Dancing through life...

[Rune LeBeau]

It was a beautiful afternoon, far too nice to stay indoors. At least, that's what Rune thought that day after his classes were out. Since he had only been in Pilot Ridge a few months and never really explored the town, he decided to make a go of it. So, the boy grabbed his mp3 player and his book bag and headed out the door. The halls were buzzing with students as they visited each other, as were the lounge and the grounds surrounding Hammel. This was nothing new, in fact, it had become a welcome site for Rune. This place was starting to feel more like home to him. 

Popping on his headphones he hit play and a familiar tune started just as he hit the sidewalk and his feet instantly started to move. Rune danced his way to the nearby bus stop, avoiding the occasional pedestrian or stray crack in the sidewalk with a little ease, as he was actually paying attention to his footing. Granted, he was testing out new steps to this song, most of which he was making up on the spot. Once again, nothing new for the boy with the orangey pink hair. Once at the stop, most people would have stopped dancing, but not our Rune, oh no. 

Another song had begun, and it was loud enough to be heard through his headphones, so natural he started to dance for the small group of people at the stop. It was moves he'd practiced a thousand times, so he was loosing his focus and when the lights started to come from his fingertips the little crowed gasped and awed in pleasure. Rune wasn't an attention seeker by any means, but it always made him feel good when people enjoyed what he did. Sadly, the dance was cut short by the arrival of the bus. Luckily though, it wouldn't take long to get downtown. 

As if on cue, his new dancing song started to play as he made his way onto the slightly busy sidewalk. Ah, a slow and steady song and perfect for a day like this. What was less than perfect? Rune's dance moves to this particular tune. He had by no means got the rhythm down yet, so his attention was more on the music and his feet than anything. Truth was, he was heading to the town square to just relax, but something obstructed that route. His slender and short frame suddenly thudded hard into a much larger and much more solid one.  For a moment, he thought he hit a wall, until he looked up and instantly went red in the face.

"Sorry mate, didn't see ya there." The young man flushed and yanked off his headphones to be somewhat polite.

[Corbin Jacobs]

As it so happened, Rune wasn't the only person out and about to relax and gather his focus. In fact, there were likely a ton of people out and about on such a mild day, but for the purposes of this particular story they hardly mattered. No, the other one that mattered here and now was out walking and exploring because he'd needed to get out of his shop.. as was his usual excuse when he could be found strolling down the streets of Pilot Ridge. He didn't need much from the shops, so most often Corbin frequented downtown or the areas closer to it. Better people-watching, more interesting things going on. For instance the street performer he'd passed earlier that was making spray paint art. That had been pretty neat to watch. A kind of art that Corbin himself didn't figure he'd ever be able to do.

And then there was the occasional potential for 'people of Walmart'.. Those were always interesting.. and reminded Corbin why he put in at least a bit of effort as far as his appearance was concerned. There were kids, young adults, new parents, people shuffling to and from work, elderly.. Tons of people. Pilot Ridge was a remarkably diverse place.. likely thanks to the nearby school for metahumans.

But of particular note just now was a rather large rotweiller that was joyously pouncing down the sidewalk.. He hadn't managed to see if it had a collar and had turned to see where it was heading as he'd come around a corner, completely missing a very hard-to-otherwise-miss boy with bright reddish hair who was clearly paying more attention to his music and his dance moves than to what was going on in front of him.. and Corbin let out a surprised grunt as something not quite as sturdy as he was smacked into his back.

The man instantly turned, worried he'd backed into someone or a car or.. something.. but what he saw was a boy whose face was trying to imitate the color of his hair.. Which was striking and extremely familiar. "Wha? Nah, man. I was lookin at this dog and probably stopped right in front of you. My fault entirely. The only compromise I'll accept is mutual fault and even than you don't owe me an apology."

Corbin took a step back and looked the boy up an down. "You look familiar. Or.. ya know, a little familiar. Maybe it's deja-vu. Something about you is a bit familiar, anyway. Name's Corbin. Where ya headed? Did you see that bigass dog that just ran by?"

[Rune LeBeau]

Looking up to the other man's face was almost a bit of a challenge for the young Brit. This was due mostly to the fact that the other was a good seven or so inches taller than him, and a great deal wider. Rune felt like a twig next to him, and was starting to feel a bit awkward about the whole situation. He honestly had assumed he ran into a wall, it wouldn't have been the first time. Of course he wondered why this happened and for the life of him he couldn't figure out what exactly.

For a brief moment, Rune was taken aback by the speed at which the other guy spoke. He seemed to say a lot and the pink haired boy could easily understand, or maybe it was just the way Rune was hearing him. The guy was pretty handsome after all, and that usually made the boy act a little silly. Not all the time of course, but-once again-he had bumped into the guy. "Alright, if you say so. No apologizing, but at least I can say it taught me to be a bit more careful." He nodded as he responded to the first statement made.

Suddenly he became aware that the other was looking him over and giving him an odd expression. At first it made the young meta a little nervous, until he said Rune looked familiar. This made the boy chuckle softly. "Familiar? Haven't seen to many fellas with hair my colour." Rune gave a relaxed smile as he nodded to the town square. "I was just headed there to dance a bit." It didn't really register to introduce himself then as, Corbin, asked about a large dog. "Sorry mate, wasn't paying much attention. Otherwise I wouldn't have been likely to bump into you."

Rune mentally slapped himself and put on a grin. "Where are my manners." He spoke as he held out a hand. "Name's Rune. Pleasure."

[Corbin Jacobs]

Corbin just rolled his eyes as the guy insisted that he'd learned a lesson. At least he hadn't insisted on apologizing. People who insisted more than once to apologize could get.. very overbearing and irritating in a huge hurry. A little sense of humor could go a long way. In reference to Rune's hair color, Corbin gave a shrug.. The boy did indeed have a pretty unique hair color. --In fact, that was almost definitely what seemed familiar. Of course, the town square was brought up.. dancing.. unnecessary excuses.. he hadn't seen the dog..

Corbin knocked lightly against the side of his head as Rune's hand was offered, offering a grin and his own hand in return, giving a firm if not crushing handshake. "No worries about manners, man. Clearly you got 'em, they just, like, needed a minute. --You alright? I'm not the easiest guy to run into.." Assuming Rune's answer was a positive one (and his nose didn't start bleeding or anything), Corbin would give him a healthy nod and gesture toward the square. "I was headed that way myself.. Good people-watchin and comfy benches. Want some company, Rune? --Speaking of which.. How old are you, boss?"

Corbin then realized what could be taken from 'speaking of company, how old are you' and dropped his face into his hand. "No, no I did not mean that like a dirty mind might take it. That was just a really bad segue. After you hit like twenty-four everybody younger than you starts looking.. young. I just have no idea how old people are anymore. Not that I was ever that good at guessing ages, but, I mean.. uh.." Ugh. Rambling. Nervous habit. "Point is I wasn't propositioning you and now feel even more awkward cause I felt that I had to point that out. In fact, I can totally leave if you don't wanna give me the chance to make up for that." And he would leave then and there if Rune said 'yeah you kinda creep me out' or anything similar.

[Rune LeBeau]

Rune chuckled a little about his manners needing a minute to catch up. That was something rather typical of him. He wasn't exactly the smartest guy around, but things did get to his brain when he needed them to. The smile on his face almost faded a bit as Corbin shook his hand in a vice like grip. Another moment of Rune being overly polite, he hid the facial expression he wanted to make, mostly because the handshake did not last long. "Yeah, I'm alright. Nothing broken, no damaged goods." Managing a chuckle again as their hands parted ways.

"Company? Sure, fairly new around here so I'll take as many friends as I can get." Rune made a little tapping with his feet as he gave a response to Corbin's next question. "Seventeen, just turned it a few months back actually." He added with a grin. The young man was just about to ask what the term 'boss' meant exactly when Corbin seemed absolutely flustered. Shaking his shaggy hair and rolling his eyes he laughed again. "Man, it's fine. Honestly, I didn't think anything weird about it." It was the truth, Rune had not so much as gave the wording a second thought. Another little chuckle and he nodded to the square himself. "I'd love some company really. I uh...well...other than my foster family...I don't have anyone."

That may have been a bit too much information, but the fact of the matter was...Rune was actually rather lonely. "No need to feel awkward. But, if it will make you feel any better, I'll give ya the chance to 'make up for that'." Now normally he would have made that sound sarcastic, but seeing as he didn't want to scare this guy away anymore than he seemed to want to scare Rune away, he thought better of it. So, he flashed him another smile and started heading towards the square.

[Corbin Jacobs]

Well.. That could have gone worse. Way, way worse. And now they were headed to the square. Why Corbin had decided to offer his company he wasn't entirely sure.. er, aside from 'why not'.. but then dude's confession there made it make a bit more sense. Foster system.. he didn't have anyone. Corbin could relate. He hadn't been a foster child, obviously, but he understood all too well what it was like to be in Pilot Ridge with noone and nothing but the clothes on his back. He'd been exactly there when he was.. what, twelve? Same situation. Though he hadn't really had a hobby like it appeared Rune had. This guy seemed to have music and dance and.. uh.. dying his hair. Corbin had had.. well.. that when he got into fights he was almost impossible to hurt. Really, that was about it. Or, he also had eating. But was that really such a good thing to have? Blah. Reminiscing and pondering. Not paying attention. That's how he'd stopped right in front of this poor kid to begin with.

"So, uh.. Where ya from, Rune? I mean, obviously if you're goin to Hammel you live here now but, like.. Are your parents from around here or did ya have to leave them behind to do the school stuff? I lived in Arizona when I was younger.. Dad left for better work and my mom followed him when I manifested so.. I mean, I know what it's like to not have much. You seem to at least be into music.. and at least internet and communications and shit is way better these days.. You at least got a job or a way to support yourself?"

Huh. Rune hadn't exactly told Corbin he was going to Hammel.. Corbin had just assumed.. seventeen year old that didn't look like a vermont native.. red hair, music junkie.. It at least made sense, right?

[Rune LeBeau]

This day had suddenly taken a turn for the more interesting side. Which Rune was very pleased about. Okay, so maybe he'd spilled a little too much information about himself to a stranger, but he didn't really mind. The boy was far from the shy type. That and Corbin seemed like a genuinely nice person, which was something hard to come by. As they walk, Rune hummed a tune to himself and of course listened to his new friend talk. Corbin asked a few typical questions, nothing really surprising, though he wondered how this guy knew he went to Hammel. This thought didn't last long as he began to answer.

"Well, originally I'm from California, but I don't remember it at all." A little frown took the place of his cheeky little grin as he thought of his father. "My mother was from England, she passed during childbirth. Dear old Dad, well, apparently he thought stealing a car and going to jail was more important than his own 4 year old son, so I was shipped off to live with my Aunt Maggie. Mum's sister. Dad got out of jail, came to see me, then went back to jail. Shortly after I learned I was a meta, while at school in Kocher my aunt passed and since I know I have a step sibling here at Hammel somewhere, I asked to come here." Rune took a deep breath after all of that. Normally he wouldn't open up that much, but he felt oddly comfortable around the man giant.

"Job?" he chuckled, "None to speak of good sir. Unless you count royally ballsing things up from time to time." His wry little smirk came back now, mostly because he was done speaking and thinking of his father. "My foster family isn't so bad to be honest, just not really sure what to make of me. Ya know? And is it that obvious I go to Hammel, or was it just obvious I'm a meta?"