12652/Mutant Town Street Rat

Mutant Town Street Rat
Date of Scene:	15 January 2021
Location:	Bushwick (Mutant Town), Brooklyn
Synopsis:	Zeke meets Shannon and Jeremy in Bushwick
Cast of Characters:	Zeke Lincoln, Nightingale, SpyderByte

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Zeke Lincoln has posed:
It's a clear day, but cold. There are some people out on the street, heading back to work after their lunch break, going for walks or just hanging around. Or panhandling. There's a rather big young man with his hands buried in the pockets of his coat. He's leaning against the wall of a building across the street from Fred's Diner, looking at the restaurant quite contemplatively. People pass by him without paying much attention and it doesn't seem as though he minds.

The young man is Ezekiel Israel Lincoln and he's quite new to the city. He's also new to being homeless.

Nightingale has posed:
     Bushwick has seen some difficult times recently, with recent unrest in the area, mutant protests, explosions, and rallies. Bit by bit, though, things seem to be returning to some semblance of normal. Such is the way of things. With a surprisingly throaty purr of the engine, a black Vespa comes down the road, bearing two intrepid souls. One seems to be in control of the vehicle, and is wearing a pair of dark blue jeans, soft black boots, and a fleece-lined leather bomber jacket. She also has on a pale blue helmet with a visor in front. The other is a young gentleman who seems to favor the Goth look in his overall appearance, and is riding in back, holding on. The bike itself bears silvery metal angel wings in relief on the front and back wheel covers, highlighted with streaks of blue.

     As the Vespa stops near the diner, Shannon chuckles softly, the sound more audible as the engine is cut off. "Nothing like a greasy spoon for some comfort food. And for once, I don't have to cook."

SpyderByte has posed:
The long black trench coat of Jeremy flutters behind him in the wake of the Vespa's speed. The Goth is wearing a black helmet with a large green skull painted across the front of it. The chains on his pants rattle and clank upon his legs in a jingle-jangle. He could have been torn out of the pages of The Matrix with how he is dressed. Goth, but with a side of techno-neo'ish style.

When the bike stops and he dismounts, he slides the helmet off to reveal long shaggy black hair with red dyed tips. He gives a snap of his trench coat back into place, then pulls his phone out of his pocket to strap it to his arm in a device meant to harness it. Sliding out a pair of thin glasses, he puts them on as well, then blows some bangs away from his face. His voice comes from the speakers of his phone.

<< You don't always have to cook. I could make us Hot Pockets one day. >>

As they heads for the door, he takes a moment to study the street, eyes darting about to several key points before he reaches up to tap the side of his glasses to straighten them.

Zeke Lincoln has posed:
As the Vespa pulls up and a couple of people his age climb off of it, Zeke gives them a quick glance before he heads towards the entrance to the diner himself. Looking both ways before crossing the street, as is the safest thing to do, he quickly strides across the road to the sidewalk on the other side. Giving the Vespa another glance he tells the people belonging to it, "Neat scooter." A few more seconds of admiration for the vehicle before he pulls the door open and holds it for the other two.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon smiles at Zeke, puffing up a little bit with pride. "Thanks. She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid." Pulling off the helmet, she tucks it away beneath one arm, shaking her head a bit to hopefully discourage the dreaded 'helmet hair'. She smiles at both Zeke and Jeremy, slipping through the door. "Gentlemen are a dying breed, sadly."

SpyderByte has posed:
As he reaches for the door, Jeremy finds himself beat at the punch by Zeke. He slowly lowers his hand and glances up at him from behind his thin glasses. He offers up a quick smile, then ducks his head down and trudges inside as he wraps his arms around himself to bury his lanky body under his trench coat and black clothing.

He gives a motion of his hand to a table, then heads over to it, reaching out to pull a chair for Shannon, then flops down into his own. He pulls a menu over and sinks down to read it.

Zeke Lincoln has posed:
As the young woman enters the eatery Zeke smiles slightly and nods, "It looks like fun." He tries to make eye contact with her for a moment but can't quite manage more than an instant. After the other fellow heads inside the big kid follows and heads towards the counter. "I'd like a coffee, please." And he proceeds to produce a handful of change, carefully counting it out to place on the surface in front of him. He sits down on one of the stools and lets out a deep sigh as he waits for his drink to be poured. Doesn't take long, of course. When his mug is filled he starts pouring in cream and sugar, lots of both.

Nightingale has posed:
     While not saying anything, Shannon's eyebrow flicks upwards briefly at the young gentleman counting out his change. But she's just as quick to take a seat, reaching for a menu to peruse the offerings of the day. It seems almost as if she is encompassing both gentlemen as she tilts her head, musing out loud. "Urgh, this all looks so good... what would you both have, if you could?"

SpyderByte has posed:
As he blinks his eyes a few times, Jeremy glances up at the question, then takes his phone off his arm. He makes a show of tapping along at the glass before the voice, more robotic and built like to sound like Siri comes through.

<< Pancakes and bacon. >>

He slumps his shoulders a bit as he glances to the menu, then back to the other young man for a moment to study him. His eyes gives a quick flicker as the camera mounted on the wall behind the register slooooowly tilts towards Zeke to take a look at him from a new angle.

From there, he glances down at his phone and taps away.

Zeke Lincoln has posed:
Is she speaking to him? Zeke wonders until he looks back over that way and realizes that she is, in fact, addressing him. "Umm..." He takes a moment and says, "Steak and eggs, I guess." Then he looks at his cup of coffee and wraps a hand around the handle, just holding it for the time being as he waits for it to cool off. Eventually he gets up the nerve to look towards the young woman who asked him about food, "This place has good food. I ate here yesterday and it was really tasty."

Nightingale has posed:
     "Yeah, they do," Shannon replies, smiling at both Jeremy and Zeke. There was no question now she had meant to ask them both. "Ever have the home fries here? They're to die for." She flags down a waitress, her voice low as she places the order for the trio, nodding towards Zeke and smiling.

     "Name's Shannon, by the way, and this is Jeremy. Haven't seen you around here before...?" Her question trails off, one brow lofting briefly upwards.

SpyderByte has posed:
Tucking the phone closer to him, Jeremy hunches over it a bit as the camera sets itself back to normal after not finding anything of interest. He furrows his brows, then spins the device about in his fingers as he listens to Shannon and Zeke speak.

Zeke Lincoln has posed:
"I'm Zeke. It's very nice to meet you, Shannon and Jeremy," the young guy offers up with a smile. "I... Um..." He takes a deep breath, "I just moved here from upstate." Then his head shakes, "I've never had the home fries. I'll get them next time I can afford..." A gulp deep in his throat, "Afford to eat out."

Nightingale has posed:
     "Pleasure's all ours," Shannon replies, settling back in her seat and offering both a smile. If Jeremy were to look, though, he might see those tell-tale furrows between her brows, a hint of worry leaving its mark upon her features. "Think there's some jobs in the area if you poke around a bit. Could always ask over at Evolution, maybe?"

     Glancing at Jeremy, she slips her phone from her pocket, tapping away on the screen for a moment while it's turned away from Zeke. <<I could be wrong... but do you think we ought to keep something like Starlight in mind on this one or wait and see?>>

SpyderByte has posed:
<< Starlight is for mutants. Is he a mutant? He has no public record and facial recognition does not show him to having an arrest record. So, he doesn't exist in the system. >>

The text is returned back to Shannon's phone even though Jeremy doesn't tap on the phone. He's just staring at it, turning it around in his hands here and there as usual.

The robotic voice comes from his phone again. << Do you have a checking account by any chance, or a rechargable debit card? >>

Zeke Lincoln has posed:
"I'll... uh... I'll ask there if they need someone," Zeke says to Shannon with a little bit of a smile. "Thank you for the suggestion." Then, finally, he has a sip of his coffee, just enough to taste it. Then Jeremy's phone starts talking to him and Zeke says, "No. I don't have any of that stuff."

Nightingale has posed:
     <<You're right. Wait and see is best. At least maybe we can give him a leg up either way.>>

     Just then, the orders arrive, with the pancakes and bacon for Jeremy, scrambled eggs and home fries for Shannon, and steak and eggs for Zeke, still sizzling from the pan. Smiling and thanking the waitress, Shannon looks back over at Zeke and Jeremy, bobbing her head in agreement. "Gentleman you'd want to talk to is Sam Guthrie. He's pretty easygoing, so no worries there."

SpyderByte has posed:
Nodding his head, Jeremy presses his lips together in a thin line, then glances over to Shannon again as she gives her sales pitch about the club. He slides the plate to him and drizzles some syrup on top, then goes about neatly cutting and slicing through the pancakes.

Zeke Lincoln has posed:
"Is this for me?" Zeke asks when food shows up for him. He looks at Shannon and Jeremy and says, "Thank you so much. I... uh... I don't know how to thank you." He looks away from the pair and down at the counter for a few seconds. Eventually he'll be able to look up once more, "Sam Guthrie? I'll ask for him. Thank you." He looks over the food in front of him, then at the other two people, then grabs his silverware to start eating.

SpyderByte has posed:
<< You're welcome. >>

The voice comes out of the phone again.

<< Sorry, I do not speak very well. I have to use my phone to talk. I'm autistic. >>

He taps along the glass again as the words come out of the device, then stabs some pancake to take a bite.

<< I am Jeremy. >>

Zeke Lincoln has posed:
"It's okay to be different," Zeke says to Jeremy before he begins digging into his food. After taking a couple of bites he says, "I don't..." He takes a second to think about what to say, "I'm still getting used to dealing with different types of people."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon just smiles and nods her head in response, tucking into her own repast. For a little while, companionable silence reigns, and she is content to listen as the two gentlemen talk. She glances between the two, listening and observing for the time being, though occasionally peering about the room.

     Some habits die hard.

SpyderByte has posed:
<< I know what you mean. >>

Jermey says to Zeke, then offers him up a half-guarded smile before he drops his head back down to his plate to continue scooping pancakes and bacon into his mouth hungrily.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon chuckles softly, nodding once. "I hear you there, Zeke. Takes all sorts to make a world, but boy there are times...!" Good food, good company, and perhaps a new friend. Perhaps this would shape up to be a good day after all!

Zeke Lincoln has posed:
Nodding to Jeremy and then Shannon, Zeke takes a second to formulate what to say next, "You folks are too generous." He looks around and then resumes eating, putting his food steadily. "Are you two from around here?"

SpyderByte has posed:
There is a bit of the headshake from Jeremy as he taps again on the glass.

<< I am from Metropolis. I go to school here now on scholarship. >>

Nightingale has posed:
     "Originally from Connecticut, a little town near Long Island Sound called Waterford. Going to be studying for my state EMT exam here in another couple weeks, hope to take that this summer, with an eye towards med school." Shannon smiles lightly and nibbles on a home fry. "What about you?"

Zeke Lincoln has posed:
"I'm just from upstate, a couple of hours away," says Zeke with a shrug. "Used to live on a farm with my family. Don't know what I'm doing now, though."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon nods, and smiles lightly. "Well, hopefully finding something at the club will help give you some time to figure things out. Sam's kind of like an older brother to me." Yes, definitely a good day!