Avalanche's Apartment

[Administrator]

Since he's gotten settled te place looks a whole lot nicer. There's still his bed room, a spare room, kitchen, and living area. But now instead of sitting on boxes and having junk everywhere you can now sit on a chair! Or the couch, which has a blanket thrown over the back.

By far more welcoming, and much cleaner. Come on in! I'm sure Ave is around here somewheres.

[Collin Russiani]

Collin was an honorable man, he really was, but he was still more than a little apprehensive as he headed up the stairs to the familiar apartment, a plain, nondescript bag clenched in one hand. He hadn't thought this would be necessary, but things changed. His trip hadn't helped as much as he thought it would, and Avalanche was the only parental figure Prince had. Collin was certainly not going to be going to her real father for this. Though the thought amused him all the way up the stairs and to the door where he knocked, using the back of his hand.

"Hey, Av, you in?" He usually called him Snowball, a particular nickname that the other bore with good grace but annoyed him to no end, but Collin was here with a purpose and it was a serious one at that. He'd almost felt the need to dress proper for a funeral, his own, but in the end he'd thrown on something comfortable, the old, worn and familiar newsies cap sitting atop his red hair like it always used to, back in the good old days. He'd glanced in a window on the way over, and it was like nothing had even changed. He could still see himself with a key around his neck and Brooklyn at his back. But not anymore. What surprised him the most, however, was how okay he was with that.

[Avalanche]

There were loud foot steps coming towards the door and suddenly it swung open as a flash of brown hair dashed by. "Come in!" And with that Avalanche disappeared back into the kitchen with a quilt in his hand.

Obscenities were flying. He wasn't usually one for cursing but when there was a fire in his kitchen... he let it slide. "Hi!" he yelled. as he tried everything he could to get his oven put out. "How's about a hand huh Red-head!?" he called.

Avalanche didn't realize why Red was there, nor did he hear the seriousness in his tone. He just figured he was in for a lovely friendly visit, and nothing else! And after all, he was a little preoccupied at the moment!

[Collin Russiani]

Whatever Collin was expecting, that was not it, and he blinked for a moment before stepping into the apartment and shutting the door behind him. "Avalanche, what-" but he saw for himself soon enough and he cursed, setting the bag aside for a moment before he ran in to help, sliding out of his jacket to help put out the fire. It was a little stubborn, but no match for the present company, and they soon put it out, the jacket a lost cause and Collin looked at it before sighing and throwing it out. He'd get another. It didn't much matter.

"I can't leave you alone for a second." He scolded with a grin on his face, even as he washed his hands and grabbed the bag, pulling out the bottle and hunting for two glasses. "I thought we'd have a drink but maybe I should save it all for myself while you burn down Brooklyn." Friendly banter, nothing more, and when he sat down to pour he poured two generous glasses and pulled off his hat, fingering the brim with more attention than it was worth.

[Avalanche]

With a long and overly pathetic sigh he looked down at what had been his attempt to cook. "Sorry," he said meaning the jacket. "I owe you a new one," he promised. He'd get right on that... tomorrow. "Can I make ya a sandwhich?" after all, that had been his dinner, and now he was down to store bought meats, cheeses and bread, so he started working on one for himself at least, even if Red didn't want one.

Avalanche went and washed his hands as well before he started making himself dinner... again. "Hey hey, you better share," he called into Red in the living room. As he was putting himself together a sandwhich he looked out and called, "So what do you want on yours? Anything you want, I got it all," and then he saw him staring into his glass. "Collin?" he asked. At this point he was wondering who died. The man was never this quiet. "Why haven't you called me Snowball yet?" he asked. Something was definitely up, and Avalanche wanted to know what it was sooner rather than later. There was genuine concern on his face, and it wasn't just the average kind... with Red was quiet there was something going on, something serious.

[Collin Russiani]

Collin waved the apology away with a smile. "Don't worry about it. Just do me a favor, yeah? Next time you think to make a grand homemade meal, just come see me at the pub? I can make you dinner no problem. And it won't be black." He promised before crossing into the living room, glasses in his hand. A sandwich did sound good, he hadn't eaten yet, but he wasn't sure he could muster up enough appetite until their talk was over with. This was surprisingly nerve wracking, and he knew Avalanche. They were good friends! He had to wonder how it would feel had they been strangers, and he didn't envy anyone who had been in such a position.

"It's all right, I'm not really hungry." He called back, eyes still on the glass, thoughts all over the place, and he started a bit at his name, looking over at him before sighing, tossing back some of the alcohol and letting the glass click back against the table. "Ah. Well. I figured not annoying you might help grant me a quick death." He toyed with the hat before setting it aside, looking up at him with guarded green eyes. "You want your drink now or later?" Sure it was serious, but it wouldn't be what the other was expecting. Not by a long shot.

[Avalanche]

Avalanche's dark brown eyes gazed at him for a moment. He knew something was going on... obviously. He picked up the drink from the table without a word and downed it. "Yeah," he then said as he placed the glass back on the table. "I'll have a drink," and with that walked back towards the kitchen. "Give me a minute, and I'll be right out," he said.

He finished throwing some ham from the butcher on some bread, added some butter and a piece of Swiss cheese before walking out to the living room with the sandwich in his hand. However there were no bites in it yet. Since Red was sitting there was obviously a reason to be sitting. Avalanche sat down across from him. "So... Red-head," he said, "wanna tell me what's on your mind?" He sat the sandwich down on the table beside him, and then leaned forward, elbows on his knees and hands folded in front of him, waiting to hear what he had to say.

[Collin Russiani]

Collin didn't look away, green on brown, and he watched him down the drink before he filled up the cup again and set the bottle down, watching the way the light flickered off the glass. It didn't take long for Avalanche to come back out, and of course it wouldn't. The other didn't waste time when it came to potentially serious talks, and this one was pretty serious. It concerned Prince after all, and there wasn't much Avalanche took more serious than that girl.

For a few moments he didn't say a thing, eying his half finished drink on the table. It was enough to just sit here, in the other's company before he sighed and brought it to his lips, knocking it back and setting the glass back down. Routine. Easy. He'd been drinking with this man for years now. Most of the time they didn't even bother with the separate glasses. They were really close friends. Would any of that change, he had to wonder. "Yeah." He sighed, rubbing at his face before looking up and meeting the other's eyes. "I'm in love with her, Av."

[Avalanche]

Frozen isn't a good enough description of Avalanche at that moment. He stared nearly lifeless back at his counter part. Collin was nearly his brother, the two knew almost everything that the other did. But this? This was headline news.

"Really." He said flatly. That was all he could say. He stood up again and walked over as he picked up the glass and downed another drink. This time he didn't set the glass back down. He had to think about this for a second. He blinked a few times and then looked at Red, then turned away again back towards the chair and leaned on the back of it, glass still in hand. He looked up at Red and walked back to the table. Placing the glass down fairly gently, in a tone that didn't match his actions he asked, "And what are you going to do about that?" It was intense, strong, and the most fatherly Alex had ever sounded, ever. Prince was his girl, his little girl sent to him from Red himself. True she wasn't little, he was full aware, she wasn't a little girl anymore. But if Red claimed love... he sure as hell expected some sort of explanation. "And further more, when and how did this happen?" Explanation, that is, with details.

[Collin Russiani]

Collin knew he wasn't going to take it very well. In fact he was more afraid of that glass flying at his head than anything. He could take the other's words, if need be, no matter what the other spit at him, but it would be hard to explain actual physical evidence to Prince. Going back to work with a black eye or a split lip was something he was actually trying to avoid. And he was hoping the fact they were almost brothers, that he had been there most of her newsie-life, would help things settle. He wasn't a stranger. But maybe that made it harder too. It was hard to tell with Avalanche.

He watched him move, out of the corner of his eye, always keeping a tab on where he was going before he came back and set the glass down. Collin half wanted a refill of his own, but he didn't dare move for it just yet. "Alex..." He hesitated, letting his head drop into his hands with a groan. "I don't know. It just... it just did? It's been happening for ages. But I didn't expect for this to happen. I mean I... I left thinking maybe it'd fade away on its own." And this was more than he'd told the man about his disappearance. The real reason for it. "I thought it was just that... she was growing up, and I've always been fond of her..." But his voice trailed off and he snorted, shaking his head. "It didn't go away. I think it got worse."

But what was he going to do about it? He hesitated, looking up at him, eyes a little lost. "Seriously, Alex, what chance could I possible have? But. I mean. If she'd have me..." He trailed off and bit his lip. "I guess I'm asking for your permission to try."

[Avalanche]

If Avalanche hadn't been upset before he was now. "Oh," he said looking like Avalanche does when Avalanche is joking, however... there wasn't the laughter in his eyes like usual. "So that's why you left... brilliant planning," he said as he now had to step away. He walked back to the chair he'd been sitting in and stood behind it, hands clenched on the back of it. "Just... fucking brilliant." What could he say? There couldn't be a worse reason to leave in his mind. Leaving to run away from love never works, he knew it, some how or other he knew it. You run from other things. You run from enemies, you run from pain, you run due to fear... not due to love.

He looked up at him again. "Yeah... yeah she grew up... she's been doin' that for a while now ya know," he said. Never could stop making those sarcastic jokes that he was so well known for, just the way he worked. "'Course... you've never been good at watchin' things grow up..." maybe it was a bit of a jab, but it was all he could do not to attack him physically... this would have to do. But that was his one hit, he was done for now.

Rather than an apology for it he took a deep breath to calm down. It wouldn't have been so bad... except Red gave his reason for leaving which really made him upset. He listened to Red ask. A chance? That was the one thing that Avalanche hardly knew about Prince... was who she cared for beyond feeling like they were family. For all he knew, she'd loved Red since before she met him, or perhaps she hated him more than her father. Really, who knew? But the more he thought about it, really... what choice did he have? "I can't stop you," he said. "She's... almost grown up," he said gently, "she'll be able to make up her mind for herself," he said with a small nod. "Just don't break her anymore Collin. Please. Don't... leave... again... if you start something with her." His eyes could pierce through stone at that moment with how intently he was staring at Collin. If nothing else, Alex needed him to listen and understand at that moment what he was saying. She couldn't handle someone she cared for leaving again.

[Collin Russiani]

Collin didn't bother replying, just shrugged a shoulder weakly. Maybe he'd been wrong to leave, but what could he have done if he'd stayed? Maybe it was more fear than anything that had made him run. Fear of being rejected, of losing two friendships that meant the world to him, because if Prince rejected him and cut ties, you could be sure Avalanche would too, eventually. They were too close. Collin didn't really mean much when you cut him out of the picture. Or, at the very least, that was what he was afraid of. How much truth it held, he wasn't sure. "We both know I'm not anything special, Alex. I'm not Kelly, and I'm sure as hell not Ry. It's not like she would have looked twice at me, and if it was just a crush I figured it'd just go away." His voice was soft, but he wasn't defending what he'd done. Just... trying to work it out.

It was, and it made Collin wince, though he didn't try to argue the point. Avalanche could attack him, could break his jaw for what he was saying here, what he was admitting to. He was probably well within his rights to do so. But he wasn't, and Collin was thankful for that much, though sometimes the words hurt just as bad. "You could." He murmured, looking up at him. "If you tried you could stop me. It would be all too easy." And he wasn't lying either. There were so many ways he could keep them apart, some without even lifting a finger. He could always tell Prince he didn't like it, and she might just listen to him. One never knew. "I wasn't going to." He rubbed at his eyes, tone as sincere as he could make it. "I wouldn't do that. Come on, Alex, you have to know I wouldn't." And he just looked up at him, eyes locked, mouth shut, not saying a word. And he just let him see it, everything he felt for their little charge, all reflected back in his green eyes. It was the best he had to prove it to him.

[Avalanche]

Alex watched his gaze for a moment, unwavering, spot on, if you will. He took in a deep breath and looked away. "And why should I forbid it? Why wouldn't I like it?" he asked. He turned away completely and looked at the wall behind him. He breathed in deeply. "If she didn't spend all her time with me," which she didn't anymore, "I would rather have you with her," he said as he turned around to look at his near brother once more.

"Look... the truth is," he said as he came back to Red and got down to his level in the chair, "you protect her just as good, if not better than I do." He finally smiled, a sincere smile. "She's not gonna wanna be with me, that's for sure," he nearly laughed. "So, why would I discourage you from being with her when I couldn't imagine a better person for her to be with?" He'd calmed down, gotten his head back on his shoulders and was thinking rationally again. While it hit him as a bit of a shock before, the longer he thought about it, the more he saw the upsides. Wouldn't be that bad... Kinda sounded like a good idea actually.

[Collin Russiani]

Collin... hadn't really expected that, and he blinked up at him for a moment. Watching him watch the wall, so intently, like it would start moving or perhaps do a trick. And his words, they soothed the panic he hadn't even been aware of until that moment, settling his shoulders, and putting such a look of relief on his face that it would have been funny in any other situation. "I didn't think..." Avalanche knew a lot of his faults, most of them in fact, his wandering feet just one of the many. He wasn't so sure the other would think him a good match for Prince, not with the way they'd protected her over the years. But...

His lips twitched up into a smile right back at him. Despite everything he was feeling, every twisting, turning, churning emotion. "I'm not entirely sure she's going to want to date me either." And the chuckle that accompanied his words was just a little shaky, a little weak. "When you set us up at the pub - nice work, by the way - she didn't really trust me, Alex. I'm an adult, remember? She thinks I've grown up on her." Not true, and Avalanche could attest to that one, if needed. "That and... well... she was going to tell me about her family and I had to tell her I already knew." He gave him an apologetic smile, barely a twist of his lips. "She didn't take that very well." He didn't have to tell the other man that it hurt, it was easy to hear in his voice.

[Avalanche]

Avalanche couldn't help but give him an encouraging nod when he mentioned setting them up at Red's pub. Truth be told... uh, that was kind of an accident. He had meant to be on his way back to Brooklyn, but got stuck in the Bronx talking to a new girl. Not in a bad way, just had meant to get there sooner, and it didn't happen. But he assumed things sort of... worked themselves out in some direction.

And ouch. He couldn't help but flinch at the mention of Prince trying to tell him about her family... and Red already knowing the full story. Oops. "I'm sure I'll hear about that one later... don't sweat that too much," he said with a small nod. He shook his head. He knew he should have told her. Oh well, too late now! "Ya couldn'ta done me a favor and listened to the story and pretended it was new?" he said with a twinge of annoyance, but mostly joking in his voice. "Eh, oh well."

As for being an adult. "You wanna prove you aren't a threat? Show her. Don't tell her. Adults got words for years, kids don't know how to express things with words, so they show. That's the whole point of show and tell... combines stuff they can do with stuff they're learning to do. Brilliant process," he was off topic. "Anyway. I don't care how ya do it, prove to her you're still you... a stupid kid running head first into situations that you usually ain't sure how to get out of. Prove you're you... and she won't care what age you are." Avalanche knew that the kid in Red was still there. It might take some work to get him back out, but once he was it was going to take more work to get him put away again. Avalanche was sure he could do it! He'd have to, if he ever wanted a chance with the Queens girl.