7801/It's all for the kids

It's all for the kids
Date of Scene:	12 September 2021
Location:	Fred's Diner
Synopsis:	Plans are made for career day.
Cast of Characters:	Robert Marksman, Hyperion

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Robert Marksman has posed:
Robert Marksman has called to set up a meeting with Mr. Milton. The good doctor has a an idea he wants to talk to the gentleman about. So today on his break from the clinic Robert is sitting on one of the back booths of the dinner waiting on the other man. He is dressed in a button up shirt and dress pants since it is a work day but still had his jacket and sunglasses on.

Hyperion has posed:
    Who wants a meeting with a cartoonist anyway? But Mark works for the Daily Bugle. As such, he went ahead and accepted the request for a meeting. After all, what could it hurt? Then he did his homework on the person he would be meeting.

    That didn't take long of course, and at the appointed time, he strolls into the diner. He's dressed in blue jeans and a red flannel 'lumberjack' type shirt. At least it's a buttondown shirt... but he pauses in the doorway before spotting his 'quarry' and turning to approach. "Mister Marksman?" he asks, "May I sit?"

Robert Marksman has posed:
Robert Marksman nods and motions towards the other side of the booth "Please, and would you like something to drink or eat? I have put in an order, as had to set this up during my lunch break, I hope you don't mind me eatting as we talk."

Hyperion has posed:
    Nodding to Robert, Mark slides into the seat at the booth. "No thanks. Maybe just a cup of coffee." he says softly as he lays his notepad and sketch pencil on the table.

    He figures that since that's basically what he does, it might be useful to have out for the meeting. "Not to avoid smalltalk or the like but... might I ask why you wanted to meet with -me- of all people?"

Robert Marksman has posed:
Robert Marksman looks to the man, and says "Well, I don't know if you have looked into Bushwick or not, but we are trying to help out the neighborhood, and one of the ways we are working on it, is a private school, and after school sessions. Right now, one of our after school programs is doing a career day, and I was wondering if you might come and talk to the students. Kids who are into art know about comic book artists and such, but I believe a cartoonist would be a neat thing to have them learn about and perhaps show some of them more ways into the art world that pays.

Hyperion has posed:
    "I see.." remarks Mark as his coffee cup is set before him. I mean come on, at a diner, coffee is a bit like silverware. They tend to assume you want it unless you say otherwise.

    He smiles up to the server and bobs his head in greeting. "Can I just get some creamer please? No sugar."

    Then he returns his gaze to Robert and lifts a single brow. "I see. So you actually looked me up on the Bugle's website then." he offers. "I can see how that would be a good thing to do for the young people out there."

Robert Marksman has posed:
Robert Marksman nods his head a bit to this and says "I am trying to get you and perhaps Terry O'Neil from the Planet and make it a journalism day. Maybe try for Peter Parker as well, but I need to figure out times and such, if we have time for three people do you think you could pass word on to him for me?"

Hyperion has posed:
    "I can try. I think I've met Parker once.. I think he's more of a freelancer who sells his work to the Bugle. But I can try to look him up. I think a photographer would also be a great option." says Mark.

    But then he inclines his head, "You might also try to get two and two. So one more from the Planet. I've read some recent work by a new member of the Planet's staff... a Ms. Nal. It would be -really- good and inclusive to have what amounts to one of the first openly trans reporters to show up as a potential role model for kids who may be in the closet or some such." he suggests. "Plus, her work is neat, clean, and passionate in its own right regardless of how she lives her life."

Robert Marksman has posed:
Robert Marksman nods his head a bit and says Ms. Nal is a reporter as well?" He hmms a bit to himself and thanks the lady as his food is brought. "The Openly trans would be good, but I am not sure if two reporters from the same paper. I may have to call and try to get in touch with her and Mr. O'Neil. I want to make sure they have different stories to tell.

Hyperion has posed:
    "Sure. I just meant if you are inviting myself and Mister Parker from the Bugle, we should get two from the Planet as well. It's only fair." adds Mark with a grin.

    Then he opens up three creamers, pouring them into his coffee before stirring it and taking a sip.

    He seems to deflate and relax at the taste of it. Diner coffee... it's not great coffee, but it's something he is used to. The quality he and his friends brewed when they were sitting around tables making plans and the like. Ah he misses his friends, his Earth...

    Then he shakes his head like trying to clear it from a hard punch to the forehead. "But yeah. I'll try to reach Parker, no problem. In fact, if you wanted, I could go visit the Planet too and have a chat with them."

Robert Marksman has posed:
Robert Marksman nods his head a bit to this and says "Yes, but you and Mr. Parker, while both in the art department, you have different jobs, but it is a thought. It is good for the kids to see people that the normal world would consider different making a success of themselves since the world sees most of them as different. " He eats a bit thinking while taking a moment to think.

Hyperion has posed:
    "Well, Ms. Nal is apparently new to the Planet, where as Mr. O'Neil seems more established, so there's two different viewpoints right there." suggests Mark as he sets that coffee cup back down.

    Then he slides his workpad over and opens it up. Hefting the pencil absently, he tilts his head and thinks, "I am sure we could get good info out of each of them. Heck, maybe Parker could show some new pictures of that Webbed Wonder out there." he offers with a grin as his hand starts moving, a sketch starting to take shape. He really is good at this...

Robert Marksman has posed:
Robert Marksman nods his head a bit to this and says "Perhaps, and Mr. O'Neil could touch on being a public hero as well, to be honest with him it may have a bit of a harder time keeping him on the subject of reporting and such. I am sure he will be willing to talk about it but will the kids be willing to ask about it you know?"

Hyperion has posed:
    Nodding as his hand works on the sketch pad, Mark shrugs his shoulders, "Now, as much as we need and respect the heroes out there.... we should be careful not to show parents that we are advocating for their kids to look to the future and plan to go put their lives on the line in spandex and a cape. So, yeah.."

    He turns the paper at an angle and starts doing some shading. "We should keep him focused on the reporter angle for sure."

Robert Marksman has posed:
Robert Marksman nods, and says "It is the plan, but with a lot of our kids being mutants, we do have a lot of them looking that way. I am thinking perhaps a second visit with Mr O'Neil and maybe some of the titans, for the whole learning and doing things repsonsible if they want to do it.

Hyperion has posed:
    "Sure.." remarks Mark as he starts working on a line of webbing coming out of the center of the picture. It looks like a bobblehead version of Spider-Man with JJ Jameson leaning out of a window yelling furiously at him, with all of the letters in his speech bubble looking like censored *#$%#3642#* stuff.

    "Having a mentorship program for that too would be helpful. But that's not something for career day. That's a wholly different thing."

Robert Marksman has posed:
Robert Marksman nods his head a bit to this and says "True, but something will need to keep in mind with the gathering." He smirks a bit at the drawing and says "Your boss does seem to have a hate on for Spiderman." He agrees. Would you be interesting in mentoring kids?"

Hyperion has posed:
    "I mean I could, sure. But I don't think I'd -be- the best role model." Mark says as he finishes the basics of the sketch, and puts a caption below the sketch.

NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED.

    "I mean, I draw the funny pages and get paid for it. I suppose that could be role model material."

Robert Marksman has posed:
Robert Marksman says, "For a budding artist it could be a very good one." He tells the other man. I mean you never know where you will find meaning. Mine like some came from seeing doctors helping me, and wishing to help people in return."

Hyperion has posed:
    Nodding his head, Mark finishes the sketch by putting his initials in the bottom right corner. That's where he always does that... MM.

    Then he closes the book and focuses on Robert. "Hope you didn't mind me drawing. I find it helps me to think. But yeah, I'd be happy to help out however I could. Kids deserve whatever help we can give them."

Robert Marksman has posed:
Robert Marksman shakes his head a bit and says "Did not bother me, did not seem to take your attention from the conversation, and to be honest that might be a skill you could teach some of the kids, that would help them.

Hyperion has posed:
    "Everyone finds their own way to focus. Mine has always been doodling. I guess I should have been diagnosed with ADHD as a kid, but instead... I just figured out ways to do something absently so the back of my mind was too occupied to interfere with the main focus of my attention. It may sound strange..." Mark shrugs.

Robert Marksman has posed:
Robert Marksman nods a bit and says "It makes sense many different people come up with different ways to figure coping skills out.