14941/Mulling Over Coffee

Mulling Over Coffee
Date of Scene:	15 April 2023
Location:	Mel's Diner - Breakstone
Synopsis:	Jean bumps into Bruce again at the coffee shop.
Cast of Characters:	Phoenix, Hulk

---

{{Poses |Poses=:

Phoenix has posed:\<br\>Jean Grey has had a lot to ponder lately, and she is doing so over a cup of coffee in the middle of the day, staring listlessly at the day's newspaper as she ponders many things. She barely notices when the waitress pauses by her table, asking if she needs a refill, having to ask her three times before she notices. Every so often she fingers the bright red garnet gem that dangles from a chain about her neck, frowning softly.

Hulk has posed:\<br\>Jean isn't the only one. \<br\>\<br\> Bruce had much to think over. He had revealed his feelings, perhaps unwisely, to Jean Grey and well, it made him feel a bit of an idiot. But, what can you do. He still helps at the school, still works with the kids rather closely...but now, he needs coffee. When he's tired, the risk of him transforming into the Hulk increases exponentially. \<br\>\<br\> He's wearing one of his nice suits, as he always does, looking like a Cambridge professor as he walks up to the counter with a newspaper. \<br\>\<br\> "Hi, c-can I have some coffee, please?" At the moment, he seems oblivious to Jean's presence...that is, until he gets his coffee and he turns where he's standing to be looking right at her.\<br\>\<br\> He gulps audibly. \<br\>\<br\> "H-Hi..."

Phoenix has posed:\<br\>Jean Grey has had a long da6 of work herself, but it's the weekend and she's determined to relax. Dressed in casual blue jeans and a mint green shirt, she looks more relaxed than she is feeling, perhaps because she is focusing hard on keeping The Phoenix under control as she usually does. Having a focus helps.\<br\>\<br\>She takes another slow sip of her coffee, peering at some article in the newspaper before she hears a very familiar voice that causes her to blink, tensing slightly as she peers towards Bruce. She smiles faintly at him.\<br\>\<br\>"Oh, hello Bruce, how are you?" she asks, acting casual, as if the6 hadn't recently had a rather awkward encounter.

Hulk has posed:\<br\>Well....determined to relax?\<br\>\<br\> Meet Bruce Banner. Jean Grey's unrequited paramour. \<br\>\<br\> Bruce tenses just looking at her. In fact, he hasn't moved since he saw her. But his attenton rests on the red garnet gem that dangles from the chain around her neck...and no doubt, his eyes lower to the ring that rests on her left hand. \<br\>\<br\> "I...uhmm...."\<br\>\<br\> He lowers his head. "How are you?"

Phoenix has posed:\<br\>Jean Grey's smile fades just a bit, and she doesn't need telepathy to know how he's feeling. It was rather an awkward departing last time. She still feels terrible and it shows. Subconsciously she hides the ring, covering it with her other hand. "I'm okay, how are you doing..?" she pauses a moment, forcing a smile, trying to get him to relax. "Can I..Buy you a coffee?'

Hulk has posed:\<br\>Her smile fades. \<br\>\<br\> Bruce never did smile at her. \<br\>\<br\> But eventually, well....He clears his throat and he notices that she covers her ring and he lifts a hand. "Don't...just..." Bruce sighs softly. "I'm doing okay. I can..go.." \<br\>\<br\> Then she's offering to buy him coffee. He has a long moment of grappling with himself before he nods. "Sure."

Phoenix has posed:\<br\>Jean Grey blinks, shaking her head. "I would rather you didn't but I would understand if you didn't want to see me again.." she draws a deep breath, "I hope that we can still be friends, regardless of..Things.." although she smiles when he takes her up on her offer, flagging the waitress to order another coffee, and an apple pie too, "Oh, you're gonna love it, their pies are legendary." her smile is warm, happy that he chooses to stay.

Hulk has posed:\<br\>"Jean, I-" Bruce sighs, shaking his head. "Of course I want to see you, I just....you know, I like you, and I've gone and made things weird." \<br\>\<br\> He takes a seat at the booth she sits at, a frown on his face as he looks ahead. \<br\>\<br\> "I just...don't want to make you hate me. Plus, Scott and I have never really...gotten along." \<br\>\<br\> Bruce sighs softly. \<br\>\<br\> "I do like pie..."

Phoenix has posed:\<br\>Jean Grey smiles and shakes her head, reaching over to squeeze his hand gently, "I have always considered you a dear friend, Bruce..I.." she seems to be about to say something else but shakes her head, letting go. "I hope we can continue to be friends, and maybe someday you will find someone better who can return those feelings."\<br\>\<br\>She goes ahead and orders two slices of apple pie topped with whipping cream and when it returns she licks her lips at the freshly baked scent of a really good home made dessert. "Looks good, doesn't it?"

Hulk has posed:\<br\>Bruce looks at Jean when he feels the warmth of her hand on his own. Gently, he returns the squeeze, though he looks at the table and not at her. He looks at her, his face softening. Oh Jean, your words are sweet, but who could ever learn to love a monster? \<br\>\<br\> She releases his hand, and though he wonders what she would have said, he doesn't say anything. \<br\>\<br\> When it arrives, he looks at it and he nods. "Y-yeah, it does..." \<br\>\<br\> He pulls a fork and knife, and seems to cut into it, taking a big bite of it. "Mmmm...delicious." He mentions, before he looks at Jean. \<br\>\<br\> "It's okay."

Phoenix has posed:\<br\>Jean Grey smiles and nods, digging into her own pie. "Yes, I love co ing here when I am feeling stressed, and I've been feeling all sorts of stressed lately. Sometimes I wonder if I've been too soft, too figuring, maybe too gullible.." she sighs softly, clutching the Ruby quartz Crystal pendant again thoughtfully. Something is definitely bothering her..

Hulk has posed:\<br\>Bruce looks at her. \<br\>\<br\> "Jean...what's bothering you?" \<br\>\<br\> Probably Bruce, as one of the things stressing her out. "I still have a great set of ears, you know." He chuckles a little bit, though he sets his hands in front of him, his eyes firmly on her own.

Phoenix has posed:\<br\>Jean Grey sighs, shoulders slouching, "Well..I suppose that lately, I've been..Maybe a little too trusting of several people who have historically been enemies, dangerous enemies of the Xmen. I should have heeded Scott's warning and not given them a chance. Recently Rogue was attacked by Juggernaut and hurt pretty badly..Not long after I tried to reconcile with him..I...I've let down all my students.."she frowns softly, staring into her steamy cup of steaming milked coffee.

Hulk has posed:\<br\>"Jean...there's nothing wrong with being trusting. People can and will eventually abuse the trust you give them, which makes them unworthy of that trust. You learned a lesson...you haven't let any of your students down. You're a good woman, Jean. A good professor, a good teacher, a good /guide/." He tells her with a soft smile. \<br\>\<br\> "There is no crime in giving people a chance. You have a heart, Jean. Don't be afraid to listen to it."

Phoenix has posed:\<br\>Jean Grey hmms, "This time perhaps, but, it's happened too many times. I trusted Sinister, Juggernaut..Magneto. None of that can end well. Perhaps some people cannot reform. Perhaps I am too trusting. Those are not good characteristics for a deputy headmistress whose job is to keep the kids safe.."

Hulk has posed:\<br\>"It's your duty as headmistress to see the best in the eyes of others. A driving force for change and you represent that change in more ways than one." A reference to the Phoenix perhaps, but Bruce believes so wholeheartedly in her ability to see the best in people that he won't let her tear herself apart. \<br\>\<br\> "No..you're exactly as trusting as you need to be." He tells her with a big smile on his face. "Everyone can change. Everyone." \<br\>\<br\> He reaches now, to take her hand and give it a gentle squeeze. "Don't let the actions of others kill your spirit. Those kids look up to you. Not just for when you're unbending...but to prove to them that even when they mess up, they can count on you to see the good in them."

Phoenix has posed:\<br\>Jean Grey sighs and nods, "I hope you are right. Sometimes we meet students who are pretty rough around the edges. I have always believed trust is the key to everything.." she tenses a but as he takes her hands but doesn't pull away. "Thank you...I should head home..Scott is waiting for me." She rises quickly from the table and with a guarded smile and wave she hurries out.

}