17524/My Kinda Town

My Kinda Town
Date of Scene:	30 March 2024
Location:	Times Square
Synopsis:	Apparently fanboying stops The Juggernaut!
Cast of Characters:	Cain Marko, Natasha Romanoff

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Cain Marko has posed:
Times Square...perhaps the very epic center of the bizarre and unusual in New York City.

Well, one of the places. There's probably fierce competition where that is concerned.

Either way, it's a magnet for the strange and unusual. And some how in the midstd of all of this, a certain Citizen Cain Marko still manages to stand out. It's in his nature really. Even at his most restrained, his most pulled back, his most casual affair he's something of a monstrous wrecking ball of a man after all. His emergence from the subway station is almost akin to watching a kaiju rise up from the depths as he climbs the steps up to the surface. A mountain range among the smaller wary and anxious pedestrians who crowd around him but don't dare to impede him as he stretches up and up into view.

Once he reaches the street level the crowds begin parting around him like waters surging around a mountainous landmass as he comes to a stop to look the area over. Dark shades hide his neutral eyes and his lighlty beardd jaw is set into a stern but mildly dismissive expression with all the disinterest in the efforts of those beneath him - literally. Not unlike the mountain range he gives an impression of. It probably doesn't help that his tee shirt, straining pitifully against his bulk, sports a stylized image of Godzilla peering over the Tokyo skyline. Apt.

After a few long moments of swiveling his attention from side to side, as if searching the area for something, bull sized neck swamping his head with its girth as he cooly takes in the sights....he begins a slow tread forward at an unhurried almost lazy pace. The sheer intimidation of the brute rolls off of him like some sort of pressure wave. People move aside, quickly, as he starts down the sidewalk.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
She's here for separate things. The large, slanted building that seems to make the middle of Times Square go through like a triangle has many uses. Spy cameras among them. Times Square is one of the most monitored places on the entire planet. So much traffic, so many people from all walks of life going back and forth.. It makes it a perfect place for spotting and for training.

And now Natasha is currently leading a group of trainee agents through the places doing following drills. The recruits are being made to stalk and pickpocket one another like it's a game of tag. They're spread out throughout the area, and being timed. So one can excuse her for not quite immediately paying attentiont o the very, very lareg man until he stands out.. Then she goes to rub at her temples. Oi.

And goes to start to approach him.

Cain Marko has posed:
A mystery of Cain Marko might be----how the hell did he fit onto the subway to begin with??

Well that's one mystery. Another might be how he manages to get around in civilian guise without immediately triggering anything from a full military assault to The Justice League and Avengers. The answer: He's some advantage in that in his full Avatar of Cyttorak armored up form he's actually even bigger than this by several degrees and he has the helmet and skullcap to hide his facial features. To just look at him is to see a red haired behemoth of a man. Maybe a meta - maybe just 'gifted'.

That is unless you're a trained SHIELD agent with access to the best databases in the world. He -has- been caught and unmasked before after all.

So Oi indeed.

He's oblivious to the attention however and, instead, reaches up to his ear to tap a small bluetooth within, answering an incoming call as he strolls down the sidewlk.

His massive fingers are probably disinterested in dealing with whatever phone he's got stashed on him. "Yeah? I'm here. Where'd you stash it..."

There's a pause as he gives a nervous dog walker a slight glare as the cute but aggressive chihuahua she's walking starts snarling at him.

"You know I hate this Mission Impossible crap. Why didn't you just meet me at The Bar WIth No Name?" There's another pause and then Cain rumbles, "Fine." His attention turns towards an alleyway and he begins moving towards it..and towards Natasha though as of yet he doesn't pick her out. "This idol better worth it.."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
No one is going to pick a fight with Cain here. There's too many people around, just evacuating the area would scale up chaotically. That anything short of Superman would have a chance against him is another issue. Natasha goes to hold her hands out in front of her and goes to muse to look up at him for a few moments.

"Window shopping, MIster Marko? Or just seeing what grabs your attention?" He probbaly recognizes her. And nothing she has on her is going to be remotely noticable. Not into the 'tickle' phase even. She's not showing any real indicator of being bothered or worried. What are you going to do when Cain Marko goes out for a walk? Ask him very politely to stop?

That's about your best bet. And she's not even going to bother. Then she goes to hear about the 'Bar with No Name' and she definitely looks interested. Oh, to have a strike team available..

Cain Marko has posed:
Well that's the thing about being a superspy isn't it? People aren't going to notice you until it's too late and loose lips are going to reveal far more then they intended to. Fortunantely the Bar With no Nmae is a mobile sort of place that uproots itself and moves about as it needs to but it'd probably not even make her break a sweat to find it again.

For his part, Cain draws back and his eyes snap to her, leveling their full weight onto the Avenger with all of the magnitude of an earthquake or super volcano deciding to pay attention to you and look you over.

At the very least, however, he's caught off guard and momentarily speechless before his expression settles into an annnoyed pursing of his lips and a crinkling of his brow: "..SO what if I am? What, you want an autograph or somethin'?" As to the alley entrance between them.. the depths of it are fairly non descript. It's wide. leading past the back enrance of some random building. A semi truck sits there, men off loading cargo into the back warehouse entrance of one of the buildings, blocking full passage through it to the far end where more crates and a dumpster sits. Fairly normal.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanova would glance up and over at Cain for a few moments, "Of course. You are allowed to do whatever you wish." It's not like they're going to have a way of moving him at all or that any hero (unless they're young and dumb) is going to come in here and try to move him. So Natasha goes to sort through her mental profiles on the man, her teammates, and goes over to come to a few quick conclusions.

"MInd if I join you then? I'm not getting in your way, am I?" She would go to fold her hands together then to see if he had any issues with her.

Cain Marko has posed:
His most recent profile would be interesting. Certainly still a criminal menace though there's been sightings of him in company of members of The Brotherhood and on Genosha despite his non mutant status.

But one thing is consistent.. His lack of trust. It doesn't come easy to him under normal circumstances and facing down with an Avenger..well...needless to say his eyes begin scouting over the area in search of other familiar faces before he looks back to her.

"You looking to hang out with another red head, toots? I don't mind doin' the blind date sorta thing but the crew you run with probably would." he says sarcatically, "So yeah, I mind. You trying to stall me? I got business..."

He could just leave and armor up but that he doesn't do so probably means he's still trying to get a feel for her intentions.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Bar With No Name, Ancient Idol.. This is not the sort of situation she wants to call in a strike team for. The villains get /upset/ when one of their few places of refuge is busted up and WAND's not going to want to get involved in a mess that has the Juggernaut in it that isn't catastrophic in nature.

"Actually I am, but with no ill intentions. We're in a crowded area, and things will only go badly. I merely want to monitor. And I'll sweeten the pot for you to cooperate."

Cain Marko has posed:
One of the workers notes the bizarre conversation happening some distance away and stops his unloading of the various goods and sundries to point Cain and Natasha out to his co-workers. From a distance, Natasha's identity can't be ascertained but Cain's immensity draws a few stares of surprise. Thus it's likely they themselves are no criminal element or if they are they've never had dealings with Marko before.

Cain doesn't focus on them just yet and instead inclines his head slightly and his frown grows softer as he studies Natasha at length in search of any trickery or signs of deceit.

"Huh.." he concludes after a long pause, "Maybe some of you Avenger types got some brains in you after all. I was specting ol'Jade Jaws or blondie to come dropping in any second. Course..wouldn't be enough but hey it mighta been fun..."

He lets that hang in the air for a moment longer as if expecting his verbal jab might have summoned the god and the gamma giant right then and there but when nothing happens..he grunts, "Alright fine, go on, what're you thinking...?"

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanova would gesture over at Cain, "I would much rather avoid historionics. If one of those came out and wanted to do something along those lines, I would be rather cross with them. So I'll treat you to a meal then. Or a coffee, whatever along those lines you prefer in this area. And I'll throw in something afterwords to make it worth your while if you don't mind my taking up an hour or so of your time with such banalities. I promise that it's something you'll enjoy. Perhpas even more than money."

Wait, she was claiming to have something that he would enjoy more than cold, hard cash held up in a bag with a glowing green $ in the middle of the sack?

Cain Marko has posed:
He stares at her. His expression is blanker now. Nigh unreadable. But it seems he's been completely caught off guard. Not utterly disarmed, no, but she has his attention now. "Wha.." he begins before tripping up over his own words and then shaking his head as if trying to clear the cobwebs. Distrust returns to his eyes but doesn't linger there quite as powerfully as before. He glances around again and then finally rests his hands onto his waist.

"..Alright....you got my attention. But one thing..."

He points down the alleyway. "I need something and that truck is in the way. Get 'em out of my way and I'll let you buy me some food..."

Kind of demanding isn't he but..the alternative is implied in his words. Had she not been here and stopped him.. those men were in grave danger. Cain wants something and they were in the way and not likely to move. She may be abou tot save that truck from being balled up into a baseball sized mass of metal, if she agrees.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha goes up to the men. There's some back and forth bickering. Then bitching. It's about the Yankees of all things. And the first dozen or so players on the injured list this year on opening day. It's enough to start up some groans and some whining. But the men eventually go to depart a few moments later, kvetching amongst htemselves about how they need fewer longer term contracts for old players that break a toe and are out for the season.

Natasha goes then to approach Cain. "Now that I have your time.. Please, come along. At the end of our engagement, I'll give you something that I'msure you'll greatly appreciate." She goes to take out a small datapadd, and taps out a few buttons on it.

Cain Marko has posed:
"Yeah, yeah......just a minute."

He's grouchy despite getting his way. He had hoped it would be...a trap? Maybe. It's been a minute since he had 'an excuse' and the urge for violence is bubbling up in him but Cyttorak's will is subject to his own as he is the avatar... So when Natasha follows through he's forced to begrudingly admit that she's being trustworthy.

"HOld yer horses."

The truck has begun moving by now and backed out past him, beginning to carefully enter a side street where it can more easily enter the main throughway. For his part, he begins moving forward..expecting her to follow him as he keepss peaking:

"You know, I was acttually hoping you'd pull something but I guess you're the brightest among that bunch of folk you call friends. I gotta admit, I'm surprised..."

Near the back of the alley are a stack of crates and cardboard boxes and after a second fo rummaging around..he picks up a tightly wrapped package. It's details can't be seen but it's vaguelly figurine shaped. It was laying there as if it had just been sicarded but he seemed to know what he was after. "Alright, let's go.."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanova would walk along with Cain over then, and go to take out her small datapadd to which she would touch a few buttons upon it. Some flashes then and it would go to print out a small document. The likes of which was about the size of Cain's thumb and he would have to hold rather carefully over to even see what it was. So small..

"Ms. Blaire is amongst the members of the Avengers. So its' a rather simple thing.." Presuming Cain would look overa t it closely, he would be able to make out that it was a VIP backstage pass to a coming concert of Dazzler.

Could Cain squee?

Cain Marko has posed:
IT's more like a gasping sort of grunting rumble accompanied by both of his eyebrows lifting high above his shades indicating the widening of his ice blue eyes with sheer surprise and then pure utter glee that is writ clear on his face before he has a moment to catch himself and not break keyfabe so blatantly.

He nearly drops the package for that matter. So yes. That was a Juggernaut 'squee'.

"Oi...uh...are you for real?" he finally manages to drag out as he looks the ticket over. "..Like this aint some sorta joke...is it?"

The question of just how she knew he was a Dazzler fan does cross his mind as well. That's abit...specific..regarding information that may be on his profile but it's not something he dwells on for too long. It's less important then the VIP pass.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanova would fold her arms together, "She's an Avenger, Mister Marko. And she's very appreciative of her fanbase. I'm sure she would be very happy to hear that you're enthusiastic about her.." And very willing to not make trouble over it. "I can give you this and I'm sure I could get some autographs from her and some merchandise as well to pass along. I'll try and see if she's interested in meeting iwth you one on one for some time but I can't speak for her. I'm more than happy to if it would mean something to you to make the attempt for."

Of course it's in a SHIELD database that he's a huge Dazzler fan. ANd of course Natasha would know it and use it.

Cain Marko has posed:
The giant man is silent as he considers this. He looks over the ticket and then finally shrugs and inclines his head to the side and tucks the ticket into the depths of a pocket.

"....You'd do that eh? Tth... Well I aint gonna turn it down but don't take this as me trying to reform or something. It's nothing personal but just business. I got things to do sometimes the wrong folk get int he way. That's their problem but..."

There's a pause and he nods his head at her, "..You aint half bad. Look at you, solving a problem with diplomacy and all that. Probably kept me from wrapping that truck around those guys..."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanova would nod, "Of course I'm not. I'm just noting that I'm on a first name basis with her, and I'm sure she would be very happy to meet such a great fan as yourself, and I'm more than happy to do everything I can to facilitate you. Is there a PO Box you prefer? I can have some autographed vinyls sent to it within the next few days. Do you have a player or not? I can have one sent as well if you need it."

Not all spy stuff was killing and blackmailing. It was finding a level to appeal to someone that they liked. "Much better this way. We both get what we want."

Cain Marko has posed:
"This is...right.."

Cain squares his shoulder's up abit as if recentering himself. "Listen, I aint about to just fold over and cave -completely- andg ive you some easy way to keep track of me or call me out into some trap. I'm Dazzler's biggest fan but I got -some- common sense.."

Perhaps quite literally her biggest fan- true..

"So...this'll be good enough. No need for you to have some way to figure out where I hang my shorts or pick up packagees.."

of course he'd really, really, really like to get ahold of those vinyls. Really.

But he clears his throat and after a moment of weaknesses regains his will on that front..though he does add, "Course...I wouldn't be against getting a chance ot say hi... So long as it's, you know....your pals don't try and take advantage of it."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanova would nod, "Of course. Alison is very, very.. Protective of her concerts. If anyone starts trouble, she ends it." The joys of being a sonic empowered mutant where subwoofers were everywhere around. "I'm sure that she'll be more than happy to spend some time talking with you though I can't speak for her." She would go to fold her arms together and look relaxed.

"At whatever point you feel up for it, get in touch and I'll see about making arrangements. I don't speak for her however or schedule her." Being up front that while she could try, she couldn't guarantee it. A bit of honesty on it that might be appreciated.

Cain Marko has posed:
"Yeah I get it... ONce you go letting on that Juggernaut's her biggest fan ...she's probably likely to not be quick about wanting to be around me for too long backstage. I don't exactly have the greatest rep. Besides, she might be an Avenbger but that's not -all- she is and I got history with the other side of the family, so to speak. No need to go promisin' stuff you can't gaurentee, I get that."

Cain makes an absent gesture and turns slightly, preparing to take his leave, "Don't worry about the lunch... we'll call it even. I won't even be mad I didn't get to smash anything."

An almost shark like grin is given her way though it relaxes and he actually looks...slightly worried now.

"I don't know how you knew I was a Dazzler fan but don't go spreading that around. Can't have the wrong folk trying to use that against me somehow. Comes with the territory."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanova would smile, "I thinkt hat she'll surprise you. ALison's been through a great many things. She can be quite understanding. And she'll make sure it's a performance for the ages." Natasha reinforces that it will be fun but also that she doesn't speak for Dazzler, ad can't make promises on it. "I won't tell." That's actually said sincerely.

"I'll see what I can do to get you seasonal passes for her performances when she announces the schedule for her next tour, but that might take awhile."

Cain Marko has posed:
"Now you're just trying to butter me up."

Cain pauses his departure to turn towards her but there's no malice in his words or hint of threat. He still remains guarded, however, as he should given that they are both on opposite sides of the law when all is said and done.

"You did good but don't think this is going to keep me in line or something. Just keep me posted."

He gives her a long once over at the end there and then nods his head finally and turns to begin stepping away.

It looks like the day is saved and desturction averted. The power of fandom.