11621/Networking

Networking
Date of Scene:	15 June 2022
Location:	Bushwick <Mutant Town>
Synopsis:	Coffee in the making.
Cast of Characters:	Cheyenne Brawley, Stella Roundtree

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Cheyenne Brawley has posed:
     Neon lights flash on black as the potholes of Mutant Town's roads fill with rainwater and reflect the hustle and bustle that carries on in spite of the storm, grey clouds looming overhead. Amidst the roil of mutantkind, a hitherto abandoned building has become a hive of activity. Scaffolding of lumber and tarps covers the front face, with a banner over the door that reads: "Mutant Works: Employment Solutions For The Talented." Inside, the lights are on, and much work is being done.
     Seated in a glassless windowsill is a young man, Cheyenne Brawley, wearing an all-black, three-piece suit and a tattered ballcap. A sterno fires away in a little steel cylinder, heating a small vessel of boiling brown broth that fills the air with the aroma of garlic, ginger and chilis. He dunks a few thinly sliced pieces of beef into the broth, lets them cook a moment, then pops them into his mouth. As juices run down his chin, he watches the rain fall with a dopey grin.

Stella Roundtree has posed:
     Stella still doesn't feel quite at home here, despite her genetic makeup. The robust blonde woman looks up at the Mutant Works banner with curiosity. A competitor, perhaps? Or a potential ally, what with her schemings. In her black raincoat, she almost disappears save for the light bouncing off its rain-slicked surface, and she strolls right up to the door to see if there's any more information, and perhaps to seem more.

     Her own sightlines track energy, and even though it's gloomy out, the signatures of movement and electricity still bloom bright for her, as she tracks power all the way to the lights in the building, up until she peeks into the doorway. At least under the scaffolding she's out of the rain.

Cheyenne Brawley has posed:
     "Howdy," Buster says in a heavy Texan accent. "Won't be open for a few months, I reckon, if you're lookin' for work." His tone is friendly, rather than dismissive. "Unless there's something else I can help you with." He stirs a handfull of enoki mushrooms into his makeshift hot pot, lets them steep, and chows down on those too.

Stella Roundtree has posed:
     "I might be," she says with a smile of her own. "Actually, there's a hero app comin' out," she says. Her own accent is solidly Midwestern, pleasant and easy-going. "A friend and I are startin' something up for supernaturals in general to be able to help out with tasks and actually get paid. This one looks pretty mutant focused though, huh?" she asks.

Cheyenne Brawley has posed:
     The man's eyes grow wider, as does his smile, as the woman speaks. "Hot damn, gal, how about that? Sounds like we're trying to do the same thing, just about." He indicates the empty building with a gesture, "It's not that I want to prefer mutants, you know, it's just," he indicates Mutant Town with a second gesture, "some folk really need the help." He frowns a bit. "But I don't know much about phones and apps - haven't used one in years. I reckon it helps, sometimes, to be able to come on down and talk to someone in person." He strokes the point of his beard for a second. "Let me see if I got this right: your app will be a gig-economy type of deal, like DoorDash for supernaturals?"

Stella Roundtree has posed:
     "Huh! Sounds like it!" she says, relaxing a little bit. Even for being here by herself, she seems rather unworried about traversing the streets solo. "And yeah, I didn't develop it, but I'm workin' with one of the founders. We had a few ideas for work spaces and gym spaces, too!" she says, apparently so confident in her idea that she doesn't mind sharing. "But powered people often just don't get paid, and it can be a lot of risk! Or sometimes, you just want someone to fly a piano up to your loft, whatever. Makes everyone's lives easier and you get paid," she says decisively.

Cheyenne Brawley has posed:
     "I can dig it," Buster says, mulling things over. "My thought was to line people up with permament employment somewhere, with a company that don't mind anybody bein' a little different. But, if you and your pards are interested, I'd be happy to help promote it. Maybe join our efforts together, you know what I mean, jelly bean? I don't suppose you're lookin' for investors?"

Stella Roundtree has posed:
     "Let's set up a coffee meetin'. I'd like to bring my partner in on this if that's all right," she says. "Get us all talking. There's plenty for everyone, right?" she asks, content as can be. She pulls out a card from her jacket, handing it over. It has her name - Stella Roundtree- and a security company printed on it, along with her phone number. "Gimme a call and we can set it up!"

Cheyenne Brawley has posed:
     "You got it," he scans the card quickly, "Stella. Name's Buster. If you need to reach me, just call The Centinel hotel, right down the street." He smiles, having finished his lunch in the meantime. "I better get work to work. It was nice meeting you."