Aqua's visit to the Hellfire Club (open)

[Aqua]

He didn't strike her as a Gypsy, but that meant very little with the combinations mutant genes could play, and besides, she actually knew very little about his family and wouldn't dare ask as yet, feeling she didn't know him well enough to afford such questions.

"Oh," Emily said, "now I understand. And I also understand why that period was so valuable to you."

[Pietro Maximoff]

::Pietro nodded slightly in response to her words. His most cherished childhood memories came from the time he and Wanda lived with the Maximoffs. When they had returned to Europe it had been necessary for their own sanity to immerse themselves in that culture. As though shedding the last vestiges of Magneto's influence before they set out on their own.:: "And after that, we traveled all over Europe keeping to ourselves."

[Aqua]

"That must have been some wonderful traveling," Emily said, her eyes lighting up with fascination.

[Pietro Maximoff]

::Pietro's expression softened slightly at the fond memories.they had been left to themselves, not judged for the most part during that time. And as far as adult memories, they were his happiest, although they were also most of the adult memories he had.:: "It truly was."

[Aqua]

Emily noticed the minute change in his expression and smiled in response. "Now I even feel glad I asked," she said.

[Pietro Maximoff]

::Pietro had been content in Europe, traveling with Wanda. He would have been happy to do it until the both married and settled in a house together in a village somewhere. That was until Magneto had ruined their lives, yet again, drawing them back here. Despite the stress, he thought they had adjusted well enough.:: "Don't be afraid to ask questions."

[Aqua]

"I wouldn't want to cross any lines," Emily admitted. "Sometimes my curiosity runs too far ahead of me." And she'd already learned to keep her mouth shut on many occasions while she'd been living at Xavier's mansion - a skill no doubt more useful in life than a skill of not being afraid to ask questions she'd later regret.

[Pietro Maximoff]

::Pietro could appreciate that on one level. There was no reason to cross lines unnecessarily; he valued his own privacy and tried to respect that of others. Still, it had to be a true respect for privacy and not a fear of angering those around her. Respect was healthy; fear was not.:: "Just do not fear rejection everywhere."

[Aqua]

"That's the second time today you're talking me out of being afraid," Emily noticed. "Must be a pretty bad case."

[Pietro Maximoff]

::Pietro was almost amused by the comment. Not quite, for he saw echoes of seriousness within it. Not to mention shadows of children long grown in her place.:: "Not quite. I'm attuned to it."

[Aqua]

"That certainly makes me think there's hope for me yet," Emily said thoughtfully as she studied the contents of her bag with pastry. She took one piece of something with vanilla cream on it and bit it slowly, enjoying the taste.

[Pietro Maximoff]

"There is," ::Pietro agreed. He didn't take interest in the hopeless, and Emily had many good qualities. With some work, she would be able to see herself for who she was.::

[Aqua]

Emily raised her eyes at him. "I don't know how you do it, but I tend to believe everything you say," she said. She was generally very gullible and knew that little fault of hers all too well, but with Pietro it exceeded the limits she thought possible.

[Pietro Maximoff]

::Pietro's lips curled into a thin smile at that. He did not often hear that from others. Either she had perception or she trusted him. Whichever it was, he was grateful.:: "I do not lie."

[Aqua]

If he didn't lie about not lying, that was certainly a reason to feel safer around him. Emily gave a smile in return. "Me, neither," she said, "but just because I'm an extremely bad actress and my lies are always rendered useless by their obviousness - so I've learned to not even attempt."