1753/Mutants And Science!

Mutants And Science!
Date of Scene:	20 May 2020
Location:	Fred's Diner
Synopsis:	Maxwell's email to Beast results in a visit from Hank and Kitty to hear about Max's hope for continuing his education.
Cast of Characters:	Maxwell Wave, Kitty Pryde, Henry McCoy

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Maxwell Wave has posed:
Maxwell is a young man in his early twenties whose most defining feature in public is likely the goggles he refuses to remove. Messy but clean brown hair intertwines with the goggle straps giving him a slightly disheveled look. He fidgets at a booth wearing a set of overalls which are just slightly dusty, a toolbelt is wrapped around his waist, and a long sleeve shirt has recently been rolled up to reveal his forearms. A quick wipe down of his face in the bathroom leaves him somewhat fresh looking.

His fingertip taps the hardhat he has set on the table. Tick Tick Tick. The waitress comes by with a cup of coffee for him. She raises an eyebrow and offers in a smokey voice, "You sure you need that, Pumpkin. You look kinda wired already."

Max offers a nervous grin upwards toward the woman, "Ah, just the jitters ma'am. I'm meeting someone here."

"Oh, did you find yourself a girl, young man?" She inquires with a tug of mirth on her lips.

"Ah, no ma'am. A scholar. Maybe a role-model." He chuckles and picks up his cup of coffee to take a sip. He winces as he scalds his tongue a little bit.

The waitress laughs and goes to get him a glass of water before attending to the other occupied booth. It's semi-busy on a Tuesday night. Oingo Boingo is currently playing on the Jukebox, "Weird Science.. Weird, oooooo."

Kitty Pryde has posed:
As if the Fates were set on making Maxwell look wrong, a girl in her late teens walks into the diner. She's wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt with a picture of Einstein on it. Kitty's brown hair is pulled back into a ponytail, but with a bunch of strands left free to bob about on either side of her face as she moves into the diner, glancing over the people eating there.

It doesn't take her long for Maxwell's attire to single him out as a place to start. She walks over to his booth. "Hey, are you Maxwell? I'm a friend of Hank's," she says by way of introduction. She glances back over her shoulder towards the door, and then around the diner. "He should be along anytime now," she says, assuming he doesn't reply in a way that indicates he isn't Maxwell.

Kitty motions towards the booth on the other side. "Mind if I have a seat?" she asks. She glances over towards the jukebox, giving a faint grin at the music playing.

Henry McCoy has posed:
Rules are rules. And while Henry may chafe under them, he's still not interested in getting a talking to for breaking them. So, it's just a moment after Kitty arrives, that Hank steps into the diner. There's no doubting who he is, blue fur and features all too apparent. The big man pauses in the door, smiling and inhaling. Food, food! Spotting where Kitty had made off to, he moves to join her, offering a wave to the gentleman she's chatting with.

"Good evening. Booth?" He motions to the same booth that Kitty had initially - having heard her suggestion as he stepped in. His expression is one of friendliness, not necessarily in line with his beastial appearance. "I'm famished."

Maxwell Wave has posed:
Maxwell seems startled when the girl addresses him. He nods his head eagerly, his nervous really obvious. He gives a brave attempt at a smile and then rises, gesturing with a hand. "Yes, and please.. be my guest."

His widening eyes are not noticeable because of the goggles, but his eyebrows raise. He waits for Hank to draw closer than offers him his hand in greeting. He doesn't seem the least bit disturbed by his bestial appearance, but that's a denizen of Mutant Town for you, he had seen plenty. "Good Evening, Dr. McCoy. Thank you so much for meeting me. It really is an honour, sir."

At the statement around being famished, he returns to his seat and turns the menu around for Hank's perusal.

Kitty Pryde has posed:
The diner itself is in Bushwick, so Hank's appearance won't be quite as remarkable as it might be other places. Kitty doesn't have anything visibly marking her as other than a human, except perhaps for the aforementioned friendship with Henry McCoy, should one make assumptions.

Kitty lets the menfolk get introduced before offering to Maxwell, "I'm Kitty. Nice to meet you Maxwell. Or do you prefer Max?" she asks him, the young woman showing a friendly enough demeanor.

She pulls out a menu from where they are sheltering upright between the salt and pepper shakers, passing one over to Hank. "I'll join you on the famished part," she tells him, though Kitty glances around the diner carefully first rather than paying attention to the menu yet. She already noted the exits, not that they are as important to her as to most people, but now takes a bit of time to check out the people there. The video by Reverend Stryker calls for extra precautions. She finally turns back to the menu then, letting Maxwell and Hank begin the conversation.

Henry McCoy has posed:
The hand is firmly shaken, Hank is not one to miss out on manners. "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Wave. My apologies for not giving you a more adequete response via email, but I thought meeting face to face would be better option. Less impersonal." The big man grins. He settles carefully into the booth, heavier mass and all that. The menu is taken from Kitty with a grin. "Thank you."
As everyone settles in, the doctor glances around. "Nice place. Looking forward to some good diner comfort food." Another chuckle, and then his eyes go to Maxwell again. "Do you tend to visit here often? Any suggestions on to the delicacies provided?" While Kitty is scoping out the place, Hank seems at ease. Or at the very least, confident in his abilities to hear trouble coming.

Maxwell Wave has posed:
"Likewise, Kitty. And yes, Max is fine. I usually only hear Maxwell when I'm being scolded." He reaches over and grabs a couple of packets of sugar, turning them before tipping them into his coffee. A couple of small containers of cream soon follow into the hot brew. Unwrapping his napkin, he fetches a spoon before giving it all a stir and then resumes sipping from the mug. He takes notice of Kitty's scan of the room then wonders if she is some kind of bodyguard.

He gazes curiously over to Hank and wonders if he would -need- a bodyguard. He turns his own menu back around now that Hank has his own. "No apologies needed, sir. This is honestly more than I hoped for. It's very generous of you to meet me like this."

He doesn't have the accent of a New Yorker, somewhere further west, Illinois maybe Indiana. "Oh, well.. I guess that depends if you want breakfast for dinner. I'm a fan of the fried chicken eggs benedict myself, especially after a long day. If not breakfast, then I recommend the broccoli and beef tips. Otherwise, it's very hard to go wrong with the burger. The fries are awesome."

He pauses a moment and then nods, "I tend to eat breakfast here most days, sometimes dinner."

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty glances up from the menu to give Maxwell a smile. "My main meal is 'cereal' of some variety, so I'm definitely on board with the breakfast notion," she tells him. Kitty goes back to checking out the menu, until the waitress comes over to check on them.

"I'll take the fried chicken eggs benedict. Had it recommended," the girl tells the waitress. "And a Dr Pepper please." She puts the menu back from where she found it before turning back to those at the booth. "And hope you don't mind me tagging along," Kitty says. "Things have gotten a bit more tense around here, figured an extra person along might not be a bad idea," she tells him.

She gives a little wave of her hand towards Hank. "Though I'm not nearly the scientist that Hank is," she says. "So don't worry if you say things that go over my head," she says with a small grin. Probably not too likely, that, but she's being welcoming.

Henry McCoy has posed:
The Beast sets his menu down as well, smiling politely to the waitress. "I'll have a double order of the fried chicken eggs benedict. And an unsweetened iced tea, please." A nod to the helpful server, before turning his gaze to Maxwell. "Henry will work, if we're not standing on formalities." Henry chuckles, nodding to the man. There's a pause. "Midwestern origins, right?" Sharp ears - and a knack for hearing his own kind. "I'm from Illinois, myself." Again, a friendly grin.

"As Kitty mentioned, with the zealotry of Reverend Stryker... it is best for our sort to go with a buddy system." A sigh of irritation, and resignation. "I cannot fathom how some people are so easily spurred to hate." A shake of his head.

"Regardless of all of that, you had questions, yes? Of your next steps to take, with your studies? I am familiar with both the sciences you have discussed, but do not have Doctorates in them." He says, honestly.

Maxwell Wave has posed:
Max slides his hardhat a look further away and then considers something for a moment. He reaches up and peels his goggles up and over his head. His eyes initially closed, they open to reveal to be glowing orbs. Iris, Pupil, Sclera, none are visible, just swirls of cyan though they begin to transition to a darker blue. It's enough light to cast a hue over his face and while distracting, the light is not particularly harsh at the moment.

After Kitty orders, he just grins at the waitress, who murmurs, "Right the usual." Max is a little bit predictable. He gazes across the table and nods in understanding. "That makes sense with the religious bigot spreading his message of hate, and well.. the recent attack. Still cleaning up after that one." He raises an eyebrow at Kitty. "Einstein isn't a usual fashion choice, so I don't think I'll count you out of any scientific conversations."

He answers Henry, "Hammond, Indiana.. but might as well be Illinois... Might as well be Chicago." He offers a friendly grin, his nervousness ticking away at the switch to informalities. "Yes, I'm looking for connections in scientific fields of study which are.. accomodating. My prospects are a little limited right now. I was..." He swallows, "I was effectively cut off from Stanford after a really unfortunate misunderstanding post-graduation. I'm residing in the area as I am under the jurisdiction of the Mutant Relocation Statute. I have some hurdles, Henry, and I'm looking for help climbing them."

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty gives a little wave of her hand as first Henry, and then Maxwell mention their Midwestern roots. "Makes a set of us," she says. "Illinois as well," which Henry would know already. The waitress returns with their beverages after a few moments, Kitty thanking her and taking a sip of her soda.

She doesn't show a particularly reaction to Maxwell's eyes other than mild curiosity. Looking at them when first revealed, but then not seeming to pay them any particular mind as if they are out of the ordinary, after. She glances down at her t-shirt and then gives Maxwell a faint grin. "Ok, busted," she says with a soft laugh.

She falls silent as he starts talking about what his situation is. The mention of the law allowing mutant inmates to be relocated upon release causes Kitty's mouth to press into a line in an expression of distaste. Not seeming directed at Maxwell.

Henry McCoy has posed:
No fear or concern from Hank, either. He cants his head, regarding the effect on his eyes for a moment. "Interesting. I am sure there are more nuances to your gift, than simple cosmetics." A grin, nodding to the man. "But I can certainly understand how being among the quote-wrong crowd-unquote can be detrimental to continuing." A scrach of his chin, thinking.

"There are always alternate opportunities for continuing one's education - at more applicable and accepting places of higher learning." A glance to Kitty, the man chuckling. "I know of at least one such place, but there is a vetting process."

As he discusses, he relaxes more in the booth - trying to get comfortable. Always a challenge when in surroundings not necessarily fitted to his bulk. "It's a school as much as it is a family of sorts, where like-minded Homo Sapiens Supeior work towards the betterment of the world, as well as relations with the rest of humanity."

Maxwell Wave has posed:
It appears as if Max is about to begin telling his life story, but then he pauses a little bit in shock when he's not asked to explain himself further. He folds his arms and listens intently to Henry, his gaze shifting momentarily toward Kitty than back to the Beast. "Given an opportunity to explain myself, I'm sure I can convince you I've been wrongly accused of the incident that led to my relocation. Beyond that mark, I believe I have a very good record. I work hard, sir. I've always had to. Ever since my eyes started glowing, no one gave me anything but my parents. One of the reasons for that... is my gift. It's very precise and has been difficult to use effectively."

"My mother always said you never know until you try. I will apply anywhere. Do anything except lie, cheat, steal, or hurt people." He pauses, "I'm interested in this school and anywhere else you might recommend. How can I learn more?"

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty quietly sips her soda as she listens. She doesn't add anything to the conversation at first, just letting the two men speak. She turns sideways in the booth seat, back towards the window and facing the rest of the diner as she listens.

As Max mentions having been wrongfully accused, her head tilts to the side a little bit in a curious expression. "If you don't mind me asking, what is that happened?" she asks, and glances over to Henry McCoy as if just confirming he doesn't mind her asking the question.

Henry McCoy has posed:
Hank can almost hear the hanging question. "All in good time, Max. I don't want to trouble you to go into detail about your gift here, in the diner." He explains. "I can certainly appreciate that approach too - we never learn from avoiding adversity. We learn from attempts, failures, and then trying again with new conditions. Scientific method and all that." There's a bit of a chuckle at that. "It is in part, how I came to be what I am today." A shrug.

He nods to Kitty as she asks, though he recalls the email. Perhaps that's the part he's more interested in.

Maxwell Wave has posed:
He sighs, "I don't mind, because its something that should be cleared up right away. I was celebrating back home in Hammond after graduation. I had a bit of a reputation as a known mutant, partly because of my eyes and partly because I was attending Stanford. I have a gift for perceiving and manipulating forces. I'd often used it to be helpful around town."

He takes a breath, "There was an earthquake, one that seemed unnatural. There was a lot of property damage and some injuries, no fatalities. Someone mentioned my name, and the next thing I know, I'm in court... and losing."

His brow knits together, "It wasn't me. My gift has a very limited range. I couldn't achieve the scale of an earthquake. The judge seemed bias, my attorney recommended I take a deal. It was agreed that if I submitted myself to relocation, they would adjudicate any charges based on my lack of criminal history. Otherwise, if I lost, I'd be facing felony charges."

He leans back and sips his coffee, his frown is almost a scowl. "I think the judge just wanted a mutant out of his town. My name was published in the Chicago Tribune as being connected to the incident, and my alma mater decided to reject my application into the doctoral program."

He gestures to his surroundings, "And so here I am..."

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty listens quietly, one arm resting along the edge of the table as she sits sideways in the booth. At the description of how the laws were used to get rid of him from town, Kitty's mouth presses into a bit of a line again.

She glances over at Henry McCoy. Not saying anything, but in her eyes is the confirmation in what Maxwell said with what she saw reading between the lines on the coverage of the events in the papers, and the in the court records she'd hacked into.

"In addition to schools, there may be a few labs around where you could continue learning in a more practical application," she tells Maxwell. "So what fields in particular are you focusing on? Engineering and Physics still, or looking to branch in a new direction?"

Henry McCoy has posed:
The older mutant nods to Maxwell, listening to his telling of the tale. Another nod is given to Kitty, at her glance. He knows - he's certainly done some research as well. "Forces, you say. Any in paricular?" He's certainly curious, now that he mentions the fact that he was open back in his home town. "This wouldn't be the first time that the law has been used to run out what the society sees as undesirables from their community. Race, religion, country of origin - and now genetics." A sigh.

"It strikes me as a good sign that you're not looking to go back and claim redemption, or settle a score." He starts out, leaning in a bit. "That way, lies the path of the Dark Side." He grins, the nerd. "So far, you're meeting the ideals of what I tend to stick to." Another nod to Kitty.

"What she says is true, there are several mutant friendly organizations and labs as well, that could work out for you. The biggest question, I suppose, is which direction do you wish to go. Further employement, or find more education in your field, and perhaps in your gifts?"

Maxwell Wave has posed:
He gauges their expressions and seems somewhat relieved to be believed. He nods to Kitty and Hank, "My gig as a civil engineer isn't horrible. It's letting me give back, but I wouldn't mind being considered for more difficult work. Honestly, I'd be happy just conducting research with proper resources. I'd keep my day job and be happy for the opportunity."

He hums to himself in thought, "Out of practicality, I focused on Mechanical Engineering and Physics because of my natural aptitude for them. I wanted to make my parents proud by making good grades. So I'll be honestly, I didn't take a lot of risks."

He laughs at Hank's dark side remark and shakes his head, "I'd just be proving them right and making life hell for my parents."

He drums his fingers and starts elaborating on his powers, "I can perceive and manipulate applied and action-at-a-distance forces with some exceptions. I can cancel, increase or reverse for gravitational and magnetic forces. I can change the direction and magnitude of inertia and momentum. No.. ah.. quantum forces, at least not yet, maybe never. Electricity confounds me a bit too, the quantum randomness of electrons confound me. It feels like trying to herd an ant pile, and I've electrocuted myself a couple of times in the process."

He offers a sheepish grin. "Back to the subject of direction, I would.. like to branch out. Take some risks, make some discoveries. There are so many applications for physics beyond making better buildings. Though I do love the act of creation."

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty Pryde glances over to Henry as Maxwell describes his power. "That... is very interesting. So it's not that you're generating a force, like, magnetism. But, able to affect types of forces and inertia?" she asks. "Very curious," says the girl with the Einstein t-shirt, and peering at Maxwell with renewed interest.

Kitty glances out at Bushwick outside of the diner's windows. "Well, branching and experimenting, with things like that, definitely best to have a safe place away from people. Help avoid... well. You have the cautionary tale and it wasn't even you," Kitty says, as if having decided to take Maxwell at his word on that. "How have you found Bushwick so far?" she asks him.

Henry McCoy has posed:
Hank taps his nose as Max responds to the darkside joke. "Indeed. It is almost always loved ones that suffer for those actions." A slight smile, perhaps a bit of sadness to it. "Risks and discoveries can be had. There are certainly opportunities there." He thinks on it a moment, sipping on his iced tea once delivered.

"Truth be told, Max, I don't see any harm in making introductions with you to some interested parties - be they scholarly or employment... or both." A grin. "What do you think, Kitty?"

Maxwell Wave has posed:
"That's right, Kitty. I have to work with what's available. I can intuit and perceive forces within my line of sight, but my influence upon them is limited to around three meters." He reaches into a pocket and pulls out a paintball tube full of large ball bearings. He gives the tube a shake.

"I have to be creative at a distance. I can give thrown objects some 'omph'. I actually discovered my gift playing little league baseball. I thought I'd perfected my fastball, but... when my eyes started glowing, that told a different story." He mimics throwing a baseball as he tells the tale.

"Bushwick is a ghetto, underfunded, under resourced. It's dangerous here. I've had to... step up a couple of times. I want to help it, but I'd be lying if I said its a good place to live."

The waitress comes by with their orders and begins putting out the plates. "But it is a great place to eat." This gets an approving nod from the waitress.

Max's excitement is tangible at the prospect of introductions. He decides to put some food in his mouth before he says something to ruin it, quickly cutting through one of the bene's and slipping a morsel between his lips.

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty smiles softly at the tale about youth baseball. She glances to the waitress as she comes over. "Oh aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" she says with a smile as she sets the food before them. Kitty moves a napkin to her lap, waiting for the woman to depart before looking back to Henry and Maxwell.

"Yes, you definitely need to be careful. Things were bad... bad after Genosha," she says, her tone affected by the mention of the destroyed mutant island. "Really bad. And I wouldn't be surprised if this latest stuff doesn't dredge out some of the worst of humanity, even ones who don't follow Stryker," Kitty says. "Definitely need to be careful out there."

She glances back to Hank and says, "Yes, maybe we could bring a few more friends out to meet Max? And stop and check in on him for the time being?"

Henry McCoy has posed:
There's a wry chuckle from the doctor. "Mine was ... revealed when I was playing at Bard College. I was a damn fine football player." He puffs up. How could he not be, with his speed and size? As the subject turns towards the town they are visiting. "Yes, an excellent diner." A nod to the waitress, tucking his napkin down onto his lap.

"Often, the darkest and lowest cities are the ones that seem the safest for our people. Too many worrying people in middle class and upper class America." He chuckles.

"Tell you what, Max. I'll get some of my friends to meet with you, have them get to know you as well. I cannot promise anything, but I am willing to vouch for you myself."

Maxwell Wave has posed:
Max swallows and gestures with his knife, "You are not exaggerating. Having a means to defend yourself is really important. I'm lucky I have a gift that's applicable in that way. Others in Bushwick aren't so lucky, and the police are overwhelmed. It's not just hate crimes either. We fight each other. It's really a mess, but I'm sure you know all about it."

He enjoys some more of his meal, carefully crafting each fork to have a bit of everything to get the full flavour profile. Max seems like a fairly details oriented individual. "Happy to meet more people, also happy to volunteer to prove myself. If there's anything I can help with, I'd be happy to lend a hand. I feel lucky just getting the chance to have this chat, so if there is a way I can give back. Please let me know. I'll grade papers. Move furniture. Build a sunroom. Take measurements in a lab."

He leans back in the booth and sighs, even tearing up a little bit. It's a bit of a show, a bead of moisture forming on his tear duct, catches and refracts the light. He dabs with his napkin then swallows, coughing to clear his voice. "Thank you very much Dr.. Mc.. erm.. Henry, and thank you too, Kitty. I get the feeling that was more of a joint interview. I promise to make the most of whatever opportunities you help me find."

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty reaches into a pocket of her jeans and pulls out a card. She slides it over to Max. "Here, in the meantime, if you get in a bad way and need a hand, or just need to talk, there's my number," she says. She looks to about three or four years younger than Max, but there's a quiet confidence to the girl as she slides the card over.

Kitty finishes up her meal. "And I'll give you credit for the suggestion on the food. This was delicious!" she says, smiling and pulling out some money to pay for the meal and tip. She looks over to Hank and smiles to him. "What do you think, shall we get on our way?" she says, resting a hand on his shoulder. The pair rise from the booth to say their final goodbyes, before departing out into the Bushwick evening.