[Spending real money wouldn't have bothered Scott either, he likes to treat his friends. He has a job and doesn't really spend the money he makes in anything but rent, books and whatever his dog might need. He's never had much, so he's never got used to spending things on himself. But for others, he did not mind.]

Yeah but sometimes 'what it is' just sucks.

[Boy doesn't he know that. not only on a personal level but for his people in general, mutant kind never had it easy.

When he looks up from his own beer, his smile is kind. Yeah, the alternative is much, much worse. ] My pleasure. I don't really have a lot of friends, you might have noticed, so I want to make sure the ones I have are doing well. Or trying to get better. You can tell me anything you know...I wouldn't judge.

[And now, perhaps a change of subject would be welcome.]

So...rumor has it you are working in the Attleton's Guardian office. How bad is it? Did you get a sprained wrist from all the paperwork yet?