Log:Princesses' Guard Revived, Scene 11

Princesses' Guard Revived 2014/04/05 	 Ghost Pelana

11

Past Times Coffee Shop
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.

Ripples in the Lake
Ghost is already seated in the coffee shop, at a corner table, before the time when a meeting has been arranged with Pelana. Her laptop is open on the table beside a cup of hot chocolate. A thin wire from the laptop is plugged into a socket behind Ghost's ear, with Ghost's hair pushed back to expose it.

Pelana heads into the shop. Grand Central for the metahuman community around here, or at least that portion that doesn't go in for pumping serious iron. In a nod towards this being a 'job interview', of a sort, she's even wearing a conservative blouse and slacks, although the slacks have been cut to calf-length thanks to the horns on her shins. She looks around, sees Ghost, and heads in that direction.

Ghost looks up as a shadow passes across her face. You might even think she picked the table and chair so such a shadow would pass across her face if anyone approached. "Hello, Pelana. Spot on time I see. There's a tab open at the counter. Grab yourself a drink and come back when you have."

Pelana does so - a soft drink - and she slips in at the table. "Alright, well, now. This might not be a casting call, but I imagine it's not totally dissimilar. Where do we start?"

Ghost holds up a hand, "Give me a couple of moments to finish coding this search worm, please." She requests. A lack of animation comes to Ghost's face for six or seven seconds. Then she stretches and unplugs the wire from her cyberjack socket. "I think we start by me explaining the objectives of the Princesses' Guard team, then ask you a few question. After which it will be your turn to ask me any questions you have. But first of all, I have one question that is probably the most important one I'll be asking. Are you ready?"

Pelana looks a little puzzled. "Is that the important question? I mean, it's a bit of an anticlimax. But if you mean, 'Am I ready for the important one', ask away."

Ghost chuckles, "And a sense of humor. We're off to a good start." She straightens up in her chair and looks more serious. "Are you willing to face the hostility, probably overt and extreme hostility, that you will likely face at the start if you join the team. Will you be able to deal with that without slamming the aggressor through the nearest wall?"

Pelana frowns. "Hostility from who, though? I kind of gathered what you do, but what, they got some kind of anti-dragon bias? And, well, I probably can. I won't promise that they might not get flicked on the nose. And when *I* flick, you know it."

Ghost says, "The most traumatic event in the history of the fae is their being driven out of their original realms, their home dimension, during the Dragon Wars. The Dragon Wars caused the greatest loss of fae lives ever experienced by the fae. And fae live forever if they aren't killed by accident or in battle. There are still fae alive in Undermoon who fought in the Dragon Wars. And, well, I don't have to hold a mirror up do I? That's where the hostility will come from. Not the members of the team. But the fae on Undermoon."

Pelana ahs. "Even though I'm half-human, and don't know a thing about dragons. Hell, one reason this interested me was to see if I could get any more information about... what I am. What I can do. Then again, I guess maybe the half-human bit is what might make them tolerate me even that much, huh?"

Ghost nods. "Yes. I have pledged my honor and loyalty to Princess Stephanie, our sponser, and the royal family. But even I will admit that the fae can be the most stubbon, unreasonable, ultra conservative asses you'll ever have the misfortune to meet. It's taken a long time for them to start accepting Princess Stephanie as a legitimate member of the royal family because she is half-human. It is likely going to take them an even longer time to accept you as anything other than a hated Dragon. Half dragon or not. So you'll face challenges that the rest of the team won't. You will need to be sure you can face those challenges, although you won't have to face them alone. If you are in the team your team-mates will also be there supporting you.

Pelana shrugs. "I can let my actions speak for me. Besides, a lot of this job is here on Earth, yeah? Sort of the embassy bodyguard, as I understood it. So it's not always an issue, just when you're 'back home', yeah?"

Ghost nods. "Yes, you can let your actions speak for you. And you're right. Some, possibly most, of our activities will take place on Earth here. If you want to avoid the hostility you could forgo the benefits of the Embassy facilities and take part only in those activities which occur on Earth. Alternatively, you could, if accepted, be a full member of the team and deal with whatever hostility you'll face. My personal preference would be the latter. Having you in the team would be like dropping a boulder into a lake. There will be ripples everywhere. And frankly, it would do the fae good to have a few ripples stirring up a rather stagnant culture." Ghost smiles, "Please don't tell anyone I said that."

Pelana grins. "On the bright side, those fae types like beauty an' such, right? An' y'know, while I'm not exactly like SOME, I mean, I don't get many complaints. Maybe it'll help a little. You know. Havin' curves behind those scales.

Ghost says, "We can always hope. But, and I mean no disrespect Pelana, Princess Stephanie is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen and she's had a difficult enough time in being accepted.... However, let me move on to our mission statements; the official one and the one we're going to follow. Our official mission is to provide protection to Princess Stephanie and her immediate family, the fae ambassador to Earth Princess Liandere and her husband Quentin Dallimore, and to protect the Embassy and fae interests in Colonial Bay City. That's the official mission. It is not, however, the mission Princess Stephanie wants us to perform.""

Ghost continues...

Ghost says, "Princess Stephanie wishes the team to function as a hero team, akin to the hero teams she was a member of before she travelled to Undermoon and was acknowledged as the King's grand-daughter. I'm the team leader at the moment and I will respect the Princesses' wishes. Our first prority will be the protection of the Princess. But when that is not an immediate issue the team will function as a hero team, in a manner like Spirit of Justice, Starguard Gamma, and others."

Pelana nods, sips her drink, and leans back, wings spreading out a bit so they don't get pinched between her back and the chair. "And how often do the two things come up, do you figure? I mean, is the Princess often in trouble?"

Ghost chuckles, "The Princess can probably take care of herself. She was after all a heroine for years before becoming a Princess. And she has a sizable guard escort with her at all times. Princess Liandere... she was enspelled for a while by Palanir the Traitor. During that time the entirety of Undermoon was terrified of her. She is probably more capable of looking after herself than the full team put together. Quentin Dallimore rarely leaves the Embassy grounds, and the embassy guard has been strengthened since attacks were made on it. At this time there is a threat against the Princess, and another of the fae. But that is an exceptional circumstance. I would estimate the vast majority of our activites will be working as a hero team, not bodyguarding."

Pelana ahs. "More for the looks of the thing, and because no matter how powerful you are, you can only be in one place at a time. Well. For most of us, anyway. I can deal with it. So... I guess I'm ready for the interview."

Ghost nods, "I recall you are strong and tough. And I recall you retain that when shrunk?"

Pelana smirks. "Yep. Really, the main things I gain from being big is leverage. Lot harder to hit me, small, since I've got fifty feet of muscle driving six feet of body, in a way."

Ghost nods, "Conversely, much easier to hit you with ranged weapons when you are large. Obviously you have the abilities to be a contributing member of the team. I have to ask though, are you a team player? Are you capable of working cooperatively with your potential team mates instead of insisting on doing your 'own' thing?"

Pelana pauses. "You know what I did before I went straight and became an actress, right? Now, most of it was pretty small-time stuff... and it was before I grew to the size of a building, too. But I was definitely closer to the witless minion end of the scale than the villainous mastermind, alright?"

Ghost smiles, "We don't want witless minions, Pelana. I'd hope you keep your wits about you and act with initiative when needed. But also in a way that integrates with the efforts of the other team members. Now... it's your turn to ask questions."

Pelana nods. "Okay, first one, why me? You might expect, I've had some tough times, getting taken seriously. The acting brings in money, but it's not exactly crime-fighting cred, and before was even worse. So seems to me you either need muscle that badly, or maybe you WANT someone who can be a little bit scary, when she wants to be."

Ghost says, "There's three answers to that question. In no particular order. We don't have the numbers I'd like in the team as yet. Few of the current members can devote their full time so although the roster looks good not everyone can make every mission. Secondly, you expressed an interest. I'm happy to give you an opportunity to grow into the hero role no matter, or even because of, your background. Lastly, having you in the team will stir up the fae like a stick in a pot of paint, and in the long run that will be good for the fae. They are far too insular."

Pelana hms. "You mentioned, yes. But just 'cause I'm on the straight an' narrow, doesn't mean I don't know real good ways to smile disarmingly and make it real hintable that I could break a leg if I don't get cooperation, you bet. I just try not to actually let it get to the leg-breakin' these days. So... I was interested, in part, because... look, you know about me. I want to know MORE about me."

Ghost shakes her head sadly, "I really don't know if we'll be able to help. You don't have to join the team to get whatever help we can provide. But I don't think you are related in any way to the Dragons that the fae have records off. For a start, I can still sense the normal faint Mana field of Earth. The Dragons of fae history were manavores. They drained Mana from wherever they were. Which, given the fae dependance on magic was reason enough for the Wars."

Pelana ahs. "I'm dependent, but so far as I can tell, I don't devour it... it's more like breathing air, I need it, but not so much that whatever natural process restores it doesn't have time to do its thing. So you think they might not be so much a help. I was kind of hoping for a 'know your enemy' there. On the other hand... I'm not a full dragon, either!"

Ghost says, "Have you spoken to Chen Li. Or to Aurica?"

Pelana shakes her head. "I've had 'em recommended, but they're scary customers to track down. And that's ME saying it."

Ghost says, "You can also try speaking to Liam and Sasha. They are mages of skill, power, and knowledge."

Pelana shrugs. "I've heard of 'em, yeah. I imagine even if I ain't the dragons they know, I mean, dragon. The name practically MEANS scary monster lizard. Now, I admit, in some ways I'm a little bit there, but really, all I am is big."

Ghost nods. "Well, Titan and Harlequin have vetos on new team members, but honestly I can't see any problems from either of them." She puts out a hand, "Provisionally, welcome to the Princesses' Guard team if you want in."

Pelana extends her own. Her grip is firm, certainly, but she has control over her strength; no attempts at bone-crushing ensue. "I'll take it. Might be a moment to wrap up my affairs, if you need me at short notice."