10867/Hideaway at the Hideaway

Hideaway at the Hideaway
Date of Scene:	25 January 2020
Location:	Harry's Hideaway (Bar), Salem Centre
Synopsis:	Piotr and Carol get away from the mud-slinging for a little bit.
Cast of Characters:	Colossus, Captain Marvel (Danvers)

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Colossus has posed:
    Inside Harry's Bar the party is winding down. There is still the sound of a smaller crowd, voices rumbling and glasses clinking as the staff clear the tables. It is going to be a long night to clean up all of the debris and detritus after Rogue's birthday party, not even to mention the amount of mud that escaped the boundaries of the wrestling pits. But all in all it had been a successful night, and not just for Harry but for the charity Rogue was working with.
    Outside, around the side of the building, AJ is wrangling with four overstuffed bags of garbage all filled with a myriad of refuse as he swings them around, stumbling a few steps, staggering to the side, then trying to hold the bags out to the side all in one hand as he attempts to open the dumpster's lid in vain...
    Until a shadow appears behind him and a rough Russian accented voice lifts, "One second, AJ. Let me help you." As Piotr lifts the large lid and then helps Harry's son toss the trash away.
    "Thanks Piotr, hey you have a good time tonight?"
    "Yes," Piotr's smile is there as he starts to walk back towards the front of the building. "Was a good party. It was just such a good night. I took a walk."
    "Cold though, right?" AJ grins.
    "Cold? Bah. This is nothing." The G on that last word a little hard as Piotr smiles and walks back to the front of the building. "Seeya."
    "Seeya, Pete."

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
Most of the partygoers have started to stagger (or fly in a zig-zaggy line) their way home, though Carol has stuck around. Rogue is still inside enjoying the wee hours of the day after her birthday, and the blonde Avenger has taken it upon herself to make sure her unlikely friend gets home safe. Still, not being a drinker, she's decided to step outside and get some air. She's standing there when Peter steps out from behind the bar, and she glances over his shoulder towards him.

"Hey, Russian Judge," she calls, her hands in the pockets of her jacket even if she doesn't really feel the cold, "Calling it a night?"

Colossus has posed:
    The tall man glanced in her direction, but then at the sound of her voice he looks again and recognition dawns. His lip twists up a little as he shifts his stride to walk in her direction, slowing as he draws near. His hands are deep in the pockets of his grey pea coat.
    "Hello, American Icon." His smile is there, but like the man himself it is a touch reserved. Then he glances to the door of the bar as another couple step through, laughing a bit and making their way down the snowy street. A step to the side to be sure he's out of their way before he turns back to Carol.
    "Not yet, I had thought to check in with the others, see if everyone has arrangements to make it home." Protective, in his own way. Without trying to be overbearing perhaps.
    "And you?"

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
"I'm here for Trouble," Carol begins, before realizing how that sounds and elaborating, "Uh - for Rogue. Figure if anybody knows how those powers she's got works while you're drunk, it's me. I'm gonna make sure she gets home safe. I don't imagine she's going to get herself in any trouble, but I don't want her flying through some poor bastard's wall."

She jerks her head back towards the door: "You missed a bit of a show when you went out for air. One of the birthday girl's illustrious opponents got away with her top."

Colossus has posed:
    That admission causes him to exhale a breath, something that would be a laugh if he gave it more energy, but he does seem to actually blush a little bit as he chuckles while shaking his head. His eyebrows lift as he looks upward, then back sidelong at her, as if seeking help from above. "Ah what matters is that she enjoyed her birthday then."
    He steps to the side, moving himself further out of the way of the door and taking a seat upon the edge of the large planter that serves as decor for Harry's. "That is kind of you to look after her so. At times I worry, but I perhaps should not."
    He nods a little and looks to the side, then lifts his gaze back up to Carol. "I had no idea about this control of her power she has gained. Do you know what has caused it?"

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
"She's got a lot more of a handle on looking after herself than most people," Carol says, moving to stand opposite the planter with her back to the parking lot, "She's been taking care of herself for a long time. No parents. The Brotherhood certainly aren't a sharing and caring family. But for all the bluster, I'm glad to see someone else knows she needs people there for her sometimes."

The question prompts her to raise her eyebrows. She's amazed that she hadn't even given it much thought. But now that Piotr brings it up, it causes her brow to furrow and her teeth to pinch her bottom lip thoughtfully.

"I - you know what? I don't know. Though I've got some suspicions. I know she's run across a few different ways to keep her powers from acting out like that, but nothing that doesn't need to be plugged in at the wall. But when the Sorcerer Supreme is your former roommate, I guess anything is possible."

Colossus has posed:
    Piotr's gaze holds hers as she answers and when she mentions that Anna-Marie needs others, he can't help but nod twice slowly. He takes a deep breath and holds it, blue eyes holding Carol's as she answers that last as well and the answer given only serves to make that tall Russian man seem all the more dour. "I do not begrudge her this..."
    He gestures to the side with one hand toward the bar as he shifts a little in his seat. "She has had a difficult life and the simple act of touching. Of... knowing such casual affection as we take for granted. I am sure it is a heady thing for her to embrace after everything."
    Then there's a pause. Carol can likely just feel that 'but' coming.
    "But I fear that whatever it is... I fear for what impact it may have for Rogue should it not be something that lasts. You understand?" His accent grows a little thicker at the end there.
    Another nod is given, "Perhaps I am being the foolish. Perhaps I am as Katya has told me, a Negative Nancy. But I cannot help worry."

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
"I look after her like she was my own flesh and blood," Carol explains, turning her head to stare off down the snowy street and avoid any sort of eye contact - speaking from the heart is hard enough, "After all we went through. Shared. There's a big part of me in her."

She sighs, shaking her head.

"She is isolated. You might be right that whatever's letting her work around her powers might have a bad side to it. But she's earned a night, at least. A night where she can be herself - at least, the person she might have been, I guess."

Colossus has posed:
    For a time she can likely see Piotr's gaze distance as he puts himself in their shoes, to imagine what it must have been like for Rogue to have taken what she did from Carol, and for Carol to get past it herself as well. Not to mention where they are now and how they have recovered. Another moment passes and he shakes his head slightly.
    He lifts his eyes once again to hers and she can see something gauging there, not... judging, but weighing the severity of time and what has passed. He exhales again slowly and murmurs, "You are a kind person, Carol. A good person to be able to... to reach this point."
    He perhaps dances around that past. But then he frowns and he says it outright. "What was done to you. I do not think I could ever forgive such a thing. Were I to endure such." He nods once.
    Then adds, "Even if by someone as wondrous of spirit as Rogue."

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
"We all do stupid things," Carol offers by way of explanation for her largesse, "I'm not a saint. I didn't get to this point quickly and I'm sure I made her feel like hell before I got here, too. But she was a kid - a child, really - and now I know that none of it was her decision. She was used."

She holds up a hand, extending thumb and forefinger in the likeness of a pistol: "If someone points a gun at you and pulls the trigger, you don't hate the gun. You hate the person behind it. I took a long time to get here. Too long. But I'm here now, so I'm making up for lost time."

The observation prompts a raise of her eyebrows, followed by an exhalation of air that might be a laugh if there were anything more behind it: "You'd be surprised the sort of things you can move past when the only other choice is laying down and dying."

Colossus has posed:
    The Russkie glances away, nodding as he accepts Carol's point of view, mulling it over in his thoughts. For a moment he chews on his lower lip and then gives a small sardonic smirk as he looks up toward the air force pilot. "I think, Katya is right about me. Clearly I am a big downer."
    That said he pushes himself to his feet and rises above her, still holding her gaze. "You are an admirable woman, Carol Danvers." He nods once then adds, "Even for an evil American capitalist." His lip twitches a little as he steps back out onto the sidewalk, starting to turn back to face her but then stepping out of the way as another couple emerge from the bar.
    He waits for them to pass before he resumes, "Are you going to be around more often or should I cherish this conversation for the rare thing that it is?"

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
Carol can't help but laugh at the observation, lifting a hand to pinch the bridge of her nose and rub her eyes as she shakes her head.

"You're not a big downer," she says, dropping her hand and folding her arms about her middle, "Next time she calls you that, just tell her you're pensive. Thoughtful."

The question only leads to another shrug of her shoulders: "I'm trying to visit more often. There's a lot going on so it's not as easy, but I'm doing my best. But if you ever need some freedom and liberty, Ivan, you know where to find me."

The last part is said in jest, and she cranes her neck to look through one of the bar's windows to watch her friend capering about within still half-covered in mud.

Colossus has posed:
    "Ah. Pensive." He says. "Thoughtful." He says.
    A small half-smile blossoms but he nods to her. And as she offers the playful threat he gives her a stern serious glare like some heel from pro-wrestling, pointing at her from across the sidewalk as if they were about to leap into a cage match. "You risk much, American."
    And then he grins as he can't maintain that facade, cheeks coloring a little as he looks away, and likely not from the cold. He lifts a hand and waves it to the side.
    "Bah, you have this well in hand. I will go check on Samuel and my sister." He starts to step away, but pauses and gestures with a wave. "You have this under control?" He asks, just in case she might need a hand with something in any case.

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
Carol considers the words for a moment. Straightening up a little and planting her hands on her hips. Despite the cold weather, it doesn't appear that she is affected by it at all. In fact, close observation shows that the frost on the pavement around her feet has melted a little. All the time she seems to give off a slight glow, the cosmic energy within her always emanating at low levels even when she's not using her powers.

She gives Piotr a raised eyebrow, tilting her head back and jutting out her chin a little.

"I'm Captain Marvel," she says haughtily, "I've always got it under control."

Then she laughs, takes a few steps forward and pats him lightly on the shoulder: "Have a good rest of your night. Take care of those siblings and surrogate siblings of yours."

That said, she steps past him and makes her way back into the bar.