18963/Park Walk Fancy

Park Walk Fancy
Date of Scene:	01 September 2024
Location:	Bethesda Terrace
Synopsis:	Henry and Anna-marie take a night out together, a bit of dining, and a nice walk in the park that ends a little not so nice.
Cast of Characters:	Rogue, Henry McCoy

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Rogue has posed:
8:36 PM on a Saturday.

Rogue and Hank had a dinner date to go on, a promise Henry was keen to fulfill, and as such Anna-marie had been dressed quite nicely for it. They had set out from Westchester, to the city of Manhattan, where they had deined at a Central Park restaurant. The food and drinks had gone quite well, and by all rights the Southern Belle was having a great time with one of her oldest friends from the school.

Dressed in a dark green number, strapless, with white gloves, and smoky makeup on her face, Rogue's hair was tied back, the white bangs leaving braided strands dangling on either sides of her face. She had black eye liner around her green eyes, and carried a small clutch in front of her.

They walked together through a fancy part of Central Park, with live music playing outside, of which the Belle was regarding with her confident stare.

"You are spoilin' me tonight, Henry, an' I have loved every minute of it." She fired back over to him, showing him a large smile, as she walked close to his right side.

Henry McCoy has posed:
"See? This is what you get when I get over-confident in my pool abilities and make foolish bets." he said with a small laugh. He'd brought his A game to his own dress, preferring what he called his monkey suit. A tuxedo in black, with a green tie and cummerbund to match Anne-Marie's preferred color as precisely as he could. White gloves big enough for his mutated hands and leather dress shoes in extra-extra-extra-extra wide finished things off for him. "I am glad that my humble efforts are meeting with your approval." he said with another small smile. "And assuming none of New York's less-tolerant citizens come along to gawk at the gorilla in the monkey suit, the evening will have been quite enjoyable for us both."

Rogue has posed:
Rogue had her left arm hooked within Hank's right, and with it she walked around a rather impressive fountain in the middle of the park area that they were strolling through. She listened to his response, and with it she laughed softly. Her head shook side to side, and her eyes cast around at those that were close. "They'd be makin' a big damn mistake, if they did. Sides, you got me on your arm, which is better than any'a them would have." She fired back, a bit of a braggadocious expression showing across her face.

"I may have distracted ya a bit too much durin' that pool game too. I get a bit ... dirty, when it comes to winnin' games. Somethin' I think I got from Carol, at least in part." She smirked softly, before looking out at the water sprinkling down in the pool of the fountain.

"Means you'll be wary of playin' me again in the future, I bet." She said, grinning over at him on her left side once more.

Henry McCoy has posed:
"If things should devolve to that letter I would be delighted to hold onto your purse and heels and let you deal with the ruffians in the manner they deserve." he said with a laugh. "Your capacity for self-defense is nowhere near in question." he told her. "And honor demands a rematch. Now you've shown me how you play, it's on me to rise to the occasion. And no manner of scoop-necked blouses or long legs or outrageous flattery shall distract me from my victory this time!" he promised her. "Unless, of course, you think they're a substitute for skill?" he said in a friendly challenging tone.

Rogue has posed:
The words of Rogue going off on would-be theoretical naysayers of Mutants out in public, just has the Belle laughing softly in response. She nods her head slowly a few times, "They would absolutely get thrown right here inta this utterly gorgeous fountain." She explained, as she motioned toward it with her right hand.

When he spoke further on the game that laed them to be on this little dinner outing, Rogue grinned wickedly again. "Come now, I could ramp all of that up too, and make it way worse on ya." She fired back, grinning at him again, as they continued on their lazy paced stroll around the fountain, lined by soft lamp posts, the sound of the string instruments playing from a nearby terrace, and the ambience of other park goers enjoying the same lovely summer evening.

"I enjoy a good challenge, though." She continued, still grinning. "I'm really not that great at pool. I kinda enjoy bowlin' a bit more, but that is partly due to doin' that a bit more. We had a couple big bowlin' alleys back home in Meridian. Which, I'm sure doesn't blow your mind one bit. Redneck city, redneck stuff t'do in it." She said, grinning yet more.

Henry McCoy has posed:
"Bowling is very popular back in Dundee, too." he pointed out. "My parents are in a league as of last I heard and we used to go when I was a child. Had to stop when the feet got too wide for shoes and my mutation made the game trivial." he said with a smile. "Still, they were fun family nights out." he pointed out. "And that fountain is a marvel of aesthetics. Dropping dirty bigots into it would just mean that the city'd have to scrub it clean afterwords." he pointed out as they wandered slowly arm-in-arm. "For shame, even considering it. Suspend them from the tops of trees like a civilized person." he mock-scolded her.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue had to shake her head from side to side at the thought of her dealing with these dreamed-up jerks being not to even dare drop them in the beautiful fountain. "Fine..." She said, following it with a soft sigh that left her bare shoulders rising, and falling. She glanced back over at him, and smiled warmly toward the blue furred one.

"You enjoyin' your night out, I hope? I know it's not bowlin', but hey, maybe that'll be the next game we dare to challenge one another on, Doctah McCoy." She said in her teasing fashion, though she's tried to keep that on the low tonight, instead just wanting to be a kind hearted partner for the evening, and not her usual tease.

"It's good ta see ya outta the house, but I guess I said that when we were at Harry's too. I wonder if Warren will show up here, an' get my black out drunk on shots again. I kinda hope not..." She stated, her voice filled with an amused affection at the memory anyway.

Henry McCoy has posed:
"While I do not possess the resources of our winged brother Warren I am hardly scraping for pennies. I could get you blackout drunk again if you'd like." he offered as they walked. He was modulating his lops to keep pace with her chosen stride. "And there are charms to a dressy night out with fine dining and a walk under the stars, as there are charms to alcohol, pool, and foolish wagers." he said with an easy smile. "This has been lovely, my dear." he promised her.

Unbidden, her drunken plea/offer ran across his mind, the one he had far too respect for both her and himself to take her up on. But were she sober ... dangerous thought, McCoy. Remember what the last young lady you took to your bed got charged with? Never doing _that_ again, thank you.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue was left to laugh again at the offer of more heavy drinking. Rogue had a bit at the restaurant, but nothing like the other night at Harry's. "Oh, no, no, I don't think so. Makin' an ass of myself once a month? Maybe twice a year? Fine. But more than that? I probably shouldn't." She stated, grinning ovr at him again.

"But, hey, at least ya got a pie outta the deal." She added, as she gave his arm a slight squeeze with her white gloved hand.

They continued on around the fountain, reaching the large staircase that lead up to the terrace where the music was playing, and as they came to it, Rogue glanced at him. "Want to enjoy the music, some? Or Have I bored you enough this evenin, Mistah Smart Doctah Man?" She asked, smiling with a mischievous nature behind it.

Henry McCoy has posed:
"It was delicious. Went great with Twinkies and 7-11 Nachos." he said with a laugh. "And I do adore music in all its forms." he said. It could be said that the musical choices coming from Hank's labs could swing from anything from dubstep to classical to classical dubstep to soft rock to metalcore and both country _and_ western. Depending on his mood.

"And if you continue to insist that you bore or or that I am having anything less than a lovely evening I'm going to have to become vexed. Perhaps even cross. With you." he pointed out.

Rogue has posed:
Being that Rogue was who she was, she had an inferior sense about herself. She'd graduated from college, she was a teacher at the same school Hank was, but she was still 'just a girl from Mississippi' and it often showed in how she talked about herself. Self depricating jokes, or comments at her own expense, especially around the accomplished Hank McCoy, Professor Xavier, or Dr. Jean Grey. She felt like she was on a lower tier of citizen around them, even if they said otherwise.

She smiled at him, and leand over against him to press her shoulder against his much larger own. "Well, glad ta hear it." She tells him in a warm tone of her naturally husky voice.

They start up the steps, the pair turning heads for probably a number of reasons, but there were a lot of well dressed people in this part of the park tonight, for the musical performance, and general other such reasons.

"Does this mean I'm inspirin' ya to get back on the dating game horse?" She asked the good doctor beside her, as they ascended the large stone staircase.

Henry McCoy has posed:
"That query is fraught." he admitted. "I mean, a part of me desires companionship as much as the next fellow." he admitted. "But charges of bestiality are hard to overcome and, well, being a visible mutant with a penchant for honesty does tend to cut down on the dating pool." he pointed out. "And of them most are my colleagues and my friends. Complications galore." he said, using a hand to exaggerate the consequences with a grasping gesture. "I understand congratulations are in order for you and Doctor Grey?" he said.

Rogue has posed:
When Hank mentioned that beast word, Rogue shot her eyes over at him, her dark eyebrows raising up in a curious fashion. She tilted her head to the side, and got a better look at his face as they reached the top of the stairs. "Beast. Beastia..." She started laughing, trying to restrain the amount of which, with a gloved hand to the top of her chest. "You're joking, right? That might be the best joke I've ever heard you tell." She fired back to him, perhaps believing that he was indeed joking, about his nickname.

At his question for her, Rogue had to sober herself up a bit. "Mmh?" She asked, fluttering her dark eyelashes. "Jean?" She asked further, looking to him, and then away again. "Yeah, I mean, I guess. That proposal was last Halloween. I've kinda not talked about it much. I wasn't sure what people would think of it. It really has just been an adventure for she and I, ya know? All this shit... we're always havin' to deal with, Hank. It just kinda lead us to rely on each other, a lot."

They were walking toward the musical perofmrance, as it was about half way over at this point, meant to end at around 9:30 or 10:00.

"I think when Scott went cold on her, after she became the Headmistress, she wasn't sure how to deal with it either. Havin' me there, to help her along, I think it meant a lot to her. Still does?" She glanced at him again, shook her head, and looked away once more. "I dunno. I love all ya'll. But, she's like ... ah, you know. I'm literally alive cause'a her."

Henry McCoy has posed:
"There's a reason I keep my head down in the lab. I was not joking, Rogue. Charges were going to be filed." he said with a shudder. "For just the idea of being with someone that looks like me. And you know as well as I do that I cannot and will not hide behind an image inducer any more than you'd put Forge's neutralizer under your chin and pull the trigger." he said, perhaps a little waspishly. "I've always felt that one you save a life, and have yours saved, you stop counting. The bond is there. And in that regard, all of us X-Men are literally alive because of the others." he pointed out. "Still, I was and am a little upset with Slim for handling things so badly. Red's an old friend of mine, one of the oldest I have. Her well-being is important to me. As is Slim's, but he has a most distressing habit of treating women named Jean or who share a genome with Jean poorly."

Rogue has posed:
Rogue lingered her pale green eyes on Henry, as he said that, while they neared the edge of the string concert area. When they drew to a stop, standing on the western side of the row of audience seating, she just shook her head. "That is insane. You're a Man as much as I am a Woman. Your Mutation simply added on to that. To label that something... akin to some kind of debauchery found in the dankest corners of the internet? That is, well. I'd punch anyone who said such a thing about you..." She told him, her arm feeling a bit more tense, in defiance of her friend here being insulted in such a way.

She shook her head again, her white braids gently swaying against the sides of her face. "Scott is a wonderful man, but somethin' seems... lost in there. Whenever I talk to him, he seems sad... I do what I do, around him, to try and cheer him up. But, the man feels like he is eternally lost in sorrow, an' I don't know how ta work with it, ya know?" She glanced at the show, then back over at Hank.

Henry McCoy has posed:
"Well, if you're a woman and you work in news, you have to avoid even the suggestion." he said. "And she was so concerned she broke up with me via a voicemail." he said. "Ancient-ish history and I don't blame her." he said. What he left unsaid was the word "Much" there at the end.

"So being the Beast is dating on Hard Mode. Perhaps even an extreme difficulty." he said.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue's eyes were on the side of his face as he said this, her stare judging him openly. She felt concern for him, and what he said, how he said it. It added another layer to why he spent so much time alone within his lab, and helped her understand him just that much more, or maybe at least made her think she understood a bit more about him.

Either way, he would feel her hand giving his arm a soft squeeze, as she leaned over against him, and even laid her head down on to his shoulder. "If this is hard mode, Hank. I'd think Easy mode was basically ridiculous." She countered him, her eyes looking up at him as she rested her head on his shoulder like that, and a smile touching her red hued lips.

"Don't let that stuff own your mind. Your mind is too damn special for that, and the rest'a ya ain't too bad either." She added the last part with a bit more of her standard flirtatious undertone, along with another squeeze to his bicep.

Henry McCoy has posed:
Hank tended to take compliments of that nature from Anne-Marie with a large grain of salt. Big grains of salt, all around the rim .... He let her rest her head on his broad shoulder, as a bit of comfort for both of them. Also, the angle did interesting things to her bustline that he was enjoying greatly while trying not to be obnoxious about things. "You're too kind." he told her. "You clean up amazingly well, going from your base state of pretty and pushing well into stunning." he told her with a smile. "And you know it, and you fish for compliments unrepentantly." he told her. "Fortunately, we're all very fond of you and take it in stride."

Rogue has posed:
There were a number of truths around them at the moment. One being that the walk around the Bethesda fountain was a wonderful time to take, that the string concert was a lovely background ambience that they were standing near to enough to witness first-hand, and that Rogue's corset dress was providing a hell of a show for Hank, and she was happy to give it. It was all collectively part of the experience of going out for a fancy evening, wasn't it?

When she raised her head up again, after having been staring at the performers on the stage, she looked back to Hank. "You want to hang around, or keep on walkin, Mistah?" She asked him, showing him a soft smile. "I've certainly enjoyed my time t'night."

Henry McCoy has posed:
Hank leaned close into her ear and asked her a question. He grinned as he asked it, but there were some nerves down deep in his core that were reacting to his stress. He then didn't pull away at all but he was not looming over her or implying any sort of pressure whatsoever to answer his question. Instead, he waited patiently for her answer.

And, naturally, that's when an older gent in formalwear decided to take umbrage at Hank's existence.

"Well, will ya look at that. Someone shaved a gorilla, painted it blue, and stuffed it into a suit! Haw, haw!" the old man slurred, having clearly enjoyed a few too many potent potables.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue was standing perfectly still, eyes on the stage, as Hank was asking his question, and a sly smile was showing on her visage. She was about to cast her eyes over to him, when the voice that spoke up drew her attention away. It was funny how stuff like that could change your demeanor so quickly, and for Rogue it made her hot under a collar she wasn't even wearing.

She started to unfurl her arm from hank's, and move to step toward the older gentleman, perhaps planning to enact the topic that they had discussed minutes earlier down by the fountain.

"Hows about you take your drunk ass on outta here, Mistah, before I turn your tie inta an asphyxiation tool?" She asked, as she stepped on the man, unless Hank were to stop her.

Henry McCoy has posed:
Hank, although he itched to respond in word or in deed, kept a chokehold on his temper. If he reacted, he'd just be playing into the bigot's hands. Of course, if he didn't they'd use that against him as well, but damned if he did, damned if he didn't.

Fortunately, Rogue was not tremendously subtle on her _best_ day and she was definitely more than a little pissed-off. So he fought the smile off his face and let her handle this incident.

"Hey, honey, if you need a real human to get you away from that _thing_, I'm sure we can take care of you..." the man's female companion said. Maybe she hadn't had as much as he did but she was still standing by her man. Unfortunately, that stance was deep in bigotry-land, but that's just how it was sometimes.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue's temper was well known amongst her teammates, and though if Jean were here, she'd probably have Rogue back down, the Belle was still refined some from her time at Xavier's School overall. As such, when the man's date spoke in, adding on a bit more fuel to the flames, Rogue reacted.

She grabbed the woman's drink from her hands, her strength making it utterly easy to do. She quickly tossed it right back in the woman's face, before she grabbed hold of the man's pants by his belt, and ripped the whole damn front of the man's dress trousers off, causing them to fall to the ground.

Without wasting a moment, Rogue then reached out with both of her hands, and pushed them both back toward the shrubbery behind where they were standing.

Fuming, she rocked back and forth on her heeled shoes, waiting for more?

Needless to say, a lot of eyes were on them now, and it might be time for them to get going.

Henry McCoy has posed:
Hank watched this whole thing go down and then his sarcastic bitchy side got the better of him. He mimed peeling a banana and taking a bit of it. "Ook." he said mildly as the man and woman both started shrieking and jabbering about how they were attacked by a filthy mutie-lover and how this was just more proof that the Friends were what humanity needed.

Hank just mentally sighed. Part of what he and Kate did was keep an eye on the electronic frontiers and bastions of bigotry and malice. "Well. Shall we, my dear?" he asked Rogue, holding out a gloved but still very nonhuman-looking hand for Rogue to take if she was so inclined. "The music is lovely. Listening to this bigotry isn't. So I believe this is our cue to move along, wouldn't you agree?" he asked his companion.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue stared down at the couple, as they were stuck in the bushes, her eyes glaring daggers at them. She felt Hank come up beside her, and offer his hand, and with every ounce of her training from Xavier's School, she accepted his hand, and did not escalate things any further.

She noticed the eyes on them, and it too sobered her up a bit more. She looked to Hank, and nodded her head, having to exhale heavily, before she could feign a smile. She took his offered arm once more, and began to turn away with Hank at her side. Her free hand, encased in a white glove, came up to give the middle finger to the two Friends of Humanity pricks.

As they walked off, Rogue felt her heart pounding in her chest, and she had to take several deep breaeths to even herself out again. "I'm sorry about that... I can't stand actual fuckers comin' in and ruinin' our night like that..."

Henry McCoy has posed:
"You had nothing to do with their decision to expose their bigotry." he said mildly. "It happens. Especially for those of us who can't pass without external devices. And as irritating as that is, your average Morlock would have been greeted not with words but with violence." he continued. "Which is the other reason I spend so much time in the lab." he commented a moment or two later. "And since you loved my little roadster, we can take that back to Westchester. Or we can come back for it and you can fly us home." he said. "Probably best to cut our until-now-delightful evening short, I'm afraid."

Rogue has posed:
Rogue was left still feeling a bit heated from that exchange. While Hank replied to her, she was forced to look back over her shoulder a few times too, to see if anyone was coming after them. But it didn't seem like it. The show was still going on up there for another 20 or 30 minutes, after all.

When she regarded him again, they were already back down the stone stairs, and moving past the fountain again. "Oh, we'll take your car. I think they're smarter than ta think they would want ta tail us..."

She smirked softly at him again then, as she was coming down a bit. She gave his arm another soft squeeze. "hey, at least this will be a night ta remember that much more, right? Dinner an' a scuffle ta boot." She said, a grin jumping across her facial features once more.

Henry McCoy has posed:
"This is what we fight for." he commented. "Just wish that that reminder hadn't come at the cost of a lovely evening out with a beautiful woman." he said with a sigh as he started to steer them back to where he kept his little Jag roadster. He loved that stupidly, in the way that a shade-tree mechanic loved their current project.