1262/Chat in Church. Fun times!

Chat in Church. Fun times!
Date of Scene:	20 April 2020
Location:	Grandenetti Cathedral - Chelsea
Synopsis:	No description
Cast of Characters:	Achilles, Jessica Drew

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Achilles has posed:
    Okay, so while the old guy was upset and hurt, he couldn't just rush out of New York City. He learned that sometimes you need to take care of things at the right time. A lesson he failed to learn many times over the years.
    However, there was business that needed to be resolved. Clients that needed appeasing, and the like. So today, we find Achilles, aka Angelo Tampambulos, found himself waiting outside the Cathedral. Not because he wanted anything to do with the goings on within, but because a client asked him to meet there for an exchange of data. Why there rather than at the office? Simple, the client is some sort of zealot (as Achilles thinks of them) or faithful in other terminology. He wanted to meet with the guy handling hispersonal security after confession. But that meeting just happened and resolved itself which finds Achilles shaking his head in amusement as he glanced towards the church, "Seriously." he mutters to nobody in particular. "The drivel people let themselves be convinced of."

Jessica Drew has posed:
Jessica slows, frowning at the sight of the tall blond man standing in the shadow of the Cathedral. Surely, he hadn't converted. Her lips compress like she has eaten something sour as she glances left and right gauging the traffic that would block her from crossing the street. She looks down at herself. No, no crumbs from a recent meal sticking to her fashionable jacket. Their last conversation had gone poorly, and as much as she would like to flee the scene, she makes herself walk straight ahead. A subtle shimmy of her shoulder, a belated pat at her hair and a forced pleasant expression are readied to greet him.

"Ach...Angelo. Hello. Were you at the..." she waves her hand vaguely at the steps to the cathedral.

Achilles has posed:
    Hearing.. and sensing an approach. Not in some superhuman way so much as just... instinct, Achilles slides his green eyes in the direction the approach comes from. His face darkens a bit. "Were I choosing to behave poorly, I might come up with some snide way of explaining how I seek reinforcement that not -all- mortals wish to harm others."
    A pause there before he shakes his head, "I was meeting with a client. My last business in town before returning to the home office in Metropolis. I cannot make myself void my responsibilities... or break my own word once given." he says. There is like -no- emotion in his words.... but he turns to face Jessica then.
    "Did you wish to finish your picador work?" heinquires darkly.

Jessica Drew has posed:
When animated Jessica's face has been called arresting, beautiful, her expression shutters and goes as still as a statue. "Did the lance find the spot?" She asks defensively, immediately regretting the acidness in her voice.

Unwilling to make things worse she gestures at the Cathedral. "It's going to rain." Several fat round drops furnish her witness. "Want to talk inside?"

Achilles has posed:
    "Well, I cannot fathom the reason behind your aim, but yes... you struck the heart unerringly." he explains, hands shoved into his pockets. But when you mention the rain, his eyes peer upwards. "The rain suits my mood." offers Achilles, "And there is a saying I have heard. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
    His shoulders shrug and he adds, "Is there some reason that I should allow you another shot?" he asks.

Jessica Drew has posed:
"It wasn't meant to go that way." With an effort Jessica keeps her head up, looking him in the eyes. "I wanted to give you a choice. Dr. Strange decided that you were..." She gestures futilely, shaking her head. Her mouth opens and closes as she searches for the words to adequately convey how sorry she is.

"I honestly didn't think you would tell him a thing unless you wanted to."

Achilles has posed:
    "Seriously, a sorcerer of his regard would have figured it out on his own. The fact that you invited me there under such pretenses. That you would arrange for me to meet with this man, telling him that he should meet with me, thus informing him that there was something for him to suss out about me. And then walk away and leave me with this man."
    He shakes his head and sags a bit, "Sure, let's go inside." he adds offers as he turns to head that way.

Jessica Drew has posed:
Squeezing the bridge of her nose, the young woman bites her bottom lip and follows him up the steps to the small door inset into the larger ornate doors leading into the nave. A moment for her eyes to adjust, her eyes range down the large aisle leading to the distant altar. She looks left and right then gestures to the empty pews at the back of the church. "This should work. At least we will be dry."

Achilles has posed:
    "If that is important to you." suggests Achilles as he finds a seat in the back. "Such beautiful construction, wasted on a place such as this." he says as his eyes flicker about. "So, this is not my first rodeo, as you Americans like to say. I have seen people do some stupid things for reasons that they could not even explain but... let me ask you, at the risk of offending which..." he shrugs, "Is less of a concern now. Was this something you think you did because you became afraid of how potentially close we were becoming, and you subconsciously wanted to sabotage our friendship so you could feel better about walking away?"

Jessica Drew has posed:
Jessica's mouth opens in immediate denial, she shuts it with a snap, breathing through her nose. "You are less concerned about offending me now? I didn't mean to put you in a compromising situation. I am very sorry about that. It rapidly became..." Another short, sharp exhale accompanies a shake of her head. "Dr Strange is always an unknown quantity so I should have calculated that into things. I am sorry," her eyes drop contritely, she lifts them with an effort.

"But the rest. I...really hadn't considered it. I'm sorry."

Achilles has posed:
    "Well, I am less concerned with offense while feeling offended and while I was feeling you cared less about -my- sensibilities." offers Achilles, "LEt me ask, what -was- your intention in arranging that meeting? What were you thinking about? Why did you think I should meet him? I'd love to know your justification there." he says as he leans back and rests his back against the pew.

Jessica Drew has posed:
"It was a very awkward," Jessica takes a deep breath, hangs her head, worrying her bottom lip. "I had thought it might be a way of bringing you into our arena. Taking care of the world." Closing her eyes, she murmurs, "It was very badly done. Please forgive me."

Achilles has posed:
    Nodding his head with his eyes closed, Achilles takes a deep breath through his nose. "Could you not have simply -asked- me about joining your arena?" he asks, "Rather than some roundabout introduction to ... you know, I could criticize all day. What is done is done. I cannot rewind the clock. You have apologized, and I've no interest in making you humble yourself over and over."
    He opens his eyes and turns to face you, leaning against the pew with one shoulder, "I accept your apology. Will you accept mine for reacting with anger?"

Jessica Drew has posed:
It is hard to look him in the eyes, tentatively Jessica lifts hers and looks away, still biting the inside of her lip hard. Nodding her head in quick little dips, she says hastily, "Of course, I do, you big oaf. You had every right to react angrily. I /am/ sorry."

Achilles has posed:
    "So you have said." Achilles inclines his head, and then smirks just a bit, "While immortal means I can hold a grudge forever. It also means that I have learned to let things go. People make mistakes. Exercise bad judgement at times. It's just... what we do."
    That said, he reaches a hand up and places it on your shoulder, "Jessica." he says softly, "Please feel no shame any longer. Just look at me... I have let go of my anger."

Jessica Drew has posed:
Lifting her clear green eyes to his, she nods assent again, briefly covering his hand with her own, "No shame then. Well, shame. I shan't forget. It was abominable, nevertheless. I will ask privately first what you'd like to do."

Achilles has posed:
    "I don't require you to guard my sensibilities. I would -request- that you not drag me into things without warning. But... live and learn. And trust me, I have lived a long time. So.." he smiles wanly, "Perhaps we should start over."
    He bobs his head, "Greetings, I am Achilles of Pthia. Prince of a dead kingdom, son of a faded goddess." He smirks a bit, "It is nice to meet you Ms. Drew."

Jessica Drew has posed:
"Hello, that is a string of titles that I can no way match. I'm Jessica Drew, erstwhile Spider-Woman, daughter of parents deceased and somewhat wobbly with my friendships." She clears her throat, a glint of humor in the lift of her eyebrow, "How d'ye go?" She lowers her head in a graceful bow to royalty, then raises it with a tentative smile curling the edge of her lips.

Achilles has posed:
    "Ms. Drew, may I purchase you a gourmet hot dog from one of this city's fine vendor carts? Perhaps a beverage to go with it?" asks Achilles in a mock formal tone, still with humor in it.

Jessica Drew has posed:
"You may! Can we drink beer on the streets? Otherwise I know this great Lebanese takeout just down the street and they do have beer." Getting back into character, "I mean. Of course, kind sir. Lead the way!"

Achilles has posed:
    Nodding his head, Achilles stands up and turns to offer his elbow, "Now, would you care to tell me what you have been doing with your time of late when it did not involve these other niggling little details?" he asks as he aims for the exit.

Jessica Drew has posed:
Taking his arm with the aplomb of a lady accepting the arm of her cavalier at a ball, she walks out on to the porch of the Cathedral at his side, "Chasing leopards actually. Or trying to, not been getting anywhere of late. I visited a few exotic pet shops but have lost the leads. Do you know any of the Asgardians?"

Achilles has posed:
    "Leopards?" asks Achilles as he lifts a brow. "I have met one. A Valkyrie. You may have met her. Though..." Achilles smirks, "I believe she is a Valkyrie to be, in training. And quite polite for Asgardians." And then out the doors goes the small procession of two.

Jessica Drew has posed:
"Of course, you do." Jessica smacks her own forehead. "What a dolt I can be! Heidi and I had a little adventure together in Central Park not too long ago. We were meeting at the pond on the way to walk to a restaurant that interested us and lo and behold, Japanese crane struts out." She frowns, tapping his arm with her finger, "That would be on the level of Pegasus showing up on Park Avenue, Achilles or something like. Then two Snow Monkeys joined them for a dip. It got really interesting when a leopard growled from a tree near the lake."

Achilles has posed:
    "Such as the Pegasus that Heidi -brought- to the park recently?" asks Achilles with a bit of a grin. "So, Snow monkies and a crane." He shakes his head, "Quite an unusual situation you had there indeed. Though.." he gestures to the vendor cart, "What would you like from this cart my good lady?"

Jessica Drew has posed:
"I missed that. I really would have liked to see a winged horse!" Jessica eyes the options for a moment. "Erm, a hot dog with relish, mustard and ketchup, please. And, a root beer." She looks a question at Achilles waiting for him to order.

Achilles has posed:
    "Ironically, the first Pegasus was born of my homeland. And somehow migrated to Asgard." That said, he grins and gestures to the cart, "What they lady would like my good man." he says, "And I'll have precisely the same order."
    As he speaks, he pulls out his credit card to pay for the order with.

Jessica Drew has posed:
"I wondered about that. Like geese, maybe?" She asks humorously. "Migrating? Or maybe it is a widespread thing that, in certain realms...ah. What would I know?"

Jessica takes the hotdog and drink and looks around for a bench. "So, what I didn't say was that one of the two leopards that went missing hasn't been found. My spider sense says someone is collecting rare animals. A criminal offense."

Achilles has posed:
    Nodding his head, Achilles shrugs, "Who can say?" he asks about the Pegasii, "But truth be told, the Vikings ranged all over the world. They reached Persia and Greece. Perhaps the Asgardians simply traded for one, or laid claim to one and took it home to breed. Could be as simple as that."
    He gestures to a bench under a tree and heads that way. "On a semi-related note.." he begins, but then goes silent to listen to the tale of the leopard." He nods in agreement, "If you wish aid in that, you have but to ask. So... what I was about to say was this. I have learned in my time that the only time one can feel such pain from the situation which we resolved... is because the fact is... well to speak plainly, I only felt betrayal and hurt because I truly cared.... care about you."

Jessica Drew has posed:
Settling on the bench next to Achilles, drink on the seat, Jessica cranes her head forward taking a careful bite of the hotdog trying not to spill condiments on her clothes. Mustard stains terribly. She is caught mid-chew as he explains why it hurt.

"Oh!" She exclaims awkwardly around the bite. The past tense amended to the present. Care. What does he mean by care? Swallowing she looks sideways at him, "That's a great compliment coming from someone who has had the amount of time you've had to learn in." She sneaks a look at him, then looks away. "I'm still so sorry about all of that. I'm glad you still care."

Achilles has posed:
    "I do not wish to... as the locals say, rehash things. But.." begins Achilles as he kind of ignores the hot dog for now. Mostly because he is so focused on what he is saying, "Please don't give qualifiers. I find that I care about you. About your well being, and about ... well to be honest, your opinion of me. The first time I have truly cared about anyone's personal opinion in many decades."
    That said, he looks down as if he saw his hot dog for the first time, and only just now begins to take a bite.

Jessica Drew has posed:
Hotdog left unattended in her hand, she watches Achilles bite into his own, "Thank you for that. That's quite unexpected really. Good. We're good then. I'm glad."