Getting Things Off The Mind

[Kitty]

The mall. What is a mall, really? Other than a place for teens to go and wander around stupidly and for retailers to jack up prices of everything… Well, the mall is a public place. It’s always been that way. It’s always been a common hang out for teenagers as well. That’s a given. Some teenagers like it; others despise it for their own reasons. The bustling crowds, the rude people, obnoxiousness, the stares, and everything all just add up to make the mall what it is. A freak show. There isn’t’ anyone who has gone into a mall who hasn’t stared at one of the other customers or employees for one reason or another. One could possibly assume that malls were made for the soul purpose of embarrassment, but it could be said they were meant to waste time as well… either or.

Kitty Pryde was one of those who were wasting time at the stupid mall. She hated shopping really; she wasn’t there to buy the overpriced items when she could get them anywhere else far cheaper. Kitty was just restless and she had to drain her energy somehow, so she found herself trailing about the mall carelessly. She didn’t have anything in mind. It was hard for her to decide upon anything anyway. She was a fairly new person to this place to an extent. She had lived there a while, but that didn’t meant that she was used to anything by any means. She was an X man, though did that really matter? No one knew. They didn’t need to know. Really, Kitty did regret it to an extent. She wasn’t sure if she was all that comfortable with the idea, but she had to get used to it. She couldn’t just spend her whole life being afraid and not having any control. It was a good opportunity when one looked at it from a point of view that was smart, but from the point of view of a teenager, which was what Kitty really is, it just plain out sucks. Especially, if said teenager has an authority problem, as Kitty also has.

The crowds were there. They were clustered together and Kitty found that she had to weave in and out of them to get through. God, why did people always travel in packs? Didn’t anyone just travel by himself or herself just to be different? Kitty was different, by many means. The young woman wasn’t blonde, she wasn’t thin, and she wasn’t perfect. Kitty Erin Pryde was herself and that’s all she ever tried to be. She didn’t try to pretend or fit in. She didn’t need that. The wind could carry her and she would always be herself. Leaves change colors, and most people do too, but Kiddy didn’t. She wasn’t pleasant all the time, she wasn’t genius either; she was just herself. That was all anyone should really expect. Though, that’s not what people often thought.

Cutting through another group of people, Kitty found her thoughts interrupted when a rather large man barreled into her, spilling his slushy on her converse clad feet. Ugh, it was sticky and cold. Kitty made a disgruntled face as the man stammered out an apology and then took off muttering about how kids weren’t polite at all. Kitty hadn’t said a thing; she didn’t have to her stereotype covered it for her!

Squish, squash, squeak, squelch…

Kitty’s shoes were sticking to the floor now and making god-awful noises. This was just lovely. She couldn’t stand this. Her mind worked ahead and she found the nearest shoe store and bought a new pair of shoes that had been on sail, for the cheapest price she could. They were just like the ones she had been wearing too. Good thing she had been in the mall otherwise she would have been walking around with sticky feet the rest of the day. Discarding her old shoes, which had been ripped and torn anyway, Kitty slipped on the new ones. She had seated herself at a food court table. She figured it was safe to stay there for a while. Pulling the bottle of water out of her satchel, which had been resting carelessly upon her shoulder, Kitty took a drink.

To some she may look like a mall rat. To others she could look like a loner, what with her dark pants and green shirt, but to some she would seem a normal teenager, though she was anything but that… She was normal looking and she didn't have many problems, but that was only the surface. Seeing Rogue brought that thought and Kitty smiled as she waved to her trying to get her attention.

[John Allerdyce]

Malls were nothing but tight enclosures with way too little air circulation. Way too many people. And way too many humans. On any given day one might venture bravely into the structure in search of odds and ends. Mostly the stores and tiled walkways were over run with brightly colored kiosks and carts with their respective vendors displaying their merchandise for sale. It was always junk. Was there ever a time when it wasn’t?

Pyro moved through the crowd exiting out of a rather large department store and into the mall. The fake outdoor atmosphere drew forth a disturbed sneer from him as he moved along dodging through crowds of patrons with bags rushing home to share their purchases with loved ones. He wasn’t bitter over the concept. He ghosted along his way maneuvering in and out of a few stores as if on a specific mission with only one goal in mind. What it was remained undeclared, as did the emotion displayed up on his face.

Pausing for a moment before a rather loud store Pyro, or rather John when he was in such places, moved through the store making his way to the new release section of the music store. His darkened gaze moved along the various CD's available, one catching his interest out of the rest. He retrieved a copy and glanced over it as he made his way through the store tossing a twenty dollar bill on the counter as he continued for the door. He only held up the CD when the clerk began to say something, leaving them in silence as he left and moved along his way. He made his way through the store spotting someone familiar from his days at Xavier’s.

[Kitty]

Kitty had no problem spying that familiar face, though she had seen more than one at that instant. She had, of course, caught sight of Rogue. There was another she had caught sight of, though. She recognized him, though she hadn't been the best of friends with him. John Allerdyce, Pyro, he had left the school and joined the Brotherhood, though rumors had been flying furiously really. Kitty's face didn't show a thing, seeing as she couldn't judge, though Rogue hadn't seemed to respond. She didn't move from her spot. She stood there and grasped her satchel, sliding it onto her shoulder. Rogue hadn't acknowledged her, and she didn't think John would remember her. It didn't really matter that much. It was probably a good thing. Though, Kitty didn't hold grudges or judge unless she was pushed to her point, and she did indeed make her own decisions.

The feel of the bottle in her hand didn't fade like it might have had Kitty not been in control, but she was in control. She had great control now. Grasping the bottle and uncapping it one last time, Kitty finished off the rest of it and then got up approaching the trashcan and throwing the item into the bin before she took off at a walk. She was moving closer to Rogue, yes, but closer to John as well. She knew that the two might be prone to fight.... They had been what most would consider friends.

Kitty could probably attempt to stop a fight if one broke out... though she hoped it didn't come to that. None of that happened, though. Rogue didn't seem to pay attention to either Kitty or John. She walked off and Kitty's eyes went wider as she blinked profusely for a moment. What the hell?