13063/A Trail of Flame Into The Quiet Wood

A Trail of Flame Into The Quiet Wood
Date of Scene:	14 October 2022
Location:	Rockefeller State Park Preserve
Synopsis:	In which Medusa runs into two humans she isn't expecting.
Cast of Characters:	Jessica Drew, Jane Foster, Medusa

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Jessica Drew has posed:
The trees have begun to flame gold and red north of the city. The siren call of early autumn lured two agents away from the world of stargazing and mission reports. Two kids playing hooky, needing to clear their heads one glorious autumn afternoon.

Jeans with a green sweater tied around her waist and tennis shoes on the dark-haired woman speak of some planning. The plan had started earlier that day when they crossed each other in the cafeteria getting their morning caffiene and exchanged a look of commiseration.

The hollow twack of a woodpecker resounds through the wood. Jess stands raptly looking up into a maple, watching a Yellow Bellied Sapsucker at work, one hand holding her phone, the thumb of her other hand caught under a strap of her backpack.

"Would you look at this Jane? They really exist. I thought it was some cartoon fantasy from Warner Brothers," the lilt of a British accent more obvious in her wonder. She backs up a step, head tilted back, eyeing the bird who industriously drills holes in the maple, checking the picture on her phone again.

Jane Foster has posed:
They're out of the city but not so far out that roads cease to be paved, vaguely well-lit, and littered by angry locals wishing the leaf peepers would simply go away. The state park gives the impression of being away from it all, while still stained by the light halo from New York in the distance. While Jess focuses on an excitable bird trying to bore a hole through a stately old maple, Jane hauls the weight of a telescope with relative ease. They are out in the forest, and with the opprotunity to focus a rather modest, phone-driven telescope heavenward, why not enjoy the view? At least said device happens to be a practical size, rather than something that requires a wagon to haul it. "Woodpeckers? They've become something of a nuisance around here, at least if you believe some of the birdwatchers. Showy things that steal all the attention from the other rare, lovely birds," she quips. Her tone could be serious, but the woodpecker has nothing to fear from the likes of the brunette astrophysicist craning her head up to look at the tangle of branches. "Not something we get much of in the city, that's true. Another reason to drag ourselves out of the office."

Her coat, ironically, is Daisy's. The rest of the ensemble, standard enough for her: light pants that pass for hiking pants, a sweater, boots. All fit for roaming the forest in, though not scaling Rocky or Appalachian heights. "For all I could turn this on the Moon, you know, perhaps I should pop a lens in and let you spy on that bird."

Medusa has posed:
    Medusa's been spending some time among the humans, and part of that has been to take a look at their world. Honestly, the areas outside the cities are a lot more tolerable than those inside. She's been making her own way on the trails, but it's mention of the Moon that catches her ear...and then a second thought, one of ((Don't I know that voice?))

    As a result, when she changes her course, and moves on a bit closer, she stops in disbelief as she sees the speaker she knows. She isn't dressed in her normal bodysuit, but instead out in clothes better suited to a trek in the woods; a black sweater, jeans, hiking boots. But the voice still has hints of a more aristocratic surprise. "Jane Foster?" Her eyes sweep over Jane and her traveling companion. One never knows WHO this circle might be composed of.

Jessica Drew has posed:
"No," Jess turns to Jane with a sudden smile, "I have finished my obligatory bird watching. I'm just getting practice for being a little old British biddy with sturdy shoes and a life bird list. Let's look at the moon, why don't we?"

Returning to the path, she points north, "This path leads up to the top of that knoll. Want to set up..."

She cuts off her own question at the sound of footsteps approaching, pointing toward the woman approaching them. Her gaze moves rapidly between the newcomer and Jane, gauging Jane's reaction.

Jane Foster has posed:
"If you become a little old British lady fascinated by birds in the garden, rambling, and writing murder mysteries, then consider your destiny fulfilled." The dry laugh from Jane comes out more tired than it usually would, and her wan colouration is a sure sign that she needs proper sunshine for Vitamin D. Possibly more rest at that. The semantics are close enough to count. She thumbs at her brow subconsciously, sleeve wrapped around her fingers, and would say more but for the movement along the trail. Not so uncommon here, but given the hour, always wise to be alert.

"Good evening," she calls out, pitching her voice a bit more warmly. Those dark eyes of her shift to Jessica, measuring stance and expression. A quiet aside, amused, "Happens all the time." One of the perils of being famous-ish.

The bag bites her shoulder as she adjusts it, gesturing in a wave with her free hand. "What a surprise to see a familiar face out here, but not unwelcome. All's well?"

The formalities of introduction are a slender, uncertain thing, a delicate bloom that could wither before coarse disregard or flourish under sheltered conditions. Faintly inclining her head and nodding, she forfeits the upper hand on being the one to name things to Medusa. "We were headed up the trail for a bit of astronomy." An explanation, as much as anything. Fatigue still nibbles the edges of her presence, but no distaste.

Medusa has posed:
    Medusa looks between the two, and she nods to Jane's words about the astronomy. The identity of Jessica remains a mystery, and a bit of an awkward one, as the Inhuman has no idea how "in the know" the other woman is. Leading off conversations with "how have you been since the last time you were on the moon" isn't exactly mundane coffee chat.

    So, she plays it low-key, something she's been learning how to do while here. She approaches, and offers a hand in the direction of Jessica. "Isabella Blake." She smiles. "One of Jane's science companions?" she asks. The tone is congenial enough, but she's fishing for a bit of information. She nods to Jane's telescope and her earlier statement. "Need a hand? Or some company? Or should I leave you to your work?"

Jessica Drew has posed:
Jess accepts the friendly overture with a firm handshake, refraining from questioning Jane about the woman. "A work colleague to be precise," she offers with a pleasant expression but no smile. She has kept her European reserve. "I'm Jessica Drew."

After an interrogative glance at Jane, "We were just about to stare at the moon like two lunatics. We are hardly working. Join us."

Jane Foster has posed:
Loose bangs falling over her eyes, Jane reaches back for an elastic only to realize the elastic in question happens to be missing. Awkward moment of curling her fingers and passing it off like a cat ho totally meant to do that. She drops her palm back to the telescope bag's strap again, the long tube cutting a diagonal bar across her shoulders to her hips. "One of the perks of the role, I get to meet all kinds of experts and brilliant minds. Even in the woods," she says, warming to the vagaries of fate. For the moment, Fortune has already thrown her a curve ball, and left its sooty marks on the inside of her knee and scored across her memory.

"No, no trouble at all if you'd like to join us." Jess is comfortable, thus she reinforces that concept. "Jupiter and the Moon are putting on a show. I hoped to get a few good shots of Saturn, provided the clouds don't roll in." Easy targets sparkling in the sky, nothing out of the ordinary. Her smile remains in place; American, then. "This is for pleasure rather than work. In that respect, it's usually crunching data for months in hopes of sifting a diamond from the dross."

Medusa has posed:
    Unfortunately, "work colleague of Jane Foster" does absolutely NOTHING to narrow the Weird-O-Meter rating that Jessica might be on, because that could be anything from "MIT Nerd" to "Asgardian" with "Avenger or superhero" somewhere in the middle. Medusa puts on a practiced smile that isn't terribly genuine, but it's better than showing her frustration. She nods to Jessica's introduction, as she moves over to the other women.

    "The Moon often puts on a good show. Do you need help carrying anything?" she offers. She's intentionally keeping her hair still, but that still means she has an ankle-length, exceptionally wavy ponytail.

Jessica Drew has posed:
"Right then. Onward and upward," she gestures to the path sloping up the hill with one last glance thrown Jane's way. She squints up into the top of the trees, waiting for the two of them to go ahead of her. Instinct puts her behind the stranger so she can keep an eye on her. Shifting her backpack to relieve the tension between her shoulder blades, not full blown spider tense, but a tingling that comes when something important is afoot, she sets off after a long look around the perimeter in case the woman is not alone.

"So how do you know each other?" she asks, pitching her voice to carry over the slight breeze moving the treetops.

Jane Foster has posed:
The drawn out path sketches a long, easy meander up the slope through the trees. Maples dotted in their shabby foliage stand proudly like a crowd of courtiers, escorted by the odd spiny evergreen and bronzed oaks. Faint breezes amplify the murmuring leaves to a chatter in the background. Jane shakes her head to Medusa's offer. "It's a workout for me. I used to haul all my gear into the field for study. This reminds me of my university days." How things change where time ticks on for others. Leading the way is probably easy enough, though she would follow with equal measure.

"A mutual acquaintance, as it happens." Cat is out of the bag. Her fingertips flick almost casually while taking the knoll. "Blackagar has been supportive of my research, opening doors to further understanding." Carefully bypassing a root jutting out of the dirt, she looks back. "You'd be amazed how many people he knows. Curious minds will do that though. As it is, Ms. Blake, Jess has a mind like a diamond and many excellent qualities. We became friends through work, but I'm grateful for her company when we have rare free hours. When those boundaries blur, it's often enough a happy coincidence."

Medusa has posed:
    Medusa walks on with the others, climbing here and there. The ponytail swishing is used to give her extra support when the trail is rough, in a subtle fashion. She looks a little surprised as Jane mentions Blackagar in one breath, but then uses her false identity in the next. Still, even mention of the first is enough to let her know that at the very least, Jess is in the know to some degree. Plus...well, Medusa is not the most patient of women.

    "Good, does this mean that we don't have to worry about talking around these things? I was trying to be subtle out of respect for your privacy, Jane, but deception is not my strong suit." She lets her impatience show in her tone. "I know few enough people here to want to pretend around them."

Jessica Drew has posed:
Hands swinging at her sides, Jess leans contented into the slope, willing to dismiss the tingle of worry in the last warm afternoon before autumn sets in. Jess finds herself fascinated by the swing of the woman's impossibly long hair as they climb. She muses on Heian women layered in gowns with their floor length hair sweeping the ground.

"Worry about talking around what? Knowing Boltagar?" she queries lightly, keeping alarm from her voice. Lengthening her stride she catches up with the two women. "Jane? Everything alright?"

Jane Foster has posed:
To each their own secrets, though deception never particularly sits well with Jane. She isn't born and bred to spycraft like some people, no doubt a cause for Nick Fury to rip out his non-existent hair at times. She carefully negotiates the rise until reaching a clearing dusted in colourful golden leaves and comfortably crisped foliage tinged a drier russet from recent heat. A few specks of light rise over the rough canopy fringing the perimeter. Her boots bite into the soil, leaving faint imprints. "Not where I am involved," she concurs, finally lowering the telescope assembly to the ground and rolling her shoulders to alleviate the stiffness. "You were most respectful of my privacy and for that, I thank you. In kind, I extend the same discretion if this would be more comfortable for you."

The zipper hisses in a swish, eased open when she goes down to one knee. The tripod comes out first, telescoping metallic legs pinned in place until dislodged. "I'll defer to you to confirm if anything is wrong," she replies to Jessica's question by lobbing it at the redhead. "As far as I know, it isn't, except Ms. Blake and Blackagar's people have maintained their secrecy for millennia. They only recently made overtures to change that, so I try to respect their boundaries." She's adept at signing one-handed, checking the altitude clamp and azimuth fine adjustments from where the metal apparatus crowns the three-legged assembly. Quite enough that her fluency in signing remains straightforward: <<He is well. Occupied by a scientific issue he put before the council months ago. They proposed a solution and he has been refining their findings for most of the last week.>>

Verbally she confirms for Jessica, "Blackagar is kin to her. He has been working on a scientific project that's hard to quantify other than harmonic gene engineering for the last bit and splitting his time between there and here. He keeps his social calendar as suits him, one of the privileges of being in charge." A hint of a smile blooms spontaneously into full range, emboldened by a chuckle. "So alarming only if something is amiss back home. Is there? I'd hate to be assembling a telescope and you've been waiting to warn me about space sharks coming too close to the city."

Because there /are/ space sharks. And they eat anything.