9879/A Mutant and an Alien Go For Coffee

A Mutant and an Alien Go For Coffee
Date of Scene:	28 January 2022
Location:	Rise N Grind
Synopsis:	A chance meeting develops into a conversation about New York and the world beyond.
Cast of Characters:	Monet St. Croix, Nikolas Kamarov

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Monet St. Croix has posed:
She doesn't normally come to somewhere as -gauche- as this. And it displeases her. But the individual she was meeting is running late and Monet St. Croix is just sitting and simmering as she would wait to hear from them. A few telepathic proddings had gotten no reponse, and now all she could do was sitin her corner, simmering and plotting revenge

Nikolas Kamarov has posed:
    He doesn't normally come this far away from the embassy either. His handlers don't like him wandering. Don't they give him plenty of funds to afford the more expensive coffee shops downtown, after all? Which is part of the reason he does it. It's not much, but it's a bit of stubborn freedom he can still take for himself, and he enjoys annoying those above him with such minor transgressions.

    He steps inside, glancing around, dressed in a comfortable wool trenchcoat and cashmere scarf in silver, looking a bit out of place. Then again, his long ponytail doesn't exactly scream businessman. Maybe Silicon VAlley techmogul, but then he'd be in jeans and an overpriced band shirt or something.

    He heads up to the counter, reflexively glancing around, his eyes lighting on M with a slight pause. She's striking of course, but it's not that.

    Didn't he end up in a situation with her a few weeks back? Hmmm. Well, he was masked. She probably won't recognize him.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Just a middle aged man coming in that looks like a tourist. To M, he looks about as out of place over as a Texan at the Louvre talking about their cows. So she would just swivel her eyes to gaze over at him with a 'what are you doing here' and maintaining her passive glance at him, moving to fold her hands together in light irritation before evaluating him and trying to gather where he might be from.
    Finally she would speak over to him in passable Russian, "You look like you're on the wrong side of the world." Seeing what reaction she received.

Nikolas Kamarov has posed:
    Niko accepts his coffee, stepping away from the counter..it's fairly quiet really, being middle of the day and past the lunch rush. He sips from it absently as he looks for a place to sit, then pauses as he's addressed, glancing over to Monet. "I suppose New York is all sorts of pieces of the world shoved together. So close enough." he replies in the same language, shrugging his shoulders. "Sometimes it's nice to get away from what you know."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would glance over at Nikolas, then moves over to speak once more in Russian, her tone slow in the motions of someone that knew the language from a low academic level rather htan fluency or speaking. "Yes I suppose tha tone could call it that. It doesn't have the grandeur of somewhere old, but it's under three hundred years. Nothing liek Moskova."

Nikolas Kamarov has posed:
    "No, but it has its charms." Niko says, smoothly switching to Russian as he walks over closer to where Monet is sitting. "Very cosmopolitan, by comparison. But yes, it lacks the weight of age of Europe, or elsewhere." He pauses, then says. "If it is not an imposition, perhaps I could sit with you?"

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would nod, "The city will perhaps in another century or two gain some charater that is not based purely upon new urbanism. And of course." Her sticking with Russian, being careful to enunciate. "It's at least a chance to practice."

Nikolas Kamarov has posed:
    "There are certainly a mixing pot of languages here, yes." Niko agrees, pulling out a chair and taking a seat. "I take it you are not a native, then?" He relaxes a bit, not quite slouching but a bit less straight-backed, sipping from his coffee.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would take a sip of her own coffee, "I'm from Algeria." Or close enough to pass for the discussion even if nto quite. "I've tried to make it a point of being aware of the better European languages."

Nikolas Kamarov has posed:
    Niko looks vaguely amused by that. "Only the better ones? Which don't make your cut? Greek? Czeck? Polish?" He tilts his head. "I've never been to Algeria. Rabat, in Morocco, and Tunis on the other side. The edge of the mountains there, I think." He seems to be trying to remember, then shrugs. "Ah, it's been a while. Did you come here to be a student in linguistics, then?"

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would lean in, "I unfortunately have had minimal tutlage in those of eastern europe. Russian is broad enough that most of those in the region are fluent wiht it, so I can converse within my abilities. It is language that I wish to learn more of. And I have come here for studies."

Nikolas Kamarov has posed:
"Mmmm, it is at least understood in most of the nations of the former USSR. And close enough to many other languages that you can be understood, otherwise." Niko agrees, nodding. "I know Ukrainian and Chechen fairly fluently, and a smattering of others in the area. Mostly what I have picked up traveling."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would nod, "The benefits of a wide area that has some level of a common tongue. A necessity for most nations which over a long time came together from disparate roots."

Nikolas Kamarov has posed:
"By force, in the case of the old Soviet." Niko says, with a faint smirk. "Consolidation and empire." He tilts his head curiously, sipping from his coffee. "Mm, how do you find the United States, other than this particular city? I'm not sure how long you've been here for studies."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would go to watch over and shrug, "A year or so perhaps. My father wished for me to have access to educational facilities and entry level to more specialized fields than would have been accessible purely iin my country of origin."

Nikolas Kamarov has posed:
"Ah. A common reason to come here, yes. Do you have particular fields you are interested in, then, or are you still broadening your mind before making such decisions?" Niko wonders.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would mm, "My father is a diplomat, so I'm seeking certification to take some baseline classes through United Nations affiliates. Though I need the proper programs first to appeal for entry level exams."

Nikolas Kamarov has posed:
A silvery brow raises. "Oh, I see. I am also with the Russian embassy, myself. A humble attache though...not someone with great authority." He shrugs. "Part of the reason I am here instead of closer to there is sometimes it is good to take a walk in the cold and see what you find, hmm?"

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would nod, "Yes. I find this city a.. Interesting area for how many small localized communities there are. At least, thoughs that have not been bought out over the decades as gentrification has set in."

Nikolas Kamarov has posed:
    Niko chuckles. "Ah yes...all the little hidden away 'littles' in the city. Like walking into a different town in places. A little microcosm of the world, all within jogging distance." He pauses. 'Ah, forgive me, I got carried away by the conversation, did not mean to be rude. My name is Nikolas Kamarov. A pleasure to meet you."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would sit back over in her position "Of course, none taken. Monet St Croix, the feeling is mutual." All thsoe things she had said close enough to the truth if he took the time later to look her up to pass any sort of quick muster.

Nikolas Kamarov has posed:
"Niko is fine too. I am not very formal when I can be." the man admits easily enough, zipping from his drink. "Ah, Monet? A fairly unique name here, I would imagine."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would nod, "Yes, my father named me with a name that I must strive to live up for in pursuit of improving myself and doing the family credit for it. I have a ways to go."

Nikolas Kamarov has posed:
    "Ah, high bar. Good to have a challenge in mind, I suppose. Though they say that it's the journey and the struggle that are more important than reaching the goal." He raises his coffee in faint salute.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would get up, "Thank you for the conversation. And I find that the goal is the best end. Because you know that what you have done is all worth something and it has not been wasted. And do forgive me, but I must not tarry."

Nikolas Kamarov has posed:
5tNiko nods in acknowledgement, not arguing the point. "That is a fair view." He smiles. "I would not want to make you late. It has been a nice chat, all the same. Perhaps I will bump into you again? New YOrk often seems smaller than one expects. Have a good day."