Participants:
| Scene Title | Our Blessed Lady Of Neverending Ammo |
|---|---|
| Synopsis | Helena returns to the safehouse and meets Jennifer, who has a message for her. |
| Date | September 25th, 2008 |
A wrought-iron fence borders several small garden beds and the stone stairs leading up to the house's front door. The house itself is a structure of old stone - not even concrete blocks, but quarried stone — with natural-color wood doors and window frames. The windows on the ground floor are barred.
Inside, the level is divided into only three rooms. The first is the foyer, with polished hardwood flooring, a freestanding coatrack on either side, iron-dark against soft-amber interior walls. The main staircase spirals up from one corner of the foyer, girded by a wrought-iron railing.
To the right from the entrance is the kitchen. The walls just off from white, the floor tiled in dark gray. In the center of the kitchen is a black-topped island, matching the counters that line the room. One wall is dominated by an eminently modern stove framed by an anachronistic brick hearth. Cabinets above the counters have glass doors; the windows above the sink are framed in light-colored curtains, the illumination they let in adding to the expansive atmosphere.
The dining room takes up the back of this floor. The far wall is brick and stone, with a facade of a fireplace mantle in the center. Interior walls have been painted a tone intermediate between amber and ivory, which is also the accent color in the dark rug beneath the long dining table.
Late evening means dinner. Of course, since Jen also hates to cook, late evening means macaroni and cheese tonight. She's sitting at the dining room, which feels horribly formal to her, but it had a table and chairs. Food is happening, as she munches noodles and sips from a 20 oz. bottle of soda.
Helena makes her way back into the safehouse, following the protocols as established by Grace and Hana. She's in very nondescript clothes, jeans and a pink t-shirt that once belonged to Claire, on top of Peter's jacket which is a few sizes too big for her, giving her a whole Salvation Army meets Les Miz chorus member chic. She starts to drift through the safehouse, and upon spying Jennifer, hesitates a moment, then offers a polite nod.
Jennifer looks up and sees Helena. Hey, wait, that's a Blonde. "Are you Helena?" she asks, out of nowhere, as she puts down her fork. The outfit is kitchy, but she's seen weirder.
Helena blinks, pauses. "Yeah." she says, coming forward and lifting her chin to take a sniff of food. "I am. Is there more of that? I'm famished. Who're you?"
Jennifer nods. "There's about half a pot left on the stove…I hadn't bothered to put it away yet. You're welcome to it. My name's Jennifer. I'm with the Ferrymen. Someone gave me a letter for you."
"Figured, you're not one of ours. That would make you one of the Ferrymen." Helena offers an amiable smile and then blinks in surprise. "A letter for me? Who gave it to you? Hold that thought." She heads into the kitchen, fixes herself some cheesy mac, and then comes back out, bowl in hand, sitting down at the table. "So okay, let's see."
Jennifer takes out the letter Eve gave her, and puts it on the table, sliding it down the surface towards Helena. "Here ya go. I'm not sure if there's any soda left in there, but I can get you some if you don't mind community germs."
Helena grins across at Jennifer and says, "We had plenty of that in our old place. I'd appreciate it, thanks." She opens the letter and starts to read. The look on her face begins to grow slowly more and more exasperated as she reads it, and by the time she finishes, she balls up the letter and looks around for a garbage pail. "Idiot." she mutters under her breath.
Jennifer grabs her soda, and a moment later, the air next to it seems to shimmer. From the inside out (thus starting with a blob of soda suspended in midair), the soda forms, then the bottle, until there's an exact double of hers. She doesn't slide that…she stands and walks it down. "Problems, I take it?"
Helena blinks. "Oh hey, that's impressive. What do you do? Matter generation? Molecular duplication? Instantaneous soda generation?" She gives Jennifer a grin at that, and then waves a hand. "Eh. Eve went on walkabout. I just hope she doesn't compromise PARIAH or get herself killed."
Jennifer grins. "Right on count #2. I duplicate stuff. Yeah, she seemed really down about things. I have her number; I'm going to give her a call later."
"Cool." Helena says approvingly, though whether she means with regard to Jennifer's powers or her calling Eve isn't apparent. She takes to her food, eating and drinking quickly. "So how do you fit in with the Ferrymen? Most of them are kind of older."
Jennifer nods "No, I know. I'm definite junior member around here. But…let's just say that I don't like the whole "Oh, you're a dangerous terrorist" definition, and neither my powers or my personality work much with the whole "aggressive negotiations" like you guys do."
Helena cocks her head to the side. "It's the government who labels us that, you know. The same government that'd rather you have a nice shiny plastic card and file on you. They're the ones who call us terrorists. What you're doing with the Ferrymen is also illegal, and could arguably be considered traitorous to this administration. Part of our deal with Wireless and Bennet is that we stop strikes on civilian targets. But that doesn't mean we won't fight."
Jennifer nods. "Oh, I totally agree. I don't think I'm a terrorist but Society At Large wants to call me one. So I don't agree and want to do something about it. But I can't help much in the buttkicking vein, so I help this way. Make sense?"
Helena cocks her head. "You sure about that? You can duplicate matter. Some might call you Our Blessed Lady of Neverending Ammo and Guns."
Jennifer nods. "And I've been Maiden of the Blessed Firepower before." She admits. "But I'm not so good at using any of it directly, you know. I'm a theater geek. So I can't go all Keanu on stuff."
Helena grins across the table. "All it takes to learn how to do shoot a gun is the willingness to learn." she says. "Just like any skill. I mean, we can't all be like Monica and be perfect in three seconds flat, but do you think I grew up wanting to be part of a resistance organization like something out of World War II? I was in highschool, I wanted college. Being a drama geek doesn't mean they stamped Not Allowed on your pass for learning things."
Jennifer smiles wryly. "Yeah, but you need someone to teach you how to do it. I mean, I can shoot a bow pretty well. But you can't exactly go fight the bad guys with a bow in this day and age. If you're willing to teach, I'm willing to learn, though!"
Helena blinks. "I guess I could show you." she says. "But I'm sure Hana or Bennet would gladly show you. They wouldn't want their people not to know how to handle themselves. I think he's going to be giving PARIAH members some lessons, why don't join us? For the lessons, I mean. I'm not trying to steal you away." Helena tacks between bites.
Jen nods. "Yeah. But can you imagine trying to take classes from Mr. Bennet? Kind of a perfectionist. But yeah, I'd be glad to take classes with you guys. And as far as joining, I really don't want to be shot at. But I'm happy to dupe things for you. I do that now. Paperwork, ID cards, stuff like that."
Helena can't help it, she laughs good naturedly. "Well, no one wants to be shot at." she says. "But trust me, whatever lessons Bennet wants to offer? I'd take him up on." She sounds momentarily wistful for some reason. "Anyway. Good to meet you."
Jennifer smiles as Helena laughs. "Well, tell you what. If I can talk him into it, I'll do it if you'll do it with me. I want a studybuddy to deflect the Wrath of Bennet."
"Oh, I'm gonna do it." Helena says, some steel coming to her voice. "I'm not going to ask anyone to do something I won't do myself if I can."
Jennifer grins. "Deal, then. Hey, I'm collecting phone numbers in case we need to get ahold of each other. You wanna do a cell swap?"
"Sure, though my number tends to change. Keeping one for too long invites the signal being traced." Helena tugs her cell out of her pocket.
Jennifer nods. She takes out a slip of paper from her pocket with her number on it. Another brief shimmer ensues as she clones it, and hands it to Helena. "Here's mine."
Helena lets out a delighted laugh as she gives Jennifer her phone number verbally, and promptly adds Jennifer's to hers. She balls up the little piece of paper and adds it to crumpled letter.
Jennifer punches Helena's into her phone, and then smiles. "So…if I can ask…what do you do? I mean, ability-wise? I'm really curious."
"I control weather." Helena replies. "Altering the temperature, creating weather phenomenon. I have to be kind of careful with it, though - it's sort of intertwined with my moods. So it's important that I keep my cool."
Jen looks impressed. "Whoa. That's seriously major stuff. So you can hit people with tornados and stuff?" Her eyes are wide as she looks at the blonde with new consideration.
Helena looks thoughtful. "Cyclones are hard." she says. "If I need to directly attack someone, I generally create a really high force wind, but it tends to knock down whatever is in its path. I can make it rain or snow or hail, or get sunny, and make the ambient temperature hotter and colder. I did figure out how to make a thunder clap, though. And I can generate mist."
Definite awe look back at Helena. "And see, that's why YOU kick butt and I stay here and duplicate paperwork." A grin accompanies it.
Helena shakes her head. "Don't let yourself think your ability limits you. It's all in how you apply it. If you want to be combat ready, you can do it, and figure out how to use what you can do to your advantage."
Jennifer smiles. "Then I'll see what I can manage. And learn. Thanks for the offer. I'll talk to Bennet and see what he can manage." She looks at the clock and sighs. "Right now I gotta get my homework done before morning class, though."
Helena looks wistful. "College?" she asks. "Maybe one day when this is all over, I'll get to go. Don't let me keep you. Good night, Jennifer."
The letter:
Though I know you don't want to hear anything I have to say Hel, I need to write this letter to you without just up and leaving. I have done things I am not proud of, the biggest of those is the fact that I didn't shoot Sylar. I'm sorry for that and I hope that one day you can forgive me. But on to the me leaving, I need to further investigate this 'sister' I have been dreaming about, this is something that I need to do on my own, I can't complicate the lives of PARIAH anymore than it already is. I'm not leaving forever but with the tension rising between us and me having something I need to take care of, it seems like the best time to me. Please do not be angry with me, I know that this is the right thing to do at the moment. I will keep trying to find Peter and as soon as I do, I will let you know. Also, now that Claire is off with her grandmother and Cameron is looking for Peter, it puts you in a higher position of leadership. I know it might not mean anything to you but I am so very proud of you and the young woman/leader that you have become. Don't worry about my safety, just lead PARIAH as best you can and I will find you when the time is right. Give everyone my love, Eve.
(And Eve also painted a picture of all the PARIAH members standing together, whether she dreamed this or just painted it remains to be seen.)
 September 25th: Messages and Farewells |
Previously in this storyline… Next in this storyline… |
 September 25th: Call by Morning |