8882/A Cruise Around The Harbor

A Cruise Around The Harbor
Date of Scene:	20 August 2019
Location:	New York Harbor near Liberty Island
Synopsis:	Josh and Wanda go for an evening cruise, a chance to unwind and just spend time together
Cast of Characters:	Scarlet Witch, Frank Quaid, Elixir

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Scarlet Witch has posed:
It's noon, with Wanda off Avenging and Josh having work in the medical bay at the mansion. But easy to keep in contact. They don't even have to type out their own texts with Jarvis there to help with dictation. Google, eat your heart out.

Josh's phone dings with a message from Wanda: "Looking at an advertisement for an evening cruise around the Harbor. Statue of Liberty, watching the city lights. Know anyone who might be interested in taking a girl out on a date like that?"

Elixir has posed:
Josh is in Medical working on an experiment with one of the technicians. In the last couple of days, Josh had learned more than he ever wanted to know about pea plants, the same plants used by Gregor Mendel for his genetics experiments. They were testing Josh's ability to change their traits.

Between trials, Josh looks at his phone and grins. He makes a quick call to Salem Centre and talks with the Pediatrics resident there. No critical cases on the board, so he could get away with not showing up as long as he was available on call.

"If she's hot, redhead, has sexy accent sure! Else no deal. <3" Josh texts back to Wanda. Jarvis may be there, but with the technician in the room. Well. Sometimes texting was better. Or at least less embarassing.

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda smiles as she receives Josh's text. It isn't very long before he gets another text back, but this one is just a photo. A picture of two tickets with the time of the cruise later that night.

And eventually later that night rolls around. And with it, Josh and Wanda roll down to the harbor together in one of the cars from the Avenger's fleet. Wanda dressed up, a skirt and blouse, with a strand of pearls around her neck and a little makeup. She looks like she took the time to stop and get her hair done at the mansion as well.

She looks over to Josh as they pull into a parking spot. "I'm glad you were able to get away," she tells him. "Feels like we've spent too much time talking through phones," she says. It has been a busy time, what with the situation with the Sentinels, and her preparing to go to Atlantis.

Elixir has posed:
Josh dug out some his new clothes, designer jeans, a patterned collared shirt, blazer cut to fit. All in blues and greys that fit with his skin colour. Either he has an eye for clothes or found someone who does. Judging by the usual mess of his hair, it was the latter.

"I know, right?" Josh agrees with a smile. "It's like you're a superhero and I'm a not-doctor or something! We got tonight though."

Josh turns off the car and gets out to join Wanda and take her hand. "People are gonna think I must be like, rich or something, cause I don't like I deserve you," Josh says with yet another appreciative look at the Transian woman. Then he nods his head in the direction of the pier. He bumps shoulders with Wanda playfully.

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda happily takes her place at Josh's side, leaning in against him lightly after being bumped on the first attempt, drawing a smile from the woman. "Not rich," she says, shaking her head, before Wanda glances about first one and then the other before leaning over nearer to Josh. She whispers for his ear alone, "Very... well... endowed."

She does her best to hold a straight face after that, but her expression ends up matching the blush that comes to her cheeks. She passes Josh the tickets as they walk over to the boarding ramp for the boat. A large tourist boat, complete with a bar, with tables in a glass-enclosed area below, as well as seats on the upper deck, comfortable affairs that are long enough to seat a group together, or private enough a couple can sit intimately close together.

Elixir has posed:
"Oh my god," Josh says and laughs, a little rose gold coming to his own cheeks. "My innocent ears," he mutters jokingly.

Josh passes the tickets to be checked and walks to the bar with Wanda. Other couples and groups are already there, and some are arriving behind them. Some music is playing and it does feel like a party is getting ready to happen.

"Let's check it out," Josh suggests with a nod up the stairs. The couple wander upstairs into the night air and Josh smiles. He pulls Wanda to one of the seats conveniently near the glass railing. Josh looks out from the deck.

"It's a really nice night," he comments and grins. "We just get lucky or was that you?"

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda's smile is warm and beautiful as the social situation is turning out to be a pleasant one. While she is a likeable enough person that she seems to do well in such moments, they are not really something she is usually drawn to. Having Josh there makes the moment one that she would not want to miss, though.

Wanda lets out a warm laugh as a soft, warm breezes stirs her hair. "I try to avoid too much weather manipulation. It always has a mind of its own and you never quite know what unintended effects it may cause," she tells him. "Though, I /did/ check the forecast and saw it was supposed to be a beautiful night," she confirms.

The boat slowly fills up and then sets off from the pier. Moving out slowly into the bay, just fast enough to assist that gentle breeze. Overhead the stars are trying to be seen despite the city lights, and the moon is looking down from on high.
nda's eyes drift down from the heavens to land on her golden-skinned companion. "But I do consider myself very lucky," she tells him, reaching over to rest her fingers upon his shoulder as they sit close together. "I'd never really thought about it, but coming home to the mansion is so much more meaningful to me now, knowing it means I'll be seeing you soon."

Elixir has posed:
"There you have it folks, even Scarlet Witch counts on the weather reports," Josh teases in mock announcer voice.

Josh puts an arm around Wanda over the back of the seat.

"I get it," he agrees. The light motion of boat is enough to make the lights sparkle a bit off Josh. Just faint metallic sparkles in the dim light.

"I haven't felt at home anywhere the last year," Josh says. "Then you. And home's where I'm gonna find you. Cause that's where I belong, you know?"

"Did that sound as cheesy as I think it did?" he asks with a grin. "Cause like, I mean it, but I used to have good lines and now all I've got is... feelings. Or maybe those lines were cheesy and this isn't. I dunno. You've totally ruined my game," Josh grins. "I had epic game. You don't even know."

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda breaks out in soft laughter and waggles a finger towards Josh. "Oh, I could sense that about you. The smooth way you approached me. The smile that you had... I could tell it was one that you knew the girls enjoyed seeing," she tells him, turning a little more in her seat to face him.

"I figured you were probably... what is they say? A player? Yet... there was something about you that made me want to find out more. But then, you weren't. I never felt like you had eyes for anyone but me. Ever wanted to be with anyone else," Wanda says. "It isn't just that you made me feel special but that... well, that I felt like you believed it," she tells him. Wanda leans a little closer to brush a small kiss to his lips. Just a short one, as the boat makes its way out deeper into the bay, heading towards Liberty Island.

Elixir has posed:
"Cause I do!" Josh says brightly after their kiss.

"You are. So special. You could like literally do whatever you want, but instead of going all Colby you're you. Sweet, and sincere, and caring..." Josh says. He gently guides a few strands of Wanda's hair behind her ear. "And so fucking sexy, but I mean, everyone can see that. Won't lie, that was kinda part of why I followed you into the church, cause, wow," Josh says with a big grin. "You keep getting hotter though, it's weird. Like the more I know you."

Josh just radiates that surprisingly deep feeling for the woman he is connected with. She can feel it and the central place it takes in his world. The place she takes in his world.

"Even Pietro sees it with us, if you can believe that. He said so. He's kinda jealous of how I just get you know," Josh says. "But he's cool. He didn't even punch me in the face a million times in a second."

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda's eyes reflect the city light, giving them an extra shine in addition to the warm emotions that light them. "I've never really thought of myself like that," she says, blushing a little and smiling. Her heart beats faster, perhaps quickening his own as well with them so close together and the bond they share. "But I feel that way with you. And I like it, Josh. I like feeling how you see me," she says.

Her hand slides over to hold his, and she leans her head slightly into his touch as he brushes aside her hair. "I'm glad you two seem to be getting along. I was a little worried for awhile. I finally told him of the bond, and he didn't take to the news very well at first," she admits.

Elixir has posed:
Josh squeezes Wanda's hand gently. "Yeah, I was nervous, too. Still kinda am. But I mean, like I told him, we've got this thing we share cause of how we feel about each other. But, he's like a part of you. He's always been there, in everything. I know how much you count on him being there, and just know he will be," Josh says. "I think that helped. I think we should get him a girlfriend though to distract him just in case it didn't help!"

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda lets out a warm laugh. "I think that would be a good idea too. There was a girl he was interested in - didn't even tell me, I had to find out from Lorna! - but I guess it didn't work out between them," she says with a sigh. "He has always been there for me. For years we only had each other we could rely on. Life was not easy for Romany at the best of time. A pair of youths like us without any other family, once we lost Mother and Father? I relied on him," she confirms.

Wanda looks thoughtful. "Over the years I have perhaps not followed his lead as much as I used to. I don't know if that might also be part of it. He can be hot-headed. I've always known that, but in more recent years, with the Avengers, I'm more willing, I guess, to take a lead on matters rather than let him beat me to it." She laughs then. "Like anyone can stop him from beating them to something."

Elixir has posed:
"Like to see them try," he grins.

"But yeah. He's feeling the change. I think the way things've gone with past boyfriends makes him not like the new one much," Josh recalls from his conversation with the Maximoff brother. "He's used to it being you two against the world, not you two and some dude who might be gone soon and hurt you."

Scarlet Witch has posed:
The boat draws closer to Liberty Island, with Lady Liberty rising into the air above. Lit from below by giant floods, the green-tinted statue stands silent vigil over the city and the land. Wanda leans her head against Josh's shoulder as she turns to focus her attention to it. "It would have been amazing to see her before the copper turned color," she says softly. "Though, the green has a certain splendor to it as well, doesn't it?"

She nestles a little closer, and through the bond there is just a sense of soft, deep warmth as she shares the moment with Josh. "I love Pietro dearly. But he'll have to grow used to having you in my life. And in time he'll be glad for seeing how you treat me. And how happy you make me," she says softly, smiling.

Elixir has posed:
Josh smiles when Wanda leans against him. He looks up at the great America symbol. "That seems weird," he admits. "Hard to imagine."

Josh kisses the top of Wanda's head when she snuggles in more. "He will. He'll have time though, I'm not going anywhere," Josh says. He looks back up at the statue. "I just hope I don't turn green when I'm older."

Scarlet Witch has posed:
Wanda smiles and snuggles back against Josh. And then he makes her laugh. It starts with a few gentle guffaws and then turns into full bellied laughter. The kind that leaves her short of breath as she keeps laughing. Finally the laughing fit starts to fade out. "I'm sorry. Just... that was clever and funny and totally unexpected, yet... clever," Wanda says, grinning over to Josh.

She takes his cheeks in both hands and slowly kisses him. "Love you," she tells him quietly, eyes shining at him before resting her head back to his shoulder and enjoying the boat ride.

Elixir has posed:
Josh laughs as well and grins, pleased with himself. After the kiss he settles back with Wanda.

"I love you, too."