Welcome to Gaia! ::

It had been almost a week since he'd found The Note waiting for him and while he was still extremely hurt and pissed off (and planning various ways in which he might make his displeasure known to the offending party) but he was also working towards focusing the anger into something less self-destructive and more constructive. Like getting back to dancing with Paris on a paired routine they'd been working on instead of endlessly patrolling and trying to get into as many fights (powered or otherwise) as humanly possible.

So he'd sent her a text and invited her to join him in one of the practice rooms available to dancers with the Destiny City Ballet Company; they'd worked out the details and decided that today would be the day. Colin waited for the ballerina outside the theater, not because she didn't know her way around or anything like that, but because it was the polite thing to do - and no matter how pissed he might have been at his fella, he wasn't going to take it out on one of his friends.

Paris would find him there, leaning against one of the trees planted for the 'beautifcation' of Destiny City's side walks, in dark skinny jeans and a navy peacoat over a Star-Trek themed T-shirt, his dance bag on the ground at his Converse-clad feet, ear-buds in his ears, blotting out the sounds of the world around him while he scowled down at his phone like it offended him.

Colin would have been utterly horrified to hear about what happened to Paris; perhaps some day she would confide in him, but at the very least it was a good step forward that she was leaving the security of her home to go out. A sign that she was healing, moving past allowing the horrific experience limit her life quite so much.

When the ballerina came close enough that he caught her approach in his peripheral vision, he looked up while tugging the tiny headphones from his ears and smiled back at her. She was pale and wan, as though something very trying had happened to her - smudges that accentuated the new sadness behind her bright eyes. "Hey beautiful!" He wasn't exactly a prize himself, with the same sort of smudges under his eyes that said he wasn't sleeping well and a slump to his shoulders that hinted at carried sadness.

Shoving his phone into a jacket pocket he moved forward to give the petite blond his preferred means of greeting, albeit a bit more carefully than he might have otherwise. Hugging Paris wasn't any big thing, but he had a feeling that taking it easy on her would be more appropriate than picking her up and spinning her around. "Ready to pretend I'm working while you make me look good, more like."

The danseur leaned down and scooped up the strap of his bag, settling it onto his shoulder as he straightened and started off into the building, "We'll be on the second floor in the far practice room this time." He preferred that one, it caught the light really well when it was sunny and didn't have a piano taking up space (if they wanted music it'd be digital rather than live). Plus it was furthest from the biggest practice areas, so they didn't have to worry about getting distracted by someone else's music while working. "So how've you been doing? How're things with Chris?"

That his friend wasn't entirely her usual, sun-shiny self wasn't lost on Colin, but he didn't want to press her for information that she might not be ready or willing to divulge. "You're hair's awfully cute like that, when'd you get it done?" Generally speaking, asking a lady about her most recent hair style (or make-up) was a 'safe' topic...he had no idea just how weighted it could be for Paris, though he would have been utterly horrified to learn it was - and most especially if he was told why.

"You know, if you get lonely without Chris you can always call me up. I'd be happy to come by and watch bad movies while doing our nails." Was Colin into dressing like a lady? No. Was Colin totally fine with nail polish and the like? Yes. Yes he was. "Oh, I'm...doing mostly okay. He's still not back yet and I miss him like crazy. I'm just trying to keep busy, you know?"

The way he said it could possibly cause Paris to infer that he meant busy with civilian stuff and senshi stuff. Some not-so-small talk while they made their way to their practice room; Colin unlocked it with a key he'd been given and held the door open for Paris. "After you."

Paris really didn't seem happy about the fact that her hair had been cut despite the fact that the end result was actually quite fetching on her. It wasn't something that he could figure out without asking but she really didn't seem comfortable with discussing whatever the cause of the damage that necessitated the aforementioned salon visit.

"Well, whatever the reason, it really does look good on you while you're waiting for it to grow back out." They both had that tendency, to deal with things and hurts on their own if at all possible and to just move on..but sometimes one just needed to trust, to find a caring shoulder. "Can I ask...how it was damaged? Or would you rather not talk about it?"

With the downturn her expression and body language had taken with the hair conversation, it was nice to see it change and brighten at his offer. "I am totally fine with that, you've got my info - use it whenever, okay? I know what it's like." It had been very lonely when he left for Battlesea and if he hadn't been banned from communicating with anyone but his mother he might have worn out his welcome with his friends from it.

"Yes! We should - it was so much fun last time!" Her idea of visiting a honkytonk bar was met with excitement and bright eyes; clearly he found the idea appealing and fun. "I'm so there. I think I can borrow some cowboy boots." There were reasons they got along so well...and it seemed a love of hokey s**t was one of them.

She would definitely not have to be alone - or bored - while Chris was off doing things she couldn't participate in. Colin was a fantastic person to do those sorts of things with, because while he was very affectionate and friendly he was also the sort of person that would do his best to respect your boundaries. And get between you and anyone else that wasn't.

Paris' question caused him to quirk a brow in her direction - the thing they both knew but didn't talk about. Being senshi. He nodded, lips curving to smile though he was slightly wary because of her odd manner. "How could I forget. Is something the matter?" Following her into the room, he went and set his dance bag down and started toeing off his street shoes. Might as well keep busy, right? It was often easier to talk while doing things - or while the other party was doing things - than it was if they were staring expectantly at you...as long as you made sure your companion knew you were paying attention.

Which he was. 'Some of us were held captive...' Stopped him still and he looked over at her, straightening and frowning with concern. Colin's stomach dropped - Paris and her husband? Chris was...like them. "Sweet Jesus, Paris...I had no idea. I...Jesus Paris, that's --." And there he went, being the big brother type, the concerned friend, the guy who would put his arms around you because you looked sad and a hug might help.

Paris would end up in a hug while he had the most shocked and horrified expression on his face. Held captive. By the Negaverse. And they were notoriously cruel with things like that...he'd heard stories whispered - he didn't need to see the atrocities. He could see how affected his friend was, it was enough. "God I'm so sorry, you didn't deserve that." Nobody ever does. No wonder she's so...ugh, bastards!