Strangers in the Park
| Strangers in the Park | |
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| Players | Washington Park Ben and Cori meet, recognize each other as one of the Lost, and talk for a bit in the park that gives the neighborhood its name. |
It's chill outside as Summer goes through its last weeks and most people are outside, doing chores, working or just enjoying the night. One of those is a middle aged man in his 40s in a running outfit. He's not running, though, he's just resting on a bench, glancing around, tapping his foot along a song that's only on his ming, most probably. There is nothing remarkable about the man, not for afar, at least. A closer inspection shows that it is not just a Lost, but a member of the beloved Spring court. Washington Park - the actual park that gives the neighborhood its name - is cloaked in shadow between patches of light from the streetlamps lining it. Sitting on a bench facing Turning Leaf Center is a young woman of small stature with a scavenged outfit consisting of jeans and oversized shoes wrapped in duct tape for her lower body with an old, faded plaid shirt under a threadbear army surplus jacket with obvious places where old patches had been which now stand out darker for the now missing patches having minimized its exposure to the sun. Sitting there eating a hot dog she somehow acquired - likely from the shelter across the street - Cori watches the occasional passer-by who seem to ignore her more often than not. She also stands out to those who know what to look for as being a Beast, one of the Lost but with no signs of a seasonal mantle. At some point, Ben looks around and sees another of his kind, just in front of a place that he's familiar with. He narrows his eyes to have a better look and then he grins to himself before standing up and heading to where the new face is sitting."Hi. It's a really lovely night to be out and about, don't you agree?" He says very gently and then he offers a warm smile as the scent of flowers spreads around. Turning her head towards Ben, Cori takes a deep breath as she embraces the welcoming scene and slowly gives a hesitant smile which could be interpreted as being shy even if it might not be. She finishes the bite that was in her mouth, nodding as she does. "Yes," she replies with a complete lack of coquettishness. "You're one of the pretty ones, aren't you?" she asks with a slight narrowing of her eyes and a slight tilt of her head away from Ben. Ben grins and nods."Yes, I am. So do you, in your own way, right?" He says gently."Are you a newcomer? I don't recall seeing you around before. At least not around here. I'm Benedict Pearson, Doctor of the Spring Court. And I volunteer there." There being the Turning Leaf Center as he gestures towards it with this thumb. "Cori," she states and pauses before saying, "For now just Cori. I've lived in Chicago for years... but... no, I've been away a long time and I'm back and yes I'm new," rambling for a moment. She glances at the shelter and nods. "I've started staying there... some nights," she explains before adding, "Reconnected with a long-time friend there a few days ago," and then shoving the final quarter of her hot dog into her mouth to give herself an excuse to not say anything else yet. "Nice to meet you, Cori. And let me know need help at the shelter. Logan is a very good man and he runs the place with his heart. If you didn't meet him already, you'll do it sooner than later." Ben says and then points to the bench where the other Lost is."May I?" And without waiting for the answer, he just sits."Do you know how much time has passed since you were 'away'?" Cori nods even as Ben sits saying, "Sure," even though its technically too late for permission to be required. She then shakes her head as she says, "Haven't met a Logan yet, no," and then laughs about the more serious question. She says, "None at all, to be honest, Doctor Pearson," with her cadence slowing as she visibly braces for an expected statement of disbelief - an expectation written large on her expression and in her body language. "None? That's interesting. Lucky you, I guess." The Fairest says and then grins."So. I assume you have met others of our kind and already know the basics about how things goes from now on, right? It's okay if that's not the case. I'm here to help. If you want help."
"Lucky?" The word drips with irony as she laughs at it. The Beast shakes her head and says, "I've not seen any of our kind since the Gristlegrinder I tricked into helping me snap my silver thread... unless you count the Fetch I saw get tossed out in my place right after witnessing my own taking." She drops that bombshell and doesn't even acknowledge the offer of assistance, looking at the Fair doctor with a challenging glint in her eyes. Ben listens as he keeps a gentle face up. Even with the sound of irony. When the Beast tells him the very short version of her Kidnap, he nods."Well. That's the first time I meet someone that has really just returned." He then pauses for a moment to think."Well. What if we start with your questions? I bet you have many." Breathing a sigh of relief, Cori nods. "Plenty. But... well, first I guess I'm curious how many of us you know of... do... do we have a chance to keep our freedom?" There's the expected flash of fear at the thought of being taken back again, no surprise there, but there's also the comfort that she's not being called crazy. "It depends on a few things, actually." Ben says and then pauses for a second. The handsome man bites his lower lips softly, pondering. You're not a human anymore. You've been There and ate Their food. Now you're something else. Forever liked to There. That link is what gives you your powers. The stronger the link, the more powerful you become." He goes as calm as possible so the newcomer can absorb and understand his words."This same link puts on us a beacon. The stronger the link, the brighter the beacon. If you really want to be sure the odds of being Taken again are as low as possible, you'll not tap on that link and leave it as it is now. Though, you give up on all the possibilities of power and control, even the possibility to fight Them back, in doing so. Do you understand that?" He asks looking at the catwoman.`I can simplify it if you don't. There is no shame is saying you didn't understand." Cori shakes her head for a moment, a slightly pained expression accompanying it, before she starts to nod. "I... I just know I don't want to go back. Give me the primer version I guess," she is starting to sound scared however as flashes of the nightmares that have been plaguing her sleep are flooding her mind. Ben smiles gently and nods."Let's just say that as long as you don't call attention to yourself, you'll be fine. Find yourself a new life, make some friends and avoid too much contact with things that are not from this world. Like the Hedge and its creatures. I think it's a good start to avoid being Taken again. How does that sound now?" Cori steels her resolve, almost visibly dismissing the fear, as she says, "It sounds very passive." She pauses and says, "Passive feels... wrong. For me that is. I've made contact with someone I met years ago already... She's talking about letting me crash with her. I guess that and trying to make a new life would work." She pauses and looks to the north before asking, "What about my family?" Looking down at herself she also asks, "How do I explain this?" and clarifies by saying, "I... I'm shorter than I was last month." "Passive would be more like hiding and avoiding to get old and new connections. You're move forward. Forging your path ahead. That's not an easy task and it's not passive at all. Well, at least that how I see it." Ben offers with his always gentle words."But if you want to give your family an explanation, there are a few rare conditions in medicine that would make you lose some inches. I can point you to them if you want to take a look. Otherwise, you can always just say you were always that tall. Humans have a tendency to keep themselves blind to the things they can't explain." Nodding at the offer, Cori says, "I'm not ready to try to see them... plus there's that thing down south." She doesn't say it but it is easy to guess she's referring to her fetch again. She glances again at the shelter and says, "I think a shower and a cot is more appealing to me tonight than finding a branch to nest on," she then asks, "Were you heading there also?" Ben looks at the Center and shakes his head."Not right now, no. I'm heading home. I live nearby." And with that said, he stands up and brings a greeting card from one of his pockets."It was a pleasure to meet you. Here, take my card. You can call me if you need help with something else." "Thanks," Cori says, taking the card before the pair part company. | |