Players:
Summary: Yet another deal with… something.
Date: January 14, 2010
To be Understood
Rating: PG
Nathaniel is out here on 34th street to spend some of his hard earned cash, as all good boyfriends do when they're trying to make up for something stupid. He has his hands tucked into the back pockets of his jeans, staring contemplatively through the window of a store. He has on a thin charcoal grey teeshirt, his blonde hair chopped shorter for the weather, leaving his earrings all visible. It's hard to tell if he's looking at anything specific or just staring absentmindedly, but the wind is at least a nice relief from the heat.
"Poor lonesome young man. You know how everyone feels. But… none can truly understand your feelings." A voice intones from somewhere. Nobody is standing nearby or seems as though they are talking.
Nathaniel is a fairly taciturn guy and living with other mutants just adds to that; it helps that he's also an empath. All that means that he doesn't freak out when he hears a voice come out of nowhere, just glances over his shoulder as if he were looking or waiting for someone. He returns his attention to the window, licking his lips idly only to say, voice low, "That's theatrical."
"As theatrical as someone who cannot show how he feels? Someone who must bottle it all up inside and risk exploding, because the daily strain is too much for others to bear? I believe that would be worse." The voice says, with a light chuckle. It's a masculine voice, but… fatherly. Caring, even.
Nathaniel stands there quietly for a few seconds, staring at the window before he speaks again, nearly a whisper this time, "I manage." Taciturn. He waits a few seconds longer before he asks, "Who are you?" It's the voice that gets to him more than anything else. Daddy issues?
"A friend. One who knows how you feel. One who understands what it's like to deal with it all your own way." The voice chuckles. "One who believes all should be equal. None should be higher than any other."
Nathaniel shifts his foot against the side of his leg, turning finally to actually look around before he speaks again under his breath, now moving to walk along the sidewalk, "So you're one of the heroes? …I don't usually talk to people I can't see."
No confirmation, no denial. "If you would like, then I will be visible." The voice laughs, before appearing from above, slowly lowering to the ground. Others don't seem to notice. He's beautiful. That's a given. And he has traditionally angelic wings, flapping gently. "I am here to help you. To give you the opportunity to have people understand you. Completely. And to give you a chance to no longer feel the constant pain. I can wipe the pain away."
Nathaniel pauses midstep, his eyes doing a quick sweep to see if anyone else notices; recognizing that no one does, he simply sidesteps into a nearby alley. If he has to look crazy, he'll find the appropriate setting. He looks at the oddly angelic figure after that, frowning minutely, brow furrowed, "…really? What… what is this all about? I mean, no offense, but I seriously doubt you're actually an angel."
"I am choosing people. People that can help me… and people that I can help. I am creating a family of individuals who can work together. People who need not be limited by schools or friends who wish them to hide themselves. We choose to be open. To accept. And to be who we are, no matter where we are. And… we have all grown and lost our pain from doing so." He answers. He offers a half-smile. "I know you are open to accepting people. I know of the people you have befriended. People who could be more, were they not placed on a path that did not suit them."
Nathaniel fidgets slightly in place, taking his hands out of his pockets and digging out a cigarette from one in the front instead. He lights it quietly, taking a drag before he responds, "How do you know so much about me?" He doesn't comment on the rest just yet, but if it's really a psychic doing it or something along those lines, they'll likely pick up on the fact that he's dubiously liking the idea.
"I know. I simply… know. Many things. You… I've had my eye on for a long time. You have a boyfriend who loves you. But he doesn't understand you. He doesn't understand that, whether he knows it or not, he's selfish. He's leading you on to be something you aren't comfortable with. You feel the same, but you worry that you may be changing him, taking away his innocence." The man says, with a smile. He has no emotion to be sensed. "But, you want to be yourself. You could always try. What is the worst that could happen if you take a… vacation? Nothing worse than what he's already done."
Nathaniel lowers his eyes to the ground, away from the illusory angel, taking another drag on his cigarette. He feels the need to say, albeit quietly, "Leo's a good person." It's a cursory statement, though, and after a while he just nods a little, "It… it sounds like a good deal. How do I know it's not a trick?"
"I do not deny that he is good. Perhaps too good, but that is not my concern. My concern is you, N'thynyll." Yes, he pronounces the name like that. "You need a chance to experience the freedom of being. And, is life not about learning whether or not something is a trick? You cannot feel me. What do your instincts say? What does it feel like… inside?"
N'thynyll? "My… instincts tell me this is a bad idea," Nathan admits, but then he shifts his feet and says, "but… it still sounds like something I want to do. I just don't know what to do. I mean… I can't exactly hop on your intangible back or something." He bounces on his heels a little brow furrowed, looking up at the 'angel' again, "Being part of something like that though… part of a family. I'm all for that."
"It will not happen right now. I will give you a day or so before I call for you. When the time is right, N'thynyll. You will know." He says, leaning forward to place a warm kiss on Nate's forehead. "You will be accepted. You will be a part of something huge."
Nathaniel nods his head slightly in response to that, twisting the cigarette between his fingers. He blinks at the ghostly forehead kiss, uncertain how to feel about that, but he murmurs, "All right. I'll wait, then…"
The kissed spot is warm and remains warm. The man looks up and flaps his wings, he shoots skywards. The spot… will be warm for a very long time…
Nathaniel rubs his forehead with the back of his hand, looking up after the man and feeling a little guilty. He loves Leo, and his friends, but what the man said wasn't untrue. The idea of belonging to something where people didn't judge him, where they understood each other, sounded pretty good. He sighs softly, shaking his head and walking back out onto the sidewalk.
