17286/Let's Do Lunch

Let's Do Lunch
Date of Scene:	26 February 2024
Location:	West Bushwick (Mutant Town)
Synopsis:	Mystique tracks down Joshua and makes him an offer - well he could refuse, but she knew he wouldn't.
Cast of Characters:	Joshua Foley, Raven Darkholme

---

Joshua Foley has posed:
The Mutant Town Clinic does have a few licensed doctors and nurses, but most of the time it's a 'if you have the ability' we can use you type of place. Joshua Foley fits into the later of that. The golden-skinned mutant is working at the clinic today - paid totally under the table, of course - in order to help hone his skills and powers as well as help others where he can.

Dressed in a pair of scrubs, he is just finishing up with his current patient. A young woman in her late twenties, who has small antlers growing out of her wings as well as eagle wings on her back. It really only took a touch to realize what her problem was. And it was one of those things he can't fix.

"The nurse will set you up with an OB-GYN appointment," Joshua is offering with a small grin. "And... ah... congratulations?"

The woman smiles and nods. "Thanks!" she comments, her hand set on her stomach for a moment before she leaves to set her appointment, leaving Joshua to bursh his hands off and let out a breath. Busy day, and it's not quite at halfway yet.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
One of the primary sponsors of the the Mutant Town Clinic was the Brotherhood. Every month Mystique made certain that the clinic had the medicine and medical supplies it needed, as well as offering a financial donation to for salaries and 'under the table' pay checks. To her thinking, if the hospitals of New York, and even most doctor's offices had troubles with treating mutants, then at least once place needed to be for mutants to feel safe at.

Watching the golem pass by on his usual patrol, remembering the day that Lydia Dietrich empowered him to begin his work, she let out a quiet sigh and shoved all the emotions connected to that down into her boots where it belonged. That was the past, a painful past, and needed to stay there.

Holding the door open for a young man and his little sister to enter the clinic, she followed them inside to have a look around. It was busy as usual, with some coming for appointments and others being walk ins. Most recognized the blue mutant the minute she appeared, and today was no different. A few waves, a couple point and whispers, and she made her way to the receptionist.

Dressed in a white business suit, the silk shirt far too low to be in business category, she offered a practiced smile before asking, "Is Mr. Foley here today?"

Joshua Foley has posed:
The receptionist glances up, and smiles politely. But enough of a smile for Raven perhaps to realize that the pink hued mutant perhaps recognized her benefactor for who she is. "Ah yes. I think he just finished an appointment and was about to take lunch. If you don't mind waiting a few moments?" With that, she sends rises from her desk, revealing the thick elephant like hide that covers her arms. She heads to the back and then returns.

After a couple of minutes, Joshua comes out into the waiting area, noticing the blue mutant and approaches her. "I'm Joshua Foley. Can I help you? If you need an examination, I'm terribly sorry, but there was cases that were here first that may need more attention, but if you'll be patient, I'll get to you?" Clearly, he was just going to eat an Uncrustable and get back to work.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
When asked if she's willing to wait, Mystique offers a nod then leans against the counter. Her eyes scan the waiting room again, noting a small child standing there giggling and waving, so she offers a little wave back which seems to make the girl's day cause she squeals in delight.

As the door opens, she turns her attention to the arrival of the reception and the golden skinned young man. In a matter of moments, her eyes scanning up and down his body once, she has accessed him. It was one of the many skills she had honed in nearly a hundred and sixty four years of life.

Extending her hand toward the young man she introduces herself first, "A pleasure to meet you Mr. Foley, I am Mystique." If he takes her hand to shake, so be it. If not, she will merely return it to her side.

"I am actually in perfect health, but would truly like the opportunity to speak to you. I understand it is your lunch time, perhaps you will permit me to buy your lunch?"

A nurse passing behind the counter mutters to the receptionist, "How does he not know who she is?" Which causes the receptionist to do a quiet, 'Shhhh.' motion at her.

Joshua Foley has posed:
If Joshua knows who Mystique is when she introduces herself is visible for just a tick - a lift of his brows - he's heard enough about her through all of his various mutant channels to know who she is. He's probably just a little tired and just now sticking the pieces together.

Accepting the hand for a shake immediately lets Joshua know that she was not holding back on being in perfect health, but he doesn't go pressing any further on that. But then comes the whole thing on having lunch.

"Oh! Ah..." his cheeks flare a little. "...I was just about to..."

One the nurses points out, "A strawberry Uncrustable and some left over ziti is not a lunch! It's slow at the moment, go get a real meal." Joshua glances over his shoulder in a mock glare, weighing the options. If she's visiting him at the clinic, it's got to be for a clinic related reason.

A sigh later and a nod as he releases the hand.

"I guess I'm a little peckish after all." he allows, a brief smile to Mystique. "So I guess the answer's yes."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
"Wonderful!" Mystique replies with enthusiasm, whether it is real or mock enthusiasm there is no way to know. "There are several lovely local restaurants, a couple of carts and I believe we even have a lunch truck parked in the area this week."

She offers the nurse a nod of thanks before continuing, "What might solve that peckish problem? I personally have no preference, though I will admit the pie at Fred's is something everyone should have at least once in their lives."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Well, you're treating me, so you pick." Joshua offers, a flicker of a smile offered as he turns a little. "Let me grab my wallet and wash my hands and I'll meet you out front?" And if she agrees, he'll head back and it only takes a couple of minutes for him to get ready and come back.

"Alright, I'm ready." He's warmed up a little as he starts to walk with Mystique, letting her lead the way. "How's Queen Lorna and the little ones?" he asks. He's sure that she's had the children by now - he had offered to help, but it's probably for the best that they went with specialists that are way better at that than him.

At least for now.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique agrees to meeting Joshua out in front of the clinic, and when he heads to collect what he needs, she merely offers another wave to the giggling child as she passes through the lobby and out of the clinic. The short time she waits is spend listening to a report over her comm device, a Brotherhood patrol of the far side of Bushwick complete with no troubles... this time.

Once he appears again the smile returns to her face. "I was thinking we should go to Fred's, at least there we can sit and relax while we eat," she offers first, indicating the direction of the diner so they can begin walking.

"Her Majesty and the Royal Triplets are doing quite well, though they are sapping her will to live rather quickly." Was she joking? She had to be joking. It was only after a short pause that she chuckled a well practiced chuckle.

"Lorna is actually overjoyed to have many hands to help her, and to finally be done with carrying the three of them around in her womb. I only ever had one at a time, I cannot imagine three," she shudders slightly as they are walking. "One at a time was more than enough."

Fred's was a run of the mill diner, offering all the usual diner fair with a few specialties they were known for. Their burgers were considered one of their 'must haves', just like their pies. When they reach the door, it is she who opens the door for him to enter first.

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Fred's is good." Joshua comments, his hands folded behind his back as he looks thoughtful. "I'm glad to hear they are doing well and hope they remain healthy and prosperous." And in the back of his mind, he marks that off as a reason for Raven asking for him. So, it's not the Queen or the babies.

"I can't really relate, but I can imagine. A family is on the someday bucket list, but no immediate rush. World a better place first and all that."

As they arrive at the diner, he was just about to reach for the door when Raven beats him to it and he chuckles. "Thank you." And he slips into the greasy spoon. There's a table near the back, and that's where he heads to, a little wave to the waitress. "Hi Eleanor."

This isn't Josh's first visit here, after all, as he settles into place and waits for Raven to join him. "I'm having coffee and the lunch special." Keeping it simple and direct, because it's a matter of time before he has to return to work, so...

"So, what can I do for you, Mystique?" he asks politely.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
With Joshua having chosen her favorite table, Mystique follows along and claims her seat. In this location she has her back to the wall, and a full view of the entire diner. She knows the main entrance, the window, and of course the exits through the kitchen door and out back are all about the same distance.

"Single cheese burger, no fries, with a side salad and coffee," she offers to Eleanor, not needing a menu to know what she wants. She'd been here numerous times herself, and before she leaves a piece of the raspberry pie will be ordered to take home with her.

"I'm surprised to didn't ask that sooner," she finally says to him, settling in and crossing right leg over left before she folds her hands in her lap. "It has to have been playing on your mind since I asked to see you. However, to answer your question, it's not what you can do for me, its what I can do for you."

She falls silent as the coffee arrives, letting Eleanor settle them on the table and walk away before she continues. "I am aware that you have connections beyond the mutant community," she states as she adds a dash of cream to her coffee and stirs it. "I am also aware of whom you are dating and where you live, so your protection is well in hand by those beyond our community. You have made a name for yourself without really attempting to, and there are others among the community who are interested in what you can do for them but seem to only actually contact you when they need you."

She takes a small sip of her coffee then rests the cup back on the table. "The fact is, you have little to no presence in your own community save your work at the clinic. That is a noble cause to support, but it is only part of the solution to what we obvious mutants face."

Joshua Foley has posed:
Whem his coffee arrives, Joshua doesn't add anything to it. Just sips it black. It's probably the edgiest thing in his life. After Mystique's order, Joshua smirks just slightly. "I figured if it was some kind of pitch, I'd at least get a free lunch out of it?" he suggests lightly, another sip of coffee taken.

As she starts to lay down straight facts, he tries not to show any emotion on it. His ankles cross over each other, his hands settled easily on the coffee to warm his hands.

"The point of what I'm doing is to leave as little of a visible mark as possible, Mystique. The fact that you noticed means that I did something wrong." A sip from his coffee and he sets down the mug.

"I know what I'm capable of. What I may be capable of. I'm going to help as many as I can. But right now? People have a hard time seeing past the color of my skin. Even other mutants give me grief." A shrug of his shoulders, hands folded together.

"The end result is, really, meant to be - I want my effect on the universe to be a ripple, not a tidal wave." But she's here and now speaking to him, so Joshua has probably realizeed that his little ripple is at least a small wave on a beach on Genosha. "My two weeks in Genosha was just recenetly." he reminds. "And I will be back there in the start of April to help again."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique uses a dismissive gesture of her hand as she says, "I notice everything that happens in Bushwick, Mr. Foley, especially at Hope House and the clinic. What kind of spy would I be if I didn't know everything that went on in the places I consider my home?"

A coy smile plays across her lips as she leans forward slightly to whisper, "I'm very good at what I do. I've been doing it a very long time."

Sitting back up, she takes another sip of her coffee as she studies his face. "You would prefer to hide then? To do your work and try not to involve yourself in the bigger picture?"

Joshua Foley has posed:
"There's a fair point." Joshua allows, pausing as the food arrives and he starts in on the loose meat sandwich that is his meal. At least instead of fries, he got a side salad? "My apologies for making it sound like I was castimng doubt upon your abilities, I did not mean that." A little sigh and then he closes his eyes.

"I'm not sure what I want on that front, Mystique." he admits. "If you know that much about my life, then you know how under the table we are. I've been through a lot and I made the mistake of letting some of it out recently. That will not happen again." Reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose, he considers.

"You came all this way... and I mean, you bought me lunch. So." He looks up to Mystique. "I should be at least kind enough to hear what you have in mind."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
With the meal on the table, Mystique adds a hint of ketchup to her burger and nothing else. The salad she leaves without the dressing, moving the romaine lettuce around to check that the size of the pieces aren't massive. Nothing worse than a huge piece of lettuce on the fork and trying to shove it all into your mouth.

"There are parts of your past I am still researching," she admits, putting the top bun back on her burger then cutting in half. "But it wasn't about prying, it was more about understanding why someone with such an amazing mutation felt the need to try and conceal yourself. I understand in part at least, it is not unlike my own past."

She takes a bite of her burger first, allowing herself the time to chew and swallow it before taking another sip of her coffee. "This world is full of mutants who can conceal themselves, blend in, pretend to be human. We mutants who stand out, our lives are hell, there is no other word for it. If we all stayed in Genosha, the rest of the world would be perfectly content to just leave us there. There are certain groups that would love nothing more than to destroy Genosha of course, but the majority of humans would just go on with their lives if we all just moved to the island."

She stirs the salad with her fork again, keeping any hint of real emotion out of her eyes and off her face. The 'business mask' was in place, and there was no letting it slip. "The Brotherhood, the new one, not the old one," she states to make that part clear. "Is full of mutants who can't conceal themselves, and we are fighting for the right to live where ever we want to live, how we want to live, without humans hounding us. Obviously, this is throwing our existence in their faces, but if we don't, they will continue to push us down. My offer to you is simple, a membership in the Brotherhood. The protection and connections that offers, and the knowledge that any one who tries to hurt you or those you love, will have to deal with all of us."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Why?" Joshua asks, and he stops eating completely. "You know how religion is, I'm sure, as long as you have been alive. Can you imagine how a vast majority of people would react if there was a golden idol who can lay hands on a patient and cure them of almost anything?" His eyes meet Mystique. "They'd keep trying to find ways to kill me until they get tired of trying to find ways to kill me."

A sigh comes from him, "I'm a walking talking affront to some people's thoughts of their faith. So, yeah. Advertising that is not high on my list of things to do." He listens, however to her pitch.

He remembers the stories of the Brotherhood. Things that he's learned in his time, of both the old and the new one that Mystique is trying to build.

Finally, he settles on a thought. "I said I'd help any mutant that needs it." he coments quietly. "But I will not kill others. If anything, I'd like to not harm either." he admits with a frown. "I'm a healer, not a warrior. If you can accept that, then I'm good with helping."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
When Joshua mentioned religion he can see something flicker through Mystique's eyes. There's no way to tell what it is however, anger, frustration, irritation, it's not clear there is merely /something/ that shows in that brief moment.

"Yes, I know all about religion," she says calmly, leaving her food on the plate. "Religion is the reason my son grew into a man without knowing who is mother was."

On that particular topic she offers no other words, no more comments, she lets that pain stay locked inside and concealed away. "The Brotherhood is not merely about being soldiers, nor do we actively seek to kill people unless it is in self defense. The world changed, and so we had to change with it." She plays with the salad again, then finally takes a bite. It is the moment she needs to finish ensuring that everything emotion is shoved down.

"Some would consider me a walking afront to their belief in God, as they do not believe mutants to be the chosen of God. Let's face it Mr. Foley, humans will continue to find reasons to hate us, but I do understand how you could be seen to them. Especially with what you can do."

Reaching into the pocket of her jacket, she removes a small cell phone that looks like any other cell phone, complete with its own case and a screen protector. Laying it on the table she slides it toward him. "There are four numbers programmed into that phone. Mine, the two teleporters on the asteroid, and Dr. Emily Hathaway, the head of the medical center on the asteroid. This phone is untraceable by any means on this planet, though I will tell you that my security team can use it to find you should you activate the emergency call."

Next she removes a small box from the other pocket and slides it over by the phone, "And this is your wireless communication device, linked to the phone for hand free screaming for help, or asking for a lift to the airport via a teleporter."

For some reason the airport comment makes her grin almost playful before she adds, "Ritz and Blink take turns on who answers calls for teleports, but should you need to travel a long distance quickly, they are available... you are also welcome to visit the Asteroid any time you'd like."

Joshua Foley has posed:
Accepting the items as they are offered to him, Joshua slips them into his pocket for now. He can set it all up later. For now, he draws his attention back to Mystique and offers a bow of his head. "Yeah. Which is why I don't go advertising it." he admits with a sigh.

"But thank you. I will be happy to help where I can." he promises. "But for now, I should finish this and get back to work."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
"Just remember, if you need anything that you can't get from your other sources, call me," Mystique then offers, before gesturing toward his plate.

"Enjoy, I should get to finishing this myself. I have a meeting with the security on the Asteroid in an hour."