5181/Getaway to Harry's Hideaway

Getaway to Harry's Hideaway
Date of Scene:	15 August 2018
Location:	Harry's Hideaway, Salem Center, New York
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Phoenix, Cyclops

---

Phoenix has posed:
It's been quite a while since Jean and Scott had time for themselves, been even longer since they last been to Harry's to share a shake. Which is what Jean ordered, a strawberry shake to be precise. Since the early days when they were young teens at Xavier's there's been less free time, and more adventure, the epitome being that time Jean supposedly died in their space missions. Then when she was back, Scott was away for a special assignment from Xavier, so, this is pretty much the first time they've been together in a long time without students about. "So...this brings back memories," Jean offers in the most banal manner, even though her eyes are drinking in Scott's form across from her at their booth.

Cyclops has posed:
Having been so busy between fighting off demons from Illyana's return to the mansion and teaching duties as well as training with the New Mutants, Scott has had precious little time for anything else. Mainly because he's had nothing else come up that was worth doing. But any time Jean pops by and offers to accompany him, well anywhere really, he makes time.

Despite the infancy of their budding relationship and their lack of time together, Jean is never far from his thoughts. If she ever got curious enough to poke around in there she'd know it, too. Scott's a pretty old fashioned guy and still has that butterflies-in-his-stomach sensation when he's around her and right now is no exception. Sitting across from her in the booth, he's leaning forward with his forearms resting across each other on the table and watching Jean across from him with a seemingly permanent smile across his usually-stoic features. He finally pulls his eyes away from her as he also glances around the bar and nods, "It certainly does." Quickly returning his attention to the woman across from him, the smile widens a bit, "I'm glad we're finally getting a chance to see each other. It's been too long."

Phoenix has posed:
Jean rather appreciated the effort he made in clearing time for her, same as she did for him, if they didn't keep this semblance of actual life between duties, things might get a touch depressing.

Taking a sip of strawberry shake is one way to clear thoughts from duties and concerns, reminding herself to stay in the moment with Scott. "It almost feels normal sitting here, and this shake is delicious, want to a sip?" She offers, turning the straw towards him, "so...when did you hear I wasn't dead?" She wonders, "sorry if I made you all mourn me...when I wasn't dead after all."

Cyclops has posed:
Scott reaches out to wrap his fingers around the cold glass, the condensation soaking into his warm fingers as he slides the shake a little closer so he can lean down and take a long sip. Enjoying the strong strawberry flavor, he pushes the glass back towards Jean and leans back, wiping the palms of his hands together. "That is delicious," he says, echoing her assessment with a grin.

Upon mention of her 'death', his smile fades and he reaches across the table and touches the back of her hand lightly, "I found out just before I returned to Westchester." He had made a conscious effort to be as difficult to contact as possible while he was away. If he hadn't, he would've found out much sooner and probably could've returned after only a week or so. "I'm so sorry I wasn't back sooner. If I had known I would've come back immediately. And you have nothing to apologize for. Everyone is just happy to see you alive, well, and back. That's what's important."

Phoenix has posed:
"On the pricey side, but certainly worth it," Jean muses, before shifting the tall glass closer to her end of the table. "Well, all thing's turn out for the best, yes?" She tries to keep a positive outlook, and all things told, they more or less have. The X-Men have managed seem impossible feats after all.

Cyclops has posed:
Scott nods as he returns to watching her enjoy the shake. "I suppose it's not the most unusual situation the X-Men have ever experienced, but we're all glad things are back to normal." She may get the feeling that when he refers to 'we all' he is more or less mainly referring to himself.

After a brief pause, he leans back in his seat, "How have things been with the students? I assume you're keeping fairly busy?"

Phoenix has posed:
"I have enough busy work, some of it not of the pleasant variety. There are two who dare to move against our student body, one Donald Pierce, who I have warned already...and one Mr. Saki, who have been likewise warned. But I'm concerned so many think they can pick on mutants just because they are young..." Jean shares her concerns, "how are the New Mutants doing since you've taken over?"

Cyclops has posed:
Scott's jaws clench as Jean mentions Donald Pierce and Mr. Saki wanting to cause trouble with the institute. It isn't surprising that a student body full of mutants would be targeted just as Jean suspects. They're young. More importantly they're all in one place. It makes an easy target. And unfortunately it's not much of a surprise.

Leaning forward against his forearms again, he watches her intently from across the table, "Do you have any idea what they might be planning or is it just vague threats at this point?"

At her question, he shrugs his shoulders slightly and tilts his head to one side, "Things are going well. There's still a lot to be done, but the team is beginning to come together. We're working on small-team exercises so everyone can get used to each other but they seem to be picking it up quickly."

Phoenix has posed:
"Pierce is invested in the blood or DNA of one particular student, Andrea, she's a new one...the famous pop singer," Jean notes, "could be for a nefarious purpose, could be an infatuation. Hard to tell. Either way, he enlisted Mr. Saki to that end, and the later also taken over one of our students...one I've been meaning to talk to but have sense disappeared. We can only assume he has joined Mr. Saki." Jean doesn't look pleased at any of it. Which leads to another sip of her shake, "we always do it, Scott, find a way to turn a pleasant downtime into stressful task of the day briefing...has to do with our upbringing, doesn't it?" She muses bitterly.

If anything at least the New Mutants are progressing nicely, "that is good to hear, Scott, I knew you'd do well."

Cyclops has posed:
"Hmm," is Scott's answer to the plans of Pierce. Andrea has proven to be his best student so far. She is also shaping up to be a natural leader. "I've had a few training sessions with Andrea," he says as his eyebrows furrow at the news. "She's still very apprehensive about her powers but she's slowly getting used to them. And coming to terms with being in control." She still has a lot of work to do, especially before she can safely defend herself against someone who may be targeting her. And given her pop star status and the hordes of eople who always want to talk to her or get their picture with her it is going to be increasingly difficult to make sure she's safe.

Her comment snaps him out of the auto-pilot of thinking about work matters. When you are responsible for so much, it tends to be natural to shift into 'shop talk' almost instinctively. To be honest, he hadn't even realized it until she pointed it out. He emits a soft sigh and smiles with a slight chuckle, "Why can't we just enjoy the good company sometimes?" A rhetorical question.

Phoenix has posed:
"That was what I was thinking, Scott," Jean offers with a warm, if bitter, smile. "How about you tell me how you're feeling? Has it been different since you came back? Is there anything that bothers you, Scott Summers, person, rather than Scott Summers, leader and educator?"

Cyclops has posed:
The question isn't really an easy one for him to answer, so he sits in silence for a moment. Finally, he glances up, "I'm feeling good." She may be able to sense there's more to his answer but he isn't quite going into it. "I believe I've gotten back into the swing of things around here pretty quickly and it's really good to be back." He swings an arm up and motions in her direction, "I wish there was more time for things like this, of course, but I'm not going to complain." At least she's alive!