Unfavourable Impressions (K.C)

[James Lawrence]

Unlocking the door to his apartment, James swung open the door to a messy, small room. There were dirty clothes laying everywhere, even in the tiny living room, amongst sheet music and other things. Guitar picks littered the floor every few feet, leading towards the corner where he kept all four of his guitars. The place was... cramped, to say the least, but it was cheap and it was liveable. There were positive aspects and negative aspects, and really, James just needed a place to crash at night when not at the school or out enjoying the nightlife.

He had the rest of the afternoon off, free from training sessions, and decided to head home to relax as oppose to hanging around the school. James went towards the kitchen, grabbing a beer out of the fridge, avoiding everything on the floor. For someone who prided themselves on a well put together appearance, the state of the apartment was disgusting, really. He made a note to clean and do laundry later, but for now... he needed a smoke.

James opened the door to his small patio, that was close to the neighbours. A minor flaw, but regardless, still liveable. He reached into the pocket of his denim shirt, pulling out a pack. It was all a routine, one the New York native didn't enjoy anymore. James just didn't have it in him to quit. With a sigh, he pulled a cigarette out with one swift motion and placed it in his mouth. James sat down on the one chair he had on the patio, set the beer on the ground and dug out his lighter.

[Kasey Łukaczyński]

Kasey had quite enjoyed her family vacation to Cape Cod. They took one every summer. And while the week full of family fun, beaches, and eating food that was horrible for you, it still managed to exhaust the blonde. The thing about beach houses, and beaches in general... they weren't exactly as wheelchair friendly as home. Which was ok for the first 4 to 5 days. Days 6 and 7 were pretty rough. It got frustrating sometimes, and Kasey was glad to be back at her apartment.

She loved her landlord. He had done so much to help make her apartment livable for Kasey. He widened door ways, installed a shower chair, handicapped rails on the toilet, made sure there was enough space between all the furniture so that Kasey could navigate the small space as well as possible. The only thing that he hadn't had the chance to do yet, was create a ramp that lead from the living room to the patio. Which Kasey didn't mind. He had done so much, and frankly she was ok using her crutches when she decided to go outside.

So on this particular day when the blonde wanted to venture out to the patio, she pulled herself out of her wheelchair, and balanced herself on her pair of lofstrand crutches, carefully balancing herself as she opened her patio door, stepped outside, and closed the door behind her after her puppy ran out between her legs. "Careful Josie," she warned the small dog, who took off to play in the grass.

Kasey navigated over to the patio set she had outside, and called the dog over to hook her up to a rope that made sure the poodle shih tzu mix wouldn't wander too far. She pet Josie as she ran back off, and only then noticed that her neighbor was sitting outside as well, holding a cigarette between his lips, and pulling a lighter out of his pocket.

Kasey hadn't seen her next door neighbor much. She only had once, since her apartment was the closest to the entrance, and the area to the left of her apartment was just open grass and machinery for the building... air conditioners and the like. To the right, though, there was always someone. And Kasey had seen him occasionally. But never for long enough to realize he was a smoker. Her face contorted into one of mild disgust as the man lit up. "I'm sorry but I thought this was supposed to be a smoke-free-facility," Kasey said, definitely loud enough for her neighbor to hear. Sure, it was probably not the best way to introduce yourself to neighbors, but when you had as many medical bills as Kasey, you didn't want to add lung cancer from second hand smoke to the list. Kasey hated when people cut their own life short through bad habits like smoking or alcoholism or eating fast food for breakfast lunch and dinner.

[James Lawrence]

James, on the other hand, didn't require any modifications like his neighbour. With a modest budget and a need to find somewhere to live in the area, he had been sold on this apartment due to the price. It was on the ground level, which some people found unpleasant and lead to a lower asking price. Being on the ground level didn't phase him. In fact, the nights where James drank a little too much, it made it convenient. No need to stumble up stairs or anything of the sorts. It was also convenient when he took a smoke break.

The patio door to the left opened up, and James looked over as a good looking blonde came out to enjoy the afternoon, just as he was. He noticed the crutches, raising an eyebrow, but brushed off the thought, not saying anything. Besides, he was a gentleman, and the New York native knew better than to open up conversation in such a way. He stopped his pursuit for his lighter, to reach down and crack open the top of his beer. James, with his oh-so useful ability, was able to hear the girl talk to her dog with ease and clarity. He heard her crutches scraping against the ground, the dogs feet pattering against the ground. Removing the cigarette from his mouth, James set it aside momentarily to take a sip, his hand around the neck of the bottle. Nothing was better than having the afternoon off, enjoying a good beer and the sun.

Likewise, James had rarely, if ever, seen his blonde neighbour before today. Which really was a damn shame. A smirk toyed at the corner of his lips, as the New Yorker slipped the cigarette back in his mouth, leaning back in the uncomfortable patio chair that sat in his otherwise empty lot (except an ashtray. Although a smoker, James considered himself a semi-considerate one). He finally dug out his lighter after the minor distraction, lighting up and inhaling. Relief settled in, as he exhaled. Ahhh.

Then, a voice. He turned towards the blonde, with an amused expression on his face. He took the cigarette out of his mouth, flicking some of the ash towards the tray that rested on the ground. James held it between his fingers, somewhat away from the girl. "You're correct." He answered her with a smirk. "Inside the apartment. No smoking in the room. I'm outside, sweetcheeks." With that, James continued to smoke away. Was it allowed? He wasn't too sure but had no desire to stop. With another exhale, he looked over, seeing the look of contempt cross her face. "That sure is a way to open a conversation." Inhale.

[Kasey Łukaczyński]

Kasey rolled her eyes at the man, mostly because he made her question her own statement. K was 90% sure the smoke free policiy was meant to cover the entire building as well as the grounds the building was on. But there was still that piece of her,now, that was fearful that the man was right. Perhaps he was allowed to smoke outdoors. But in that case who was the asshole? KC for pointing out her neighbors bad habit? Or he neighbor for continuing the bad habit?

The blonde laughed dryly though as the man continued to speak. "Sweet cheeks? Really? What are we suddenly in some 50s sitcom?" Kasey asked. Now, Kasey was most definitely a flirt. She flirted with not men and women (though heterosexual) and used as much of her sexuality as she could being a wheelchair bound woman. But even so, she could honestly say she had never been called sweet cheeks in response to any of her own advances.

"Sorry if it's not the best conversation topic, bub, I just really....really hate smoking," Kasey explained, a hint of contempt in her voice as she reached down to tighten Josie's leash around the leg of the chair she was sitting in. "And therefore... I don't really have a strong affinity for smokers"

[James Lawrence]

As far as he knew, James was allowed to smoke on the property, just something about being six feet away from all doorways. Which he probably wasn't at the moment. He eyed the distance between himself and his patio door, shrugging. If anything, the landlord would give him a warning and James could cower away across the street underneath a lamppost. Exhale. Inhale.

He flicked the ashes again, as they landed in the tray. An amused half smirk, half smile appeared on his face. "I wish." James answered honestly. With the denim short, the black slacks, oxford shoes and slicked back hair, he practically radiated a 50s vibe. "Besides, a beauty like you deserves something better than 'babe' or 'bitch' or the equivalent." He said, with a smirk. Even if the blonde was put off by his habit, it didn't mean James couldn't flirt with her. She should consider herself lucky to be receiving his attention, afterall.

James' eyes gazed between the girl and her dog, before they rested on the blonde. The same, cocky smile stayed on his face, as he was nearly finished the cigarette. "Naturally, a lot of people do." He answered. "It's a habit. Started young. Back in New York, when I was thirteen. Wrong crowd sort of thing." James snorted, remembering the first cigarette. He had coughed and sputtered, and the older boys had laughed in response. "Something I just haven't been able to stop."

Plus, it went well with his aesthetic. Death was inevitable, afterall. What was a few years sooner? "Well darling, that's a damn shame then. I'd like to think we would get along nicely." With that, he dropped the butt of the cigarette and stomped it out with the toe of his shoes.

[Kasey Łukaczyński]

Kasey could do nothing but eye her neighbor as he continued to talk, and laugh at his comments. He thought he was doing her a favor by flirting with her, but Kasey knew better. She didn't always get the kind of attention she wanted per say, being a woman bound to a wheelchair most of the time, but this was not the type of attention she wanted either. She didn't need half-assed compliments on how she was a 'beauty'. She flicked a lock of blonde hair out of her face. "Yeah if you ever call me or any other woman bitch within my earshot you can pretty much guarantee I'll stick my dog on you. She's small but the small ones are the biters," Kasey warned, barely even half joking. She was probably only quarter joking, if that.

"Thirteen," Kasey repeated when the neighbor informed her of how young he was when he started smoking. She laughed dryly, finding it ironic that she was almost 13 when she received her diagnosis. That he was slowly killing himself from the same age her disease was slowly killing her. Or at least shortening her life span(She hoped that wouldn't be the case, but accepted it as an inevitability). "Oh don't I know that thirteen is a tough age," she said, almost monotone - knowing that he wouldn't understand where her attitude was coming from, but also not really willing to share at the moment.

"You know I think I'm alright with not quite getting along. I don't need to befriend anyone who is going to up my cancer risk," Kasey said honestly with a simple shrug. After all, her risk was already high enough considering the weird medications she had to take, as well as the fact that she was at a higher risk for bone cancers as well as heart and lung problems. She did everything she could to avoid other risk factors that may raise the probability of her having complications in the future. That included duchebags with cigarettes.

[James Lawrence]

"Darling, I think we've had a misunderstanding. I would never refer to a woman as a bitch." James corrected. Sure, he got on a lot of people's nerves. Heavy emphasis on a lot. But he would never, ever call a woman by a demeaning name. Especially a stunner like his blonde neighbour. He preferred cuter names, like sweetie, love, darling etc. Of course, it wasn't all positive, as James did have the tendency to flirt with anyone of the opposite gender. Heavy emphasis on anyone, again. "So no worries there." His eyes landed on the small creature she called a dog, the amused smirk back on his face. He'd like to see the tiny thing try.

"Thirteen." James repeated after her. "It's an impressionable age." He thought back to the older boys, clad in ill fitting, thrift store jackets and egging the younger James on to try one. One cigarette led to another, and eventually, a habit. He stared at the lit cigarette in his hand, sighing. Thirteen was also the year he manifested. When he was uprooted from his home to go attend a school for others like him. The habit had stopped then, since the boy no longer had connections. It would start again at fifteen once an older student took pity on him. "Thirteen is an age of change. Sounds like you know about it." He said vaguely, hearing the lack of emotion in her voice. The change in attitude. It was convenient, the enhanced hearing.

Maybe the blonde was a meta herself. James didn't recognize her, but then again, there were a lot of pretty blondes that had been at the school. Once the cigarette was stomped out, his eyebrow lifted at her blunt words. "Your loss, sunshine." Again, he was use to this sort of reaction from people. Couldn't handle him and what he had to offer to the world. James reached down, picking up the bottle of beer, swirling the liquid around. "I'd hate for you to be on bad terms with your next door neighbour." Now he was just being an ass. Oh well.

[Kasey Łukaczyński]

KC rolled her eyes slightly at the man. Although he said he'd never call a woman a bitch - and the blonde believed that he wouldn't - she believed he was the type of guy to imply it, and then deny his intended message until he died. His attitude and the way he talked was just slightly off putting, like he thought he had every right to say whatever he wanted, and do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, without ever considering anyone else's opinion. All these assumptions could have been very wrong, but Kasey didn't want to dismiss her gut feeling until her neighbor proved her wrong.

"Yeah I know about thirteen," Kasey said simply, eyebrows raising slightly as if to say 'who doesn't' or 'you're not the only person to experience that age, Sherlock'. Yeah, maybe Kase was a bit bitter about it. Every kid had it hard at thirteen - growing up and being forced to learn things about oneself that you didn't even know were important. It was the age where kids started getting really mean - mean about the way you dress and look. Or at least that was when what kids said started to matter. Probably why the age was so 'impressionable'. So how was it fair that on top of all of that, Kasey was sentenced to life in a wheelchair on top of everything else.

Of course, Kasey learned to adapt, and found that her life was as good as any person who could walk, but that's hard to explain to a thirteen year old. And Kasey still remembered how many strange looks she got, and how bad she felt about herself for so long when she had to start walking with crutches. She just wished she could go back and tell her younger self that everything turned out fine. Better than fine, really.

"Oh I try to never be on bad terms with anyone," Kasey said simply, petting Josie as she jumped up on her lap. "Not necessarily good ones, either, though," she added, looking down at where her neighbor had stomped out the cigarette. There were just some 'crimes' in Kasey's eyes that were so difficult to forgive. Smoking was toward the top of that list.

[James Lawrence]

Unfortunately for Kasey, her gut opinion was correct. Some people were able to overlook the major flaw in character, but the majority didn't. An arrogant attitude, coupled with the smoking habit and attempts at charming women, made James a generally unlikable man.

A smirk appeared on his face again as James detected the change in her voice once again. He could tell that she was starting to get bitter about the conversation topic, for whatever reason. He didn't care enough to ask questions in order to get an answer. In his mind, his pretty blonde neighbour was bitter about manifesting a power and having to travel to a new school, all while dealing with a strange new ability. James had been confused at thirteen too; but it all subsided within the first year. Plus, who knew most metas would be babes?

"So, what's your story then, sunshine?" James finally asked. "What was the life changing aspect of thirteen?" He felt like entertaining himself. Not to mention, if the blonde had a dangerous ability, he didn't want to piss her off.

"Well, that's good to hear then." He concluded, taking a sip of beer. "Any other vices you're not particularly fond of? Booze? Sex?" The smirk had appeared on his face again. Only James could piss someone off before even finding out their name, or introducing himself.

[Kasey Łukaczyński]

"Thirteen," Kasey said again with a sort of bitter nostalgia, once her neighbor asked her what her 'thirteen story' was. Part of Kasey didn't want to tell him. The other part hope that if she did tell him, he'd feel sorry for her and get uncomfortable and go away (though Kasey was fairly certain this wouldn't be the case). Against her better judgement, Kasey decided just to tell him - it wasn't as if Kasey was ashamed of her story. It wasn't as if she had anything to hide.

"About... two weeks before my thirteenth birthday, after having some pain in my calves and ankles," Kasey started, scrunching up her face as she tried to remember exactly how long it had been before he birthday... "A group of doctors told me that I would completely lose my ability to wall by the time I was twenty," Kasey said with a small shrug. The doctors had underestimated Kasey a bit - since she was still able to walk with the help of her crutches at age 25 - but there was still very little hope that Kasey would still be walking at 30. So no, her thirteen story had nothing to do with an ability. It had everything to do with a disability.

"And you know... it's pretty much just smoking that bugs me. Smoking and drugs," Kasey said honestly, responding to James' inquiry about her opinions on bad habits. "You know... as long as you're not drinking yourself into a coma or drinking and driving, then I couldn't really give less of a shit," Kasey explained.

"As for sex... well sex is fantastic," Kasey laughed at herself as Josie hopped up onto her lap. "I just don't nearly get enough of it," she said humorously, gesturing slightly to her crutches. Kasey was honest - not ever really feeling she had to hold anything back. It wasn't her problem when her neighbor might think of her. Or the comments he may make. And if he tired to come onto her, all Kasey had to do was say one word in German and Josie would take care of things.

[James Lawrence]

Again, she repeated the age. Thirteen. James heard the tone of her voice shift, using his better judgement (for once) and not saying a word about it, mockingly or not. He prepared himself to listen to another manifestation story, since everybody in Pilot Ridge seemed to be a meta. His own had been a terrifying one, at the time. He no longer tried to dwell on it, which was hard, considering he was back at Hammel working as a trainer. Truth be told, James enjoyed the job, surprisingly. He liked to think he was helping out the kids in a positive manner.

His eyes landed on the blonde as she began to tell the story. He listened with genuine interest. His brow furrowed together when she was done, as it was... unexpected. The outcome of her story. James scratched the back of his neck, and for once in his life, found himself stunned silent. What could he say? He was sure she was tired of half-assed 'i'm sorry' and pitying comments. Not to mention, that wasn't in his nature to say. "I see." He finally said, nodding as his eyes finally took notice of the crutches that rested nearby.

"Thought it was gonna be one of those manifestation stories." James took a swig of the beer, leaning back in his patio chair.

As for the smoking, James had tried to quit. A couple times. When he was younger and soon after he had returned to New York. A lot of venues and clubs had a no smoking policy, so he'd have to hide out six feet away with the other smokers, crowded around a lone lamp post. It was a pitiful sight, really. "Well, feel free to report me then or whatever, darling." James said, nonchalantly with an indifferent shrug. "Just means I go 'bout six feet away and continue."

What caught him off guard was the fact that his neighbour was able to joke about her disability, and laugh it off. The sight of the crutches made James shift in his seat a little. "It really is, isn't it?" He mused with a smirk, finishing off the bottle of beer. Sex with no attachments was even better. "If I can be honest... I'm a little surprised you can joke about that...." He made a vague motion with his arm towards the blonde's crutches. "Just curious." Without thinking, James grabbed another cigarette and played with it between his fingers, idly.

[Kasey Łukaczyński]

"No manifestation for me," Kasey said with a shrug and couple quickly raised eyebrows. Well... unless you counted the 'manifestation' of her disease. But she didn't really think about it that way. She was pretty sure she had always had the disease - it was in her genes. It just didn't show itself until 13 - which was even considered early for symptoms to kick in.

Kasey wasn't sure if she was going to report her neighbor. Honestly, she wasn't sure if he was breaking any rules by smoking outdoors. She wasn't sure who she'd have to tell, or how hard it would be to get him in trouble. She didn't even know her neighbors name - and she didn't particularly care to know at the moment. So maybe she wouldn't report him for the smoking, but she would certainly keep judging him for it. He was killing himself. Kasey remembered seeing a statistic somewhere... each cigarette you smoked takes about 14 minutes from your life. It doesn't seem like much... until you realize that smoking a pack every 2 days means that every week you're losing 980 minutes. 16 hours. Thats almost 850 hours every year. About 35 days. And assuming that was about what the guy smoked, if he had been smoking since 13, and... he looked to be about 25 now... Kasey's neighbor had effectively smoked away over an entire year of his life.

Meanwhile Kasey was at a risk of dying by 40 unless her disease stops progressing - just because of some faulty genes.

Kasey ran her fingers through her hair as her neighbor spoke again - expressing surprise at her ease when it came to joking about herself. About her disability. "What, am I supposed to sit around and sulk about it for the rest of my life?" Kasey asked pretty seriously - as if her neighbor was suggesting that was the more reasonable and expected option. "People make fun of themselves all the time. I'm not an exception," Kasey noted. The girl actually enjoyed when people were comfortable enough to poke fun at her condition. Though there was a difference between poking fun and being disrespectful and offensive. People who really cared knew where that line was, though, and Kasey rarely worried about it. "I didn't joke about it at first... but after 12 years you learn to laugh. Because what the hell else are you supposed to do?"

[James Lawrence]

James nodded to himself, having nothing further to say. It grew quiet between the two, as he stared off in the distance, twirling the lone cigarette between his fingers. He had no intentions to light another one (he wasn't a chain smoker) but felt like he needed something to hold and keep his fingers moving. James thought about his life before manifestation, a simpler time back in New York. The nostalgia of roughhousing with the boys and causing mischief in the neighbourhood. Childhood always seemed simpler, until the dreaded age of thirteen.

Then, the real world.

He broke the train of thought when the attractive woman spoke again. James lifted his head to look in her direction, as she explained her attitude and general positivity towards her disability. He shrugged, not sure as to what he was expecting from his question. "I don't know. It seems that most people sulk instead of joking about it." Since the New Yorker didn't have a disability, he was honestly curious. "Usually when people make fun of themselves, it's petty things." James shrugged again. If he had a disability, he wasn't all too sure if he could be as easygoing as the blonde was.

"That's one outlook to have. You lead a better life." He agreed, tapping his toe absentmindedly.

[Kasey Łukaczyński]

Kasey felt like her neighbor thought she was some sort of nut. That because she was pretty optimistic despite her troubles, she was crazy. And maybe she was, a little. But it was still strange to her that the man seemed to believe she should be wallowing in self pity - that her life is destine to be awful and she should just let it be. "They all sulk at first," she confirmed, knowing well how people react to their accidents and diagnoses. She saw it all the time - at first your life is shattered and you're spending so much time trying to pick up the pieces that you forget that there's more to life than walking. Sure, walking really does help things along. But there's so much more to live for.

"I guess after twelve years there's no point in self pity," Kasey said honestly with a shrug. Things weren't going to get better, as far as her legs went. That didn't mean her life had to get worse. "May as well laugh at myself and my faults like any able-bodied person. I don't care when people make fun of me, either. Because, frankly, any joke they have I've probable already thought of it," Kasey added, stressing the point that she was still like anyone else without actually saying it. It wasn't like her disability took away her humanity.Kasey shrugged, and adjusted herself in her seat, needing to shift ever few minutes when her thighs got tired of carrying her weight, since her lower legs weren't holing any of her weight even though her feet were set on the ground.

[James Lawrence]

James didn't think that his neighbour was crazy, it was just that her optimism despite her disability was... peculiar. He remembered someone he met outside of a club in new York, a man who was subject to seizures. The stranger was bitter, always complaining how modern clubs used too many bright lights and blahblahblah. James hadn't listened much to the man's ramblings, but he could vaguely remember the heavy bitterness in his voice.

"Even those who aren't disabled generally wallow in self pity." He mused, mostly to himself.

James nodded at her conclusion. Twelve years was a long time to pity yourself. It's why he had no shame in admitting that he was great. Some people saw him as an arrogant, cocky bastard (which was true) but if he was confident, then who was anyone to shoot him down? He tapped his fingers on the armrest of his chair, chuckling. "So do people dance around the disability then? Assume you'll get offended?"

"Well darling, I'll have to get thinking of something original and clever." James winked at the blonde, chuckling to himself.