Having a handsome and friendly librarian standing around at an event was certainly not a bad idea. Booker was good with people; he was the kind of person that could build public relations and have fun doing it. Sadly, in this day and age libraries needed promotion as much as any other place. Especially when people only wanted the venue, but not the actual books...

>> ”I know, right? Knowing my luck they would try to grease me up and stick me in a go-go cage. I mean, I stopped doing that kind of stuff in college”

Javier chuckled, but also blushed a little. He knew Booker was joking (probably), but the mental image was still far from unpleasant. And he also felt a little guilty, because his suggestion basically implied the same thing: Booker would be popular at any event. He was handsome. That was what most people saw. Javier also knew he was kind and funny and caring, but those were generally less marketable.

>>”Maybe the next time they are setting up for an event, I’ll have you sneak in. We can watch them set up together before they kick us out like the bums we are?”

"Sounds like an adventure" Javier smiled. Breaking an kind of rules was very far from his nature; the fear of getting caught was too great, so he'd rather just play it safe to begin with. But it was nice to joke about doing daring things together. The conversation came to a halt when the waitress showed up.

>>”Hello, my name is Carol and I’ll be your server. I’ll give you both a moment to look over the menu. In the meantime, would you like anything to drink?”

"Just water, please" Javier answered. It was his usual answer; he did not really look at the menu yet, so he didn't know what the options were, but asking for them usually vexed the waiters, so, once again, he decided to play it safe, and make it easier on everyone. Once she walked away, he flashed an apologetic half-smile at Booker. "Maybe we should look at the menu?"

>>"Sounds like an adventure"

Booker was serious when he said that he would bring Javier to the library the next time that they were setting up for an event. Of course he wasn’t referring to anything illegal (yet), merely that Javier could hang in the back office with him as the hours of the work day chipped away and they could get sneak peeks of the set up that was being laid out. It really was the most impressive thing, to watch this transformation in effect. Surely it was something that Javier would get a kick out of. But more on that later.

Beforelong the duo were interrupted by the kindly waitress who inquired if they wanted anything to drink. Booker cheerfully smiled to the woman before he turned to Javier. It was always best to let your date order first and, since Booker was the one taking Javier out, he would allow him to order first.

>>"Just water, please"

”Iced tea for me,” he said brightly. ”And a wedge of lemon in it too.”

Leaving them alone with the menus, Booker turned back to the table, picking his up. Now that the waitress was here, it was probably better that they start looking through it.

>>"Maybe we should look at the menu?"

”Agreed,” Booker said with a laugh. ”I’m actually pretty hungry and the smell from the kitchen alone is just making it worse.”

He chuckled as he glanced through the menu. He already knew that he was going to be ordering their Orange Peel Chicken. The savory chicken mixed with the sweet glaze and the bit of spiciness that they added with red chili flakes was too enticing to not want to partake in. What would Javier order, though? Really everything on their menu was good, so it was just a matter of whatever it was his date wanted.

Once it seemed like Javier had made his choice, Booker folded his menu and set it aside, a sign to the waitress (whenever she passed) that they were ready. He sighed as he sat back in his seat, taking a moment to look out over the rest of the restaurant. It had been a minute since he had been here and he was happy with what brought him back.

”So I think this is the part where we talk more about ourselves,” he grinned. ”Why don’t you tell me something I don’t know about you yet?” It was a fairly simple starter, the kind that would begin any date. ”It can be anything. And, I promise, no judging.”

They looked at the menus, and made some decisions. Javier decided to order some fried shrimp, since now he was curious about just how good it was, and also because Booker suggested it, and he tended to take Booker's suggestions to heart. He also ordered some stir fried vegetables and a side, and some rice with an assortment of sauces. It all sounded delicious. Once the actual ordering was done with (as painlessly as possible), Javier sat back, happy to be done with the nerve-wrecking part of the dinner date. It would be smooth sailing until the waitress came back to ask questions when everyone's mouth was full.

>>”So I think this is the part where we talk more about ourselves. Why don’t you tell me something I don’t know about you yet? It can be anything. And, I promise, no judging.”

Javier blinked, and blushed a little. Telling something Booker didn't know was not a hard request - but the 'no judging' part made it sound like he was supposed to come up with something personal, or cool, or at least a little bit embarrassing. Javier sorted through options in his head, humming softly as he tried to pick one that was not too neutral, but also was not going to kill the mood right away.

"Well... my favorite color is burgundy" he smirked; it was one of those cliché first date things that one could make an easy joke about. "Ummm... I have a younger brother who is genuinely worried I'll never get a date. But he says if dad managed to marry a supermodel, I have some hope too." he chuckled "He was the first person I came out to. He was super confused."

This was a date and there were certain things that you did on a date. not the illicit stuff (that comes later, heh). What Booker was thinking about at the moment was those conventions that always seemed attached to reh regular date notion. The finding out about the other, the striking of chemistry, etc. Booker already knew that he and Javier had chemistry, but there was still the fact that he wanted to know more about the other man. He was a tailor, he had some geek knowledge, and he was a fantastic kisser. But what were some other things he could gather from the individual?

After placing their orders, Booker sat back in his chair, smiling a stupid little smile as he tasked Javier with telling him something new. It didn’t have to be amazing or secretive, just something that the librarian didn’t know about him yet. Really, it could be anything but he wanted his date to feel comfortable with whatever he told him. He wasn’t going to ask for his deepest, darkest secrets.

>>"Well... my favorite color is burgundy...Ummm... I have a younger brother who is genuinely worried I'll never get a date. But he says if dad managed to marry a supermodel, I have some hope too. He was the first person I came out to. He was super confused."

Booker smirked, listening intently to Javier’s words. He immediately filed away the tidbit about his favorite color as that always proved to be an important fact whenever dating someone. It could be used as a means to find them the perfect gift, or serve as a reminder to make sure one looks their best for the other. Burgundy...it was a beautiful color.

It was then that Javier went into the fact that he had a younger brother, one who was the first he had come out to. Booker nodded his head, understanding what it meant to have a sibling to come out to, of course Javier’s brother and Nessa’s reactions seemed to be totally different. While Javier’s was confused, Nessa had merely given Booker a roll of her eyes and sarcastic “Duh”, claiming she knew that all along.

Booker would build off of what Javier said with his own answers. ”Burgundy...I dunno why but that just make sense for you,” he said with a grin. ”Personally, I’ve always loved the color ‘teal’. Nice. Cool. Relaxing.”

It was true. Whenever Booker ha trouble sleeping or felt like he was struggling with a bout of PTSD, he would immediately turn his attention to that particular shade to help calm himself down. And, with his past, he certainly needed the color in his life.

”Ironically my sister and I came out to each other at the same time,” he explained. ”Our parents were...less than understanding,” a shrug followed. ”They were very old fashioned. That was why my sister and I helped each other out. I pretended to date her girlfriend for a bit while she dated my boyfriend. It was an okay system until we felt comfortable enough to tell our parents. They didn’t take it well.” He didn’t need to get into the details, so he waved it away dismissively. ”Anyways, it is what it is. I went to college and not long after my sister followed suit. Havent’ really spoken to our parents since.”

He looked up as the young waitress brought their drink orders, leaving straws, and then heading off again. Booker broke the paper wrapping of his straw, plopping it into his iced tea where he mixed the contents and the lemon wedge. He didn’t like thinking about his parents, much less the way that they treated him and Nessa. That was why he was pressing on as he had far more important things to focus on here. He was on a date, after all.

He wrinkled his nose and took a sip. ”Sorry. I hope I didn’t bum you out with that.”

Official dates tended to have rituals attached to them. When going on a first date with a stranger (something Javi had never done), the rituals were often constricting and awkward; but with someone like Booker, whom he already knew and liked, it felt only natural to want to know more about each other. Even favorite colors as cliché as that sounded.

>>”Burgundy...I dunno why but that just make sense for you. Personally, I’ve always loved the color ‘teal’. Nice. Cool. Relaxing.”

Javier smiled. He loved colors, and knew a lot about them. And as burgundy seemed to make sense for him, teal made sense for Booker. It fit his personality very well. Nice. Cool. Relaxing.

>>”Ironically my sister and I came out to each other at the same time. Our parents were...less than understanding. They were very old fashioned. That was why my sister and I helped each other out. I pretended to date her girlfriend for a bit while she dated my boyfriend. It was an okay system until we felt comfortable enough to tell our parents. They didn’t take it well... Anyways, it is what it is. I went to college and not long after my sister followed suit. Havent’ really spoken to our parents since.”

Their drinks arrived, and Javier sipped his water, mulling over the story Booker just shared. For some, coming out was harder than others. Javier had been relatively lucky with all of that (being a mutant... that was another story), but Booker and his sister, close to each other, had to cut ties with their parents who couldn't understand. Javier felt a pang of pain for them. It was hard to imagine losing parents over what you are. Booker must have notice the look on his face.

>>”Sorry. I hope I didn’t bum you out with that.”

"No, no" Javier hurried to assure him "I am glad you told me. And I'm sorry you had to go through that. It must have been hard." he paused. "I was afraid of coming out to my parents, even though they both work in the fashion world, so... they are pretty open-minded. That's why I told Ignacio first. He took the bi thing in stride... he was actually more stunned about the demisexual part." Javier chuckled a little "Eventually, I told my parents... it worked out okay. The mutant powers were more of a shock."

Booker hated thinking about his parents, especially when he was having such an amazing time. He wouldn’t let thoughts of them ruin his evening, but it was clear from his tone and the look on his face that he was uncomfortable discussing it. Still, this was the kind of thing that was expected on a date, right? He was supposed to talk about himself, about his past, about his family. If he tried to avoid it, it would just lead to questions and questions would lead to ignoring, and that wouldn’t lead to any good place. No, like a bandaid, it was better to just come clean with certain things now -- he didn’t have a good relationship with his parents.

Timidly he looked down, sighing as he took a sip of his drink and sighed. It was heavy stuff, stuff that he had to apologize for. He sheepishly he hoped that he didn’t bring down the party by discussing his bigoted parents but Javier, being the sweet man he was, immediately reached out to ease Booker’s conscience.

>>"No, no...I am glad you told me. And I'm sorry you had to go through that. It must have been hard."

He smiled. Javier was really an amazing kind of guy. He softly nodded before he shrugged his shoulders. ”It is what it is,” he replied. ’All that counts is that I’m happy, my sister’s happy, and they’re not going to bring any of this down.” He gestured towards himself, his brightest of smile, and the twinkle in his eyes. Booker was perpetual sunshine.

Booker tilted his head, listening as Javier seemed ready to continue on about himself. Respectfully, Booker gave him his utmost attention...

>>"I was afraid of coming out to my parents, even though they both work in the fashion world, so... they are pretty open-minded. That's why I told Ignacio first. He took the bi thing in stride... he was actually more stunned about the demisexual part. Eventually, I told my parents... it worked out okay. The mutant powers were more of a shock."

It was always encouraging to hear when parents were actually actually understanding of their kids. Javier had been scared, hence why he came out to his brother first. While he took most of it in strike, there were aspects of Javier’s sexuality that were foreign to him, namely the demisexual part. Booker had experiences with a number of people, and knew of the vast and colorful rainbow that described them. The librarian knew a few demisexuals in his lifetime and was more than understanding to the idea. Emotions are powerful things and being connected in that manner was highly important.

At least Javier’s parents seemed to understand, for the most part. When Javier mentioned that the revelation his his mutant powers was more of a surprise, he had to wonder: were his parents okay with him being a mutant? Javier didn’t seem to indicate that there were any problems there, but did they even know? Hrm…

”My parents don’t know I’m an adapted. I doubt they’d even understand what I was talking about,” he chuckled. ”Honestly, I didn’t know what I was until a couple years ago when I was watching this AMA on this website. It definitely opened my eyes.” A pause. ”If I may ask, do you parents...know?”

Booked had a bad experience that was all too common among both mutants and LGBT people. His parents were not accepting; they could not place their love for their kid above their constricted ideas of normalcy. Which was, in Javier's eyes, a horrible flaw. Especially with someone like Booker. He was just so... nice, in every way, such a great, smart, caring guy. Any parent should have been proud of him.

>>”It is what it is. All that counts is that I’m happy, my sister’s happy, and they’re not going to bring any of this down.”

"Definitely not" Javier smiled back. The wound was there, but it was not fresh. And he did not want to make Booker dwell on it any more than he needed to.

>>”My parents don’t know I’m an adapted. I doubt they’d even understand what I was talking about. Honestly, I didn’t know what I was until a couple years ago when I was watching this AMA on this website. It definitely opened my eyes. If I may ask, do you parents...know?”

"Yeah." Javier nodded slowly "It was... it kind of just happened. My powers manifested when our lab blew up in college... I got seriously injured. So by the time I woke up in the hospital, the news were pretty much ahead of me. And they were too worried about me...
about my injuries, and my mental state, to make too much of a fuss about the super strength." he added with a small chuckle. His parents really were good at taking things in stride. "I think Ignacio is secretly waiting for his own powers to manifest too."

>>"Definitely not"

Javier really had the sweetest eyes and knew exactly what to say. Booker felt his limbs quiver a little whenever he saw the oher smile. The man was kind, good natured, handsome to a fault, and the librarian felt good whenever he was around him. He didn’t mind opening up a bit more about himself around the tailor because he knew that he wasn’t going to be judged. Of course Booker tended to be an open book anyways but something about the tailor just made him comfortable regardless.

Of course Booker wanted to know more about his date and inquired as to his own history. He zeroed in on the one, strange thing that Jaiver had said, about his powers not being as easily accepted as his orientation. For a moment the librarian feared that the other’s parents had been as cruel as his own, but it didn’t seem to be the case. For Javier, it wasn’t what his was that startled them...it was how that knowledge came about.

>>"Yeah...It was... it kind of just happened. My powers manifested when our lab blew up in college... I got seriously injured. So by the time I woke up in the hospital, the news were pretty much ahead of me. And they were too worried about me...about my injuries, and my mental state, to make too much of a fuss about the super strength."

Javier just continued to be a surprise. A lab accident. The sudden manifestation of his powers. A miraculous survival, it was almost as if they were cut from the same cloth, but still different. Booker felt his eyes mist a little at the notion, of Javier caught in this explosion that would have meant his death if not for his abilities. Luck was certainly on his side.

”Wow…” he whispered softly, still watching the other’s face. ’That’s...incredible.”

It was eerily familiar to how he had noticed his own abilities. A frat party, a stressed out and jilted mutant lover, and the explosion that nearly all but himself had been killed him. God, Booker still couldn’t forgive himself for that one. He didn’t know what Javier felt about his situation but it was clear that it did affect him deeply, especially considering the man’s social awkwardness.

>>"I think Ignacio is secretly waiting for his own powers to manifest too."

Booker snorted, starting to come out of his sad-inducing thoughts. ”I know that feeling,” he smirked. ”Secretly...I...always wanted to be a mutant. I guess my life of reading comics and fantasy stories made it almost impossible to not want.” A chuckle. ’Ironic, huh? I became the opposite of all that.”

>>”Wow… That’s...incredible.”

Javier blinked in surprise. That was... not really the reaction he had been expecting for his story. Booker looked like he took the whole thing to heart; there was also no pity in his reaction, which was baffling to Javier. It kind of sucked, as far as manifesting powers went. But of course Booker was too nice to think like that. He looked down, fiddling with his napkin, and changed the subject, bringing up Ignacio again. His brother had always been more easy-going.

>>”Secretly...I...always wanted to be a mutant. I guess my life of reading comics and fantasy stories made it almost impossible to not want. Ironic, huh? I became the opposite of all that.”

Javier looked up again. Of course Booker wanted to be a superhero. The cosplay thing kind of gave it away. Being a mutant, though...

"I don't think adapteds are the opposite" he confessed "I mean, technically, yeah, but... you still have a power that you can use. Like you did at the convention." Booker's aura had affected the mutants wreaking havoc all over the place. It might have been a static aura rather than a power, but it still proved to be useful. "You are the opposite of me, actually." he added with a chuckle "I never really dreamed of having powers. And the one I got kinda keeps cutting in and out. So, I haven't really been doing anything with out, other than... averting crises." he smiled at Booker. "And powers don't make a superhero anyway. You should know that from the comics."

For the longest time Booker had hoped that he would turn out to have super powers. Like, real super powers. The kinds that would allow him to go out into the world and make a difference. He wanted to be like all of his favorites, zipping through the air, lifting cars, walking through burning buildings and rescuing innocent lives, he wanted that kind of life. But rather than go into a field like police work or firefighting, he instead opted to be a librarian. He didn’t have super powers (by his standards) but he would help those who fought their way to achieve their dreams. At least that much he could offer.

Of course there were some that would say that Booker had heroic powers in his own right. After all, he could still turn off mutant abilities. It wasn’t as fancy as flying through the air, but that could be useful, yes? In Booker’s experience, for the most part, it ended up being more of a bad thing than anything else. Look at his last relationship with Juliette. The longer she was around him, the worse off she was. In reality their breaking up was inevitable because, no matter how much he believed in people making their own decisions, it was hard to just sit back and watch them be hurt because of something you were unintentionally doing.

At last with Javier, so far, Booker couldn’t see any ill side effects. He hoped that didn’t change. It would downright break his heart.

>>"I don't think adapteds are the opposite...I mean, technically, yeah, but... you still have a power that you can use. Like you did at the convention."

Booker smirked, looking down at the table. Of course Javier would pick out the one instance where his abilities were useful. For as bright and sunny as the librarian was, sometimes he did find himself sinking into the negative; it was easier that way.

”Yeah,” he said with a smirk. ”I guess you got me there.”

He had to admit, begrudgingly, that his abilities had come in handy from time to time. There was that one kid in the library whose powers went haywire. If Booker hadn’t had been there, he really could have gotten hurt and the library would have had tons of water damaged materials. The same back at the convention; if he hadn’t had stepped in, who knows how many more people would have gotten hurt.

Javier for sure. He blushed a little at that memory. In some ways, maybe that was pretty heroic.

>>"You are the opposite of me, actually...I never really dreamed of having powers. And the one I got kinda keeps cutting in and out. So, I haven't really been doing anything without, other than... averting crises."

He chuckled. ’Yeah, I guess that is kind of the short end of the stick,” he said with a well-meaning smile. ”But at least the times it does kick in seems to coincide when you need it most.” After all, Javier could have died if his powers hadn’t activated when that rubble fell on him. Booker shared with the other a genuine smile. ”I’m definitely happy about that.’

>>"And powers don't make a superhero anyway. You should know that from the comics."

Booker snorted and laughed rather loudly. He hung his head down, shaking his head at Javier. Ah! His achilles heel! Comic lore! Of course one of the lessons they always preach is that you don’t need superpowers to be super, you just need to be yourself and make a difference, one small step at a time. It was appropriate for Javier to remind the librarian of that, but also knocked all the window out of the negative cloud that wanted to settle across him. Again, there was certainly a reason he liked this guy...besides the obvious.

”Daaamn?” he chortled. ”That was a pretty sick burn.” He wasn’t offended and, instead, was just teasing him with a charming smile. ”Using my own comic love against me. Touche sir...touche…”

He grinned, watching Javier from across the table. God the tailor had everything that Booker was looking for in another; they just...clicked. It was a good feeling and one that he only hoped would continue to grow. However, before things got too sappy (or his leered for too long) he caught their waitress returning with their orders. Booker smiled, leaning back as his dish with a very large portion was placed in front of him, and one in front of Javier. He nodded his thanks to the waitress and sighed as the scent of freshly made food swirled about him.

”Wow...I’m unsure even I can finish this,” he chuckled.

He was lying. Of course he could. But he may as well appear modest otherwise he could scare his date away into the night.

Booker was the kind of guy who would dream of being a superhero. Javier admired that about him; not that he wanted to fly or shoot lasers from his eyes, but for having a larger than life dream of making a different, and making the world a better place. It was ironic that he got adapted powers, instead of mutant ones. Javier would have gladly swapped with him if he could have.

>>"Yeah, I guess that is kind of the short end of the stick. But at least the times it does kick in seems to coincide when you need it most. I’m definitely happy about that.’

"I am too." Javier smirked. His powers were not exactly consistent, but at least they kept him from dying in critical moments. However, self-defense with powers did not make him any more of a superhero than being a mutant would have without bravery. That was comic book wisdom.

>>”Daaamn? That was a pretty sick burn. Using my own comic love against me. Touche sir...touche…”

Javir blushed again, and opened his mouth to apologize. He did not mean to burn Booker; he just wanted to make a point to make him feel less sad about his lack of powers. Of course, he was not taking it seriously, but Javier felt like he should have phrased it better anyway. "Sorry..."

Their food arrived. They got large portions of everything, and everything smelled absolutely delicious.

>>”Wow...I’m unsure even I can finish this,”

Javier chuckled as he looked at his own plate of fried shrimp. He suddenly realized he was actually hungry. They both began to eat, taking a pause in the conversation.

"So... if you could have picked a mutant power... what would you have picked?"

Booker had to admit, it was a good come back. Even if Javier hadn’t meant it to burn the way that it did (it didn’t) the librarian still had to give credit where credit was good. It was true, for someone who was so enmeshed in the world of comic books and superheroes, he should have known better than to let such thoughts get into his head. Why should he feel bad about being special when he had the ability to be special all on his own? Great, his life now sounded like an afterschool special. He mentally sighed at himself.

>>"Sorry…”

A smile and a dismissive wave was tossed back to Javier. Really there was nothing to apologize for. It was an excellent reminder, it was just that he couldn’t help but tease him for it. Javier was so quiet all the time that to actually hear him speak up and deliver such sass was both surprising and utterly hilarious. Another layer of the tailor had unfolded and Booker was all the happier to be a part of it.

”No need to apologize, sweetie,” he grinned. ”A good comment requires praise.”

Their food was suddenly here. The service had always been the best, the reason that Booker kept coming back to this wonderful establishment, besides just the fact that the food was absolutely amazing every time. The worked fast, professional, and they didn’t skimp on the flavor, who could ask for anything more? Well, except for maybe some slightly smaller portions. Booker would have to control himself because, for as much food as was laid out before him, he would be more than fine devouring it until the plate was empty. Such was it’s draw upon him.

But no. He would control himself. He didn’t need to be overstuffed on this date, especially when they still have places to go afterwards.

Javier seemed pleased with his food, though. The look on his face when he spotted the friend shrimp made the librarian smile. While the restaurant was on-point with the food they produced, he had to admit that he was momentarily worried that this would be the one off day that they would have. Luckily, he was proven wrong.

With a sigh, Booker plucked up a pair of chopstick and carefully picked up a piece of chicken before setting it between his lips and chewing on it. A riot of flavors struggled for control as the scent of fried orange peels and savory sweet chicken coated his senses. It was, as per usual, just divine. And, having had the fried shrimp before, he hoped that Javier was having an equally amazing experience.

A clump of sticky white rice caught between his chopsticks, Booker just managed to get it in his mouth when Javier slyly asked him a very important question...

>>"So... if you could have picked a mutant power... what would you have picked?"

That was actually a very good question. Booker sat there for a moment, contemplating, chewing on his rice before he sighed and just smirked. ”God, why not just ask me my favorite book?” He chuckled lightheartedly. A deep sigh. ”Well, when I was younger I always wanted to be super strong. Of course maybe I was just into the muscles...” he blushed a little, smirking as he eyed Javier and then tried to reason the question a bit more. ”I never wanted mental powers. I mean, always seemed like such a burden. But...if I had to boil it down to one...flight.”

It was his dream ability. All of his favorite heroes had the ability to fly. To hover through the air, to close vast distances with only the wind in their hair and an expansive landscape before them. He couldn’t imagine a more beautiful sight.

”I mean...imagine how much gas and public transportation money I’d save,” he chuckled. He then took a second to observe Javier before speaking up. ”Would you rather you weren’t one?” He asked gently. ”Not a judgment, but, you never seem excited talking about what you can do.”

The food was absolutely delicious. Javier hummed in approved as he took the first few bites; he would have gladly devoured it all in one go, if he had been alone. Booker seemed to enjoy his own portion just as much. He really had not been lying about the capabilities of the restaurant. To pick up the conversation after enjoying a few mouthfuls of his food, Javier brought up the question of favorite superpowers.

>>”God, why not just ask me my favorite book?... Well, when I was younger I always wanted to be super strong. Of course maybe I was just into the muscles...”

Javier blushed a little, and looked down at his plate. He was not in bad shape, really, but he was definitely not the body type most people would associate with super strength. And he definitely did not have Booker's spectacular physique.

>>”I never wanted mental powers. I mean, always seemed like such a burden. But...if I had to boil it down to one...flight. I mean...imagine how much gas and public transportation money I’d save,”

"Flight's a good one" Javier smiled. Somehow, he could imagine Booker being able to fly. He knew he would make the most of it, too. See everything, go everywhere, and not worry about accidentally colliding with a pidgeon...

>>”Would you rather you weren’t one? Not a judgment, but, you never seem excited talking about what you can do.”

Javier sighed.

"I'd rather I knew what to do with it." he admitted "See, with the anxiety, and being an introvert... I was never cut out to be a superhero. And then I manifest a power that is an all-time classic, and can do tons of things... except, it is not really working properly." he chuckled and shook his head "I can hold up the ceiling of a building, except I can't really do it on cue."

>>"Flight's a good one"]

Booker always thought so. It was one of those most fundamental feelings of joy that a human can experience. As a child, who didn’t love to be tossed up and down by their parents, feeling the momentary bout of weightlessness before being dragged back down towards the earth? It really must have been one of the best feelings in the world, before concepts of falling, pain, and death could even bother to enter the mind. Who wouldn’t want to fly? To someone like Booker, it wasn’t super strength or eye beams or reading minds that made the perfect superpower -- it was flight.

Javier agreed, making the librarian smirk. Again, Flight was just one of those universal things that Booker couldn’t imagine anyone turning down. Then again, with Javier’s anxiety, it was all too possible.

But that was enough about him. As Booker munched thoughtfully upon a chunk of sweet chicken, he raised his gaze to the tailor and had to point out the obvious -- he was uncomfortable with his abilities. Ever since he admitted he was a mutant, Booker found himself a little interested in the man, mainly his sheer lack of wanting to be a mutant. If he had mushrooms growing out of his skin or inadvertently puked unicorns at every passing moment, then he may understand but super strength? Sure it wasn’t reliable but is at least managed to kick in at appropriate times. That had to be something, right?

So he asked. Why beat around the bush. Did Javier not care for the fact that he was a mutant? Again, no judgments, he just wanted to hear from the man himself how he felt about his abilities.

>>"I'd rather I knew what to do with it...See, with the anxiety, and being an introvert... I was never cut out to be a superhero. And then I manifest a power that is an all-time classic, and can do tons of things... except, it is not really working properly...I can hold up the ceiling of a building, except I can't really do it on cue."

Booker offered the man a sympathetic smile. In all honesty, he understood completely what the man was talking about. For a long time, Booker didn’t know what it was he was supposed to do with being an adapted. He could turn off powers, he made mutants uncomfortable, that was the opposite of what he wanted to be. And yet, as proven by today, he still managed to help. While Javier didn’t believe he could be a superhero, maybe there was still hope he could figure something out.

”Maybe just not yet,” Booker offered. He then shrugged. ”I’ve heard of mutant abilities changing over time. Who knows, maybe you’ll get a better handle on them.” He then shrugged. ”And, if you don’t, that’s no problem. You’ll figure out your place in the universe. I know you will.”

Booker was earnest in what he said. He always believed that all it took was time for people to find where they belonged in the world. Javier would find his. Even if he was just meant to be the cutest tailor in New York who could occasionally bench press a Volkswagen, then so be it. Either way, Booker was glad to be sharing his company.

it was kind of embarrassing to admit that he did not have control over his powers. One would have thought that strength was the easiest one to manage; hold back when needed, bust out when it was necessary. Except, Javier did not need to hold back at all, because his powers seemed to never be on in the first place. He sighed as he admitted that, and returned to the delicious shrimp.

>>”Maybe just not yet. I’ve heard of mutant abilities changing over time. Who knows, maybe you’ll get a better handle on them. And, if you don’t, that’s no problem. You’ll figure out your place in the universe. I know you will.”

Javier smiled as he looked up at Booker. He was such an eternal ray of sunshine. There was no doubt in his voice, where about 99% of Javier's brain functions seemed to be doubt and nothing else. It was refreshing, and more than a little baffling, to talk to someone who did not share that.

"You know, I never liked the whole vigilante idea" he admitted, drinking some water to clear his throat "I think maybe a little bit because I felt like that is what is expected of someone like me. But... recently... I mean, working on your cosplay, but also some other new clients... I think I could be good at it. Not the... superhero thing. But, doing what I do. Making actual outfits for them..." he blushed a little "Sounds a little stupid when I say it out loud."