3863/Mack Bolan and Bolognese.

Mack Bolan and Bolognese.
Date of Scene:	19 October 2020
Location:	Angelo's Pizza
Synopsis:	Viola threatens Alexander with violence, then flees the scene! (She actually didn't, not really -Viola)
Cast of Characters:	Viola Fiore, Alexander Aaron

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Viola Fiore has posed:
Viola is still undecided on the job front. The woman doing the event planning that she worked for in the past who invited her to come on board as a partner in the business has been patient, but Viola knows she needs to come to a decision too. She's spoken to a few charities as well, not just about doing work in the front lines but helping with fundraising and organization, putting her sociology degree to use.

Today though she's taking some time off for that debate. She didn't even invite friends like she normally would when going to Angelo's. A favorite spot in this area, both for the pizza and their sandwiches.

Viola is dressed fairly casual, though there is still that sense of expense that went into the casual attire. Some designer jeans and then a charcoal grey Columbia University sweatshirt, the neck stretched wide enough it hangs down over one shoulder leaving it bare. The sleeves are rolled up to mid-forearm, and the flats she's wearing are casually stylish.

She takes a seat at one of the tables and looks over the menu. "Pizza or a meatball sub," she murmurs to herself thoughtfully.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    The bell on the door jangles, ringing to announce the arrival of another patron. Only this one when he arrives, there's a subtle feeling in the air. It might be hard for one to understand why when the counterman lifts his eyes from his register and looks across the way. But a glance at Viola's t-shirt, and Alexander's backpack as he enters... it's clear there's going to be trouble. Columbia University... and Empire State? In the same restaurant, clearly there's going to be a rumble.
    Then again perhaps not. But when the blond youth with the casual stroll does enter he does step by Viola's table and if there's a glance his way he'll offer a polite smile in return. He has no qualms about his order, instead seems ready and with it as he says, "Slice and a coke, please."
    Which has that wary counterman nod once and then duck back to get the order while he says over his shoulder, "Four fitty."

Viola Fiore has posed:
Viola is weighing the merits of the pizza, though the mouthwatering thought of the meatball sub with the extra thick marinara is slowly winning her over. The pizza is near to tapping out when the chime on the door goes off. Viola glances up and over briefly, and back to the menu before seeming to decide to send her eyes back for a second look.

She takes in the sight of Alexander's face first. That expressive face that looks like it could have come off a class Greek statue. Or been the inspiration for one.

The art lover in Viola enjoys that thought for a moment, while her eyes linger long enough to take in the emblem on Alexander's backpack. One corner of her lips tugs back in a slightly wry grin as she spots the rival logo.

She returns the polite smile with a friendly enough one, then glances over to follow after he passes her up to the counter. The clerk returns with Alexander's order, and he looks over to Viola. "Did you decide, Vi?"

She nods towards him. "The spicy meatball sub, extra marinara on the side please. And a Dr Pepper." He gives her a nod and goes to start in on it. The clerk glances over his shoulder at the two of them. "If an ESU-Columbia fight breaks out, take it outside," he kids, getting a grin from Viola.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    On his way back the counterman sort of grins and nudges Alexander in the ribs which has him come back from wherever his thoughts were wandering, which has him looking blankly at the man in his apron and little white cap. "Hm?"
    "You hear me? I said if an ESU-Columbia U fight breaks out, hah!"
    Which causes Alexander to sort of blink a little then grin easily enough, "Oh hey, yeah, for sure, man." But as the man steps back behind the counter the young Olympian sort of looks over at Vi and blinks inquisitively before grinning and shrugs self-consciously before he steps to the side to make way in case some other customer wanders in for the lunch-time special.
    "Ohhh, Columbia." He says finally, having puzzled it out and pointing at her shirt. "I see." He really doesn't, perhaps the rivalry thing escaped his notice. So far!

Viola Fiore has posed:
The clerk brings Viola's soft drink over to her, getting a smile of gratitude from her. She picks up the glass, adding the straw to it and taking a sip as her eyes go back to Alexander.

"Not too much worry of that," she tells both men. "My fighting days over the glory of what is /clearly/ the best university on the East Coast, let alone in New York, or behind me," she says with a little grin towards Alexander.

"Besides I'm graduated now. I think only active students are supposed to tussle over such things physically?" she adds before taking another sip of her soft drink.

The clerk gives a sigh of mock relief. "Thank goodness, no chairs through the windows this time," he says as he goes back to putting the meatball sub together.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Getting his slice now and his own soda, Alexander shuffles over to the side and hops onto a stool that leads him sit at one of the high top tables, his pizza set down with the slither of a paper plate on a plastic surface. "I mean, it's alright if you have to justify things that way with all these qualifiers why you can't stand up for your school and all. Luckily I'm a peaceful sort. I mean if I went into your neighborhood where what is clearly the equivalent of crips colors while in the bloods territory, well then. I mean, nobody would blame the ensuing mayhem."
    Which the blond youth is able to deliver with a casual seriousness that might almost make one imagine playing poker with him might be a big bad idea. He takes a bite of his pizza and then a sip of his soda to wash it down, still partially swiveled on the stool to make sure he can see Viola and the pizza proprietor.
    "But peace is ok by me too." Assuredly to his father's chagrin.

Viola Fiore has posed:
Viola Fiore gives a quiet scoff. "All those qualifiers?" she asks him. "Why I oughta..." she says, though that twinkle in her eyes make sit a joke for Alexander. She gives a good-natured harrumph and takes another sip of her soda.

The clerk brings her sub out. The smell of it is something to behold. Delicious odor wafting as it is carried past Alexander's seat and over to Viola's table. "There you go, one side of warm marinara on the side. And a stack of napkins," he says, depositing those items as well.

Viola views the sandwich. "Oh yes, going to need those," she says, moving one napkin into her lap. She carefully picks up half of the sandwich to avoid spilling any of the contents. Dips the end into the marinara and then takes a bit. "Mmmm," she murmurs approvingly while she's chewing it.

After she dabs at her lip to get some marinara left in the corner. "So what year are you?" she asks Alexander.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Smugness applied to smile achieved, Alexander wraps his lips around his pizza slice and takes another bite, chewing for a time and seemingly content to let the peace rein instead of continuing the conversation which clearly would be just plain weird. So he seems a bit surprised when Viola pipes up again, his curious hazel eyes slipping back in her direction while he's still chewing.
    He takes a little bit of time to chew more and then swallows, "Ah, I am what is known as in the most refined of circles a Freshman." Which causes him to nod solemnly as he shows his skill in manners by casually wiping at his mouth with a forearm as opposed to a napkin.
    "Though I started in the Summer session so at this point technically... a sophomore?" His eyes lift upwards considering the number of credits he has, but then shrugs as clearly the calculations escape him.

Viola Fiore has posed:
"Congratulations. First year mostly under your belt then," she says, pausing to take another bite. It appears from her expression of happiness at the food that Viola is pleased with her choice.

She looks back to Alexander. "Have you picked a major yet? It took me awhile to decide on something. And even then I wasn't quite sure up until nearly the time I graduated," she tells him. A sip of the soda is taken, before the young woman's dark brown eyes peer back over towards Alexander again.

The clerk checks on them both and then moves off to roll out some dough for more pizzas, expecting the dinner rush to be starting up in another hour or two. Angelo's quite the popular place for takeout or delivery.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    A small shrug is given as he starts to work on the crust, but takes his time with it, biting off a bit and chewing, not seemingly in a rush as he lets his gaze wander off to the side thoughtfully. "Not so much really, I sort of consider a few things but it's basically considering in what flavor of unemployment do I want to be, right?"
    That said he drops he casually drops his backpack and lets it fwumpf at the base of his stool as he leans back against the wall, letting one leg swing lazily while he continues to peck at the crust and let his gaze roam.
    "An acquaintance told me I should teach but man, kids suck." He says with some sincerity, nodding as he understands exactly how much they suck by his presence in that particular Venn diagram of suckitude.

Viola Fiore has posed:
Viola Fiore breaks out in a soft laugh. "They do, a bit," she agrees. "And you're not far wrong about the flavor of unemployment. Well, I have offers, I just haven't quite decided which direction I want to go," she says, looking thoughtful as her own thoughts slip back into that debate she's been pondering for a few days now.

She finishes another bite before offering, "I worked for an event coordinator part-time while I was in school. Weddings, reunions, corporate events. She does very well. Big scale social events. And she offered to take me on as a partner. Which really doesn't have any thing to do with my degree or where I was aiming myself," she says with a sigh. "I'm not sure I can make the world a better place a wedding at a time, you know?" she asks.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Well, sometimes the best way you can make the world a better place is to survive, and if it helps you do that..." Alexander says with a curiously semi-serious and rational take on such matters, which likely might seem a smidge beyond his years. But then again at his age one can run from thought to thought to thought without ever fully deciding on a belief.
    "And, I mean..." He finishes the last bite of the crust, crunching it with his back teeth and chewing for a time. "There are worse jobs than helping make someone's big day as perfect as you can. Like, you could be one of those tele-marketers that preys on old people."
    He nods slowly, "They are super scummy."

Viola Fiore has posed:
The example that Alexander comes up with causes Viola to make a face. "I had lunch in this Chinese place one time, in a booth next to these two guys. One was apparently new to the job and the other was the old hand giving him tips. And they were talking about exactly that. How to extract money from elderly people," Viola tells him.

She gives a shake of her head, her expression angry. "When I finished I walked over and gave them a piece of my mind on what kind of people it takes to exploit others like that," she tells Alexander.

After she shares that, she looks away for a moment. Her expression is thoughtful, but introspective. And with just enough of a downturn to her mouth to suggest maybe she doesn't like some of those thoughts.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Nodding as he sips his soda, Alexander leaves her with those thoughts for a time, though he does watch her have them. Just sort of looks at her and hrms thoughtfully before he says, "I bet it didn't phase them at all. Though..." The young Olympian lifts up his soda, "I find if you can keep them on the phone for a while they get suuper mad."
    That said his head bobs a few times as he recalls those few times he was 'successful' in saving someone else from the mild inconvenience. Still though.
    "I always thought maybe someone could like slip a list of the companies that do that to the Punisher or something, but figure his agenda is fairly full as it is." He glances towards the door as if half-expecting Frank Castle to bust through at any moment, then he shrugs. "Still."

Viola Fiore has posed:
Viola's hearing what Alexander says, though her gaze is still off to the side. At least until The Punisher is mentioned. She glances back over then, trying to leave her face inscrutable about her feelings on that topic. Not that most just-graduated 22 year olds would have strong feelings on him.

"It would definitely be nice if someone could clean that up. Even if his methods are a bit over the top," she says of the Punisher. "But how would it feel knowing I was doing a wedding and find out it was one of those guys?" she says with a sigh.

Viola picks up her soda but doesn't drink it. Just slides her fingers over the cool moisture condensed on the side of the cup. "I don't know. The other options are some charities. Degree in sociology. I could probably do some good," she says softly.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "That's true, but then even crummy people have a right to get married I suppose." He sips his soda again, the straw making a gurgling noise as he gets through most of the coke and to the mostly ice down in the bottom. He makes a scrunched-up face at the amount of ice in there and shoots a glance toward the counterman, but says nothing.
    "You could go into politics, I hear that's a real growth industry." His lip twists a little as he looks back to the door and he makes a face. "Or heck, part of me the other day..." He looks a little wistful then smiles as he looks back at her, "I was thinking that it might be nice just to be a librarian, you know? Something nice about that."

Viola Fiore has posed:
Viola leans back in her chair at the mention of being a librarian. "Oh God yes," she says, before picking up the partially-eaten half of her sandwich, dipping it in marinara and taking a bite. "Though, well that would probably be nice for all of a few weeks. Before the quiet and monotony of shelving books set in," she tells him. "At least for me. I'd rather read than move books around."

Viola taps her fingers on her glass. Comments from the conversation still stirring thoughts in her. Ones that have no conclusions yet, and not the first time they've occupied her.

She glances back up and over to the younger man she's been talking to for a good few dozen minutes now. "I'm Viola, by the way," she offers along with a little wave.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Settled on that stool and leaning now the other way, Alexander takes up his paper plate and his empty soda, then eases off that seat to walk across the room slowly. "I don't know, maybe go to a library that's in the middle of America, quiet, relaxed. Plenty of free time to read."
    An elbow pushes the flap of the trash can open and he deposits his debris before turning back toward her, "Or heck, part of me feels like it would be really nice to own a used book store. That smell of all the old pages and having everything sort of hodge podge all around. I mean I'm sure I could drive around to like a dozen book stores and buy up all their Harlequin Romance Novels and those... action books. Mack Bolan and Remo Williams? And boom, instant store stock."
    That said he nods again before he recalls his manners, "Oh hey, I'm Alexander." He says, an air of formality at the saying of his name.

Viola Fiore has posed:
Viola's head tilts just a little bit to the side as she regards Alexander. "Hmm. Haven't run into many people who know Mack Bolan, yet alone mention him in casual conversation," she tells Alexander.

Viola gives a little nod. "I don't know that I'd want that for a career. But it's a nice way to spend a Sunday after church," she confirms. "Really nice to meet you Alexander. I mean, even with the whole ESU thing," she says, exaggerating the impact of that. "Good luck with the rest of school. And if you want a bit of advice? Enjoy it. Enjoy all your time there. Once you're done you have to start focusing on being an adult. I guess. Not that I've hit the worst of that yet, but still. I can already appreciate the world ahead of me is so different than school was."

She finishes up the half of sandwich, then gets up to go over to the counter. "Could I get a to-go container. Half sandwich, and a little tub with a lid for the sauce? Thanks!" She turns back to Alexander to give him a smile.