7060/Stopping By

Stopping By
Date of Scene:	24 July 2021
Location:	Pym's Midtown Lab
Synopsis:	Talk of Losses and Faith
Cast of Characters:	Michael Hannigan, Hank Pym

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Michael Hannigan has posed:
With the first leg of the tour done and Mike back in New York City for a scheduled break, it was only a matter of time before the musician made his way over to Pym's lab. Being that it was a bit later in the day when he got back in town, Saturday afternoon was the best time to get the visit in. He called ahead of time to let Hank know he was coming over so Amadeus did not need to narc him out.

As he is off the clock and back home. Mike's non performance clothes are not the high end attire more commonly associated with his stage persona. Instead he's back to the clothes sourced from the store that was very dominant in his upbringing. Goodwill. It's still too hot for the knit cap so the hair is just pulled back into a ponytail.

Coming up to the door, Mike looks to the familiar entrance way with a small smile. A hand reaches over to press the comm button.

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym the door opens silently for Mike.

Inside, Hank is at his central console, a familiar silver helmet obscuring his upper face. His lower face has at least a week's growth of beard. Numerous empty water bottles are lined up on a side table. Hank scans the scene before him. But he doesn't seem to see the lab or Mike at the moment.

Amadeus, knowing nothing of foreboding as an ant, Crawls from the flask to slit to Hank. The scientist hold out his hand to the ant who lands and begins growing, to the size of a hamster perhaps. Hank holds the still small creature carefully, stroking his antennae and listening.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Door opened but with no greeting. Mike blinks. But he is granted access in, so in he goes to find the silent scientist. His footsteps serve as a good indicator to when he's nearby allowing for Amadeus's transition from the open and empty flask to be relatively easy.

Mike looks to Amadeus as he's enlarged to an easier to see size.

"Afternoon Hank." Mike greets, breaking the outside silence, uncertain if it would get past whatever Hank's listening to through the helmet.

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym is listening to a million voices. The electro psionic array works better than he could hope. He feels organization and purpose and will to survive and triumph. He witnesses ants giving their all for their kin. He also witnesses terrible and ruthless wars. Humans think war is hell but how would they feel about your enemies' severed heads still snapping at you? Of their headless bodies continuing to serve until succumbing to starvation and thirst. Amazing creatures.

And then he's merely human again at the sound of his name, petting Amadeus.

"Hello Michael." He should get up. He's not fully bipedal yet. He uses a hand for support on the console and sets the large ant down to extend a hand.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Seeing the hand being extended outwards and taking on the cues that Hank may have gotten into that tunnel vision mindset again. Mike steps forward to take the extended hand to help the scientist up from his seat.

"I would have come over yesterday but I didn't get back in til early evening. Figured today would work better." He looks to the helmet, "Testing out some changes? Or is something else going on?"

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym removes the helmet and restores Amadeus to normal size. He flits over to a colony on the wall to enter it.

"Always new things to try. I take things apart, begin to assemble them and see different way to assemble them. It's like a jam session. Except, no one else to jam with really. Which is... good. I fight with my lab partners."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"Hmm. One of the perks of being a solo act too." Mike muses, looking over to the wall colony, "Well, to a point. Can't stay alone all the time." He glances over towards Hank, "Although, alone's probably the wrong word here. You've got plenty of company."

He nods to the colony, "Nice that you sent Amadeus along with me. Although, kind of wish I knew about it sooner. I'd have bought a flask for him earlier."

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym shrugs. "We both teamed with others. Sometimes... you don't even realize there's a hole in your soul and then you meet someone who fills it perfectly. Sometimes... they leave or are taken and, you know the hole is there now. Sorry, not good with words. I'm great with equations."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike turns his head to look over towards Hank. His expression softens as he listens to the scientist's comments. "Emma?" He asks, "Nadia?"

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym rubs his eyes and nods. "Maria... even Janet. You find someone who fulfills you, you hang onto them, Mike. Or pretty soon the only company you have are the ghosts in your head. Or ants."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike's lips press together, forming a thin line. Pale eyes shift, looking not towards the colony but off to the side of Hank. The head does a slight nod. "Good advice." A finger taps to the side of his leg, "Well. It might not be be the same as a Maria or Janet but, the family you choose can be of good company too."

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym says, "My father didn't raise that bar particularly high. I did choose Maria and Janet. Nadia is good company..." Slightly defensive on that.

Hank sits down on the sofa, somewhat tired. "Maria got me interested in ants. Especially her dad, Janos. He died right after she... passed, was abducted... I don't know the right word. She had the theory behind social insect communication via electro psionic waves. The insect com was her idea, she just couldn't make it work. That was where I came in. I wish she saw me succeed at it. She always had faith I'd make it work. She always had faith in me, even when I didn't."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Hearing the change in tone when referring to Nadia he gives a slight grimace to the mistake. "...Sorry. Yeah. Family by blood too can be good company. My mom was the only company for awhile. My aunt- well, she tried. But the hand dealt sucked."

As While Hank sits down, Mike remains standing, adjusting his position to look over in Hank's general direction as he describes the ways in which Maria supported him and the one wish. "Times like that are when faith can help. The wishes that someone who left you earlier could still be able to see what you've done. To know things worked out. In the back of my head, my mom knows what I've accomplished since she left. And my aunt knows I turned things around. Just because I can no longer see them, doesn't mean they can no longer see me."

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym gets up and moves back to the console. He begins shutting down displays. "Faith. I've about used mine up. God? God is a kid with an ant farm he lost interest in. There's no plan to life except what you impose. Afterwards... who knows? Maybe these ghosts, spirits whatever are just interactive holos the Universe spins to keep us entertained. Maybe if I saw something... of Maria, had better closure, I'd be better about it. Nadia seems to have moved past it... but kids are resilient. Even when they live through hell."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
The musician's head turns, watching Hank move back to the console, body opting to stay in place should Pym backtrack once more to the sofa. "Hmm. There's been times when faith's all I had." Mike pauses, bringing his head down to rub at his eyes. "Sometimes not even that."

He gives a sigh, bringing his head up, "But faith's not really something restricted to God. Faith in yourself. Faith in what you do. Faith in your friends and family."

Eyes shift over towards Hank. "She may seem like she's moved past things, but the path of grief is not a straight line. It sometimes loops in on itself. You THINK you're fine but then you go around a bend and you find yourself back at the start. I'll still visit the grave from time to time."

Hank Pym has posed:
Hank Pym nods. "I've used that up too." It seems a painful admission.

"Present company excepted. Including the ants." His gaze falls on a piece of stationary with an Avengers' logo watermark. He grabs it and feeds it into a paper shredder. Then he leans back in his chair. "What else you got?"

Michael Hannigan has posed:
At the admission, the inner edges of Mike's eyebrows lift and is soon followed by a frown. He turns his head, looking towards the colony as Hank offers the exclusion. He's quiet as Hank prompts for more.

He tilts his head downwards, studying the floor at the base of the colony wall. "Well..." He pauses, before glancing over towards Hank, "I guess- We'll just have to make do with my faith in you until you regain yours."