Auspicious Talks

[Amy Myers]

Having made plans to meet up in the student bar, Amy took the chance to get cleaned up after her display in the Danger Room. Not that she physically exerted herself all that much, but it had been a decent enough excuse to take a shower and put on a bit of make-up. She'd hemmed and hawed over her clothes and finally opted for a simple blouse and knee-length skirt. She'd been pretty much sticking to pants on account of being able to fly and not wanting to be more self-conscious about things, but she'd decided she wasn't going to be a coward. The overall success with her power earlier definitely helped with getting over herself too.

So she heads for the XUB, purse slung over her shoulder. She'd stuffed a notebook and pen into it since Naku was planning on teaching her. Sort of. Though that feels kind of stupid now and she's glad she can just leave it tucked in her purse. She really shouldn't be this nervous. Naku clearly liked her and the worst case here was learning some interesting stuff from her new friend. Yeah. That's definitely the worst case scenario... She smoothes her skirt and heads inside.

[Naku Futomi]

Of all the things he could sense, his own obviousness was not one of them. At least not when it came to romantic matters. Of course, by the time he and Thrax returned to their dorm, the taller man made it quite clear what he saw: Naku was practically pining. Least, that's how he took it. He retorted, which only incriminated himself more. The conversation stayed with him, enough that he felt obligated to put forth an effort to be presentable.

This could become more than just friends meeting for a talk...... Did he want that, or dread it?

Such were his thoughts as he got ready. He hadn't needed a shower physically, but mentally it did him wonders. Up to a point. A point which he proceeded to hate himself as he blow dried his hair and thought about all the reasons this absolutely should be a meeting of friends. 'It isn't a date, it's just dao,' he told himself over and over. He even changed, opting for dark blue wash jeans and a red and orange sweater. The stripes may be a bit much, but... it's what he felt like wearing. He wasn't a stud. He was just... himself.

No matter what Thrax said, he didn't deserve a nice girl.

The thoughts slowed into a mellow, dreary state. He put on his green glasses and took a look at himself before catching the time. 'Shit!' It was much too late for contacts now! Grabbing his messenger bag which he thankfully packed earlier, he was off and out the door.

He was on his way, rushing a bit with a light frown on his face. Honestly? He wasn't sure if he was happy or upset at himself for slipping out without saying a word to Thrax. He had only been trying to help Naku feel good. It was his own mind for turning that into absolute crap. And he wore his glasses on top of this.... He let out a sigh as he entered the building, feeling like an absolute nerd.

He paused and looked back, holding the door still open. Sure enough it was Amy. He blinked. "Oh... sorry, I-" -'did I nearly run her over??'- "-hadn't seen you there. Sorry," He said again, moving to the side to open the door. He noticed she'd changed, barely even seeing her for who she was. "Didn't want to be late, but... 'm right on time," he said with a slight laugh.

'Man, I sound like a moron...'

[Amy Myers]

Amy startled a little when someone rushed past her, only to turn out to have been Naku, holding the door open for her. A little strange but sweet at the same time. That kind of thing still occasionally surprised her, but in, like, a good way. She chuckles at his joke in part because it is a little awkward and that's the best way she knows to downplay it. Plus the whole thing is a little funny.

"Thanks. Very chivalrous." she says and immediately feels weird about having felt the need to point that out.

"So, uh, yeah, figure we could grab a beer or something. Or... I dunno if you drink, but the legal age's 18 here, so..." Well, off to an incredibly awkward start, good job Amy. "I like your glasses."

[Naku Futomi]

Mile a minute. His heat and mind were racing a mile a minute, as if trying to out pace each other. She was so incredibly.... everything. All of that came to a crashing stop when she complimented his glasses. A hand went up as it to check they were still there. "Oh, thanks. I ran out of time," he mentioned before moving along with her away from the doors.

At least it had brought his mind back to ground zero. "Drinks are nice. I never really got into alcohol myself. I mean..... couldn't back home. Then the hype around it seemed odd..." he stated as he walked beside her. Clearly he was the luckiest, most unworthy guy alive to be doing so. "I'd be willing to try. Think there's some cider stuff also?"

Drink with her just seemed like a date. Dates lead to things. Naku was in no shape to mentally consider where such things could go. No use in getting a head of himself. This was to be just friendly talk with a friend. "I brought that book I was telling you about. There's at least one verse I want to share with you, then you can look through them all if you'd like," he said more calmly. Dao he could do. Date? That sent his mind in a whirl. Neither had said it, so it technically couldn't be one, right?

Of course not. They were just friends.

[Amy Myers]

"Oh yeah, they have a grapefruit cider that's supposed to be really good." she says and mentally slaps herself for recommending something she's definitely not getting. "If you like that kinda thing at least." she tries to play it off as they find an open booth to sit in.

"So is this... how your own power works or is it more of a... religious thing? Sorry, I don't really know what... well I know it's kind of a philosophy?"

[Naku Futomi]

"May stick with tea for now," he admitted as they found a booth. He must've sound lame and boring, but at least he was honest.

Sliding into the booth, he put his messenger bag on the table to the side of them. Her question bring a warm smile. "Philosophy, really. I'm no pro at it, but Daoism plays into it. It's all about balance, much like my abilities," he thought a moment. "Think of it like Yin and Yang. There's always some kind of balance, except a lot of it stems from me. My own thoughts. What I consider a proper balance in my core. I'm both limitless and limited, all depending on my mind," he said, getting lost in the explanation a bit.

He paused, realizing he was being terribly vague. "I-... don't think I explained it well. Never did get down to explaining it well at school. Didn't really try. My focus was on healing and pain there," he said, hoping not to have bored her to tears.

[Amy Myers]

Amy for her part is nodding along, listening.

"So it's... trying to find what makes you 'you'? Like, being one way's right for one person but wrong for another?" she tries to follow along. "Yin and Yang that's... the whole feminine and masculine thing, right?" It almost makes too much sense to her, though maybe she's just reading into it.

[Naku Futomi]

"Yeah, it is, but..." he paused, trying not to get too much into geek mode. It was simple yet complex all at once. "It starts with this," he said, pulling out a large, white book reading The Tao Te Ching, A New Translation by Ralph Alan Dale before turning to a page and turning it to her.

He paused, giving her some time to read it before hesitating again. "Sorry, that-... that's also the one I wanted to show you. But when you said about masculine and feminine... everything, all comes down to a matter of perception," he said, falling silent with a thoughtful frown. Hopefully he hadn't said too much. Either or, he was deep in thought of many, many things.

He tried to reset himself by focusing on what he remembered of the verse he shared.

Verse 25 Naming the Nameless

What preceded life? The earth.
What preceded the earth? The universe.
What preceded the universe?
The soundless and shapeless, origin of origins,
ever transforming and having no beginning nor end.

This Mother of the universe is boundless, and nameless.
But if we wanted to share with you anything
about this remarkable non-executing executor,
we must invent a name for it.

We call it the Tao because Tao means great.
Incredibly great because it occupies infinite space,
being fully present in the whole universe, and in every infinitesimal particle.

Because this Great Integrity created the universe,
and the universe created the earth,
and the earth created us, we are all incredibly great.

Life derives from the nature of the earth.
The earth derives from the nature of the universe.
The universe derives from the nature of the Great Integrity.
And the Great Integrity is the omnipresent, omnigenous omniform,
the universal material and the spiritual substance,
and the holoversal interlinkage and coition of existence.

[Amy Myers]

As Amy reads through the text she's hit with a feeling she struggles to place. A kind of recognition or perhaps more like understanding. Like it makes sense and as she's reading she nods almost imperceptibly at lines that further go into trying to explain something even the text essentially resigns itself to describing the outline of at most.

"Kind of like that line, I forget who said it, about us being made of star-stuff. Or... no, like light! It's all just white but if you put it through a prism you get all these different wavelengths or whatever. It still comes from the whole but it's just different aspects of the whole? And that aspects has it's own... balance of colors maybe?" she asks, looking up at Naku to see if she's following correctly. Maybe it's just that the light metaphor makes sense to her because of her power, but there's a... comfort? The feeling keeps flitting around just out of reach and the best she can come to naming it is familiarity.

[Naku Futomi]

Her voice made him come from his spiraling thoughts. He stared at her as if she was a radiant beam of light... or as if she grew a head. Staring wasn't helping he realized. "Yes, that's- That's exactly it!" He finally said, perhaps a bit more loud than he should. "It's- Yeah... Just like that," he said, trying not to add more words to it.

He was calmer now, like watching the sunrise after a dark night. It was really amazing seeing a star up close. There were many feelings he couldn't put a finger to swirling in his chest. Not that he couldn't, but more so that he didn't want to. Maybe all of it was in his imagination, but it was nice, feeling like he was on the same page as someone like Amy.

He bowed his head, looking to the book once more if only to keep from staring at her this long. "But yeah, theoretically it can go lots of ways, but I try to keep it simple. Healing and pain. Strength to damage or endure. Enhance or suppress emotions.... All of it has benefits, but not without costs," he explained. "They're not all blessings, but none as bad as a curse, either. Time and Gravity affect everything most of all, along with ... what could be called positive or negative, but it's really just one or the other," he explained, hoping it made some sense.

[Amy Myers]

"And it's not a matter of... adding more oomph? To move both sides of the scale? Because it's, like, the same thing?" she tries to follow along. She felt a little put on the spot by Naku's looks and she wanted to make sure she got what he's trying to explain. Power-talk was always kind personal and if you add religious philosophy...

"Like each thing is it's own black and white? And the whole of it is what makes the..." she glances through the text again to make sure she remembered it right. "Tao."

She flips through a couple pages, just to get a rough idea of the rest of the book, not expecting to truly understand something this dense at a glance. "More political opinions than I would have expected." she chuckles slightly. "Though I guess it makes sense that philosophers would also think about how to implement their ideas."

[Naku Futomi]

That she was trying to make it make sense put him at ease. He could do more than nod along with her assessments. "The more we verbalize it, the more it feels like we make less sense, in a way. Words are just constructs. We have to agree on their meaning, and even still, our understanding of them are limited by our experiences.... Everything is of the Dao, yet everything is just a small part of it," he commented as she read along.

Mention of politics came up and he peaked over. "Oh, which part? As much as this philosophy means to me, I don't have it memorized," he admitted, trying not to come off as a snob. Another thought crossed his mind and he looked to her."Oh, did you want anything to drink? I can get it for you," he offered.

[Amy Myers]

"Oh I just noticed a lot of 'officials should do this' and 'govern like that' is all." she says. And really, she'd just been looking for something to say and there was a lot of things in there that were difficult to process at a glance.

"A beer actually sounds good. Something light, not one of those 'thick as a milkshake' monstrosities." she chuckles. "And I'll see if I can find something that speaks to me." she adds, flipping pages back towards the front. Probably a good idea to start near the beginning, right?

[Naku Futomi]

He didn't dispute her. It was very likely he missed or over looked such parts. Besides... she was adorable. Like she was trying to cover something up or keep his feelings from getting hurt. Maybe he was seeing things. "Huh," he mentioned thoughtfully and started to lean forward.

At this part the drinks topic came up. When she spoke, his attention went straight to her. He looked to the book and back to her, thoughts racing again before he focused won her again. "Right. I'll get it right," he said before giving a smile and making his way to the counter. He got in line, or found a spot to stand to get what they wanted.

He went over her words on what she didn't want, but also went over what he wanted. Dare he try the grapefruit cider knowing he didn't like grapefruit? Would she have his if he didn't it? Would she call him wasteful or weak for not finishing it? 'Best to just get what she's having,' he decided in the nick of time before the bartender got to him.

Eventually, he made his way back with two beer in hand. "Hopefully this does the trick," he said, placing both on their table. "Try it. If you don't like it, I can get something else," he mentioned, ready to leave at a moments notice if she gave the word.

[Amy Myers]

When Naku comes back, Amy seems to have found a page that's apparently fascinating enough that she doesn't respond when he puts down the beers. It's not even a particularly long or complex verse and yet Amy is just staring at it, eyes faintly lit by the glow of her power, fingertips resting on the bottom of the page.

The Tao is called the Great Mother:
empty yet inexhaustible, it gives birth to infinite worlds.

It is always present within you.
You can use it any way you want.

[Naku Futomi]

The lack of response was concerning. Had he messed up already? he went to ask another question but stopped when he looked to her. She was so focused, and her eyes... that energy...

He shook himself free of the trance he nearly fell in, glancing briefly to the page. He did a double take to read it thoroughly. Maybe this was something that truly stuck to her.

"...Amy?" He asked gently, trying to see how far she was in her zone.

[Amy Myers]

No response. He can kind of feel a weak hum of her power coursing through her but nothing that's really off or concerning, just like her chi is in no particularly notable state. After maybe a minute, just long enough to begin to be worrisome she seems to just suddenly snap out of it as if nothing happened. Looking over at Naku there's the briefest moment of confusion at not having noticed him come back.

"Oh, hey. Thanks. That was quick." she says when she notices the beer. She takes a long drink, draining a good third of it in one go in the hopes that it'll quiet the nervous voice in her head. Not immediately though. Don't burp, don't burp, don't burp!

[Naku Futomi]

He was going to speak up again when her eyes stopped glowing. She looked to him as if nothing happened, which both worried and put him in a relaxed state. "No problem," he said as he slid into the book across from her.

"So you... found something?" he wondered, still cautious of her state more so than being wary of looking a fool in front of her. He would ask id she like the beer, but she drank enough of it to not question it.

[Amy Myers]

"Yeah, I dunno, I guess it just... resonated. I guess it shouldn't be a surprise, it's kind of what you guys were telling me to try with my power. The bottom part anyway." she adds. That's not entirely true but she has no fucking clue why the first part does. On top of that it makes her feel like an impostor, as stupid as that is.

[Naku Futomi]

Naku leaned over with eyes on the section. He read it aloud to himself even though it was upside down. He pulled back thoughtfully, not realizing how close he had gotten to Amy. "Yeah, it definitely summarizes what we were traying to say. The key is not to take too much. There's power in simply existing also. I think there's.... Twenty-One or Twelve? If you turn to one of them, I think it talks about it," he suggested, wholly unsure if he was going about it the right way.

[Amy Myers]

Amy nods and flips to the verses, reading for a moment.

"Okay, this is more what I expected. Like, I kinda get it but... re-fusing time, space and matter with the spiritualization of our materiality and with the materilization of our spirituality? What does that even mean?"

[Naku Futomi]

This talk got him excited in a wholistic way. "yeah, it's... all about balance. That eventually it all comes around, like a figure eight, or the infinity sign. Eventually, it all comes back around to center. To balance," he explained as he traced an invisible infinity sign in front of him. "Or like a see-saw. What comes up, must come down. At least, that's how I've come to see it.... What are your thoughts of it?" he asked, trying to make sure he wasn't too over zealous about it.

[Amy Myers]

"I guess?" she says, trying to wrap her head around it and not sound dismissive. "I think the space, time and matter thing just makes me think 'science' and like the rest's supposed to be instructions rather than make you think in the kinda loops it's trying to describe, maybe? Like, it's describing a goal of what, becoming one with the universe? Stop being who you are and just... be part of the everything?"

[Naku Futomi]

"But that's it. You already are a part of everything. So, stop trying to be everything and just be you, a part of everything," he suggested thoughtfully before looking to her. "There may not be a right or wrong to it... just our own ways of looking at it.... Definitely agree with this part being sciency. This didn't need to be exclusive," he said, looking to her for a moment. He averted his gave. Now was not the time to ask if she wanted to be exclusive.

Thankfully he was able to brush that thought off and not chastise himself for it. There was plenty of time to do that later. He made sure to look at Amy once more. "I hope I don't come off as you having to think of things my way. It-... That's not my goal. Your thoughts and viewpoints are just as valid as mine.

[Amy Myers]

"Hey, relax, I asked for your take on this stuff, didn't I?" Amy laughs slightly. Naku seeming nervous and awkward makes her feel a lot less bad about herself in that regard.

"I'm just overthinking it and I'm perfectly capable of being wrong, thank you very much. I think I'm just trying to look for something actionable because, well, my power's a practical concern? It's dumb and probably why I struggle with my power in the first place."

[Naku Futomi]

"Right." Relax. Doing so was hard when caught between his crush and a passion. That's what the beer helped with he figured as he took another sip. This didn't taste horrible at least. Certainly an acquired taste. He'd probably only do so with Amy. Amy...

He listened to her more, reminding himself what this was all for. it was more than just bonding over Daoism. This was all meant to help Amy with her powers in the end. Though the end was just anther beginning. "I don't think overthinking is dumb. Guilty of it myself. I'd say it's inconvenient," he voice, trying not to do too much of it himself.

He pushed up his glasses and thought. "...What does it feel like, when you use you powers?" He wondered while remembering her earlier that day.

[Amy Myers]

"It's like there's this... buzzing in my chest. Or maybe a cold, tingling heat? It's hard to describe, but it's like it wants to push into the rest of me and then out. It's like a pressure that doesn't go away. I can kind of move it around a little and if I let it out it turns into the beams. And trying to keep it in makes me fly. Or... suspends me in the air and moving it around without letting it out almost yanks me this way and that. That's why it was so hard to do anything but go in straight lines. Like you got the mouse sensitivity set too high." she chuckles awkwardly.

"And it feels like there's no end to it. All it does is wear me out to have it running through me and the best I can do is try to keep it restrained in my chest. At least until I tried to stop fighting it, scary as that idea was. Then it was..." she trails off, thinking and taking a sip of her beer.

"Hell I still don't really know. Instead of being a current that hollows me out it was... comforting? Almost like it was grateful that I stopped fighting it? Feels stupid to assign it that kind of sentience or whatever because everything I felt was just my own feelings, really. Like that campfire camp thing. But it still felt like..." He's gonna think you're crazy. "Like it was trying to tell me something? Like I finally let it 'in' and it tried to dredge up these complex feelings to... I dunno. Tell me something?" She sighs. There's one part of it wrapped up in her memories of camp that feels more than a little important that she didn't mention. Because it's a whole thing.

"Or maybe I was just trying to remind myself. That being yourself is only scary if you let it? Even though I really wanted to be done having to deal with that. Like I'd earned being past that? Sorry, this... doesn't really make much sense unless you know that..." She grabs her glass and drains the entire rest of the beer. "The last time I went to summer camp I was fucking terrified because people there knew me and I'd gone every year and I'd changed. Like, a lot. I was 17 and this was before my power happened. Which... I'm pretty sure I know why that happened so late because it's, like, tied to puberty, right? And, uhm..." Fuck, just tell him, stop being such a coward.

"I hadn't really... done that yet, on account of delaying it. With drugs. So I'd be a bit older before, uhm, making kind of a big decision?"

[Naku Futomi]

He listened to her, watching her as she spoke. Trying to picture her power as she said it made sense to him. Not that it needed to, but he felt he got it. When she mentioned about acceptance, he age a small somber smile. That usually played a large part in what's going on within a person.

The mention of camp came up again. By this point, he realized it must be tired to something important to her. The mention of late access to powers, delaying puberty and a big decision didn't bother him.... until it did. '...Was she a guy? Why else delay puberty? What other big choice is there except the big chop?' His hands were already up, clasping each other in thought as his elbows rested on the table. Thus, it kept him thoughtful and not freaked out. 'Have I ever liked a guy before? Would it matter? Does this make me gay? No, she's a girl! Obviously. What does that mean about- No no no, I am not going to think that far,' he thought, letting silence exist between them for a while.

He had to take Amy as she was. Remember that it was her energy that drew him in in the first place. It would make sense for him to be drawn to someone who crossed the line from masculine to feminine. Even as he looked to her, he really couldn't help but realize he'd never actually stared at her chest -points for not being a creeper- nor could he combat one major fact: 'Amy is really cute.' Surface things. No matter how his own attraction may or may not be swayed, no matter what internal conversation he had to have for himself, he wanted to be there for her now.

"...I'm curious, but... you don't have to tell me. If nothing else, I'm just a friend here to support you. It may help in knowing what you're going through," he suggested, making himself want to know only for Amy's sake and not his own. Another fine line to toe as part of him was extremely curious. He was also doing his best not to look at her chest.

[Amy Myers]

There were a number of possible reactions and Amy couldn't help but look for the signs of any one of them. No disgust, that's a good start. No leering either. Those were kind of the worst case scenarios out of the way. There is the inevitable sort-of double-take. It hurts but it's an almost automatic response of... re-contextualizing. It happens and she tells herself that it's fine. That she passed no matter which reaction the 'I couldn't tell' coin-flip comes up as. The silence goes on long enough that she begins contemplating the merits of just taking off, straight up through the roof and get away. She's not going to, but the fact that she could is... reassuring? Disturbing? It's something at any rate. And Naku is definitely looking at her breasts. Trying not to, but she feels like she can hear the question going through his head.

"Right now? Minor panic attack." she jokes nervously. "I, uh... I mean... you probably got it already but yeah, I wasn't exactly born as 'Amy'. Don't wanna get into... all of that, but yeah... Long story short, camp went from a place I could just be myself even before I told my parents to... rough. Not, like, awful, but... awkward and, well, the point is that the last time I went was the first time as just straight up Amy. And most people were good about it, great even. But my feelings about it are all mixed up with the initial fear and the relief and the excitement of just being me. And I guess my power feels a little like that and it feels unfair to be confronted with that same kind of... leap of faith again. Like I shouldn't have to do that again. Accept me for being me, power and all, at the risk of blowing up my entire life. Just more literally this time."

She reaches for her glass and realizes it's empty. If she'd known they were going to talk about this she would have gotten a shot of tequila or something. Fuck.

[Naku Futomi]

Fuck. Minor panic attack...

He averted his eyes, unable to laugh with the others attempt at humor. Naku was way too busy berating himself for not thinking past his own wants. He successfully pushed down any and all questions that regarded the southern region of a person and took a drink to celebrate that. His feelings were never about getting Amy in bed. He chastised himself again and focused on her words. Her explaining this was more important than his own feelings.

"You're right. It's not fair," he said, perhaps mixing his own feeling with it, but he truly meant it about her situation. He placed his beer glass in front of her. "Here. You can have this," he said, leaning back and avoiding looking to her. Success on not starring at her chest. "You've already been through a lot. Everything with your family, I can't even imagine. It seems they were supportive enough, since you were able to.... stall it for so long. It's not fair, but it happens. All you can do is it all over again. Your powers... they're apart of you. And they're beautiful, just like you. You gotta accept all of you. You have to just be without trying to be more than everything you were meant to be, which is everything to-...." he stopped. What the fuck was he even saying? He barely knew Amy, yet her energy, what he felt from her.

Naku ran his fingers through his hair and gave Amy a wistful smile. "What I mean is, you really are something else, Amy. There's always been something about you that's unique. Something more profound than your pronouns. You're figuring it out. I hope to be there when yo do," he said giving a glance to the glass he set in front of her. It had been mostly full before. "I can get something stronger for you if you need," he offered with a slight smile. "I need another drink anyways. Were you hungry at all? I can have them start something."

[Amy Myers]

Now it's Amy's turn to blush. "Thanks." she mumbles, just kind of aiming it at both the drink and the compliment to make herself feel a little less flustered. That went about as good as it possibly could have, honestly. And she's definitely not going to cry about, though blinking away the moisture in her eyes is probably telling enough. So stupid. She glances up at Naku and smiles slightly. "Yeah, to hell with it. I mean the worst part's over but this is always... yeah. Tequila or something I can just knock back." she sniffs a little.

"And it's fine, I don't mean to be all... woe is me. It was still a fantastic feeling, even if it was tinged with some more complicated stuff. It was the first time using my power felt good, especially the flying, oh my god. Like an extended dress-go-spinny." she laughs, even if that particular meme might not make a lot of sense to Naku.

[Naku Futomi]

Her laugh made him smile a bit more sincere. "Alright. I'll be right back then," he said before getting up and making his way to the bar. He tried not to be weird about it, but he certainly needed space to process.

The girl he liked was-.... No. She was still the girl he liked, just likely with different parts. But what was more important than ones heart? Was he really going to let this interrupt what he felt? There was so much to consider. Certainly many nights would be spent to sort things out. If nothing got too far, then certainly nothing would matter. If it did though...

"Oh, uh. Tequila and coke. Separate. Wha'? Any cola will do," he said once he got to the bar. It didn't take long to get the drinks and head back. As he did, he couldn't help but look at Amy. Even knowing what he did, the feeling remained. He set her drink before her. "...Can I sit next to you?"

[Amy Myers]

Amy for her part takes the time to take a couple deep breaths and steady herself. As well as resist the urge to drain Naku's beer. For starter's she'd want a sip to wash down the tequila but also, downing that much alcohol in that short a time was just a bad idea.

"Oh. Y-yeah, go ahead." she answers his question and scoots over a little bit. Enough for him to sit comfortably but not all the way to the wall either. She shouldn't feel stupid for being relieved, as much as it'd sting she's not entitled to Naku not changing the way he looks at her. It shouldn't matter, doesn't in most every way that's important but the reality of it is a little more complicated. So she feels glad and also a little dumb for doubting. She can more than live with that.

"Thanks for not... I dunno, freaking out or asking a bunch of weird questions. Not that you can't! Ask questions that is. There's just... some people get all invasive about stuff that's really not first date kinda material." she smiles, not even really noticing the implication about their evening.

[Naku Futomi]

He sat, trying to keep all thoughts that had no business having right now aside. He still felt a bit nervous beside her. When she mentioned 'first date material,' it wasn't lost on him. He blushed, before some of those earlier thoughts raced through his head at once. 'I don't need to know i don't need to know I don't need to know!'

The thought of being on a date with Amy still made him smile. Small as it was, it was a nice idea. Dare he take Thrax's advice and really try for it? He drank his cola, letting the carbonation pop away any doubts. "Had we a real date, it'd be less about dao and more about you. Still not too late for that, if you..."

'...crap.' His confidence fizzled as fast the bubbles did. Panic started over coming him. "I mean, it's not as if this changes how I feel about you! I mean, I don't know It'll change in the future, if it does. I just-" He drunk more soda as if it was the true liquid courage of the table. As such, he mad himself face her."I'm drawn. There's something about you, Amy, that draws me in. I'd like to see what it is. I'd like to know who you are, inside and out to see what this is," he blurted out, face truly feeling like it was on fire.

"An' no, I'm not saying this cause I'm into.... I've only had one girl friend in the past, but... Even if we don't go on dates, it'd be nice to get to know you more," he added, confidence failing and him feeling like an utter loser for saying half the things he did out loud. Where was Thrax to rescue him?

[Amy Myers]

Amy laughs but it's too soft and genuine to be laughing at him.

"Hey. Hey. Slow down." she smiles, putting her hand on his forearm. "I like you too or I wouldn't have told you about... all that. At every turn your instinct's been to try and help even though you're new and got all of this aliens and laser-blasts stuff dropped on you, like, immediately. It's nice. It makes me want to try harder to actually get a handle on things enough to actually do some good with it."

"And if talking about how much a philosophy means to you and wanting to know how it resonates with me isn't a date then I don't know what is." she adds and leans over a little to bump her shoulder into his.

[Naku Futomi]

Contact!

He was wearing long sleeves so it wasn't actual contact, but it was more than enough for him to slow his roll. He prepared for the let down. That she only saw him as a friend. The idea of being rejected was starting to weigh him down until his focus came to her words again. Just in the nick of time.

The light bump was the second form of contact that she made. Naku looked to her in quiet reverence and subtle awe. Had she.... just verified that this was a date? He felt his heart beat more and his face settle into a pleasant warmth. She was absolutely radiant.

"Then... It's a date then. Cool. Um... alright, yeah," he said, smiling like a fool who can't believe the best thing ever was happening. He didn't move his arm, the one she had touched. He was looking to his drink, bashful smile still in place. "I, uh... thank you for telling me. You didn't have to, but you did. That was brave of you. Sorry if I made you worry. We can... talks about anything you'd like. Even get back to it, if you want," he stated. He meant the philosophy, but he ws fine letting Amy dictate what they spoke about.

[Amy Myers]

"I do kinda feel like I had to. S'only fair, stupid as it may be." she says and takes the shot of tequila. Only now it's more to calm her regular nerves and not to dull any dysphoria-panic.

"Plus..." she wheezes a little from the shot, making her cough a little. "Oof... I'm good, I"m good. Anyway, it's part of how I felt when I used my power, what, correctly? Without fighting it? This sense of freedom and just a bit of loss, even if it was of something I no longer wanted, there was still change, you know? And that's what it felt like. Familiarity, acceptance and burning my old self in a warm campfire. Kind of like that whole time in my life was wrapped up in a kind of moment made of bits and pieces of memories? The more I try to describe it the less sense I feel I make."

[Naku Futomi]

He could listen to her all day, he decided. There was some sadness that she had to shed any part of herself in the first place, but that was another topic he didn't want to get into. Can't change society with a thought. Not immediately at least.

He took a sip of bubbly courage (for him at least) before speaking. It was refreshing if non-hydrating. "You know, I think that's true for many things. Especially feelings. The more you try to define and regulate it, the less sense it makes. There's a saying, 'Countless words count less.' To that I say, 'make them count,'" he said before looking to her again. "You can try to be as concise as you can, or make sure you're talking to someone who will always listen. And, well... I'm here," he said, looking to her fondly.

So were the fries he ordered, apparently. They got delivered to their table along with ketchup. "Didn't know what you wanted, so I got, uh... chips," he said cautiously, wanting to make sure he worded it right.

[Amy Myers]

"I dunno, those look an awful lot like fries to me." she teases and grabs one to eat.

"So, what about you? Any deep dark secrets to confess, so I can feel less awkward about dumping all of this on you?" she asks with a chuckle.

[Naku Futomi]

He smirked at her fry comment. He had to remember she was a fellow from the States. The question made him wince some. He tried not to, but it was hard not to. "There's, uh... nothing to compare to yours, but.... Roughest patch for me was my last girlfriend," he started, a bit uneasy. "To back track, I went to a school for metahumans. Getting used to our powers has always been important. I started college there, meaning to learn more and push my boundaries. I thoight i found a way to make a forcefield of emotions. Not really sure how to explain it, other than it went terribly bad. She got hurt after experiencing... a lot. I healed her, but... a lot came out. Really couldnt face her much after," he said, leg tapping slightly. "She was supposed to come here with me. Needless to say, she changed her mind. And, no... we most definitely aren't together anymore..."

It was a lot and not, but he still held a lot in about it. He glanced over to Amy, taking in her features. Before giving a soft smile. "Not the best story, but... i have a lot to leave before trying something like that again. Im a bit envious of yours being so tangible. I need to accwpt myself, focus on my studies before ever trying aomething ao big again," he said, running his hand through his hair again and letting out a sigh.