should be well known. A sip is taken of her soda. "My genetic donor always says he doesn't, too, but he's not a good person when he doesn't have one."

Smiling faintly she adds, keeping her voice low for those who might overhear, "It's not about not being able to do things by yourself. Even if you *could* you can't do *everything at once.*"

"More importantly though, it's about keeping yourself honest. Having people to fight for, and fight with, toward a common goal. Otherwise? You get lonely and stuck in your own head, and start to lose touch with yourself and the world."

Mark Grayson has posed:
Taking a bite of his pizza after folding it, Mark nods as he listens to Gabby. All of her points are solid. "Do you mind if I say it sounds like you're speaking from experience?" he asks Gabby curiously after he swallows.

"Not that I mean anything bad about it. But you know. Not alone. I know that I'm dating your ex, but..." he considers, a sip of his soda and then. "...I'd like to be your friend. Bunny speaks so well of you and you helped me when I needed it. And I guess I never asked that officially." Another bite of his pizza is taken. Because he's nervous. He knows that Bunny spends a lot of time with him and hasn't really caught up with Gabby recently. And he feels a little guilty about it.

"So. Bunny know about this new guy?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"I am in a way." Gabby takes another bite of her slice before she unfolds it again. This time she sprinkles on some red pepper flakes, refolds, and takes another bite. It's eaten quickly before the cheese has time to cool down too much.

"I always had a team when I was younger, even if they were my sisters. Then... I had a chance to be 'normal' although it was more the adults trying to force it on me. I was miserable." A wry grin comes as she considers sharing more before shaking the thought out of her head. "Plus I have an 'adult' version of me kind of merged in the back of my head from an extra-dimensional situation and she REALLY had a tough time, and I do not want that, no thank you."

It's all said matter-of-fact as she just acccepts how it is. Sometimes weird things happen. She really needed to catch up with Emma to see about some psychic therapy in regards to that whole situation.

Returning to the question at hand she can only shake her head. "No, she doesn't know. My own teammates only found out the other day and they were a bit surprised. Especially," she adds looking a bit perplexed, "Since his mom is on my team, too."

Mark Grayson has posed:
'In a way I am.' Mark will just have to accept that as her answer if they're friends. He's fine with that. But it all turns to team talk. "I was taught to be reliant only on myself since the first day I got my powers. It's a little hard to learn to trust. Having a girlfriend with powers helps." he admits.

As she explains everything else, he just listens between bites of pizza and tries to drink it all in. But really, it's like trying to sip from a firehose. And he ends up blinking a few times.

"That sounds like a whole bundle of stuff that needs to be unwrapped." he admits with a laugh. "Hopefully they took it well. I mean, noone's seem to be bothered by my relationship yet."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Well," Gabby remarks between bites, "You also had a parent. Parents? I don't. So I kind of had to find connections where I could," she reasons with a shrug as if it were just one of those things.

She uncrosses her legs to shift a bit, as if she were just starting to get a bunch of energy building up that she wasn't sure how to expend while sitting. Who knows? She was eating, maybe that was the case. How fast did she digest anyway?

Looking a bit more seriously across the table at him she flashes a grin. "And of course I'm cool with being friends. If it's not weird for the whole 'ex' thing. I was Bunny's friend before we tried dating so I'm glad that we're still friends. And," she adds grinning broader, "I am happy for you two. You seem good together."

Mark Grayson has posed:
"Yeah, both parents. The white picket fence all-American upbringing that doesn't make me wonder if I should feel any less guilty when people seem to want to use their past as an excuse for their attitude." Clearly he doesn't mean Gabby as Mark finishes off his slice and takes up another, this one getting the parmesean treatment.

"It's not weird. I mean, I'm still friends with the couple of ex's I have, even if they haven't been around for Bunny to meet." Mark admits with a shrug. "And thanks." His cheeks blossom with a little heat as she tells him she's happy for them. "So I guess that begs the question... what are your holiday plans? Bunny and I are gonna be outta town for Thanksgiving, but we can do something when we're back. And of course, there's Christmas. But if new boyfriend is keeping you company, totally understand that as well!"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney can only give a wry grin for a moment. "Heh, my last ex before Tommy and Bunny ended up running off to deal with his demons saying he wasn't good enough for me, he was ruining me, and I have no idea where he is or what happened to him. Being friends is a new thing to me after a relationship."

Holidays though. THAT earns a thoughtful upward roll of her eyes considering. "I haven't had plans the last couple of years. Nettie usually puts something together, but Damian and I haven't discussed the possibilty of joining his family yet. We only started seeing each other a couple of weeks ago at this point," she admits with a little uncertainty in her tone.

"We could totally do something after though!

Mark Grayson has posed:
"Sounds like a plan. A little something at the apartment, play some games, exchange gifts. Whatnot." Mark offers with a grin, but nudges the pizza over towards Gabby. Looks like she could use it.

"Thank you for the advice on Bunny, I appreciate it."