18071/Shake and Bake

Shake and Bake
Date of Scene:	26 May 2024
Location:	Shake Shack
Synopsis:	Shake Shack shakes spilled on your new oversized custom tailored fit? Harassed by arrogant rich jocks? Never fear! Piotr, Eve and Caleb to the rescue!
Cast of Characters:	Cain Marko, Eve Wilkins, Caleb Dykstra, Piotr Rasputin

---

Cain Marko has posed:
It's unseasonably warm, a holiday weekend, and a Shake Shack so..needless to say it's abit crowded both inside and out. Who could turn down a good shake given the chance. Clearly not this crowd!

You never know who you might run into in a place like this. Everybody loves thems ome shakes after all and the rest of the food on the menu is....is...
rWell it's 'alright'. It's not called Shake Shack for nothing? Who comes here for the burgers and fries?

Undoubtly a few do as people are enjoying full on meals both inside and outside of the building and the workers are doing a fairly good job at keeping the line moving and keeping orders coming and going.

In the interior seating area, a great looming presence appears, filling up the back areas of the resturant as a truly gargantuan figure emerges from the back hallways leading to the rest rooms and emergency exits. He's big on a scale that can only be described as a human mountain range. It seems as if he decided to eate the defensive line of the New York Giants, topped it off with the current Yokozuna and then came back for seconds with the current bodybuilding line up of the past few Mr. Olympia's with a side of World's Strongest Man competitions. Now apparently here's here for a shake.

He's dressed surprisingly well with custom fit clothing in the form of a brown jacket and a dark shirt and slacks that..do nothing to hide his outrageous physique and monsterous body. The floor rumbles ominously from his heavy footsteps as he makes his way from the back while casually adjusting his clothesDark shades hide ice blue eyes and ihs red hair is almost mullet like, uncut from being neglect but still neat looking along with the rough unshaven stubble along his brickish jaw. Little else identifies him. Aside from that bigness that is.. There are no doubt many questions such as:

How the hell did he fit into any of those stalls?

Eve Wilkins has posed:
It was a holiday weekend, wasn't it? Eve was wondering why her schoolwork was so light.

Either way, she decided now was as good a time as any to try the shake shack that she had heard about. And because she was (not) a rebel, she did have a hamburger and fries, *and* a shake, pink, of course (so probably some kind of strawberry).

With it being summer, she was wearing a blue skirt and a breezy muave tunic top, seated with leg over the other with her meal in front of herself.

And yes, well...

Cain draws the eye. He drew it in the middle of one of her bites of hamburger, her gaze going with curiousity. In a world of mutants and superhumans, though? He was probably one of them.

So while she didn't stare long, she did stare.

Her hand comes up, in a little wave to him in acknowledgement, and to hide that stare just a touch. She *thought* she was near that mutant school right now, anyways.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
That very same question is on Caleb's head right now, highlited as 'Question of the Day' - well, his day, anyways.

Having just arrived and taken a seat along with his sister, Sheila, in an empty booth.

Of course, a twelve year-old has a lot less restraint, so the question is about to be formed...

"How'd he...?"

And Caleb immediately gives her a nudge with his foot under the table for her not to stare - and most certainly not ask embarassing questions.

"Let's see what they got, alright?"

He too is making an effort not to stare, naturally. Though, through the corner of his eye, on occasion...

Piotr Rasputin has posed:
The large Russian waiting in line came in while Cain was-- otherwise occupied. Now, his attention is on one of the cashiers, because he's a polite man, and not on the familiar behemoth emerging from the newly founded wasteland.

"I will have... the Carolina BBQ double, with fries and a peaches 'n cream shake." Piotr settles, his important priority at the forefront. Surely Cain is not in Shake Shack to be -villainous- anyway. That would be unheard of. Sizes are clarified, currency exchanged, and the colossal, though less colossal than some, Piotr steps gracefully to one side to make way, scanning the crowded restaurant with an easy smile.

At least until his gaze passes Mr. Marko; this prompts a profound, unconcealed double take. Your mouth is open at the moment, Colossus.

Cain Marko has posed:
The stares are to be expected. To be clear, Cain -is- massive in a mind numbing way but he's still 'juuuust' human enough that he might just be a particularly freakishly gifted profesional wrestler or strongman and not -obviously- a metahuman. But it's a good guess.

But there are some huuuge guys out there. Case in point: The towering russian here to enjoy the goodies! Cain's shades hide the glance of the red haired behemoth but he doesn't seem to physically react to Piotr's presence if he even is fully aware of it nor do any particular comments cause him to do much other then flare his nostrils. You don't get be 'him' without causing some folk to stare.

But perhaps he does get distracted because suddenly--

"Hey! Watch it---!"

The complaining cry comes alongside a high pitched gasp from another and before you know it, the towering redhaired bruiser has a full two set strawberry milkshake complete with cherry and whipcream, plastered across the front of his tee shirt resulting from the impact of a brawny college-age jock looking fella and his girlfriend who collided with him right as he was turning towards the exit.

The cry and demand to pay attention -actually- came from the jock who, despite being dwarfed by the good Citizen Marko, is full on red rage of indignant at the collison whle his girlfriend, a confused but worried looking brunette, quickly backs away both in reactive to Cain's size as well as to avoid any rebound effect from the milkshakes spreading everywhere.

"Augh. Are you -kidding- me..." rumbles Cain, lifting his hands up slightly as the damage to his shirt rapidly spreads, getting soaked in or dropping to the ground in front of him and the irate student "...I just bought this shirt..."

The immense Cain seems fairly calm despite the accident, only frowning lightly at first.

Eve Wilkins has posed:
It definitely was a day for bodybuilders, that was for sure.

Between Cain and Piotr, well, Eve's eyes glance between them both. Especially since she sees the open-mouthed look, and the vibe that goes between Piotr, aimed right at Cain.

Oh, maybe they knew each other.

"Hey!" she says, after the impact, and the milkshakes going everywhere. While she *could* just flick her wrist and fix... the shirt, at least, she didn't really want to out herself so much right now.

With the bangle on her wrist falling as she rises, she looks towards Cain. "You alright?" she asks the man, in spite of how silly such a question might be. "Here, we can get you some napkins..."

Caleb and his little sister go without being looked at, at least for now. There were other things stealing attention.

Piotr Rasputin has posed:
Piotr passes for a tourist, with his I <3 NY shirt in black cotton, which is tucked into blue denim which end in turn in hiking boots, and his heavy Russian accent. He has no trouble reading or expressing himself in English, however-- convenient when ordering fast food, essential when some dumb... guy wants to start a fight with the Juggernaut.

"What is it, twice this week?" Piotr muses, towards Cain, as tree trunks for legs carry Colossus deceptively gracefully towards the confrontation -swiftly-. "I promise-- I am not stalking you." Rasputin's warm smile is perhaps a bit forced forth, but no less winning or affable for it.

Piotr seeks to place himself -between- Cain and the couple, as Eve further distracts with helpful efforts. This earns the young woman a considering, and somewhat tacticly analytical /look/. "Sometimes we do not know our own-- ah-- displacement aloung the bow, yes?" Intentionally ideosyncratic now, just a big dumb tourist.

"Please, no harm was intended-- Miss, are you alright?" The girlfriend. Did you SEE what Cain DID to her? The MONSTER.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Caleb and his sister can's help but follow the guy as he walks... And both wince wince as the collision takes place. When the indignant jock starts flaring up, Caleb looks to Sheila - he's got /that/ look on his face. The face that some shit may be about to go down.

"Waitress!", he calls out as he gets up, "We got a spill over here!"

And he quickly approaches the two, more discretely the girl. "Call your boyfriend to reason, please." More a polite suggestion than an order.

Then, he turns to the two colliders, "Hey people! People!" He says, "Accidents do happen, right? What's important is that nobody got hurt, right?", looking between the two. "Wounded prides are quick to mend, isn't that right?"

A quick stare to the young sister, to keep her head down.

Cain Marko has posed:
It is indeed a bit of a mess, especially without special intervention! Cain shakes his hands to remove any remaining bits of food unsuccessfully as the young girl nearby goes, nervously, "Sorry! Sorry! I'm so sorry! I was--"

"Yeah, yeah it's fine..." grouses Cain. As Eve approaches he turns his attention towards her and then reaches a meaty hand out for the napkins. "Hey...thanks....I..." he says towards her. Then--

"What're you asking if this freak is okay for?! He wasn't watching where his big ass was going!" interjects the jock dude.

So clearly a guy without a great bit of survival instincts but really...so many like that don't have that. Judging from his clothes, he's probably pretty well off as well. The usual hot head sorts.

A sort Cain doesn't appreciate. His frown deepens slightly. It's subtle but...Piotr would recognize the warning signs. A slight chill might come to Eve's attention as well. A slight menace that creeps into the room as Caleb also seeks to intervene....

...One that goes ignored by the hot head. "You owe us two large shakes, bacon and cheddar fries and a chicken tenders, m'man and---"

"Are you looking to wear a neckb race for the rest of your life pal---" whispers Cain, deep voice rumbling like a distant thunderstorm on the far away horizon that's rapidly approaching. His hand twitches, knuckles cracking audibly. It sounds like boulders splintering. He begins to lift his hand up and then--

Piotr suddenly! Cain recoils backwards abit before his hand gets far enough to cover the distance. "Wha---?" At the explanation from the russian his frown only grows and he purses his lips so much they practically reach up to his broad nose. "...You ..'." he begins only to get more flustered as he sees the small crowd that's truly formed as a nerve wracked waitress hurries over to the two giants and their newly formed entoruage.

Eve Wilkins has posed:
"Look," says Eve. In spite of her size, the size of Cain - or Piotr for that matter, didn't seem to intimidate her much. Her brow was furrowed, her expression getting a bit, as some might say, 'scary'. She was frowning, and she was getting that sharp tone in her voice.

"He didn't mean it, so how about I buy you the shakes, the..." Goodness, he ate a lot. "And the rest, and you two just leave each other alone?" she says.

"No one's going to go into a neck brace today, please," she says.

And for a moment, when Cain recoils, Eve might recoil a bit herself. Did she startle him?

No. It was the other bodybuilder. Maybe they *did* know each other.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Oh, this doesn't sound good, is what goes on through Caleb's head.

He turns to the jock. "Now look", Caleb snaps into hard-reasoning mode. "The neckbrace thing he just warned you about? Given how he's like a gorilla compared to you, you wearing a neckbrace thing would be taking it light." He adds, "It doesn't take a genius to realize he is /just a tiny bit/ above your paygrade." Insertion of sarcasm there, when he opens his arms all the way past his shoulder length, mouthing, 'huge'. "And daddy's money wouldn't be enough to pay the bills." He blinks, "So, take my advice when I tell you... Back! The fuck! Off!"

And, when he realizes that there seems to be some sort of history between Cain and Piotr, he blinks. Deadpan. "When you plug a dam's hole with a finger, another hole pops up..."

He looks at the incoming waitress, and just shakes his head. Better she stay out of this for now.

Piotr Rasputin has posed:
~~ In cutaway vignette, someone plucks one of the booths from its moorings to the floor, and it's seen wheeling end over end as the sound of a STRIKE in bowling plays, offsetting gore with humor as the loud-mouthed, irate jock is launched not so much -out- the door of the restaurant as -through- it, crushed amidst a pile of rubble. It could be Cain's moment of frustrated ideation... or it could be Piotr's. ~~

IN REALITY: "She is wise." Piotr notes simply, nodding to Eve. "I am glad to chip in as well; there is no need for this to ruin anyone's day." Placation, warning, or foreshadowing? History will tell us.

"Hey, hey, we do not need threats or anger. Stay calm, friend." Caleb is advised in turn, before Piotr glances over one broad shoulder to Cain, warily. "No shirt is worth the scene this would make, yes?" Perhaps Cain deserves a little placation as well-- he /did/ show remorse to the actual /victim/ here, after all. Both victims, if we count the Juggernaut's poor wardrobe.

Cain Marko has posed:
Things teeter between disaster and fair civilized resolution. Cain is barraged from all sides as the hasty efforts to placate him continue and eyes in the resturant lock in on the building chaos.

Deep down inside, the Cyttorak fueled fury that boils in his veins enjoys this. Wants it even.

Cain just wanted to buy a shake and go back to his kitted out apartment. You can't be Juggernautin' all the time after all.

Now he's got Piotr trying to keep him calm. Knowing full well the scope of the threat that's present in the red haired behemoth. The incognito X-Man working to ease the ire of the goliath, knowing that Cain has destroyed entire buildings for being accidentally bumped into at a bar while mackin' on a girl of his choice.

And it seems to ber working. Eve's stern look and words are not without assistance as well. Less the sterness as ...Cain could give a damn about that but her willingness to step in and offer help is noted and while the brute is a monster he's a civilized monster. He's not going to completely disregard that. Then there's Caleb. Also to the rescue. Trying to organize and order things and speak on his behalf...

By informint the already incensed and arrogant jock that Cain can just make a fool out of him when the jock was already amped up anyway and showing off to prove he could not be made a fool out of. It possibly backfires.

"Hey man I aint afraid of him or you. I know judo! The bigger they are the harder they fall. You want some too?"

"Todd, for God's sake let's just go." says the girlfriend, getting more wary and also tired of this. OF -course- the guys name is Todd. OF course it is.

Cain's eye twitches. There's probably a split second before he makes a decision for ill or for more ill here--

Eve Wilkins has posed:
Of course his name was Todd.

"Todd, *back off*," Eve says, her own sharpness coming up in her voice as she holds a single index finger up in his direction.

She figured if he was going to be a tough guy, he'd rather be a tough guy at another guy.

Maybe her snipping at him will tone him down some. Her eyes glance between him and Cain, though, her warning eyes all sharp and stuff.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"Hey, I'm not threatening anyone", Caleb replies, "I'm just hoping I can call this guy to reason, here..."

And then, 'Todd' boasts about his judo kills.

Caleb holds back a scoff, looking at Sheila who's observing the scene with interest and worry.

He takes a deep breath, "Todd." The calmest voice ever. "If you do know martial arts - any martial art, at all -, then surely your sensei taught you to pick your fights wisely." He adds, "It's not me you should be afraid of." He steps out of the way, making for a clear path between Cain and Todd. He looks at the girlfriend, and shrugs apologetically.

Piotr Rasputin has posed:
Piotr sighs, profoundly. "We are trying to disarm the defensive show, here." He explains to Caleb in low, hushed tones.

Cain probably hears him, but Cain knows what's up. Just LOOK at this guy go off. As Eve interjects more assertively into the fiery asshat's face, the large Russian smiles. A little conspiratorial, and in this case-- shared with Marko. Piotr raises one hand, palm open, "I think she can handle that one." At least, that's his gut check estimation; and it's also highly convenient.

"Let's get you out of here while we can still all count our blessings, yes?" With only the slightest detour to snag his order, and pile an entire meaty handful of extra napkins into the sack, Piotr makes a play to just... herd the Juggernaut to the door. The posh apartment is waiting.

Cain Marko has posed:
She pegged him right. It must be the name 'Todd'.

The aggravated jock does indeed pull back as Eve steps forward.

Caleb -almost- gives him reason to try and hold his ground however ..but then the girlfriend snaps:

"Todd. Enough!" As if Eve's boldness finally gave her the strength to be pushed over the edge. "I'm leaving. Now."
Hisnd she turns and starts stalking out towards the door.

This leaves the now fully emabressed jock with nobody to peacock infront of and it's almost as if her departure makes him more and more acutely aware of everything Caleb is pointing out. He eyes the six foot six Piotr and then the seven foot godwhoknows Cain.

He sneers, frowns, pouts, sneers again, then just pouts and glares at Caleb. "Imma remember you..." and then turns and starts for the door.

Cain's attention is fully caught by Piotr now. His eyes narrow ever so slightly behind his shades as if his ire is slowly but surely redirecting towards the russian giant.

And then he smiles. It's a thin lipped, tight smile, but it's...well..it's like a smiling great white shark. you -assume- it's a good smile cause...it's a smile but you don't want to push it.

"Fair enough. Fine. Alright. You all get a gold star for de-escalation...."

The door slams shut as Todd finally exits and then breaks off into an embaressed run for his girl.

The tension leaves the room just like taht as Cain's massive body relaxes some. The very act seeming to release some sort of pressure that had unknowingly fallen over the room and the various patrons begin moving more easily and turning their minds to less dire matters. There is a distinct feeling that a mag 7 earthquake was cracking its knuckles and getting ready - only to then shrug its shoulders and head somewhere else.

Eve Wilkins has posed:
At least he wasn't the kinda guy to try to threaten Eve after all of that.

She lets a small bit of annoyance leave her with a breath out, and her eyes glance up towards Cain. Her lips were pursed, though, she was still kinda irriated, even if she was relaxing. "Here... sorry about your shirt, I heard that it was brand new?" she says.

She gets a napkin, and starts to dab at the shirt.

And it must be a wonder napkin, because where she swishes it? The stains just vanish. She certainly isn't using her power to subtlely dash the stains away.

"Eve," she says, glancing over her shoulder towards Caleb and Piotr, and flashing them a wink in gratitude.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Caleb looks confused, "Why's he going to remember /me/, when all of you are much more memorable?"

He looks back towards the door, committing 'Todd' to memory, just in case he ever encounters him again, whatever friends he has along for the ride; jocks tend to travel in packs, after all. He looks to Sheila, suggesting her with a glance to do the same.

He considers, looking back to the three in the gather. "Oh, right... Jock bravado! How could I forget?" He rolls his eyes, "He thinks he has a shot at me."

Piotr Rasputin has posed:
Piotr's relief mirrors Eve's almost verbatim. With Cain-- and himself-- and Caleb-- momentarily diverted, and only Eve to fight with, the fight dissipates. The colossal Russkie's shoulders relax, he draws a deep, steadying breath, and he nods to Cain... then produces the stack of napkins as the smaller redhead decides to tackle the spill.

"Good work." He offers her quietly, and to Cain, a simple, "Thanks." There's a soft humility to the aftermath, genuine relief despite the large artist's mutant power.

"He is mad at you because you engaged him directly and threatened the trigger point for his... particular malfunction." Piotr posits for Caleb's benefit. "That one was all too ready to fight, to prove what you said was not true; confronting him with it only made him madder." He's been around this block a time or two. "My name is Piotr. Thank you all once more; for doing the right thing." Aside from the whole shoulder tackling a random woman thing, /Cain/.

Cain Marko has posed:
Technically they ran into him from Cain's POV though moving more carefully might have aided in that. Yes. But he's always going to say it's someone elses fault if he can get away with it.

But he ends up only breathing a slightly muted rumbling grunt at Piotr. It wouldn't do to just be overly friendly after all. Then again, the fact that he's not leveled this place to the ground could be said to being pretty gregarious considering who and what he is.

"What he said." he says ultimately to Caleb. This is all said as Eve does her miracle work. I n fact....he -almost- misses it.

"Hey what the.." He looks down at his shirt and ...clearly has no explanation for it and he just binks a few times before finally saying towards Eve, "Huh. Uh. Thanks. Maybe you should..uh..patent and sell those napkins."

That said, he gives the place another once over and, having also waited long enough to let the recently departed couple get some distance, he gives a two fingered salute to the remaining trio.

"See ya folks around."

He starts for the door but then pauses long enough to give Piotr a final glance and this time that full toothed shark like grin. "...Crush ya later..."

And then he's -somehow- getting out of the door and back onto the streets without bringing the front wall down. Oh that Cain.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"Yeah well, where I come from, dropping a bomb like that, by the end of the day someone's knocking on their doorstep and teaching them the error of their ways with a bulltet to their families' heads, and then a bullet to their heads", Caleb shrugs, "And it's all to avoid future headaches." Dark humor? Well, that's a Gothamite for you.

"I'm Caleb, by the way", he says. "And that's Sheila - who he wouldn't have been able to beat, either."

Eve Wilkins has posed:
Eve glances down at the napkin, her mystery at being caught with her power used all subtle seen in the start as she tries to think of deceit.

Which generally, she isn't as good at as she could be. "Well," she says.

"Maybe it just didn't have time to stain, you know?" she says, folding the napkins up in her hand before tossing it upon her tray. Crush you later? Eve's eyebrow curls, glancing from the departing Cain to Piotr.

"You two know each other?" she asks.

"Or do you just try to stare down every other muscleman you see?" she asks of Piotr, the edge of her lip twisting in a bit of mirth.

Piotr Rasputin has posed:
Piotr blinks a bit at Caleb's dark assessment of Gotham, nods, and then is entirely focused on Cain's final words-- and departure. Just watching a moment, to make sure. It's safest to let them reach the zone exit and despawn.

"It is a ritual of dominance." the colossal Russian deadpans in response to Eve, at first. Then it breaks with a bit of a wry grin. "The last time we met, he was under attack by a flock of flying, disembodied, biting heads. Then he vanished; and I was under attack by a flock of flying, disembodied, biting heads."

Then came the hours of interrogation for apparently bumbling into the midst of a super-powered museum heist. It's a whole thing. "Before that, well. It might be a bit of a long story." Piotr admits-- like this single chapter isn't, on its own.

"You've done this before, yes?" Trying to keep the deadly and the stupid from colliding into calamitous. It shows.

Eve Wilkins has posed:
"Have I..."

Eve looks between Piotr and the door in which Cain departed. "Talked down two men that were trying to one up each other? Yes," she says with a sigh. "It's part and parcel of trying to live in the city," she adds, brushing her red hair over her shoulder. That, and she had the confidence born of being powered, she supposed.

A punch would still hurt.

"Eve," she says, her eyes narrowing a touch. She didn't seem as shocked as someone might otherwise be by someone saying they are attacked by a bunch of disembodied heads. "Do you often get attacked by weird things?" she asks. "Are you a... ah... wizard or something?" she asks.

Now there was a hand on her hip, that hip sticking out. "Nice to meet you, by the way, Caleb. And Shiela too."

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"Disembodied flying heads...?", Caleb sorts frowns. "Well, on my end, I've had... Ah yes, very recently, vampires!" One could think he's joking, but it's easy to see by his eyes that isn't the case.

Sheila comes out of her seat, "I didn't see a vampire..."

Caleb snaps, "And be glad you didn't! I had enough trouble handling me, I doubt I could've pulled it off with you in the middle!"

Sheila clenches her jaw - did he just imply she'd be in the way?

Piotr Rasputin has posed:
"When you put it like that... it's part and parcel to existing just about /anywhere/." Men be fightin'. Piotr seems less inclined to delve his own strange non-sequitor with the child invested in the conversation, summing it up simply: "Some kind of government psychic, mistook me for a robber." That makes it no simpler or less weird, just slightly more family friendly than... the colossal Russian shudders a little.

"... relatively speaking though, I suppose I would have to say Yes, and No: just a mutant." There's always a bit of trepidation how people view that, but it's very nonchalant for Piotr. It is what it is. A proud part of his purpose. "For the moment though..." Piotr smiles to Caleb and Eve, then nods to Sheila, "I think we are both ready for our ice cream." Colossus lofts his bag and shake up before him and makes for the door, rather than a table, intent on a simple summer picnic on what is-- thankfully-- still a perfectly fine evening.

Eve Wilkins has posed:
"Well, nice to meet you all," says Eve.

"I think I'm going to get back to my food, myself," she says.

Piotr was a mutant? "Hm, well, nice to meet you. I've hung around mutants a little myself," says Eve, cringing a little bit internally afterwards. Did she count as a mutant?

She had no idea. Psycho government experiment gone wrong, maybe.

With a wave given to the gathered, she moves to collect her food, and then out the door she goes.