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 Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 10:48 am
Just a bit before rush hour, the crew had at least been considerate enough not to make their move before most workplaces let out, when this was still the Christmas Shopping crowd and not the frantic commuters crowd. Perhaps mostly that was just due to the fact that shoppers had more money, and were more inclined to let it out -- or perhaps it was because, at this hour, it was much less likely that someone would come around to break them up.
Still, despite their thought and efforts, they were causing a traffic jam. The music, more rhythm and bass than anything else, filled the air enough to turn heads, and as people came pouring out of crowded subway trains, they were drawn in by the sound of shouts and claps.
The crew who'd set up camp in this particular station was, primarily, the same group of somewhat-thug late-teens that always took up this corner. Break dancers in wife beaters and low-hanging pants, their puffy coats to one side, they looked much like what someone would expect from a crowd of subway performers -- except, maybe, for Warwick.
He stood out: too white, too lanky, his hair a bright burst of greens and blond, grinning where the other guys looked more serious, more stern. Where the other guys preferred moves that showed off strength, striking long, impossibly contorted poses between movements, when they parted to let him have a turn Warwick aimed for those that would get a ripple of amusement out of the crowd, a breath of laughter here and there. Tripping over imaginary shoelaces into a tumble into a backflip, it was more clowny than anything else.
At least the rest of the crew didn't seem to mind, and maybe the crowd wouldn't either.
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Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:06 am
Porsha Webber was among the throng of people that came pouring out of one of the many subway trains, but unlike most, she was not out doing any last minute shopping. She'd had a grand total of 3 gifts to buy that year, and she'd done so at least a month ago. She didn't mind crowds, they were everywhere in this city, but she did not enjoy crowded shopping centers or the foul moods that seemed to infect everyone within them. No thank you.
She heard the music immediately upon entering the station, but she had no intention of stopping to check out the source of the noise. Subway performers had been a little lacking as of late, and she wasn't about to waste her time watching some two-bit dancer shakin' it for the crowds.
The sound of applause and laughter had her slowing though, and she stopped in the middle of the bustling crowd to stare over her shoulder. That level of crowd approval was always promising, and despite her previous assumption she found herself pushing her way back through the crowd so she could take a place on the edge of the gathered ring of people. The sight that met her at the middle of the ring had gray eyes widening a touch.
A heavily tattooed white guy, in the middle of a group obvious thugs, putting on a comical dance performance to music that usually inspired far more vigorous, violent movements. Well that was new at least.
Plum lips pursed as she watched him, and after a moment or two her stony expression softened and turned into a smile. Comedy aside, he was pretty good, and she had to admit the peculiar moves were a bit more entertaining then your average break dancing. Good break dancing, the cutting edge stuff, seemed to be a little rare.
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Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 11:29 am
She'd come a little late to get a good long view of it; as the hour approached, the guys slowed, working toward breaking up, and the hats came out. In addition to the one on the floor, two of the guys circled the edges of the crowd -- more relaxed guys, friendly enough despite their intimidating appearance, shrugging when people were unwilling and grinning when they were. The music faded down and the crowd started to thin, letting Porsha push her way up to the front just as the crew was breaking up.
Two guys in the back ran fingers briefly through their winnings to make sure, while Warwick shook hands and bumped shoulders with another, a big guy, who tipped his head to mutter something teasing that got a snort in reply, a quick shake of head. Warwick didn't mind getting teased, and a good thing in his line of work.
As the dancers split, groups of two and three gathering up their coats and gear to slip away toward whatever it was they did the rest of the day, Warwick lingered and sorted through his pockets, working to see just how much money he had and considering a cup of coffee or something to battle the chill.
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Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2011 8:56 am
Before she'd even gotten much of a chance to enjoy it, the show slowed to a stop and the hats came out. It was actually a little disappointing, the white guy among them had been very entertaining, and since the music began to fade when he was finished, Poe had to assume the others had already taken their turns.
As one of the guys moved up to her with his hat she waved him away with a smile. Not exactly apologetic for her obvious penny pinching, but friendly at the least. It wasn't as though what she'd seen didn't deserve a buck or two, it did, but considering she hadn't seen the whole of the show, she'd rather give her money straight to the performer in question, rather then let it get split up among people that hadn't earned it from her. So as the crowd thinned and began to trickle away, Porsha lingered, watching as the dancers checked their earnings and said their good-byes.
She waited until every last person had faded into the crowd before moving forward. "Hey, you're pretty good." That didn't quite cover it, but the teen wasn't in the habit of over flattering. The five dollar bill she slipped from her pocket and offered out to him probably conveyed her approval better.
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 1:56 pm
Five dollars was more than most people dropped into the hat anonymously -- was, on a bad day, more than Warwick's usually cut from the entire hat. He was still shrugging on his own coat, too light for the locale, a puffy vest over a sweatshirt. At least he didn't have to trek far from the station to Able-May's, and the promise of warmth...
He stood blinking at Porsha for a moment, blue eyes flashing from the money to her face like he was trying to figure out what the hell it meant before he offered a little twitch of a smile. "Um. You sure? I mean..."
How old was she, anyway? Warwick fidgeted, trying to come up with something teenager-appropriate without being too condescending. "You could go to the movies or something."
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 2:49 pm
Her hand, and the money held within it, never wavered as he glanced between it and her face and asked if she was sure. It was a silly question, if she hadn't been sure she wouldn't have offered that much in the first place, and the look she gave him before recalling her smile said as much. "Ya, I'm sure." She gave the bill a little wiggle in his direction. "I know how much it is, and I know what I could spend it on." She shrugged, shoulders rolling up and back.
If he was dancing in the subway then he probably needed it a little more then she did. Sure, she was selfish, and she had a tendency to pinch pennies and mooch whenever she was able, but she also knew what it was like to not have enough money to get by, let alone comfortably.
"You've got a really unique style, it's not something I've seen before." Was she going to have to force it on him? ********, she hoped not. It was already painful enough forking over money in the first place. It wasn't a practice she made a habit out of, and whether she felt he deserved it or not, it didn't make it easier.
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 8:12 pm
Another moment's hesitation, and then Warwick took the five, just...holding it. He still looked uncertain, maybe uncomfortable taking money from a kid, or that much money, or...who knew. He couldn't even quite explain it. He was just glad the other guys weren't around to give him a hard time or urge him on.
"...uh. Thanks." Awkward. He paused a moment and then dug up a grin, hauling himself back toward normal, friendly and open. He could deal with this. He folded the five and stuck it into his pocket. "I don't guess you've seen the posters around? A friend and I are kind of working on putting together a circus..."
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 7:29 pm
If he had called her a kid she would have punched him. Impressive dancer or not, she did not appreciate being discrimetated for her apparent age. And really, it wasn't as though anyone just knew how olds he was without asking, and if they did ask she'd just lie. She very nearly growled with the growing awkward was stretching between them, but was spared the trouble of getting pissed by the sudden flash of a grin.
It soothed her temper, and after a second she followed suit, smiling up at him. "Those are your posters? I was kind of curious." She'd seen one or two around town, in the park. Truthfully she hadn't dedicated too much thought to them after reading the first while waiting in line the subway last wake, but him mentioning it did renew her curiosity. "So what's that all about anyways?"
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Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 12:25 pm
"I don't know, exactly." The money disappeared into his pocket without another thought, his hands sliding after it. Even in the subway, it was chilling, the winter wind biting through every time someone opened a door in the distance. Down on the platforms themselves, it was probably warmer, but standing around right here...well. Warwick shivered, at least, tugging his vest in closer.
"My friend seems pretty on top of her stuff, though. I think she wants mostly students, and then she's got an idea of where we can perform, pick up a little money maybe, or at least get seen some." He tipped his head, eyes searching her expression for a moment, and then looked around. She really wasn't that young. "Want to get a cup of...coffee or something?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:38 am
"Ah." She watched the money disappear, silver eyes following his hand before flicking back up to his face and they very vibrant hair. "Well that sounds pretty interesting, I'll have to give those posters another good read, maybe try out myself," she grinned, then chuckled faintly. "Not that I really have any marketable circus skills." She could kick the s**t out of a someone, dance until she dropped, but acrobatic skills? Juggling? Nope.
Still, it did sound interesting. And fun. And well.. Money. Poe liked money.
Plum brows twitched at the invitation, and an easy smile sliding along painted lips. "Sure, got a place in mind?" No, Ms Webber was not that young.
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Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 9:56 am
"Um. Starbucks?" It came with another easy smile, amused. Not exactly the kind of out-of-the-box cafe someone might have expected out of him, but hey, there was always a Starbucks around, the quality was always the same, and it'd be warmer there. Maybe he could get a sandwich, too. Warwick took two steps backward, leading Poe away toward the subway exit. His coat wasn't really heavy enough to go wandering; this was going to be a brisk walk.
"We need people ho don't do circus stuff, too. I'm good at circus stuff but pretty terrible at, well, everything else." He waved that off with an absent little gesture, still moving backwards so that he could watch her. Warwick wasn't about to walk into anything static, but people might prove a problem.
"Like, I don't know. What are you good at?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:29 am
"Starbucks works." He'd turned around to watch her as they walked, skillfully avoiding colliding anything while navigating a crowd backwards, and Poe couldn't help but grin at him. The guy was a little bit weird, but just like his dancing, she found him amusing.
She listened as he went on to explain more of what they had and what they needed for the circus, curious what all talents he had possessed that could be employed under the big top, but she'd ask later. He'd moved on to question her on her own talents.
"Well I can throw a decent right hook," she offered almost immediately, smiling proudly. She was good at fighting, great even, but that was hardly a talent that would be put to much us at a circus. "I can also dance, not professionally, but I do know some Latin ballroom." Narrow shoulders rose and fell back in a shrug. "I guess if I had practice there are a lot of athletic, flexible things I could do, I've just never tried."
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 1:56 pm
"...you can fight a little?" That interested him, apparently; Warwick tipped his head to peer at her, shaking off the rest of what she could do. Anyone who auditioned was likely to get in past Warwick, the question was just if Kess would have the same opinion. Hopefully not. Hopefully she could say 'no' where Warwick couldn't... "I mean. Can you really fight, or just a bit of scrapping here and there?" He flashed her a smile, easy going, hiking his shoulders quickly. Dancing was nice. He liked dancing. But fighting was useful. beejoux I'm marking this thread as 'inactive' in my list; if you tag, please let me know via IM or quote?
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Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 9:07 am
Po's smile moved from friendly to down right cocky as he repeated her. "Mmhmm, I've got a bit of skill." A bit? The girl was pretty damn good for someone her age, let alone being a girl. The humbleness had all but dropped away, but she let it go altogether when he questioned her further. "I've been taking various martial arts classes for years now, and 3 times a week, if not more, you'll find me down at the gym sparring or working over a heavy bag." She grinned. "Ya, I can really fight."
She flexed her fingers, closing them into loose fists, and slipped them into the warmth of her pockets.
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