Destressing for the day (Open)

[Dr. Tommy Oliver]

Characters Appearing: Tommy, open
Time of Day: Late afternoon
Location(s): Park in Reefside, California
Previous Thread Name/Info: N/A
NPCs Used: Random civilians, maybe
Plot Summary: Tommy goes for a jog but is that all that's going to happen....

---

Mid-terms seemed to be the most stressful time at school and not only for the students. Tommy really didn't have a keen set way on how to go about this without feeling more stressed out than normal. Not even Mesogog cared when he attacks or not. He had a feeling an attack would be soon and the rest of the team was busy with their own activities. Plus they need to study for upcoming tests.

Settling on taking a break for himself, Tommy headed towards the park to do some jogging. He had went home after school to change into grey jogging pants and a black long sleeve shirt. Also making sure he has a water bottle with him. It didn't take long to reach the park and start his jog. Pretty much going to go at least two or three miles on the pathway that civilians use to walk or run on.

There were a few people there enjoying the rest of the day. Either walking by themselves; talking with someone; or parents making sure their younger kids were playing nicely on the playground. All things the Black Dino Ranger took in when he started his first trip around the park. He figured next time he would hit the gym when he doesn't have so many papers to deal with. Everything seemed to be going well and he kept alert for someone or something to break the peace.

[rogue]

Rogue looked around the park, unable to contain her interest. It was her first time in California, and though the heat had taken some time getting used to, it was easy to see why people who lived here loved it so much. The sun was always out and shining, beaches were open, famous people could be seen in LA and Hollywood, plus there were a lot of theme parks to enjoy too.

She was on vacation from Xavier's school for part of the summer. She'd had plenty of money saved up, but wasn't quite sure of where she wanted to go for a while. Then she talked to her friend Kimberly, who'd moved back to California and suggested she come there. She met Kimberly when the young girl was spending time on the east coast. She'd known her before her mutation had taken affect, and though the conversation was very hard on Rogue, she eventually told her about it, fully expecting Kim to abandon her. Instead, she hugged her, safe from her skin because of the layers of clothes and told her she didn't care at all that she was a mutant. She'd cried tears of joy and relief, so grateful that one of her human friends still cared about her.

Today however, Rogue was on her own, due to the fact that Kimberly had to work. She didn't mind at all, and was enjoying sitting in the park and people watching. Sitting under the shade of a tree, Rogue pulled out her ipod and stuck in her headphones, listening to music as she people watched.

"Life is good." She said softly.

[Dillon]

Dillon sighed as he wandered around the park. He still was not in Corinth City...he was--well heck, he didn't know (again)--but he was somewhere. Though for some odd reason that he really couldn't explain, that name rung a bell somewhere within his brain. Like maybe he had already been here before? Or maybe he had met someone from here before? He couldn't really remember if he wanted to be honest here. But that was nothing new if he wanted to be honest. And so he was content (more or less) with just wandering around...and forgetting about how lost he was for the moment. And just taking in this surroundings. It was a nice day all things considering...so why shouldn't he enjoy it? Wherever he was. And so that was what he was doing. He would worry about where he was later...

'Heads up dude! Look out!'

Dillon's ears pricked at the warning call and he looked around and he couldn't help but flinch as he saw...something (it was a soccer ball but all he saw was that it was something) coming right towards his face. He bit his tongue to suppress the surprised curse that wanted to come out of his mouth as reached out to catch the ball almost dropping it again as he slightly stumbled forward in a bid not to have it smash against his face. Cause the last thing he needed nor wanted was a broken nose. No thank you.

Dillon gave a soft sigh as he realized that he had the soccer ball and his face was broken in any ways--that was never a bad thing. He gave a nonchalant wave and shrug as the kids apologized for the runaway ball. Dillon simply threw it back at them with a friendly 'you oughta be more careful with that thing' piece of advice. He couldn't help but smile slightly regardless. You know it may not have been Corinth City, or home, ---but really and honestly...he was perfectly okay with that fact...

[Dr. Tommy Oliver]

The force of his feet propelling him forward with no need to run from a villain or to help save someone caused him to feel calmer. Surely the pace caused his breathing to come in labored breaths and sweat starting to drip down his face. He didn't slow until the shout caught his attention and he slowed down his pace as he looked over to see what was going on. A soccer ball went sailing in the air towards an unexpected man.

His eyes widen as he was about to take off to see if the man was all right. Fortunately, he did not have to rush into action as he noticed how the man caught the ball before it smashed into his face; possibly breaking a nose or at least causing it to bleed. Tommy took a drink of water as he went over to see if everything was all right. Plus to ask how he did that. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed a young teen that seemed more clothed than he was for this time of day.

That just appeared weird but not her hair since teens normally did odd dye jobs with their hair. As he got a few feet from Dillon, recognition hit him as he took note of who had caught the ball. “Dillon, it's been awhile,” said Tommy. “Almost didn't recognize you. Good reflexes. I would have been creamed with how fast it was going.”

[rogue]

Rogue frowned at the sudden shout. It was loud enough for her to hear even with her headphones in, and her attention was now focused on where it came from. Her eyes widened as she saw a soccer ball flying through the air, on a direct path to someone's face. Rogue gasped and got to her feet, rushing over to offer any help she could to the person. Luckily for them, they caught the ball before it hit them, avoiding any injury.

Relief filled her for that person as he tossed the ball back to the group of kids it belonged to, his mood friendly toward them. Rogue smiled. It was nice to see him being polite to them, as clearly the ball flying toward him had been an accident.

Another man joined him. It seemed that they knew each other. Since she was on her feet anyway, Rogue decided to walk over and introduce herself. Besides, she had to compliment the guy on his reaction.

"That was an impressive catch." Rogue said as she walked up. "Glad you're okay. My name is Rogue, by the way."

[Dillon]

Dillon may not have remembered much--but of what he did remember, it wasn't things that he would be forgetting anytime soon that was for sure. He wasn't going to forget about Kira and Tommy...and how he had helped to two get away from that bizarre (and not to mention huge) guy with the hook and chain. Even after all this time...he still couldn't help but mentally cringed at times when he had remembered how close that hook came to being in his body on more then several occasions. It--it was hard to put in words at times. Though he could say that he was glad that they all had made it out of that place safe and in one piece.

He simply nodded an acknowledging type nod as Tommy spoke to him. Dillon was a man of few words indeed. He had never been a big talker to begin with anyways. And that was before he had been captured and had his memories erased and all that good mess. "It has been a while." he agreed with the other...then he gave a slight 'heh' as he heard the other say he would have gotten creamed by the soccer ball, "Oh I'm sure you coulda caught it too." he said with a simple shrug. It was his own odd way of complimenting the guy. He was a fellow ranger you know. He was sure his reflexes were fine despite being older then he was.

Dillon heard the new voice and turned to face the girl with the interesting white streak in her hair. "Oh thanks." he said slightly surprised. He would be lying if he had tried saying that he wasn't surprised. Cause well he was. He hadn't seen this one coming. A total stranger complimenting him on something? That didn't happen very often. But that was neither here nor there he supposed. He should take it as it was. It wasn't like she was on his case anyways. He nodded as she spoke again giving them her name. Rogue...what an interesting name that was. He vaguely wondered where it came from for a moment before he gave a mental shrug and spoke himself, "I'm Dillon." he introduced himself...

And now...he didn't know what to do...typical.

[Dr. Tommy Oliver]

Tommy noticed the girl and wondered how she wasn't sweating up a storm. Sure he wasn't one to talk with the way he dressed for his jog but at least half of his reason was legit on why he was pretty warm right now. “Dr. Thomas Oliver,” he introduced to Rogue. “You can just call me Tommy. I have a doctorate in Paleontology. Just to make sure you weren't confused on the doctor part like most tend to be.”

Honestly it was easy to only think of medical doctors in that way but there were more careers out there that made someone a doctor after getting the correct education. So he was just making sure before she mentioned anything about being a doctor in a hospital. He glanced at Dillon with a small smirk. “Probably but who knows for sure. I wasn't the one getting almost hit in the face with a soccer ball.”

Well now that his jog would be considered over with running into an old acquaintance and someone new. Taking the water bottle in hand, he twisted the cap off and took a long drink. His heart rate and breathing slowly going back to normal. “So are you from around here?” he asked Rogue, not having seen her before. Plus making some conversation.

[rogue]

<Sorry for the wait, y'all!>

Rogue smiled as the men introduced themselves. Dillon seemed to be a little surprised at her friendly demeanor. That was her initial reaction with the people at Professor Xavier's school, but she'd gone through some really hard times at that time and dealt with bad reactions from other people. She wondered if Dillon had been there too.

Tommy Oliver clarified his position as a doctor. Rogue wasn't able to stop the smile on her face. She knew that some people assumed the doctor title automatically meant someone who could operate on someone or give them medicine, but she knew plenty of people who were doctors but not of the medical variety.

Obviously Tommy and Dillon knew each other. Dillon told Tommy he'd probably have caught the ball too. Rogue giggled softly at Tommy's returning comment. The banter between the two said they'd both been through a lot. She certainly knew what that was like, too.

"Oh, I actually live in Westchester." Rogue said, answering Tommy's question. "I'm actually here visiting a friend of mine. She had to work today, but I'm really glad to be here visiting her. We've been friends for a while."

Rogue wondered if she should head over to the cafe to see Kimberly. It was after lunchtime, so she probably wouldn't be that busy, and she could get a drink. On the other hand, she'd met two other people who seemed perfectly friendly. Maybe she'd just stay with them for a few minutes.

[Dillon]

Dillon hadn't meant to kinda zone out on their conversation. Really he hadn't. But as the other two were talking, Dillon could have swore that he had seen something moving in the bushes that were just off to the side here. He couldn't be sure though which was why he didn't say anything. He just tilted his head over to the side and stared intently as the brush. Then he saw it--the ever so slight rustle of the bushes. It caused his muscles to tense up and his eyes to narrow as he tried to get a closer look. Then he saw something like--a weapon? Holy crap was that a gun? And it was---pointed at them!

His eyes widened, "Hey look out you guys." he said as he put his hands on Rogue's shoulders and gently (or as gently as he could) pushed her off to one side and went towards Tommy...but then a searing white hot pain in his right shoulder stopped him in his tracks. Dillon hissed a low curse as his took a shaky step off to the side. Ow! What in the heck was that?! His hand went up to his shoulder and as he lowered his hand to look at it, his fingers were covered with crimson red blood. Oh crap--this wasn't good. This was not good at all.

And it was about to get worse. Dillon looked around and his jaw clenched in anger as he saw a veritable hoard of grinders surrounding him, Tommy and Rogue. Then he got the whole picture. It had been a grinder in the bush. And that "bullet"...it had been a laser shot that had been thrown at the trio. A shot that Dillon had taken to the shoulder! Well wasn't this just fantastic! They were outnumbered and he was hurt and he knew that they would have to fight if they wanted to get out of this...

"How the heck did these guys end up here?!" Dillon blurted out irately. This was not how he pictured this day going! Not one bit!

[Dr. Tommy Oliver]

Tommy wondered who she knew in Reefside. Plus being several hundred miles away from home. Well at least she has a place to stay than wandering around like someone he knows. “Haven't been to Westchester before but I hope you like your stay here,” he said. Something seemed off as Dillon drifted off from their conversation. His eyes glanced around the area and nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary. Not until he noticed a blaster being aimed from behind the brush.

Dillon reacted just a second ahead of him as he jumped out of the way. So far no one was hurt until he noticed that his friend had taken the hit while pushing Rogue out of the way. Tommy quickly took a fighting stance, tossing his bottled water off to the side. What appeared to be enemies popped out and started to surround them. “I hope you can fight,” he said to Rogue.

Quickly running at the nearest one and taking it down with a few karate moves. The appearance seemed familiar but they weren't Cogs. “Alright, Dillon, what are these things? They are not the Cogs I've fought before since the Machine Empire has not been around here in years.” Tommy hurried to take down two more just before dodging a laser blast, narrowing being hit on his left side.