12636/Socializing at Salem Center

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Socializing at Salem Center
Date of Scene: 11 January 2021
Location: Salem Center, Westchester County
Synopsis: Sam Wilson runs into the recently de-winged Nightingale
Cast of Characters: Falcon, Nightingale




Falcon has posed:
The shopping center is on the busy side. It's lunch time and the restaurants here are a draw for a lot of people. Gotta get some grub, right? Flying high above the traffic is Sam Wilson, the Avenger taking advantage of his wings to avoid any congestion as he heads over to grab some lunch. He's been out on a mission with SHIELD and worked up an appetite that can best be satisfied with a specific restaurant located in Salem Center. Swooping down, he lands neatly at the edge of the sidewalk to avoid startling too many folks with his arrival. His wings fold up into the pack on his back as the shoppers and diners around him take notice. Some even produce cell phones to take snapshots of the new Avenger.

Nightingale has posed:
     When life went to Hades in a handbasket, music was often a welcome refuge. Shannon had a late night honing her skills on piano and guitar, only to have not one but two guitar strings snap on her. The backlash had left a nice little welt on her right palm and inner forearm, the majority of which were covered up by her dove grey turtleneck sweater. She was wearing that, a pair of dark blue jeans, some soft, calf-length caramel suede boots, and a light blue helmet with wind visor.

     For once, she hadn't flown into town. She couldn't, as for some reason, her wings were no longer there.

     Instead, she's opted for a more prosaic, if equally pretty, mode of transport--a jet black Vespa GTS 300 Super, that looks to have had some custom detailing added on in the form of silver and blue metal angel wings on the front and back wheel covers. She's pulling up into a parking space near the music store just as Sam is landing, securing her ride and sliding her helmet free. She watches the landing in silence, only lifting her chin in an up-nod of greeting when the opportunity arises.

Falcon has posed:
Amidst the people paying attention to his arrival, Sam makes out the woman on the Vespa and her greeting. In return he lifts a hand and says, grinning, "Nice ride. Those things are fun." A young boy runs towards the Falcon to ask for a picture with him. The superhero says, "Sure thing." Standing tall and straight, Wilson lets the kid's mom take their picture. After that, though, people stop approaching him except to wave or offer a greeting.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon just shakes her head and chuckles, unable to keep a smile off her face as she witnesses how Sam handles a young fan's admiration. It was really quite a precious thing to see. "Thanks," she replies. "Bike was a shop project, the detailing was a birthday gift from a friend."

     Keeping her helmet tucked under one arm, she waits till the crowd mostly disperses, cracking a small smile. "I expect to see some dents in the sidewalk come spring when the ice melts, from where some little jaws hit the ground when you landed like that."

Falcon has posed:
As Shannon speaks a flood of recognition hits Sam. He knows the girl, but something is definitely off about her. When he figured out what it is he doesn't comment, instead focusing on the topic they're discussing, "It looks great. And you work on it yourself? That's awesome." Then he chuckles, "Landing is always impressive. I admit I do like showing off sometimes, too."

Then his chin lifts at Shannon, "How are you doing?"

Nightingale has posed:
     "I had a little more help on the bike than I would have liked, but it was for the best. I'll still learn more about it in the end, anyhow" Shannon replies, allowing herself a light chuckle. She pushes up from where she was leaning against her Vespa, strolling over to offer Sam a handshake.

     "Hanging in there. There was some... trouble in Bushwick, day before yesterday." The wind decided to play a mischievous prank on her, blowing some stray wisps of pale gold right across her face, into her eyes. She's left trying to blow the strands out of her face in rather comical fashion. "What about you? How've you been since the last we met?"

Falcon has posed:
"Still, most people don't even know the first thing about mechanics so you're doing something right," Sam tells the young woman, showing her a smile as he takes her hand for a friendly shake.

As she talks about Bushwick he nods his head slowly, "I heard. Bad business, I'm pissed that I wasn't there to do something." Then he shrugs, "I'm alright. been keeping busy. Helped feed some folks at a shelter last night, doing what I can, you know? It's never enough, but it's something."

Nightingale has posed:
     "Bad business is an understatement. Got hit with one of those damn 'Cure' darts getting a friend out of the way." Shannon's brows furrow even as she shakes Sam's hand for a shake, her grip firm. "Someone pretty wise told me something about you've got to find a way to keep going, otherwise how many others will be hurt instead? I'm not gonna let this stop me from studying for the state EMT exam this summer."

     It's impossible to keep a smile from tugging the corners of her lips upwards, as she listens to Sam talk about his outreach work. "That's great. What shelter? If it's close by, maybe I can stop in and help sometime."

Falcon has posed:
"Good for you. You know, I'm a paramedic if you ever need a study buddy," Sam tells Shannon with a grin. "I've got a lot of practical experience as well."

Then he thinks for a second, "It's the New Hope Shelter in East Harlem, I believe. Nice place, lots of good people living and working there. Mutant friendly."

He frowns slightly, unable to help it, "There were other people there that had been targeted in the Bushwick attack, too."

Nightingale has posed:
     At the mention of the New Hope shelter, Shannon's expression actually lights up with recognition. She bobs her head once, smiling brightly. "I remember that place. Was there last Christmas Eve. Some other folks were bringing in toys and clothes, and I was playing the piano to keep the littles occupied."

     The offer of a study buddy has her chuckling, and she tils her head, considering. "Not a bad thought. Kind of figured you had some training, after the way we met." She goes silent for a few moments, as if considering something. "If there's a way to reverse this 'Cure', I aim on being in line for it. Do you think there'll be trouble with me going for the exam, if and when I go back to normal, with the wings and everything?"

     As talk turns back to the attack on Bushwick, the young woman once more falls silent. "It was pretty chaotic and messy," she begins, her voice gone soft. "Once the darts started flying, all hell broke loose. Who else besides mutants there would have been targeted?" She shakes her head, letting out a sigh. "Told Cap last year I just don't understand hate. Didn't then, don't now. It makes zero sense. I can't stand bullies."

Falcon has posed:
"That's awesome!" Sam tells his pal when she mentions playing the piano for the kids. "Nick was doing the same thing last night."

"I don't think there'll be any issue, but I don't know a ton about how the licensing works when it comes it mutants. It shouldn't make any difference, but there are a lot of assholes out there," he says. "My biggest worry would be getting a bigot grader if there's a hands on portion of the exam."

"I hate bullies. Best part about my job, after helping people, is kicking the crap out of assholes that prey on innocent people. I mean, I can understand hating an individual based on their words and actions, but a whole group of people who are different for reasons they didn't choose? That's pretty damn evil."

Nightingale has posed:
     "Ha! Nick was there last Christmas Eve, too. That's the day I met him. Him, and someone named Tim Drake were both there. I was showing one of the littles how to play 'Jingle Bells' on the piano." She chuckles lightly, her whole expression softening at the memory. "Talented little kid. Could have a future in music, given a chance."

     The matter of evil gets a simple, if somewhat emphatic nod of agreement. "Great minds think alike," Shannon replies. "You're right. Very few with abilities like ours have actually -chosen- that path. Most of us, it's something we were born with. I don't 'get' hate."

     Shannon rolls her eyes, giggling softly. "If there's going to be a bigot grader, it could be for any reason. Could just be for me being a girl," she points out. "Makes me want to study harder to stick it to people like that."

Falcon has posed:
"Nice!" Sam comments. "It's good to help people build their skills when you can."

"I wasn't born with the wings, but I try to understand what it's like for folks who are different not by choice but by genetics. It's a sin people don't know how to empathize with those in a different position," the Falcon says before he sighs.

Then he nods, "That's a good way to look at it. Screw any of those assholes, we'll make sure you pass with flying colors. You just doing the state exam or the NREMT as well?"

Nightingale has posed:
     "Starting with the state exam. Figured if they let me go for that, I can move on up to the other...." Shannon's words just trail off, and she pins Sam with a perfectly deadpan 'look'. Out of nowhre, silvery laughter bubbles up from within her, the young woman just shaking her head. "Bad pun. Flying colors. Says he with the wings to the de-winged mutant girl."

     Smiling a little bit more, she dips her head in agreement. "Yeah, it is kind of a sin, isn't it? Sure, being 'cured' against my will, it upsets me. Pisses me off, even. But I guess it can remind me just what it's like for people on the other side of the gene pool, too. What it was like for me, till about three years ago."

Falcon has posed:
"Oh damn," Sam starts to laugh a little bit. "Didn't even realize I'd made a pun. That's bad. Gotta get my head checked, maybe." But he's amused that she's laughing and he can't stop grinning.

"It's good to live life on the other side for a while, I guess. You'll be back to flying in no time, I bet. If something can be done by medicine it can often be undone as well."

Nightingale has posed:
     "That's a day to look forward to," Shannon says, with something of an actual smirk. "It'll be nice to have a way to give the universal salute to everyone who tries to weaponize this 'Cure' to begin with." For once, she actually seems to be -cackling- about it, rubbing her hands together in glee. "Best possible way I can think of to stand up against those bullies, is to de-fang them in their own game."

     Cackling melts into merry laughter once more, the young woman reaching over to gingerly tap her knuckles against Sam's forehead. "Hmmm. Checking your head. With a pun like that, can't figure out if that's hollow or solid."

Falcon has posed:
"Yeah, I'm a poet and didn't know it," Sam says as he leans into the knuckle tap, starting to chuckle as soon as it's over. He looks around for a bit and then declares, "I'm pretty hungry. Want to grab a bite with me or do you have somewhere to get to? I'm pretty much done with work for the day, just gotta do some paperwork back at base but that can wait."

Nightingale has posed:
     "I was just heading to the music store to pick up some guitar strings, but that can wait till a little later." Shannon smiles, lowering her hand. Her boots crunch-slosh a bit in the gritty, snowy slop that is what is left of sanding and salting roads and parking spaces against the winter's weather. "What'd you have in mind for munchies? Burger place is pretty good, so's the pizza joint."

Falcon has posed:
"I'm in need of a burger," Wilson declares with a grin. "The ones at work are good, but I'm craving one from here for some reason so I figured I'd fly over." He starts to lead the way towards the Burger Joint, making sure Shannon keeps up.

Nightingale has posed:
     There's no problem with Shannon keeping up. If anything, her pale blue eyes twinkle with mischief as she breaks into something of a jog, coming up alongside Sam. With a merry laugh, she grins at him, calling back over her shoulder as she passes him on the way to the burger place....

     "On your left!"

Falcon has posed:
The Falcon turns when Shannon jogs past him and laughs out loud when she passes. If it wasn't snowy weather outside it would be on like Donkey Kong. Instead he paces himself and strolls up to the entrance to the restaurant.