· OPEN ·

[carmesi]

Who: wanda maximoff and YOU
When: days prior to event
Where: around town, flophouse
Summary: doing a little exploring, some housekeeping, meeting people
Warnings: none atm!

A. GOOD HARBOR BEACH

[so they can't use magic.

ever since she came to learn to use her powers, magic was like second nature to her—it just didn't feel right to not be able to have the swathes of red fulfill whatever she commanded it to do.

now, she's been here for a few hours in quiet contemplation, until she got the urge to hop her way towards salt island, using the land bridge formed because of the low tide. this, however, she did not realize was because of the tides. now, annoyance has her squatting on the edge of salt island, hugging her arms around her knees, waiting for the tide to lower again. if only she could do magic without restriction, she would fly back to the beach, or even will down the tide.

hopefully no one shows up to witness her current problem. and yes, she would rather wait for the tide to lower than to swim, thanks.]

B. BONNIE'S FLOPHOUSE

[what bonnie wants in exchange of not having to pay rent is, actually, pretty sensible. wanda has no problems with that, and although she would rather just have a place of her own—she can't exactly twirl her fingers and have it happen—the flophouse is growing on her. even with all the little flaws it has.

not really wanting to worry about the cleaning or repairing, she sets about in helping with the cooking. it's a little bit of a relaxing, mindless activity, and although she has little to work with, wanda can think of a couple of dishes from her home that could feed plenty.

soon, the smell of food wafts throughout the floors of the building. as wanda's finishing up and setting plates down for anyone who would like to come down into communal area to get themselves some early supper. it's not much, really, but she's managed a pot of beef and onion stew and several stuffed cabbages filled with minced meat and rice. she reclines against the counter with a bowl of soup in her hand, and keeping an eye out for anyone who ventures in.

easy way to meet the neighbors, right?]

C. MIDNIGHT CINEMA

[the cinema does catch her attention almost immediately. the architecture of the place is rather difficult to ignore, and there is some kind of allure to it. and though it seems inviting and wanda has seen people go inside, she doesn't know if she wants to go in.

when is the last time she even saw a movie?

as if changing her mind halfway through her walking up the path to the entrance, wanda abruptly turns around to head back into the street—]

Sorry.

[—and walks right into someone.]

I didn't see you.

Comments

Bonnie's Flophouse

[iwanttotrustyou]

[William was glad to be living in the flophouse, instead of ADI. A little grime and some chores didn't bother him, and he needed the (relative) privacy. Besides, the rules at ADI's reminded him too much of the police academy dorms, and he was done with dormitory life, thank-you-very-much.

He heads towards the kitchen to make himself some instant coffee when he smells the scent of onions and cooked meat wafting through the hall. When he turns into the communal area, he clocks the heavy pot of stew, as well as the woman watching over it to one side.]

You make that? It smells great.

[carmesi]

Mhmm.

[she hums around the spoonful of soup in her mouth.]

It's pörkölt. [there's a distinct accent when she says that, like she's clearly comfortable with whatever language it comes from.] It was popular in my home.

Sarmale. [with the spoon, she points to the large dish that carries the wrapped cabbages.] Rice and minced meat wrapped in cabbage.

You can take some.

[iwanttotrustyou]

[He's never had sarmale or pörkölt before, but he notes the names and the accent as he glances over the stew. The smell is headier when he gets closer, rich and seasoned.]

Sure, if you're not saving it for anybody. Would hate for good food to go uneaten otherwise.

[carmesi]

It's for everyone.

[it's easy to say that, and it feels nice, too, after her own forced solitude. setting down the bowl on the counter, she moves on over towards the stove, picking up one of the bowls she had set out and a large spoon.]

A bit of both?

midnight cinema

[120vision]

[ Gojou had been restless the past while and wanted to do something to take his mind off of it. The cinema seemed like as good an idea as any, some mindless way to occupy his time. Ever since developing his powers, movies weren't something he could indulge in often, considering how his eyes functioned back home. But now that they're working like regular eyes, well. It's a lot less difficult, possibly the only good thing about not being able to use his Six Eyes anymore.

So he's excited and eager to get here. He's not paying much attention to where he's going, which is how Wanda manages to walk into him. He puts his hands out in front of him, as if he's trying to ward off any further 'attacks'. ]

Be careful, there. With a tackle like that, you could take out the worst of enemies.

[carmesi]

[a little taken aback by the defensive motion, it takes wanda a moment to realize that it's humor and not exactly a forthright statement (she hardly tackled him). with his height he could come off as imposing—except wanda has been around imposing—and she can't help but notice that the guy is a little too pretty.

must be really good genes.]

Not really one for tackling, but my enemies do tend to crumple to their knees.

[playful with playful? how does she interact with people again? she points over her shoulder, at the house slash theater.]

What kind of movies have they got?

[120vision]

All sorts of movies! [ Gojou sounds excited about this. ] Yesterday I watched a foreign film, today I watched a blockbuster! They just seem to get what suits their tastes.

[ He offers an arm to her. ]

If you'll let me tell you a little about the movies they have, I can be your guide.

[carmesi]

[sure sounds excited; it definitely catches wanda off-guard the way he goes on about it, like this whole thing is rather new to him and all too worth the time he spends on watching movies.]

You sound like you're into it.

[maybe a movie aficionado?

wanda looks at his offered arm, and thinks — well, fuck it. he wants her to let him tell her about the movies. she's hesitant, but puts her hand on his offered arm.]

You already saw a movie today and you want to watch another one again? Or is it the same one?

good harbor beach

[sorser]

[She isn’t the only one who’s taken to exploring. Stephen has, too, in an attempt to quell the restlessness snaking through his bones, keeping his body as active as his mind. And though the distractions are many in his new world, seemingly mundane as it appears on the surface, there is never quite enough to upend that sinking feeling of unease, of well and truly being tossed into yet another scenario in which the apocalypse hangs over their heads — or maybe that’s just another day ending in Y, he tells himself.

Regardless, he’s found himself stranded on this singular little isle the same as her, drawn in by the briny murmuring of the shoreline. Having walked the perimeter, it’s only until he comes round a minute or two later that he spots her — or at least he thinks she cuts a familiar figure, huddled at the water as though her defiance might send her across the waves and bring her back to shore.

Stephen approaches, letting the breeze carry his voice—]

You’re not exactly who I expected to see here.

[He calls out, testing for a reaction, walking closer. Stephen is missing the bright red swath of his cloak for now, but the rest should be familiar: the dark hues of his sorcerer’s garb, the golden glint of a sling ring snug against scarred fingers. Guess clothes shopping wasn’t on the list today.]

Not that I’m sure what to expect at this point. Hello, Wanda.

[his foot goes straight into his mouth if he’s wrong]

[carmesi]

[she does react to the voice, for she did not expect to ultimately have any company on this small island considering, well, how she's managed to strand herself on it. not to mention, the voice sounds genuinely familiar despite the sight of so many unfamiliar things of late. wanda is greeted by name in the moment that she stands up to her full height, turning to look at the man.

there's something missing in this picture, perhaps a little red, but everything else is definitely a person she recognizes.]

You know my name. [a statement of surprise, her arms crossing in front of her as the salty breeze picks up.] You're the magician. With the portals.

[alright, so she never stopped to ask for his name. so many other things took precedence when they had briefly met. generously, and a little delayed, she offers with a slight bow of her head and a awkwardly raised hand in some form of waving.]

Hello.

[sorser]

[He was right, then, and everything about her features and stance confirms it when she stands to face him fully. His brow lifts noticeably at the greeting, and the correction comes swiftly.]

A sorcerer. Not a magician. [Or a WIZARD] A magician stands on stage and pulls rabbits out of hats — I’m fresh out of both.

[He considers her for a moment, dubious. This meeting between them could be painted as awkward in its unexpectedness, but Stephen bulldozes through it without much hesitation.]

Shouldn’t I know your name? Being an Avenger makes you a celebrity, and that’s not accounting for trying not to get killed on the battlefield together.

Doctor Stephen Strange, if you’ve forgotten mine. [(she never knew it)]

[carmesi]

[she tilts her head at the explanation, and wonders how many times stephen has had to explain it time and time again at people who get it wrong. she hadn't even thought of the differences until now, and supposes there is a point to it.

she also supposes she feels a little bit bad about calling him a magician (better than magic-man though, right?).]

Sorry, I was preoccupied by other things at the time.

[like destroying the ever living shit out of thanos, and what the aftermath meant to the avengers.]

I'm not an Avenger anymore. That all ended with Stark dying and Steve Rogers retiring. [not to mention natasha and vision, thor's departure, banner's injury— she shakes her head and sniffles, looking back towards the shore of the beach.] It looks like we are stuck here, [in this world, on this island; same thing. she turns her head towards him.] Doctor Strange.

flophouse

[horrifictie]

[ he isn't thinking of food as he barrels down the stairwell, the third floor a pain in the ass on the way up but a joy on the way down, but then the smell hits his senses.

PERCEPTION (Smelling) - Beef and onion are combining together into a hearty aroma, your mouth watering as it brings you back to the feeling of the past. Not the memory, no, but the sensation that came when meat was cooked once a month in your youth. It was expensive back then. Still is, on your paycheck anyway.

his nose leads the way, steps pronounced without fear as he walks through the halls and finally into the communal area. he grins at the plates on the table and then at the woman with her bowl. ]

You can feed a small army with a spread like this. Are you expecting guests?

[carmesi]

[wanda heard him as he came down the stairs before he even arrived; a large muscular man with the kind of facial hair she'd expect to go in accordance with his voice. she considers another spoonful of soup, but decides against it as the question is asked.

looks like her bait to meet the neighbors is working.]

Not really. Just the neighbors.

[she motions with her chin at the food.]

Beef and onion stew, pörkölt, and also sarmale, cabbage with rice and meat. If you are hungry.

[horrifictie]

[ RHETORIC [Medium: Success] - Neighbor, in this case, are the people who live in this building. Meaning you. Though this is a lot of food and a lot of effort. No one just *does* this strictly out of the goodness of their heart, do they? ]

I can't say no to a good hearty meal.

[ he saunters over to the table and examines all the plates. the stew may be a bit too filling for him, it's the sort of meal that could easily lull him into sleep. right now he wants to stay alert. he grabs a fresh plate and picks up the sarmale, only a couple from the batch. ]

Thanks for this. Very kind of you.

[carmesi]

[she smiles at her offer being accepted. she is used to people being a little more wary around her and, really, the other tenants of the flophouse have no reason to trust her so easily. maybe perception really is everything, and it's incredibly encouraging.

pleased that he's taking some sarmale from the pile, she brings another spoonful of stew to her mouth.]

Where I'm from, meals were always eaten together. Not just with family, but with the neighbors, too. Even when we didn't have a lot, it was normal to share what little we did have.

[she can only hope that her walking towards the table to sit down with her bowl is plain enough an invitation to share said meal, if only for a bit.]

I'm Wanda. Got here a few days ago.

bonnie's flophouse

[variantl1130]

[Normally a place he would avoid at all costs, seeing as it's shared, Loki is drawn to the flophouse's kitchen based solely on the smell. Cooked food. It's not the high cuisine of his upbringing, but compared to what he's eaten in the past few days, whatever it is smells absolutely divine. It feels quaint, overall, what with the kitchen and dining room being the same room, but his time at the TVA has him feeling used to the self-serve atmosphere by now. He's learned not to complain about free food.]

Finally, something decent to eat. Is this for everyone? [He does not wait for the question to be answered before he picks up a bowl and ladles stew into it. Hardly a glance goes to the chef.]

[carmesi]

[well, it certainly looks like he didn't need to ask.]

It is there for anyone to take.

[but it's all the more amusing, considering the different kinds of people that were brought to this world.]

Should be enough for seconds. [she takes another sip off her own bowl, remaining thoughtful for a moment.] Have you been here a while?

[variantl1130]

[He doesn't mind the chatter as he fixes up his bowl and brings it to the table. He only answers in half-hearted nods and mm-hms. When he's situated, he can finally lift a spoonful to his nose, and, mmm. Dismissive of the chef he may be, but he is appreciative of the beauty within the dish.

And then she asks a question, which finally distracts him from his stomach. He may as well be decent enough to answer it...]

A few days, at this point. I assume you ended up here the same way? Dropped from a different timeline?

[And he can finally take a bite—oh. Mmm. His eyes fall closed, savoring it. ...He's having an experience.]

B.

[bigporkenergy]

[Galliard has been out of the apartment for awhile, just wandering around and thinking things over. He may have crashed on the beach for a night or two; somehow, sleeping outdoors and on sand makes him feel more at home than the narrow apartment he'd been assigned. But he's in need of a shower and a change of clothes, so he goes back to the flophouse, out of sorts and covered in sand.]

[He definitely wasn't expecting to the smell of food, or to have it coming from his apartment. When he lets himself in and sees a woman in the kitchen, he freezes.]

Uh... hi?

[carmesi]

[the apartments are... small—made even smaller by the prospect of sharing the space with a roommate. the last roommate she had was her brother, and that doesn't really count. there are two bedrooms set apart by a wall, both of them opening up to a small kitchenette and minimal furniture (two chairs, one table, a bookshelf tacked to the wall). the communal bathrooms might be a challenge.

but bonnie was kind, told wanda that no one should give her trouble, and that her roommate was a fine young man.

she hasn't been able to meet him since she's arrived though, which makes her itch with curiosity. figures that the day she attempts a little bit of cooking in the kitchenette, the missing roommate appears, as if summoned.]

—hey. [she tries to look prepared for this sudden meeting. she points at the door to his room.] That's your room, right?

[setting the bowl down, she straightens the cardigan she's wearing. is he a handshaker kind of person? she opts to stand motionless.]

I'm Wanda. Bonnie said we'd be sharing the apartment.

[bigporkenergy]

[Galliard is used to close quarters and having to share his space, but he's always been grouped up with other guys. He's never had to share with a woman before, and the last time he lived with one was when he was seven years old and hadn't started military training yet. He's pretty sure moms don't count as roommates.]

Uh, yeah. Yeah, that's my room.

[What a smooth operator.]

[Galliard doesn't offer his hand to shake either, and instead does an awkward little half salute, like he was going for the full gesture and then realised how dumb it would be halfway through.]

I'm Galliard. Bonnie didn't say anything to me.

[Probably because he's been off roaming and she couldn't find him. But it's not said in an accusatory way, especially not as Galliard zeroes in on the stew bubbling on the stove.]

Are you a chef too?

[Does everyone who gets dragged to this world know how to cook except him?]

Midnight Cinema

[musicdied]

[Yelena's just rounding the corner off of the street when Wanda comes hurrying down the path, and though her reflexes are sharp, they're not quire sharp enough to let her sidestep in time to fully avoid a collision. It just winds up more of a shoulder check than running into one another head on.]

Are the movies that bad?

[carmesi]

[one thing wanda has always worried about is the way strangers would look at her—strangers who somehow, one way or the other, recognize her as an agent of chaos in their world; a monster to be afraid of.

the lack of that so far, here in gloucester, is a small blessing.]

...I honestly have never been to one.

[she glances at the blond.]

I thought I wanted to see one.

[musicdied]

At all?

[She doesn't sound as appalled as one might expect. More...curious, as though the lack of exposure to so central a part of popular culture is something she can easily conceive of, but has never actually encountered.]

Or just here?

[There's the barest of pauses between the second and third word, as she gestures towards the path.]