12239/Heavenly Noms

Heavenly Noms
Date of Scene:	26 September 2020
Location:	Baskin Robbins - Salem Center
Synopsis:	Warpath and Shannon visit Salem Center for some ice cream, and meet 'Professor Minerva'. Perhaps there is more to her than meets the eye?
Cast of Characters:	Athena, Nightingale, Warpath

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Athena has posed:
Athena hasn't been to Earth in, well, quite a long time. A VERY long time, she reminds herself. Wearing a different form in mostly earth tones, big glasses and an over-sized shoulder bag complete the disguise. Yes, she's just a typical academic now.

And her first order of business is to find ice cream.

So right now, Professor Mildred Minerva is standing in front of the glass case, peering down at all 31 flavors while engaged in a mental debate as seriously as if she was on death row and choosing her last meal.

"Rocky Road? No, too cliche. Fudge Ripple? No, no, and no. In fact, let's just stay away from the chocolate family altogether. Do you have anything with dates or figs?"

Nightingale has posed:
     Where there was ice cream, there were likely hungry teenagers in search of sweet sustenance. And in point of fact, this seemed to be the case. Right behind 'Professor Minerva' was a young woman of about average height, with pale gold hair, glacier blue eyes, and a thin braid on the left side of her face dyed a hue just a shade or two deeper than her eyes. There are three little silver beads on the end. She's dressed in dark blue jeans, a wine-colored turtleneck, and her favorite calf length, caramel suede boots. Tied to her belt is a well-worn but loved leather bag, that looks to have Norse runes embossed in an attractive pattern all over.

     Then there's the wings.

     Yeah, there's just no missing those. Big, white, and feathery like an angel's wings, they remain tucked in neatly behind the young woman. The poor cashier behind the counter looks utterly dumbfounded at the unusual request for dates and figs. But right behind Professor Minerva, there is a light alto voice chiming in. "You probably won't find that too many places, miss, not unless you make the ice cream yourself. That... might actually taste pretty good." A winsome smile curls her lips upwards, the girl hugging a rather hefty biology textbook to her chest.

Warpath has posed:
     It is unusual when someone's shadow is larger than they are, but in light of recent events the winged teenager wasn't wandering into town on her own. Jimmy considers the comments the first woman makes and nods in agreement,"That does sound good." he agrees. Not the most talkative sort.

     His eyes move over the place now and then, mindful of potential trouble. Granted it would take a special kind of stupid to start problems, but the world seems to be suffering from a massive outbreak of moron of late. He does give the Professor a quick glance incase she doesn't like being talked to by the young mutant.

Athena has posed:
"Oh! Butter Pecan!" Mildred exclaims, pointing at the glass. "A double scoop, please, in a cup." The woman beams, looking back over her shoulder at Shannon. A fingertip pushes her glasses up as well, her smiling turning on the winged young woman.

"Oh, what lovely wings you have. I'm Pro-... I mean, Mildred. Minerva. Mildred Minerva, but please call me Milly."

Nightingale has posed:
     "Minerva, as in the Roman name for Athena? Pretty unusual name to hear. But beautiful." Shannon smiles, ducking her head a bit shyly. She shifts her textbook to balance in her left arm, extending her hand out to Milly. "Shannon. Pleased to meet you, miss Minerva." Despite the urging to call the Professor by her given name, she could not bring herself to do so. It just wasn't done. "Thank you. They're quite real. The wings, I mean." She glances back at Warpath, and smiles.

Warpath has posed:
     Listening to the ladies speak, Jimmy turns his attention to the two of them when he notices Shanon look his way,"James. Jimmy if you like." he offers to her,"It's nice to meet you." He considers her for a moment and then the ice cream too. Neither for very long since "Wings" might draw less friendly attention too.

Athena has posed:
Athena laughs and looks a little surprised at Shannon's observation. Surprised, and a bit pleased. "It's one of her many names, actually." she declares. "Athena Pallas, Promarchos, Parthenos, Acraea, Itonis, Ageleia, Kourtrophos, and Agoraea, to name a few." Extending her hand to accept Shannon's offered, Professor Minerva's grip is firm and professional. "Apologies, but I'm a Professor of Ancient History and Greek Studies. Currently on sabbatical." She points to the thick textbook and offers. "And you are a student, yourself." As for the wings? Apparently there isn't a problem.

Still gripping Shannon's hand, Mildred releases to offer the same to Jimmy. "Nice to meet you as well, Jimmy. Since we're all being informal here." Gesturing between them, she asks. "Do you two go to the same school? You seem to know each other."

Nightingale has posed:
     "Biology," Shannon offers. "I'm leaning towards med school in another year or two. Healing... is part of my gifts." Shifting the subject, the young woman cants her head and smiles. This seemed a subject she warmed to quite readily, bobbing her head with each name that Millie lists off. "You forget the 'grey-eyed goddess'," she points out. "Goddess of wisdom and battle strategy, also of crafts. And it was also said she created the flute." Pausing, Shannon just laughs, shaking her head. "Figures. An instrument I play. I grew up hearing a lot of the old Greek myths from my mother."

Warpath has posed:
     Taking the offered hand, Jimmy shakes with a professional grip as well. Not overly powerful inspite of his size,"I teach Social Studies and History." he replies in regards to how they know each other,"Part time surrgate older brother and the like." If he's versed in the Greek mythos he doesn't indicate though he does seem impressed with the lists of names the pair manage to come up for the goddess in question.

Athena has posed:
Milly's eyes are firmly and definitely BROWN through those spectacles. "A fellow scholar, how wonderful!" she replies to James. Looking from the big man to Shannon, those brown eyes brighten. "Ah, yes. Professor and big brother and mentor, no doubt." She certainly seems familiar with the concept.

Milly turns towards Shannon once more. "You grew up on the old tales, did you? How splendid. If I were teaching actively, I would insist that you take my class." The woman pauses to pick up her ice cream, gesturing to the others as she steps back. "I'm buying theirs as well. I insist." Then she plucks up a spoon, continuing casually. "Yes, Athena did invent the flute but she called it *aulos*. And she also did some rather horrid things which resulted in the Gorgons and the creation of spiders."

Nightingale has posed:
     "Oh yes, the tales of Medusa and Arachne." Shannon nods, and looks about ready to go into a telling of the tales in question. But thankfully, there is the distraction of ice cream to be had! Whereas Milly spurned Rocky Road in favor of butter pecan, the winged teen goes right for the good stuff, ordering a fairly sizeable dish of Rocky Road. "Thank you, miss Minerva!" She steps back to let Warpath place his order, grinning a bit sheepishly. "Big brother, mentor, and... is there a term for someone who tries to keep one out of trouble?" Her eyes twinkle with mischief as she looks at the older brother in question, giggling softly.

Warpath has posed:
     "Tortured soul." Jimmy mutters dryly in regards to the keep her out of trouble. There is a nod to Milly as he replies,"Thank you." He looks like he might have objected for a moment, but he lets it pass. There's always tomorrow. He opts for the basic in life, chocolate it is. No real flare for the ice cream.

     New patrons walk in and he glances towards them, but they are busy talking with each other. He turns his shoulder a little and Shannon is suddenly no really easy to see by anyone coming in.

Athena has posed:
Athena plunges spoon into ice cream, taking a bite and closing her eyes. "mmmMMmm!" she declares. "That is simply divine." Licking the spoon clean, she prepares a smaller bite. "I think the word you're looking for is 'bodyguard', actually." she replies, picking out a pecan.

Brown eyes shift from James to the new patrons and then back, the spoon lingering while she savors the bite. Yes, she certainly notices the change in his demeanor, the shift of his stance, the alert glance. In a lower voice, the woman asks. "Is there often need of your bodyguard services, James? I'm afraid I don't follow the news very well."

Nightingale has posed:
     "Tortured soul? Does that go along with 'trouble magnet'?" Shannon giggles, nudging Warpath's shoulder lightly. It left one with the distinct impression of perhaps a running joke--but could it be one based in fact?

     Milly's question, however, elicits a light sigh from the young healer in training, and she shrugs. "It's... a little more sensible these days to not go out alone. Even in more mutant-friendly areas like this, there can still be trouble. Even when we don't go looking for it." She grimaces, her brows furrowing as she glances around. "Sure finds us well enough on its own." Her own stance has grown a bit more tense by now, a bit more alert, her wings ruffling behind her.

Warpath has posed:
     His eyes move to the glass case where the ice cream is, but having ordered his already it is a little strange he is looking there right now. A slow nod and he adds to the comment,"It is not a dull time to be a mutant, particularly those that are more obvious than others." he comments in a deep, rumbling voice. Even quiet is rumbles. Does the obvious comment mean that even though he blends in well enough he might be a mutant as well, not just a really big guy.

Athena has posed:
Milly nods slowly, nibbling her ice cream as she sizes up the situation from their body language as well as their words. "Even *I* am hearing things about that." she offers softly. A flick of fingers briefly points her plastic spoon towards the new arrivals and she asks. "Have things become so bad that *anyone* is assumed to be unfriendly?" Shifting her bag, she sets down her ice cream and reaches inside for a wallet to pay.

Nightingale has posed:
     "I don't want to think so," Shannon offers, her own voice more quiet than before. "Much to a certain tortured soul's frustration at times, no doubt, I... tend to make rather unusual friends. Precisely because I don't want to give in to fear." Sighing softly, she shakes her head, digging into her dish of ice cream and twirling the plastic spoon about a little bit, making light scraping sounds on the bottom of the cup. "Some friends I doubt you'd believe in a thousand years, despite your chosen studies. But if someone isn't the first to reach out, then who will?"

Warpath has posed:
     "I try not to think so, but at the end of the day I prefer to fault on the side of caution. Particularly as it comes to my students. This one in particular." he admits and relaxes a little as the new arrivals don't seem to take too much notice to the trio for the moment. He nods his thanks to the person handing him his ice cream.

Athena has posed:
Milly's eyes flit about quickly, James to the newcomers back to James and then to Shannon. "Not in a thousand years? Oh, you really should try me sometime. I might surprise you." she replies, digging deeply into the butter pecan. "But you have a kind soul, Shannon. As do you, James. And that is a rare thing in *any* world these days."

Something catches her eye just then, and she looks to Shannon's wings. Perhaps it's the way the light reflects off the feathers in a familiar way. Not unlike that of the first Pegasus... Reaching out a hand, she asks. "May I touch your feathers?"

Nightingale has posed:
     A polite request like that was not unheard of for the winged teen, and she smiles. Extending one wing towards Milly, she holds perfectly still. "I remember when I was shadowing another healer in the hospital here, a little child ran right up to me, wishing she had wings like this. Would that we all had a bit of that child in us and were so accepting. The world would be a much better place for it." She keeps shifting her gaze between Milly and Warpath, knowing all too well how protective her adopted older brother could be.

Warpath has posed:
     There is a nod when Shannon keeps looking at him. He isn't too concerned since Milly seems friendly enough on the surface. He looks at the ice cream cabinet again and then back to Milly. He pauses a moment and his head turns to the side a little, but he doesn't really seem more than curious. It passes a moment later and he is back to where he was before. Cautious and interested in finding a seat.

Athena has posed:
Milly reaches out as the wing is extended, fingers spreading a little before making contact. "It's not only little children who wish they could fly." she offers in a softer voice. Then fingers brush feathers, stroking lightly along their length. With the grain. Milly remembers that feeling from another age, and she recognizes the source.

Fingertips rub together, as if testing for residue. Nothing. Just like the Pegasus. She smiles knowingly, a blonde brow lifting as she returns to her ice cream spoon. "Thank you, Shannon, they're even more beautiful to touch than to see. You are truly... blessed."

Nightingale has posed:
     Lofting one finely arched brow at Milly, Shannon just offers a wry smile. This one was more than she seemed. The way she acted as if testing her wings for... something... plus talk of being blessed? There was more than meets the eye here. "Thank you, miss Minerva." There is a slight emphasis on Minerva, but not so much so that it would sound too terribly obvious. "More blessed than you know."

     Was this more trouble for Warpath to be aware of? Stay tuned, dear reader....

Warpath has posed:
     Trouble always follows the winged one. Hence there is almost always a Jimmy at her back. Some people seem to enjoy the abuse and misery. He does smile a little as the pair interact, eating some of the ice cream and once more studying Minny for a second before shaking his head. Maybe amused, maybe something else.

Athena has posed:
Milly turns more of her attention towards the ice cream now, picking at it methodically. "It was very nice meeting both of you, but I'm afraid that I really should be on my way." The woman offers another smile, then adds. "I really do look forward to seeing you again." And with that, she steps out to finish her ice cream while walking.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon smiles at Milly, peering at her a bit more closely for a moment. Was this possibly who she thought it could be? But what were the odds? Dipping her head, she smiles warmly, settling her wings at her back, the feathers perhaps a bit... molt-y looking, but in somewhat decent order. "Be safe, and blessed, till we meeet again."

     Glancing at Warpath knowingly, she gives him one of those looks she was becoming known for. There would no doubt be tales to tell when they both got home....

Warpath has posed:
     The mostly stoic one offers Milly a nod as she leaves,"It was a pleasure to meet you Milly." he tells her as she leaves. The knowing look is met with one of his own. Oh yes, there will be long talks again.