Hope & Namor | Monday Afternoon

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Hope and Namor see who can make the other more colorful on Holi.

Quickly she dusted the green powder of her dress, before peeking around the door in the corridor. She still was not sure who had just hit her, but considering she had not gotten that much ammunition she did not just want to throw any right in the hallway.

The figure headed down the hall was thus-far unmolested by Holi tradition. He was dressed in a crisp, collared shirt and slacks — Namor didn't quite understand the lack of effort Americans put into their appearance. It was a matter of pride to look impeccable at all times even while on Spring Break. In his opinion, it was more important to look presentable when everyone else felt the need to slouch around casually. You never could know who you'd run into.

Yet it wasn't exactly a "who" he would come face to face with one in five, four, three...

She hastily pulled back as she recognized the figure coming down the hall. Her hand almost automatically reached for one of the pouches of powder she had on her. She should not... she knew it would an affront to his dignity and probably enlarge the animosity between them.

It didn't matter. Hope firmly stamped down that inner voice, gave in to the mischievous urge and leaned around the door, letting the pouch full of bright yellow powder fly.

This was followed by an undignified yelp, a mumbled Portuguese swear, and the sort of anxious laughter unique to someone who cannot believe what just happened.

Hurriedly Hope covered her mouth to silence her giggles and very cautiously she peeked around the corner, almost bursting in a new set of giggles as she saw the formerly so dignified Attilani dancing around to get the powder of him.

Yet as soon as Hope came around the corner, Namor froze with a deer in headlights expression. "Miss Abbott," he stated flatly while pulling himself together. This only resulted in a yellow streak through his hair as he used a hand to push it out of face.

"Good afternoon, your lordship." Hope politely nodded at him, though her eyes twinkled and she still fought to keep the smile of her face. "How do you do today?"

The flatness in his tone painted his features with an equal amount of dispassion. He raised an eyebrow and made the pointed gesture of looking down at his shirt. The left shoulder and pocket area were covered in the yellow pigment. It did not complement the red and blue plaid.

Hope tilted her head, still trying to maintain an innocent look on her face. "Why, did you not know it is Holi today? We often remember the holiday in an informal way, since we do have some people here from that background."

"There are technically three holidays today. Are you going to pelt me with shamrocks?"

"I am afraid I do not have any shamrocks, but if you are desirous of an St. Patrick's Day type of appearance I can certainly oblige you." Hope pulled a pouch with powder from her pocket. "I think this color resembles kelly green at least somewhat."

He sighed. "Clint got me with a green balloon this morning. Do you have any carpet cleaner in one of those pouches?"

"I am afraid not." Hope shook her head mournfully. "The dye in the powder is stubborn one though. You might have to give up on both sets of clothes. As a word to the wise, do not change again."

"How reckless," Namor stated dismissively. He started unbuttoning his shirt. "My shirt is not the only casualty here. The carpet is also a victim."

"The carpets have handled it before and they probably will again. We all join in with clean up as well. As much as possible at least." Hope finally let her smile out. "It's supposed to be fun."

Namor had finished with his shirt, carefully folding it as to minimize the amount of stray yellow powder that could escape onto the carpet. He tried to not think about his slacks. "I was taught that one should clean up their own messes."

Hope shook her head and politely averted her eyes from his bare upper body as she struggled against the blush that rose. "I think you are missing the point here, your lordship."

Too late. Namor smirked at her rosy discomfort, sinuously closing the personal space between them. "Then tell me what the point is, Princess."

Restraining the urge to fidget and pulling her composure around her like a cloak once more (this kept happening around him), she met his eyes. "I do believe I just mentioned it, your lordship. Or would you like me to inform you of the cultural and religious meaning of the Holi festival?" She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Holi is a love festival marking the beginning of spring," Namor stated dismissively. He rolled his shoulders, attempting to bait more of a blush with the display of muscle. "New beginnings and so on."

"Quite right." Hope raised her other eyebrow at the display, but managed to keep from blushing any more. "A victory from good over evil as well, if you look at the story of Holika. Well remembered, your lordship." She primly folded her hands behind her back, the pouch with green powder still firmly in one of them.

"Is that how you see it? What a way to remove all the passion. Morality can be so bland." He leaned in, challenge in his eyes. "Are you looking for a new beginning, or just making messes you don't want to clean up?"

"I do not think it has to be either or. Perhaps both passion and morality can have a place." She remained stubbornly neutral in her reply, challenge simmering in her eyes as her fingers worked steadily behind her back.

"That is not an answer, Miss Abbott."

"Neither of those I am afraid. I am simply having a good time." With those words she stepped back, her hand quickly aiming the half open pouch at the middle of his chest. The result was a lovely bright green cloud that covered the man before her and Hope quickly took another small step back.

Namor went shock straight as the bomb hit. His eyes flashed with anger, but this was largely obscured by the quickly clearing cloud of green dust. In the seconds it took to dissipate, that flare had resolved into another type of menace altogether. "Looks like you've made another mess," Namor reprimanded lightly as his hands went to unfasten stained belt at his waist. "Screw morality. Let's experiment with the passion part of the festival instead."

Hope only caught the barest flash of his briefs before she spun around, turning her back to him. Bright red color flamed on her cheeks as she exclaimed: "Are you insane!?!"

A rather nice loafer, albeit now a little yellow and green, was kicked past her.

"Never mind, I do not have to ask." Hope muttered to herself as she folded her arm. "I already know." She studiously ignored both loafers being kicked past her, a second one joining the first.

"Princess, it is a festival of color." This was accompanied by a slow unzipping.

"Yes, definitely insane." Hope muttered to herself. "Do you truly have to do that here?" She called out. "What if someone passes by... Like Molly." She quickly mentioned the name of her most innocent fellow students.

"We ran into each other at the lake the other day. She didn't turn red at all." There was a smirk with this on Namor's part along with more draw out unzipping.

"That was swimming. This is... well... this!"

The zipping stopped. There was a cling as the belt hit the floor. "That's awfully vague. Now let's see who is more colorful."

Okay... definitely time for a tactical retreat... Hope threw a very quick peek over her shoulder, before calling out: "I need to get my books for my next class. Good luck with cleaning up, your lordship." And off she was.

Namor's smug grin was ear to ear as she made her exit, and persisted as he reclaimed his pants. Perhaps there was something to this holiday after all.