11720/Introductions and Indigestion

Introductions and Indigestion
Date of Scene:	04 July 2020
Location:	Chinese Food Restaurant, Two Bridges
Synopsis:	X-Folks have a great get together
Cast of Characters:	Beast, Sandra Billings, Nightingale

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Beast has posed:
It's almost always a good time to introduce friends to one another. At least in Hank's estimation. That's why he's bringing one of his favorite students along to meet his awesome lady friend, Sandra. They arrive in a car borrowed from the motor pool at the school, the big, blue guy in the driver's seat. After parking the vehicle he leads his pupil towards the restaurant and confesses, "I'm quite excited. You'll be the first of my friends she's met."

Once they get to the door Hank holds it open and checks out the interior of the restaurant, ready to follow Shannon inside so they can get a table.

Sandra Billings has posed:
While Hank takes a car, Sandy takes the bus to jump across the city. She could drive her car, but driving in the city can give anyone anxiety, and the parking rates are worse than a heart attack. Once her bus pulls up at the stop a few blocks away, she makes her way down the sidewalk to the resturant.

Today Sandy is dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a purple floral cami with thin shoulder straps. Her white sneakers are newish, the kind she doesn't take to the ER with her and a black purse over her shoulder. SHe even has on a tiny bit of makeup around her eyes and along her lips. Just so that she can look somewhat presentable and to hide the bags under her eyes. Sadly, she had to pull in an extra shift and work into the early morning, so the five hours of sleep she snuck in will have to tide her over until the nap later.

The bell jingles as she steps through the door, giving a look around until she spies Hank and the student. Her eyes light up and a smile forms across her face as she heads over. "Hi! I hope I'm not too late. The bus route was wonky."

Nightingale has posed:
     Dressed for the occasion in her favorite blue low-backed sundress, daisy toe flip-flops, and just the barest hint of makeup, Shannon smiles at Mr. McCoy, slipping inside the restaurant. It was always a good time to meet new friends--and better still if it was over a good meal. She keeps her wings tucked in neatly behind her, though even with that there is definitely no missing them. "I can't wait to meet your ladyfriend, Mr. McCoy," she chimes in, grinning from ear to ear. A pale blue braid is brushed aside from the left side of her face and tucked in behind her ear, its three little silver beads glittering in the ambient light. As always, she had her little brown leather bag with her, in lieu of a purse. "I can't remember the last time I saw you so happy."

     The winged teen falls silent as she sees Sandy approaching, ruffling her feathers ever so slightly. Her smile, however, remains, her eyes twinkling. "Wow. You didn't say she was so pretty."

Beast has posed:
"Hello, Sandy!" Beast greets her with a happy tone of voice and a huge smile. "You've got perfect timing. We're only just arriving ourselves."

A big blue paw gestures between the women, "Sandy, meet Shannon. Shannon, Sandy." He's very pleased with himself to be bringing more people together. "Sandy's woman after my own heart, medical professional and avid reader. Shannon is a biology student I'm instructing so that someday she can surpass me in the field."

A host arrives to show them to a table and McCoy runs around it to pull out chairs for both of the people he's dining with, being on his very best behavior and all that.

Sandra Billings has posed:
Before Hank gets a chance to pull her chair out, Sandy will lean forward and plant a kiss on his lips, followed by a quick hug about his shoulders. "Hey blueberry muffin. I've missed you. Work was nutso last night. I was up to my elbows in this guys .." She pauses for a moment, cheeks flushed. "Er, story for another time. Hi Shannon! I've heard so much about you!"

She holds her hand out to her to shake with a bright smile. "It's great to finally meet some of Hank's friends and students. He raves about his work all the time and it's so interesting." Once seated, she looks about for a few moments. "It's my first time here, so I'm excited. What about you guys?"

Full of energy, she must surely be hopped up on a few cups of coffee by now to get her motoring through the day. "So, how is everyone doing? Alive and well?"

Nightingale has posed:
     Chortling, Shannon offers her hand to Sandy; her fingers are slender, slightly needle-pricked and calloused, suggesting diverse interests other than science. "Please," she demurs. "I've probably heard and done worse than being elbow-deep in someone. That takes a lot of guts." Almost immediately, the teen regrets her choice of words, caught between a groan and a giggle. "Pleased to meet you, Sandy. And I'm sure Mr. McCoy's been telling all the horror stories."

     She slides into the proffered posterior perch, her wings relaxing behind her as she offers a smile of gratitude to Beast; she does seem to be favoring her left side a bit, that arm moving a touch more slowly. "It's been a good summer so far. Good company, good food, plenty of studies to keep busy with. What about you?"

Beast has posed:
Sandy's kiss has Beast just about bouncing on the balls of his feet for a moment before he can catch himself. As the women introduce themselves further he takes a seat next to his lady friend, briefly leaning against her with his shoulder in a display of affection. "I'm doing quite well. I've got very few complaints, I'm in wonderful company and I'm about to get some remarkably tasty kung pao chicken."

He finally settles his bulk into a chair fully, leaning back and letting out a content sigh. "I was supposed to write an article for a chemistry journal but the all good topics this month Argon."

Sandra Billings has posed:
The hand of Sandy is smooth, unscarred, no callouses. Odd for one in her profession. She also has /quite/ a grip and she's doing her best to not apply too much pressure. "Oh. I don't know .. I've .. I have seen some stuff that will ... uh.. you know, I've turned work off and I don't want my sesame chicken to remind me of last night." She says with a chuckle. "Though your pun was funny. I don't think he's told me any horror stories? Just about how he keeps blowing things up in science class and for some reason they keep expanding his budget."

Leaning in against his shoulder in return, Sandy looks happy and content as she slides a hand around to curl her fingers into his. Her thumb brushes over his fuzzy knuckles. "I'm doing fine. Just tired. Got off work about six hours ago, was able to make one of the last busses so I can get home and sleep. I picked up a few extra hours last night." She says, yawning into her free hand for a moment, then gives a quick shake of her head. "Oof, I need more coffee. "Was a busy night. I really wish shotguns would go out of style."

Nightingale has posed:
     "Second amendment. People do have the right to bear arms in their own defense." Shannon wrinkles her nose a little bit, but smiles. "What I wish is that people would show nurses a bit more respect, for all the hard work they do in just such situations and more." Her own grip is fairly strong, though she doesn't make a point of applying too much. "So we've one for kung pao chicken, one for sesame chicken... I'll be quite happy with some hot and sour soup, and beef with broccoli." Her pale azure eyes twinkle with amusement, her smile a little sheepish as she rubs the back of her neck. Explosions in class? She wouldn't know /anything/ about that, would she? No way!

     One finely arched golden brow is lofted at Mr. McCoy, and she facepalms. "Really, that one had no chemistry." Oh, dear. Had the pun wars begun? Were there horror stories that /should/ have been told of such skirmishes of the wits?

Beast has posed:
"I'm used to my chemistry jokes getting no reaction," the teacher says with a broad grin on his face. "There has to be a solution, though." He may be pushing it with that one.

His hand entwined with Sandy's, the blue mutant gives her a fond squeeze and nods, "I've got some horror stories, but I prefer to tell them by the glow of the campfire when we're alone in the deep woods at night. Somewhere that's full of spooky creatures."

Beast looks between his companions and chuckles a bit, "We should only hope that people are learning a lot from those explosions they might encounter in a scientific setting.'

Sandra Billings has posed:
There is a loud groan as the two go back and forth with their puns. Sandy giggles with a small hiccup in her voice. "I'm not jumping in there. I'm not good at coming up with puns. You two seem to have it down pretty well though so I'll just live vicariously through your humor."

"And, if you ever want to go camping, I'm good for it. I haven't done that since I was in girl scouts. I bet I can't even remember how to put up a tent. Will probably need to watch a video or something." She gives another yawn, then flags a waitress down to put in for a pot of coffee. "I'm lucky to have a good staff at the hospital I work at." She admits. "But I know some nurses definitely get run ragged. Doctors do their eight to five and drive off in their Mercedes while we put in a sixteen hour shift of people hacking up their lungs or trying to hold them back into their chest."

"I really need to put in for a vacation. Just get away from the city for the bit." Turning her cheek to look up at Hank, she flutters her eyes. "I got PTO to burn so let me know when you want to have a weekend rendevous of woods and mosquito bites." Not that she has to worry about those herself.

"I love your wings by the way, Shannon. So, Hank told me that you fly and you heal?" She didn't miss the movement though, the hidden injury and her eyes glance back over towards it again instinctively

Nightingale has posed:
     The mention of camping does dampen Shannon's humor for a moment, her voice trailing off. "I was at girl scout camp when my healing mutation manifested. Best friend got scalded when a pot boiled over by the campfire. I put a cool compress on her, but accidentally touched the wound... and absorbed it. She freaked, the counselors freaked, and I was sent home." She shrugs with her right shoulder, smoothing down her feathers. "The wings came in a few months later. I've learned to live with the mutations and even be proud of them."

     A light chuckle escapes her as she witnesses the sheer affection between Mr. McCoy and Sandy, her lips curling upwards in a light smile. "Can't complain. Without them, I wouldn't have met Mr. McCoy. I owe him a lot."

Beast has posed:
"Camping can be quite a lot of fun. Just getting away from the stress of the day to explore, hike and relax," Hank sighs at the thought of it. "Though I'd probably end up distracted studying the flora and fauna and my beautiful companion." The remark about the Mercedes has big blue nodding his head, "As a doctor myself I should buy a fancy car of some type to demonstrate how well off I am and to make sure everyone notices me. I have so much difficulty with the latter, blending in everywhere I go."

Shannon's story has McCoy enraptured until it's finished and he nods, "I'm very pleased that we got a chance to get to know one another. You're a good person, an excellent student and a promising academic."

Sandra Billings has posed:
There is a bright smile upon Sandy's face as Hank makes that quip about exploring her. She leans her head over to give him a kiss on the cheek. Mwah. "Feeling is mutual." She giggles before she sobers up at Shannon's story.

The smile slowly fades away from her lips. "Oh. Sorry to hear that it wasn't under the best of circumstances." She reaches for a napkin, giving it a twist about in her free hand while the other remains curled within Hank's fingers. "But it's good that you're doing well now!"

Hank's comment about the car and standing out causes her to give a bit of a chortle, eyes rolling upwards as she gives him a look. "Mmhm."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon shrugs lightly with her right shoulder, and just smiles. "Figure it's for the best. Found out who my true friends are, made some new ones, and have done more living in the past year than I have in most of my life so far. So it all worked out in the end. Plus, my family was and is with me the whole way."

     Chuckling softly, she glances between the two, rolling her eyes. "Lovebirds. Sheesh." But there is no rancor in her tone, and her eyes are a-twinkle. As for the wings, and the look at her injury? That could wait till they were outside, after their meal. There was no sense causing a ruckus in here.

     "So what about you, miss Sandy? What drew you to nursing?" The young woman smiles and cants her head as she focuses now on Sandy, curious and all ears.

Beast has posed:
The kiss on the cheek of the furry fellow gets a big grin from him.

"Probably a Ferrari for me," Hank says to Sandra, pretending to be serious about it. "That way I can respond to science emergencies more quickly." A glance to Shannon, "And so my car will be faster than Mister Summers' vehicles, of course."

With a chuckle he leans forward a bit, still holding hands with Sandy, and looks at Shannon again, then at his lady friend.

Sandra Billings has posed:
"If you get a Ferarri, we're breaking up." Sandy laughs as she gives him a squeeze of the hand. "I like my men to drive around in soccer mom vans with three rows of seats. That way we can pack eight kids back there and all the groceries. Not that I want eight kids. I'm sure they cost a lot to buy on the Internet, even for vanity purposes."

At the topic of why she became a nurse, she says, "Well, both of my parents are in the field. So, you know how it is. /Expectations/ and the trickle down effect and family peer pressure. But at the end of the day, I really like helping people. I love science and biology and what makes us tick as human bodies. So, I wanted to be the repair man .. except for gunshot wounds and my favorite question .. can you look at my balls and tell me if this rash is bad or not."

Nightingale has posed:
     "The answer to that one is in two parts. First, 'Have you been camping, sir?' And if the answer is yes, 'You forgot the T.P., didn't you?' " Shannon stifles a giggle, politely hiding her grin by taking a well-timed sip of water. "You learn to find the humor in just about any profession. Only way to keep your sanity sometimes."

     Peering back over at Mr. McCoy, she can't hide her grin. "I'm going to tell him you said that, and let the games begin." There. Her work here was done!

Beast has posed:
"I can work with that," Hank replied to Sandy with an affectionate lean into her shoulder that lasts a couple of seconds. "After I finished with it and made sure it was faster than Scott's cars it would embarrass him even worse. I'm sure I could fit a ten cylinder engine into one." The scientist loses himself in thought for a moment as he does some calculations in his head. "Wouldn't be very fuel efficient, but those science emergencies can't wait."

Shannon gets some laughter out of her teacher, "Quite devious! I like it."

Sandra Billings has posed:
"Yeah, these guys who get rashes on their genitals tend to get them from sketchy Tindr hookups instead. I don't even have to test them at this point. I can just identify their partners by the coloration and patterns. One time, this one pattern looked like a Rorschach inkblot and I swear every time I blinked I saw something new. It was hypnotizing. But, nope, just good old fashioned persistent inguinal rash."

When their food arrives, Sandy gives a happy noise in her throat as she takes in a deep breath of it's scent. "Yum. Also, Hank, that works. If you want to pimp out a soccer van with all that horse power so that you can bruise your friend's ego, that's fine." She says as she giggles. "Though I think you'd do well in something that can have the top go down. Wind in your fur, sun on your face."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon wrinkles her nose, looking as if she's just eaten a whole lemon. "Ewww, Tindr. No way, no how. Just because I know the facts of life, doesn't mean I have to go testing the theories for myself, thanks." She raises her glass in salute to the intrepid nurse, taking a sip just as their food arrives. The smell of the hot and sour soup, and her beef and broccoli, well, they might as well be ambrosia to the young woman. And she doesn't bother with a fork, either. Oh, no, she goes right for the chopsticks.

     "You know, Mr. McCoy, that could be a fun idea. You and Mr. Summers each start with an identical fixer-upper, with a set amount of time to soup 'em up, and see who wins bragging rights." Did the innocent-seeming teen have a bit of a mischievous side? Tsk, tsk.

Beast has posed:
Hank takes a deep breath in through his snout as the food arrives, making a content sort of noise deep in his throat. The server is given a polite nod as the food is placed in front of him. Then he returns to the topic at hand, "I do rather see myself as a Jeep sort of guy. They're quite practical for getting around in rough terrain, there's a decent amount of storage space. I can remove the doors and roof for extra comfort."

Shannon is given a look of consideration, "That does sound like it would be fun project. I imagine we would end up with some fairly impressive vehicles to show for ourselves, regardless."

Sandra Billings has posed:
Stabbing some chicken with her fork, Sandy swirls it about in the sauce to take a bite. She gives a few thoughtful chews, then nods her head. "I like it. Yum." She gives a lick of her lips. "I never used Tindr either. Or any of those dating apps. I don't do the dating thing very well .. at all. To be honest, I've had one boyfriend my entire life and it lasted like .. uh... as probably as long as it takes for me to finish this yummy chicken."

"But you boys have fun. If you need me to cheer you on the sidelines and bring you lemonade, I can do that. I don't know much about cars except the wheels go around and vroom vroom."

Nightingale has posed:
     "You bring them the lemonade, I'll cook something up so they don't forget to eat while they're doing guy things. Both of 'em are pretty bad about forgetting to eat when they're in the zone." As for dating? Shannon just chuckles, and shakes her head. "I've had my share of heartbreaks this year, but we'll see how things go. There's gotta be someone out there who can put up with a mutant healer with wings, right?"

     Leaning over towards Mr. McCoy, Shannon makes a point of stage-whispering /just/ enough for Sandy to hear. "Sounds like you might have found a keeper."