14109/Hanging with the Hope

Hanging with the Hope
Date of Scene:	11 February 2023
Location:	Swimming Pool / Patio Deck
Synopsis:	Scott, Hope, and M talk by the pool.
Cast of Characters:	Monet St. Croix, Scott Summers, Hope Summers

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Monet St. Croix has posed:
It's cold outside and thus isolated. Which on this day fits Monet's mood. So she's sitting out over on the back patio, watching flakes of snow flal while sipping over on some hot chocolate. There's a hot plate that's keeping it warm and she has a rather large pot of it as well as some marshmellows. She's enjoying the quiet.

Scott Summers has posed:
Scott Summers has been doing some work out on the land, chopping some wood, fixing a few shingles and making sure they're secure in place. He's wearing a fleece-lined jacket and a stocking cap pulled down over his ears, his ruby quartz glasses snugly fit on his face.

He comes back to find Monet sipping hot chocolate outside, "Don't let me bother you, please, stay seated," he teases, taking a moment to lean against the railing of the patio. "Seriously, I'm fine. Don't need any help," he says.

Hope Summers has posed:
Hope probably has no idea who Creedence Clearwater Revival is, but the shirt was a nice olive color and only cost $3 at the thrift store. That pairs with battered, rugged jeans and combat boots, a worn scarf pulled up above her head to serve as a hood against the snow. She doesn't live here, but she's around just enough. A trail is left in the snow as she appears from around the side of the house, visible just below from where the others are. She's dragging a broken lawnmower she snagged from the groundskeeping shed, and she has a clanky bag of tools over one slender shoulder.

The redhead pauses beside the freezing, likely covered pool, and she crouches to tip the lawn mower onto its side just out of range of the falling snow. She sets her bag down and pulls some stuff out, beginning to remove the chassis with ease.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would glance over at Scott coming out, "Mister Summers." She would go to sit up and over, "What brings you here?" She would go to fold her hands together then. But still, making no move to sit up beyond acknowledging him. Thens eh would glance over at Hope.

"And what brings you to the Mansion?" The girl has a background that makes her have a headache. What is it wiht all of the time travelers that seem to populate over the Mansion and come and go? "Is something the matter?"

Scott Summers has posed:
Scott nods to Monet, "Me? I'm always here, haven't you noticed? I'm practically nailed down," he says. He's about to say more when he sees what Hope's up to and he finds his curiosity awakened, stepping back down off the patio and walking over to get a look for himself. "I think that one got jammed up last fall. Something caught in the belt. I meant to take it apart and get it repaired, but hadn't gotten around to it. Any particular reason you're rifling through my left-behind mechanical projects? Some purpose or project in mind?" he asks the young woman.

Hope Summers has posed:
"Something is always the matter," the scrappy little redhead responds with a grunt. She pulls the chassis off of the lawn mower and sets it aside, before she leans in to peer at the parts within. She seems to have an almost instinctual knowledge of machines, likely due to all the scrapping and jury-rigging she did in her bizarre home-timeline. She furrows her brow at something and then nods a bit. She takes a screwdriver and begins working at some screws. Her nostrils flare.

"What're you drinking?," she calls out from where she's kneeling in the snow on the edge of the patio. "Smells...weird." She glances over briefly.

She glances up as Scott approaches, and then back down to her work. "I'm building something, and this is cheaper then the highway robbery you people call a hardware store. Besides, you have others that work just fine."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would shrug over, "Perhaps. Better you than Logan." Wait, was someone actually appreciative over of Scott's presence? That might almost b e frekaish. M would glance over at Scott and gesture, "Would you care to join us? And I was enjoying the view." AH well, it was polite over and then gesture at Hope as well.

"Hot chocolate, if you would care to join? Get another mug or a glass. There hsould be some around. And I suppose that yes, something is always the matter, but one has to learn to piroritize and delegate. IF we spent all our time on the crisis of the moment, then we would have nothing else."

Scott Summers has posed:
Scott nods to Monet, "I would agree with that," He says, "Although Logan does have his uses.

"That's Monet's way of saying "There's more, but you have to get it yourself, peasant," he says to Hope, although his tone makes it clear he's just teasing the extremely posh young woman.

"I agree about the hardware store. You're paying for brand most of the time. But a good set of tools will literally last you a lifetime," he says. "Should I be concerned with what you're building? It's not going to blow up, is it?"

Hope Summers has posed:
"As a matter of fact, it -will- blow up. But don't worry. I'm gonna write 'this way towards enemy' on it." She stands after setting aside some of the removed lawn mower pieces, and she wipes the oil and grime on her jeans. She then makes her way on over to the setup beside Monet. The redhead watches her for a moment before her freckled cheeks pinken and she straightens her back, looking as stoic as she can as she prepares a mug of steaming goodness. She brings it up and sniffs it.

"Mmmn. Never had this before..." She hesitates, looking down into it.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would nod, "HE does. however, giving a good smell to the place is not among the lists of things that he is qualified ofr." Or teaching if one had to ask her. She goes to grumble and then sits up, and goes to hand over the mug to be taken. "Are you all right? And how long have you been in this.. Period if you haven't had such simple things?" Like hot chocolate and other thigns? At least a year or two M thought.

Scott Summers has posed:
Scott Summers winces a bit at the wiping the oil on her jeans. That's why he made sure he had all the equipment he needed before starting a job - that included the stuff needed to clean up the mess you made. Darned kids.

"Well, if you intend to try it out at all on the property, please do it very far away from the building. That includes the shed and the outbuildings. I'm not sure we have a huge call for IEDs but I suppose you use the skills you have," he says.

Hope Summers has posed:
"Been here long enough. Also spent time in some other alternate 'modern' timelines that weren't on fire. But...just..." She hesitates and then sips the cocoa. Her eyes close and she lets out a rare sound for the scrawny redhead. A little happy moan of indulgence. She catches herself and furrows her brow, then. "Mn. It's...it's good," she finally admits.

Hope glances down at Monet from where she's standing and shrugs a shoulder, finally. "I've had chances, I guess, to enjoy stuff here. But...I don't know. I always kinda feel like the rug is about to be yanked out from under me, so why tease myself? I mean...I know the world can get better. But...I usually don't get the chance to enjoy that 'better'. Besides, my dad raised me to always be ready..." Dad. Cable. Also, the girl is terrified about opening up to good things for herself. Man, she needs therapy. She'd likely punch the therapist, though,.

"Don't worry. I have a room at the Outsiders HQ to test this stuff. Your beautiful estate will be safe."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would sit up and glance over at Hope and give a soft nod. "I believe that you could stand to talk to someone that's.. Good helping at sorting through things." But who's exactly qualified when it comes to helping a post apocalyptic time traveler from another reality sort through thier psychological issues?

She doesn't have to read the other girl's mind to get a sense of that. "You could stand to relax some."

Scott Summers has posed:
Scott Summers shrugs, "Relaxing's overrated," he says.

"Jean's usually the best bet when it comes to counseling, but she's also got a lot on her plate."

He glances over at Hope after her mention of the rug being pulled out. "I think that's an orphan thing. I get that, too. Your whole world could always be upended, at any moment. Throw in a little time travel and multi-dimensional madness and I bet it becomes a lot to handle. But gravity still works here. And time might be something you can travel, but most of the time, it still moves forward. Put one foot in front of the other. Let the rest resolve itself."

Hope Summers has posed:
"Jean weirds me out," the young woman states simply enough. She takes a longer sip of the cocoa, cupping the mug with both hands. She hesitates and glances between the two, then, shifting her weight from one boot to the other. "I've been...thinking a lot," she admits. "About this world. How it looks like I might be staying here long-term. What that means for me, y'know? I've got a bed and a room. A purpose. Food. Water. Allies." Another, shorter sip of her cocoa before she glances down into the mug.

"Just need a girlfriend and I think I might...be able to settle in. but I feel bad for any girl who gives me a thought."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would glance over at HOpe, "I believe that you do yourself too little credit. But also you could stand to go out and interact somewhat more. IF you merely remain.. Wherever you are most of teh time and solely focus on your.. Mission.. Then you will not have any opportunity available when it comes to getting such a thing." She would nod at Scott.

"I believe that.. You woudl be ag ood person for her to talk to, MIster Summers."

Scott Summers has posed:
"Frankly, we'd be better off if a lot more people gave themselves a lot less credit than they do. A little self-deprecation can go a long way," he says. Not that he knows about that - Scott's got plenty of confidence to spare. But most people weren't quite as awesome as he was.

"Jean's had an unusual life. It's why she's so good at understanding other people."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would nod at Scott, "Yes. However.." She would gesture at HOpe, "As you said, she has many thingss. Talking with HOpe some, if she is ameniable.." She and Scott were both orphans, as Scott said. So it might help Hope process some things. However, that is M's opinion.

She sends telepathially to Scott <<On a separate note, Mister Summers, might I urge you to consider hiring a full time counselor for the Institute? I am aware that many things are split amongst staff, but having a full time therapist available solely devoted to such things could be beneficial.>>