13505/An Invitation to Lunch

An Invitation to Lunch
Date of Scene:	14 June 2021
Location:	Backyard, Avengers Mansion
Synopsis:	Pietro invites Willow over to the Avengers Mansion for a bbq lunch in the backyard.
Cast of Characters:	Quicksilver, Willow Rosenberg

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Quicksilver has posed:
There had been times when Pietro had gone to Willow's apartment, to visit her there. And there reached a point where he felt that it would be... appropriate? ... for her to visit him. Not that he minded going to her place, but she should see where he lives. It made sense to him at the time! He had sent a text message to her: 'Would you like to come over for lunch?'

And then he did one of the hardest things for him to do -- he waited. Pietro isn't known for patience. He retreated out of the mansion and to the backyard, keeping his phone in hand, and he started to walk the perimeter of it. For today, he wears a pair of white slacks, running shoes, and a dark blue short-sleeved shirt. He takes a moment, glances to his phone, and then lifts his free hand to lightly tussle his fingers through his white hair.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Poor Pietro. Willow took extra long getting over there. Why? She arranged her day to be off, the whole afternoon, by switching her shift at the last minute. Finally! She managed to do it.

By the time she walked up to the Avengers mansion, she was grinning.

Sure, she knew it was unbearable waiting.. and waiting.. and waiting, but she hoped her surprise would make up for it!

"Hello?"

Quicksilver has posed:
There is a real effort on his part to try to have patience -- especially with Willow. It's not his fault that patience is challenging, everything just moves so much faster to his perspective and waiting always feels like it takes forever. He tucked his phone into the back pocket of his slacks, and then he zipped from the backyard where he'd been waiting over to the front door. It really doesn't take him long at all!

He opens the door and, upon seeing Willow waiting there, he smiles. "Good afternoon, Willow," Pietro greets her, a warm tone to his voice. He seems to always look fashionable even if he's not wearing labelled brands. He just has an eye for it.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Willow takes a moment to enjoy the view. Her clothes were clean, but far from fashionable.Even her work clothes really didn't do it.

"I know, I know. I'm late. And you needn't tell me, you hate that." She grins. "But I promise it was for a good reason. I have the *whole* afternoon off! And I brought my swimsuit with me? Just in case?"

After all, there was lots of stuff they could get up to without her swimsuit. But just in case she had it.

Quicksilver has posed:
The white-haired speedster always thought that she looked pretty, though. Even though he might not always say it. One of his eyebrows quirks up at her words, and he chuckles softly before he shakes his head. "Nu, nu... it's alright," Pietro says, a smile easily returning to his voice. 'Nu' being Romanian for 'no'. He quirks a grin. "Hate is a pretty strong word. And, for you, I mind much less than that," he adds, winking at her.

Then he blinks, and a flicker of surprise shows in his blue eyes, a smile readily returning to his features. "The full of the afternoon? That's great! A swimsuit is a good idea... I wouldn't wish to throw you into the pool in your regular clothes," he teases. He steps out of the way of the door, then gestures slightly. "Please, come in," he offers.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Now she beams, crinkling her eyes. "The whole afternoon. Surprise!" Too bad it wasn't his birthday. "The woman I took the evening shift off of wanted to spend time with her friends. Something about a Tupperware party?"

Willow came over the threshold when she was invited. Old habits.

"So now we can enjoy the afternoon. Oh! Did you get vegan hotdogs or hamburgers for me? It's ok if you didn't, I forgot to remind you. I can eat salad."

Quicksilver has posed:
It might not be his birthday, but the surprise is still very sweet and unexpected! Once she steps inside, he lifts a hand for his fingers to lightly catch a lock of her hair and softly brush it from her face. "Well, hopefully she will have a fun and enjoyable evening. And you get to have a hopefully fun and enjoyable afternoon, yes?" he suggests, a smile quirking at the corners of his lips.

Once she's within and past the door, he closes it behind her. Then he steps up behind her to catch her up in a hug and lift her from her feet, if she lets him. "I did! Hot dogs and hamburgers, and buns, and macaroni salad and potato salad... all vegan," he says with a smile, his blue eyes showing a sparkle to them.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"I hope so! Most of the time I was working at the cafe." Cafes. "And the Magic Box. Though the Magic Box was more like an obligation than work. It gave me lots of time to research spells and catch up with school. And if I needed time off it was fairly simple to switch. But now.." Willow shakes her head. "I love my new job, but there's still so much to learn. You're so lucky working for the Avengers. Really you are."

Then he catches her up in a hug.

"Eeeek!" She threw her hands around him and giggles. "You're in a good mood. And you don't have to eat vegan because of me. It sounds good though." Now she regrets not taking the extra time to get something at the bakery!

Quicksilver has posed:
"There is no such thing as having nothing more to learn," Pietro says. He chuckles softly, and then he lifts one of his shoulders in a bit of a shrug. "It's not a bad job. It has dangers and risks, but it has certain rewards, as well. I get to help save people who would be possibly squished by a variety of things... like trolls. And avoid being squished myself. Mostly. Usually," he comments, a smile teasing at the corners of his lips.

"Mmm... guilty as charged, and it is your fault for it," Pietro says, giving a nod to her. "And I know that I don't have to, but I choose to," he adds, quirking a smile. "There might even be pastries, for after."

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Slowly Willow let go as Pietro set her down. Still smiling,she says to him, "Remind me to show the place I know in Chinatown. They make the most amazing vegan Chinese food. Did you know, most authentic Chinese food is vegan? Honest to goddess." She crossed her heart. "Really."

And she almost continues, when she stops.

"Did you say.. pastries? Not /those/ ones..?" Because.. pastries!!

Quicksilver has posed:
"I will definitely remind you. I rather enjoy Chinese food," Pietro says, giving a nod to her. "I believe you. Many dishes of it are originally tofu and vegetables and noodles, in different combinations... I think?" he suggests, curious. He lifts a hand, lightly brushing his fingers along her jaw, if she lets him, his gaze meeting her eyes.

Then he laughs lightly before giving a nod, his blue eyes showing a sparkle to them. "Mm, I might have said pastries. And they are most likely /those/ ones," he comments, winking at her. He knows she likes them, after all. And he likes them too! "The food is in the backyard," he adds.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"You're correct. It's one of the foods that I can be like a normal person when we go out to eat." Or in this case, take out. She leans into his hand. "Somehow I don't feel as funny when I'm around you. I mean all of it. The schooling. The magic. The veganism." She giggles. "The not swearing. All of it. And because of that, I can be normal." And she places a tiny kiss on his cheek.

Willow took his hand. "Lead on!"

Quicksilver has posed:
"We'll go out for Chinese, next time," Pietro promises, giving a small nod to her. Softly, he strokes the pad of his thumb along her cheek, and a smile quirks at the corners of his lips. "You are a normal person, with your own preferences. Just like I have mine," he says, his tone sincere. "To me, you are your own normal just as I am my own normal," he adds. His eyes half close at the kiss that she gives his cheek, and he leans in a moment after to place a soft kiss on her cheek.

"I try not to swear. Mostly. Sometimes it comes out, in Romanian," he comments, quirking a bit of a grin. "This way," he adds. And he twines his fingers with hers after she takes his hand and leads her to the backyard.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Willow's eyes close as he kisses her cheek, and then opens up. She smiles, and rubs her thumb over his cheek. "It's a deal. My place, or yours. Heck we can try both of them and compare them."

"You know," Willow gets very serious. "Romanian is not one of the languages I have picked up. Mind you, I don't think there are a lot of spells in Romanian." There you have it, her sole reason for picking up languages at university, was to learn spells. "If you would like, I wouldn't mind learning." Then she grins. "Of course, then you would be able to swear without one other person knowing." Two, if he counted Wanda.

Quicksilver has posed:
"Mm, I rather like the sounds of that. We'll try yours first, though. Then mine. On different nights, of course. Mine's in Chinatown," Pietro says, quirking a bit of a smile. Which for him is just a short run away.

One of his eyebrows quirks up at her comment about Romanian, and then he chuckles. "Ah, well... then if I do swear in Romanian, you won't understand what I'm saying. Until I teach you, anyways," he adds, his blue eyes showing a sparkle to them. He leans slightly towards her, very lightly nudging his shoulder against hers. "I wouldn't mind teaching you, either," he comments, giving a nod to her.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"Mine is in Chinatown.." Willow teases him. "In Gotham. Most of my secret places aren't the type you would go to normally. But I noticed that people who went there usually spoke Mandarin or Cantoneese, so I thought, why not. It's been interesting. Now they know me, and that I don't eat meat."

She squeezed his fingers.

"I've been learning about ancient languages at university. I figured, may as well flesh out my rudimentary knowledge. Kind of a cheat, really. I had a good basic introduction to many. It's why it's not going to officially be on my diploma, I would feel funny."

Quicksilver has posed:
"I have run through Gotham a time or three, before," Pietro says, giving a small nod to her. One of his eyebrows quirks a touch, and he chuckles softly as he gives another nod. "It's usually a sign of a good place, for them to speak Mandarin or Cantonese. It's good that they know your tastes. If I understand correctly, it's... a matter of honour for them," he says, a thoughtful tone to his voice.

Softly, he squeezes her fingers, and then he lifts her hand to lightly kiss the back of it.

"Learning more languages is not a bad thing. It gives you more people to talk to. And people are often more comfortable to speak in their native languages. Romanian is, at least, a language that is still alive. Learning languages in university is not cheating. Although, depending on the number of them that you know, it deserves to be on your diploma," he says, a smile tugging his lips. He leads her to the backyard, where a table has been set up with the food waiting on it. There's a barbeque as well, but it's not lit as of yet. There are also plates and silverware, and the various condiments set out on the table as well.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"I thought as much. I've been learning their mannerisms." She has to shake her head. "I'm not very good at them though. I got the bow in place, but other than that?"

When he takes her hand and kisses it, she shudders, but in a good way. "Oh god.." Her breath is almost non-existent, but maybe he's got it?

"I.." Willow has to catch her breath, before she carries on. "With the one's I'm learning, there are few and far between who can converse. Most of the practitioners tend to use them for research, not for speaking."

She was impressed with the backyard. "What should I do?"

Quicksilver has posed:
"That part takes a little bit more time. To pick up the mannerisms, the ways of a people. I have heard that it is best done by immersing one's self into the culture," Pietro says, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I have a feeling that you are better at them than what you think," he adds, giving a small nod.

Lightly, he brushes the pad of his thumb across the back of her hand before giving it a soft squeeze. "I hope that was an okay thing to do," he says softly, giving her hand a soft squeeze again. And there's a half smile that quirks a bit crookedly at his lips.

He takes a moment to look over the backyard, then bring his gaze back to her. "You can get yourself a drink from the cooler and make yourself comfortable?" he suggests. There is a cooler, under one end of the table, and it's loaded with ice and an assortment of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. "Speaking is, in a way, a part of research. To speak over one's ideas, bouce them off another to see if they make sense or not."

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"You're very kind. In my house, it was common courtesy to help your guests feel at home. And, well, I think it reflects on you as a person. We run into so many things that aren't very nice, that, I guess, I prefer to make each and every little nuance in the bits I do control nice." In other words, Willow was normally good, and it shows.

Normally..

Lately she has been flirting around the edges of power, and has started to hear the siren's call LOUD. Oh, but she had heard it plainly these days, and she liked it. A lot.

Thank goodness he has asked her a question. "If you could kiss me?" Notice, she doesn't limit to the hands or cheeks. "It was.. I mean.. What I meant.." She giggles. "You would think I never kissed anyone before. I'm blushing, aren't I?" Oh, yes, she is. "When you brushed against my fingers, I felt all the way to my feet, tingling.. Yes, you're allowed, but I think you should know, I've had boys and girls.. you know..?"

She slept with them. Girls /and/ boys.

Quicksilver has posed:
"Well... you are a guest here, and hospitality is an important thing. Guests should feel important and be at ease, which means not being expected to do any chores towards the making of a meal or cleaning up after it," Pietro says, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "There are many things, many forces, that are not what would be considered 'nice'. And sometimes, it's just good to not have to worry about such things for a little while," he comments, his toe thoughtful.

Lightly, he brushes his thumb across the back of her hand, and then he gently draws her closer to him in order to slip his other arm around her. "Mm... well... if 'tis a okay thing," he says softly, pausing there for a moment as his gaze shifts to meet her own, studying her. Watching her. There's a smile that quirks at the corners of his lips, and he waits until she's finished speaking before he gives a small nod.

"Mm... you might be blushing, a little bit. You are very pretty, Willow. And it matters not to me who you have been with... whether they were girls or boys," he says softly, a smile touching at the corners of his lips. He takes a moment then, simply to watch her before he leans in to attempt to kiss her softly on the lips.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"That's what I feel too. Even the bad guys that are human" And by this she means mutants, metahumans, and the like. "we should first look beyond their persona, and look deep into them. Some of them are really not so bad. They have been looped by their characters, that they don't even try anymore. And that's our fault, not theirs."

For example, Wade, aka Deadpool. And whether she would admit it, Tala.

Pietro pulls her close, and declares her beauty. "Not really. I understand that Buffy has all the boys. I'm just a science nerd, who wears thrift market finds.." But she stops, and *looks* at him. "You.. mean it, don't you?" Between her looking beautiful to him, and the bit about her preferences, he really meant it.

She nods as if in understanding. And closes the gap between her lips and his, stretching up to meet him halfway.

Quicksilver has posed:
"The cover of a book does not tell the story that lies upon the pages," Pietro says softly, a smile touching at the corners of his lips. "Those who are bad, were not necessariy always bad. And those who are good, were not necessarily always good. People can change, and hospitality and kindness may be things that play a part in causing that change to happen," he muses, a thoughtful tone to his voice.

"You are to me, Willow. And if others do not see it as well then they are blind," he says softly, giving a small nod to her. "I would amend that to say that Buffy has some of the boys, but not all of them. Not me," he comments, quirking a smile. Then he gives a small nod. "Da, Willow... I do mean it," he adds. The kiss itself is soft and tender, a brief embrace. He closes his eyes for it, and once the kiss has parted, he slips his hand from where he'd tucked it around her in order to lightly brush a bit of her hair from her face.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Willow nods. "Exactly! What would you try to do good if everyone still treat you as though you are bad? Somebody needs to break the cycle."

Ah but the kiss was delightful. It didn't need to pretend it was something else. It was simple. Elegant. The right time and place. It felt deep in her heart, regardless of what may come, it was right.

When he broke it off, and he stroked her hair, pushing in from her face, she smiled. "I could ask you where do you think we should go next. You know, do we throw each other in the pool, or do we blush and pretend it didn't happen." She has to laugh. "Was that kiss meant to even to score so that could ask me to help you without guilt." Okay, maybe she was having a little too much fun with this.

Quicksilver has posed:
"If I were yet treated as a bad person, as a person who broke laws and did not deserve to do good things, a person who hurt innocent people, then I would not even try to do good things. Or at least, that is my guess," Pietro says softly, his tone falling thoughtful. "The cycle would have continued. I am glad that it was broken." He might not be here, otherwise.

His fingers trailed slowly through her red hair, and then he slipped his arm around her again, giving her a bit of a squeeze, if she'll let him. "Well... I would rather hope that we not pretend that it didn't happen... at least, if it was good," he says softy, a bit of colour creeping to his cheeks. "If it was not, well...they we can pretend it did not happen," he adds, one of his hands lightly rubbing her back. Then he chuckles softly before giving a light shake of his head. "All I might ask is that you get yourself something to drink and be comfortable. Relax and enjoy, yes?"

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Willow grows very sober, and looks deep into his eyes."You ARE a man who deserves to be treated like the man you want to be, in here." And she put her hand over his heart. "I don't care what you have done in the past. It's not who you are now." And coming from Willow who had once loved a demon, she means it.

And just as quickly as she grew sober, she quickly transitioned to smiling. "It was just perfect. Just the way you want it to be for the first time. Well, for not your first FIRST time. Though it would have been just as magical for a first kiss of any sort, but I kinda got the impression you've had girls before." At least she thinks so! "Wait a minute, you only date girls, right?" After all, she picks and chooses from both sexes!

Quicksilver has posed:
The speedster willingly meets her gaze as she turns more serious in nature, and one of his eyebrows nudges upwards just a touch at her words. "Thank you, Willow. I appreciate you saying so," he says softly, a warm note to his voice. He's done some terrible things, in the past. "I try to be different now than what I was, then. I try to be someone who does good things," he adds, ducking his chin slightly.

His cheeks turn a bit more red at her words, and he looks to her through his lashes for a moment, turned a bit shy for a moment. "For a first kiss between two people, and it was perfect. I have kissed girls before, yes. You are not my first first," he says, his blue eyes showing a sparkle to them. Then he chuckles softly before giving a nod to her. "Mmhmm, I only date girls," he affirms, quirking a smile.