Staining Cabinets

Participants:

harrison_icon.gif kaylee2_icon.gif

Scene Title Staining Cabinets
Synopsis Harrison is looking for extra credit for class and shows up at Summer Meadows looking to volunteer. He meets Kaylee and gets conscripted to her group, Of course, when he accidently learns she's a telepath, he reacts like most do.
Date December 07, 2009

Summer Meadows

The low brickwork walls flanking the entrance to this subdivision pronounce it to be 'S MMER ME DOWS', black metal letters pitted by age and each tilted slightly askew by decades of weather and neglect. The rest of the subdivision echoes this theme — pavement cracked, its lines worn and faded nearly into obscurity; small lawns littered with autumn leaves and dying grass, shrubbery poorly pruned or not trimmed back at all, such flowers as there are in most cases long since grown wild. The buildings are a mix of townhouses, duplexes, and quartered apartments, most of them with paint peeling at the edges, a few boarded over and sporting jagged holes where the windows weren't quite protected enough. Feral dogs slink at the back of the streets; their feline counterparts are less commonly seen, usually visible as no more than a streak of motion disappearing into the bushes or someone's cracked-open garage door. This isn't a neighborhood where people are seen lounging on their porches as the sun sinks low in the sky; to stay out as darkness gathers is to risk unwanted attention, and the consequences thereof.


Even in the biting cold of the morning hours, work continues as it has everyday at Summer Meadow. People move around the neighborhood bundled in fluffy jackets and long scarves, white plumes of misty breath trail behind them. Despite the cold all these people are here.

It's too cold yet to be painting the exteriors of houses, but there is plenty of other work to do. So while she's waiting for things to warm up, Kaylee is set up in one of many makeshift workshops made of easy ups and tarps, staining kitchen cabinets for one of the houses being remodeled. She's zipped up into something warmer then her typical worn leather jacket, her blonde hair pressed flat against her head by a beanie that is pulled long enough to cover her ears.

The comforting whirl of a space heater and the louder thumping of a generator, help set the atmosphere. While there is still a little nip to the air, due to a corner of a tarp being open, it's still warmer then the word outside. The people she's snagged so far for her crew have not shown up yet… probably being smart and staying away until it's warmer… so she's alone in the tarp workshop, stain brush in hand putting the first coat on.

After speaking with his professor, Harrison has made arrangements to get some extra credit under his belt by doing some public service work in the community. He has been informed to the Summer Meadows project and waking up early decides to make his way to the area. Harrison is dressed in jeans, black work boots, a thick sweatshirt. He has over the outfit a worn leather jacket, thick scarf, and fingerless gloves.

The young man finally finds Summer Meadows and cocks an eyebrow at the condition of it. He finds the address and walks to the door and knocks on it. He looks over his shoulder at the house across the street before turning his eyes back on the door in front of him.

Hearing knocking outside of her own little world, Kaylee pauses in her work, tilting her head and listening. When she doesn't hear another, curiosity helps pull her to look. The plastic material of the tarp, crackles slightly as she pushes it up to duck out. Eyes roam the area and are quick to spot an unfamiliar face.

Giving a sharp whistle to grab his attention, Kaylee swings an arm over head in a large exaggerated wave. "Hey! Over here.. Sam's not there at the moment. In fact, I don't think anyone will be at the command center for another half hour." Letting her arm drop to her side, she adds. "Is there something I can help you with?"

As he turns, Harrison's eyes fall on Kaylee. He looks at the door and then begins to walk down the stairs towards her. "I am sorry. Am I in the right place? I am here to help with the Summer Meadows Project. This is the address I was given to offer help."

As he walks up to Kaylee he thinks, «She is cute». He runs a hand through his hair, "You guys are working today? I had to take two trains and a ferry to get here."

"Oh.. your in the right place alright. It's a bit slow in the mornings.. but around noon when it's warmer, it'll be like a beehive." Kaylee motions him closer, before ducking back into the tarp workshop and the warmth, trusting he'll follow. "And we are working… all the time really." She states, sounding amused. Though if it's at the loud thought, or the fact she's always here… she doesn't make it obvious.

Wiping a cherry wood stained hand on the hip of her jeans, she gives him a once over. "You'll do I think. Construction will probably try and nab you… Work out?" She asks curiously, before offering her hand not waiting for an answer, "Names Kaylee."

As he follows, the young man can't help but look her over up and down. He ducks into the tarp workshop, as he looks around slowly. When Kaylee extends her hand, he takes it and says, "Nice to meet you Kaylee. Harrison Jones." When he releases it and looks down at his own body, "Yeah…played Varisty and Senior Lifeguard back home….and playing guitar 8 hours a day keeps my arms in shape." He chuckles softly, "Never done much of this so…no sure what I can do to help yet…you direct me and I am there."

"Wow.. Nice to meet you Harrison." Kaylee sounds rather impressed by the run down. "And don't worry, I haven't done much of this kind of thing either." She reassures him, grinning. "We've got a lot of professionals that are willing to show the ropes… Me, I'm just unofficially in charge of making people paint. At the moment though, it's too cold, so I've been reduced too staining." A hand motions to her work load.

Turning slightly, to reach behind her, Kaylee plucks up an extra brush and holds it out to him, holding it by the handle with forefinger and thumb. "Consider yourself officially nab for painting… well, until one of the construction groups complains that a strong body is being put to such a menial task."

As he takes the brush, he twirls it over his fingers and smiles softly, "Then nab I am." He pulls off his leather coat to reveal his thick sweatshirt underneath as he tosses the coat to the side. Harrison looks around and hmmms, "Ok…so what is first?"

Stepping back behind the set of cabinet's she's working at, Kaylee spreads her arms wide, since there are a lot of them to be stained. "Pick a work space and go at it…." She picks up a rag already with several stains on it and tosses it at him.. "First though, you know how to stain wood?" The telepath asks curiously, watching him for his reaction. Her cup of stain is picked up and the brush within twirled, while she waits for an answer.

The young man looks at the cabinets, the brush, and the stain in the woman's hand. The apples in his cheeks begin to deepen a few shades of red as he says softly, "Ummm nope. I assume it is alot like painting? I have done that before…yet staining…nope." Harrison walks over to work area of his choice and then looks back at Kaylee.

"Lucky you, I was taught this morning!" Kaylee declares lightly with a little shake of her stain filled brush. "And yes.. it's a lot like painting. Watch me…" With a wet slap, Kaylee starts to brush the cold thickened stain across the wood. "First.. you apply it." Taking on a teacher tone, she instructs him. "Then… you wipe it off." The brush handle clatters in her cup and a rag is produced from her back pocket. With it, she wipes the excess stain off the surface, leaving a red tinted coloring behind, not unlike the blush of his cheeks. "Easy peasy!" She declares, giving the man a bright smile.

As he nods, Harrison looks around for his own cup to use and says, "Hmmm where do I get the stain from?" He tucks the rag in his back pocket as he begins to look for a cup. He begins to open a few of the cabinets. He crouches down and runs a hand over the smooth surface and thinks, «These remind me of home. Lloyd would be pissed at the detail work. Kind of shotty…yet they seem sturdy.»

"Stain.. um…" Kaylee turns in a slow circle as she tries to think of where she put it. "Ah!" The small can is quickly found and picked up off the ground at the edge of the tent. Though when she turns to give it to him, she can't help but hear his thoughts. Leaning over she lowers the can between him and the cabinet. "Here you go.. just use it out of the can. Summer Meadow is in pretty bad shape…" She comments lightly, watching him curiously. "Should have seen how bad the kitchen was that these cabinets are going into. Almost no kitchen at all. Just about all the homes need new a roof, paint is old and pealing… and some of the homes are termite ridden.. that's just a small part of it."

There is a touch of sadness to her voice as she adds, "It's sad that the government has been ignoring it."

As he nods in thanks for the can of stain, Harrison puts it in the middle of the floor for the both to use. He cocks his head looking at the woman and hmmms, "It is a shame how the government seems more ridden with other things then focusing on our people in need right here at home. Between the evolved, the war, and all that other crap the little people seem to be forgotten." Harrison begins to apply to his first cabinet along the door frame.

"Yeah.. they seem more focused on the evolved for sure." Kaylee murmurs with a bit of disdain, settling onto the ground on the other side of the can. "I think that's why this is happening, to make the government see there are more important things then obsessing over people that are different."

There is a soft sigh, before she breaks into a grin. "So… Harrison. New York native?" She starts, since they will be stuck here for a time before others of the crew show up. Her brush is dipped and she started spreading the stain on her end of the cabinet. "And trust me when I say.. tell the truth.. I'm good at knowing if your lying." Her eyes narrow at him suspiciously, even with the smirk is there.

As Kaylee mentions different, Harrison's thoughts wander. «Different…if she only knew.» The image of him looking at himself in a mirror in his room. He is completely covered from head to toe in metal. The metal statue moves with some ease, as he turns to look at his backside. He absently seems lost in his thoughts when he snaps back to the moment at hand.

Harrison looks over at Kaylee and says softly, "No ma'am. Not from New York. I was born and raised up north."

There is a tilt of her head as she can't help but catch more thoughts… another loud mind. Kaylee focuses on him, when she notices him looking at her, her mouth tugging up at one side. "Me either. My dad was and I was born in the city but raised in Kentucky." Blue eyes shift to her work, though she keeps her attention on the man on the the other side of the cabinet. "What…. do you think of this whole evolved stuff?"

As his mind shifts again to his own evolved ability, «What do I think? I wish the government would leave us alone and let us be ourselves. Not everyone in this world is a murdering bastard.» The quick flash of Harrison pushing his brother out of the way from getting hit by a car and turning to metal before getting crushed flashes in his head a moment. He pauses and finally says out loud, "I'm sorry…what did you say?" He blinks and says, "Oh what do I think? Well…I think it is a shame that people are so negative on what they don't know. They tend to fear what they do not know and if they gave them half a chance I am sure they would find that most of them are cool people." He shrugs, "I am sure at least."

"Indeed." Kaylee sounds a bit distracted as she murmurs the word. "I have to admit, since they were outed to the world, there has been a lot more people with some sort of ability then I ever thought possible. I imagine it helps a person not feel so alone in the world…" Her brush pausing, Kaylee leans sideways to look around the cabinet, to fully see him. "Though it also gets us hunted by folks like Humanis First.." A look crosses her face and she disappears behind the cabinet again, mentally cursing herself.

As he continues to paint, Harrison says, "Yes they are a group that should leave them alone." He suddenly blinks and then realizes what the woman said…"us". Harrison looks around at the woman and cocks his head to the side. He says softly, "Excuse me?" He puts his brush down and stands up slowly taking the rag and wiping his fingers.

"Hmm?" Kaylee offers, trying to blow off the slip up as nothing. "What's up?" She settles her brush in her cup. "And I agree.. they should be left alone." Brushing her hands on her pants, trying not to show the worry she feels.

He has never been the smartest kid in the class but he does have good ears. He sings in perfect pitch, as he cocks his head to the side. He suspects something as he thinks, «She said us. I know she said us. Is she like me? What if she is one of those who will harm me.» Harrison says looking around, "You got a bathroom around here. I need to…well ya know…handle business."

«Damn it if I take my coat she will know I am running.»

There is a sigh from the young telepath and Kaylee climbs to her feet slowly, so that she can level him with an understanding look. "Um… Yeah. Some port-a-potties down the way, first street on the left." A hand motions in the direction, "Look Harrison… Run if you need too.. but know I'm not going to hurt you."

"Kaylee!" The voice drifts from the makeshift offices.

"But you look spooked.. once you've calmed and you want to talk, you know where to find me." Kaylee offers with a small smile, before turning back to start shutting the stain can, giving him a chance to flee before she heads to the command center to find out what they want. It's a reaction she's use too really.

As he blinks, "You…you read my mind." Harrison is spooked. He runs to grab his coat and is out the door running at full speed! He is leaping over bins, piles of wood and more! He does not even look back but runs like he is being chased!!!


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