ArchivedLogs:War of Attrition

War of Attrition
Dramatis Personae Emma, Parley
In Absentia	2014-01-12 (Part of Prometheus TP.)
Location <NYC> American Museum of Natural History - Upper West Side
It's absurdly warm out, in a continuation of New York's freakweather, and like spring grass, it's coaxed out the people of the city in droves, all the more frenzied to resume /normal/ past time activities after the PROLONGED stress that started... well, with the zombie outbreak, if not earlier. It'd probably depend who you asked. The American Museum of Natural History is virtually packed, the clean air warm and somehow ancient with its majestic high ceilings, marble floors, neat yet organically laid out displays, and even here fresh scars can be felt amongst the population. Security has been increased, and parties that travel together remain more often bunched together like schools of fish. It makes for easier navigating, in some ways, for those attending alone. Parley is in casual off-work clothes, a loose gray hoodie with a black turtleneck collar fastened around his neck, emerging just now from an exhibit studying biofluorescence marine life, stepping to one side to consult a brochure. Nearsightedness requires he lift his glasses /up/ to have clearer vision of the text. A warmer Sunday has brought Emma Frost out of seclusion and sent her to the Natural History Museum for an excuse to stretch her legs while taking in the grounding knowledge that the world has been around for a whole hell of a lot longer than the human race -- and what the last ice age might have looked like. She is dressed for the very confused temperatures in a knee length, white skirt with paling hosiery underneath. On her feet are dark boots that cut off right below her ankle, keeping her feet as clean as possible. Over her torso is a Burberry trench coat in cream with a simple white blouse underneath. She makes her way around the crowds, coincidentally alone, just like Parley. She barely spares him a glance as she moves to a placard ten feet away from his position, looking at but not really reading the text. Instead, she flexes a telepathic hello against his mental senses. Parley turns over the brochure to consult the map on the back, raising his eyes for a moment to study the far wall and directional indicators to confirm his position. Mentally - he ripples a warm purr, shimmering along the touch and picking up little glint-reflections of Emma's diamond-sharp mind like snowflakes that spiral in through an open window. << have (you seen) the (fish?) >> Though semi-taunting, flicking into a lack of substance that might /drop/ whatever counterpressure he'd just a moment before been holding up to Emma's touch, it's possibly a little /genuine/ with interest. << they (glow.) i knew (a girl) that (glowed.) >> The subtle suggestion that she is probably DEAD NOW doesn't really seem more than a footnote. << Glowing fish, dear? And here I was partially hoping you were inviting me to lunch, >> Emma's mind registers her stomach grumbling at the mention of fish, her attention drifting back to Parley moments later. << How are you, dear Parley. I've missed you, (young one) >> She moves on a little, her fingers holding lightly on to a clutch, elegant knuckles pressuring the clasp until it opens and she can load up the mobile information app on her phone. << (i don't know) a (place) that (serves glowing fish.) >> Parley admits, so innocently. Letting Emma's sense of stomach-rumble echo back to her. << (shall i)(fish one out for you?) >> This comes with a mental image of him crouched up at the top of a large fishtank, sleeves rolled back to thrust his arm up to the armpit into the water and HOOK around after fluorescent fishies. He comes away from the corner he'd been standing in and, folding brochure to cram into a pocket, begins a loose drift towards the stairs that lead down towards the food court. His destination is trailed to Emma with no solid word-shapes. << (busy)(as expected.)(you've heard) about (the arrests)(i'm sure.) >> He slows when a tour group of young children cut across his path, three haggard middle-aged women trying to keep the gaggle in some sort of organized chaos. << and (seen the videos.) >> << I have heard and seen all of that which you mention, >> Emma replies quietly, her mind sifting through the information. She waits a few minutes before starting to follow. << The videos were a nice touch. It's welcome to see the fact that the government is at least responding to them. I have a mind to see if there is any way to ensure this will happen. >> She is already searching through the menus of offerings in the food court, overpriced as they are. << I should ask what your involvement is, first, so I do not step on any toes. >> << (this is) mostly (Tessier's work.) >> Parley answers, << (my toes) have been (clear) before (the stepping.) he has (Micah Zedner)(wound) quite (obedient) to him. >> his mindvoice for a brief moment bright with the balloons and bubble-gum pops and inane play-pretend chatter of the myriad childminds drifting past him like in kaleidoscopic rolls of color and then drifting drab and gray again as they pass out of range. << (i don't think) the (government) has (much choice.) >> He's travels forward again. << (the bane of democracy) is (public opinion)(isn't it?) >> There's a hint - of some other thought. It makes no attempt to hide itself from Emma. Just one paper on the stack. What he whips out first, at seeming random, << (did you know)(Selene Gallio)(is a mutant?) >> << Yes. Telepath of some type. She tripped over Lucien before she noticed me at the New Years Eve Gala at The Hellfire Club, >> Emma elucidates, taking in the psionic candy of geographical impressions around Parley. She inhales deeply and heads down the stairs now that Parley has cleared the immediate area. << He's so good with people, >> her mind attaches this partially to why he is able to spin public opinion so well with the videos, << but she was rude and invasive, rather clumsy, all things considered. >> She pauses as she sets her sights on the cafe that has a delightful cheese plate (go there!) and queries, << How do you know of her? >> << (he)(has a beautiful knack) >> Parley purrs, curling fingers around a tray in the court yard and branching off to collect silverware, a napkin, pausing to sniff appreciatively at the soup bar, << (for making) people (crave his approval.)(at just a glance.) >> And in the same sentence, slightly grimmer but without apology. << (i saw her)(last night.) >> Slowly blossoming open is an offered memory, crystaline with sparkling night-rain, reflecting distant street lights. Dark shapes in an alley. A muffled keening; a glowing pair of red eyes. << (more) than (just a telepath.)(i would hazard.) >> Emma hovers still, appearing to look over the posted menus now, making a final decision which line to get into. << Really. >> She is quiet as she processes the images that Parley holds, absorbing information from the sensations and input he collected. << Interesting. I could have sworn I sensed something predatory about her that night, but most of the people in the club have that flavor. >> She selects her section of food offerings and opts for one of the small bottles of wine, a white, not very old, but crisp and clean. Then she heads for the fruit and cheese plate. << It's an interesting world we walk in, isn't it? Full of gods and monsters, power and hunger. >> She inhales lightly as she heads to the register to make her purchase. << And you're right. Lucien walks it well. I fear he may walk it better than all of us. >> << (a remarkably humble statement) for (Emma Frost.) (i don't) >> Parley fills a cup of coffee and shifts sideways for cream, /precise/ in his manner of spooning and stirring. You'd almost think he enjoyed breaking the spines of creamripples and whisking them into uniformity, << (believe in gods.) >> He pulls away to consult the dessert buffet; small squares of green lime fluff on oreo crust? He will take two. And a mango tart. Ice cream alongside. And sprinkles. Hot fudge. << (i have a thought.) >> << I don't know if it's humility or realism. >> Emma counters, her card returned to her quickly after payment. She takes her plastic cup, wrapped plate, and bottle of wine and moves to the seating area, picking a seat where no one else is. << I don't believe in gods either. It's just an artistic way to acknowledge the gap between different power structures. >> She unscrews the lid on her bottle and pours herself half a glass, settling in and removing the covering from her snack. << Tell me your idea. >> << (are the two)(mutually exclusive?) >> Parley inquires distractedly, adding a soup side with many crackers, and paying once clarifying his presence at the counter with a gentle rap of knuckles alongside the register. The previous topic seems to him beside the point, as he moves on, taking a seat at a different table where his hoodied back, formally upright in posture from behind, faces Emma. << (this )(...open campaign) against (Prometheus) >> He slices out a neat bite of green fluff with a fork, ducking his head to claim it. << (only really continues) so long as (public opinion)(is interested.)(mnh.) (it's more) a (war of attrition)(for them.) a steady (lack of development) is really (all they need)(to win.) >> He prods at a cakebit, pushes it aside. << (and even) if it (comes up again)(later) ... it will (no longer) be (unpresedented.) >> He scoops up a bite of crust alone and, as though changing conversation abruptly, says: << (i am thinking)(of opening) a (memorial fund.) >> << A memorial fund? >> Emma considers quietly, sipping at her wine and then stacking cheese with cracker. She takes a bite and then pulls out her cell phone to give herself something to do. << Interesting. It would be hard to keep videos flowing - both on the victims and the viewers. A lot of them were harsh enough to shut down the reception. Their saving grace is that it is new and shocking. >> She is silent for a moment, contemplative, before asking, << are we talking about a physical memorial? >> << (too much)(unrelenting horror) >> Parley agrees, tapping his fork against the side of his plate three slow beats, << (over-saturates)(with time.)(now,) >> He pulls his coffee in, to bathe his cheeks in the steam with eyes closing. << (we need healing.) (mn -a memorial.)(yes, eventually.) it will take (funding.)(time.)(...exposure.) >> His other hand shifts into motion, eventually, to recollect his fork and hunt down another bite. << (to start,) a (collection) of the (names of people lost.) >> NOM. << (to start) the (remembrance.) >> He ducks slightly to the left, to admit a large man trying to walk past him, and sits back up again. << (and begin) a (first real body count) for (this mess.) >>