Participants:
| Scene Title | Not Your Fault |
|---|---|
| Synopsis | Elle and Gavyn meet up again, and things become much more clear. |
| Date | October 19, 2010 |
The central branch of the Brooklyn Public Library was designed to resemble an open book, two wings stretching out along the bordering streets, with the main entrance located at their hinge. Inside is the heart of one of the nation's largest public library systems; the Central Library alone contains over 1.5 million books, magazines, and other materials. It also contains the Brooklyn Collection, an assortment of references and ephemera that chronicle the history of the borough, and a Multilingual Center for non-English speakers and linguistic scholars. A cafe on the first floor sells coffee and snacks, while a restaurant on the third floor (open weekdays only) sells cafeteria-style meals. Internet access is freely available throughout the building.
The library, a center for knowledge. Everything you could possibly want to research is trapped within walls of concrete and steel. And not just mysteries unknown can be discovered here; books and magazines purely for entertainment also call the Brooklyn Library home. And it is for that reason that Gavyn Mitchell is in attendance.
The young airman is dressed today in civies, a hoodie of deep blue sporting a squadron number on the front, blue jeans, and sneakers. As usual she's got sunglasses on and hair pulled back into a loose bun. Gav's taken claim of a chair in the cafe, a place where it's noisy enough to not feel alone but quiet enough that some light reading wouldn't be disturbed. And reading is exactly what she's doing. A book is propped against one knee and, though her eyes are covered in shaded lenses, she seems to be well into the book. Or she might be sleeping.
Elle never was much one for research and nonfiction reading. Fiction, however, was always a favorite. The little redhead has come today to find herself a new book series, and find one she has. So what if Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a young reader's series? She's heard good things about the books, and there's never anything wrong with an easy read. It should help her get her mind off of the awkwardness that she has yet to face with her boss.
Her newly checked out book in her hands, Elle makes her way into the cafe, not noticing Gavyn yet. In fact, the airman is far more likely to notice her first, as she requests a large iced coffee and one of those delicious looking strawberry scones.
The petite redhead is clad in her standard oversized jeans and a somewhat loose shirt that proudly displays the Mayan Calendar, complete with a pair of tennis shoes. Her hair is done back in loosely braided pigtails today, adding to her innocent appeal.
It must be that Gavyn noticed Elle's presence and wasn't actually asleep. She sits up and watches the woman place her order and waits until the red head is turned her way to give a small wave. Just because you caused someone to share personally feelings with her boss, about her boss, doesn't mean you can't friendly. And maybe she won't be as hated later on.
Elle blinks a few times as she spots Gavyn, her brows raised slightly; once she's gotten her coffee and scone, the petite redhead approaches Gavyn's table. "Hi there. I— I'm sorry I ran off the other night in the middle of a conversation." She has no clue that Gavyn is the one that caused that little impromptu confession that still has her worrying that she can't look her boss in the face.
The airman's head shakes as Elle begins her apologies. "It's not your fault," she answers once all is said and done. Really, it isn't her fault. "Just.. trust me, it wasn't your fault at all." No explanation is offered, just Gavyn watching the red head in hopes she understands.
Understanding is not reached, sadly, and the redhead settles down at a table near Gavyn's, sipping at her coffee and popping a piece of the scone into her mouth. "What do you mean? Of course it's my fault. I let my tongue slip and said what was on my mind instead of the censored down version." She shrugs, slurping at the coffee. "Maybe it was something in the pancakes, or something."
If /only/ Gavyn could leave it at that. Blaming the pancakes seems like such a good idea. But, no. It wouldn't be good to let Elle continue to blame herself. "It /wasn't/ you," she repeats. "It was something else, though." After a momentary internal debate, she tips her head slightly, then looks up at Elle over the rims of her shades.
Elle offers Gavyn a strange look. "What do you mean, it wasn't me? I'm the one who let my tongue slip about a stupid crush I have on my boss that I was never planning on acting on. He's one of those heart breaker types, and getting with him would only lead to heartbreak. I have, like, the worst luck with men, I swear to god. I had a crush on my boss once before, and it ended up ruining everything, and I ended up compromising myself to him. Then, when he inevitably betrayed me, I ran. I abandoned everybody. I'm totally not going to let that happen again. Richard saved my life, it's inevitable that I'll be attracted, but this time, I'm not making the same mistakes."
She blinks a few times. "It's happening again." A frown is cast to Gavyn for a moment, before realization dawns on her face, and one hand darts out to point at the woman. "You."
In one ear and out the other. At least that's how Gavyn hopes her expression portrays. Maybe not so much as Elle would like, anyway, as she tells all once again.
The airman flinches as the red head's finger is thrust toward her and those glasses are quickly pushed up while she leans back. "Sorry," Gav offers again. "Really. It's… I'm sorry. It was me."
Elle stares at Gavyn for a long moment like she is something that the woman can't quite trust. When she finally speaks again, it's in a lower, quieter tone, the little redhead still eying Gavyn. "You're an Evolved? You like have a Truth look, or something." She tilts her head toward the airman thoughtfully. Then, she snaps her fingers once.
"You have to come with me to talk to Richard. Tell him what you can do, so he knows that I didn't mean to say that. And— and…" She rubs her chin. "He might be able to offer you a job. You shouldn't let your ability go to waste." She holds her hand low, then, and suddenly electricity arcs over her fingertips. It fades just as quickly as it appeared, before people can look over to see that Elle was the cause for that static crackle everyone heard.
"I'm Evolved," Gavyn replies very quietly. Though her head doesn't move, she does seem to scan the area near the two tables as she admits to the truth. "And.. it doesn't work all the time. I've found some control." There. She points out the sunglasses, a finger tapping the ear piece.
Then the red head is making sparks fly. Literally. Gav leans back slightly and if she weren't wearing shades she'd definitely looked surprised. "You, too?" And still, her voice is very quiet, yet the shock is unmasked.
Elle smirks, nodding slowly as she takes a slurp of her coffee. "Yup. Have been since I was a little kid." She tilts her head toward Gavyn thoughtfully. "You— you really should come speak to Richard with me, and not just to help me out. Have you not met other Evolved before?" Her voice is kept low, green eyes flitting over the library.
Not only has she not met other Evolved knowingly, but she doesn't generally go around asking either. "No. But… I'll come with you. Here." She digs into a pocket and pulls out a pen. Not very classy, but useful. Reaching over to Elle's napkin with many a muttered apology, she scribbles down a phone number. "Call me there."
Once the number is scribbled down, Elle pockets it, nodding slowly. "Good. I think Richard would like to speak to you." And maybe, if she brings Cardinal a Truth Inducer, he'll let her join Endgame, finally. It's selfish in many aspects, but she's thinking about the future, and how Gavyn could easily help the cause that her boss fights for. "I'll keep in touch."
The pen is returned to Gavyn's pocket as she nods. "Great." Not that she sounds particularly chipper about it, maybe a little relieved. In truth she's a bit nervous. /Someone/ actually knows now. And that's not always a good thing, no matter their situation. The airman glances around, taking in the patronage that's come and gone from the cafe. Nothing too much has changed and it doesn't seem anyone's over heard the conversation. She gives Elle a tight smile then looks back at her book.
"Don't be too worried. Richard is a really good guy. He's like you and I, too." She tilts her head toward Gavyn. "A lot of the people I work with are." She smiles faintly, and lifts her book briefly, before her eyes turn down to the words on the paper; her coffee and scone are slowly worked on.