8987/Let your heart guide you

Let your heart guide you
Date of Scene:	07 December 2021
Location:	Hope House
Synopsis:	A dinner rush at Hope House. Not all heroes wear capes.
Cast of Characters:	Rahne Sinclair, Roland Livingston, Michael Hannigan, Michael Erickson, Bart Allen, Clarice Ferguson

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Rahne Sinclair has posed:
It's Rahne's first time running the dinner rush at Hope House, and she is slammed. Apparently nobody told the tiny mutant that she doesn't need to do everything herself. She's trying to eyeball what's running out, with a line of people out the door, many of which have more than one mouth to feed, literally! Mutant Town is always a challenge.

"I'll get some more of...that..." she says, in response to someone shaking an empty tray in her direction. Two of her helpers didn't show up, and one's in the back cooking. You can tell, because there's nothing getting out to the floor.

She knows combat. She's trying, but you can tell by the way she's about to drop her armload of trays that she's not gonna make this one.

Roland Livingston has posed:
Cruising down the street towards the old office building in a very fancy SUV, Roland's in the driver's seat with his acquaintance Michael riding shotgun. The back of the vehicle is so stuffed full of boxes of non-perishable foodstuff that they had to lay down the back seats to fit everything.

When the pair pull up to the Hope House Roland cuts the engine and hops out of the driver's seat before heading inside to go find whoever's in charge so they can tell him where to offload everything. That's when he sees the rush of people trying to get fed all at once. With a smirk on his face he looks towards Michael and says, "Looks like we're in the nick of time. Lets give the lady behind the counter a hand, shall we?" His accent is very much upper class English.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
The food drive for Hope House had been extremely successful. So sucessful that the drop off merited another hand to help with the unloading process. Mike just happened to be dropping off some paperwork when the call for help was sounded and being he was heading back to the city anyways. Might as well.

Upon the car coming to a stop, Mike also hops out to help with the unloading process. Seeing Roland look to the long line, his eyes drive over too. Brows lift. "I don't think their dining area is big enough for all of them..." He notes, "Much less enough people to serve them all."

He gives a nod to Roland's suggestion, "Yeah I'm game. Let's do it." Carrying the one box he already had in hand he approaches, setting it down at the drop off area before looking over to Rahne. "Hey! Where do you need us?"

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
The little redhead who seems to be solo'ing this mess looks like she's never done this before. Odd how looks and reality tend to line up sometimes. She hooks something with her foot, keeping a table from being bumped over, and points down to the buffet's other end. "Grains, there, sorry. Ah ken, I'll get more o' th' ones ye like." She has an accent to go with the red hair; irish or scottish.

Looking up toward yet more people who just walked past the line, Rahne winces. "Look, I cannee help any faster," she says to the first Micheal. "Unless ye want tae grab food from th' back for me, y' need tae wait your turn." Then she turns to try ladling more meats into the tray she was filling when they walked in. "Need more o...ugh." She hasn't really caught on that the others are here to help yet, her brain's on autopilot.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike blinks at the response and looks over towards the crowd before giving a nod. Hands now free, he walks over to peek over Rahne's shoulder at the food labels for the missing containers. "Right." He responds before stepping into the back. He glances around, looking towards the cook and then towards the counter holding the trays that are waiting to come out.

Locating the food prep gloves he grabs a couple to put on before taking the first tray near him. Heading back out he moves to where he thinks he saw the corresponding label. Balancing the tray on the edge he proceeds to scoop the remnants of the other tray into the fresher container.

Michael Erickson has posed:
    And then...there's the second Michael, who manifests at the door of the Hope House in jeans and a t-shirt, battered motorcycle jacket draped over one arm as he leans in to squint. He is not, of course, a mutant, homeless, or even human, but he looks the part of the very latter at the least. Blue eyes blink beneath heavy brows, and he takes another step inside. Newest X-professor, come to do....something?

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
Rahne dives into the back room just as Mike is working on the trays. She grabs a toureen full of soup, then starts to lug it back toward the floor, when she stops. She turns, looking at him with blinking eyes. "Hi?" she offers, then she glances at her cook, who shrugs back at her with no more info than before.

"I...breads and salads?" Then she's heading back out. The toureen is WAY too big, but she doesn't know about the rolling carts yet and is trying to make things work. She heads back out to the floor, looking oddly like she's about to drop things. And calls out, "More soup!"

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen just happened to be coming through the area. He did not know about the place, but saw the line and decided to see what was going on. Looking in the window for a moment, he sees the issues they are having, and with so few people working. He hmms and pull his jacket collar up to hide his face, pushes his sleeves up, and then there is a flash of wind, and starting at the dirty dishes station the dishes seem to almost blink from dirty to clean, as one of the fastest teenagers in the world take dish washing duty.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
With the demanding line, and poor Rahne left to her own devices to try and fend off the hungry horde, things looked troublesome for the young volunteer. But lo! Mike Hannigan and Roland Livingston have stopped by with supplies from a food drive. But with the sight of the line, these donations are still sitting in Roland's car save for two boxes as the pair have rushed over to offer their assistance.

And what of the other Michael of the Erickson variety? Why he has stepped in to Hope House. Not as one to uses its services but one to- Well, we it is not known what his intent is as of this moment. Only time will tell!

Finishing up the scooping, Mike slides out the empty tray to push the full one into the newly vacated place. He turns, looking towards Rahne as she returns. "I'll get the rest of the food out for you." He offers with a wink, " I think they'd prefer your smiling face to mine."

Michael Erickson has posed:
    Erickson peers at the folk as they go back and forth, and finally approaches the soup line with the toureen carried out by Rahne. "Uh, hello," he offers in a rich baritone, looking between Hannigan and the departing Rahne. "I'm here to volunteer."

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
The cook looks over as his dirty dishes pile vanishes. He calls out, "Rahne! You hire some more help?" he's trying to turn four people worth of cook stations as it is, so any help is good help in his book. So Bart gets that seal of approval, sure!

"What?" calls back the Scottish voice from the front. She doesn't really answer per se, but she does look up and see people starting to take duties away from her. "Dam..." Nope. No swearing. Nu-uh. "If ye' brought food, dinnae leave et in y' truck! Is a high crime area!" Then she looks at Erickson, blinking. MORE help? "Please, for god's sakes, if ye be serious? Get me potatoes. Some o' these people dinnae need good food, they jus' need calories. An fruit!"

Bart Allen has posed:
Many might not think of it, but as one of the multi generation speedsters Bart would technically be considered a mutant. He does not think about it much but here with the help going on part of him does think about that. He comes to a stop long enough for the cook to see a red headed young man look around, and he looks over to him "Need food prepped or something else specific done?" He does look out into the dinning hall as well as he tries to figure where to help next.

Michael Erickson has posed:
    "Potatoes. Okay." Erickson proceeds into the kitchen, then, where the cook is, you know, trying to do the cooking work for four men. The dour man hangs his jacket up by the kitchen door, bare, muscular arms baring curious tattoos as he steps up to join the cook at the counter. The eagle-claw device of the Shi'ar Empire (assuming one could identify it) on his shoulder, barbed glyphs of their language arranged in a neat block of text underneath it. More along the line of the underside of his forearm. Military tattoos are military tattoos, regardless of what planet you're on; they have that /look/ about them. "Knife," he asks the the cook, and assuming he's given one he gets to skinning and cubing potatoes for the pot with a disturbingly surgical precision. Military man knows how to do KP Duty, too.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
To the reminder about the food in a truck, Mike blinks, looking over towards the other Michael who is getting marching orders from Rhane. He tugs off the prep gloves as he walks around the service area. He glances over to Roland, "You heard the lady. We got to get those donations in here." He tosses the gloves into the trash on his way to the SUV.

Roland Livingston has posed:
"Yes, lets bring them in," Roland says to Hannigan with a nod as he too strips off his gloves and makes for the vehicle. As he gets close he pulls his key fob from his pocket and unlocks it so they can open the back and start pulling out boxes. Roland stacks several atop one another and starts carrying them towards the big pantry place. "It's good to see these will be going to help people here. I spent a bit of time on Thanksgiving at another shelter. It was nice to help people in a manner that doesn't involve fighting off monsters or gangsters."

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
Rahne is giving orders, but they're stupid orders. She has a line out the door of people who want food and some of them can't wait another minute longer. One person smashes a table then, which doesn't even get Rahne's attention. "Don't cut them too fine!" she's yelling to...someone? It's getting chaotic in here.

The cook, having done htis before, grins and looks at Bart. "You're quick. If you can prep everything I'd appreciate it, but cooking is slow. Then get out there and help serving, this is the wrong place for a fast lad like y'self. You're good though kid."

Then he looks at one of the Michaels, and waves. "Potatoes can go out whole, mostly. We've got a group who need carbs, and can't taste anyway. They'll break a table soon if not fed."

Then Rahne notices that the soups are empty. Again. "Fu..." She runs toward the back, wishing she could do more at one time.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike helps by stacking what he can, making sure not to overload so he can do functional things like... closing the SUV door and opening the shelter door. He nods to Roland's comments about how good it is that the donations will be helping out. "I tend to spend my free holidays helping out at St. Nicholas's. Similar mission but closer to home." Mike offers up, "Their Dining and serving area's much larger so it doesn't feel as cramped as that girl must be feeling right now."

He pauses at the door, holding it open with his butt as he looks to Roland. "...I wonder if either of these shelters considered pooling their resources to kind of lighten the load."

Michael Erickson has posed:
    "They will learn to be patient," Erickson says gruffly - he gets to his feet and takes the potatoes over the range, snagging a large skillet and tossing them in with oil over high heat. Salt and pepper go in with one hand as he shuffles the pan back and forth over the flame with his other hand, handling the pan as if it were made of plastic instead of commercial-grade steel. Working things quickly, tirelessly, the simple pan-fry of starch a field favorite. Of course, if said hungry folk get up in someone's face, Michael can wield it like a club if need be...

Roland Livingston has posed:
Roland's load of boxes gets set down inside the pantry before he goes back out for another round, "I should do more volunteer work. I don't have people to spend the holidays with any more and another trip to Ecuador aboard the yacht might make me feel lonelier than not." His head nods around a bunch more boxes before he scoops them up, "I can charter some buses for Christmas, get everyone to the larger dining room."

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen will nod to the cooking, and he does do some of the prep leaving some for the man cutting the taters. He heads out front, and calls out "Ok, everyone find a seat, and don't break your tables, I am going to need a place to put your plate." And then the boy starts going around at speed putting a plate in front of each person, and then bringing a pot with him, and starts dishing out food at the table, starting with what ever they have the most of.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Smashing a table may not get Rahne's attention, but it does get Clarice's, as she steps into the somewhat chaotic room just in time to see it, and to see many of the other occupants of the room backpeddaling away from the potential danger.
    "Sir," Clarice says in a firm, disapproving tone, "You're alarming the other guests and residents. If there's a problem, perhaps we should go discuss it?" she suggests. Her tone, though disapproving, remains calm and non-threatening - but those in the room familiar with the magenta-hued mutant know she is more than capable of dealing with anyone who gets too out of hand. Especially since //she// is current owner of the building.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike follows along with Roland, dropping off his boxes and heading back out to the car to reload, once again holding the door with his posterior. The mention of chartering some busses gets a smile from the rocker. "Oh that's a good idea. Get all the volunteers in one place, and just get things DONE for the big rush. Just, need to make sure that those in charge of the shelters are on board with it too." He pauses, "Any chance you know who it is for this one? I know the father who runs the other one."

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
The cook works with the group well. He directs people nicely, an ex-military style that suggests he might have done this in the service. And they are GOOD at being efficient if nothing else. Eggs start coming out en masse, potatoes in many forms. Vegetables, fruits, grains, beans, meat and poultry. Not a lot of dairy, but enough where it's needed.

Rahne is moving from trencher to trencher, trying to keep people directed to where there's food, and there are nobody else whose diet requires instant feeding but the one that Clarice is handling.

It seems that the guy, with a mutant feeding tract, literally can't wait. He was on the 'feed now' list and has serious medical conditions that require him to be attended to in a hurry. He can't cause any more issues, but he seems sheepish rather than angry. once he's fed that is.

Food coming in is welcomed, when there's time. But the line is getting shorter and shorter. Until, without warning, there's only a few left.

Roland Livingston has posed:
"I'm not certain who runs the show here, actually, I was just drafted to drop off the food since I have an SUV and my evenings are often free," Roland replies to Hannigan. "It seems more efficient to consolidate things when possible, maximize the effort we get out of each available volunteer by having everyone work together." There's a little laughter as he drops off the next few boxes, leaving perhaps one trip remaining for this pair of volunteers, "If that doesn't happen I'll still make sure everyone gets a decent meal for the holiday. Might bring in a few deer myself, perhaps. I've yet to try my hand at hunting in New York state."

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen will take dishes when people finish making sure they have plenty of clean ones for the next people. The young blur will come to a stop a few moments later. He leans against the wall next to the door, seeing if there is anything needed. He seems to be pondering something as he looks around.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    When the man's concerns are voiced, Clarice teleports the broken table away - and directs the man to a specific seat at one of the tables. "I'll get some food out to you right now. Okay? Sit."
    She's in the kitchen a few moments later, and as soon as some finished food is indicated, she taps the plate and it disappears in a flash of purple energy, only to appear in front of the distressed man. She helps out with getting everyone served, pausing only to bump hips with Rahne briefly, and spare the woman a broad smile.
    As things start to get quiet, though, she finds herself a place 'holding up the wall,' as she gazes at the various mutants around the tables, talking and eating. She wears a thoughtful, considering frown on her features, seemingly lost to her own thoughts.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
As they embark on the fourth trip to get what's left, Mike tilts his head curiously. "Deer?" He repeats, opening the door for them to head back out for the car, "What's that taste like?"

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
"Deer taste awesome," the littlest redhead says in passing as she gets bumpted. She manages a smile, but it's tired and exhausted. She's running on fumes. A little while after she vanishes into the back rooms, heading for another load of food that isn't needed anymore (people can get by on what's left), and just finds a stool to put her tush onto. She saw all of them, every one. All the help. All the people, doing good when she was failing. She wasn't enough and it hurts, but...I mean, it's not the first time she was too small or not enough. She takes a few breaths, listening to them talk to each other out there.

Why doesn't it make her feel good though? People were helped today. There's no denying it.

Roland Livingston has posed:
As the last trip to the pantry finishes Roland shuts his vehicle up and locks it. It's nice enough that it'll draw attention. It's armored enough that it's unlikely casual break in attempts are going to be unsuccessful. "Deer can be delicious, properly prepared. They're leaner than most beef, but the flavor is quite delicious. I've butchered and cooked my fair share during wilderness excursions and had a number processed for me professionally after hunting trips. Generally sausages and ground meat come out of the harvested animals as well as a number of steaks."

"I'll try to bag one if they're still in season and have a few people over for dinner. I've been meaning to throw a little party this season. You're invited, of course." He looks towards Rahne and gives her a grin, "Venison for everybody I'm allowed to feed it to shall be my goal. Might have to travel a bit to harvest enough animals for everyone at the shelters, but if I can get an estimate on the numbers I'll try my damnedest to make sure everyone is fat and happy."

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen hmms and looks over to Clarice, and says "Hoe big would you say the need for coats and blankets are for the people here in Bushwick?" He pulls out a phone making a few notes.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    As Bart speaks, he draws Clarice's attention, and she gives a small shrug of her shoulders. "Oh, there's always a need," she replies. "We have trouble sometimes keep enough warm coats in supply. It helps that I can travel to the Southern Hemisphere easily to get some out of season quite cheaply, but... Like I said, as soon as I bring them in, they're snatched up." She nods her head towards the back. "You're welcome to accompany me if you wish."
    Keeping the rest of her thoughts to herself, for now, she slips into the back to look for Rahne, finding her on her stool and perching beside her, one arm slipping comfortably around the other woman's waist. "Long day?" she murmurs quietly, and sympathetically.
    Her attention shifts to Roland and Hannigan, she gives them a friendly nod. "You were helping as well? Thank you."

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
Rahne almost has a heart attack when Clarice touches her. She's not normally like that, what with her hyper-acute senses. But anyone can get lost in their own mind.

"Clary, hey," she says softly, her heart racing. She bumps her head against the lady, gently. "We need tae look into mergin' with th' other place maybe. People kept...suggestin." She isn't relaxing, she's a bundle of nerves. The first thign she says is more work things.

"ah need tae get back up, go tell them all thanks. They all showed up outa nowhere, good people out thaur." Still work.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike turns his head as Rahne offers her parting opinion on the topic of deer as culinary offerings. He looks back to Roland as he gives further explanation and a bit of an invite. "Alright. Consider me curious." Mike agrees, holding the door just one last time for them to go in. "Just let me know when that get together is."

Taking a glance around to the now quieting group and the less than slammed service area, Mike looks to Roland, cracking a smile, "Looks like things have calmed down."

As Clarice addresses them, Mike gives a nod to Clarice, "We were dropping off some supplies from a food drive." He nods towards to Rahne, "I'm surprised at how much she was able to do on her own with the flood of people coming her way. Glad we could help."

Roland Livingston has posed:
With a look to Clarice Roland smiles, "My pleasure, Ms. It's good to help people out. I know I appreciate when folks are good enough to assist me when I'm in need."

He scans over to Hannigan and grins, "You're in for a treat. I'll get a real chef or two in to prepare everything and some servers to assist, keep it relatively small. Just need to figure if I want to use the penthouse or the yacht. The penthouse is nice and warm, but the yacht is a good excuse for everyone to show off their winter attire for once."

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen hmms and had thought more of going to the places things were made, not as much going to opposite climate. He hmmms a bit and takes off and is gone for a few moments, and then is back with a backpack and a couple sacks of stuff looking like a mini overpacked Santa. He sets the stuff down behind the counters to let others hand it out. He does pull out a bag from the backpack and pulls an energy bar out of it, munching it and then pulling out a gaterade.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "We have a good time," Cael says to Rahne, giving her a gentle squeeze. "They to good work. Though - we have to figure out something to help out with Mr. Abassi out there. He can't be left without food when he comes looking for it. We need to keep some quick things on hand for him, that people can just got fetch, if meal prep isn't done yet. Maybe pencil that in for the next meeting with the team?" she suggests, before letting Rahne slip from her grasp.
    "The supplies are a great help," she says to Michael with genuine warmth. "Our community is strongest when we all stand together. When we get people back on their feet - they can help others back up as well."

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
Rahne stops, then leans closer to Clarice. She kisses the magenta mutant quietly, right in front of everyone, and then turns back to the room. "Will do," she says softly. Then she sees Bart, and his gatorade and energy bar, and finally cusses.

"Oh hell no.."

Then she turns away, walking through a door. Sounds happen, and then she comes out with..something? It looks like...cake? It's cake!

"Thank you. Everyone. There's always something nice for the people who helped out...I hope it's alright." Then she puts it down, and offers Bart a knife to cut with.

"Git 'er done, boy."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Hearing the options. Mike tilts his head before looking over to Roland. "Penthouse." Mike elects, "Easier commute, climate control, and after the first 15 minutes in the cold, winter weather on water gets old. FAST."

He looks back over towards Clarice, "We'll be sure to relay your thanks to those who contributed to the food drive. Uh, as for the situation you just described earlier... what about pre-prepped sandwiches? Those tend to be filling and not much dent on the funds."

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen looks to Rahne, and says "I appreciate it, and will take a piece, but trust me, I burn quite a few calories, so these work well." He does not add normally it would be a sack of big belly burgers, but he felt like bringing fast food here would not be cool "I dropped some coats and such behind the counter." He motions to where he set them. "I am just happy I noticed you needed help."

Roland Livingston has posed:
"There's a case of granola bars in with what we brought it, as well," Roland suggests in an attempt to help Mike out further. Then he looks at Bart and smiles, "Energy bars are just the ticket sometimes. I've got quite a stash of thirty six hundred calorie survival rations in with my survival gear. They don't taste like much, but they keep forever and keep you going when you've not got the time to hunt or forage properly."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice snap-points at Roland with a grin. "I mean, not that the sandwiches are a bad idea - I think we should try to keep some of those around all the time - but having snack bars of some sort in ample supply just in case would ensure we really //never// run out of ready food. Snack bars are cheaper than replacing tables - and we can't risk someone getting hurt, or having their health compromised," she says firmly.
    She watches the appearance of the cake with amusement, and gestures for the others to proceed her, as she gives Bart a curious look. "You brought coats already? Thank you."

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
With cake being shared, Rahne steps back. She doesn't want much, just for things to go well and for ideas to be shared. It does seem like that's happening. She isn't happy, but that's kind of normal too.

"Thank you, everyone," she says. "It's not much, but thank you."

What else can you really say?

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike considers Roland's words, giving a nod to the idea. "Wouldn't have to put as much time into making those..." He agrees, "That's a good possibility..."

He pauses, "Um. Do you know who is in charge of this shelter? We were talking about possible solutions for the numbers issue here and was thinking a team up with one of the other shelters could help with one of the big food service days. I mean, the dining hall at St. Nicholas's could easily fit their group and yours. Combining resources and labor could help with keeping up with demand."

Roland Livingston has posed:
"I'll send over a case of those survival bars if you'd like, as well. Maybe pass them out if anyone here is determined to spend the night in their car or on the streets," Roland tells Clarice with a nod. Then he looks at Rahne and gives her a big smile, "Thank you very much. It's certainly appreciated. Did you bake this yourself? It looks lovely."         Then the rich kid slows down and touches his hand to his breast before bowing very slightly, not much more than a nod, "I'm Roland Livingston, by the by. Pleased to have the opportunity to help out here."

As he grabs a slice of cake for himself he says, "This is a very pleasant way to spend the evening."

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen nods, and says "I ran over to a factory in Asia, and picked them up. Payed them more than they were asking, but was still less than they would have been here." He will eat his piece of cake, and offers a couple brands of energy bars. "Those are your best bang for you buck, it is the type I grab when I can." Evan after claiming to have ran half way around the world the kid is tapping his foot a little as if he can't stand still/

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Well. That would be me - but I leave the day-to-day operations of the shelter in the hands of Ms. Sinclaire," she nods her head at Rahne, "And Ms. Velez, who isn't here at present. I think we'd be more than happy to work with other shelters though - if it were beneficial to all of our clients. But I'll leave the ultimate decisions to Ms. Sinclaire and Velez," she says simply.
    At the question about the cake, Clarice gives Rahne a curious look, as she realizes she doesn't know the answer to this question. "...do you bake?" she asks.
    Her attention shifts to Bart next as she adds, "Ran to- huh. Impressive."

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
"Um. How else would you get a cake?" Rahne looks kind of confused, standing there holding the knife. Then she turns and cuts the cake, letting Bart have his slice. Finally. And one for Mike, and one for Roland, and one for Michael, and one for Clary, and one for...

Guess I get cake too.