Who: Nikola Tesla and Emma Frost When: Tuesday morning, Dec 4 Where: Coffee Shop What: Random Encounter Rating: Low Status: Complete!
Nikola was standing in line waiting for his coffee. The elderly woman in front of him was waggling her bony, knuckle-y finger at the poor girl behind the counter, trying to give her a lecture on the proper temperature of steamed milk in her latte. Of course, Nikola didn’t think the old woman would know hot milk from hot water, but he wasn’t in the place to say something.
Though, the woman was taking forever. Nikola was running out of patience.
Emma sighed, looking at her watch. Was it possible to hate someone to death? Obviously not. The old woman wouldn’t withstand a hard shove, much less the full weight of Emma’s futile hatred. She crossed her arms, tapping the toe of her high heel loudly.
Nikola thought he could feel the irritation and disappointment from people standing behind him. He shifted his weight, his hands looped into his pockets, and turned to see how much line had amassed in the several minutes that this old woman was harrassing this poor girl.
Emma noticed the man looking back, and followed suit. There were three people behind her, and she wasn’t even next in line. This had to happen. It was for the greater good. She could feel bad later. “If you don’t move your wrinkled ass, I will happily move it for you.” She said it loud enough for pretty much everyone in the shop to hear. This place didn’t even have good coffee, she was only here because it was on her way to the bookstore.
Nikola turned again at the sound of the voice. The woman who spoke the words looked young, but with maturity beyond her years. And he wasn’t sure he’d ever heard something as amusing or attractive as the way she told off the old woman.
The woman turned, a little shocked at the sound, and frowned deeply. The barista behind the cash register looked relieved.
Nikola lifted his hands and gave Emma a gentle, golf clap as the old woman turned and stormed out of the shop. Well, as much as she could with her old lady hobbling and grumbling.
Emma laughed at the clap, eying the girl behind the counter. She was too busy helping the next person to inform her manager. “Well, someone had to say it.” She gave the clapper a very shallow bow.
Nikola gave a little laugh. “You did us all a favor. I’m glad it came from you, and not from me. You’re the savior of these people in line. I would have been the villain who abused an old woman.”
“It’s your dark hair. People think better of blondes, as far as I can tell.” She shrugged. “I am curious to know what you would have said.”
“You know, I think you’re right?” Nikola said, breaking into a smirk. The woman in front of them ordered her coffee and got out of the way as soon as she’d paid. Nikola leaned over and gave the stranger a gentle “thank you” before stepping up to the register.
“I’ll have a medium coffee. Black. And whatever this beautiful, young woman is having.” He added, motioning over his shoulder to Emma.
Emma laughed, and nodded. “I’ll take a large latte with an extra shot of espresso, please.” She smiled at Nikola. “Thank you.”
Nikola gave her a smile. “No problem.” He paid for the drinks and left a tip in the tip jar, then turned around to wander with her to wait for her latte. “It’s the least I can do for the savior of the line.”
Emma laughed, and stuck out her hand. “I’m Emma Frost. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Nikola Tesla.” Nikola responded, reaching forward a surprisingly delicate hand to shake hers. “It’s a pleasure.” He added, then released her hand. “I hope you weren’t in a rush. I’m thankful I’ve got another hour before my next class, or else I might have had to leave without coffee.” No one wants a cranky, caffeine deprived Nikola.
“I have a planning period, actually. You’re a teacher as well? Imagine that.” Emma smiled widely. “I teach middle school english. I take it from how you referred to your classes that you teach college classes.”
“Your assumption is correct,” Nikola said, giving a little nod. “UCLA, for the time being. It’s nice to have a sandbox to play in.” Nikola was involved with far more than just teaching. Teaching was something to occupy his time while he worked on other projects or had to wait for patents to go through. “How are you finding teaching middle school? You must have a world of patience. Aside from slow, old women in coffee shops, I mean.”
“Oh, I went to UCSD.” Emma smiled brightly. She had avoided LA because of her tendency toward road rage. “It actually helps to give the students reasonable patience boundaries. The old woman had clearly gone beyond the reasonable patience expectation.”
Nikola nodded. “That’s a very logical way of looking at it. I find it incredibly irritating when my students go beyond the reasonable patience expectation. Though, I’m sure mine is quite a bit shorter than yours.”
“That’s an important lesson for a child to learn. Even more so when they’re old enough to vote.” The high occurrence of immature students in colleges was overwhelming. At least her kids were supposed to be immature.
“Let’s not get started on the things that children should be learning before they have a chance to vote,” Nikola was one of those people who thought that people should be educated on issues before they have a chance to choose. He was a bit elitist when it came to voting. “What are your students studying currently?”
“They’re writing a persuasive essay about the topic of their choice. I expect to be horrified on many levels, but it’s fluff grading for the holidays.” Getting time to rest from schoolwork was important to her. It was one of the ways she stayed sane. “What do you teach?”
“Physics, right now.” Nikola responded. “It’s not my main center of focus, but it keeps me busy while I wait for other things.” He shrugged gently. “You really gave middle school students permission to write about whatever topic they chose?” He added, smirking.
Emma nodded. “But they have to be persuasive. I’m anticipating a lot of papers touting whatever boy band is most popular at the moment, but as long as they write the damn things I’m happy.” She took a big drink of her coffee. “I never took Physics. What’s your main area of focus?”
“It’ll be interesting reading during the winter holiday, anyway,” Nikola said with a smirk. He wondered what 12 year olds would have to say about anything, especially when the only requirement was that they be persuasive. “Energy,” he added in response to her question. “Mostly the conservation, transformation and manipulation of energy. I have several patents for designs in the collection and use of solar energy, as well as a few patents pending in other areas.”
“Oh, that’s interesting. Your timing is perfect, too. It must be a fascinating thing to study.” She looked genuinely interested. Just because she hadn’t pursued science didn’t mean she wasn’t interested. The best part about her temporary flirtation with Tony Stark had been seeing how a mad genius worked.
“In this day and age, it’s an absolutely fascinating field. Not as much money there as you’d think, depending on the application,” he added, thinking about it. “A lot of my colleagues are working on multiple projects at once just to keep the bills paid. It’s a shame that science isn’t as revered and respected as, say, throwing a football.” It was ridiculous the amount of money that athletes made compared to the rest of the world.
Emma made a face. “I’m an athletic person, but there’s no sense in how much the difference between the amount of money our entertainers make, and the people who change others’ lives for the better everyday. That any football player makes more than a fireman or a nurse should be considered a crime.”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself.” Nikola said, lifting his coffee cup as if in a toast.
Emma snorted and tapped her cup against his. It made a sad noise, but it would do. “I wonder if it’s like that in other countries?”
“I don’t know for a fact. I’ve never compared annual salaries in other countries.” Now that she mentioned it, he was curious. He’d have to log that one away and do some research at his computer later to sate his own curiosity. “I imagine it’s probably the same everywhere you go, though. Unfortunately.”
Emma sighed. “I suppose so.” That was damn depressing.
“Well, I should probably...” He motioned toward the door. “Prepare for class. But it was a pleasure meeting you Miss Frost.” He inclined his head.
She nodded as well. “It was nice meeting you too! Hopefully you won’t be further impeded by the irate elderly.”
“Indeed,” Nikola said with a chuckle. “And you, too. Thanks again for being our savior.” He gave her a little wave, then turned and headed out of the coffee shop.