Auspicious Talks

[Amy Myers]

"Oh that sucks, I can't even imagine." she says, though she is suddenly very aware that Naku did try to create a forcefield out of her energy. Which is different from using emotions, she's sure, but still. She kinda wishes her power hadn't been so volatile about it but at least it had just kind of crackled rather than, what, broadcast everyones feelings all over?

"And yeah, say what you want about the accidental damage I could do, but it's a lot more obvious when something's not working. No wonder you've thought so much about how emotions and all that play into powers."

[Naku Futomi]

Naku took a fry and sat back. he thought on it a moment before munching on it. Once that was handled, he decided to speak. "Yeah.... looking back on it, I may have honed in on your energy a bit much. Sorry if that seemed weird. I just-... it's different from any other I've interacted with so far. Whatever that may mean," he said before taking a moment to explain it better.

Looking at his hands, he tried again. "When I'm around people, I can manipulate their energy. I figured I would be able to do that with multiple people around. Of course, emotions play into that. On top of working their energy around us, I amplified emotions within, which reinforced the forcefield. I should have known that, like all things, there's a price. When I make someone calm, they can stay that way or have the opposite reaction for a while. Making a calm person amped up can keep them that way, or make them nearly depressed for a while. I still need to learn more as to why it effects people differently, but that shield I tried..." he shook his head as if to say never again.

He sheepishly looked over to Amy. "I won't try it with you. No way am I risking you getting hurt like that," he said, but what he didn't say was risk Amy becoming so enraged like Emily had been. Physical injuries were easy to tend to. It was the emotional damage he had no cure for. "Best I stick with what I know for now. See what i can do with training here," he said before taking a sip of his cola. "I gotta ask though... have you ever had a partner before?"

[Amy Myers]

"I had a girlfriend my freshman year in high-school, mostly just made out and learned that trying to fit what she expected just made me miserable. Didn't have that much interest in trying again until I got to get properly hit by the hormone freight-train and by then school was too awkward to really... date or anything. I did fool around with some people and camp was... interesting that year." she says, staring down at her hands fidgeting with the beer glass as she blushes.

"People got... expectations. Especially the guys. Sorry. And that was before 'The Surgery'." she says, actually making air-quotes and adding an overly important tone to distract from the incredibly awkwardness of the topic. She takes a sip of beer as well to not get too flustered. She knew Naku would have been wondering, because it's impossible not to, though she'd been wearing jeans previously and he probably would have been able to sort that one out eventually. Might as well get it over with.

"Aaaanyway! After that I started firing beams that punch through walls from my hands and I kinda... had other worries and now I'm here." she gives a slightly wobbly smile.

[Naku Futomi]

'Don't think about it don't think about it don't think about it don't think!'

The moment he pictured Amy, and not her former self, making out with another girl, Naku knew he was in trouble. From there, any talk of messing around left an impression on him. One that made him glad he was covered, just in case. God bless large sweaters. Even with him hearing everything Amy said, he was having a hard time not picturing her with girl parts all over. At the mention of 'the surgery', he couldn't actually help but wonder what she meant.

Given the pause, he could only imagine it was the bottom half she was talking about. He had most certainly never looked for a bulge before, and was hesitant to do ever. Thankfully, she changed the subject and he drank more of his cola. Second day knowing her and he already knew more than most here on campus he bet. First date and the thought of making out with her was already on his mind, still, after all that.

He was gonna make him self laugh, but there was nothing funny about it. He returned her smile with an apologetic one. "Yeah, that would shift ones focus for sure. Least you have your priorities s-... in order," he began before looking to her. "I'm sorry you had to consider surgery in the first place. I wish no one ever needed to. That people could be who they are without the need to change what they look like. It would be nice if... If it all wasn't tied to the way we reproduce I guess? That you could live as you want without..." he paused, shaking his head before a small humorless laugh left him.

"Funny thing, this. Not really but.... I always thought about what it means to be male or female. What it means to be a man or a woman. If it's just a label we slap on things to make them make sense, or an energy we can't control but try to wrap our heads around... Yet I never considered..." he couldn't say it. Not that there was anything wrong with being trans, but she never said the word, so he wouldn't. Not when there were others. Not when she was just being her authentic self as she knew herself to be. "At some point, I'm sure to wonder. Just as anyone with any crush. No matter what.... I'm pretty sure I'll be fine so long as you're happy," he said, looking to her once again. A blush came to him again and he glanced away. "Not that-... not that I know. I'm-... It's way too early to be, um-...."

'fuck,fuck,fuck, I cannot be thinking about that right now!'

He reached for the basket of fries. "Do you want more than fries? Something else to drink? I can totally get you something more, if you'd like," he offered, looking for any excuse to get away from her. His heart was already beating too fast.

[Amy Myers]

"It's fine, relax." she says, managing to not let out a sigh. Of course he'd freak out a little but it's out of consideration for her. It's just one of those minor annoyances where she'd feel bad if she didn't say anything at all, even if that'd probably be easiest for everyone.

"If there's a good time to bring this stuff up then neither me nor any other trans person has found it. It's just... one of those things. And having thought about gender stuff at all puts you way ahead of most cis folks. Hell for all I know you can read it in someone's chi. Although... I dunno how I feel about it being some... fundamental property of the universe with the Yin and Yang stuff. And, like, as a philosophy that's one thing but I've been here a year and some powers..." she trails off as she thinks about how to word it.

"One of the students here thinks she's the Morrigan. Like, the Celtic goddess? If you take her word for it then she's seen peoples actual, for-real souls. And if those cosmic forces are real... I dunno, just feels like there could well be some rule of the universe that might decide I'm..." she trails off because actually saying the words 'not a real woman' hurt a bit too much to even put out there. "I mean hell, you've heard Thrax talk about that Storm of his people like it's a real thing."

[Naku Futomi]

The more he listened to her concerns, the more his mind shifted. Yes, this was better than running away and he was stupid to try and flee from this. Especially when it came to mention of Chi, spirits and supernatural powers. "You're right, I did, but... all of that is more about energy. Masculine, feminine... neither have anything to do with genitals," he said sincerely before giving a shake of his head. "Your spirit is your own, made of both, shifting and changing as you do. Your soul is genderless. There's no need for it when there's no need for physical form. How someone presents is as they will it. That is to say.... I don't think you have anything to worry about there," he tried to reassure her.

[Amy Myers]

"I think gender's a little more complicated than how people present themselves. Like... if who I am at heart is some mix of attribute that's ultimately neither then all this is what? Just preference? Vanity? I didn't just dislike my body before." she says, actually sliding an inch or so away from Naku to turn more towards him. "This being all in my head and just some... 'mental illness' as some people want to call it is even worse. Like it's... some kind of failing on my part." she frowns, though the moisture in her eyes betrays her attempt at being angry as a force-field of her own.

[Naku Futomi]

He let her move, not that he could or would stop her. He tried to listen, just to hear what she had to say. Though he had thoughts on all of this, but he couldn't actually experience it himself. The thoughts and ideas swirling in him stopped the moment he noticed her eyes glistening.

Naku did not turn to face her, but he did slide close as he could to her. "... there's do doubt in my mind that you're crazy. Well... no crazy than the rest of us. HonestlyIts as complicatedas we let it be. Its not your fault societyhas constructeditself atound the idea of only two genders, then linked said genders to ... something we really have no control over," he stopped himself from saying reproduction, uncertain how that may tip things. "I cant imagine fully what it's like to go theough life as you do. We all have challenges... yours it something a lot of people dont understand because they dont make a safe space to try. And ive said a lot when ive no direct experience. I cant fix wverything, but i can listen. I'll do better at it," he said before looking to her. He wasn't sure if she wanted a hug, but he was close to asking if she wanted one.

[Amy Myers]

She knew she was overreacting. That Naku was just trying to listen and reassure her.

"I don't know, maybe part of me wants there to be some kind of distinction or... or... something. Some intrinsic part of me and not just some... social construct. I don't think I needed society for my body to feel wrong. To have it be something that's just me." she sniffs and wipes at her eyes with the back of her hand. She wants the hug that Naku's body language seems to offer but this is already way too much trauma dumping. She should really get it together.

"Sorry. I don't mean to be such a mess. I think I built up this 'female soul at heart' narrative in my own head and then all of this crazy stuff going on here felt like it might judge me on some weird level and I dunno..."

[Naku Futomi]

Naku couldn't help but feel a bit bad, for her sake and his own. He easily pushed all he trauma aside when it came to gender and not being man enough. It was in the past for him, and it wasn't something as tangled as what Amy was going though.

This was the thing. The more he tried to explain, the more messy things seem to get. The more he thought he understood, the worse he made it for her. The only thing was to bring it all back around.

Naku placed a hand on Amys a moment, not thinking to check how they compared to one another. He turned to her this time, looking into her eyes as much as he could. "You are you. Whatever either of us say, do, or mean, you are you. It's up to you who that is, and who you identify as. It's your light that shines bright, regardless of whatever filter..."

' and there I go, yappin again,' he chastised himself before just moving in and attempting to hug her. He wasn't the most direct, so he didn't take her and pull her in close. He inched closer and gradually put his arms around her until he realized she was okay with it. Consent was important, and he hadn't asked. Maybe he should be more forceful...

His eyes narrowed as he began to actively fight feelings he had shoved down for too long.

"We might not know why, we might not know how, but... we're beautiful now," he repeated the lines of a song he nearly sang. He gave her a kiss on her head, unable to help himself, brief as it was. "You're the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, inside and out, Amy," he blurted out, hoping he hadn't gone too far one way of the other.

[Amy Myers]

Amy all but falls into the hug, burying her face against Naku's shoulder. "Thanks." she mumbles into his shirt. "I know it's just stupid hang-ups and wanting some cosmic validation is just a shortcut.

She sniffs and pulls back a little bit without breaking the embrace entirely, just wanting to avoid getting any tears on his shirt. "Enough about me being a disaster, even if it's a beautiful one." she says, putting on a weak but genuine smile. "What was that song and how are you so good at singing?"

[Naku Futomi]

It was a comfy sweater, good for absorbing tears. He wouldn't have minded. Still, when Amy pulled back, he would move back also. No way was he trying to make her feel trapped. His face heated at the mention of singing. Had he sung it? He could have. He was too embarrassed now. "I-...Practice?" he said with a bashful grin. "I'll share it one day, when I can play along with it, but it's a song by Zedd. There's actually a better one I've in mind for you... maybe someday," he suggested.

He looked to their table, the once-his half finished beer and his now half finished cola and their fries with her finished shot. "Crazy as it may sound... but I'd like to do this again. Maybe. I have no idea where to take you around here. Give me some time to figure it out?" He asked.

[Amy Myers]

"Well, glad I didn't scare you off entirely." she jokes weakly. "But yeah, that'd be great. There's plenty of places around, especially with the portal to London. Plus I can fly if you don't mind hitching a ride." she adds, even if the thought is a bit outside her usual comfort-zone.

[Naku Futomi]

He gave a more easy going grin. "I'll keep my feet on the ground, not that I don't trust ya. I'd rather not make you carry my girlish figure," he said with an uneasy chuckle. He wasn't thin, but he wasn't big either. Still, he was heavier than her and that made him uneasy to be handled.

"Do you have favorite places to go? Things to do? Apart from training, that is," he wondered before taking a sip of his drink.

[Amy Myers]

"Oh training's definitely not my favorite thing to do. Been kinda trying out a bunch of arts and crafts, just trying to find something that really clicks. And I love to read, but that's not really a good two-person activity." she chuckles a little. "Lately I've been poking around Mutant Town a bunch, just checking out all the little shops that have been popping up. Lots of cool mutant-specific stuff that's kinda fascinating, even if I personally don't need my nail salon to also polish and trim scales or horns."

[Naku Futomi]

He smirked at her reaction to training. Should have known, but of course he had to ask it how he did. Genius, he thought sarcastically. At least she was nice about it. Hearing everything else she liked, he made mental notes. The last bit made him chuckle.

"Reading can be a two person thing," he suggested, tempted to stretch an arm out so that she could pull close, but that was such a Chad move. Or something. he was sure it wasn't as cool as it seemed. "We could take turns reading the same book aloud, or pick a book, read it on our own then talk about it next. There's also shows to watch and movies. Are you into either of those?" He wondered, but then instantly wish he hadn't.

[Amy Myers]

Regardless of whether or not it's 'cool', Amy leans into the offered physical contact.

"Never thought about it like that, but yeah... And, I mean, is anybody not into shows and movies?" she chuckles. "That's like asking if you listen to music." she teases just a little. "Not a big fan of horror stuff. At least not the ghosts and demons jumpscary kinda stuff, other than that I'm not super picky. It's nice when there's some thought put into it though, I dunno what kinda genre you'd even call that. 'Has a theme and at least a tiny bit to say' and isn't just 'Here's a buncha things that happen'."

[Naku Futomi]

He liked her close, he decided. Even with his nerves shooting up. He chuckled and blushed a bit at hos silly his question was. "Good point," he mentioned just before she explained her stance on the horror. "Shows and movies with subtilties rather than everything everywhere all at once. So to say," he said before thinking on it more. "Never been into horror much myself. Action comedy is usually good, but I don't really keep up on it," he confessed before daring himself not to say anything too stupid.

"Meant to ask, do you live on campus?" He wondered, looking to her. "Thrax and I are suitemates on the second floor," he added before horror overtook him as to what that could insinuate. "I... could walk you back, either way after this," he added, though it didn't hold true to his altruistic reasoning.

[Amy Myers]

Any insinuation passes right over Amy's head.

"Yeah, sure." she chuckles. "I'm on the first floor. I think most folks live at the dorms, especially with how many non-UK people we have here, it's just way easier. And free."

[Naku Futomi]

She was the actual cutest. "Those are hard facts I can't dispute," he managed also with a chuckle. His eyes considered their table and all the things on it. His precious book still open before someone who was certainly precious.

"So... what kinds of classes are you taking? Do you have a favorite?" he wondered. "...And what do you wanna do after all of this?"

[Amy Myers]

"Writing, some basic computer science and multimedia storytelling. I was thinking journalism major but I dunno. I should probably have a better idea after a year... What about you?"

[Naku Futomi]

"Nursing," he said with a slight chuckle, preparing for backlash. it was a habit. "I'll be spending a lot of time at De Costa mostly. I'd rather help patients as much as I can. Prevention more than correction, though I can do both...." He decided not to mention his minor, mainly because he wasn't sure if he was keeping it. "Neither of us would ever be out of a job, at least!"

[Amy Myers]

"That's awesome! There's not nearly enough nurses and I bet your power would be amazing for it."

[Naku Futomi]

He blinked. Not really expecting such a response, but then too... he had to consider that this was Amy. Of course she wouldn't just dismiss something he was passionate about. "I really hope so. We'll see what I can do," he mentioned.

"What made you get into journalism?"

[Amy Myers]

"I like to write and making sure not all news is some rich guy's spin seemed like a more worthwhile fight than trying to ride whatever the next young adult craze is gonna be. I already more or less fled the US and wasn't doing a good job getting a handle on my power, guess I wanted to make a stand somewhere."

[Naku Futomi]

"That's really admirable. Things back home aren't the greatest. Not that it's perfect here I'm sure, but... it helps having a does of honest truth around. Do you have blogs or any platform you write on now? Or are you more into reporting the news rather than investigating? Maybe a bit of both?"

As he spoke, he tried to remain as aware of Amy's mood as he could. Not that he would use his ability to get a read on it intentionally, but in trying o hard not to do something, he inevitably did, even for a moment.

[Amy Myers]

"It's really just some substack blogs about mutant related stuff and posts on the usual social media suspects. Nothing crazy. Certainly not investigative stuff." she says with a tinge of embarrassment and maybe a little bit of guilt for not giving it as much effort as she maybe could have.

[Naku Futomi]

"Hey, you started. That's half the battle right there," he said, giving her a slight nudge. Hs eyes picked up on the change, or something in him was intimately aware of the feeling. "Plus, with classes, assignments, figuring out your powers.... You're busy. You'll write when it comes to you, I'm sure," he stated sincerely. "Maybe... When you want to, you can share them with me?" he asked, a bit bashful to ask for any of her contact info. Especially the socials. He meant substack, but he already spoke a greater request. There was no need to backtrack now.

[Amy Myers]

"Yeah, sure. Hell, some constructive critique never hurts, right?" she jokes, but it's clear she's nervous about people reading her stuff. At least people she knows, strangers on the internet are different somehow.

[Naku Futomi]

Without giving himself time to think on it, he pulled his arm back and pulled out his phone to get said info. He kept his mind from wandering too far, only fixing to listen to the socials she'd give him. "Ready when you are," he said, ready for her info. He would spend the next for moments following her where she saw fit. He'd make accounts if needed, right then and there if she didn't mind. He was happy a bit, but also didn't wanna come off as stalkerish. He'd only go where she said to, not pushing for more. "Thanks. Looking forward to reading it," he stated after with a genuine smile.

[Amy Myers]

"Guess it's only fair. I already heard you playing your music after all." she smiles.

[Naku Futomi]

"Right, well.... I should probably let you get to it," he stated, not knowing exactly how much time passed since they began. "We could look over the book more, or... talk abut anything else, but I don't want to hold you up all day. Yet. We covered a lot," he said with a light chuckle.