Damian Gets a Roomie

Summer 2021, Week 5

Wednesday morning

Damian Eli's Apartment, Downtown

Zeke Marlowe

He grips the handles of his overly stuffed backpack and duffel bag with his hang drum dangling from a harness that is slung over his side, standing in front of the looming apartment building. No time like the present. He pushes the button sequence to call Damian to buzz him in.  

Damian Eli

Damian grumbled falling off his couch at the buzzing sound, he quickly pulled a shirt on and buzzed Zeke up. "C'mon up." Damian had spent the the night before cleaning and making sure his place didn't look a bomb went off. Hed also bought clean sheets and a comforter for his bed so Zeke would have clean bedding.  

Zeke Marlowe

He makes his way up to Damian's apartment, via elevator of course and knocks twice. When the door opens, the rarest of his genuine smiles plays across Zeke's lips. "Thanks again, Damian. I'm sorry that I got us into this mess in the first place, with my impeccable luck being in the wrong place." The place looked.. well lived in, even despite the cleanup. He didn't mind, though. Closing the door behind him, he asks "So, what have you been up to lately?" before tentatively sliding the harness for his hang drum off of his shoulder.  

Damian Eli

"Um. Well. Full cards on the table. I fight crime in a suit of armor. So. Getting shot at I guess. And working. And don't worry about it. Friends help each other" He motioned for Zeke to follow him to the bedroom which was fully deep cleaned. "This is you. Uh. Fridge is always stocked. Um. If I'm takint the bike you're welcome to the car. Only thing that's off limits is rhe workbench and my pc. Oh and the gun safe"  

Zeke Marlowe

Given what he saw that first night he met Damian when he peeked into his memories, he wasn't really surprised at the whole getting shot at part. But the armor?.. That was new. "No shit? That's.. some big development, my friend. I can see what I can make for us, and try to make sure it's reheat able for if you have a late night." He nods, recognizing the boundaries set before him. "So if you fight crime and such.. do you think you could teach me how to fight? You could probably already tell that I'm.. pretty shit at fighting, to be perfectly honest.   "I suppose I should lay my hand out, too. I not only turn invisible and can walk through walls, but I can.. peek into people's memories and read their minds. I have to be able to see someone at first, then when I get further away it gets harder to maintain that connection, but I can still read and send thoughts even through physical barriers." He braces himself for the inevitable question that he imagines will come up when he explains his power and doesn't let go of his bag's straps. Of course he would likely hear the "Have you read my mind yet?" He doesn't want to admit the truth, especially to his gracious new friend, but it's better that they know it rather than a white lie about peeking into their personal privacy.  

Damian Eli

"I can teach you to fight no issues. Same with guns if you want. Im no crack shot. But I'm good." He scratched at the stubble growing on his chin he'd need to shave. "Reading minds and invisibility god damn. That's a good power set.. I nullify powers. Or fully block them. Temporarily at least." He didn't need to know if the man read his mind or not. He would have read Zeke's if he could so as far as he was concerned it was a natrual reaction  

Zeke Marlowe

"Heh, I'm.. glad you think so, but nullification sounds very powerful. To be able to say 'fuck that' to someone like Victory is pretty amazing." He didn't ask it. Holy shit. He finally sets down his burden of a backpack, duffel bag and hang drum gingerly next to the bed that was meant for him to use. "You know, I would be perfectly okay crashing on the couch if you prefer that. Maybe a couple of days of healing should be first before I start to learn fighting basics, no?"  

Damian Eli

"No no. You take the bedroom. And i need to heal up as well before we start training. As for nullification. Its uh. It helps but I need to know the ability. Uh. Oh yeah. The armor is in the closet. Don't touch it it's keyed to my biological signature and it'll set off alarms."  

Zeke Marlowe

"Got it, no touching the merchandise." He gives a sideways grin to Damian before setting up the backpack and duffel bag, opening them to reveal that amid the clothes he packed he has an okay laptop, nothing really state of the art but certainly better than a chromebook.   "So, what are you up to today? I don't want to interrupt if you had something going on." He pulls the harness off of his hang drum and taps a few different spots, making an ethereal noise from the hollow instrument as each note was struck.  

Damian Eli

"Today? Uh. Healing up the best I can before next week and working from home. I want to take more time but I need to keep momentum as Cuervo going. Let them know its no fluke." He ran his hands through his hair before he remembered Zeke would need a key. He reached into his pocket and removed two sets handing them to him. "Thats the front door. The other ones for getting in here. It works for the deadbolt as well. What about you? Do you work? "  

Zeke Marlowe

"Cuervo, eh? Interesting hero name." He taps out a few more notes on his handpan before the keys were presented, and takes them graciously. "I.. work for a grocery store. As a clerk. An easy way for me to be unnoticed in public, I think, because nobody looks twice after getting their milk and eggs." He smiles softly before adding "I like being invisible without having to use my power, save for a few friends." He begins to tap absently on his drum, the tune somewhat familiar to people that have watched Game of Thrones.  

Damian Eli

"It's. Yeah. I guess it is an interesting name. But it has meaning to me I suppose" He listened to Zeke speak and couldn't help but wish he could be invisible every now and then. "Well. You're welcome here as long as you'd like" Damian didn't pick up on the tune his friend was playing he never really watched game of thrones he knew there was kids falling off towers ans that's about it. "Interesting instrument to play"  

Zeke Marlowe

He smiles softly as he plays with ease. "Thank you, mon ami. Someday I might ask you for that story behind the name." As he continues to tap on his handpan with practiced skill, he replies "The hang drum is the only one I know, but it is beautiful, no?"  

Damian Eli

"You'll have to get me pretty drunk for that my friend. And it is. I played bass in highschool" He kept talking as he walked into his bedroom and grabbed a button up shirt. "I have a few meetings today so make yourself at home. Thankfully they're all webcam so I only have to look presents from the waist up" He pulled off his AC/DC shirt wincing at the pain of his abdomen. He was a mess of brusies and scars along with tattoos over muscle. He quickly pulled the shirt on and buttoned it up. "If I tell you that story. You'll have ti tell me why people don't like your family"  

Zeke Marlowe

"Heh, I think there'll be plenty of opportunities later. And a good bass goes a long way." He tries not to stare at Damian's bruised-up, scarred and tattooed body as he gets changed. "Ah, oui. Out of sight, out of mind"   He chuckles wryly, adding "My own family doesn't like my family. It's been just me and pops against the world, especially against mother dearest." He didn't care that the term came out dripping with venom and contempt; it was how he honestly felt about her. "Anchor Park, that's just bad luck following the rare bit of good luck I find. Some people say luck is a balance, but it sure feels like luck is a fickle bitch that had a bad breakup with me." Why am I pouring my heart and soul out right now? Ease up, Zeke. Pump the brakes.  

Damian Eli

Damian turned on the computer and his monitor as he processed what Zeke said. "They used to call me Crow back in Detroit. The gang I ran with. Because Crows represent bad luck. They used to say seeing me around was like an omen.. Cuervo is Spanish for Crow. As for your bad luck I'm sorry.. if you need better work I'm sure I can find something in office even if jts a mail rool. It'd pay better than your current job with benefits"  

Zeke Marlowe

He nods, taking in the story behind the name as he remembers the flash of images that danced in Damian's head their first meeting at the Dockside Brewery, the ones of Damian fighting like a madman when he was only 14. "Thank you." He sighs before continuing "I suppose that night ended with some good luck after all. I mean, you did show up, along with that Peter fellow. I'm glad to have you on my side, my friend."   The mention of a new job leaves him speechless, and threw off the rhythm of his tapping for a second. "I- are.. I mean, I would happily apply if you have something, and the managers at the store can vouch for my work ethic, they might even accuse me of being a workaholic." He chuckles, they had said something about it before, but if people called in Zeke was the first person that people called to cover their shift. "I.. I appreciate that so much, my friend."  

Damian Eli

"No problem. I'll bring it up in the meeting. Because of buildings constantly getting destroyed by Evos the construct company I mainly work for is always looking for people wether it be actual construction or just people running mail." He looked at the clock and sighed. "I better join that call now. I'll talk to you later today. Feel free to take the car if you work today. Or the bike"   And with that Damian's whole demener changed he sat up a little taller put a pleasant smile on his face and joined the call. "Hello good morning good morning. So the deadline is coming up soon and our-" He countined to talk about money numbers and even let out small laughs when needed.  

Zeke Marlowe

He smiles as he says "Thank you, mon ami. That means the world to me." He sets his hang drum to the side and quietly closes the door to get changed, getting ready for his day and leaving in roughly half an hour. New beginnings he thinks to himself. Maybe someday I can return the favor.