10879/After the thunder, rain

After the thunder, rain
Date of Scene:	26 January 2020
Location:	Yonkers, Westchester County
Synopsis:	On the way home, Sam and Colossus stumble upon something unexpected.
Cast of Characters:	Colossus, Samuel Morgan, Arella Despana

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Colossus has posed:
    Tension had been clearly seen in the tall Russian's body language after the bizarre events in the Bronx. The crazed madcap way the mobsters had been handled and the wild abandon and violence all served to cast a great pall upon the X-Man. They had done what they could, saved those that they were able to, though when the authorities arrived it had been best to depart and to depart as quickly as possible.
    The train ride back had been quiet for the most part, though Piotr recognized the difficulty it would cause with the youth at his side. There were moments at some of the stops where he had lowered his head and murmured to Samuel. "Are you certain you are alright? We can perhaps take a taxi?"
    But one way or another they eventually ended up back in Westchester, the old stomping grounds for those attending Xavier's school and it serves at the least as some hint of a safe harbor for some of them. Yet even now here in the almost too picturesque townsquare, there was still the tension of the matter that passed.
    And of course Piotr asks again, "Are you certain you are alright?"

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    It's never a good time to be at, near, or be involved in a shoot out, even at second hand. Sam didn't seem too fazed by it, or at least not in the way anyone would expect a teenager to be. He didn't come apart, didn't go catatonic, and was even a tremendous help getting away from the area, always seeming to know when a police car or even an officer was about to come around the corner.

    It's telling that even Piotr recognises that it's the train that's likely going to cause issues. But throughout the journey, Bean had been silent, kept himself to himself, and didn't pin anyone with that notorious 'you are ten seconds away from death' stare that he gave passengers on the way into the city.

    He doesn't speak until they're back in Westchester, except to affirm that he's absolutely fine. And when he does speak out, he does so with his hands behind his back, looking around, looking anywhere but at Piotr. They were, as far as he could tell, exact polar opposites when it came to action. And despite all that, he could only respect the man for his convictions... it was the 'hero' speech that stayed his hand several times in the last few months. "That was a mess, wasn't it? Haven't seen one like that in years."

Colossus has posed:
    "In my time," Piotr's voice is deep and resonant as he walks. The snowfall becoming a little more pronounced than the simple flurry it had been in the city. Now there is actual accumulation, little wisps of snow racing across the sidewalks, even as the people in the crowds walk along.
    Piotr, though he is looking a bit disheveled what with the bullet holes in his favorite pea coat and the brownish bloodstains from some of the wounded, seems to at least have come to terms with what passed in the city.
    "I have seen much. Yet the abrupt escalation of such... violence. It is still surprising to me. I suppose I should not be surprised."
    He continues to walk, gaze distanced as he looks away for a moment before he adds. "But I am." Then he shifts gears and nods toward the man at his side. "Yet you did well. You did as I wished, and it is because of you that some of those men remain alive. Though perhaps they did not deserve such."
    That said he lifts a hand and one can almost imagine him about to thump Samuel on the shoulder. But he checks the movement into just snapping his fingers and pointing at him. "But good job." He nods.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "In close quarters, especially when there's that much of a disparity between force, escalation is the only strategy. Surprise, shock and speed." Bean gives a wry smile at the praise, even as he explains why he understands the violence occurred in the first place. And the proud finger... argh. It's too much. He has to come clean.

    "I was behind you the whole time, with a pistol I took from the first victim. When I saw you were going to come back, I ditched it and ran back to where I was supposed to wait." There. He said it. Didn't have to, but said it regardless. Because dammit, he wants to be a hero... and that means not deceiving your team mates.

    "Snow's really coming down, isn't it? Maybe we can finally have that snowman contest."

Arella Despana has posed:
There is an Alien in the town square. Though the constant presence of some of the more unusually proportioned of the students of the X-man academy masks her presence as perhaps just another mutant - Arella Despana - recently awakened from cryogenic slumber is wary - an eternal habit. She has her Elven ears tucked beneath a winter hat and thus only her ebon skin and overlarge emerald eyes make her as anything other than unusual. A few men pay attention to the modestly dressed Svartalfar and her well rounded physique that is crudely masked by jeans and a heavy sweater. She appears to be combing the area with a modified tablet - discretely looking for something.

Colossus has posed:
    At first Piotr is still just walking, his hands deep in the pockets of his ruined coat. He shakes his head sadly as his eyes slip away, then back to the side towards Samuel. Then there's the admission of what he did and at first... there's no hiding that ghost of disappointment. It's just there for an instant as he realizes, but then it quickly slips back to an understanding nod.
    "And still. Small steps. You were concerned. If someone told me when I was your age to stay where I was when there was danger... and I felt I could do something about it. Da. Would be difficult." There is the understanding as he walks, boots crunching the snow.
    But then his brow furrows as he looks to the side, "But is for your own good. For the future. Try to do what we say when we say it. Sometimes we know something that you may not."
    But then as they walk, there is something in the center of town that apparently is drawing attention. Though indeed, Westchester is home to some strange looking people. Arella does stand out. Colossus stops walking, holding up long enough to peer at the Svartalf from afar.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "I know." Bean does, in fact, know. Understands perfectly well that everyone at Xavier's has, in their own way, tried to make him understand the need for patience, team work... that his life need not revolve entirely around violence no matter how skilled he might be at it. And he doesn't mention that, had he had a shot, he'd have taken it.

    It's in that reflective state of mind that he walks past ... hey, wait a minute? That's not right. He squints as he looks at Arella. Not at her eyes, not at anything that might stand her apart physically from the rest of the crowd, although it's very brave to be walking around without some kind of holographic field when anti-mutant sentiment it at an all time high again. No, it's the tablet that gets his attention.

    "I think we have a visitor..." he mentions in an undertone to Colossus, hoping he'll understand the implication.

Arella Despana has posed:
Arella is aytipical of her kind - whilst some have her blue black skin her green eyes contrast with the usual red. In fact most of her race look like humanoid rats. Arella looks instead like a very well constructed comicon costume - a reasonably alluring one - like she was after first place. She puts away her tablet in a small over the shoulder pouch. She makes for the nearest cafe - orders a latte - and discretely spikes it from a hip flask when it arrives.

Colossus has posed:
    Toward Samuel, Colossus murmurs quietly. "Perhaps none of our business." He says, hands still deep in the pockets of his coat as his gait slows a touch. But then he turns his head to the side and murmurs, "She seems to be doing naught. Though she is drawing attention." His eyes slip back toward the elvish woman as she heads toward that open public cafe.
    He takes a deep breath and then says, "And yet, better safe than sorry, no?" With that said he picks up his stride and moves toward the cafe and the woman there.
    Once he draws close he'll place an order.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "Drawing attention." Bean agrees, slowing down as soon as Piotr does. He has a knack for observing something without looking at it, using the edges of his vision or a reflective surface. Situational awareness has kept him alive for years, it's become a habit. "And at a time when one of ours was attacked when getting a pizza." A dark look from the teenager for a moment. Those three thugs had certainly paid a price for their attack on Shannon afterwards.

    "Tea sounds great." If they're going to be sitting in a cafe, might as well enjoy it, right? "Or hot chocolate. Something warm at least." And discreetly, he starts to do what he does best. Tablets are not safe from technopaths...

Arella Despana has posed:
Arella is peripherally aware of Colossus as she sips her illegal Irish coffee. She notices the Russian man's huge size as seats himself nearby. And being a quick study with respect to tactics in espionage she has to note his companion. But Samuel is already looking at her and getting a nice vision of the mind behind the technology and ideas fomenting in the tablet the Svartalfar carries. The tech is of her design. She is some kind of scientist. She has a conflict with some sort of leader of her race. An old powerful race. And there are experiments that she is performing to enhance her races military power. So many deaths. In fact Billions of sentients across the galaxy could sue her. So much arrogance. There is more to see but is it worth it?

Colossus has posed:
    At the cafe's outdoor counter, Piotr steps up and tells the server, "Two hot chocolates please." And as he says that he glances at Arella's reflection in the glass of the window near. He turns his head slightly and nods to Samuel, seeming thoughtful with his gaze distanced before he turns back and leans there.
    There's a quirk of an eyebrow as he at least offers, "She is a striking individual." Though perhaps not loud enough to be heard. He does chew on the inside of his cheek for an instant, perhaps ill at ease over something. And likely no entirely sure why.
    Then the clerk returns and he smiles his thanks after offering a five for the drinks. The two beverages are taken and one is handed to Samuel even as Piotr leaves the change in the tip jar before he pushes away from the counter and then crosses the way somewhat close to where Arella is sitting.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    There are times when Sam is actually surprised by what he finds. Even after the incident in the city, it seems there's still scope to be surprised further today. Not that you'd be able to tell from his expression, sitting at the table and chatting with Piotr. "Shame the ice sculpture contest didn't end up happening over Christmas. When are we continuing Cyrano de Bergerac? You know I'd still very much like to be in your drama class if you're teaching it again this semester."

    It's benign stuff. Innocent stuff. The rest he's sending via text, without ever touching his own phone. /Alien visitor, scientist. Believe she might be known to Asgard. Query: inform Thor? Believe intent may be search for local technology. Further analysis pending/. Which is not bad work for a teenager that's ostensibly just sipping his hot chocolate with every sign of delight.

Colossus has posed:
    There's that low buzz as Piotr's phone vibrates. He smiles across the table to Samuel and says, "Forgive me, please. I must take this." Knowing perhaps that it is indeed the youth across the way sending him messages. Though perhaps it might be Katya, to be fair. He swipes it to life with the brush of one thumb and then casually peruses the texts with slow swipes. His brow knits. He nods.
    Then he takes a bit of time responding, just casually tip-tap-tip as he slowly puts together a message with a hand that's a smidge too large for texting. His message sent back is simply,

    // Copy what you can. I shall contact Avengers. You should perhaps go back to mansion while I stay? //

    And with that, Colossus nods to Samuel, folding his arms and taking a sip of hot chocolate as he gets set to stay... and wait. And observe.