12842/A Princess and a God's son Reunite

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A Princess and a God's son Reunite
Date of Scene: 15 March 2021
Location: Greenwich Village, Manhattan
Synopsis: Diana and Phobos share a snack of fries in a diner and have a chat to catch up with each other.
Cast of Characters: Phobos, Wonder Woman




Phobos has posed:
    There is a lovely feeling of responsibility that comes with having a schedule. Needing to be places at a set time lest you be missed or that absence be noticed. College was only somewhat like that, demanding one keep to those societal obligations but still a lot of wiggle room. Having a role with SHIELD, however, that was more rigid and in turn... felt more important.
    Yet holding to a schedule so rigidly does also carry its own drawbacks. For if someone wants to find you it becomes all the easier. As Alexander Aaron, son of Ares, was about to find out.
    Taking the steps two at a time, rising up out of the depths of the subway, the blond youth in the blue jeans and the black winter coat turned his shoulders just enough to slip between two families of tourists even as they walked the streets of Greenwich. Always seemed to be something happening in the neighborhood, there was a lively atmosphere especially at this time of evening when the sun had set and the street lights were just coming on. Today it was just a gathering of food trucks set along the side of the streets, open for business and having a little impromptu folk festival with a myriad of dishes from around the world.
    It was wasted on Alexander for now, since he had grabbed a bite to eat in the Triskelion cafeteria. Though as he passed a falafel truck, the smell caught his attention as he walked by, smiling to himself. If he'd known he wouldn't have eaten. Yet that brief glance aside allowed his visitor to be the first to catch sight of the other.

Wonder Woman has posed:
Schedules can be something of a trial, sometimes. Timing is important, and meeting one's obligations is also important. A schedule becomes a part of everyday life. Up until about a week and a half or so ago, Diana's schedule had been at least a bit simpler than what it usually is. She had returned to her home, on Themyscira. Things there were less complicated than being at the city.

Given the recent conversation with Buffy, she'd looked into a few things in order to find out some additional information. Specifically, where to find the son of Ares. Armed with that information, she'd come to this specific place. She's dressed in a pair of charcoal grey dress pants and a burgundy blouse, though the latter is nigh hidden away entirely by the black winter coat she wears, which reaches to mid-thigh. She wears a pair of heeled winter boots, and there's a golden yellow silk scarf that's looped about her neck, tied neatly there. There are no weapons and no armour, for she's not here to cause any issue.

And so Diana waited at the apartment building, leaning slightly against the railing that went up the stairs, her hands kept out of her pockets and without gloves. The chill in the air doesn't seem to bother her at all. Watching those who come up out of the subway's entrance, her blue gaze readily finds Alexander and follows him, a smile touching at the corners of her lips. He's grown, since the last time she saw him. The only other time that she's seen him. She looks him over, briefly, and then she steps down the stairs of the building in order to step towards him.

Phobos has posed:
    If she had any doubts it was him, in the moment when he turned back to look to those steps leading up to his third floor apartment... well that doubt would be dismissed when their eyes met.
    The youth had always had those curious pale hazel eyes, the only real hint or touch of the otherworldly to him. He had grown, an inch perhaps above six feet tall, handsome though with a hint of scruffiness to him that likely earned him the occasional hint of admonishment from those in his life. But when his gaze fell upon Diana she likely wouldn't see that glimmer of recognition until a few moments later.
    For at first he considers her, gauges her, likely taking that measure of her considering it was rare that he had visitors and her body language spoke that subtle hint of wishing to approach that he read oh so briefly. Though he did smile a little, that reflexive thing when one sees another smile at them, but hedging it in case the person is seeking whomever might be behind them.
    Though when he draws closer he pauses, one hand lightly resting on the wrought-iron railing along those steps up to the old brownstone.
    "Hey?" He says, greeting and interrogative combined. Something vaguely familiar about her. Though she is so well known likely he would recognize her instantly if she had blade and shield at the ready.

Wonder Woman has posed:
The boy had become a man in the years between then and now. He looked well, though that wasn't entirely unexpected. She willingly met his gaze having naught to fear from doing so, and a smile touched at the corners of her lips. Flat-footed, he'd be taller than her, though on account of the heels on her boots, she's able to not have to look up at him.

Though aware of his gaze upon her and weighing her, she doesn't move any differently than she would otherwise. It wasn't often that she came here, but there were sometimes when she did, for assorted reasons. There's a brief glance towards his hand when it reaches to rest upon the railing, and a smile that easily returns to her features.

"Good evening, Alexander," Diana offers in greeting to him, inclining her head towards him. There is an accent to her voice, for English is not her native tongue and Themysciran is. "We met once, some years ago," she adds, tilting her head a touch to one side whilst she watches him. Most would recognize her, if she were dressed differently, but there are times when a more casual stance is preferred by her.

Phobos has posed:
    He holds his cards close to the vest, only allowing a hint or two to his thoughts to reach his expression. It's all in that slight quirk of an eyebrow, that faint furrow there, the turning of his head subtly to the side. As if to get a better angle from which to see her. Then his lips part as he answers.
    "Ma'am." Though she might not appear to be too much older than him, perhaps that's some hint of recognition. "I umm," He sets a foot up on the steps, gaining a little height on her but not much. He does hesitate, his feet angling not to take him inside but more intent upon his visitor.
    "I think we did, yeah?"
    Those words float there in the relative silence, though there is still the sounds of the city nearby, that steady burble of the crowd and pedestrians getting their food from he trucks near at hand.
    Then he adds, "Ms. Prince?" He asks eventually, and then recognition is clear. Though there is some hesitance. For a moment he bites his lower lip, then he says. "Is everything okay?"
    For likely his first thought may well go to his father.

Wonder Woman has posed:
Each hint he gives is noticed and noted, and she doesn't seem to mind that better look that he seeks to achieve of her. She lifts her left hand, catching a few stray locks of her dark hair to brush it aside, slipping it behind one of her ears. She looks the same now as what she did those years ago when they'd first met, save for what she's wearing. She tilts her head a touch to one side, watching him as he takes that first step.

There's a soft chuckle that comes from her before she did. "You have grown since then," Diana says softly, a smile turning at the corners of her lips. Her gaze holds to him rather than looking to any of those that happen to pass near in the search of food. And she gives a nod, when he speaks her name. "Yes, it is me," she says with a smile.

"Everything is well, yes. I heard you were in town and decided that I would come to see you, to see how you have been doing," she says, a thoughtful note to her voice. "I heard a thing or two that caused me some concern, and I wanted to stop by to see you."

Phobos has posed:
    An exhalation of breath accompanies the smile, almost a laugh if he gave it more effort. But then he nods as if accepting the fact that he has indeed grown. He takes a step down and once again they're on level, his eyes meeting hers levelly.
    "I'm doing alright. But... sure." That said he turns his head one way, then the other as he then gestures with a nod. "Walk with me? I figure we can go and sit somewhere. I'd invite you up but I would be horribly embarrassed considering the state my apartment is in." Which she might detect a hint of a white lie there, for his apartment is actually fairly clean.
    It's more that there are a few bits and pieces of SHIELD gear that he hasn't put away and /that/ is not a topic he may want to go into.
    Lifting a fingertip to scritch the curve of his jawline he tilts his head one way, then the other. "Manny's is down the street a ways. Greasy spoon, they have good ice cream." Which is a definite positive.
    And if she seems inclined he'll start walking in that direction.

Wonder Woman has posed:
Willingly does she meethis gaze as he steps down from the step, and there's a smile that tugs at the corners of her lips. "It pleases me to hear that. I hope you do not mind that I sought you out and waited in such a manner for you," Diana says, one of her eyebrows quirking up a touch. She hadn't exactly called him in advance to arrange meeting him.

There's a glance towards the building, and then her gaze returns back to him before she gives a nod. "Of course! We can go anywhere you wish to, and I do not mind to have a bit of a walk. I doubt that it is as bad as you fear, though I understand," she says with a smile. She does hear the lie in the words, but she doesn't press him on the matter of it. She's sure that he has his reasons, and whatever they might be, they're his to keep or share as he sees fit to do.

There's a slight tilt of her head at the suggestion of Manny's, and then she gives a nod to him. "I rather like the sound of that. With their ice cream praised then perhaps I will have to give some of it a try," she comments, a touch of amusement to her voice. As he starts to walk in the direction of it, she'll walk with him.

Phobos has posed:
    And for a time they stroll in silence, shoulder by shoulder with his hands deep in his pockets and that uncomfortable quiet growing for a time. At one point he takes a breath, holds it, but doesn't offer any words. It's not until they walk up to a crosswalk and he leans over to lightly nudge the bright red button with an elbow.
    For now, however, a little red man lights up on the signage above them, letting them know they can't cross the street.
    "So what was it you wanted to talk about?" He cocks his head back at her curiously. "Am I in trouble?" Which is /of course/ where his thoughts go to at first. Though as he says that he can't help but let a smile blossom into life at the corner of his mouth.
    "Are you here to try and get even for that stick fight whupping I gave you?" Though technically she did win, still. Perhaps he doesn't remember it that way.
    Then, of course, the lights flicker and the little red man standing becomes a green man walking and he sets off across the street. Holding to walk evenly with her and then climbing back onto the sidewalk on the other side.

Wonder Woman has posed:
As they stroll, Diana seems content to let the silence linger around them. There's a brief glance cast towards those that they walk past, and towards the surroundings, though the majority of her attention is on him. One of her eyebrows quirks when he takes that breath, expecting words but gaining none from him. There's a glance towards the signage, and she stands at the crosswalk with him, patiently waiting.

She tilts her head a touch to one side and turns her blue gaze towards him, studying him for a lingering moment. "There is no trouble that you are in with me, Alexander," Diana says, a smile touching at the corners of her lips. "I had heard that you may be wishing to sow the seeds of fear. I wanted to come speak with you about it myself," she adds, a thoughtful tone to her words. The words are sincerely spoken, and honest, for she's not the sort to try to lie to him -- or most others, either.

There's a light laugh from her, then, and she gives a small shake of her head before looking to him. "I seem to recall that I was the one who beat you that day. If I were here to get even for that then I would have weapons and armour with me to use. If you wish, we can have another stick fight sometime later," she says, a warm note to her voice. She takes it in good humour -- she had won the bout, that day.

When the lights change, she steps down from the curb with him in order to cross the street, and at the other side steps lightly up to the sidewalk once again. She matches his stride with ease, given that their height isn't too far off from one another.

Phobos has posed:
    There's a momentary snort from him, the subtlest crinkle of his nose, and for an instant he might indeed look like that youth she knew back in that day. For he had that same slightly sour look. Yet it was all a veneer to hide the smile as he looked back down the sidewalk. "We'll agree to disagree."
    But then he does eye her sidelong, "Sow the seeds of fear?" He continues to walk for a time, just a few steady strides before he lifts his chin and catches the sign for 'Manny's Diner -Since 1980-' displayed on a small side storefront though the arrow for the diner points downwards a series of steps leading to a below street level restaurant entrance.
    "That doesn't sound like me." He makes that descent, hopping the last two steps and then drawing the door open for her, the bell in the door jangling faintly as he holds it. Once she precedes him he'll follow her into the small restaurant with its two aisles of tables and one lane of booths. It's towards one of the nearby empty booths that he'll gesture even as he waves toward the man behind the counter.
    "Hey Alex." Comes the return wave and greeting from the proprietor, "Sit whereveh."
    "Thanks, Mr. Kerlihy."

Wonder Woman has posed:
There's a quirk of a brow at his snort, and her blue gaze turns to him, taking in the details of his expression. And in that moment, he looks much like the boy she'd met those years ago, the boy she'd crossed sticks with. "That seems fair, to agree to disagree," Diana says, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

She tilts her head a touch to one side, and then she gives a small nod. "It is what I have heard, yes," she says softly, studying him whilst walking along at his side. There's a brief glance towards the buildings that they pass, and she notices the sign for the diner that he'd mentioned, the name of it easily recalled. She steps lightly down the stairs, skipping the last one much as he had done before moving to step through the door that he holds open for her.

Within, there's a glance about before she looks over her shoulder to look to him, and one of her eyebrows quirks out. "Does it not? I fear that I would know better had I kept in touch with you across the years between when we first met and now. A thing that I regret, though one which I hope can be fixed. Fear is your purview, and so when I heard such, I felt it necessary to visit with you," she says quite softly. She doesn't know him, but... there's a certain latitude that she's willing to give him.

There's a smile and a nod given to the man behind the counter, and a brief glance towards Alexander at his gesture. Then she nods to him before stepping over towards the booth that he'd indicated. She pauses next to it, untying the scarf and then unbuttoning her jacked to remove it. Both are set on the bench as she settles, taking a seat there.

Phobos has posed:
    As she is gentle grace, calm and controlled regal bearing, he... is less so. For Alexander sliiides into the booth seat, thumping against the wall as he settles in and /then/ starts to slip out of his jacket, leaving it upon the seat beside him. His main attention, at least initially, seems to be on grabbing the two menus from their holders on the table and offering one to her before he straightens up.
    A little clearer of view, and he seems to be in good health and shape. The subtle lines of musculature upon his neck, the hint of further beneath the loose black t-shirt that he wears beneath, show a man who has taken much effort to exercise. On the t-shirt is a small design of a small cat flying across the sky trailing rainbows, which might be surprising to see upon the chest of a Greek God.
    He takes only a cursory glance at the menu then sets it down. "I know with everything that has happened," Alexander starts, looking up to meet her gaze steadily. "That yeah, it's my thing. Fear. And I sort of have to live with that. But... it's not entirely something I'm comfortable with. Right now I'm..." She can likely sense the hesitation just the space of a single heartbeat before he continues, "Trying to make my own way, just to see if I can."
    He glances away, one hand pushing through that wild mane of golden hair, grimacing faintly as he looks back. "So if someone is going around saying I'm running around trying to sow fear while cackling from upon the back of my pale horse, or shrieking from atop my throne made of bones or whatever, well... they've got the wrong idea."
    Then there's a pause as he smiles a little wryly, "I mean, if I had to cackle from a horse I'd prefer a black one."
    A beat, then he adds. "You want to share some fries?"

Wonder Woman has posed:
One of her hands reaches to her coat on the bench beside her, nudging it a touch closer to the wall the booth is butt up against. She crosses her legs at the knee, then reaches out a hand to accept the menu that he offers to her. "Thank you," she says softly, a smile coming to her features. She opens the menu as she sets it on the table before her, then rests one of her arms at the edge of the table, her other hand settling upon her thigh. She scans the menu somewhat, perusing what's offered, and then her attention lifts away from it to look over to him.

And the time, then, is taken to look him over, to pay heed to the way that he looks and to what he's wearing. He looks good, and he looks as though he takes care of himself, which is something that she can relate to. The t-shirt's design does draw a slight quirk of one of her brows, though she doesn't ask him about it. It's an interesting choice, and slightly amusing as well.

Diana meets his gaze, and one of her eyebrows quirks up slightly as she listens to what he says. And more than that, to how he says it. Then she gives a small nod to him. "I figured that you knew, with all that has happened. You are not wrong, with that. You do need to find a way to live with it. I can only imagine what it is like, to try to find a balance within it," she says softly, a gentle note to her voice. "Sometimes, in trying to find your own way, you find a strength that you did not realize that you had. I believe in you that you can find that way," Diana adds, giving a nod to him, a smile coming to the corners of her lips. She's willing to give him the chance, to give him the time to try.

There's a light laugh from her then at the way he words it, her blue eyes showing a sparkle of amusement to them. "Well, when you put it that way then it does sound much worse than what I was told. Black horses do have a certain look though, yes?" she suggests with a smile. "I was uncertain what truth might be behind the words. You look well, and like you are doing well," she says, giving a nod.

Then she smiles a bit more before giving another nod. "Thank you, that would be quite good," she says in a warm tone.

Phobos has posed:
    As she agrees to the fries, that's when Beatrice the waitress wanders over and greets them both. It doesn't take long for their orders to be placed. For him just a soda and that order of fries as he hands back the menu. Once she has them settled she'll head off, leaving the two to continue their conversation.
    Free of that social obligation, Alexander tilts his gaze back at her and chews on the inside of his cheek thoughtfully. "A lot has happened. I'm sure you've probably heard of it in part. But yeah."
    Those pale eyes shift to the side, gaze drifting past her shoulder, then return to her as he says. "My father is doing well." He offers, since he knows the two of them haven't always seen eye to eye. "He has his little sphere of influence he likes to focus on. Still working construction." Since that's when she knew him last.
    His eyebrows climb, "He's become the chairman of the local state 45 union for construction workers, so I think he's getting his authoritarian inclinations out that way in part."
    Those eyes lift again, as if trying to find what she might find interesting, what aspects she would want to hear. "I'mmm..." He lets that syllable drag a bit, then he uncurls a gesture toward her as if asking for her to take the words from his hand. "Working for SHIELD, lately." He makes a small face, one eye scrunching up a little.
    "They don't know who I am so if you'd be so kind as to not, you know, tell people. I'd owe you." Another breath is taken as he ponders.
    "You know." He starts, perhaps his small attempt at making peace. "Whenever my dad speaks of you," And he has, "He does speak well of you. As a warrior. Sure he might think some negative things, but he doesn't say them to me."

Wonder Woman has posed:
The only thing that she adds to the order beyond the fries and drink that he orders, is an order for a soda for herself as well. It goes well with fries, and she'll end up working off the calories later in training with her sisters. There's a nod given to the waitress in the moment before she departs, and then Diana turns her attention back to Alexander.

"Anything more recent from just the past few weeks' worth of time, I am still catching up with. I have not been about for a little while... I went home for a time," she says softly, a smile touching at the corners of her lips. "I have heard of things before that. The things that happened then," she says, watching him.

Diana listens as he speaks of his father, and she tilts her head a touch to one side as she does. "I am glad that he is doing well," she says. She doesn't always see eye to eye with his father, but that's not a new thing. "Construction seems to suit him quite well. And it sounds as though the union was a good choice for him to become involved in. He does like to have authority," she says, a smile touching at the corners of her lips.

Her attention perks a touch when he mentions SHIELD, and she smiles at him, reaching out a hand to lightly touch his own, briefly. "That sounds like a very good thing, Alex," she says, sounding pleased. Then she gives a small shake of her head. "I will not tell anyone who you are unless you wish it to happen. It is your place to tell people, not mine. And I say that as that as a friend not because you say that you would owe me for it," she says, a smile easily coming to her features.

"I appreciate that he speaks kindly of me. He seems different than what he used to be, than when he and I were fighting last. I find it to be a promising thing," Diana says in a thoughtful tone, a smile touching the corners of her lips. She might have a suspicion or two, but she's not going to speak ill of his father. She's quiet a moment, considering something for the span of a few breaths before she tilts her head a touch to one side. "I was wondering... would you mind if this," she begins, pausing to lift a hand to gesture around them, to indicate them spending time together, "were to be a thing that happened every so often?"

Phobos has posed:
    As she speaks his eyes follow hers, at times dropping down to follow the line of her lips, then returning to her gaze as she offers words with him. When she confesses to her absence for a time his own eyebrows climb, likely not having heard of such as his circle of influence is rather closed.
    Then he nods in answer to her view on the latest shared information on his father. Though at something in those last few words his eyebrows rise as if he's not entirely sure about something said, or a thought it engenders.
    Yet it's when she makes that inquiry at the last, his eyes follow hers, drop down as hers lower, then return up. "This?"
    That word hangs there, curiously tinged. Then his eyes slip to the side and away, considering the place. Manny's. Before he looks back to her and she can likely see the hint of confusion, though it's chased by his own questions offered. "To meet and catch up now and then?"
    He answers then with a roil of words not rushed but perhaps given in a small hint of a hurry. "Sure, I don't see why not." Then he draws back a little, hand turning upon the tabletop to rest fingertips there. "I mean. My father, he did ask of the family for them to not trouble us. But I don't think that extends to..." He uncurls a hand toward her, likely meaning her, the amazons. Those connected to the pantheon.
    Yet before he can stop himself he asks, "Why?"

Wonder Woman has posed:
The surprise he shows when she mentions having been home is something that she notices, and a smile tugs at the corners of her lips. "It gave me a chance to train more with my sisters. To spend some time on the island again," Diana says in a thoughtful tone. Everyone needs a bit of time to get back in touch with their roots, with themselves, to reconnect with their purpose.

There's a smile that comes to her features, and she gives a soft chuckle as she nods. "Yes, this," she says, one of her eyebrows quirking up a touch as she watches him. "It doesn't have to be here, if you would wish to go elsewhere," she adds, flipping the menu in front of her closed before settling it back into the holder. She lifts her hand from her lap in order to rest her forearms on the edge of the table.

"Yes, for exactly that reason. To meet and to catch up now and then. Perhaps to become friends," Diana says, a thoughtful tone to her voice. She tilts her head a touch to one side at the latter of his words, and one of her eyebrows quirks up a touch. Then she gives a small shake of her head. "I have no wish to cause either you or your father any manner of trouble," she says softly. Unless there are actions taken by either of them that would be headed down the 'destroy the world' sort of path.

The last question he asks causes a smile to tug at the corners of her lips. "Why not?" she suggests, studying him. "I have no motives beyond what I have said, I promise you that," she adds. If she were lying, he'd be able to tell -- she's -terrible- at it.

Phobos has posed:
    "I mean," His tone of voice is wary, and she can likely feel that subtle reluctance there in between them. Not quite suspicion, but something akin to it. He uncurls a hand and gestures to the side, "I'm just used to... people from that side of things." Those of connection to the Greek gods, "They always seem to have something to gain."
    His pale gaze rests on hers and were she a mortal it might seem a touch disconcerting, yet surely she endures it, weathers it as he considers her. "Or are out to get some edge in some way."
    Turning his head to the side he takes a deep breath, the baggy t-shirt bunching a bit before he looks back. "And, to be fair, I don't think you're angling for anything."
    His nose crinkles faintly, stealing some of that formidableness from his curious eyes, lending a hint of the mortal youth to him once again, "I mean. You could just be wanting to hang out to try and discern my secret fencing techniques, since you know they were your downfall in the past." The words are a touch playful, but he does a good job playing them off as serious. Only the slight smile robbing him of that gravitas.

Wonder Woman has posed:
"I can understand your reluctance, your wariness," Diana says softly, watching him. She can hear it in his voice, in the words he says. She glances down to his hand, to the gesture that he makes, and then she gives a nod. "People often have motivations that lead to gaining something. What I have to gain is finding out how things are going with you and perhaps gaining a friend. And you have the same things to gain," she adds, a smile touching at the conrers of her lips. It sounds simple, easy. It might even sound too simple, too easy, but she truly has no other intentions than the ones she's mentioned.

Diana meets his gaze, and willingly so, and her own is unfaltering. She has no fear of him or of the things that he might do, enduring his gaze with steadfastness. And she gives a nod, agreeing to his words. "There is no advantage that I seek. There is no edge that I wish to find or gain. The things we speak of will be between us, if you wish it to be so," she offers.

There's a quirk of an eyebrow as he admits he doesn't think she's looking to gain anything to which she gives a nod of agreement, and she tilts her head a touch to one side at his words of his fencing skill. And she laughs lightly, at that. "Well, there may be that. Though that would be if you agree to spar with me, by times. Which would be a different question than just getting together to touch base with each other now and again. Perhaps it may be able to be arranged," she comments, quirking a bit of a grin. "And as I recall it, I won that stick fight," she adds. Even if he did let her win.

Phobos has posed:
    "Well," Alexander says, then his smile eases a little more, "I would be an awesome friend to have." He admits, though he delivers those words with a deadpan lilt to them, she can likely read the twinkle in his eyes perhaps offering that that arrogance affected might not be for true.
    What is more, however, is that Alexander... as he listens to the subtle backdrop of the world's fear in all its myriad voices, an eternal distant hum in the back of his mind. He can tell that her voice isn't among them. He can't sense the tingle of terror or concern, so it's true she holds no fear of him. Which in and of itself is a blessed thing.
    Then she makes that suggestion of sparring and his lip curls, shaking his head as he looks away. Though he does shoot a glance back at her sidelong, just askance as if telling her silently that she /can't/ be serious. A deep breath is taken, "It's alright. I know how sometimes the elderly must hang onto past glories so they can still feel the warmth of victory shining upon their brow." He holds up a hand, "I shall magnanimously grant you this illusion."
    Those last few words he affects a faint accent, likely making light, but not maliciously so. Then his voice shifts faintly as he leans forward on his own elbows, mirroring her posture unconsciously. "But alright. It would be nice to have contact with someone from the same background without having..." And in that moment those eyes distance past her, likely seeing images of the past that he offers little insight about, save merely the impact seen in those intense irises. "A lot of luggage connected to it."
    And, of course, that's the moment when Beatrice returns with a smile as she sets down the drinks, the plate of french fries, as well as the bottle of ketchup which is set before them. She's thanked, and given a smile, her eyes might linger after the blond youth but his attention returns to Diana. "I was pleased to see you though." He confides gently, even as he takes up a fry and considers it. "Reminded me of times when things weren't so... complex."

Wonder Woman has posed:
There's a smile as she watches him, and she chuckles softly before giving a nod to his words. "I do believe that you would be," she says, her blue eyes showing a sparkle to them. He has a sense of humour, and the look in his eyes is evidence of that. It's a pleasing thing to see, especially in one who is the God of fear.

It's not just him that she has no fear of -- it's everything. She is simply fearless, and given his connection to that very emotion, it's a thing that he may well sense.

One of her eyebrows quirks at his tease of her, and she gives a light laugh. "Oh, I have become elderly, of a sudden?" she suggests, amusement in her voice and a sparkle to her eyes. She can be serious about sparring -- after all, if she were to lose then that would mean that she has more to learn, wouldn't it? "Perhaps your recollection of the stick fight is altered by how young you were at the time it happened," she suggests, teasing him a touch in turn. "Generous of you," she adds, inclining her head towards him and that sparkle lingering in her eyes.

When he mirrors her, her gaze comes to meet his once more. "I am grateful that you are willing. It would be nice to have the contact," she comments, a smile coming to tug at the corners of her lips. One of her eyebrows quirks up a touch when he looks past her, and she tilts her head faintly to one side. "The past can be a heavy thing, sometimes. I think that is a thing that you are familiar with, though," she says softly, a thoughtful tone to her voice.

Diana looks to Beatrice and gives a nod as the fries and drinks are set down for them, a smile easily coming to her features as she adds her thanks to his own. Yet her attention easily returns to the man across from her, and she raises an eyebrow slightly, surprised a touch by his words. "That is... unexpected, but I am glad for it having been the case. I have been pleased to see the man that you have become. It was simpler times then, that it true. Things sometimes seem to become more complex withthe more time that passes, the more years that are seen," she says softly. She reaches for a fry, picking one of them up before biting it in half, chewing and swallowing the bite.

Phobos has posed:
    That considering look remains as his gaze follows her progression from choice of fry to devouring it. His head tilts to the side, his thoughts his own and held in that confidence, no hint upon his features. Then his brow raises and he takes a bit of his fry as well, mulling over it for a time before he reaches for the ketchup to create a small pool of crimson equi-distant between them at the edge of the plate.
    "Hmm," He eventually says, not critique of the food but more the own meanderings of his mind. "Simpler, or perhaps just living in ignorance. The more days pass the more I realize my father protected me from much. In some ways I begrudge that, but would I have it otherwise?"
    He gestures with half the fry before his shoulders lift, and lower. There is a breadth to his frame, a strength hidden by that over-sized fabric, as if he were attempting to hide the aspects he could of himself from the world in passing. The eyes do give him away, but with her it is easier to allow his expression to shift and flow from one point to the other, perhaps no need seen to couch his features to allay fears. For she has none.
    His chin lifts a little, fingers reaching out again to claim another fry and condemn it to its fate. Another bite, then he adds. "So what spurred this curiousity? For it's been... a few years since I've come home. Something must have passed."

Wonder Woman has posed:
The other half of the fry is eaten, and then she plucks up another from the plate. This one gets dipped into the ketchup that he put on the edge of the plate, and she's quiet for a moment as she eats her current 'victim'. As much as his thoughts are his own, hers are her own, at least for this moment.

Diana tilts her head a touch to one side at his words, weighing them for a long moment. "Living in ignorance can make for simpler times. It is a thing that parents do. They protect their children, try to keep them safe. I grew up on an isolated island where I had no knowledge of the rest of the world. Until things happened," Diana says softly, a wistful sort of note coming to the words. "The decisions that were made by our parents are ones that we can not change. We can just learn from them," she adds, giving a small nod. Since she has no fears, perhaps he will feel free to be his true self around her.

There may be a glimpse caught of one of the bracers that she wears beneath her blouse, when she eats the fry and reaches for another. "True, it has been a few years since you came home. Someone came to see me and was asking questions. The name of Phobos came up, and it was asked why gods would walk the earth and if gods would act counter to their nature. I answered in generalities. Gods have as varied of motives as what people do, and that it is as likely for a God to change their ways as for people to. I kept away from speaking of more recent or specific things. It was mentioned that Phobos sought to sow fear. And I decided that I would see if I could find you and come and visit you," she says sincerely, a smile touching at the corners of her lips.

Phobos has posed:
    A slightly sour expression lights on the young God of Fear's features, his eyes focusing lower, then down upon the plate of fries. At first he offers nothing, then he makes a small grunt as he takes up one for himself. A deep breath is drawn, he holds it, then slowly exhales before taking a bite. "Not that many people know who I am and are running around."
    A pause as he sits up, the booth's seat making a plastic creak as he straightens up. "One I trust to sort of not tell anyone about the whole..." He uncurls a hand and waves it to the side dismissively as he murmurs, "Craziness of everything."
    Then he looks back, "Another was a friend of my father's and she..." His jaw tightens as she can see he's likely wrangling for a particular word, eventually settles on. "Can be impulsive it seems. But he told her about him, and then she learned a bit about me and put two and two together."
    His eyes slip to the side, as if imagining he'd see her outside of the diner, holding a pair of binoculars in her hands and spying on them. Thankfully he doesn't, so he looks back. "Not sure what I did to set her so on edge if she went to talk with you."
    Then his smile eases and he says as he leans over to clearly take one of /her/ fries since it's on her side of the dish when he says, "But it's nice that it was an excuse to meet again. So a net positive I suppose."

Wonder Woman has posed:
To have such a burden at such a young age is something that Diana can only imagine. She's had her own burdens in the years gone by but his... his is tied to an incredibly strong emotion. And he's a god. Diana gives a small nod to his words, watching him as she dips the fry in some ketchup before eating it. "I can understand that. It is not the sort of thing that many people would be willing to hear or believe, I imagine. It would cause a certain reluctance to share it," Diana says softly.

Gracefully, she uncrosses her legs before crossing them at the ankle, her blue gaze held upon him. "There is a fair amount of craziness behind all of it. It is a good thing to have someone that you can talk to that you can also trust to not share what's being said," she says, a smile touching at the corners of her lips.

"Impulsive is not always a bad thing. There are times, though, when it can be a bit of a drawback, though," Diana says, watching him. There's a smile that comes to tug at the corners of her lips. "I could not say how much what I told her might have set her at ease. Gods are not much different than people, in some ways. Many things, any things, are possible. I could not say what might have put her on edge, to make her come to ask questions of me -- if the one who came to see me is the same one that you refer to. Perhaps it was someone else who did something to put her on edge," she says, claiming up another fry. It's a possibility, after all.

"I am grateful, as well, that her visit to me prompted me to find you, to meet you. A definite positive," Diana says with a smile. She swipes the fry through the ketchup before eating it. Then she'll turn the topic to something lighter than the heavy weight of God-hood that rests upon him. Perhaps to the recent chill weather or other news, and to other things of lesser import. The fries (and their drinks) will gradually end up consumed, and in time the two of them will part ways, though not before Diana gives him her card so that he'll be able to reach her.