1414/Mind over Matter

Mind over Matter
Date of Scene:	27 April 2020
Location:	Bushwick <Mutant Town>
Synopsis:	First #CityHope to combat all the gloom and sads out there, Phoebe Beacon, Sam Guthrie, and Nicole Adams run into a quartet of bigots in Mutant Town who want to bully a bunch of kids eating ice cream. We'd say 'oh the humanity'...
Cast of Characters:	Phoebe Beacon, Nicole Adams, Samuel Guthrie

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Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    There was a blog, out of the grim city of Gotham, that promoted #GothamHope -- reporting on green stories about environmental changes to the positive, posting pictures of flowers and gardens, recognizing social justice heroes and the willingness of some to put others above themselves -- a rarity in the dark city, but hey, someone's got to be the hopeful one.

    Which is why Phoebe Beacon was in Mutant Town with an outreach group, handing out summer clothing, children's books, snacks and even raffling off a bicycle at the end of the day to some lucky kid.

    Phoebe was wearing her hair in a 'pom-pom' today, two puffs carefully tended to either side of the top of her head and to the back like super fuzzy panda ears. Her dark eyes were merry, and the lemonade was free-flowing from a machine set up with a church's hose spigot.

Nicole Adams has posed:
     Not everyone had been so fortunate as Nicole to break free of toxic family situations. And if one has lived in the NYC area for any length of time, news of places such as Mutant Town is sure to trickle down to one's ears. Now, she was no social justice warrior, but any chance to give back couldn't hurt; plus, it would be a relief to not stand out /too/ much, if things went wrong.

     The day finds Nicole dressed in simple khaki slacks, a tasteful white scoop neck tank top, and taupe wedge sandals. A dove-grey sweatshirt is tied about her waist in case the weather turns chilly, and her hair is pulled back in a simple, basic ponytail.

     She spots a group of kids crowding around the lemonade spigot and getting a little bit rowdy. Dare she to intervene? Taking a bit of a breath, she flicks her fingers towards the spigot, the flywheel handle turning just enough to let out a very messy spray of lemonade right in the kid's faces. Needless to say, they back away and make some room, each trying to figure out who the culprit was. Nicole smiled to herself, and kept to one side, simply observing.

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie is walking out of the police station. He is looking over some paperwork. He looks back over his shoulder "Thank you sir." He says to those inside. He will fold the paper and slides it into his back pocket. He hmms a bit and looks around seeming to be pondering where he will head next.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "HEY STRETCH! Come get a hotdog!" someone calls out to Sam, giving a wave to the taller man. A bunch of kids were handing out steamed dogs, and half-melted ice creams.

    And buzzing about, Phoebe was rockin' a T-shirt that has #HopeAroundTheCities and #FromGothamWithHope.

Nicole Adams has posed:
     Nicole cracks a smile, seeing the buzz about the hot dogs and ice cream. What the heck. It was doing the kids' spirits a lot of good, and really, anybody within Phoebe's sphere of influence seemed to catch the spirit of hope as if it were a cold--but a welcome one. Lifting her chin a notch, she calls out, "Looks like you've got your hands full. Need an extra pair?"

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie comes walking over, and says "You guys from Gotham?" He will nod towards the sign "Been planning on heading out there sometime soon but aint had a chance yet." he will get a hotdog and offers to pay for it and someone elses as well.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    The young blck girl gives a bright grin to Nicole, and gives a wave "Sure! Had some pocket money, decided to make some inroads here 'cause man the Narrows might need a hand, but nothing wrong with handing out some ice cream and getting a smile, right?" she states, and just hands out an ice cream to Nicole as well.

    "Yes, sir, I'm from Gotham. I've got a couple of friends in Manhattan and was thinking I could spread some happiness over here, as well!" she smiles.

    Sam and Nicole may note that the area right around Phoebe just... feels better. Feels happy, almost lighter.

Nicole Adams has posed:
     Nicole's smile turns into a lopsided grin as she accepts the ice cream sandwich. "Thanks!" It's a bit messy as she unwraps it, with rivulets of sweet, white half-melted ice cream running down towards her hand....

     ...or so it would seem. Inexplicably, the drips halt about halfway down the way towards her hand, and begin flowing upwards, back onto the ice cream sandwich itself. Nope. Nothing to see here.

     Nicole chomps right down into the cold, creamy treat, looking for a moment as if she was in heaven. "Nope," she replies, gulping down the bit of ice cream. "Brooklyn girl here." Her expression shifts within seconds, from mirth to agony.

     Thus is learned the folly of eating ice cream too quickly.

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie notices the big of a buzz, and the reverse melt, but does not bring them up. One this is mutant town and two gotta be polite." He nods a bit and says "Ah got a buddy who is dating a girl out of Gotham, supposed to go out there some time, and thought about seeing if there were any good book stores there while I was there.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Nothing to see there indeed. Phoebe gives a slight smile, and she gives a bit of a grin. "Gotham's got a lot of good book stores, depends on what kind of book you're looking for. There was a Bizzare Bazaar a couple weeks back along the ports and picked up a couple old books." she smiles brightly, and reaches a hand.

    "Phoebe Beacon, of Hash-Tag Gotham Hope Blog." she introduces hersef plainly to Nicole and Sam.

Nicole Adams has posed:
     Nicole manages something of a cross between a smile and a grimace, her eyes squinted half-shut. She reaches out to give Phoebe's hand a firm shake, her slender fingers well-suited perhaps to instruments of varying sorts. "Nicole Adams. Don't have anything like a blog, I'm just a barkeep over at the Good Room in Brooklyn. Nice to meet you." Turning her head towards the sound of Sam's voice, she gives her head a quick shake to try and clear the last of the brain-freeze miasma. "And you are...?"

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie will offer each a shake and says "Sam Guthrie." He tells them, and says "I just was here in town talking to the local police about a possible career choice." He admits to the ladies "And am mostly a sci fi and fantasy fan, but do like to read them as actual books."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Nice to meet you Nicole, Sam! Now I've got more friends in the city." the bright, cheery girl replies, and then she pauses. Some of the kids are scattering as a quintet of lads begin to make their way over.

    "Well, what's going on here? Some other mutie freaks having a good time?" the leader states, crossing his arms. "I don't think I gave anyone permission to have a party on my block.

Nicole Adams has posed:
     God, how Nicole hated bullies. From her own kith and kin, to street-level trash, she despised them all equally. It made her see red--especially when there were /children/ involved. Stepping up to put herself in between the rather burly-looking lad, she crosses her arms, shifting her weight ever so slightly.

     "First off, sir, this is a public space. The children and folks here are as welcome as you are to enjoy it. Nobody owns it but the city."

     Around Nicole, bits of debris on the ground began shifting and rattling as her rage simmered within, anything from bits of paper to broken glass, metal scraps, and anything within a few feet of her that wasn't nailed down.

     "Second, I daresay the 'freaks' of this world are those that cast out their own for being a little 'different'. So, we could put all that aside and just enjoy the day, or we could give the authorities a call and let them settle matters. But if they have to, I doubt it will be pleasant for anyone. So why don't we just all shake hands, and let this go, hmm?"

     The rattling increased as Nicole's eyes narrowed dangerously, snapping with inner fire.

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie moves to put a hand on Nicole's shoulder and says "We can all stay calm here, and there does not need to be any trouble. I am sure these gentlemen are mistaken and are glad to see people working together here. As when people try to tell others what to do, it gets all violet, and people get hurt. Fights around here are even worse, as you don't know what kind of check your writing and if your ass can cash it or your going to be bounced on your ear." He looks over into the goons face, and though he is smiling trying to make nice, his eyes do not carry the smile, they are looking at the man cold and ready it seems.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    The quintent of lads look to one another, and give a laugh.

    "WE own this block, redneck. Why don't you hop back on the horse you rode in on and make off. Meanwhile, these two ladies? Why you workin' with these freaks, when you could be hanging out with gentlemen like us." he gives a grin. One makes kissy faces at the teenage Phoebe, who wrinkles her nose, and gives a wave.

    "No thank you, rather be hanging out with my friends than some folks with not a bit of class."

    She looks at the nutty buddy in her hand, and then she tosses it once, and then launches it at the ringleader, getting his shirt sticky with half-melted icecream, chocolate and smooshed wafflecone!

    "Oops! Sorry, slipped." she states, though her tone's changed slightly as she squares up. Looks like she's not willing to be pushed around.

Nicole Adams has posed:
     For a moment, it seemed as if Sam's intervention might be enough to calm Nicole down. Some of the rattling debris begins to settle down, with the scraping of paper, the clinking of glass on asphalt, and the metallic pinging of loose bits and pieces dying away. She closes her eyes briefly and takes a few deep breaths, opening them again. Surely these pigs couldn't be so stupid as to pick a fight, could they?

     Stupidity, as it turned out, knew no bounds.

     Shrugging Sam's hand away, Nicole growled softly as she stepped between the quintet and Phoebe once again. Anti-mutant bigotry was bad enough, but to have these hooligans hitting on an innocent who was simply trying to spread a little joy? It was more than Nicole was willing to take. The rattling started afresh, with the bits and pieces first gathering around her feet, then whirling around, and around, rising slowly off the ground in a deadly ring encircling her.

     "You have two chances. None. I'd suggest you leave. NOW." Her voice is low and deadly, the ring of material glittering dangerously around her. It's not as tightly focused as it could be, however, suggesting perhaps a lack of training. But all the same, it could present a problem....

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie sighs a bit, and did not want to have to get into a fight. He was out to have fun, but he does step in beside Nicole. Sam's eyes scan the men looking for who might have weapons, expecting some of them will. He turns his body slightly to the side in a bit of a fighters position. He ponders joking citizen's arrest but figured he may sound a bit to much like Gomer Pyle if he does.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    The ringleader is now covered with ice cream. Some of the younger kids laugh from their hiding places, and he gets red.

    "I'll teach you, you freak lover!" he snarls, and he throws the first actual punch at Phoebe.

    They break off, stupidity not knowing any bounds in the least before two of them break off to take on Nicole's growling -- before backing up a moment, not sure about the pits and pieces gathering around her as they attempt to decide who they're more afraid of -- her, or the ring leader!

    The other two break off to eal with Sam. One slides a two foot piece of lead pipe from his side and swings it for Sam's face as the other goes in low and to Sam's back to try for a kidney punch!

Nicole Adams has posed:
     Up till that moment, Nicole's stance had been more defensive than anything else. Nothing had gone flying, and she had not advanced upon the hooligans that were hassling Phoebe.

     But now they had gone too far.

     The ring around Nicole widens, encompassing both her and Sam in a glittery, dangerous shield of broken glass and metallic debris. Debris that, as the orbit increases in scope, now begins to chew up the outer clothing of their attackers into shreds--and possibly flesh beneath--IF they persist in their aggression.

     "I said BACK OFF!"

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie sighs and as he sees the pipes pulled and the field speeding up, he will dodge both of the pipes by dropping down to his face, and planting a mule kick towards the guy who was trying for his kidneys. He is not only trying to take the fight out of him, but also knock him out of the debris field, to keep even the punk from getting to hurt.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    The ringleader and Phoebe are squaring off a bit ahead, with the Ring Leader throwing punches, and Phoebe re-directing them easily.

    "And here--" redirect! "I thought --" direct up "Gotham was the city--" she quips as she ducks below the blow, "With the CLOWN problem!"

    And the ring Leader lunges forward at her, peturbed by the the statement that he was a clown (not to mention the ice cream on his shirt!), and she simply turns, grasping hi shoulder and using his momentumn to toss him *over* a fence and into someone's (tiny) front yard.

    The duo that Sam was dealing with aren't faring well -- the one with the pipe missesentirely, turning around from his own momentumn, and the guy who got kicked goes flying backwards, skidding along the street.

    The two that were dealing with Nicole, however, are questioning their life choices as the glass and shard field begins to circle around and cut at their clothes, more than one shard of glass picking up a tint of bright red from their stomachs or chests as they do back off.

    But the weird thing is.. the closer they get to where Phoebe and their ring leader were tusselin', their scratches begin to heal.

Nicole Adams has posed:
     As the two attackers closest to Nicole back off, she only moves to keep herself in between them and Phoebe, and discourage their further advances upon her. "Wise decision," she intones, her voice gone as cold as the grave. "I suggest you follow through with it and leave. These people here only wanted to enjoy the day in peace, /not/ deal with your hatred and bigotry." So as they do not draw nearer to her, she will not approach them. Live and let live--until provoked.

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie kicks back up to his feet and since the guy in front of him has swung himself around Sam plants a kick on hsi rear to knock him away and hopefully get his two guys realizing they do not want to deal with the hayseed.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    And the five decide that it's really, *really* not worth their time to deal with this trio at the moment, even as two of them have begun weirdly healing -- and they help their cohort and cowed leader out of the tiny front yard, and make the opportunity to get outta dodge!

    "We'll get you next time! FREAKS!" one calls back before they disappear down an alleyway.

    And Phoebe scowls -- then teeters -- then takes a step back.

    "Oof... that's a lot of adreniline."

Nicole Adams has posed:
     With the attackers making a strategic advance to the rear, the adrenaline begins to drain out of Nicole as well. The whirling debris ring around her slows, then drops to the ground, leaving quite a mess behind to be swept up; hopefully, folks in the immediate vicinity were wearing shoes that would offer enough protection! The woman's shoulders slump, her head droops, and she begins to rub her temples firmly. It looked for a moment as if she might not be able to keep her feet. It takes all she can do to huff out, "Everyone okay?"

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie brushes his hands and the knees of his pants off. "I believe so, he looks over to Nicole, and asks "Wind or telekinesis?" About her powers, and adds "You would think they would learn a bit and in front of the station." He sighs

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "I just assumed..." Phoebe stands up a bit straighter, and she gives a huff, rubbing the back of her head. "That they just don't *care*. Happens all the time in Gotham." she explains, and she gives a shrug.

    Meanwhile, kids are coming out of the woodwork. "THAT WAS SO COOL! Are you a *Superhero*? Do you have fancy clothes for when you do your heroing?" the kids ask, looking between Sam and Nicole!

Nicole Adams has posed:
     Nicole finds the nearest porch to sit down on and catch her breath, keeping her head down, and looking a bit pale. "Telekinesis," she muttered. "Same as my uncle Wylie." She glances up briefly at Phoebe, and shakes her head. "Bigotry happens everywhere, to everyone. It tears families apart. I cut ties with mine because I wanted no part of that."

     But then, the children start swarming, and it's impossible to keep a grim tone or even keep from smiling with all those little faces looking up. "Naah," she answers a freckled, red-headed little boy nearest her. "I'm not even a hero. Just a normal woman who's maybe a tiny bit different. But it's okay to be different."

     A soft sigh escapes her, the smile hidden as she ducks her head again. Would that the world could believe that it's okay to be different. Was there even hope of such a thing?

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie looks over and says "Luckily there are some families who realize love is the important thing, and some who try to help others. One day people will be able to get along more there will always be people who are hating on others for some reason or another." He smiles and says to the little ones "Just trying to make sure the bad people don't hurt the good and innocent people." He does not say if he is a hero.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "I'm different! When I sneeze my ears turn bright pink, but my mom has webbed fingers!" one kid states, wiggling his ears.

    "My brothers both have little powers but sometimes I think things and they happen! I wanna be a superhero!" One girl with pink hair ties states.

    "I can't do anything like that, but I crush soda cans EXTRA flat so they fit better in our r'cyclin'!" another kid states, all happy to have attention from adults, and a positive interaction.

    However, Phoebe appears to have disappeared, leaving the lemonade stand and box of #CityHope shirts marked FREE SHIRT! on the table loaned from St. Margaret's.

Nicole Adams has posed:
     Nicole looks up as the gaggle of littles all chime in with their stories, taking the time to listen to each one and offer a smile. "Wow. Wish I could do some of that stuff!" Each of the kids' hair is ruffled gently in turn, their mirth and innocence an anodyne to the events of the day. "Love your families, okay? And be good to each other."

     This really wasn't such a bad area, she thought to herself. Perhaps she'd have to find reason to visit a bit more often. Plus, who could argue with a little souvenir? One t-shirt floats from the box to her hand, and she tugs it on over her head, grinning at the little ones, and Sam.

     Honestly, who could stay in a bad mood, looking at all those little faces?

     "I hope you're lucky enough to know from personal experience about families and love. My uncle Wylie came out as a mutant and he was cut off." She looks around, watching the adorable mayhem as a box marked FREE SHIRT plus lemonade equals a messy but good time, with good natured tussling and arguing over who gets what size shirt ensuing. "Do you think there'll ever be hope for a world where these kids don't have to worry about something like that happening to them? Or having to make the choice I did?"

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie looks over and says "Part of what Ah strive for, a world where human, mutant, meta, alien all of us can live together and work together. Ah believe it will happen, but we have to be willing to work for it and strive for it. Many people fight or hate things that are different, but we have to show people we all can get along, and work with one another. When my grandparents were young people of different races could not drink from the same fountain, look now. It may take time but it will happen.

Nicole Adams has posed:
     Nicole nods once, taking in everything Sam is saying. "I don't know where to even begin with something like that. How do you even start working for it?" She slips her phone from her pocket, and smiles a bit. "I should get back home, but let's keep in touch?"

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie seems a bit hesitant, but nods and says "Sure, need someone to talk about ways might be able to help the people give me a call, my girl friend and Ah are working on ways of helping the area some.