June Catch-All

[mendelian]

Who: Connor Hawke mendelian
What: June Catch-All; Settling In
When: June 3-30
Where: Mostly New York
Content Warnings: N/A



Closed to Kyle and residents of Tony Stark’s building.

[ Connor’s been quietly adjusting to life in this universe for a few weeks. After bumping into Roy’s friend Jason while being harangued by a very angry plant, he had an extremely soft landing compared to other Starfallen.

He wasn’t shuttled off to a fancy hotel with an unlimited credit card, but Jason arranged an apartment in his building for Connor. He’s going to start paying rent as soon as he can, which feels less daunting after today’s coup: a job as an aikido instructor. It was hard to find a place willing to take on an undocumented worker, but the lobby had posters highlighting some of Oliver Queen’s favorite rant topics.

Connor’s not particularly proud of using some of Ollie’s best lines to get himself in the owner’s good graces, but he also got paid for subbing as an instructor as an audition. Being able to buy his own dinner tonight is a win, as are the two 1970s kitchen chairs that he rescued from the curb. The avocado faux leather seats are in pretty good shape.

They’re not overly heavy, but it’s a delicate balance carrying both chairs and a shopping bag, so it’s a relief to put them down and unlock his apartment door. ]

Out and about

[ The New York subway is… something.

An entire brass band is exiting the car, playing Funkytown and blocking the doors from closing with a tuba player as the speaker system repeats again that the doors are closing.

The recording is starting to sound hopeful.

Just… two more stops of chaos, and he can exit to the comparatively peaceful NYC streets.

A crowd of identically dressed people pour into the car, and Connor is a little concerned about what they’re about to do. The clothes say stereotypical French mime, but they’re wearing Jing masks.

Next time, he’ll walk. It’s only 50 blocks. ]

Comments

[torchbearer]

[ kyle's waiting nearby with a big smile. seeing connor around doesn't get old. he's one of kyle's oldest friends and the one that puts him at ease the most. ]

Need a hand?

[mendelian]

Hey, Kyle.

[ Connor will give him an appreciative smile. He wasn't expecting Kyle, but there's a standing open invitation. ]

A hand would be great - I can pay you back in yubuchobap.

[torchbearer]

Sure thing.

[ he doesn't cheat for once, grabbing a few bags off connor and holding them up. ]

And I'll take you up on that. You settling in okay?

[mendelian]

[ Hands and everything? Connor’s shocked at the prudence. He gets the door unlocked and heads inside.

The apartment is pretty spartan. Makes it easy to keep clean. ]

I half expected robots.

[ He’s still considering the question. Kyle’s not exactly asking an easy one, but Connor is taking it in manageable chunks. ]

I found a job, so I don’t have to feel as guilty about mooching.

[torchbearer]

Mooching is a way of life when you're in your twenties, Connor. We all do it.

[ granted, when you're in the creative industry, you do need to have each other's back. ]

[mendelian]

I prefer being the one being mooched from. If you're not self-sufficient and don't have friends around to mooch from... it can lead to some tough decisions.

[ He takes the grocery bag and starts unpacking it on the counter. A lot of cheaper fresh veg, rice, beans, etc. ]

I don't want to join something like those guilds again if something happens to you or Jason.

[torchbearer]

I think you could manage. You're adaptable.

[ connor is someone who is pretty independent. so is kyle, actually. though he wonders now. ]

Did you get any new powers?

[mendelian]

No. I'm starting to think everyone's wrong, about the Starfallen automatically getting powers. No super strength, I haven't woken up floating three feet above the bed, and I don't turn into animals. I think I'm okay.

[ He looks more relieved than anything. ]

I don't mind. Powers overcomplicate everything.

[torchbearer]

Yeah. I didn't get anything new but the ring.

[ but maybe there is something? kyle doesn't know. ]

You think so?

[mendelian]

[ Connor's laughing quietly. He has the grace to try to hide it by sticking groceries in the fridge. ]

You have the most powerful ring in the universe, and you're disappointed?

[torchbearer]

[ kyle huffs. ]

Not disappointed, but the ring is mine but it also wasn't for a while. Just a thing I was handed and had to make my own.

[mendelian]

Now that you mention it, that does sound familiar.

[ Where has he heard this song before? Oh, right, everywhere. Connor’s just going to put a kettle of water on to boil and start divvying the takeout for two. ]

You did, though. Make it your own.

[torchbearer]

I did.

[ he can acknowledge that much. if anyone asked him to give it up, his response would be much different now. ]

Though I don't think that had a lot to do with powers.

[mendelian]

No, it was all you.

[ Which is part of why Connor doesn’t think that powers are strictly necessary. They’re a tool, but they don’t make a good person. You have to do that on your own. ]

You can do medical scans with it, can’t you?

[torchbearer]

[ kyle blinks, caught off by that non-sequitur. ]

Yeah. Pretty much anything if I know the specs. Even did the fancy Flash treadmill one time.

[mendelian]

[ Kyle can’t argue the compliment when he’s surprised and off-guard.

Although now Connor needs to continue the conversation. ]

Then you can check to see if I caught powers.

[torchbearer]

What, like throw stuff at you and see if your powers react.

[mendelian]

I asked for a medical scan, but - [ He shrugs. ] if that’s what it takes. I’d rather find out now if I burst into flames when I get angry.

[torchbearer]

I can get the equipment with some specs but I wouldn't know how to operate it.

Maybe we should just do the standard training montage.

[mendelian]

As long as it doesn’t involve spending a year on a desert island again, I’ll try it.

[torchbearer]

Let me pick out some good music.

[mendelian]

[ Now Connor’s confused. ]

We don’t need music, do we? It’s a metaphorical montage.

[torchbearer]

We can have music and still do a metaphorical montage.

[mendelian]

[ Connor’s just looking at Kyle with an amused expression. ]

We can, but I don’t own a stereo.

[torchbearer]

Who do you think you're talking to?

[mendelian]

Someone whose powers involve light and not sound?

[ He’s going to be proven wrong, but that’s not really a complaint. Kyle can show off as long as he picks a good song. ]

[torchbearer]

Wow. As if any stereo I create wouldn't be able to make sound. Insulting!

[mendelian]

[ He’s just smiling at this ridiculous conversation. He missed this. ]

I don’t see this fantastic green radio.

[torchbearer]

Ask and ye shall receive.

[ constructing a radio is easy enough. kyle picks it up and sets it on his shoulders a la the 90s. ]

[mendelian]

[ The sheer force of bass has Connor regretting this already. ]

You would make a boombox.

[torchbearer]

It's like you know me.

Eye of the Tiger or You're the Best?

[mendelian]

"Eye of the Tiger". I don't know the other one.

[ Which is probably unsurprising. He appreciates the options though. ]

It's going to make you try to move to the beat, which isn't the best idea in a fight.

[torchbearer]

Let's just get started as we'll see how it goes.

[mendelian]

[ With a nod, Connor finishes putting everything away and walks across the room to the tv stand, which is actually being used to store gear. He starts wrapping his hands and wrists in cloth wraps. ]

Here, or do we want to see if Jason minds us using all that empty space in his apartment?

[torchbearer]

Jason doesn't mind.

[ the answer comes easily. maybe a little too easily. kyle frowns a little, filing it away for now. ]

We can use the space.

[mendelian]

He does seem lowkey about just letting people stay in his apartments.

[ Connor finishes wrapping his wrists and gives a little stretch. ]

When you're ready. I'm not using arrows indoors. I don't want to be the one who rewards generosity by putting an arrow through the man's tv.

[torchbearer]

Some people, anyway.

[ kyle creates a tennis racket and some tennis balls. ]

Fine by me. Watch my serve!

[mendelian]

Kyle!

[ Fine, Kyle can be the one to put things through tv's if Connor doesn't block them in time. ]

I thought we were testing me not your aim.

[torchbearer]

Wow.

[ he switches it for a bat. ]

Shall I just swing then?