9292/Requiem for a Reactor

Requiem for a Reactor
Date of Scene:	26 December 2021
Location:	The Thrones Art Complex
Synopsis:	Peter crosses paths with Tigra and Nughtcrawler, and temporarily sees a Sunrise at night.
Cast of Characters:	Peter Parker, Kurt Wagner, Sunrise Aberdeen, Greer Grant

---

Peter Parker has posed:
It's been over thirty years since what was one of the worst nuclear accidents changed the path of humanity, hastened the fall of Soviet Russia, and turned the thriving city of Pripyat in the Ukraine into a ghost town.

These days, it is a footnote in history, recently revived by a documentary special, and now, the exhibit CHERNOBYL: REQUIEM FOR A REACTOR is showing at the Thrones. There are photos, interactive exhibits, and displays of various objects taken from what is now known as the forbidding-sounding Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

Peter Parker is here, digital camera in hand, the flying drone on standby, and a personal interest in the place...

Kurt Wagner has posed:
Chernobyl, a true disaster in world history, and it never had to happen if not for human error and malfunction. Kurt Wagner's travels have taken him many places, though not yet to that one. It is safe enough to visit, relatively speaking, as long as one keeps aware of radiation readings and doesn't spend too much time there.

Here, as part of an exhibit, it is considerably safer, and the selection of things pulled from the zone has no doubt been checked to account for any potential dangers to others. It all has brought a variety of people out, not the least of which is a quite obvious mutant of some sort, or even a demon depending on what people may believe. A well-dressed one, though.

Kurt wears a crisp-looking suit of black, with a white undershirt along with red tie and cufflinks, with modified shoes to account for his unique feet. There is a cutout in the back for his spaded tail, and while he is keeping a watchful yellow eye on anyone around to warn of a potential confrontation, he is doing his best to stay out of the way and simply appreciate the information that is there to be seen and heard.

Sunrise Aberdeen has posed:
This kinds of things cost money to get into, even if it's only twenty bucks or so. Still, that is beyond the ability of Sunrise' piggy bank. Drawn by a few posters she saw downtown, the tall, pale girl is curious about it for a few reasons. One) She's never been to an art exhibit before. Two) Her Maker had been around when Chernobyl went down, and he had talked about the difficulty of feeding in the area at the time. So, it's kind of a memoir to the late man to her.

She climbs the outside wall with ease, crawling along the brick as if gravity did not exist for her. Upon reaching a higher-up window on the second floor, she peeks through to make sure the room is empty. She then cracks the window open and rolls into the room. She stands and brushes off the knees of her worn, dirty jeans. A faded hoody over a battered Smashing Pumpkins shirt and faded jeans and Converse make up her outfit. While she doesn't smell bad at all, it's clear she's slept in her clothing, and it's all worn with some holes.

She turns to close the window before she tugs her hood on her hoody up to slightly conceal her pale features. Bright, crisp blue eyes take in her surroundings as her hands are stuffed into her pockets. "Alright, good work, kid," she mumbles to herself. "Now...learn stuff...."

Greer Grant has posed:
Tigra wears slightly less than Kurt or Sunrise. Just a skosh. You'd barely notice unless someone pointed it out. She prowls the event looking regally bored, ears involuntarily flicking this way and that as they catch bits of conversation, her tail a U that helps her keep her balance. She's not a mutant, but these days she feels more comfortable around mutants than around humans, and events about nukes tend to attract mutants: hence, her presence here.

Alone, talking to no one, just looking at photos and stuff.

No one accused her of being a well-adjusted feline-human hybrid. Well, the point was to meet someone, so Tigra picks the most obvious mutant in the crowd and makes for Kurt, not making eye contact, her instincts warning her he'll take that as a threat. When she's close enough, she greets, "Hi. I'm Tigra. Who're you?"

10/10 conversation starter, no notes necessary.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter makes his way around the mockup of the apartment from Pripyat, looking askance at the image of the large ferris wheel through the "window."

It was a little unsettling to see that, behind the circus attraction, a rising cloud rose from where Chernobyl Reactor #4 had once been.

He turned to the left...and spotted a familiar face. The fact that it was angular, furry, and BLUE made it easier to remember. He had met him as Spider-Man, of course, last year. The attempted carjacking.
He started over, but the spotted a two-legged tigress approaching...Nightcrawler, or Kurt if you wanted to be polite.

He stayed back a little. Apparently, Kurt had picked up a tail.

Kurt Wagner has posed:
There is the ferris wheel, the classroom, the swimming pool, the apartments, and more. There is also the reactor, cutaways showing the type, the fuel, mock-ups and videos of what happened, and so on. Images of problems years later caused by radiation, as well. Sobering.

Kurt takes in and lets out a longer breath, considering what he sees. Radiation causes some forms of mutation, and while just how mutants and the x-gene came to be may still be up in the air for many, things like this could make a person wonder. He clasps his hands in back of him, tail kept close by as he leans in for a closer look at a small child's toy, then he straightens back up at the sight of someone drawing near.

A glance her way, then recognition. "Ahh, I am familiar with your name. I have seen you on the TV game show, und heard of your heroism before. Mein name ist Kurt Wagner." Lowering his voice, he adds, "But I am also known as Nightcrawler, occasionally 'The Amazing' before it from mein time in the circus. A 'guten abend' to you." At which point he offers her a formal, gentlemanly bow, one arm out to the side, the other tucked in.

Sunrise Aberdeen has posed:
The pale teen finds the stairs ans makes her way down them, hugging the wall briefly to avoid bumping some people making their way up past her. She reaches the first floor and rolls a shoulder, as if shaking off the anxiety of being here. She turns slowly, Sunrise taking in the crowd of people filling the various rooms of the art installation.

Spotting Tigra and Kurt is easy enough, even with the other people about, and her eyebrows lift a bit. She moves a bit closer, and ends up standing beside Peter without even realising it. She turns to look at a piece of work on the wall, chewing on her lip a bit as she takes in the sight of the abandoned city, grass growing in the old asphalt.

She glances aside at Peter and offers a, "Sad, huh?"

Greer Grant has posed:
Tigra eyes Kurt assessingly but quickly before looking away off into the distance, still not making eye contact. She looks a bit like she should be in a black and white French film, maybe standing by the railing of a bridge and smoking a cigarette as she muses into the distance about the cruelty of the world. It's quite at odds with her amused, conversational tone as she explains, "I wouldn't have thought you were old enough to remember that show. Or that anyone is. Good to know I made an impression on a small audience, I guess. Nice to meet you, Amazing Kurt. What brings you here?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter looked from the female feline closing in on Kurt to converse with him, to the slim blonde next to him. He reminds him of Kara, only thinner.
"Yes...a testament to bad decisions, blind bureasucracy, and carelessness with power beyond their control." He sighed, then extended a hand. "Peter Parker. Photographer."

Kurt Wagner has posed:
Kurt Wagner steals a glance around at other faces. Some watch him with curiosity, others with suspicion. It is no surprise, but it is something he resolved to deal with one way or another given another..option.

Head tilting at Tigra's body language, his tail moves lazily and slowly behind him, his expression one of curiosity. "Oh, it is not so long ago. Months, perhaps a year? I thought it was an entertaining remake," he says of the Match Game. "Certainly better than the one with the families where every question seems intended toward double meanings only for laughs."

It might be he's spotted Peter and the young woman he's introducing himself to, but there is no recognition at this point.

He adds to Greer, "I thought I would seek further knowledge about a tragic time in the history of mankind. It might help me gain a better understanding of some things. Und yourself?" He is looking at what stripes he can see, depending on how much is or isn't covered up.

Sunrise Aberdeen has posed:
"Oh, uh. Sunrise. Unemployed." She flashes a lopsided grin and grips his hand to shake it. Her hand has the roughness of a hard life. She's also a bit cool, but it's cold out and snowy so...that isn't exactly weird. She withdraws her hand and turns back towards the picture.

"That's a way to look at it, sure. I'd lean more into mankind's inability NOT to hurt itself, but..." She shrugs a slender shoulder and glances back over. "Either way, it sucked. I knew a guy who was there. Lived not far away and helped with the cleanup." Sort of. "He...he had some pretty scary stories, honestly."

Greer Grant has posed:
Tigra waves a hand vaguely in the direction of the crowd. It's a big crowd she's in the middle of, so the gesture is especially vague. "Just looking to meet people, I guess. People who understand what it's like to be human all your life, or at least think you're human, then one day you're not human any more." She shrugs minutely. "I'm in kind of a transition phase of my life, I guess."

She glances at Kurt. "Did any of that make any sense?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter blinked. "You knew someone who was THERE?" His irises had dilated significantly. "WOW...that's pretty amazing. Not the stuff that happened to him, of course, but...the strength to deal with that level of hardship. There are a few organizations who wwould be interested in his recollection of his experiences. So that something like that...people can be warned about it." He looked to the next picture, one of an apartment with non-existent windows, dilapidated toys and furniture, and peeling paint. "We have a responsibility to handle that kind of power wisely."

Kurt Wagner has posed:
"You are off to a good start, in that case," Kurt tells Tigra, his gaze shifting toward her own tail before moving back up toward her red hair and face. "It makes sense to me, only not in the same way. I have been different all mein life. What you see is all I have known, but it has brought danger und distrust on more than one occasion. I try to show people there is more to someone than what they see on the outside. I know people like us can be difficult for others to accept."

As they continue looking at the exhibits, it brings them nearer to Peter and Sunrise. Snippets of conversation might be picked up depending on how good one's hearing is, but there is a lot of general talk taking place around them. "Anyhow, you can only be who you are, nobody else. It is up to everyone else to adapt."

Sunrise Aberdeen has posed:
She nods a bit. "Mmmmmhm." Sunrise adjusts her hoody a bit and scratches her cheek before she hears Tigra's words to Kurt. She turns to stare at her for a moment, a brief look of struggle on her face. Sunrise then turns back to Peter to continue the conversation.

"Well, eh. There were people who took advantage of the stuff people were going through and...he was one of them. Either way, he's dead. Been gone almost a year now. He'd settled in Gary. Indiana?" She turns back to the photograph.

"He had his moments, but overall I think he was...really a piece of sh*t. Just not a good person. He was old and cynical by that time already, though. Just a mean old man."

Sunrise glances back to the guy. "I guess," she replies. She doesn't sound entirely sure, but also not incredibly resistant to the idea. "Life's hard enough without having to worry about all that responsibility, though. Looking out for yourself is ...not easy."

Greer Grant has posed:
Tigra nods at Kurt's words while scanning the crowd. "I don't care if people really accept me. It's more about wanting to be understood. Do you ever feel that way?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter was suddenly aware that the four were now in close proximity, and also that Kurt and him didn't know each other from Adam.
He looked back to Sunrise. "Some people have to deal with a lot of responsibility because of the gifts they are given. I know a few who have a sense of duty to help others because of their gifts."

He looks to Kurt. "You're...Kurt, right? We have an acquaintance in common...Spider-Man?"

Kurt Wagner has posed:
Kurt Wagner shakes his head slowly to Tigra's question. "It may depend. What is it you are wishing to have others understand about you?" he asks, so he might find out better what she is getting at.

His attention diverts enough to include the other two in discussion, while continuing to 'read the room' for any potential signs of someone looking to create a scene. It is something stuck in the back of his head, a part of him keeping his guard up that he can't or won't shake.

"I do nicht..oh. Ja, Spider-Man? I believe we had a meal one time after dealing with some vagabonds. Und you are..?" The solid yellow, glowing eyes take in Sunrise as well.

Sunrise Aberdeen has posed:
"Whoa, you know Spider-Man? That's crazy," Sunrise says as she glances between the two. "Is he cute in person? I bet he's cute. Come on, you can tell me. I've never met a superhero before..." She trails off and considers that before the pale girl glances between Tigra and Kurt. "Oh, um. Hi. Sunrise."

Her accent is midwestern. She mentioned Indiana. Maybe there?

Greer Grant has posed:
The conversation moves on before Tigra has a chance to respond to any of Kurt's questions, so they must be left unanswered for now. She sizes up Peter and Sunrise in a pair of quick glances, then greets, "Hi. I'm Tigra." She doesn't comment on the photographer name-dropping his famous friend.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter chuckles. "He's much more handsome than I am, Sunrise."
Peter looks back to Kurt. "Yeah, he told me about meeting you during an attempted carjacking last year. I...kinda handle the tech support for his equipment. He can't really create his own webs. He uses special web-shooter rigs." He gives Tigra a hesitant smile. "Uhm...Peter Parker. I take pictures for the Daily Bugle."

Kurt Wagner has posed:
Kurt Wagner sends a glance back toward Tigra, telling her, "I would like that answer from you later on." For the time being, it may need to wait as he gives Peter a devilish grin. "I do nicht know about you, but I think it hard to tell what someone looks like behind a full mask. He could look like he went ten rounds in the ring und came out the worse for it. But, if you work on the tools he uses, you must be very good."

He begins to ask Sunrise a question, but there are a few murmurs nearby about someone sneaking in without paying for a ticket.

Greer Grant has posed:
Tigra nods hi at Peter and nods acknowledgement at Kurt. It's kind of amazing how she can do two such different nods in close succession to one another. Truly her nodding capability is very versatile. She asks, "Am I interrupting business talk?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter chuckles to Tigra. "I'm just making conversation, nothing to get exclusionary over. I mean, Kurt, what you can do is just amazing. You have a lot of talent."

Kurt Wagner has posed:
Kurt Wagner points at Tigra when Peter uses 'amazing,' as if to say 'I told you so.' "Ah. Thank you. I had many years of practice in the circus und later on to help. I am sure you understand, few talents grow without nurturing."

Gesturing to the woman with the feline nature, he adds, "Tigra und I were having a conversation of our own about, what was it, feeling like you fit in? Finding understanding of one's self?" The tail flicks, as it has often.

Greer Grant has posed:
Tigra's own tail flicks in agitation as Kurt keeps pressing the issue, but she sighs and crosses her arms over her chest. "Fine. I was trying to say I was born human and then a bunch of weird stuff that would sound dumb if I explained it happened, so now I don't feel human any more or want to feel human, so I'm always on the lookout for people who might have some part of that in their life."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter develops a sudden, knowing look. "Uhm...I doubt this is in the same league as you, but I kinda get where you're coming from. It sounds like humblebragging if I say what it is, but...you feel people wouldn't understand what's going on with you, and they can't if you tried. Is it something like that?"

Kurt Wagner has posed:
Kurt Wagner offers Tigra as innocent a look as his somewhat demonic, elfin face can muster, a bright smile included. "What?" He saw the tail moving that way, the body language that followed. "I have found that very little sounds as dumb as people think it does, given the things I have seen. I have a feeling you have seen things as well, Miss Tigra. As for you," he includes Peter with a gesture from a quite unique hand, "You must have at least heard things."

He indicates Tigra again. "What matters most is being comfortable with who you are, und I am nicht just saying this to say it, but you are a beautiful person. I hope you are proud of who you are."

Greer Grant has posed:
Tigra shakes her head at Peter. "Not really. Anyone can understand if you tell them. It's more if you think you're the only one who's going through what you're going through, then it's like you're a monster. But if other people have gone through it, or at least something like it, then you're not a monster, you're just part of a different kind of people. That's why I like mutants so much even though I'm not one." She pauses. "At least I don't think I am. Never checked."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter looks thoughtful. "Yeah...I guess you're right about that. It can still stink, though, even if I don't understand. I'm not a pilot, but if I see a plane crash, I don't have to be a pilot to know someone messed up."

Kurt Wagner has posed:
"I have been called every name you could probably think of," Kurt offers, his hands meeting together at his waist. "At first, it hurt to hear these things. Eventually, I learned to understand that it said more about them than it did me, that it came from their own fears und prejudices, und it did nicht automatically make them bad people, just people who have nicht had the opportunity to learn more about what's around them beyond what they're familiar with. Some of them, you can help see the light. Some, you cannicht."

He looks between the two to see how they are in accepting or following what he is saying, then he adds, "But that is only my perspective. I try to see the best in people, but I will be honest. It is nicht always easy. More difficult when they are literally after you with pitchforks und torches." He tries to laugh at this. "If it is a matter of knowing you are nicht alone...you are nicht alone."

Greer Grant has posed:
Tigra nods and just says with a combination of brightness and wry cynicism, "Anyway, that's what's going on with me. What's going on with you?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter blinks. "Uhm. Well. I aced my finals for the semester, a girl got her sorority to invite me to a paintball game, which was so sudden they forgot to get me a paintball gun...or a helmet...or any safely gear. Must have been because i wouldn't give her my notes for the semester. Uhm, had a great Christmas, got my girlfriend something she liked a lot. Had Christmas dinner with family. Looking forward to Spring semester."

And trouncing a merc team, destroyed a drug labd, and got 34 crooks arrested in the past month. But that's not really something he can share.

Kurt Wagner has posed:
Kurt Wagner rubs the back of his neck, growing somewhat quiet for a spell. If he had to guess, his words of encouragement didn't have the impact he'd hoped for. But, cats can be aloof. Perhaps Tigras, too.

"Just..trying to help make the world a better place," he finally says, leaving it at that.

Greer Grant has posed:
Tigra nods along at Peter's recitation, and asks Kurt, "Don't like talking about your life stuff?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter looks to Kurt, but does not say anything. At this point, he feels his input would be facetious at best and patronizing at worst.

Kurt Wagner has posed:
Kurt Wagner shakes his head. "Nein. I teach others like me, und much of my focus is on that. I am just feeling like I have said enough for now. I also do nicht like the way a few of the people over there are staring, so I believe I will take mein leave for now. But if either of you would like to speak again, I am often around Bushwick." Otherwise known as Mutant Town. After another bow, this one slightly more forced along with the smile he gives them, he adds, "I do hope you enjoy the rest of your time. Auf Wiedersehen."

Greer Grant has posed:
Tigra learned a long time ago not to bow, and lacks the skirt for a curtsy, so she just nods at Kurt. "I get it. I don't like people looking at me either. It's a cat thing. Makes me feel like they're getting ready to pounce, so I need to either fight them off or find a safe place to escape them. Go on, take care of yourself. I'll go powder my nose or somehing so you two can finish what you were talking about before I started talking." She nods at Peter and wanders casually off, asking, "Anyone have a compact I can borrow so I can pretend to powder my nose?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter watches them depart. POLITELY, but they depart. He opts to get distracted by a pile of fire-department gear (behind a clear lining of shielding) so as not to make it very obvious.

Maybe he just relates better to people like Nightcrawler and Tigra with the costume ON...