13565/Skating At Rockefeller Center

Skating At Rockefeller Center
Date of Scene:	12 December 2022
Location:	Rockefeller Center
Synopsis:	December means skating at Rockefeller Center. Warren Worthington stops by after shopping and skates. Maria King does some figure skating and is wowed by his wings.
Cast of Characters:	Maria King, Warren Worthington

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Maria King has posed:
It's evening on a Monday. Christmas shopping is in full swing at Rockefeller Center, with people availing themselves of the multitude of stores that make up the large complex plus the surrounding area.

It's also a good tourist destination, with the immense Christmas tree and the ice skating rink before it. Even native New Yorkers flock to the area, getting in their annual skate at the famed location. The brisk winter air has a definite nip in it, people bundled up as they get their tickets, rent their skates or bring their own. The tickets are upwards of $20 a person, and even more at a prime hour like this.

Over at the area for people to change into their skates, a brunette teen is sitting on a bench, just finishing lacing up her skates. The skates are definitely not rentals. Not unless they were rented from the 1990s. They are obviously showing their age, though otherwise look well-cared for. The girl herself is wearing a jacket which could be heavier, the sweater beneath it having to serve extra warming duty. A headband goes about her head, keeping her ears warm. Maria's nose and cheeks are already rosy as if she's been out in the cold for quite awhile already. Rather than rent a locker for her shoes, she spies a bush that is part of the landscaping, going over near it. When no one seems likely to notice, she stashes her shows back behind it out of sight.

Warren Worthington has posed:
Even billionaires need to shop for the holidays. Amazon and mail order only goes so far, and sometimes it is that whole personal touch that really makes a present special. While most billionaires might be recognizable to some who follow finance, one with large angelic wings on his back is bound to stand out, so when Warren wanders through Rockefeller Center people take notice.

Currently the mutant CEO of Worthington Industries carries a couple shopping bags in his arm as he wanders by the world famous ice skating rink and its towering Christmas tree. He pauses for a moment, his wings rippling with movement as they flutter slightly behind him, to take in the sight as tourists and other curious individuals stare at the mutant, some taking pictures while some hurl a few insults.

Like any other New Yorker he's dressed for the weather in a sweater, jeans, gloves, a scarf, and an overcoat that covers all, except for the wings which poke out the tailor made slots that were made for them. Warren's eagle eyes might spot the kid stashing her shoes, but he doesn't draw any attention to it. Instead he just watches the skaters, enjoying a moment of peace, or as much of a one he can get in public.

Maria King has posed:
Once she's ready to skate, Maria moves over to stand near to the entrance to the ice, where one of the attendants is checking tickets. The girl gazes about rather aimlessly, like maybe she's weight for someone. Her brown eyes keep glancing back over to the attendant a fair amount though.

Someone standing beside her watching their kid on the ice spots Warren and nudges his friend to draw his attention that way. "Look at the freak," he says to his friend. The comment draws Maria's attention over, first to Warren, and then to the speaker. The girl's features are so very delicate, and they give her quite an expressiveness. Just the small turning down of the corner of her lips shows and her eyebrows drawing slightly together suggest what she thinks of the man's comment.

The teen turns back towards the ice, but sort of aimlessly steps backwards. The man who had spoken gives a sudden yelp as the girl's skate blade steps onto his shoe. She gives a little feigned stumble forward, furthered by the man giving her a shove in the back. "Hey, watch where you're going!" he says.

The girl gives a meek, "Sorry," back to the man to hide her slight smile as she returns her attention to the attendant.

Warren Worthington has posed:
The yelp and any comment from the waiting area is lost on the noise of the center, with all the people laughing, walking, and the ambient holiday music that plays over the speakers of the center. Warren watches the skaters some more, shifting his bag slightly in his hand and then seems to make a decision for himself as he starts to move again. This time, towards the entrance to the skating rink to perhaps buy a ticket and rent some skates.

Transaction completed, including a rented locker, Warren places his bags into the locker and closes it before moving over to gather a pair of rented shoes and head for the area to put them on, pressing his wings tight against his back so they are as out of the way as they can be.

Maria King has posed:
The teen steals a few glances over at the beautiful white wings, as do quite a few others. A few photos are snagged of the celebrity mutant by people here and there. Maria's attention is mostly back on the attendant checking tickets before stepping out on the ice though.

A father and three kids get their tickets checked and stepped onto the ice. He's helping his youngest, but the next youngest needed help too it seems. She manages two whole steps onto the ice and then her feet look like they are running as she tries to catch her balance, arms waving, and finally falling down with a loud wail.

The attendant turns to help her. Maria is already moving, smoothly stepping behind the attendant's turned back and gliding out onto the ice like an accomplished skater. The attendant none the wiser at her ticketless entry.

As there aren't any cries raised against her, Maria lets out her breath and then begins to glide around the ice, a look of joy coming to her face to be skating again.

Warren Worthington has posed:
Sitting and putting his skates on, Warren does happen to look up and glance at Maria as she slips in without showing a ticket. The blonde billionaire doesn't say anything though, he just shakes his head amused and continues to slip on the skates. He'll just pop by the ticket counter and pay for an extra ticket later.

Skates on, the mutant stands again and starts to make his way over towards the entrance where the attendant is returning to their spot. The angel holds out his ticket for the attendant who is a bit starstruck for just a moment as they notice who is handing a ticket over, but then finally takes it and witch a chuckle Warren heads out onto the ice.

He's skated in this rink for years, ever since he was a child. It was one of the traditions he and his folks had as he drew, before he was send off to boarding school and then Xavier's, so when he has the chances he keeps it alive as best he can.

Maria King has posed:
On the ice, Maria is gliding around with everyone else, circling the rink. The skaters are a mix of those proficient on skates, and otherwise. The petite eighteen year old is quiet definitely the former. Not skating all that face, but with a definite grace and a comfort as she weave in and out of slower moving people as need be.

Up ahead she sees those distinctive white wings folded against Warren Worthington's back. The girl changes direction subtly, skating over nearer to him from behind. Her eyes are on the wings, seeing how up close she can make the individual feathers. Such a beautiful white. Like the way the new fallen snow can make even New York city look somehow clean and pure.

Her fingers twitch in that direction but just for a moment, at the urge to touch them, though she doesn't reach her arm out at all.

Warren Worthington has posed:
For his part Warren is just lazily skating around the rink with his hands loosely clasped at the small of his back. He is just enjoying his time on the ice, not trying to speed skate or do any spins or tricks, just a slow and steady pace around the oval moving out of the way when needed.

The feathers of his wings flutter in the breeze as he moves around, each one shimmering with the slight movement that almost makes them glisten like snow as the light touches them.

Maria King has posed:
After following Warren for a little bit, Maria peels off into the middle of the ice, the patch of more often clear space that people are circling around. She turns around backwards, picking up a little speed as she crosses her skates over one another. When she's going fast enough, she pulls herself into a spin, one leg extended out straight, arms the other direction.

After spinning like that a few times, she pulls her legs and arms in, straightening up and her speed picking up as her arms are brought all the way in. Warren probably knows she speeds up from conversation of angular momentum. Maria just knows pulling her arms in speeds her up.

She comes out of the spin, skating backwards again and giving a soft little laugh, a hand going to her head as if that left her just a little bit dizzy. "Out of practice," she murmurs to herself. And not realizing her gliding backwards is about to put her in Warren's direct path.

Warren Worthington has posed:
Warren at least sees the inevitable collision and puts his arms out to catch the young woman with a laugh, "Woah there..." He smiles amused with the situation as he turns to absorb the momentum and redirect it into a spin so the pair don't tumble over, wings extending as a sort of breaking maneuver which probably does more harm then good as they block the way of other skaters. He does his best to move over to the side, folding them back in as he stops.

Looking down at Maria, he smiles with a chuckle. "You ok?" as he helps make sure she isn't going to fall over. Some of the skaters look annoyed at the disturbance and mutter about winged freaks, but most just go about their business and continue to skate.

Maria King has posed:
It's a good thing Warren was watching out, as Maria didn't spot him. First thing she knows he's deftly guiding her into that little spin, his wing extending gracefully and looking so beautiful in doing so that her reaction is to give a soft gasp and an "Oooo," at the sight of them.

She's easy enough for him to support, barely weighs 90 pounds even bundled up. Plus once she's not in the act of actually stumbling she's good on her skates to hold her balance.

She lifts her up her head to look at Warren, cheeks rosy with the cold. "That was, you... your wings are just amazing," she stammers, and it looks like a little extra color is added to her cheeks at her stumbling respond.

"Yes, I'm ok. I'm sorry, didn't hold my head right in the spin and... got a little dizzy," she says. Perhaps still just slightly wobbly if not enough she's going to fall over right away. "You... I've seen you on TV, haven't I?"

Warren Worthington has posed:
Warren Worthington lets out a little laugh at Maria's comment. "I get that a lot...about the wings I mean." A pause, "Actually both things now that I think about it. Yeah, I've been on TV once or twice." The billionaire half-smiles, letting Maria go once she is stable. He offers a hand over, "Warren Worthington."

Maria King has posed:
Maria King puts her gloved hand into Warren's as he offers it. "Hello, I'm Maria," she offers back to him. Her gaze alternates between his wings and his face though. "I've never seen anyone with any thing like that," she comments to him, letting go of his hand and smiling up at him shyly.

"Can you, you know, do they let you fly?" she asks him, eyes alight with excitement at the thought.

The man and his three children wander on past. The littlest girl, the father is basically holding up. The other two are doing better, though the oldest girl is helping the middle one to actually move. She's got her footing but the whole propelling herself part seems a little more difficult for her.

Maria turns around backwards so she can skate in front of Warren and still be facing him, but just moving very slowly, and with glances behind her to not run anyone over.

Warren Worthington has posed:
Warren starts to slowly skate after the greeting and nods in answer to her question, "Really? Never saw someone with wings before? That's somewhat surprising these days." He grins, brushing his blonde hair out of his face with his fingers, "Yes, I can fly. I'm quite good at it, though I have had a lot of practice. Been doing it for years."

As the family passes, Warren gives the little ones a small wave and a smile before turning back to focus on Maria

Maria King has posed:
The girls look and stare at the wings, which results in the two older girls falling over for not looking where they are going. Maria skates over to them to help them up. The girls are giggling though, so no one was hurt apparently.

They continue on, Maria skating back over to Warren again. "That is just... so amazing," she tells him, eyes going from the man's face to the wings and back again. "I don't even know why you walk. I mean I'd fly everywhere if I had wings. Though, skating is pretty fun probably even with them."

She seems to realize she's taking up the man's time. "Sorry, you probably just want to skate and not get bothered by people," she says. "It was nice to meet you, sir."

Warren Worthington has posed:
"There are no stores up in the sky. Had to do a bit of shopping," Warren replies with a grin without missing a beat. "Otherwise I do tend to fly around mostly. Traffic in New York is a nightmare." He chuckles, also stopping to help the girls up and patting the littlest on the head. He shrugs, getting back into the lazy skating routine. "I don't mind, but it was very nice to meet you Maria. Be careful out there and if you are going to skate backwards....keep an eye out."

Maria King has posed:
"I will," she tells him, giving him a soft, sweet smile. She skates on away, peeking back over her shoulder at him more than once as she rejoins the flow of people skating about the ice rink. The petite teen has a smile on her face as she weaves back in and out of people, gently making her way through the ice.

She heads back to the middle after a bit. Doing a little jump. Just a half turn in it. She lands and nearly wipes out, just managing to keep herself from hitting the ice with a lot of waving of her arms.

Warren Worthington has posed:
Warren continues to skate around in the circle, enjoying the time to relax and forget about the corporate stress that is his usual day to day. His eyes do glance over towards the young woman as she practices her jump and almost wipes out, starting to head in her direction when it looks like she might fall but stopping when she catches herself. He chuckles, shaking his head lightly as he starts to skate again, but this time on the inner track closer to the center.