8360/Cupcake and Study Break

From United Heroes MUSH
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Cupcake and Study Break
Date of Scene: 17 July 2019
Location: Hank's Lab - X-men Base
Synopsis: Wanda and Josh take some time to know each other better.
Cast of Characters: Elixir, Scarlet Witch




Elixir has posed:
Josh is settled in Hank's lab at one of the desks with a computer. He has his music, something hip hop and forgettable, playing on the speakers while he works away. He has a series of dishes with Caenorhabditis elegans, roundworms, in them. Right now he is reading away at some academic articles on one screen and has a neuronal map of the roundworm brain up on a second screen.

He runs a hand through his hair and pulls at his Manchester U jersey. It is cool in the lab so he wore jeans despite the weather outside. His phone is sitting facedown on the desk and he has so far resisted the urge to use it. But he is not able to resist the urge to just feel the presence of Wanda. It is a new, weird and altogether pleasant thing to be able to do.

Scarlet Witch has posed:
She had talked to him earlier on the phone. Wanda offered to pick up a few supplies to help Josh with his research. The warmth in her voice was unmistakable to anyone who overheard. When she arrives at the school, she's dressed in a simple skirt and blouse without much flair. Purple above black, and her hair pulled back and clipped into place, revealing her neck and those high cheek bones of hers.

She knocks softly on the lab after getting escorted down into the base by someone. "Brought what you asked for from Stark Biotech," Wanda says, sliding the door close behind her and moving over to where Josh is sitting and working. She sets a few small boxes down on his table out of the way, then leans down and warps her arms gently about him from behind. Not enough to disrupt his work if he's in the middle of something, but enough to nuzzle a tender kiss against his cheek.

The feeling that comes from her now that she's here in the room with him is so much stronger. Always it's a warm, comforting feeling, but particularly when together.

Elixir has posed:
As soon as Wanda walks into the room, she can feel the change in Josh. That rightness he feels whenever Wanda is around is plain as day to her. He is a simple creature in many ways, his feelings for her are warm and deep and uncomplicated by the scars and wounds that older hearts often accumulate. Josh grins and leans back into Wanda's embrace. He turns his head so he can return her kiss.

"You're a sweetheart," Josh says. He turns around completely and takes the small box of vials. "These are gonna help a ton. I brought some cupcakes down if you want one. They had a bunch in the kitchen. Chocolate with some kind of orangey icing. So good."

He stops and tilts his head. "I like that shirt on you," Josh says with a smile.

Scarlet Witch has posed:
The compliment to her blouse brings not just a smile, but that feeling of happiness that seems like a warm echo from her. "Thank you," she says, looking down at it. "Everyone figures red must be my favorite color. Because, Scarlet Witch, right?" she says, smiling and going over to get a pair of the cupcakes and bring them over. She sets them on the bench out of Josh's way, then pulls a stool over to settle onto right beside him.

"And I do. Though I really like purples more. And extremely deep blues," she tells him. Wanda slides her hand over across his back, fingers moving up the back of his neck and into his hair. "Though, blond and sky blue are growing on me of late," she says, attempting a shy little smile as she says it.

Her voice softens a little as she asks of a more serious subject. "How is the research going?"

Elixir has posed:
Josh laughs at her comment.

"Alright, something blue or purple for your birthday then," he says with a wink as she runs her fingers into his hair. "Oh man, I already ate two," Josh says about the cupcake but does not resist. "They're too good. Thanks."

"Research is going okay, I'm getting ready to try something new. The chemical markers you brought are going to be perfect for imaging after. I'm gonna try changing these guys' brains," he says and gestures to the worms. "They only have a couple hundred neurons and they're super, super well studied. So we'll know if I'm doing what I'm planning or messing it up."

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda picks up one of the cupcakes, leaning over to brush a kiss into the edge of Josh's hair before slipping her fingers free of his golden locks. "I wish there was something I could do to heal them directly, but... well it would be too much risk. If it were necessary even, I would let you guide," she says. "You have such a gift. Not just that you can heal, but your sense of awareness and empathy. I think these are important to what you do," she tells him.

Wanda breaks off little pieces of the cupcake, eating the tiny bites one at a time. She makes a soft, "mmm," sound at the frosting. "Has a hint of orange flavor," she says of it. "How are the two girls doing?" she asks more quietly.

Elixir has posed:
Josh shrugs but smiles at her words. "Well, I need knowledge more than empathy right now," he says. "They not... Hurt. They're just different now. They have a whole bunch of connections between neurons that make their brains look like long-term addicts. It's been kinda neat to research in like, a disturbing way. Anyway, so we want to change them again to cure the addiction, right? But I'm not a neurosurgeon, so I dunno what to change. I'm pretty sure I /can/ change neurons though. So that's what these guys are for. Practice.

Josh pushes back from the desk and gently pulls Wanda over onto his lap.

Mention of the girls makes him look sad. "Not great. They're starting withdrawal. I kinda sorta hold it back, but it's not good. We really Hank or someone to come up with something. Even if I figure out what to do, I can't help everyone, you know? Which sucks ass. I wish we could help everyone."

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda Maximoff slips over into Josh's lap readily. She snuggles in against his larger frame, head moving to rest upon his shoulder as he explains the situation with the girls. "It is something to take great care with," she says slowly in agreement. Wanda looks thoughtful for a moment and then asks, "Has the drug been seen much outside of Bushwick, do you know? And I am wondering if it would be good to let the hospitals know about the drug. So they have an idea what they are dealing with if someone comes in, in a situation like Sarah," she says softly.

"If it hasn't been done yet, if you and Hank can draw up the information, I can see to it that it comes out with the Avengers as the source," she says, figuring that will both be taken seriously, and limit the school's exposure.

Wanda breaks off another piece of the cupcake, one with a bunch of frosting. She offers it up to Josh's lips as she rests there in his lap.

Elixir has posed:
Josh takes the piece of cupcake from Wanda with a smile. He makes sure to get all the frosting from the tips of her fingers.

"Tastes even better now," he jokes. Then he looks more serious. "That's the bad news. So the stuff is called Hook. And it's showing up everywhere. Like. California to New York, Canada. I didn't find any posts from Europe but I didn't spend much time looking. But this is big. Really big."

"Be good if the Avengers helped get the word out. Maybe help Hank come up with some kinda drug to deal with ODs at least. Treatment.. I dunno."

"Could use your help," he says to Wanda. "Nobody that's been down here is great with magic."

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda gives a quick nod, her expression concerned. "I'm happy to help out however I can," she tells him. "Do we have some samples of it? I can try to see what I can figure out about the magical nature of it," she offers.

Wanda breaks off another piece of cupcake but doesn't eat it yet. "This thing that happened in the palace has me on edge a little bit still," she tells him, frowning slightly. "That I wasn't able to spot anything of who did it. The mark was drawn in blood as well, it was just spray paint. And so large that just doing it in the short amount of time we were gone had to be difficult," she says. Wanda lets out a little sigh. "Well, for now it is just harmless. But this, is not," she says, looking over to the research that Josh is doing.

Wanda hesitates a moment in thought about something else, and says, "I was thinking about us," she says softly. "I didn't believe you were doing anything with Samantha," she says, trailing off.

Elixir has posed:
Josh Foley says, "Yeah, I can get you some. We got more off the people the team brought in. Just be /really/ careful with it. Like cyanide careful, you know?"

He listens to Wanda tell him more about the incident in Genosha. "Well. Maybe. But your sister's a princess right?" Josh says with obvious concern. Without thinking he squeezes the beautiful Avenger a bit more tightly to him. "Kind of major to be doing stuff like that to the king's family... Might not be so little," he points out.

He cranes his neck back so he can he can see Wanda's face.

"I'm glad," Josh says quietly. He searches Wanda's eyes though. "What're you thinking about?""

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda gives a slow nod of her head at the question. "She is a princess. And yes, it seemed very targeted. The lights it was only in the area around her room, where we were," Wanda says. "I suppose it is more the fear that they were able to do that while I was standing there. So what else might they be able to do," she says softly, a frown forming on her face.

The final question, and having Josh look into her eyes, are a welcome change of topic from the other. Wanda gets a soft smile, and though she maybe 29, it has a bit of a bashful schoolgirl expression to it. "Well," she says slowly. "I hated even the pretense of being out with someone other than you. And, though I trusted you weren't doing anything with Samantha... I don't like thinking of other women chasing after you," she says slowly, watching his expression as if hoping there isn't a negative reaction to her sharing this.

Elixir has posed:
Josh rubs Wanda's back slowly while she tells him her concern and nods in agreement with how she felt.

When she moves on, a smile flirts with the edges of his mouth.

"You don't?" he asks playfully. But he smiles and tilts his head, curious. "Can't imagine why."

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda laughs and gives Josh a little swat. "Stinker, you're going to make me be the one to ask, aren't you?" she asks him. But she's smiling as she gives a little sigh. "How is it people ask here, if you want to go steady? Or, no that is something for high school?" she asks him.

Wanda reaches up and runs her fingers through her hair. "I guess I'm asking, is this something that has gone beyond just 'dating' between us?" Wanda asks him. Her hand slides over to rest over his heart, feeling it beat, her own pulsing softly in time to it when they are close and calm like this. "I told you I'm not the most knowledgeable of the whole relationship thing," she says, giving a shy, somewhat self-deprecating laugh.

Elixir has posed:
The young college student grins at the swat. He flinches playfully and chuckles.

"I think going steady is what my parents called it. Or maybe they still call it that in Europe? Everything's older over there right?" he asks, teasing.He shifts a bit under Wanda.

"I'm not very 'knowledgeable' either," he says. His expressions softens from a teasing grin to something warmer but more serious. "I don't think anyone could have what we've got and call it just dating. I couldn't..."

Josh stops and looks thoughtful for a few momentts. "It's kind of terrifying," he admits. "You're close. /Way/ too close. Like... You know. We like hardly know each other, but I also like know you better than anyone I've ever known. I can /feel/ you.
Josh's expression takes a wry cast. "If I think about it too much it makes me wanna freak out. Because it seems insane. Who'd be like, hey, you just started dating so do some... soul-bonding?"

"But here we are. I mean, just stop and feel me. Could you even imagine me wanting to be with /anyone/ else anymore?"

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda reaches up to softly brush her fingers along the edge of Josh's face as she looks over into his eyes. "I didn't mean for that to last as long as it has. And, I think it would have faded away by now. But our feelings are sustaining it. I don't think just simple attraction would have been enough to do that," she tells him.

Her hand slides down his face, along his neck, and finally down onto his chest and atop his heart. "I can't imagine not feeling you like this, now that I know you," she tells him. Wanda draws a deep breath and lets it out, moving her hand from his chest to cover her face. "Oh you make me feel like a school girl. Which I never really got to be," she tells him, laughing warmly and smiling at him as she pulls her hand away.

Elixir has posed:
"There's no way you should be able to be the Scarlet Witch /and/ be that cute at the same time," Josh says with a grin. "But I know what you mean. Well, not like a schoolgirl, but you know. You're just really, really special."

Josh pulls Wanda in to lean against him once more and rests his cheek on top her head. "So yeah, we're way past dating," he says quietly. "We skipped that and went to something else."

Josh stays like that with Wanda for a moment and then chuckles. "Besides, if someone saw me with another woman, Pietro would murder me. Legit. I met him today? If looks could kill... I think your brother is protective of his sister!"

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda lets out a warm laugh, and she snuggles in against Josh's chest. She feels at home with him in a way she's never known before. Wanda basks in the-

Did he say he met Pietro?

Wanda sits up a little bit so she can see Josh's face. "You aren't kidding," she says. And then she gives a soft, warm sigh and a commiserating look. "I'm sorry if he was rough on you. It will probably take awhile for him to decide /anyone/ is good enough for me," she tells him. "But I think in time as he sees how good you are for me, you'll win him over," she says.

Wanda presses back in against Josh, bringing her lips to kiss his softly before whispering. "And you survived the meeting. Surviving is a very good first step," she says. Teasing. It sounds like teasing at least. Hopefully teasing.

Wanda relaxes back against him. "So who are you closest to? Who am I going to have to win over," she asks him.

Elixir has posed:
"Don't worry about it, I'll get him. He's your brother, it's cool. It'd be weird if he didn't want to kill me. I dunno what I'm gonna do about your dad, but one thing at a time. Give me 'til the end of the season and I'll have him at a Giants game," Josh says with a grin.

And then his smile freezes on his face after Wanda has laid her head back down against him. "Who wouldn't you win over? You don't have anything to worry about," he says. "Uh, you are a football fan, right?"

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda gives a soft scoff at Josh having to ask if she's a football fan. She looks at him with a look of such seriousness. "Football? Of course. I love it when they... take the ball and... score. And kick the ball. They kick the ball, right? And, they hit each other. And run around chasing each other. Oh yes, I love football," she tells him, nodding slower at the end as if she suspects he might have caught on to her lack of knowledge about the game.

Wanda gives him a little shrug and smile. "I'm willing to learn that is. If you don't mind explaining the rules to me?" The woman lays her head back against Josh's shoulder. "I do know this about football. Men like to watch it. And I'd be happy to watch it with you. If it's something you have a passion for, then I'd like to experience it too," she tells him. "So do you cheer for the New York teams? The Giants and the Yankees?" she asks him. Oh, so close.

Elixir has posed:
Josh smiles and suppresses a laugh, but is mainly relieved his deflection worked.

"I do, hometown. Gotta cheer for them, right? Especially the Giants. I grew up a Giants fan, so even if they don't win..." he shrugs. "I played in middle school and high school, thought I'd play in college, too. Been out too long to get back into it, and I seriously don't have the time anymore. Like my labwork for Hank? So I didn't get it all done, for some reason, and got a talking to about it. He was cool, but still. Thank god he didn't mention the heels though!"

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda's cheeks color a bit with a blush. "I came by to go over gather some of the things for the protection spell, and stopped in to pick them up. I'm not sure if he had been in there yet or not," she tells Josh.

"I don't know too many of the people here very well. Including Lorna, which it pains me to say. But we're making gains there," she says softly, and even giving a bit of a smile about how it is going. "So my father though. I really don't know what to tell you to expect. We are not particularly close. I had differences of opinion with him and left for New York, where Pietro and I joined the Avengers. We... ok I... have tried to reconcile some. But I cannot support some of his more extreme positions. So, he may be tough on you because of me. If so, I'll apologize in advance. And if that's the case, try to help keep you away from him."

Elixir has posed:
"Hopefully not," Josh grins and chuckles. He kisses the top of her head.

"Don't worry too much about your dad. It'll be what it'll be. Let's be real, with my past he was never gonna like me. I'll deal with it though, and who knows?" he shrugs. "I'm really glad you're connecting with Lorna, though. I don't know her well, just from training. But she seems pretty cool. I'll make it my totally selfless goal to get you out here lots so you can see her!"

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda lets out a soft laugh. She brushes her fingertips over Josh's chest and then up to his shoulders. The other hands come up, dusting off his shoulders and smoothing his shirt over them, unnecessarily. "Completely selfless of you," she agrees. "Why, some might even label it as a charitable act," she says in that gentle accent of hers. Her smile just keeps growing bigger, until finally some gleaming teeth even show in the smile.

"Just as long as I don't distract from your studying too much," she says. "If so just tell me and I'll let you be while you need. Or, even better, pitch in if I can. Quiz you on things when you need," she offers. "So when you've become a doctor, what are you thinking you might like to do? What type of medicine? And how much do you think you'll use your ability, versus traditional medicine? Or do you not plan to have a standard sort of medical practice?"

Elixir has posed:
Josh lets out a breath and smiles. "That's a big one... I'm just trying to get there, first," he says with a grin. "I really don't know. Honestly, I just want to be a doctor so people will let me help," he says with a shrug. "I didn't always want to be a doctor as a kid or anything, it's just what I should do. People aren't gonna let me help the way I really can unless I'm a doctor, even though I can do things no doctor can."

"I'll probably work in critical care or rare diseases or something. Stuff we can't treat yet," Josh says and scratches the back of his neck. "Probably where they need me most."

"I'll have to come up with a better story for my application letters. 'Your stupid rules are in my way' isn't gonna sell with most admissions officers."

Josh swivles on the chair, turning them both back and forth a bit. "I mean, think of it this way. I can sit in class and cut up a cadaver to learn about human internals. Basic med school stuff. But I can already feel every organ and every cell in every organ," Josh says with a depth of frustration that rarely shows or leaks out. "I know where and what they are. The books give me names and understanding, which is awesome, but... I mean, you see the news? You drop me in the DRC where they're having that ebola outbreak again? Drop me in there and I can literally cure who knows how many people in a day. Hell of a lot better than anything we can do right now," he says with a frown.

"I can study on a plane. I can study in a jeep going to a village somewhere. But I can't help people sitting in class. If that makes sense? I wanna be a healer more than a doctor."

Josh lets out a frustrated huff and pushes on a smile. "Whatever, I don't make the rules. This is what I have to do, this is what I'll do. And then I can do what I wanna do."

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda slides sideways a little bit more, facing Josh as she rests against him and listens. She nods slowly near the end, and looks thoughtful. "Obviously the situation with the drug needs to be dealt with," she says. "When it does not require as much focus though?" Wanda says.

"Then you let me know how much time you wish to devote to it. And we'll go somewhere together, like the DRC or another area facing a major health issue. And you can do what you can for people, and then we'll come back home together. If you'd like that?" she asks him, tilting her head to the side a bit as she flashes those soft green eyes over to him.

Elixir has posed:
Josh just looks at Wanda for long enough, doing no more than blinking, that she might almost be tempted to ask he is alright. She can feel more from him though; confusion, incomprehension. He opens his mouth to object that there are rules, people who have to say it's okay. His whole life had been built on someone else knowing better and what ought to be done. There were people who know better about things.

Better than the Scarlet Witch?

"Who... I mean. Like, how was it okay that you became an Avenger? And just started... Doing things?" Josh asks with a frown.

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda breaks out in a soft smile to him. She looks up and off to the side as if for the answer and shrugs her shoulders. "I guess when people save the world a few times... and have someone like Steve Rogers as their head, and he vouches for you? Well, people give you some extra leeway," Wanda says, nodding very slowly.

"But," she adds, "It isn't carte blanche. We frequently have to play the games to some extent. Can't be seen taking sides. Still have too worry about publicity. That leeway that governments give us can be taken away," she says. "But I don't imagine the World Health Organization doctors will mind if I show up and offer to help with an outbreak. We can let them think I'm doing the healing to keep pressure off of you. Or you can let them know the truth if you choose. I'll just do what I can to support you, and to help the people there," she says.

Elixir has posed:
Josh just beams, his age showing through in his need for... Permission?

"I don't care if they know or who gets the credit, you're for real? Of course you are, you're you," Josh chides himself.

"That would be the most amazing thing... Second most amazing thing ever," Josh grins broadly, his whole face just lit up. He puts his hands on Wanda cheeks and kisses her. He is probably more animated right now than she has seen him before. "Thank/ you. That would be so cool. And thank you for understanding. I need this. It's me."

Scarlet Witch has posed:
The woman's eyes light up as she kisses him back. "It is you. Who you are," she agrees with him, a twinkling warmth shining out to him in her gaze. "It's part of why I'm falling in love with you how I am," she says. "Your desire to help people... I've seen some darkness I'm afraid," she tells him, shaking her head. "And seeing how you want to use your gift for others, that helps me hold onto my faith in the world," she tells Josh.

She leans forward and rests her forehead against him. Just being close with him. Wanda closes her eyes, sensing how he feels right now. Savoring the warmth that she feels from him. "You're the most amazing man," she tells him quietly. "That you came to me in a church could just about make me wonder if there was someone else at work that day," she says. Before Wanda breaks out in a laugh. "But then you asked me out for a drink in that church. So I'm just going to write it off to your confidence and good looks."

Elixir has posed:
"Amazing what a smile and a handful of hair product can do!" Josh laughs.

"But if you think about it, who gave me the confidence to follow the devastatingly beautiful Wanda Maximoff into the church when I saw her across the road from across the road just to meet her?" Josh says with a grin. "It had to be Him!"

Josh shakes his head, fighting to hold the goofy grin back. "I really am in love with you Wanda," he says. "I can't hide it. Which is /crazy/ because like, only three weeks... But it's true."

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda's lips pull back in a soft crooked grin, the more charming for its unevenness. "I think people can be together a half year or a year, and not have as much of a sense of each other as we have," she tells him. No needing months on end of experiences to trust her feelings for him, when he can sense the pulsing warmth of her emotions so easily.

Wanda looks over across the room and her finger glows scarlet as motions with it as if shutting off a switch. The lights in the room turn down low, lower, just barely on.

A sound of kissing and then a warm giggle. Shoes clattering as they hit the floor. "We'll have to remember to pick them up this time," she whispers.