10252/Thanksgiving @ The Shelter

Thanksgiving @ The Shelter
Date of Scene:	28 November 2019
Location:	New Hope Shelter, East Harlem
Synopsis:	Thanksgiving Done. Christmas Next. Politicians Ooh Boy!
Cast of Characters:	Zeitgeist (Julius), Phantasm (Drago)

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Zeitgeist (Julius) has posed:
    New Hope Shelter is a place that has been known to be a safe haven for all types of folks. Temporarily Unemployed, Long-term Disadvantaged, Families, even those with powers that might not be accepted by society. Lucius is someone who seems to know a little bit about everything. He spends his time between here, raising money at events and even on street corners, and also teaching in the nearby colleges. He's known as a rebel rouser, anti-corporate type, but today he's just another helper in the kitchen.
    "Hey Mr. Primus, the turkey done yet?" Lucius is wearing an apron and luckily not a hairnet, he doesn't have any long locks of hair to worry about getting in food. He checks the ovens, "Getting there." he inhales, the smell is actually a better indicator if the meat has approached the right temperature, he nods a bit, "Just probably another half hour and we should be good."

    The shelter is arranged for optimal sitdown room today, every table arranged in rows and chairs as well. Alot of extra volunteers dot the place and alot more homeless folks await food in a line that stretches down the block.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Amongst the extra volunteers is Wade Shaw. While he is dressed for the part mostly, while the jeans and tee are good for getting messy in, the T-shirt is a designer one for those in the know. Unlike his friend, his hair isn't long either, which right now is a saving grace for his... look. He is currently setting the temperature on the stove for one large pot. Glancing over to Primus at the assessment of the Turkey, he tries to work on the math for the potatoes.

Zeitgeist (Julius) has posed:
Lucius Primus glances over to Wade, "Potatoes going well my friend?" He would probably have joked about using comrade but that's straight out of his older years, He's tempted to opening the oven himself but he rather make sure they are indeed cooking and done, letting the heat out now would be bad.

    Lucius wanders over to some of the other boiling pots of vegetables, green beans, carrots, corn, sweet potatoes and brocolli. These won't take long to be done, and they will be serving within an hour at the most from the smells of it.

    There is a bit of a commotion from the door way as a man with a grinning smile and a expensive suit shows up, he's wearing an 'elect Bill' badge on his jacket. Enter the Local Politician and Businessman. William Smith is one of those guys you either like or hate, a plastic smile on his face or perhaps it's genuine. He begins his walk around the shelter giving volunteers a shake of the hand, "Your service to the cause of helping people is admirable. Keep up the good work."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Let's see, thirty minutes for turkey, plus the temperature the pot is currently at, draining, mashing, plus milk, butter... Oh the hell with it. Wade reaches into his pocket, furiously typing away his potato prep based questions towards the person who was supposed to be here. "stupid fan." He mutters under his breath.

Hitting send, he looks over to Lucius once more as he lowers the phone, giving a reluctant nod, giving the pot an accusing glare. "I think so. Nick gave me some instructions and he's keeping an eye on his phone if I have additional questions."

At the commotion, Wade turns his head to look towards William. He shifts over to the practiced smile of a business man securing a deal. He may not know cooking, but he does know schmoozing.

Zeitgeist (Julius) has posed:
Lucius Primus looks over the pot of potatoes, "Well, the easy way to tell if they are done is stick them with a fork, if it goes in smooth they are done. Another way is if there is a layer of starch ontop." he looks over towards the businessman turned politician, "Little do they know he's more of a snake then he lets on." he sighs, "Not that I can kick him out.. I might as well be friendly." He heads over to the front where the Bill is, "Hello Mr. Smith, Welcome to New Hope Shelter, come to volunteer?"

    William doesn't skip a beat, "I can serve some food if you need another hand but, it looks like the fine people of the city are out here in force already? I'd just get in the way."

    Lucius wanted to just make the guy uncomfortable but course the businessman just shrugs it off. Lucius nods, "Perhaps, I do hope however you will consider making a donation though? Christmas is not too far off and that sadly is more costly the today's event."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"All polticians are snakes." Wade surmises, voice low enough to where only Lucius can hear, but still managing to maintain the smile, "But the amount of venom varies."

The phone beeps which draws Wade's attention for a moment as he brings the phone up again to check Nick's message. "...oh." He looks at the nearby ingredients, "Salt...salt...salt..."

Zeitgeist (Julius) has posed:
Lucius Primus doesn't need to hear anything, his telepathic links to the whole area allows him glimpse into everyone's current motives, and the man before him is just priming the pump for his election run, the fellow really doesn't care, but doesn't stop him from milking the snake for some money.

    William nods, He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a check, he smiles and the flash of a camera of an assistant who came out of nowhere is made. "I have a donation for the shelter, it should cover quite a few gifts for those who need it. You do excellent sir." he offers the check and a hand for shaking, Lucius relents and does indeed provide his own plastic smile and shake of the hand, "Thank you for the donation."

    In the kitchen, the other helpers unload the turkeys from the oven and let them rest on the counter. Wade gets and with his potatoes too.

    People who have been waiting are beginning to get antsy especially with the wonderful smell of food filling the place.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Man time flies when you're busy. Through some miracle and some rather quick responses by Nick via the phone and Lucius also offering advice, the potatoes are prepped and good to go in their respective serving dishes.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Wade looks to the amazing spread that's starting to form in the staging area for the food. It's kind of a good feeling. Maybe that's why his friend does this so often. Must be killing him being stuck hom-

The Studio owner shakes his head, getting back to work as he asks the more seasoned workers what they need his help with. Better get moving or else the kid's not going to let him hear the end of it.

Zeitgeist (Julius) has posed:
Lucius Primus comes back from shaking hands with the politician, pocketing the check, he heads over to check the staging area out, "Excellent all is well." he smiles, A particular individual is currently using some sort of heat vision to crisp up a topping of a dessert.. "Well, always useful ability that must be." Lucius looks to Wade, "Thanks for help, Potatoes look great."

    William Smith, heads out as quick as he arrived, getting one more photo ops with a homeless fellow in line before doing so.

    The other servers begin to carry food to the long gambit of setup heat plates and the line begins to get the first scoops of the various thanksgiving staples.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Wade smiles at the praise. Considering how little Wade cooks for himself, that was an internal struggle of epic proportions. Part of him wonders if Nick knew it would be when he told Wade to take his place, "Thanks, hope they taste good. And, Nick gives his apologies about not being able to come. He'd like to help out with the Christmas cooking if possible."

Shaw looks over to the departing politician. Looks like the photo op session is done with.

Zeitgeist (Julius) has posed:
Lucius Primus says, "Well, sure. Always nice to have another volunteer, we're going to do cooking, gift wrapping, and also obviously donation collection. People are generous around the holidays but... so is the need is great as well." He watches the politician leave, "well, there goes both a foe and a hero for the shelter. I shouldn't be so hard on him, society is what groomed him into the man... he is." He begins to shuffle the food out towards the line.. and the lines are indeed moving as people are scooped vegetables, potatoes, turkey, and then at the end a slice of pie, fruit, or even a bit of cake depending. It's an assortment of stuff truely. Someone however apparently also found the shelters stereo and christmas music begins to play, perhaps causing a bit of flinching from some who fear the season already starting."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Wade nods, "I'll let him know."

Following Lucius's cue to start moving food towards the line as well. As he ends up near Lucius once more during the next round, he asks, "Do you have a list of things that are needed most for donations? Maybe we could do something over at Shaw Studios to help with collections." The Christmas music does eventually filter to Wade's conciousness, reminding him of an incomplete project. Perhaps he should nudge Nick to finish up that song. Bob following his friend around the past two weeks was a bit of a slow down...

Zeitgeist (Julius) has posed:
Lucius Primus is almost automatic in producing a list from a pocket, "Already made my list and checking it twice." he grins, "I actually have the fliers already made up from last year, no different this year." He's set to delivery of the various trays to their hoppers as they run out of food at each station. "These days really make me wonder if we can spend our collective resources on better things then weapons.. money could be used so much better to help people then hurt people.. or line the pockets of rich corporations to make them even more wealthy. Not everyone is like Tony Stark, someone who actually cares and is doing something, though.. he got to where he was because of sadly blood money from past days." Ahh light chatter really.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Alright, Well, when you have copies of said list, send one my way. Or Nick's. It'll eventually get to the same office." With how much time Nick spends at the studio, maybe he should get him his own office. He doesn't really know what to say to Lucius's branch off to the line about rich corporations or what not. The studios are relatively small scale and gives reasonable rates for those who use them. Plus they do promote their session musicians, but Shaw Studios is still a business. But then again... Well, this is going to be a long internal debate. Great Lucius. You broke Wade.

Zeitgeist (Julius) has posed:
Lucius Primus senses this struggle a bit, he tries his best of not giving the hand that he can indeed read his thoughts, "I didn't mean anything against all corporations or companies, just those that are involved in making weapons or in the case of our friendly politician, ripping off the tax payers by back office dealings to get contracts." he puts hand on the fellows back, "Thanks for all the help, let's keep these people fed." He continues to usher the food as they feed the ever-long line of people looking for some grub.