17278/Taking Belinda for Walkies

Taking Belinda for Walkies
Date of Scene:	25 February 2024
Location:	Bryant Park
Synopsis:	While out on a walk with Belinda, they discover Blue following them. And after a sharing of stories, a meeting with Nettie is set up.
Cast of Characters:	Joshua Foley, Belinda Gutierrez, Blue GhostEyes

---

Joshua Foley has posed:
It's a warmer day in New York, after several cooler days. Blame global warming. Having invited Belinda out for a walk and a talk, the pair of them are on one of the jogging paths. Joshua's dressed in a nice t-shirt, blue jeans and sneakers and carrying a small paper bag.

"So..." he's explaining, "I decided to come back home and see how things work with Sara." he admits quietly. "Which means, for now, you, my dear little 'niece', are the new recipent of the Annette Crowe scholarship for the weird and wonderful to attend Oxford on a free ride, if you ever want it."

With that, the bag is presented to Belinda. "And just in case you think I didn't think about you while I was over there, I brought you a gift.

Inside the bag is a pink shirt in Belinda's size (+2 sizes so she can sleep or wolf out in it) from the Oxford Campus Store that reads.

The more I study,
the more I know.
The more I know,
the more I forget.
The more I forget,
the less I know.

So why study?

Oxford?

There's a grin as he hands it over, the golden skinned mutant bumping his shoulder against his non-blooded but magic bound relative. "Because I'm sure you would do a lot better at school than me."

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
The answer is a giggle, a laugh, a quiet squee-- and a friendly elbow to the ribs, not entirely in that order. Plus a hug after, yet again given in quiet welcome!

"Except where maths are concerned," Belinda adds, sighing wistfully. She draws the shirt from the bag, holding to her face with a deep, loving breath. "Mmmmm. Oooh! Lamb. And pita bread, and garlic mayonnaise, and--" She pauses, coughing breifly as she blushes. "--good things, all. And cabbage, too." She grins, leaning in with a happy sigh. "I do hope things shall work out," she adds, "Though I shall not now or ever call you 'Tio', even if that is the proper placement in la familia settings!" She smiles, eyes glittering with warm mischief.

"Maybe 'hermano'...!"

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
Usually Blue heads to her favorite cemetary, or the Central Park to run as her otherself. Today her instincts drove her to a different location. She doesn't have as much trouble when people see her as one might expect. Yes she looks like Central U.S. coyote with the typical grey coloring but she's bigger than the largest wolf and wears a bright purple color with tags. The name printed is Blue and the address and phone number are for a place in the Bronx. Also, most people tend to see what they want to see, which isn't a monster sized coyote.

A newly familiar scent reaches her nose on the wind and Blue darts onto the path and begins quietly following the two people ahead of her. Belinda whom she doesn't know but smells strangely of wolf and Josh whom she's hoping to get to know better. Silently, Blue bets with herself on how long it will take them to notice their follower.

Joshua Foley has posed:
There's a little oof as Joshua plays up the elbow to the ribs with a laugh and is more than happy to return the hug. "And I mean it. If you ever decide to take it up, I'll be one of your biggest supporters." he reiterates warmly. "We are family, after all. Though I think mom has weird tastes in the order she takes us in." A grin.

And then Belinda is catching the scent of gyros on the wind. As for himself, he has not picked it up yet, they're still a ways off from the Greek cart that is decorated with little flags that is totally an overloaded homage to the homeland with little statues of the gods and everything! "Lead the way." he encourages. "I'll buy."

"I don't mind being a Tio..." Joshua says thoughtfully, considering the word, but when Belinda adds in that rejoiner, he pauses for a moment, his grey eyes widening slightly as he grips his hands together. "I mean..." She's right, they are pretty much family and much closer on that than an uncle and niece. "I supposed you can be my annoying little sister." he teases. "I'll try not to be too rough on any potential mates you bring home. At least until you're like... twenty-five." A smirk at Belinda and he reaches to ruffle her hair lightly in a toussle.

And is completely unaware that there is a straggler following nearby that has a bead on them. No special powers on that front here, and his biokenesis only works within a meter of him currently.

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
"Amen," Belinda agrees, smiling-- and coughing, blushing *fiercely*! "I will be sure to let you know," she says deftly, glancing away with a hum of innocence...

...which is about as convincing as any lie ever told about bridges and Arizona oceanfront property.

The wind blows in the direct opposite direction. And the promise of free food- the young lady tugs Josh with her free hand, grinning with delight. "You willl regret that," she promises, a wicked sparkle on her features. She relents, momentarily, adding, "Well, once. But that one gets EVERYTHING." She hums quietly, practically skipping towards the gyro cart with eagerness. "Leaving though, I am not sure. While you were gone, I worked with issues. And college." She quivers, practically vibrating with glee. "Secured a grant from the Wayne Foundation for collegia. It was hard, but made it. /Made it!/ Eeee!"

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
Blue follows a bit longer but as they approach the Gyro cart, her stomach rumbles. She's not known in this place so there isn't a sure fire chance of cadging free food from the vendor and besides, she can't talk like this and since the two aren't looking behind them, she darts into the brush and then steps out an instant later.

A quick check of herself reveals a pair of old grey tennis shoes, blue jean shorts and a purple flannel shirt. Yeah, that'll work. Stepping onto the path she jogs forward and calls out. "Hey. Josh! Hyla! Fancy seeing you here." The Native American woman grins and since she wasn't supposed to have been easedropping she looks at Belinda curiously. It's gonna be interesting she thinks. Will the other woman smell the coyote on her or not?

Joshua Foley has posed:
"I have been told of your misdeeds with the wallets of those that dare feed you..." Joshua responds with a roll of his eyes, grinning with mirth as his hand is grabbed, the pair of them making their way to the cart. He's fishing out his own wallet to pay for the purchase about to be made as Belinda tells him what she's been up to. Though he catches on the grant. "You got it?? That's great news!" Another hug of Belinda if given easily, squeezing the young woman. "I'm so proud of you! So much closer to going to the moon!"

It's a well-worn and still good tease.

But he's about to say more when there's a voice from behind and he tgurns to face Blue. "Oh, hey!" he greets, raising his hand in a wave. "Didn't expect to see you again so soon!" The golden mutant offers a warm smile. "We were just about to get gyros. Would you like one?" he asks, before making introductions, though his hand settles on Belinda's shoulder just in case.

"Blue GhostEyes, this is my adopted little sister, Belinda Gutierrez. She's more a niece, but sister is so much easier, really. Belinda, this is Blue GhostEyes, she's the bartender I was telling out about last night." Because he did post a notice. Hopefully Belinda read it.

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Belinda totally read it! Mostly. Skimmed the important parts at least! Between testing the soil and plants in the rooftop planters at the shop.

"Hola!" she announces, waving cheerfully. Eyes sharp-- this close, the wicked vagaries of the wind are no longer a shield, and the scent from the newcomer is anything but human. Or only remotely so, freshly so, still in the grip of something considerably different.

"It is a pleasure," Belinda continues, eyes sharpening as her nose quivers. Not pulling away from Josh's restraint, but... tensing. Edging. Just *subtly* taking that half-step forward and between. Instinctive caution.

And gyros! Free gyros. Fierce defense!

"And I *will* get to la Luna!" she adds with a huff, a grin as she glances towards the golden mutant. "Remind me to show you mi roca, my moonrock!"

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
"It's a pleasure to meet'cha, Belinda." Blue grins easily. She offers the vendor a fifty. "I'll take ten of those lamb gyros with everything." She looks at Josh with a chagrined expression. "Sorry, it's just I eat a lot. Not fair to ask you to pay for that. "Keep the change." She tells the seller, thinks a moment and adds a bit more cash. "Two of those Pepsis too please." Cause calories.

"I don't usually run here but today I just had a feeling." Blue shrugs and smiles. She notices Josh's protective hand but isn't out to harm the two, is just curious really. Of course curiousity has killed the coyote far more often than the cat she thinks, it has never stopped her though.

Heh. Well the woman.. no, upon closer study, girl really, has good senses. A young female werewolf out on her own with no overlaying scents of a wolfpack? That is outside Blue's experience with wolfpacks. Interesting. Awaiting her food, Blue glances up at the sky where the moon resides, even though it's day time. "You.. want to go to the moon?" There's a faint hint of confusion in the woman's voice.

Not wanting to escalate the situation she holds up her hands and displays and easy grin. "No worries. I like Josh. I don't mean him and his any harm."

Joshua Foley has posed:
Oh, the hand was not for Belinda's protection. As the younger shapeshifter tenses, Josh squeezes her shoulder fondly - but firmly. There's no skin to skin contact for him to manipulate - not that he would do that without her permission, but it's meant to put Belinda at ease.

"She's a friend. She held onto my coat when I left it at Josie's." comes Joshua's explanation, and to drive home that point, his free hand is offered to Blue. "It's good to see you again. I just didn't expect it to so soon. Small world!" A grin at that, free and easy.

"And yes, she wants to be an astronaut." Joshua comments with a fond look to Belinda. "And that was a rock that someone brought you, I want to see the rock you someday bring home yourself." he points out with the full confidence that Belinda can do exactly that.

But then Blue is placing her order, and his eyes widen abit. "Goodness, that is a lot! No offense, but your caloric burn must be insane." he admits. He had felt a bit of that when they touched - and he's seen Belinda's appetite at work. Like feeding a woodchipper in a redwood forest, really.

"But you're welcome to join us if you want. We were just talking about our plans for the future. Her going to the moon, me hoping to be an EMT." A shrug. "So I didn't get a chance to ask last night, what type of things do you investigate?"

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
The girl glowers briefly, a faint rumble of torn instincts. Food. Family! But food. Sigh! And... finally dropping her eyes with a sheepish grin. "Lo siento," she admits, rubbing the back of her head. "Sorry. Just, he is recently back, so overprotective hermana, si?" Tension flees like the wind, swirling as it carries tension's leaves up and away as she gives him another friendly nudge to the ribs. "Little sister, hmmmph!"

She settles back into that watchful calm, eyes never leav--- totally leaving. GYROS. The threat of danger assuaged, her focus once more falls squarely on that totally deliciouos and wholesome meaty goodness that /begs/ to be tasted and tested and nommed upon and devoured like a skulk of foxes in a chicklen coop--!

It takes a second for Belinda's eyes to widen at the sheer amount of food ordered. "...Dios," she murmurs, considering anew. Quiet for a few heartbeats, listening. Scenting! Connectings dots. Renewed attention, focusing in a new curiosity of her own for the newcomer. "Investigati`ons?" she inquires. "Like Senor Constantine?"

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
So many questions. Blue has *so* many questions about the astronaut thing. It wouldn't be polite or appropriate to just start blurting them out though. She does tilt her head and look in the moon's direction again for a long moment before shaking it and smiling at Belinda. "Don't think I could do that. You're very brave and ambitious. Those are good things. The Mother wouldn't approve of me leaving her embrace but you.. Good on ya." Blue smiles.

She laughs and nods at Josh. "It is sometimes. Okay, a lot of the time. The more active I am, the more I need to eat." In her human form she has a boxer's physique, though overlaid with plenty of womanly curves. It definitely takes a lot of calories to keep her from dropping weight and losing muscle mass.

Blue gathers up her order and moves away a bit, finding a nice spot on the grass and dropping to the ground to spread out her meal in front of crossed legs. "The people that come to me are people the law can't or won't help. So I investigate everything from missing pets and people, to murders and.. darker things." Her eyes flick briefly towards Belinda. "There's the occasional cheating spouse fiasco but there's also plenty of genuine mysteries. More and more people are becoming aware that the world isn't just full of humans. So I get those cases too." If anyone looks up her reputation as a detective, it's pretty new but one thing is clear, she'll switch sides on a case and refuse any payment in a second if she things the person or people she's investigating are in the right instead of whoever hired her.

"I get that. I was *this* close.." Blue holds her finger and thumb a miniscule amount apart "To throwing down with an entire bar on his behalf the other night just cause I liked him." She tells Belinda but doesn't go into the story. She suspects Josh wants to forget it all. She blinks in surprise. "I've heard that name but never met the man. Or at least.. I don't remember meeting him. I have memory problems."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"I'm back for good, Belinda. At least for the forseable future. No need to worry." Joshua promises Belinda. And he orders a pair of gyros for himself, and waits for Belinda's order. Like the two women, he needs to eat a lot, but his is for an entirely different reason. Healing people takes a lot of out of him. "Yes, you are a very overprotective and very good little sister." Another squeeze of Belinda's shoulder and he lets go now that she seems calm.

"I know quite a few people with appetities like that." he offers to Blue. "Nothing to be ashamed of! Sometimes you just need the extra carbs to get through the day, right?" And then as she is explaining the investigations she does, Joshua tilts his heads. "That sounds very exciting." And for a moment, he's wondering if someone hired her to tail him. That's pushed aside for the moment as she goes in a direction he hadn't expected. "Ah, well, that's fair. In a world where men fly and aliens exist, it can totally need people that are willing to dig into it to find out where the real trouble is."

But as Blue goes into the near barfight, Joshua sighs, a soft noise. Not a complaint. Like Blue said, he wants to push it behind him. "A friend of Sara's decided to push my buttons and I reacted poorly. I have offered my apologies and I allowed my words and powers to get out of hand." He shrugs his shoulders. "And I will just have to get along with him, if I want to continue to date Sara, no?"

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Belinda grins, mischief flaring anew in her eyes as she nods, true to her word as she orders one (1) each specialty gyro. Just one. With lamb, chicken, cabbage, garlic, jalopenos, peppers, a slathering of chili oil, beef, a sardine or three....

Gathering her own order before taking a seat opposite Blue, she nods as she considers how to explain. "He frequents the shop I work at," she explains, basking in the reverence of the scents. Freshly cooked, sliced from the cooking spit-- bliss! "Coffees sometimes, teas mostly, occasional odd things that other places cannot acquire as easily-- Abuela's contact can get things that are sometimes difficult to find." She unfolds the wax paper wrapping her chosen meat vessel, delighted as she savors the glorious scent up close.

"Ah, la luna!" She begins folding the wrap tighter, considering it before drawing a few pieces of the cabbage from inside with a sigh of regret. Considering another second, polugging some jalopenos back in, drawing out a strip of the meat instead. Priorities. "Well, trying to attend as la cientifica for now-- botanica, botanist specializings. Not many plants on the Moon to look at, but surely there shall be hydroponic gardens and such. And there is always Mars!"

Though she pauses in taking a bite, glancing at Josh sharply. "....do I need to bite someone?" she asks guardedly, eyes intent. "Because I can totally bite them. Or headlock until they beg for mamaa! Or tell Abuela."

She grins toothily, eyes gleaming. "And loan her la chancla!"

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
Blue had actually told the guy he should drop it if he considered Sara his sister because it wouldn't go well if he didn't but then she'd dropped the matter and since it's none of her business anyway, is content to let it lie."Oh I'm not ashamed." The woman grins. "I just don't like people paying for my needs unless I'm fleecing some rich person." She's good at reading people, Blue is. "No one hired me to follow you. It's just.. something you said. About dying and yet.. you're alive. I.. very intimately know what that feels like. I've, as far as I can remember currently, never met anyone else who could do that. I have questions. I also know it's probably not okay to just ask them. So I was hoping to get to know you better because of that and also, you are a healer and that a is a sacred calling among my kind. I'd want to know and help you for that alone." She admits.

By the time Belinda settles, Blue has polished off three of the gyros and most of a pepsi. She eats fast and efficiently. Grinning at Belinda's ferociousness, Blue nods in silent approval. She might not have a family, or even any friends but that doesn't mean she can't recognize and approve of the traits in others. Besides, it's time to start opening herself up to those kinds of possibilities again. Even if it's most likely to end in pain. Continuing to ignore her otherself's needs is a path to madness and that is to be avoided at.. well, not all costs..but.. she has to start trying.

Joshua Foley has posed:
And this is why Joshua didn't want to bring it up. "I've already talked to mom about it." he says finally. "With Sara. They both agree that it needs to be addressed and I'm being stubborn by trying to shove it down, but I know his type, he will do all he can to justify his point of view and I was wrong in everything. It is very vogue among bullies." A shrug of his shoulders at that, because he really does just want to keep the peace and that is the way he wants to handle it.

But then, Blue asks the question she has wanted to ask this whole time. Glancing around, he closes his eyes, steeling himself as he prepares to revisit something he doesn't like. "A few years ago, before my powers showed, I was one of them. A bigot, I joined a group to bully mutants because my family raised me that mutants were an abomonation before God and that they did not deserve mercy or compassion. I did some... things I am not proud of."

"And then one day, my best friend at the time, the guy who talked me into joining the group I was with, got hurt. When I touched him to checked the injury, he healed. Immediately. And that's how I found out I was a mutant." A small breath taken and let out and he tucks into his gyro. "So, best friend does the thing all best friends do, and ratted me out as a mutant. The group, they were called Reavers. And they decided that my power would be great to make their mutant cure perfect. Little did I know that their cure was torturing and murdering mutants, and when I found out the truth, it was too late."

Another bite and he closes his eyes. "There was an attack on the labs we were in. A pink-haired girl tried to help me, but I was attacked and fatally wounded. The group? They decided to destroy the lab. And... I was left along within. I still feel the heat searing my skin off, the explosion ripping me to shreds in my dreams." He sets down his food, suddenly not hungry.

"I woke up in a drawer in the morgue. From what little was left of my brain... I had remade myself. But that didn't stop the nightmare. The Reavers realized what a prize I was. So they hunted me. And I tried to go home. Because I thought my parents would understand. They didn't. They called me a freak. A demon. A monster. They were told I was dead. And yet, there I was. In the golden flesh. They threw me out on the streets. I spent two years there - until Nettie Crowe found me and took me in. She helped me overcome the Reavers. Took me in, adopted me, and showed me all the love a real family can offer. So when I saw that night that someone... claiming to be a sibling... was using that position to to try to control someone else, I got angry. And lost my temper."

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Belinda can appreciate good food and fine cooking, but isn't about to dive right in and make a scene by eating to match Blue's appeti--

--which is already a regret as she buzzsaws though her gyro, gobbling down meat and savory bits and pieces of cabbage, leaving the pita behind to devour seconds later.

A brief burp at the end, meeting the stall's cook/owner with a abashed grin.

"Running team," she suggests, humming softly as she casts him a quick wave. She rolls the pita into a tight wrap, the last of the cabbage and oil and mayo gathered within as its own special treat. Listening to Josh with calm, studied care-- the nonchalance of one keenly, intently paying attention.

"And lo, his shining appearance," she adds in explanation, eyes tracking upward. "Our own `Angel Guardian."

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
Blue listens quietly but with obvious interest. Her facial expression reacting to Josh's story accordingly though she's careful to keep her emotions battened down tight, not wanting to share them through scent with Belinda and potentially make things worse. ln a display of her keen observation skills, she slides two of her gyros towards Belinda and gives the girl a pointed stare. It's one thing to care what people think, another to suffere because of it.

Once Josh finishes his tale, Blue is quiet for a bit, considering what to say. Finally she starts with "I would say I'm sorry you went through all of that but I'm honestly not. It made you a better person. We all have our trials, our crosses to bear. If we are really lucky or good, then we learn and we grow and we become better than we were. I've had entire lifetimes with those lessons and I'm still a work in progress. I always will be. I'm not a mutant or a human but I ain't no god either." Not so far as she knows. "It's part of being human I'd say but it's not unique to humans either. What I am glad of is that you found your place. A family, a mother whom I think I met briefly the other night. Didn't have a chance to introduce myself.. and your woman and your lovely sister." She pauses to grin at Belinda.

"Thank you. I know that wasn't an easy story to tell. I didn't ask out of morbid curiousity. I mean, I was curious yes but.. it happens to me. Usually when I take a fatal wound I go into what I call a death coma. I wake up once I'm healed and if I'm lucky I remember what happened and when and where and how. Since technology got better its easier. I can leave myself a message with the basics if there's time before I pass. Frequently it takes weeks, months, years, to remember things, if I do at all." She sighs heavily.

"There are types of death though, like the fire you went through, or a brain death.. where I don't go into that coma but I guess I just.. completely die. I come back in a different body. Sometimes I'm not even a woman, but a man. It's always been this way for me. Ever since my first death. I can't remember the vast parts of most of those lives. Just bits and pieces here and there. So finding someone else that a similar thing happened to.. someone that might understand.." Surprised, she lifts one hand and finds tears trailing down her cheeks and despite that iron will power, knows her emotions are flucuating wildly. Grief, longing, lonliness and.. a desperate, desperate hope.

Joshua Foley has posed:
"You're biased." That said to Belinda, as Josh hands over the second gyro - clearly he wasn't going to eat it and didn't want it to go to waste - so to little sister it goes. "I am no angel, though. Way too flawed and broken.

And then Blue is speaking of her own death experiences, and he listens intently. "There are gaps in my memory as well." he admits. "Like, I remember I liked a show, but cannot remember the details of it. So... I totally understand that."

He was about to say more when when Blue starts to cry. And there's a brief moment of Josh panic. Pretty girls crying around him is not a thing, at all! How to address. A brief, helpless look to Belinda.

And then he reaches out, giving Blue a hug, his arms around her as he pats her back in a light, 'There, there' motion.

"Maybe we should introduce her to Abuela?" That asked of Belinda, to see her thoughts on it.

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Belinda accepts the offered gyros, taking them with gentle, due grace. Food is Important <tm>, and the sharing of such is a just as important, if not moreso. She toys with the wrapper of one, watching carefully as she considers the woman. Subtle differences, subtle scents-- watching, listening, nodding quietly as she learns. Nodding quietly to Josh as she breathes deep. Memory, committing.

"Abuela would know more about such things than us," she answers softly, voice low for their own benefit. "She has experience, dealing with time and ages and Senora." Pointedly no longer referring to Blue as 'seniorita'; understanding come at last of the unwitting lies of one's appearance relative to age.

"She is wise," she adds, lips twitching gently. "...and can drink alcohol. And si-- am biased! No arrepentida, no repents."

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
While she's startled by the hug, Blue isn't afraid and is rarely ashamed of her emotions. After a moment she hugs Josh back and murmurs a soft "Thanks." Then she leans back and wipes at her eyes and polishes off her second coke and the last of her gyros. Food *is* important.

If she is nervous, it's the mention of their mother/grandmother? Blue isn't quite sure of the relationships yet. Magic users are people she tends to avoid. Not because she has something against them but rather, she's only recently begun to be able to sense magic that doesn't belong to the tribes and has no idea how magic directed at her would react.

Having managed to hang onto this body for an entire decade, Blue is loathe to lose it to anything. It's tempered some of her often risky and totally chaotic actions. Okay, she at least stops to think for a second or two before jumping in headlong anyway. "I think I would like to meet her. Officially anyway. I sorta fled the second the battle was over before." Blue admits.

Joshua Foley has posed:
Taking out his phone, Joshua sends a message. Once he gets it back, he sighs and shakes his head. "One moment. She said yes, but." He heads up to the counter and places an order. "One lamb, extra sauce, extra fries."

"The price of a meeting." he tells Blue with a wink. Once he has the order bagged up and ready to go, he turns to face the two shapeshifters. "So. To the Candle?" he asks, a small back into place.