"So, I have to assume then that your mother has passed? If so, I am sorry. Is that why you wanted to come to the medium?" He turned his body to face her.

She smiled weakly. Was it that obvious? Sometimes it was a bother to be unable to conceal things, but really it made things easier in the long run. At least, that's what she liked to tell herself. She just wasn't quite sure where to start on the mother thing and so the silence began to stretch between them as a lump formed in her throat. "One day she just wasn't there anymore." She traced the printed pattern on her skirt with her fingers slowly. The movement helped her divide her mind so that she didn't have to cry in front of Garrett again.

"No goodbye. No warning." She paused. "No bones."

The stillness of the air made the summer heat muggy and oppressive. The lightning bugs danced closer to their bench, invited by the stillness that the smaller street's lack of traffic provided. Ghost remained entirely too interested in the pattern of her skirt to notice.

By now, Garrett had surmised that the smoothing of Maya's skirt was her way of trying to smooth things out in her mind. At first, he had thought it a remnant of her life in Japan, but it seemed to occur most when she seemed uneasy. He wanted to understand about her mother's passing, as it seemed to be a major theme of her thoughts. Though she hadn't voiced it, he could see that the mention of it had brought her to the look that he had misinterpreted as unease over him. He thought he must have not pruned his ego well enough after all.

The somber silence she displayed made him want to change the subject, but he thought she should talk about it. If she refused or changed the subject, he wouldn't fight her. "No bones? What happened?" It was the mysterious aspect of it all that had really piqued his interest. Besides, he had seen from talking to others that holding bad memories in ensured that they would grow and haunt you. He hoped that Ghost could just be a codename for her someday, not a way of life.

He placed his hand on her shoulder. This time it was only for comfort and he hoped that she would know that. He reiterated his concern for her. " Again, if it is too difficult, we don't have to talk about it. But it might help, rather than leaving it in there to fester." He smiled at her, his care for her transmitting through his touch and his eyes.

She blinked a few times refusing to acknowledge any moisture that tried to brim over her lower lids. He had his hand on her shoulder, but it didn't bother her. It was a constant reminder that they were here and now. She'd wanted to tell someone about her fears for the last year, but she never could. Ai and Eri were no mutants and there was no way she would ever bring it up in front of her dad. She never had a safe outlet... until now.

She shook her head at his comment. No - she wanted to tell someone. She needed to. She just didn't want to blubber about it. Was that too much to ask?

"Did you know that it is impolite to pass food from chopstick to chopstick?" She made a motion with her hands illustrating the movement. It seemed off topic, but it was easier to approach these things from the side rather than head on. "That's because in Japan when a body is cremated the family gathers to sort out the ashes. The fire is never hot enough to completely break down dense bone structure. Relatives pick the bones out of the ashes and transfer them to the urn using chopsticks... usually it takes more than one set to lift the larger pieces - it's the only time when you're allowed to hold onto the same thing..."

She took a breath to calm herself and for the first time in the conversation she looked up. She blinked right back at those blinking firefly lights. "It was really sudden and when we got there - there were no bones. I don't think it was even a body, but I know she... isn't around anymore." She glanced at Garrett's face, her lashes were clumped from being damp, but she was proud. Not a single tear made it down her cheeks. "It's been half a year. I wonder if her spirit has moved on."

Cremation. That made perfect sense and he had been just dense enough to ask about it anyway. He enjoyed learning about her culture and lifestyle, but not like this. He squeezed her shoulder lightly, letting her know he was there for her. She wasn't crying, but she wasn't far from it either. There had been enough tears. If it were up to him, she would never shed another.

"It's been almost a year. I wonder if her spirit has moved on."

" [yellow]Surely so. But if it will help you, I will mention it to Tarin and see if we can't get you a session with him. I'll have it taken out of my pay, so don't even think of that. I just want you to find the peace that you need, Maya.[/yellow]" He genuinely did. This was no play for affection. No one deserved pain, especially such a gentle breeze as her. This was why he had been so careful with his powers. He knew what pain was all about, so why inflict it on others? No one had pushed him to the point of using them and he hoped no one ever did. At the same time, though, he couldn't deny that those darker feelings were still present. It was impossible to shake them. He had to make his own peace with his darkness at some point.

For now, he wanted to change the subject and the scenery. He wanted to see that look of excitement in her eyes again. "[yellow]So, the Empire State Building was one of the places you wanted to see. It isn't too late if you want to go somewhere else. Do you?[/yellow]"

She blinked at him in... well surprise. He'd called her Maya. He'd called her Maya. It was all she could think about even when he offered to move on to a different location. People who are close call each other by their first name... she called him Garrett. So why did it surprise her so much to hear it come from his lips?

She blinked again, realizing she'd drifted off again. "I haven't been to see the naked cowboy yet..." She blinked again. "I mean Time's Square! I-I just heard there was a guy who played guitar in a white speedo there and... and" She smiled though it was rather hollow like her squeaked out excuse about the naked cowboy. "That's just a story you have to confirm for yourself, you know?"

The naked cowboy. It was funny because he thought of that guy in the crackhouses with a guitar...but no, he knew who she was talking about. There were probably all kinds of characters getting set up out there by now. It would be a welcome relief to see someone they could call weird. He smiled and replied, "[yellow]Times Square it is, then.[/yellow]" He stood from the bench and offered his hand to her. She didn't need help, but it was natural for him to be courteous.

His stomach was a little queasy. He knew she didn't want to go eat as a couple, but could they eat anyway? The instinct forced the query. "[yellow] I know you weren't hungry, but I am a little bit. Maybe we could walk and pick something up on the way?[/yellow]" Everything was moving at a natural pace now. No more illusions, just good times with a friend.

"Hungry?" Again she was surprised. She looked at this hand and realized that the empty feeling in her stomach must be hunger. She accepted his help, it was draining to run through these events again and again. At least now there was someone... "Thanks for sharing my burden." He always seemed to be in the right place just when she needed someone.

She let her hand linger in his shyly, but in the end retracted her hand to hug herself around her middle. "Do you know the way?" She smiled suddenly at a thought. "You know... eating from street vendors is on the list too. Except..." She wrinkled her nose. "I already had a hot dog with all that stuff." It was obvious that she had been less than impressed. "But there are other things too, right?"

"Thanks for sharing my burden."

"[yellow]I am happy to, Maya. You have certainly been here for me as well. Just like I said the other night, I will always be just around the corner, whenever you need me.[/yellow]" He meant it too. He certainly had hoped for the eventual evolution of their relationship, but no matter the outcome, he would always be there for her. It just felt right. He enjoyed the moment for what it was, then thought about food.

"[yellow]Hmm, I may know something you might like. Ever had a gyro? Meat and veggies in a wrapped pita bread. I think you'll like it better than hot dogs. I will eat anything, but even I wait til real hunger before a hot dog.[/yellow]" He chuckled heartily. "[yellow]There should be one on the way, we'll just cut through the park.[/yellow]" He started walking in the general direction, making sure she didn't drift behind.

"...Ever had a gyro? Meat and veggies in a wrapped pita bread. I think you'll like it better than hot dogs. I will eat anything, but even I wait till real hunger before a hot dog." He chuckled and she found herself smiling along. She'd especially disliked the pickled white stuff - sauerkraut maybe?

"Gyro, huh?" She knew most about eastern cultures, and little to nothing about European cultures. "Sounds great." She walked close enough so that their elbows bumped every time their pace got off. She'd had enough excitement at the park to last for a while - she wasn't about to repeat the mistake.

They stopped at a silver cart stained with various sauces. Several logs of meat were rotating in a squarish metal cover with a heat filament that glowed orange at the back. A man with a bristly mustache greeted them. Ghost let Garrett order fist and she ordered the same thing. She trusted his taste, and she definitely wasn't disappointed. It was actually humorous to see her trying to fit the folded flat bread and meat into her small mouth. She ended up with sauce all over her hands and face, but food in the belly and good company was enough to lift her spirits yet again.

They had set off across the park, apparently both feeling better. She stayed close to him through the park, which he liked. The closer, the better. He knew that tourists got mugged through here occasionally, but most of the shadows here knew him from the street. And if they didn't, he would have been happy to try his powers out. The awareness of the area wasn't a big deal to him, since he knew she would be alright. Try and grab the wind sometime.

They arrived at the gyro stand and she looked at him, seeming to urge him to order. Made sense, since she had never had one. "[yellow] Hey buddy, can I have a number two?[/yellow]" The number ones were particularly heavy and he was trying to lighten her load tonight. He paid the man and waited eagerly as the gyros were constructed. He handed the first one to her and shortly after got his own.

She devoured the gyro like it owed her money. He couldn't help but snicker at her. She had been so formal and reserved, but now she was eating like she hadn't in a while. "[yellow] I suppose baby carrots didn't cut it, huh?[/yellow]" He grabbed some napkins and handed them to her. The light had returned to her eyes and smile. Hopefully, Times Square would enhance it further.

"Ah - I think I forgot to eat lunch." She accepted the napkins graciously and attempted to reclaim whatever scrap of dignity she had left. Usually it was Garrett who was scarfing. She rumpled the napkins trying to get all the sauce from her face. Of course it was impossible to get it all without a mirror at least her hands weren't sticky anymore. "Gyro, huh?" She twirled in step never missing a beat as they walked. It felt good to walk. "I like."

As they neared Time's Square the noise and the lights all picked up. It was a bit overwhelming at first. Like stepping into the light after a long stretch of uninterrupted darkness.

She ahd missed a spot. He reached out and got it off her cheek with his thumb and licked the contents. Smiling, they continued on. As night fell and took its hold of the city, it seemed to awaken from a slumber. The New York of the daytime was nothing compared to the New York of night. They rounded a corner and there they were. Times Square in all its grandeur. The neon, the lights, the screens, the people. It was so fun no matter how many times he had been there.

"[yellow]Over there is where they do alot of the MTV stuff.[/yellow]" He pointed to the glass panels above in the large building. They walked along, looking at the many sights. So much to do. His money was dwindling quickly though. Fortunately, he knew about ways to do things for free. Sort of comes to you when you are broke and bored all the time. He saw the aforementioned 'naked' cowboy on the next corner. He was crooning out 'Your Cheating Heart' by Hank Williams Sr. The tourists were eating it up.

"[yellow]Well, there's your guy.[/yellow]"

He helped her get the last bits of cucumber sauce like a momma cat.
"Over there is where they do alot of the MTV stuff." He pointed toward some large glass windows.
"What's the MTV?" Her face screwed up as she attempted to puzzle out what MTV actually stood for. She'd left the states in junior high and she was the oldest child. She'd lived on base before that with bunny ears and most of her channels were snowy. Her mom wasn't the biggest fan of the boob tube either so it shouldn't have been much of a surprise that she didn't know what MTV was.

He pointed to this and that, though until they came to the naked cowboy, she didn't really register much it was all too ... much. "If you don't have a seizure here, I think you really might be cured." She tried to peep through or over the crowd, but they eventually had to circle around back --something that made Ghost laugh in earnest. Not only was he wearing a white speed-o-like ... thing, but it was studded with rhinestones. A detail hidden in front by his guitar. Yep. It was the naked cowboy.

"Well, that was - pleasant. Now I can say I've seen it." She grabbed hold of the edge of his shirt so that she wouldn't get lost as she got distracted by the large coca-cola display again. It was just so damn blinky. Actually the whole scene was so ... fascinating. There were plenty of people: some milling about and some taking pictures. Some people had a very distinct purpose to their gait. She supposed that she and Garrett were among the loiterers. Two mutants lost in a sea of people.

"If you don't have a seizure here, I think you really might be cured."

So many lights, not a blip. Not a twitch, not a shake, not a blink of pain. It was fascinating. He became so enraptured with it all that he forgot about her for a moment. But just a moment. He could feel her grabbing at his shirt. He looked down to her and she seemed to be having fun but was overwhelmed. He didn't blame her. Looking at so many people, thinking how many of them might turn on them should they have to use their abilities. Smiles turning to grimaces of fear and anger.

"[yellow]Pretty exciting, huh? Yeah, it's amazing not having seizures. I used to have to only come here in the daytime.[/yellow] He just couldn't get over it. But with all the fun, the cash, or lack thereof, in his pocket reminded him that he had to get up early and go to Tarin's shop. He put his arm around her and drew her in a bit as they navigated through the heaviest part of the crowds. He was making his way to the edge of it all.

As they reached the outskirts of the crowd, he looked down at her. "[yellow]This has been the most fun I've had in a while. Thanks for coming out with me. Are you good with heading back to the mansion? We can still hang out there if you like, but I have had all the city I can stand for a bit.[/yellow]"

He put his arm around her and drew her in a bit as they navigated through the heaviest part of the crowds. It was a congratulatory hug. It was comfortable and it was a helluva lot better than getting carried away in the crowd - lost at sea, never to be found again. "Congratulations again." She slipped one arm back around him for a walking side hug though when they broke through the fringe of people she slipped free in a nonchalant manner.

"This has been the most fun I've had in a while. Thanks for coming out with me. Are you good with heading back to the mansion? We can still hang out there if you like, but I have had all the city I can stand for a bit."

"Anything!" She agreed readily she was tired. Honestly she had been since they stopped at the medium shop, though it was easier to forget when enraptured by teh sights. "Though you didn't enjoy hauling bricks? Really... I thought that would've been a highlight."

They broke through the crowd, but she took hold of his arm to kept him from hailing a cab. "You gonna spend every penny you have tonight?" She pulled out her bus pass. "You have one of these?" Honestly she thought it was the only thing of real value to her name. If she'd had a job she'd insist on paying for this night of congratulations for Garrett, but since she was broke as a joke she let him pay. It wasn't like she had any other choice.