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It's an era of protests. People whose rights have been curtailed for as long as anyone can remember simply aren't standing for it any more. Maybe part of that is the new group of people whose rights are suddenly in question. Otherwise "normal" people who suddenly found themselves rendered "other" by emerging powers. Mutants.
Not long ago, there was a rally that went very wrong. Scott heard news stories and a few comments about the events, but he wasn't willing to simply take someone else's word for it. He wanted to come and investigate for himself. So he took his motorcycle down into the city, parking in an open spot and frowning when he finds the meter has apparently been yanked out of the sidewalk - there's a ragged hole in the cement where it once was, at least.
*
Thea had pondered attending and taking part in the rally. She had debated if it would out her status or not, put her job at risk.. In the end, working a double shift had made it impossible, do the job won once more. Still, after the attack on Mutant town last time, Thea feels the need to come check it out. She's had some rest, a big meal, and coffee, just in case when things went sideways they left work for her to do. Blonde hair is waving over her shoulders, held back from her face by a midnight blue headband that matches her sweater paired with gray flannel slacks. It may not be wise, but she's in velvety heels in that same blue color as well. The messenger bag clashes a bit, beat up and worn as it is, but it's packed full of useful goods, so it comes along with the biokinetic nurse.
*
"What'd you do, Erik?" Scott mutters under his breath, crouching at the sidewalk to run his fingers over the broken cement. Shaking his head, he straightens once more, carefully pushing a pair of ruby red sunglasses up his nose to make sure they stay in place. And having noticed the small detail of the missing parking meter, he steps back to get a better look at the bigger picture. Of course, he doesn't look before he starts backing up, stepping right into Thea's path.
*
And despite her usual grace, there's not much helping it. She minimizes the collision, a hand on his arm to try and steady them both. "Whoa! Hey there, sorry. I didn't see you step back until a second too late." There's a bright smile, confident even in a less than polite part of town. She's clearly not afraid of muggers, mutants, or a man with a possible bad temper she's bumped into. "Are you all right?" She knows he is, at least concerning their bumping, but she will look up into his face, eyes caught by the presence of those glasses.
*
"Oh, excuse me!" Scott says quickly, turning and reaching out a hand to catch her should she need it. It might not be the best part of town, but glasses aside he certainly looks like a respectable young man. He wouldn't be out of place in the better parts of town, at least. "I'm sorry, I'm not actually blind," he says, rueful. "Just distracted. I didn't hit you too hard, did I?" he asks, leaning around her to make sure he didn't cause her to drop anything. Polite, too.
*
"I know you're not." It comes out before Thea can help it, words rolling off her tongue because her brain is still too busy being /fascinated/ by what is going on behind the glasses. "You're no more blind than I am." That smile faltered, then returned, sunbeam bright. "Not at all. I sort of walked into you. I should probably pay more attention to where I'm going, but then.. I wouldn't have bumped into a handsome stranger." The tone is full of lighthearted tease, even as she winks.
*
Wait a minute, is she…is she flirting with him? Scott blinks a couple of times behind his glasses, creating an awkward moment of silence before he clears his throat and the words really sink in. "That's, ah. Very. Ah. Thank you," he finally manages to say, clearing his throat with a cough as he takes a step back. "Sorry. I just heard things went a little bit sideways in this part of town recently, so I thought I'd come out and see how much of the news was true, you know?"
*
Thea totally is, because it's fun. His awkward pause only increases her amusement, that grin widening just a touch. "You're welcome, sailor." Her head tips at his explaining why he's here. "Or is it detective? Naw, you're too cute to be a cop." Oh lord, someone stop her now. "Funny thing is, that's why /I/ came down here. I was working a double shift when it all happened." She lifts the flap on her bag, lets him see medical supplies.
*
"Teacher, actually. Sort of. Part time. It's…complicated." Scott does manage a faint smirk at the cop comment, though. More than one person has referred to him as the rules cop, at least. "You're a nurse?" he asks when he gets a glance into the bag, taking a step to the side of the sidewalk to make room for anyone who might be passing through.
*
Thea will make a half side step to be more out of the way, her body keeping in line with his. "Sure never had a teacher like you at my school." She can't help herself, really. "Complicated? School cut backs, or?" She sounds legitmately interested. "I am a nurse.. sometimes. It's just one of the things I do to stay busy." Her head tips back just a touch, looking into those glasses. "So what actually is going on behind those, anyhow? That's an awful lot of energy going on back there."
*
Scott's brows shoot up at the question. "That…is also complicated," he answers, glancing around and then back at the woman. He's dealt with enough telepaths that they don't usually just slip into his mind, but he's also not the sort to rule anything out without getting all the information. "How could you tell?"
*
"It's complicated because of where you teach, or what you are, sailor?" Thea speaks softly, almost drawling. There's a hint of a smirk. "I have eyes too. Eyes that sort of see more than the average. I can see when someone's hurt, or injured, can tell if their heartrate is up, blood pressure.. I'm not so different. I can see that your eyes are something special, is all."
*
"Special's one way to put it," Scott grimaces, shoving his hands deep into his pockets. The slight inward curve of his shoulders, the self-conscious posture. It's a sore spot for him. "Like you said, it's energy. Everywhere else, my body holds it in. But I open my eyes, and it comes out. The glasses block it. Keeps things from getting dangerous." He tilts his head, giving her a closer look. "Sounds like a useful skill set for someone in medicine."
*
Thea reaches out a hand to his shoulder to try and push them back. "See, that's nothing to hunch about. To me that's something amazing… I mean, sure, there's downside, I can't imagine. But.." She smiles. "See? Taking it calmly, rationally, not running away screaming. It's something I hadn't seen before, and I have this habit of blurting it out, see." She even flushes a bit. "It is. And it helps me see who needs my help most, and..well, some of the people down here trust me."
*
Scott flushes, a charming counterpoint to the ruby lenses as he tries to force himself to stand up straight rather than aw shucks even harder. "It has its uses," he allows. "And I've found ways to live around it, so. Ways to use it to help other people." He half-turns, looking down the street once more with a slight frown. "Sort of feels like it would have hurt more than helped even if I'd been here for the rally, though. It looks like things got bad."
*
Thea can't help finding him adorable, for all he's the elder. "I'm sure it has a lot of uses. I commend your self control." She does, and it shows in her voice. "Which makes me feel awful about being stuck with an unscheduled double. I might have been able to do something. I.." She shrugs. "I'm not exactly wanting the world to know about me."
*
Scott's lips purse at Thea's confession, disapproving, though it isn't directed at her. "What you've got is a gift," he says. "It's- I'm sorry," he says, straightening a bit and belatedly offering over a hand. "I'm Scott, by the way. But really, you shouldn't have to hide something like that. Something that can help people. One day I hope that people can see that."
*
"I know. There's a select group of people that know that about me too." There's a chuckle as her hand slides into his. "Thea. I use it as best I can, but people may not want a mutant, no matter /how/ talented, qualified, gifted and pretty, to be their nurse." There's a shake of her head. "You sound almost exactly like a couple other guys I know."
*
"Well good," Scott smiles crookedly to the last. "The more people who feel that way, the better our chances of teaching even more people to think that way. The world is changing. Slowly, and not without a struggle. But it's moving toward a better place. People are realizing that we don't have to hide."
*
"You know.. I mean, one of them has connections to a school. If you.." The words fumble a bit. "I mean, I don't know what your teaching gig is, or if you even want more. But I could see maybe if the guy I know could maybe get you in there? It's.. a very accepting sort of private school. I wish I could have gone there."
*
Scott tilts his head, quirking a brow slightly when she mentions a school. "I don't suppose these friends of yours have a name, do they?" he asks, a faint hint of a smile starting to curve. Relieved of the pressure of trying to explain everything, he's actually able to relax a little bit. As much as he ever relaxes, at least.
*
She bites the tip of her tongue, looking up at him from under lashes. She notes that start of a smile, a hint of relaxing. "Oh good gods, you're one of them, aren't you. I just haven't seen you when Warren brought me out there."
*
"Warren's…definitely more sociable than I am," Scott chuckles. "But yes, I'm very much one of them. I'm sorry to have missed you if you've been out to the school. But I imagine it makes more sense why being a teacher is a little bit complicated there. It's not exactly my full time job."
*
Thea laughs. "Yes, he is. We met at some charity mess, because my father asked me to go in my mother's absence." She shrugs. "I've only been out a few times. Logan's becoming a friend, I hope. I think. I'm not sure anyone is ever really sure where they stand with that man."
*
Scott's smile quirks again at the mention of Logan, dubious. "Logan has friends?" he asks, jesting. "Color me surprised. I always thought he had people who were worth going out of his way to ruin their day, and people who weren't." Or at least hopefully he's joking. Joking doesn't seem like something he does often, so it's a little hard to tell. "Well, you can see now why I wanted to find out for myself what happened at the rally. Whatever it was, the school should be prepared for any potential fall-out."
*
"I think, maybe? Who knows. Maybe he puts up with me because sometimes I bring booze. Glorious foreign liqour." Thea jokes. "Indeed. I came to see if anyone was hurt. Because, you know, people just won't go to the hospital sometimes. Stubborn and all. Afraid. You name it. "
*
"In this part of town, afraid most likely," Scott agrees with a nod, sobering. "Or else not sure that the hospital will be able to help them. Mutant physiology isn't exactly like everyone else's. Case in point," he taps at the side of his glasses. "If you're hurt to a certain point, I can see not wanting to go to a doctor who's not going to know what they're getting into."
*
"Which is where I come in. I can.. adjust what I know, what I see, to fit." Thea shrugs. "Once they realize I'm like they are, people around here tend to be much more willing to let me help."
*
Scott nods once, smile faint. "Well. I should probably let you get back to it, then," he says, taking a step back with a dip of his chin. "It's been a pleasure to meet you, Thea. Maybe next time you're at the school I can say hello."
*
"It would be a shame if I didn't see you next time I drove out. I would be heart broken." She slips back into the easy manner of flirting with him as if they hadn't just been talking about much heavier social issues.
*
She's rewarded with another of those flushes as Scott ducks his chin. "Well, ah. I will, ah. Well." He clears his throat again, still backing away. Run away little Summers, run away. "I'm sure I'll see you, then. Good luck out here. And thank you for helping these people."
*
Thea tips her head a little. "Do all the people who flirt with you make you flush, Scott? Or do I get to feel special?" There's a chuckle. "Oh, you'll see me all right. And well.. I might be only one person, but I'm better than nothing for a lot of these people. "
*
Oh, there's no way he's answering that question. Scott is suddenly intensely interested in something in the direction Thea came from, booking it down the sidewalk.
*
Aww, she's sad he won't answer it.. though not answering it is also an answer. That sudden interest is enough to get her to turn to see what in the world would be coming to get his attention.
*