7316/Hot Dogs and Telepaths

Hot Dogs and Telepaths
Date of Scene:	24 April 2019
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Jessica meets J'onn in not-Jonn form, and makes a new friend. Unless he isn't a friend. Because a girl just never knows, these days.
Cast of Characters:	Martian Manhunter, Spider-Woman (Drew)

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Martian Manhunter has posed:
Central park is usually full of people doing all sorts of things, all day and all night. Fortunately, one of its advantages, is that it is so large that it is very easy to find a quiet spot to relax in.
Today J'onn wanted to try one of the human most common activities, jogging! He so spent at least 2 hours jogging in the park, shapeshifted in the form of an athletic man in his thirties. Right now, he is sitting on a bench, in a quiet spot of Central Park, luckily he didn't even sweat thanks to his powers and so, now, looks like just a man doing nothing and relaxing.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica has been forced to take it easy for weeks, in the medical bay of the Avengers' mansion, due to an attack that left her with broken ribs and a cracked sternum. She's not quite ready for a full release, but she did manage to get a certified day pass to go to the park, by threatening to go anyway, even if they said no. The only stipulation is that she has to be careful, and not exert herself. Her healing powers are good, but only so fast. And so she finds herself walking along the edge of the lake, because some maniacal jogger has been going on the jogging paths for hours, and she wants to stay out of his way.

Before she knows what's happening, a large goose chases a toddler toward the water, honking wildly. The child's mother is nowhere to be seen, and Jessica, dressed in her bodysuit, brown leather blazer and boots with jeans, dashes toward the lake, thwipping out webs to catch the child and pull him back from the water's edge, just as he dunks in head-first.

Martian Manhunter has posed:
J'onn would be relaxing, quietly, if it wasn't at least for his senses catching a flurry of motion not too far to his right, near a lake. Turning his head in that direction, it wouldn't probably be too difficult for him to see Jessica saving a child, or at the very least trying to, from an unwanted dive in the lake.
Standing up slowly, he starts strolling in that direction, approaching the lake, Jessica and the child, making sure noone is looking his way before shifting his facial traits slightly so to have a very new temporary identity.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica is kneeling beside the child, as her mother runs back frantically with a hot dog from the cart vendor across the sidewalk.

"He's all right. He's fine," Jess assures the panicked mother. "Someone should have been watching him, though. You can't leave kids unattended at this age..." Or ever, she thinks to herself. "She looks up to the approaching stranger, assuming he is concerned for the child. "He's fine...he's fine now."

Martian Manhunter has posed:
J'onn stops a few metres away from the child, the uncaring mom and Jessica. He eyes the woman wielding the hotdog, frowns slightly and nods, agreeing with what Jessica said, and maybe even with what she thought!
he does a quick, subtle and very gentle scan of the child's mind, ensuring that he is not scared, that he's fine, and then moves his focus on the mother, reinforcing Jessica's words with the very subtle suggestion that maybe this would be the right, responsible thing to do, instead of eating hotdogs... He however smiles to Jessica, maybe as a form of personal thanking her for saving the child!

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica has had extensive...and deadly...history with telepaths. While the stranger doesn't particularly spike for danger with her, an indecipherable feeling crawls up the back of Jessica's neck and gives her a full-body shiver. "H-Hi," she stammers to the man. "Do...I know you from somewhere?"

Martian Manhunter has posed:
J'onn makes sure both child and mother receive the message, respectively you're safe, and you should make sure your kid stays safe. Then he turns to Jessica as she speaks, apparently at him. A gentle smile is aimed at the woman, then the reply comes accompanied by a brief shake of his head "no, I'm almost sure we've never met..." he admits

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"There's just something familiar about you, I can't...can't quite put my finger on it, I guess." Jess smiles...a little more at ease, but still on her guard. She extends a hand to him. "Jessica Drew. It's a pleasure to meet you. Thanks for coming over, I'm glad to know I had backup, if I needed it." She smiles. "Can't be too careful these days, especially with conflict in the air at every turn, right?"

Martian Manhunter has posed:
J'onn smiles at the woman, extending his right hand to shake hers. "J, John..." he introduces himself, releasing the woman's hand after a brief, both firm and gentle handshake. "Glad to be of help, even if you had it handled very well, I'll say..."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Oh...thank you," Jess replies, looking back at the woman, now feeding her child a bit of hot dog. "Sorry I seemed wary of you at first. I'm just...very guarded, lately." She looks him over and tilts her head. "Are you just people - watching in the park today? Or were you caught on your way to someplace?"

Martian Manhunter has posed:
J'onn smiles again at Jessica, nodding at her "don't worry, it is not that uncommon to be a bit wary of strangers. And well, being guarded helps in several occasions..." he admits,, answering the question with a "just relaxing, nothing special... I guess that could be a boring answer, even, but well..." he shrugs slightly, and now it's his turn to tilt his head "and is there a specific reason for you to be more guarded lately? I know, it's none of my business, so you can decline to answer if you want..."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica looks skyward, but sees nothing in the sky this time. "This whole Sentinel thing going on, mostly..." She opts not to divulge more information, as her mind runs over the newer models of sentinels they have found that seem utterly human in all respects. "They're a threat to us all, if you ask me. Not just to mutants, although they seem to be geared that direction...."

Martian Manhunter has posed:
J'onn nods a bit more seriously, right now. "and I am sure they will be dealt with, hopefully before they cause more troubles than they are alreadi doing, hm?" he says, studying Jessica even if with a very discrete gaze

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"They're being dealt with, but it is a process. It's a long road. They are...tricky. Very tricky. I couldn't begin to unravel all their technology if I tried. Hell...I held a weapon in my hand that could have helped tremendously, but I was attacked and lost it..." Her expression is pained at the very memory. "I can't tell you how frustrating that is..."

Martian Manhunter has posed:
"everything is a process, and such things are almost always long roads, yes..." J'onn admits, his eyes turning to the sky for a moment and something like a sad smile appearing on his lips now "well I know something about frustration, and having and then loosing the means to be of help... But well, the thing that matters is what you can do from now on, not what you could have done..."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica nods slowly, watching the man. Her expression begins to soften. "You're right as rain," she replies. "Spoken as only one familiar with loss can speak." She takes a step closer to the stranger with an earnest expression, her eyes sharp and serious. "Is there anything that I can do to help you?"

Martian Manhunter has posed:
J'onn considers Jessica's question for a second, then shakes his head with a light smile "nothing that comes to mind right now, Jessica... Is there anything I can help you instead?" he asks, because yes, it is perfectly average for what looks like an average citizen to offer help to a heroine, right?

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"What you've done today already has helped me." She is jaded, in so many ways. "Sometimes it feels like people don't care at all about their fellow man. But your presence alone seemed to calm the situation, when no one else cared to approach. It was like...You had some sort of...." She trails off, her blood running cold. But that would be preposterous, right? No....it's not likely, in the least. "...Like you had some sort of calming effect."

Martian Manhunter has posed:
J'onn smiles brightly at the woman "I am glad to be of help, Jessica, whenever I can." he turns slightly, glancing in the direction of the lake, where Jessica saved the child "heh, I have a quite calming effect on people sometimes... Call it personal talent, surely an useful one if I may say so..."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Certainly a talent that serves you...and others...well, " Jessica replies warily. "For what it's worth...I am glad you're here."

Martian Manhunter has posed:
J'onn nods and considers Jessica for a moment, offering then a smile "well for what it's worth, I am glad you are glad!" he replies, then glances up at the sky again, as if guessing the time from it, since he next says "and I fear I must say my farewells to you, for now." he offers another smile "I am sure, however, we will meet again soon! Till then be safe, Jessica Drew." he would then wait for an answer, before turning and calmly walking away. At least until he's out of sight of everyone, then it's time to turn invisible, and take to the skies!