Template:Featured Articles/25-2020

Moment of Awesome - Hope Abbott/Trance: Over lunch, Hope and mentor Emma Frost discuss next steps to improving things for mutants. "Finally going into assault mode... trying to change something constructive instead of basically playing whack a mole with the individual laws. The idea intrigues me. The first one is more difficult than the second.." Suddenly Hope had to grin. "... but for the second I might just have a thought." Pulling over her bag, she removed a folder from it and pushed it across the table. "Meet Jeffrey Mace. Democrat, defending one of the incumbent seats next year in the NY state senate." Emma picked up the folder, flicked through it quickly. “He looks... interesting. A very progressive state Senator.” She put the folder to one side. “I will look at it in detail, of course, but why have you brought the Senator to my attention?” "He was first catapulted in the public eye after helping several victims after Day Zero in a collapsed building. He was only just elected in an Alderman position, the popularity helped him become mayor in the next election." Hope paused the waiter entered once more, this time to deliver their orders. Once the waiter had left, she continued: "I have studied several of the reports, including some only available at the mansion. He could not have gotten some of those people free as a normal human." “Ah,” said Emma delicately. “But he isn’t... a known mutant?” "I have not even fully confirmed he is one, just very strong suspicions. And if he is, he is extremely discrete. But if you look at his voting and what he has said, it definitely looks like he would support some of the type of laws we just discussed. I was going to suggest him as a potential candidate to cultivate before you shared your ideas." Emma smiled as she took a small bite from her fish curry. “I like your style, Hope,” she said, warmly. “So you are thinking that if he is re-elected we may have someone willing to take our ideas forward? That could be very useful. So we could concentrate our attention on making sure he’s re-elected. And then perhaps seek his assistance on providing support to mutants.” "I am hoping that is the case, but I also have to admit that my case is built on a lot of 'could be', 'maybe' and 'possibly'. There is only so much that background research can reveal. A telepathic scan may reveal what he himself is thinking and feeling, but would not reveal if he at least is in a somewhat supportive environment where the basic ideas can start to bloom. A period of closer observation might be beneficial, but it would take a significant investment of time." Hope continued to lay out her case as she tested her curry, then quickly took another bite as the rich flavour hit her palate. Emma contemplated Hope for a moment and then took a sip of her wine. “Do you have a suggestion for who may be willing to invest that time?” she asked. “I am getting the feeling you have been thinking about this in quite some detail,” she continued and smiled at Hope. "You are right." Hope admitted. "If I am honest, I was hoping to combine two things. I still wish to complete an internship for my degree and from what I have seen the campaign for Mace his re-election is one I would enjoy working on. It would also give me the time to observe all that I need." Pausing to sip from her wine, she added: "And between the degrees I am working on and the practical skillset that I bring with me, I have no doubts about them accepting my application."