Snippet #2688558

More than once in Casper's eighteen years has the blonde been told his aversion to the cold is borderline ridiculous. His distaste for the icy temperature is, to his own mind, completely logical and reasonable. After all, who has the patience to battle numb fingers when attempting to send a cheeky text to a booty call? Who wants the embarrassment and annoyance of being unable to light a cigarette thanks, again, to the fumbling of frozen digits? Senseless toes, shattering teeth, shivering arms, no. Just, no. There's a very good reason that so many people live their lives in the tropics, where winter is something only seen on television. Casper will tell you this for free, if he had the chance to marry a wealthy someone with a house in the Bahamas, you can bet your ass that's where he'd be every day of the year. Or, at least when winter enveloped New York.

"F-fuck the cold." The lean blonde stutters, his teeth chattering as he pulls the layers of clothing even tighter around his body. There's no one to hear his curses, nor would he likely find any sympathy had an audience heard his words. But, his small rebellion against winter makes Casper feel slightly better, and the solid smack of his boots against the dirty snow littering the pavement is another source of comfort for the teen. No dribble of melting snow will slither its way into his shoes, they are brand new after all, a gift he had managed to coerce his last 'friend' into buying him before the inevitable break up when Casper's interests had waned.

He can still remember the man's face, a barely contained smile of amusement as he'd watched Casper covering up his bare skin with layer upon layer of winter-proof clothing, only to then pull on a pair of shoes that had seen better days.

"So, your body's a sauna while your feet freeze?"

"If I had better shoes I'd wear them." Casper had replied, tying up his laces deftly before straightening with a coy smile and adding, "Though, sure would make walking to meet you easier, if I had a pair without holes." Slender arms had wrapped themselves around the older man's neck, and Casper had given a bat of his lashes. The rest of the story was obvious, a pair of boots had been bought, and then a week later Casper had left with a lazy 'thanks for the fun' and that was that.

And god, they are good shoes. Nothing that Casper would be able to afford on his own steam, thanks to a current lack of employment. His aunt had stopped giving him pocket money when he was ten too, severally depleting his income to a grand total of nothing per week. Good thing he was pretty.

Pretty isn't helping Casper much now, as he shivers his way down the street, wishing he could somehow get a sleeping bag and fashion it into a onesie. His feet may be well protected, and the number of layers weighing down his frame numerous, but still the smallest breath of wind managed to make its way through the protective layers and embrace his skin. It was either ridiculously cold, or Casper was being a baby, and Casper wasn't willing to admit the latter.

Luckily for the blonde, his destination appears in all its derelict glory. Casper pauses briefly, letting the fog of his breath dissipate as he takes in the momentary sight before him. The warehouse is dilapidated, life-threatening, falling apart at the seams, and an ugly smear in an equally ugly neighbourhood. Someone sure knows how to pick a meeting place where no sane person would surely visit. As Casper's feet once again begin to move, he can thank his lucky stars that he was born with the ability to heal. Should the warehouse collapse in on itself, as it will inevitably at the first faint breeze, at least Casper's body will slowly be able to heal from an otherwise ugly death.

The interior is no less inspiring than the exterior, nor is it much warmer, at least not to what Casper would prefer. But, at least inside Casper's interest is able to be piqued by the many youths gathered around. He slips through the door, the only sound of his entrance the shuddering scream of the rusting door, and lets his eyes glance over the faces there. He's missed something, obviously, for the group appears to be part way through introductions, as evidenced by a small redhead standing and stuttering her way through a greeting. Casper doesn't catch her name, his attention instead pulling his eyes first to the pretty boy sitting next to her and then around the room in search of any familiar faces.

Casper spies Samuel and Frances de Vries standing together, a curly haired boy beside them. 'He's pretty, I suppose.' Casper thinks to himself, even as he judges the curly-haired boy to be too innocent - those wide eyes and overly-excited smile - and writes him off. Next, Casper's eyes are drawn to another redhead, one he vaguely recognises. 'Hello, isn't he the guy I...?" Casper's gaze falls down the redhead's body, wishing he could see the skin beneath because Casper is sure seeing him nude would help jog his memory. Freckles perhaps? The name comes to Casper in a jolt and he grins, attempting to catch Scott's eye and wink at him.

It's only the reluctant words of one 'Felix. Electricity' that has Casper's attention once again diverting. Lazily Casper's eyes rove across the taller boy standing beside Felix, who had introduced himself as Percy only moments before. Well, this pair weren't particularly hard on the eyes. He'd never seen the Brit before, and though his eyes were definitely enjoying the pleasure of those full lips and that gorgeous skin, it was to the teen standing beside him that Casper's attention finally fell. As 'Maria. Illusion manipulation' finishes her quick introduction after an impressive show of sarcastic humour that Casper fully appreciates, the blonde, still mentally undressing Felix with his eyes, steps up.

"And here I was calling you brown eyes." Casper murmured, barely caring who hears so long as he catches Felix's attention. He sends a smirk towards the electric Gifted before an exasperated sigh has Casper's gaze pulled towards Frankie, whose irritated expression has him ready to push her buttons further. "Nice to see you too, Frances." He drawls, biting back a snicker as Frankie spits out,

"It's Frankie, asshole."

Frankie's twin brother, and all around easier guy to get along with, merely laughs at the pair's exchange before nodding a greeting at Casper and adding, "Nice shoes, Casper."

"Cheers, Sam." Casper grins at the huff Frankie exhales and chooses that moment to grab any attention not already directed his way by formally introducing him. "Yo, I'm Casper for those of you who want to know-..." and here Casper darts a glance at the individuals whom he wants to learn his name, "...-I’m Gifted with multiple abilities. The first you'll have to take my word for, I heal myself. Shit still hurts, but maiming myself won't be permanent. Not that I've tried cutting off anything, mind." Casper stretches slightly and his eyes flick back to Felix, "Second one is this-..."

Without warning Casper disappears from sight, his body completely invisible despite still physically being present. His steps, soft from years of practice sneaking in and out of places he shouldn't be, make barely a sound as he rounds the group. Frankie lets out a cry of annoyance as he lightly tugs a strand of her hair, but Casper darts away before she can smack him off. Then he's rounding Percy and Felix, a hand lightly trailing across the small of Felix's back before the invisible blonde comes to a stop beside the other gifted. Casper turns visible without preamble, his hand innocently back at his side and his smile smug as he looks out at the group, "And that's me, who's next in the parade?"