Log:The Holy One Returns

2014/06/04

Paragon Porter Ellbeth 1

Coffee Shop, Bridgend
The smell of fresh coffee is the first thing that assails you. The next is the very old style. It seems the owner has gone for the Edwardian style from early last century. Lots of imitation wood panelling and prints of old English countryside. There are many partitions between the tables, affording some privacy and the sound seems hushed in the room, this has been achieved mainly through very good design, which muffles sounds. At the counter service is quite quick and cheery, conveying a welcoming and friendly attitude. The menu boasts the fact that for a little extra real coffee is served along with light hot and cold meals and snacks. All in all a pleasant place to pass a bit of time.

The Holy One Returns
Porter and Third are deep in conversation when Ellbeth enters the coffee shop...

Porter's lips purse. "Depends on how you look at it? She doesn't have a family family, just her friends... but she never really had a home, either. She's used to just sleeping wherever she curls up, hunting for food, watching TV through windows..."

Third is seated across from Porter with a tablet laying on the table in front of her. She tears off pieces of her carrot muffin and nibbles on them as she chats with him about life and relationships. Reaching for her half-full cappuccino, she sips and then stares at Porter for a moment over the rim of her cup. "You mean...aside from when she's not with you, Fox just...lives on the streets?" It never occured to her before.

Ellbeth comes into the coffee shop walking quite briskly. There's just a nod to Third and Porter as she moves over to the counter and orders a strong black coffee. Her face is set in a frown with more than a hint of sadness.

Third waves a hand to Ellbeth in acknowledgement as she nods to them, but her hand pauses mid-wave as she notices the disturbed look on Ellbeth's face. "That...can't be good..."

"Well, she used to. I'd like to think she's doing it less, now, and she has lots of friends to stay with, but..." Porter's lips stay concerned. Then this brows go surprised at Third's comment and he turns to notice Ellbeth a little late for her wave.

Ellbeth gets her coffee from the barista and drinks it down in two long gulps, scolding hot as it must be. Turning to the table where Porter and Third are seated she asks in a almost pleading tone, "I have a sad duty to perform. Would you be kind enough to keep me company?"

"Of..of course," Third says with her brow knit in worry. "Anything you need," she reassures, waiting to hear the details. She downs the rest of her coffee and leaves her stuff for the staff to clear, then scoops up her small tablet and slides it into her jacket's inside lining pocket.

Porter is surprised when the lady comes over, but Third's already picking up and making room. "Uh... sure... What's wrong?"

Ellbeth explains, "I don't know if you are aware there are sentient rats living in the sewers under the city? They worship Eleven as a God. Which shows they aren't all that sentient. But that's my opinion and not relevant. The leader of the rats is a male named Fafnar. He is dying. He has lived well past a normal lifespan, stubbornly waiting for Eleven to return before he allows himself to die. Eleven is not going to return..."

Third's eyes widen as she remembers the leader rat from years back. "They're still looking for him even now? I was wondering how the rats were doing. I never did find their 'holy one'. I'm sad this Eleven person never came back for them. He was obviously very important to them. Why didn't he?" She had a few run ins with the sentient rats during her first encounter with heroes in Colonial Bay. Her eyes carry a sadness as she thinks of the old rat's health.

Sentient rats? Porter is familiar with weird... but even some things are new to him. So he sits quietly and listens with a look of polite curiosity and 'I have no idea what you are talking about.'

Ellbeth nods. "Eleven was a vigilante. Cold and heartless. I doubt he ever cared. I am going to visit Fafnar. I'm going to cheat. I would not have him die with his greatest wish unfulfilled." A nimbus of light forms and then fades. Where the nimbus had been is a short scowling chinese man with black hair and a long tenchcoat. He looks down and the scowl changes to a sad smile, "I have come, Fafnar." the man says. "You may rest now." Then the man is surrounded again by a nimbus of light and when the light fades he has vanished.

Third's hands slowly curl into fists as she hears about how awful the person the rats worshipped was. When she sees the illusion and finally has a face to match to the name, she purses her lips. "How...how could anyone be so careless?" Third's voice is shakened; heartbroken with a small hint of angry disappointment. She's troubled about whether a lie, even a white lie, is right. But...it seems like the right thing to do in this situation. "What you're doing...is a good thing, Ellbeth. I'm just disappointed the real Eleven couldn't be bothered to do this so you won't have to," she speaks in carefully measured tones to try and control her feelings on the matter.

Porter continues to take it all in. "Guess you don't have to be good guy to have fans. And it's more than he'd do, even if that doesn't sound too hard to do. But that makes it a good thing."

Ellbeth nods to Porter. "I don't feel good about cheating. But I'd feel even worse if I didn't." she tells the pair. "And thank you for agreeing to come. I'd like some company. I don't want to have to face this on my own."

Third smiles sadly. "Of course. I'd like to get to see Fafnar one last time, too."

Third looks to Porter. "You're coming with, right?"

Porter blinks and looks between them. "Uh... you mean right now?" He wasn't exactly expecting a field trip when she asked for company. And definitely not one into the sewers. "Actually, I should be heading home. Normally, I'm up for whatever, whenever... unless it's in the morning, but..." He looks back to Third and smiles sheepishly. "Kind of hoping someone looks for a bed instead of a park bench tonight, and I'd like to be here if she does."

Third smiles softly and nods in understanding. "I gotcha. I hope Fox decides to spend the night with you tonight. Tell her I said hi next time you see her."

Ellbeth nods as Porter explains why he isn't coming. "If you ever need financial help with that situation, Porter, I may not be an Anthony Quinn but I have resources that I can make available to you."

"If you need anything else, though," Porter looks between young and old, "let me know. And I'll let her know. Hopefully soon." He scoots over so he can stand up, then smiles to Ellbeth. "Thanks, but money's not a big deal, or a problem." He gives both ladies a coffee cup salute and heads for the door. Hopeful.

Third waves to Porter as he leaves, hoping he has a good evening. She looks to Ellbeth and offers, "Whenever you're ready."

Ellbeth nods to Third. She starts to make her way out of the coffee shop. "Do the sentient rats know you as Third or as Paragon?" she asks, subtly reminding Third that she isn't in her armor.

Third smiles softly, already thinking on that as she follows. "They wouldn't recognize me without the armor." As soon as they're out of the coffee shop, a look of concentration flitting across her face as her armor rapidly wraps around her, encasing her entire body. "So Paragon, definitely," the mechanized voice says as glowing eyes meet Ellbeth's gaze.

Ellbeth nods, and takes Paragon and herself to a sewer manhole in a series of medium length teleports, called blinks because one moment you're at X and then, blink, you're at Y. She takes a few seconds to fix the location of the manhole in her mind, and then opens it with a TK spell. At the bottom of the shaft is a rat, sitting up on its hind legs and grasping a large darning needle like a sword. The rat squeaks at Paragon and Ellbeth. Only a few of the rats are able to speak English although most can understand.

Paragon gets a little lost as to their location due to the blinks, and before she knows it, they're being met with an adorable armed rat. She takes a knee to bring her face a little closer to the rat's. "Hello, friend. We come in peace," she says in soft, kindly tones, holding her hands up in a peaceful gesture to show she is unarmed.

Ellbeth lets Paragon take the lead, murmuring to Paragon, "Ask if we may be taken to see Fafnar."

Paragon glances up at Ellbeth, a little confused. "I...hardly know much of the denizens here. I just used to bring them food as a gift when I first arrived in the city years ago. But if you insist.." she cranes her head back to the rat and asks respectfully, "We've come to pay our respects to Fafnar. May we see him?"

The rat squeaks and drops to all fours to lead Paragon and Ellbeth through the sewer tunnels to an intersection of three such tunnels. Fafnar is there, white whiskered and trembling, resting on a soft bed of freshly collected grass and scavenged cloth. His voice is frail as he greets first Paragon and then Ellbeth.

Paragon takes a knee beside Fafnar's makeshift bedding. "Hello again, Fafnar. It's been a long time," her voice echoes softly and with fondness.

Ellbeth is glad her mental images spell needs no incantation. She's not sure she could speak an incantation the way her throat catches tight as she looks down on the dying Fafnar clinging so tenaciously to life in the hope of the Holy One's return.

Fafnar bobs his head, "Yes. I have lived long past my years. I have not long now but I still hope the Holy One will return before I go. My people tell me of the food you bring them. We honour you, Paragon. I declare now, you are Rat. You are one of us." The rats sitting around Fafnar all bob heads in agreement.

Paragon smiles sadly behind her faceplate. "Thank you for that honor, Fafnar," she says with gratitude mixed with pride. It was not what she expected at all. She glances at Ellbeth, wondering how to go about this and what her plan is. She looks back to Fafnar and says softly, "I remember years ago, you were faithfully waiting for the Holy One's return. You've kept the faith, and taken care of your people."

Ellbeth casts the mental images spell. She is concerned that Fafnar is in far worse condition than she expected, even knowing that he was dying. If she waits any longer it may be too late.

A nimbus of light appears and fades to show a short chinese man with black hair and long tench-coat. The man is scowling when he appears but the scowl turns to a sad smile as he kneels down beside Fafnar. "I have come, Fafnar." the man says. "You may rest now." Then the man is surrounded again by a nimbus of light and when the light fades he has vanished.

The rats around Fafnar squeak and chitter excitedly. Fafnar raises his head with eyes suddenly bright. "The Holy One came!" he says in awe. And then he relinquishes his grip on life and slumps down unmoving on the rags and grass.

A tear runs down Paragon's cheek, hidden away by the helm. "Goodbye, Fafnar. Rest in peace," she says in a soft and steady voice, glad that the illusion granted his final wish.

Ellbeth rests a hand on Paragon's shoulder. BLINK! Paragon and Ellbeth appear back on the street at the manhole cover. Ellbeth can't hold back any longer. She starts sobbing openly.

Paragon rises up to her feet slowly and turns to Ellbeth. Does what she does best and acts as the strong one for the moment, stepping forward and hugging Ellbeth. She holds her gently and says soothingly, confidently, "You did a good thing for him. I think you made him very happy."

'''(editor note: apologies to Eleven's player for portraying Eleven as the cold hard uncaring persona he presented to the world rather than the more sensitive caring person he was underneath that false shell.)