fluxscape | Can you see me through the ashes and the smoke

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Can you see me through the ashes and the smoke

WHO: Johnny and YOU
WHAT: settling in more, glitching, and general grumpiness
WHEN: during the event
WHERE: all over

After a while, things kind of settle into something like normal. A really weird kind of normal, but normal-ish. He gets up, heads to the center, starts working on getting the word out that he can teach karate to anyone who wants to learn. Buys groceries, cleans his place, hangs out at the bar, works out.

And that would all be fine if it wasn't for the glitches. No matter how many times it happens or where, there's no getting used to it. It knocks him on his ass every time, leaves him with bruises on his hip, his back, his ribs, gives him a damn shine, but it's fine. He's fine. Wall it off, keep going, because it's the only way he knows how to operate.

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Evie's out and about with her wolf, Alaric, keeping to her side. Sniffing the air around Evie on occasion, but otherwise remaining at her side. It's a help, having such a big creature with her while she does her shopping, because most of the mistrustful residents of Haven keep a distance.

Not that Evie enjoys when people aren't receptive. It actually sort of stings a bit, but this is Evie. She's going to keep a brave face on.

Even after a glitch occurs while trying to place an order at the grocer. She's not aware she's projecting memories of the isle or that pirate on the train, nor will she really be phased.

She'll simply pick herself up off the ground where she fell, dust herself off and let her eye be caught by one of the karate posters Johnny put up.

That's certainly interesting, isn't it? She's heard of all manner of martial arts from Lonnie, and even learned a thing or two, but regular lessons wouldn't be too bad, would they?

Said hanger of posters isn't far away when it happens, and his first instinct when he sees the girl drop is to rush in to try to catch her. Which is honestly surprising even to him, because a few months ago it wouldn't have even been his third thought. He manages, somehow, arms under her elbows and the drop to the ground as he shifts his weight is hardly graceful, he'll probably regret the move later because his body's really not the same as it was when he was seventeen, but at least she doesn't hit her head on the floor. It's easy enough to steady her and get her back on her feet even as everything protests the movement, but the images that flash behind his eyes catches him off-guard, has him staggering back a step anyway.

What the hell...?

"What the fuck...?" he mutters, then, louder, "Hey, you okay?"

"I...think so?" Evie replies with a small smile, one hand pressed to her forehead. Okay, so Glitching is a bit dizzying. She's really not fond of it. But this man helped and the blue haired princess can't help but be glad he was there.

"Thank you for helping me." But then she catches the look on his face and she tilts her head a bit. "Are you okay?"

"Sure," he answers, waving off her thanks because it's still too weird a thing to accept easily. Like he expects her to change her mind in the next five minutes and start yelling at him.

"I'm fine," he continues, scrubbing the back of his head with a casual shrug. "Just, uh. Nah, it's probably nothing. Don't worry about it."

"In this place it's usually not nothing, and might even help us figure out what's going on with the Glitching, and all." And all meaning she's experienced a memory or two that wasn't hers.

"I'm Evie." Maybe an introduction will help?

Right. Like that doesn't sound like a trap, but what does he have to lose, right?

"Johnny," he answers first, then exhales through his teeth, scrubbing the back of his neck some more. "I saw a weird island that looked like it was put together by a bunch of kids, and a try-hard pirate guy on a...train? Nothing I've ever seen before, I'd remember, but it was like I was living it, I guess?"

"Oh."

That's not even the worst description of the Isle she's ever heard. It's fairly accurate, actually. A lot of the Isle was in fact slapped together. In fact, all of it was. The mention of the pirate gets a small smile from Evie, one that might be a touch sad. Just a touch.

"You saw my old home and a dear friend of mine. I grew up on that slapped-together island. The pirate's name is Harry."

"Harry? Seriously?"

He can't help the laugh that escapes. Yeah, he sees the look on her face, and has the good sense to look guilty, but what kind of name is that?

"Didn't look like so bad a place, at least. Not that I know jack shit about it, but still. Sorry, though. Wasn't trying to look or anything, it just kind of...happened."

Evie doesn't seem to notice the laugh at Harry's name, honestly. Or at least, it's not bothering her. She likes his name, but that's fine. To each their own, right?

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Johnny," Evie says, tilting her head in greeting.

"You must have seen some of my better memories of the Isle," Evie states with a half-smirk. "It was a prison island."

She's leaving it at that. When he apologizes, she holds her hand up and shakes her head. "No need to apologize. You didn't do that on purpose."

Pointing out the flyer, she looks at Johnny questioningly. "You're teaching karate? When are your classes?" Yes, that would be interest, actually.

"A...?"

Right. Okay. Sure. But he's nobody to judge, not like he hasn't done jail time himself. But she brushes off his apology, so he lets the whole thing go, moves on to the next set of questions.

"Oh, uh. Yeah. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, 7 am and 4 pm. You want to learn karate?"

Johnny might be in luck, because, Bruce Wayne hardly seems phased by the glitches these days. He has experienced enough of them to not be surprised when they do happen. It is all collecting information in some attempt to be able to predict when they might happen. So, if Johnny needs someone to vent to or get a bit of information? The mysterious billionaire playboy that seems to care a bit more than he lets on is certainly in the Megaplex that day.

Namely to stay out of the heat while he ventures out of the literal cave to see what is going on in the world.

The guy's definitely a new sight, at least as far as Johnny's concerned. Seen him around in general, sure, but in the Megaplex? Not so much. But it's hot as balls out and there's at least something kind of like AC in the place, if you squint, so he figures that's mostly the reason he sees him hanging around when he heads out of the space he's taken to using for his classes. 'Classes', like there's more than a couple people sniffing around, but it's fine, they'll come, he can wait. He'd used the time to keep himself in shape anyway, try to get himself back towards where he'd been before he'd written off karate the first time, like now's anything like when he was seventeen, but it's at least something to do that's more productive than a lot of his other options. So when he steps out into the concourse he's a sweaty mess but at least something like relaxed, only arches an eyebrow at the guy in idle curiosity.

"Hey. Can I help you?"

"Just taking a look around. Figured I'd get out and see how our establishments have been holding up in our new reality." Bruce offered a hand to the man he hasn't met yet. It seems like there's plenty of new faces in Haven. "Bruce Wayne."

Not that he expects the man to know who he is. He's been holed up in a cave for about a month and some.

"New...?" He trails off, trying to work things in. It seems like every time he thinks he's got a handle on this place something else throws a wrench into it. "So it's not always like this?"

He shakes the hand easily enough, firm and confident because he was trained well, no matter anything else. "Johnny Lawrence," he answers back, and at the moment the name doesn't even make him think twice. "Nice to meet you."

There's a shake of his head at that. "No. This is about the fourth reality I've been in since I showed up ...wherever or whatever this place really is."

Strong grip. Controlled, balanced out. Definitely skilled enough to train the people in the establishment. That's good to know and mark.

"Nice to meet you." Bruce lifts his hand to gesture to the room behind him. "It looks like things are going as well as they can be despite everything going on."

In some sort of break between glitches, Beck looks for a distraction and finds himself at the martial arts studio. He's a tall and muscular man, appearing to be in his mid-fifties but in a strong physical condition.

His voice is a little hesitant as he looks around for somebody to help him though.

"Hello? Anybody in here?"

Johnny looks up from where he'd been moving mats around in anticipation of an afternoon class, dressed in his Eagle Fang gi and doing his best to look like he's got any idea what he's doing. He'd done this once on his own before, sure, but it's not like Cobra Kai had gone well and Eagle Fang had their classes in the damn park. He's back in a space with rent and shit and at least Kreese isn't around this time to ruin it (he hopes), but still.

But he looks over when the voice interrupts, straightens up after he finishes getting the mat where he wants it and offers a more or less easy smile as he approaches the guy.

"Hey, man. Yeah, just me so far. Johnny, I teach karate. Can I help you?"

He's unaware that he'd texted briefly with Johnny previously so as far as he knew, they were total strangers.

"I'm Quentin Beck. Actually, I was wondering what kind of fighting you taught here. Karate, huh?" He appears to mull that over. "And I was looking for gym equipment."

"Little short on gym equipment here past the bag, we do more hands-on stuff, but I think some of the apartment buildings have gyms? Mine does, anyway. But yeah. You looking to learn how to fight?"

Way the guy looks Johnny's pretty sure he could hold his own, but then maybe he's more of a boxer.

Beck certainly had the look of a boxer, with his craggy features and solid build.

"Mostly want to keep in shape, you know? Don't want the muscles stiffening up. Maybe do some sparring?"

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Can you see me through the ashes and the smoke

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