In the tranquil evening of the following day, a gentle ambiance enveloped the room where Evan and Ororo were seated. Their surroundings were adorned with an air of elegance, the soft glow of ambient lighting casting a warm hue upon the scene. Evan held a glass of wine, its rich crimson contents swirling idly as his thoughts seemed to carry him elsewhere. Ororo, ever perceptive, observed his demeanor and offered a congenial smile.
"The wine not to your liking?" she inquired, her voice a melodic note that cut through the quiet atmosphere. Evan's gaze refocused, his eyes meeting hers, and he managed a smile in return.
"Forgive me. I have a lot on my mind right now..." Evan's voice was laced with a touch of distraction, his thoughts seemingly preoccupied with matters beyond the present moment. Ororo's smile held understanding, and she leaned slightly forward, her graceful poise indicating her willingness to listen.
"Anything you'd like to share?" Ororo's inquiry was gentle, an invitation to unburden himself if he so chose. Evan's lips curved into a thoughtful expression, and he took a contemplative sip of his wine before speaking again.
"Robert Kelly..." The name hung in the air, a thread that tied to the concerns that had clouded his thoughts. Ororo's brow lifted slightly in mild surprise.
"You didn't seem too worried about him a while ago..." Her words were marked by curiosity, a reflection of the observation she had made earlier regarding his apparent disregard for the senator. Evan's chuckle held a tinge of bitterness, a mix of irony and contemplation.
"Ironically, I'm more worried for him, rather than about him..." The statement held a deeper implication, a layer of complexity that he was willing to unveil in this conversation. Ororo's interest was piqued, and though she refrained from interrupting, her attentive demeanor encouraged Evan to continue.
"There are people—mutants—after his head. Should they succeed, the consequences would be catastrophic..." The gravity of his words hung between them, the weight of the situation evident in his tone
Ororo's eyes widened slightly at the weight of Evan's revelation, her understanding of the potential repercussions of Senator Kelly's demise intertwining with his words. The gravity of the situation was clear, and her thoughtful expression mirrored the seriousness of the matter. Evan's perceptive gaze caught her reaction, and a wry smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"My thoughts exactly..." Evan's voice held a note of agreement with Ororo's unspoken comprehension. With that, he began to lay out the details of the situation, his words forming a narrative that was painted with the same strokes Domino had used to illustrate the dire circumstances they faced. As he spoke, Ororo's attentiveness was unwavering, her focus solely on Evan's account.
When he concluded, a brief moment of silence hung in the air, a contemplative pause that allowed Ororo to absorb the information. Her thoughtful expression transformed into a question, a curiosity that sought to explore avenues of resolution.
"What do you intend to do about it?" Her voice held a hint of urgency, reflecting her willingness to take action if it meant averting the potential disaster. Her eyes met Evan's, her intent clear as she continued, "I can ask Professor Xavier to get the X-Men involved..." Her offer carried a sincere commitment to aiding the cause.
Evan, however, shook his head, a gesture that was both decisive and resolute. "No, I refuse to waste my time or anyone else's protecting someone like Kelly..." His words carried an air of determination, a refusal to prioritize the safety of a man who was a part of the problem they sought to address. He elaborated further, his tone steady as he outlined his solution.
"The solution to this dilemma is much simpler," Evan's calm assertion captured Ororo's attention, drawing her into his line of reasoning. Intrigued, she encouraged him to elaborate with a gentle smile, her demeanor fostering an environment of collaboration.
"Go on," Ororo prompted, her curiosity evident in her gaze. Evan seized the opportunity to share his plan, his words forming a strategic outline that could potentially defuse the situation.
"We simply need to discredit Robert Kelly..." His proposition held a certain cunning, a recognition that altering the public perception of Kelly could neutralize his impact on the mutant community. Ororo's pause indicated her consideration of the idea, and then she voiced a potential concern.
"Smart. If Kelly was discredited, he'd no longer be a threat to mutants, and the brotherhood will have no reason to go after him..." She nodded in agreement, acknowledging the logic behind the plan. But her thoughts didn't stop there; she foresaw a potential complication, and her brows furrowed slightly. "However..."
Evan's grasp on Ororo's thoughts was evident as he responded with a knowing smile, a subtle acknowledgment of her concerns. "Even if they did kill him, there will be no consequences as he would have no supporters..." His words encapsulated the strategic web that he had woven, one that took into account the intricate dynamics of politics and public opinion.
Ororo's exhale carried a blend of agreement and resignation, a recognition of the pragmatism behind the plan, despite its moral grayness. A touch of irony tinged her smile as she voiced her reservations, her words carrying a sense of cautious wisdom.
"I don't know if the professor would approve of this plan of yours. It would be better not to share it with him," Ororo's insight into Charles Xavier's ethical stance was clear. She understood the delicate balance between their goals and Xavier's principles.
Evan's response was laced with humor, his chuckle resonating as he brushed off the notion of discussing this particular plan with the professor.
Still, Ororo's curiosity remained, her eyes focused on Evan as she inquired further. "Still, you seem to have a solution already... what's bothering you?" Her concern was genuine, her desire to understand his thoughts evident in her attentive demeanor. Evan's smile held a touch of self-awareness as he responded, his words carrying a sense of candidness.
"At the moment, I'm ill-equipped to dispense this solution of mine. I need someone to enact the plan on my behalf," Evan's admission unveiled the crux of his dilemma, a recognition that his strategy required an agent to execute it. Ororo's interest piqued, and she leaned in slightly, her curiosity evident as she probed further.
"Oh? Contemplating candidates then?" Her question hung in the air, inviting Evan to delve into the specifics of his search for the right person to carry out his plan. Evan's nonchalant shrug portrayed a sense of flexibility, a willingness to adapt his strategy to fit the circumstances.
"More or less. But it would be a waste to spend this evening talking business when I'm in the company of such a beautiful woman..." Evan's charming demeanor returned, his words an elegant segue from the weighty discussion. His flattery carried a genuine sincerity, his gaze fixed on Ororo in a way that emphasized her beauty.
Her chuckle was genuine, a soft response to his smooth transition, and she rolled her eyes playfully, her tone light but laced with mock skepticism.
"And here I was wondering if you had lost your silver tongue..." Her words held a touch of teasing affection, a recognition of Evan's ability to effortlessly shift between the serious and the charming.
The dynamic between them was engaging and comfortable, a blend of purpose and lightheartedness that seemed to define their interactions as they resumed their dinner date.
...
The evening had transitioned from the cozy ambiance of the restaurant to the dimly lit parking lot, where Evan and Ororo now strolled side by side. The gentle breeze carried the residual warmth of their shared meal, a sense of contentment lingering in the air. Evan's stride was casual, yet his perceptive gaze remained ever watchful, catching a glimpse of a figure that disrupted their post-dinner tranquility.
The man's towering presence, a solid 6.2 feet, commanded attention even from a distance. Muscular and broad-shouldered, his appearance emanated strength and authority, complemented by his blond hair and piercing blue eyes.
Evan's wry smile betrayed a hint of frustration, his voice laced with a touch of cynicism as he voiced the inevitable. "It seems that interrupting our dates has become somewhat of a hobby to some people..." The sentiment in his words carried a weariness, a recognition of the recurrent theme that seemed to plague their attempts at a peaceful evening.
Ororo's response was punctuated by a soft chuckle, her amusement evident as she too took note of the interruption that had graced their night. "At least this one had the tact to wait until we finished our meal..." Her words were accompanied by a playful grin, a reference to the not-so-distant memory of Tony Stark's flamboyant intrusion into their previous date.
...
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