Day 3-Evening- Burg- Josh

"Hmmm" was all Josh said in reply. He looked over at the waiter and raised an eyebrow apon catching sight of the head full of red hair that could only belong to one person.
He quickly removed any expresion from his face before Selena could catch sight of it and take offence.

Burg: Day 3, evening
Lawrence Manor

"Pleasure to meet you, miss Lightwood." Lawrence replied with a slight nod. "So you're a doctor? Any particular field or just a medical researcher?"

----

Noticing a gentlemen flagging her for a drink, Selena walked over to where the man was talking to Josh. "I only have wet martini's with an olive. I can get you something else if you want... well, within reason." the red haired girl said with a slight smile that carried an undertone of Don't try anything, mister.

Burg: Day 3
Lawrence Manor

"Well," Tamara smiled and glanced down at her drink, then looked up at Lawrence. "It is a little hard to explain, since I am not quite sure myself. I suppose you could say that I am still researching somewhat. I work with DNA processing and manipulation, as well as working with cognitive reprogramming."

She paused for a moment to take a sip, watching Malcom's face to see what his reaction was.

Burg: Day 3, evening
Lawrence Manor

With a slight laugh Lawrence replied. "O...k. I'm afraid you lost me with DNA processing and manipulation. I never was one for biology in school, so please pardon my ignorance on the matter." he took a quick sip of his drink before seeming to remember something. "Do you happen to work with Dr. Merideth Winters by any chance?"

(((Just throwing out a name here, Wren. If you want the reply to be "no", that's perfectly fine. )))

Burg: Day 3
Lawrence Manor

Tamara shook her head.

"Unfortunately, no. I met her briefly, but I have never had the opportunity to work with her. In fact, I'm not quite exactly sure what her specialty is. Is she a friend of yours?"

Burg: Day 3
Lawrence Manor

"More of an acquaintance, really. We worked together some in college, back then she was studying beneficial mutations in marine life. Not too sure what she is up to now... last I heard she was in Arida studying some special breed of dolphin."

As Lawrence shrugged with the last sentence, he noticed a familiar figure approaching from the corner of his eye. As was his misfortune this evening, it was not a figure he wanted to see.

"Evening, MacArthur..." Malcom said dryly as the young precinct supervisor giddily made his way over to Lawrence and Tamara.

"Evening, Lawrence! My, my but what a beautiful and truly magnificent place you have! No wonder you're the darling boy of Burg. I mean, just the architecture outside is... Wow!" MacArthur continued singing the praises of Lawrence Manor in his usual rambling way before an understandably annoyed Malcom interrupt him.

"Alfred, this is miss Tamara Lightwood. She's a doctor that is visiting us to assess the damage of the supernova." Before Lawrence could kindly excuse himself and the younger man from Tamara's company, MacArthur had already jumped into pouring out pleasantries to Doctor Lightwood.

"Oh, it's a pleasure to have you visit our precinct, Dr. Lightwood! I wish we could have cleaned up the place a bit better, but it's only been three days. Where are my manners? My name is Alfred MacArthur, I am the head of the Burg precinct operations..." he continued waxing eloquent about the city and his work (so far) in Burg.

Burg: Day 3
Lawrence Manor

"Good evening, Mr. MacArthur," Tamara said, inclining her head in greeting toward the city manager. "And, please, do not trouble yourself about the city's condition. I find it a beautiful place, despite the damage, and, as a representative of the government, it is my duty to review the aftermath of the supernova as close to the original event as possible. How has your city been coping with the events? Are there any areas where your resources are overly-stretched, or...strange, unexplained occurrences?"

Burg: Day 3
Lawrence Manor

"Heh, I was forgetting about that..." MacArthur paused long enough to snag a drink from the butler as he walked by before answering Doctor Lightwood's inquiry.

"The citizens seem to be coping as well as in any other city, ma'am. There is your typical looters and troublemakers running around, but for the most part, we have everything under control." a quick pause for a sip of his drink before Alfred began rambling again.

"The local law enforcement has been aided greatly by military and vice versa. Overly stretched resources? Hmm... more building supplies to reenforce some of the structures downtown and in the industrial district would be great. We had a major "incident" the other night over in the industrial district that ruined a good chunk of the structures over there..." at this, MacArthur took a step closer to Lawrence and Tamara while also lowering his voice.

"I don't know how much of this is a local problem or not, but we're getting overrun with reports of... how to say... "strange individuals". Take the other night for instance: my boys had to go to the West side and take down a giant sludge-beast. Now, I don't know if this bit is true or not, but eyewitness reports say that there were two others there that were fighting with the sludge-thing." Alfred took a step back and returned to his usual speaking volume.

"So the crazy freaks are even fighting amongst themselves!" the city manager apparently thought this last statement was rather funny as he started laughing. Once he noticed neither Lawrence nor Doctor Lightwood was laughing, MacArthur quickly stopped and took a long drink of his martini.

Burg: Day 3
Lawrence Manor

Tamara raised her eyebrows somewhat and glanced over at Malcom. MacArthur was quickly settling into the categories of "stupid and idiotic" (and even perhaps "useless") in her mind, and she guessed that Mr. Lawrence held him in little esteem also. Nevertheless, she smiled benevolently and looked at Alfred.

"I find this interesting, Mr. MacArthur," she said, then looked toward Malcom. "I've never heard these people referred to as 'crazy freaks' before, although the media does love to call it 'radiation poisoning.' What are your thoughts on the matter, Mr. Lawrence? Do you see these freaks, as Alfred calls them, as a burden to society, or do you perhaps think they could aid the greater good of our nation?"

Burg: Day 3
Lawrence Manor

Malcom tried his best to appear civil while MacArthur proved himself to be more incompetent than anything else. Needless to say, it was very difficult. I feel sorry for Burg if this is the best our nation could get to put in-charge of security... Lawrence thought with a slight eye roll as Alfred started laughing at his own (rather unfunny) joke.

"Well, considering it has only been a few days since the supernova occurred and these... "mutants" have started appearing, I think it's a tad too early to say for certain if they are beneficial or harmful to the greater humanity." Lawrence glanced over at MacArthur before continuing. "I will say this, though. With the minimal amount of information I have heard regarding the mutants, I feel it is better that we try to communicate with them and understand them first before labeling them as a threat."

"They're people that have awoken with new powers. Power they undoubtedly do not understand. I would suspect they are more afraid than anything at present and calling them "freaks" or trying to contain them and dissect them will not help us to win their trust. As to whether they are good or bad, I'm sure there are some that fit both categories just as all normal humans are both good and bad. We can't expect basic human nature to simply fade away when we make another leap in our evolution... if this is what has happened."

With that, Lawrence took a much needed sip of his drink as he awaited to hear Doctor Lightwood's opinion on his thoughts.

----

Selena smiled as she overheard Lawrence explaining his stance on the "mutant problem". He may be a tad rough around the edges, but his heart is in the right place...

Burg: Day 3
Lawrence Manor

Tamara's face brightened a bit as Malcom spoke.

"Your thoughts on the matter are quite similar to my own," she admitted. "As you hinted, there are many people who are experiencing side effects from the supernova. The media is calling it 'radiation poisoning' or something else along those lines, but it really isn't. From what I have been able to uncover, it is actually a genetic modification that was experienced at the moment of the supernova.
"As usual, the media is highly overreacting, claiming that these people are going to destroy our society, or kill people, or any other number of things. Personally," Tamara lowered her voice a notch, "I feel that, for the most part, the genetic modifications are beneficial. However, there are a few that, rather than using their abilities to better and repair our country, use their newfound abilities to their own profit. These are the fools that are making the news for pillaging and killing, and may people feel they should be...eliminated because of that."

Tamara looked over her drink at Alfred, her eyes squinting slightly before she took a sip and turned back toward the master of the house.

"I disagree with this sentiment. Once these more dangerous people are contained, they are sent to Quadrant 9, my facility, where they can have a second chance. I believe that, deep down, nearly every person can be motivated to become a stable and responsible part of society. Obviously, not every one has the opportunity to be a mover and shaker like yourself, but each one of these modified individuals can be a powerful force for good, in their own time and way. My job is to determine what makes these people tick, and I believe each one can be rehabilitated to become a beneficial member of society. If they can harness and control their superpower, they can harness and control their mind, will and emotions. I may think differently from everyone else, but I think this supposed 'poisoning' is actually a gift."

Burg: Day 3
Lawrence Manor

Having picked up on the vibes that he was not welcomed, Alfred quietly left the company of Lawrence and Doctor Tamara to find someone else more... fun. As he left, MacArthur did make a mental note of where the host and Doctor seemed to stand on the "mutant" issue....

---

After watching Alfred sulk away, Malcom turned his attention back to Doctor Lightwood. "Sounds like a highly sophisticated and humane plan you have for the mutants, Doctor Lightwood. I hope it goes as well as you wish it to, though I wouldn't put too much trust in our benevolent government to keep their hands out of your project."

With this, Lawrence glanced around at the other politicians and the like in his house. "For the most part they mean well, but I have read too many history books to think they are all "peace & love", if you take my meaning." with this, Malcom stopped to take another sip of his drink.

Burg, Day 3, Lawrence Manor

"A martini will be fine," said Lewis taking one of the proffered drinks. "You needn't ask me again next time you come around, this will be enough drink for me." He took a sip and turned back to Josh. "So, other than thinking you saw someone fly, how have you been coping with all this?"

Burg: Day 3
Lawrence Manor

"Oh, Mr. Lawrence," Tamara smiled. "My program is government funded. I work for the government. But I agree with your assessment. Peace and love are noble ideals, however...it may perhaps take a strong arm to protect these ideals."

Burg: Day 3
Lawrence Manor

Selena smiled politely before moving on to the other guests once Lewis had procured his drink.

----

The reminder that he was talking to a government funded scientist caused Malcom to momentarily loose his politician like demeanor as he almost chocked on his martini. "Pardons, I had completely forgot you work for our government..." Lawrence said as he regained his composure. "I also agree that good ideals are worth fighting for. I'm just not sure if my definition of those ideals is what the politicians have in mind."