13997/Evening Sights

Evening Sights
Date of Scene:	30 November 2021
Location:	Midtown, Manhattan
Synopsis:	Illuminated Christmas decorations in the streets are enjoyed by -- or at least noticed by -- Nick Drago, Diana Prince, and Poseidon as there is a bit of wandering and hijinks by strangers.
Cast of Characters:	Wonder Woman, Poseidon, Phantasm (Drago)

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Wonder Woman has posed:
Though it's barely past Thanksgiving, that hasn't stopped the various departments from seeing to the task of getting Christmas decorations put up on the streetlights to be enjoyed by all. The decorations are pretty, albeit it always feels as though they're up earlier than what they need to be. Yet even though this is the case, it draws folks out to the streets in the brisk air. The weather is clear, albeit hovering right around freezing.

It may not be where Diana typically haunts, but as it happens, she's out for a walk. They can't be seen, but she wears her usual bracers beneath a long sleeved light blue sweater. A pair of black jeans and black boots completes her outfit, and her black hair has been left free to tumble over her shoulders and down her back. Her breath fogs in the air, and she simply hums a little to herself as she makes her way, listening and watching as is very often the case.

Poseidon has posed:
There's one thing to be said for being a god. The cold doesn't bother Poseidon at all. Not one little bit. He's walking along the street, looking at the decorations. Looking for all the world like just another human admiring the prettiness of it all. His silver hair has been left loose, but his beard has been braided into three sections that hang down his chest.

He's dressed in a plaid sweater, a pair of black jeans, and a pair of scuffed brown workboots. The sweater is red and black, but nothing other than the hair and beard could even be equated with Santa Clause. And yet? And yet! Every few feet he still gets stopped by a child wanting to know if he's santa. The answers differ between children. Sometimes he's Santa's relative. Sometimes he's Sometimes he's neither. Either way, his patience isn't infinite.

Eventually, it's going to disappear. His normally blue eyes are the grey of storm clouds now.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
The apartment's good. The apartment's not good. The apartment's good. - Nick has pretty much been bouncing around for a bit. After the DHS attack on the condo over at Claridge's, he'd discourage a repeat performance by moving into the building the Fantastic Four were reportedly living in. Seemed to work. But then, some- other events happened and he's had several safe house visits, another to the Trisk, and- well. It's been a shitty start to the holiday season ok? He didn't get to do his usual thing of helping out at the food kitchen, the seasonal charity album he couldn't participate in this year, and- Well @#$% Stuck, @#^# Clayton, and for the hell of it, @#$# Malcolm Moretti too.

Feeling justifiably grumpy, the knitcapped musician sets foot out of four freedoms, loaded down backpack slung onto his back. And as he steps out. So does his shadow, who... apparently got the memo to at least dress like a normal person. Pausing upon the sidewalk, Nick gives a momentary glance towards Claridge's, wondering if his friend is over there right now.

Wonder Woman has posed:
As much as the cold weather doesn't bother Poseidon, it doesn't bother Diana either. It never particularly has bothered her. As a group of folks hurry to walk past her, the princess of the Amazons steps aside to be out of their way, watching them for a lingering moment. One of her eyebrows quirks up, and she lifts a hand to lightly comb her fingers through her hair.

Her keen hearing picks up the talk of Santa Claus, and she tilts her head a touch to one side as her gaze turns in the direction of the conversation. And she spies some of the children, as well as he who earns the questions. She has to wait on another group of people -- or rather, she doesn't have to but she chooses to -- and then she turns her steps to start to make her way in Percy's direction. Not seeming in a particular hurry, but on her way.

Poseidon has posed:
Even dressed as a normal person, that agent still sticks out like a sore thumb. He draws eyes. Too many people are in the holiday spirit. Suddenly, a group of them laughing and singing carols converges on Nick and Co. The group consists of perhaps ten people, though with them dacing and singing in a circle around the pair, it's hard to get a difinitive headcount.

By the time the carolers more on to the next person a few minutes later, the pair are freshly bedecked with both silver tinsel, and those long fuzzy tinsel ropes in blue and silver and red and green. All that's missing is the angel at the top of the tree. Oh wait. Someone stuck one of those atop the agent's head. The group move on to the next grumpy looking people and converge in the same way.

Poseidon watches the whole thing, his lips twitching upward, mostly hidden by the beard and mustache. He walks along, another small group of people obscuring him for a moment. When he can be seen again, the braids are gone and the beard and mustache are much shorter. His hair remains shoulder length, but he's much less likely to be mistaken for Santa Claus now. He also looks much less grumpy, his eyes having gone back to a clear blue.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
So long as folks are discussing how the cold water doesn't bother them in their meta, let it be known that NICK is a lifelong New York City / Gotham City where winters are cold and-

Oh who are we kidding. Elsa he is NOT. He's wearing a knit cap. And while yes it does help to hide his long hair to cut down on identifying him as a celebrity, it's also got that lovely function of keeping the head warm.

And then, the tinsel storm strikes. And for the victims of this gangup there are two different reactions. Nick's head turns, watching the people who come up to him. A brow arches as he sees the decorations coming his way. "What th-"

The agent is a bit more direct with his response. Having briefly lost sight, the angel top hops amongst the canopy of heads as the shadow tries to catch a glimpse of the boy who won't grow up. It's a sheer miracle the decorations are still on him as he wades through the crowd to get over to Nick, starting to pull the decorations off of himself.

Nick gives a bit of an impish smile and reaches a finger over to static shock the agent when he gets too close.

Wonder Woman has posed:
The group of carolers manage to earn Diana's attention, and she takes a moment to study them briefly. There's nothing about them that seems particularly out of place. Their holiday treatment of the potentially grumpy pair causes an upward quirk of her lips. That happens to be a touch amusing. Maybe a bit more than just a touch. Her gaze follows the group for a moment, and then turns back over to Poseidon.

Diana steps a bit quickly, crossing a land of traffic and then waiting for a car to drive by before she continues on her way. There are times when she doesn't particularly want to make certain things obvious. Although her appearance and identity have never been kept secret. She finishes crossing the street, and then she steps up next to Poseidon. "Taking in the lights, my dear friend?" she asks, the words touched in her usual Greek accent.

Poseidon has posed:
Poseidon seems to have gone from grumpy to amused, just at seeing the agent get all bedecked in the manner that he had. That the carolers are doing so to other people is a sign that they mean no harm, at least. Though, if one were to observe, they might notice that the carolers are only targeting people that don't seem to be in the holiday spirit. And most of those they leave behind wind up with happier expressions than when they'd arrived.

As Diana comes near to him, his head turns and he has a smile for her. "I was. I wish I'd shortened my beard sooner. Kids all think I'm Santa Claus. He's not even Greek." He sounds grumpy, but amusement tinges the words, and his eyes sparkle. Even still, there do appear to be a few children who think he might be Santa Claus. None approach him. now, though. Which is much better for Poseidon's peace of mind.

And like Diana, Poseidon's accent holds a touch of Greek within it. "And yourself, Diana? Enjoying the scenery?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
The agent gives a short and quickly silenced start of a curse as he gets zapped, eyes narrowing at the musician laughing at him. With the mob of decorators having moved on, A quiet nod is given in indication of the departing group. Nick nods back and soon the two make their way in the opposite direction to go where they need to go.

Wonder Woman has posed:
There's a soft chuckle that comes from her at his words, and she gives a nod to what he says. Her attention turns to his beard, taking in the shorter length of it before her gaze lifts. "With the length of your beard, if you will forgive me for saying so, I can understand how they would think so," she says, her blue eyes showing a sparkle to them.

Diana tilts her head a touch to one side, and one of her eyebrows quirks up. "Technically, it is believed the monk who later become Saint Nicholas was born in Patara, which is in Turkey," she says, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Her gaze turns towards the lights, taking a moment to admire them, and then her attention turns back to Percy before she gives a nod to him. "I have been, yes. They are always pretty, in the night. They are prettier when they are shining through the snow," she says. She's quiet for a moment then, simply studying him. "You have been well, since last we were in each other's company?" she asks, a touch of curiosity to her words.

Poseidon has posed:
Poseidon has been distracted from his amusement a'la Christmas decorations, by Diana. His lips twitch up into a smile at her words. "Indeed. I can understand too, but it is still annoying. Though, it would not be a bad disguise to adopt on occasion..." His eyes sparkle.

Up until the point Diana asks him about his well being. The smile fades, and his eyes turn away from her. "Well enough." The answer is short, and to the point, and doesn't really invite any further questions. Not that the tone will stop Diana, if she decides she needs to push.

Poseidon looks back and a ghost of the former smile returns. "I'm fine, Diana." He reaches out a hand to pat her on the shoulder, and then turns to walk away. Whatever he'd been here for, he's no longer staying. Soon, the crowd of people swallows him and he can no longer be seen.

Wonder Woman has posed:
"I can only imagine, from the perspective of a person who does not have such an issue. Although, at least it only lasts for a month or so," Diana says, a smile quirking at the corners of her lips. She gives a soft chuckle, and then nods. "So long as it is not July, perhaps, then yes, it would be quite a good disguise," she adds, amusement to her voice and her blue eyes showing a sparkle to them.

When he answers her, she tilts her head a little bit to one side at the brevity and tone of his answer. He is a God, and they can be fickle of temperament, by times. What amusement had been in her moments ago, fades away and to the background. And with such a simple question, she's left feeling as though she's asked something out of turn. That she's said something she should not have. "Of course," she says softly, giving a small nod to him. There's a bit of a smile that returns to her features at his touch to her shoulder, and there are no other questions that she poses to him.

She watches him as he turns to walk away, and there is nothing that she does to stop him. Her brow furrows a moment, and she gives a small shake of her head before she pushes off the ground and into the air, to make her way back to the Embassy. Whatever her own reason for having been here, it seems it is not enough to hold her here for longer.