TWAT club meeting mingle

[laserguy]

Who: Scott Summers and members of TWAT (Teenagers With Abilities and Talents) Club. Or any teenager that just stops by really.
Where: Roof of the club building
What: Teenagers with abilities or maybe no real abilities hanging out on the rooftop and eating food. Talking. Doing club stuff.
Warnings: Probably none.


[Maybe you're already part of TWAT club and read the message that Scott sent out to everyone, basically stating that they're having a meeting this Saturday to just hang out and meet new members. Or you saw one of the flyers around town that mentioned about having a meeting. Either way, the meeting is held at the rooftop of the club building, so just come. No food or anything required. He's a good leader like that, yeah. Definitely.]

before the meeting;
[Why did you come early, god.

Well, anyone that is one of those people that like to come early to events, Scott's putting you to work. Maybe it's just helping getting the food out on the tables, or bringing up chairs or tables up to the rooftop. Either way, work needs to be done and setup is still in progress, so pair up with other TWAT members or whatever to get things ready. Thanks, Scott appreciates it. Probably.

Also, if you have your own food or brought a game of some sort, that's cool. He definitely isn't going to say no. Go set that up.]

just hanging out;
[Once the meeting starts and Scott gives some basic speech and welcoming new people to TWAT Club (in which he wasn't nervous at all shut up), people are more than welcome to just eat the pretty decent spread laid out in the tables. Stuff like chips, pizza, rice balls, ramen, probably some mixture of American and Japanese food because he's him and his girlfriend is Kotone, so yeah. There's also a little sign or note in front of the tables that states 'provided by cooking club, so join us. ✨'

Since this is a place filled with teenagers and abilities... Scott probably has encouraged people to show off their powers a little. JUST DON'T BLOW SOMETHING UP it's okay, he's talking about himself too. Of course, he's not forcing anyone to show off their powers and everything, but he sort of hopes people are feeling more comfortable to do so. That is the purpose of his club and everything.

There's also a random cornhole game set up. Don't ask.]

after club;
[Feel like being a nice person and help clean up? Nice. Scott isn't forcing anyone to stay after to do so, but he appreciates the help. It's mostly just taking tables down and clearing out the trash. Anyone that stays can probably take home some of the leftovers. So, that's a nice bonus.

Maybe you just want to sit on the ground and enjoy the evening a little. He's not judging.]

[ooc: TWAT mingle log! Please feel free to post your own top levels and tag each other. :> If your character would bring food or set something up, go right ahead. The more the better, right? Also your character doesn't need to be part of TWAT to join, Scott will just sort of let any teenager in. 'Teenager' being anyone that doesn't look too much like an oldie--]

Comments

wildcard + closed starters

[laserguy]

[Scott's around ofc, so if you just wanna hit him up for anything, go right ahead! Or feel free to toss an idea at me at currykirby]

for gwen

[laserguy]

[Okay, he didn't expect there to be an actual battle between the two new spider people. It was honestly really cool to watch, two superheroes going at it and testing each other. They really have very similar abilities, maybe they're like Minato and Kotone? Parallel universe but one became Spider-Man/Woman and the other didn't. He should ask about that more. Someday.

Once they're finished with their fight, Scott goes up to Gwen with a smile. He'll talk to Peter at some point, but this is the first time he's met her. Although, he has a pretty good hunch who she may be. Like, the girl that's always hanging out with Peter? The one that talked about superheroes and supervillains and Spider-Man during their first conversation? Yeah.

He'd bet like $100.]

Neat fight back there.

[arachnerina]

[Shhhh it's supposed to be a secret! It's not supposed to be super obvious to anyone that knows them from the outside! But damn, that's really hard when Peter can't keep his mouth shut about his own identity. Quill figured it out almost instantly, so Gwen realizes she's probably screwed when it comes to keeping her secret. She's honestly not so much worried about who she meets here learning as she is someone from her home learning and it getting out back home. Which, little does she know, the one other person from her home already knows. So. It's fine, totally fine, yep.

Anyway! Showing off was fun, but now Gwen's chilling, the mouth of her suit rolled up just enough so she can sip on the straw in her weird Aldrip brand cola.

She recognizes Scott as he approaches, if just because she's seen Peter talking to him -- he's the one with the laser eyes that needs extra glasses, right? And the host of tonight! She remembers texting him, but that was as Gwen, so she's gotta play it cool, keep the secret identity on lock. She's got this.]

Oh, hey. Thanks. I was worried we got a little overboard, but everyone seemed to enjoy it. The web residue shouldn't last too much longer.

[laserguy]

Don't worry about the residue. Totally worth it.

[He lightly shrugs, but that knowing smirk is still plastered across his face.]

Really keeping the secret identity secret, huh?

[Because she rolled up her mask just enough to eat the food that's so generously being offered around here. Scott just looks amused, because he doesn't think the whole secret identity stuff will last long here, especially if she keeps hanging out with Peter. It's not a big deal though, right? Of course, he doesn't plan on outing either of them because they're his friends, but he's pretty sure that everyone else will be totally chill with them.

Like he can't imagine anyone in his club being lame otherwise.]

[arachnerina]

Oh, this? [Gwen points to the mask, then shrugs.]

Habit, mostly. Spider-woman has enemies in my dimension. Since there's a lot of criminals here, the last thing I want is my secret to get out, get back to my dimension, and my family pay the price.

[She already lost her mom and her best friend. If something happened to her dad, because of her? She couldn't bare it.]

Everyone here tonight seems cool, but-- just playing it safe, for now.

[laserguy]

Criminals, yeah, but no supervillains. This place must be kind of boring in comparison-- but yeah, makes sense. Not wanting your identity to be known back home.

[It feels unlikely that the secret would follow her back home, but he understands.

Maybe the arrival of two superheroes is a warning though, that some actual supervillains will show up. That would be kind of wicked, although Scott has a feeling that it'll be less fun to actually deal with. Like what if Magneto showed up? That would be a mess. Yeah, okay, he'll gladly just take the two new spider friends without any of the additional villains thanks.

Besides, Peter and Definitely Not Gwen should be able to hang out like regular teens and stuff for a while. Like him. Like the Persona teens. Like everyone here. Even if it's just for a few hours. Maybe it's that thought that pushes Scott just a little bit, his countenance changing to something a little more serious, if supportive.]

Hope you feel safe enough to eventually reveal yourself-- at least here. I can make everyone do a swear of secrecy when that happens.

[arachnerina]

Honestly? Supervillians aren't that common. Most of the guys I've taken down are just run of the mill thugs or thieves. Bank robbers, purse snatchers. Boring stuff.

[Maybe it is a stretch, to think something might follow her home. She didn't exactly worry so much about it in Miles' dimension, would here be so different? She still had a lot of questions and no real answers.

Besides, someone from her home was here, so there was a potential leak. But his pledge of secrecy makes her chuckle.]

Maybe. We'll see what happens.

[laserguy]

[Color him surprised hearing that. He thought she was fighting supervillains left and right. It just feels like a bit much that the girl who can swing around the city and shoot webs at people spends most of her time taking down bank robbers or purse thieves. Like overkill or whatever.

Guess if there's nothing else happening and she still wants to help out...

Maybe she won't be bored here after all. She honestly would've been a big help with the whole organ stuff a month back. Ugh, Gogol really sucks-- he probably counts as a supervillain by now, right?]

So, did the same thing happen to you? When getting your powers? [Bitten by a radioactive spider and all that.] Spider-Man mentioned it to me.

[arachnerina]

[She doesn't want to bring up crossing dimensions to fight supervillains, since it was a bit too close to something they talked about over text, and she doesn't want to make it too obvious who she really is.

Though it sounds like Peter told this guy everything.

Sigh.]

Um. Yeah. Same deal, just completely different dimensions. A lot of our origin story is similar, it was just me that got bit instead of him.

[laserguy]

And it's a one time bite, yeah?

[Guess the radioactive spider bites once into someone and just. Dies after or loses all of its radioactiveness... right. Or maybe he's wrong and there are just an army of spider people in one world, but he feels like Peter would've mentioned that.]

Like you're the only spider person from your world and Spider-Man is the only spider person from his. [Although, saying this out loud, Scott looks like he's hit with a sudden new realization, his expression fading from its brash teenage look to something maybe understanding.]

...Kind of happy to meet someone like you?

[arachnerina]

Yep. One time bite. I killed it, and didn't think anything of it, until-- well. I'm sure Spider-Man told you the rest.

[and if he didn't, she didn't mind. it was an interesting story, and one she didn't exactly get to tell. y'know, secret identities and all that.]

.. Yeah. It's... really nice. Not a lot of people get what we go through. [she could tell him about meeting a few before now, but would that boarder on too close to what she talked to him about as Gwen?]

[laserguy]

Suddenly sticking to walls, right? Sounds almost as awkward when I got my powers. Unless you started sticking to the girl's bathroom.

[Although, killing the thing that gave you powers in the first place... it almost feels comical. Not an unreasonable reaction, because he too would probably swat and kill something that bit him, but it's just a little funny in hindsight.

Shoving one hand into the pocket of his jacket, Scott's smile turns a bit wry, but his voice continues to carry more of that leader note.]

You mean it's hard to find someone that can shoot webs and stick to buildings? [Definitely a specialized skillset there.] ...I haven't met someone that's exactly like me, but even just having some connection makes a big difference.

[Dammit, he's being sappy again. UGH.]

[arachnerina]

[Now Gwen can't help but laugh at that.]

More like, woke up suddenly sticking to everything. It honestly takes more focus not to stick. Needless to say, the trail of destruction was not pretty. [she thinks of Miles, and how his first day of having powers went. he's still lucky she actually likes the haircut, now.]

I know, so crazy, right? Clearly more kids need to take trips to fancy labs that have really bad safety measures. [she jokes, but-- isn't that exactly what's happened, repeatedly, over and over across dimensions? or at least something very similar, anyway.]

It always feels good, knowing you aren't alone. That's the point of this group, yeah?

for minato

[laserguy]

[Similar when seeing Yu here, Scott's glad to have Minato attend. Oh, he would've found a way to get him here, even if it involved recruiting Kotone, but he's still relieved that the quieter teen is around and mingling with others. And eating food. Sure, it's small shit, but after everything that's happened recently, with both Dara and Sha-Ming, they really need just a time to hang out and stuff. Scott thinks it's important. Even if it's just for an evening, for a few hours, it's cool to just hang out and stuff.

Plus, Koromaru is a bonus. He is best boy.

Scott kneels down to pet said dog, before glancing up at Minato with a small smile.]

Here for the free food, right?

[At least Scott isn't going to yell at Minato this time.]

[memori3s]

[ It's why Minato's shown up, fully convinced that Scott would drag him from his room by his ankles if that's what it took to make him attend. And given that Koromaru agrees it will do Minato some good to socialize even a tiny bit, the dog would have confidently taken Scott's side.

Koromaru's tail wags energetically as Scott kneels down to pet him, though he glances up at Minato with Scott. ]

Yeah.

[ Free food is at least 50% of the reason why he made it. ]

...for you too though.

[ He's looking a little better now that Sha-Ming's returned, though the forlorn demeanor isn't entirely gone. He's in the dark about the details surrounding the man's disappearance, so that doesn't feel too great. ]

[laserguy]

[There's a brief moment of surprise that colors Scott's expression hearing that particular admittance from Minato. Not that he thinks the other teen to be cold or anything, especially since he is basically the one that takes Kotone's role in his world, but guess he still wasn't expecting that sort of openness towards him? He's sure that Minato isn't just saying that to please him either. Of course he can't always say for sure, but after dealing with him and Kotone for so long, he thinks he's gotten better in seeing that sort of thing.

But after that surprise fades away, there's a small smile to Scott, one that doesn't really hide even though he feels just a little embarrassed. Koromaru come and hide his expression from Minato-- no? Geez, thanks for nothing!!

Still, he really is glad to see him here, even if he's doing it for Scott. As long as he ends up enjoying himself, just briefly forget about the other shit that's going on, he'll accept it. He'll be the bully about that sort of crap if he needs to be. With a small huff, he slowly stands up, before cocking his head to the other members of the club.]

Tell me that you at least made a couple of friends here. [Didn't just come here and eat food.]

[memori3s]

[ It's precisely where Kotone and Minato diverge. While Minato was less expressive, every single gesture, every look that made its way onto his face, was wholeheartedly genuine. He wore his heart on his sleeve, inward thought and feeling turned outward. It's different from Kotone who exhibited a wider range and intensity of emotion, but guarded her true heart more carefully.

Koromaru sits tight and merely observes. He'll not interfere with a good talk between a couple of bros.

But as for Scott's demand...

Minato offers the other teen a meek look, his gaze taking on a more apologetic demeanor. ]

...not really, but... I spoke with Yu. Does that count?

[ Surely, taking the time to check in on a friend was just as good? And given Manjiro's disappearance, doing so seemed all the more imperative. ]

[laserguy]

Geez, do I have to do everything for you?

[Scott rolls his eyes behind his shades, somewhat disappointed that Minato can't get the full blast of his exasperation, but he'll just have to make up for it in other ways. Like placing a hand against his hip and resisting the urge to flick Minato in the forehead or some crap. That's something he'd do to Kotone and he's still firmly in the boat of 'they're different people, he's going to treat them differently.' Well, until they do something that pisses him off, which is usually the same thing, and he's going to yell at them in the same way.

But for now, he shoves two fingers up at Minato's face.]

Talk to at least two other people. I just made it a requirement for you. Minato Special Task, befriend two other members here-- people that you didn't know before.

[When did he become like this again?? Forcing others to be social? Maybe it's just wanting Minato to have regular friends and crap, outside of SEES and stuff. Yeah, he's just bullying specific people. Somehow, thinking of himself as a bully is easier.]

[memori3s]

[ Minato blinks, leaning a bit away from Scott's hand. Two? Scott wants him to interact, actively, with two whole people? And on top of that, calling it a Minato Special Task makes it sound like an unavoidable request straight from Elizabeth's list...

He glances down at Koromaru who only shakes his head at him. Nope. You're on your own, Minato. ]

...okay.

[ What's he going to do, say no to Scott?? On the other hand, it's kind of nice having someone else take the reins, and following through with others' instructions is something he's quite used to. And on the upside, he's actually no stranger to striking up conversation with unfamiliar people, even if he'd prefer to keep to himself. ]

Two people. ...later though.

[ Only after he's done spending a bit of time with Scott. It only seems right after everything the teen's done for him without seemingly receiving anything in return. He glances down at his feet, suddenly distinctly aware of how much Scott's been looking out for him. ]

...

[ He wants to say, "sorry," but instead, he'll say: ]

Thanks, Scott, for everything in the past couple of months.

[laserguy]

[Nope, Minato cannot say no to him. This is how it works between them now-- it's ongoing penance ever since the other teen talked about death and thought that none of his friends would care that he died. This is what happens!! With Minato's agreement, however, Scott shakes his fingers at him for just a little longer before lowering his hand back down by his side with an approving nod. He's going to remember this though and quiz Minato later.

If he lies, he's shoving him off the rooftop-- Scott what happened to not encouraging them dying? This is an exception. Obviously.

He's not sure how to take Minato's staring at the ground every so often though, but he doesn't think about it too much. Probably just Minato gearing up to do his task later-- oh, wait, he's thanking him? UGH, MINATO DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT... Scott glances away for a moment, trying to cover this up.]

Someone has to watch over your sorry ass, right? [...] Sha-Ming's back, yeah? Feeling okay?

[memori3s]

[ He's not sure if it's better or worse that Scott's persuading him that his friends would care if he died. Even if the decision was soul-crushing to them, Minato doesn't think he would choose any other outcome. If his own life was the price of ensuring everyone would have a future to run towards, he could welcome the consequences of his own actions with open arms.

If that decision had, truly, wounded everyone else that deeply, at least they would have each other to lean on.

The mention of Sha-Ming's name, however, cuts through Minato's thoughts. He nods a bit, confirming an answer to Scott's first question. ]

Yeah. He's back.

[ As for the second question... He's certainly faring much better now, but Sha-Ming's disappearance reminded him of a painful truth: the more you let people in and the deeper the attachment, the anguish experienced by the loss intensifies proportionally. Perhaps, even exponentially. ]

...a little.

[ He understands now, that this must be how the others must feel when he put himself in harm's way. This is, almost certainly, why Scott was upset any time he did something precarious.

Maybe it's even how everyone back home felt after he'd taken his last breath. A melancholy smile rests on his face. ]

...better than before.

[ It's not a lie. ]

[laserguy]

[He's glad to have that confirmation from Minato. The switch to this more serious topic changes Scott's own demeanor, putting up less of a bossy teen front and just... paying attention to what his friend is saying. It sucks having a friend go missing, even if they turn out okay in the end, just that fucking worry is god awful. He's felt it more than once since coming here-- and Mikey is still gone, really. It's a slightly different situation, since he voluntarily left, but it still sucks. And it fucking hurts.

So, with a little sigh, he places a hand on Minato's shoulder, gripping him slightly just as a show of support. Just. Don't deal with all this shit on your own.]

Yeah, guess anything is better than constantly worrying about your friend.

[...] Hope you got mad at him. At least a little.

[For worrying him and everything. That's how that works. Someone you love-- a good friend goes off to do something stupid or something happens, and you get to be upset at them later.]

[memori3s]

[ Guess who skipped right over the angry phase and hurtled straight into the relief phase, this guy right here. Minato offers Scott a sheepish look at he gives his shoulder a light, reassuring squeeze. ]

...I forgot.

[ Anger is a rare and unfamiliar emotion for Minato. But Scott is right, that someone shed at least a tear or two. Or maybe his mind could only juggle one emotion at a time, and he'd been too relieved to see his friend again. ]

He said he wouldn't do it again though.

[ "I'm not gonna abandon you, kid."

Turns out Sha-Ming was right, that maybe he really had been lonely all along.

...speaking of being worried about friends, there's someone who is conspicuously missing from today's meeting. ]

...Manjiro's still gone, isn't he?

[laserguy]

['Next time you can get mad,' except Scott doesn't want there to be a next time for Minato. It'll probably happen one way or another, but he doesn't want to say shit like that out loud. It's good to know that Sha-Ming doesn't plan on doing something like that again, but... they can't fully control what happens here. They just have to prepare as best as they can, be ready. Hope for the best and plan for the worst or something like that.

What was it that Kotone said as well? Live each day to the fullest? Because you never know what may happen in the future.

Maybe Minato already knows all that-- he probably does in his own way. So, really no need to talk about that. Besides, Scott doesn't feel like encouraging that sort of thing right now.]

He said that? Good, then believe in him.

[That's the simplest thing, right? With another squeeze against Minato's shoulder, Scott's hand drops-- and maybe just in time too, because the other teen's question gets him to tense, something almost angry flashing behind his shades as he grits his jaw. What kind of asshole abandons his friends-- abandons his boyfriend or whatever? Because he was afraid of shit?]

...Yeah, Mikey fucked off. He did it on his own. Don't bother trying to reach him. [His tone is curt, like Scott doesn't want to talk about Mikey anymore.]

[memori3s]

[ And he does. It's exactly what Sha-Ming said as well.

While Minato can't see the shift in Scott's eyes, he sees the tension in the other's jaw and notes how tersely Scott cuts off that line of conversation. So he nods, assuring Scott that he understands the teen's instructions.

Those three sentences are all the confirmation he'd needed. ]

...okay.

[ Minato goes quiet as he studies Scott's posture. He's furious and hurt -- this is how one reacts upon being discarded by a friend. ]

...sorry. I didn't know.

[ Only now does Minato realize Manjiro's final words to Scott and the others were completely different from the ones he'd given to him.

"I'm going to miss you."

If that was the case, why leave at all? ]