Participants:
| Scene Title | Permaneo Unus |
|---|---|
| Synopsis | Abigail and Amato meet up at the Hangar. She intended to tell him the importance it must have that she was the last person she's been able to heal. She ends up telling him something else, unknowingly. |
| Date | June 2, 2009 |
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.
She'd go to staten island, again, if she could afford it. Would mean making a pitt stop to see Deckard and how he's coming along with her ability. But money is better spent on things like food and rent. So via the ferryman, a message was sent to Amato to meet her at the Garden. No hint given as to why, or even rumor, just that Abigail would be waiting at the Hangar. Which she was. Parked in the kitchen, unloading some biscuits as a thank you to Alistair for teaching her how to use her computer. Cheddar and chives, extra flakey and buttery. There's a few heating up in the microwave and some real butter set on a plate for when Amato shows up.
There is a new yet subtle spring in Amato's step when he arrives at the hangar, the jacket of his Salvation Army suit that has seen better days hangs open over a shirt worn without a tie. Casual for Amato, even if it is a step up from what he has been wearing lately. "Good afternoon, Miss Beauchamp," he greets with relative brightness as he strolls in, bending at the waist and lifting his right hand to take hers in a gentleman's salutation. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Oh, right. He does that. Seems all the men with accents seem to do that. The redhead offers up her hand to him when he motions for it, though it's held very lightly, loosely. "Afternoon Mr. Salucci. I brought some Biscuits. I made them the other day" To what does he owe her this visit? "Perhaps, you might want to take a seat?" The look on her face being one of schooled neutrality.
It is that lack of warmth in Abby's voice that gives Amato pause. He does not kiss the back of her hand, but rather lets it slip from his as he slides into a seat and regards her with wary concern. "Is everything alright?" he asks, his voice suddenly not much louder than a whisper.
'Oh! no, no, i'm not upset with you" Worried now that he thinks she might, what with him letting her hand go. Reaching out she takes it back in her hand, both her hands. "I just.. I just thought you might want to sit, because of what I was going to tell you that's all" Abigail, you idiot.
"Ms. Beauchamp," Amato says in a graver tone, tilting his chin downward. "Is everything all right? Are you in some sort of trouble? Because I cannot imagine I would be the best person to inform of such. There are others who are…more equipped to deal with such things."
"I'm not coming to you for help. You're right. There is a great many others who would help me if I was in trouble. No. Not that" Well, it really wasn't the greatest of news though. "Mr. Salucci. God decided that I've… done enough for him. You were the last person that he let me care for " How was he going to take it? Good? Bad? Her hands still closed around his.
The scenes that flash through Amato's mind in that brief moment when he loses control are far from the worst he's seen. Small selfishness. Petty, unacted-upon urges from childhood. Still, they're a jolt to his system, and it takes him a moment to settle again. "Agnello," he breathes, "What do you think it can mean? Surely there is more work for you. Of… of a different nature?"
"In truth I don't know. It hurts, but at the same… " She squeezes his hand tightly, thumb traveling back and forth over his forefingers. "There is a man who is running around, taking from others giving them away. Peoples gifts. He gave it to someone else. Funny that it happened after I gave you back what what missing and absolved you. I don't know whether that means that he was happy that I did it or whether he was angry that I did it. Either way.." She eases her hands pack, just far enough to push a biscuit at him. "I suppose it means that I continue on to become a paramedic and do the Lords work patching people up that way?"
"Yes," Amato says to the last of Abby's questions, his mind reeling from the information given him. "Did you ask for him to take it? Did he come to you and ask you for it? Or did he steal it away? What about the people he gives them to?"
"He just came. I was speaking with a friend in the alley behind where I work and he.. came. he asked if I was the person who helps people. Mike asked him if he was sent by someone who was chubby faced with beady eyes and glasses.. and he lifted his hands. There was red lightening, I caught it out of the corner of my eyes as I was running. He gives it to others, he switches abilities, gifts. Apparently. Eileen tried to warn me, weeks ago but it happened so fast. Amato, you need to be careful. He said he was sorry as he was going, but…"
Amato's hand tightens around Abby's, and his icy eyes grow wide and fiery. "What do you mean Eileen tried to warn you? Did he… did something happen to her? Abby, where did he go?" So many questions, and Abby cannot answer them quickly enough to satisfy Amato's need for information.
"I don't know where he went Amato. If I knew where he went, I would be dragging mike down to him and demanding that he give it back to me. I wandered this city for a week trying to find him, but… Best I can guess is that he ran into Eileen as well. She had .. something similar to your former employer's ability. I couldn't heal her because it would hurt her. I haven't seen her since and this was… A month? More? "Over a month a go I believe. "He ran off. I have asked some people to try and keep an eye out for him but.. nothing"
"Is she safe?" Amato asks, leaning in closer and squeezing Abby's hand tighter than he ever would have previously dared. "Eileen - is Eileen safe?"
"She was the last I knew. Amato, your hurting me…" he kept tightening his hand on hers and her gaze dipped down to her palms between his held so tight but not pulling them away. "I gave her a key to the bar, so she had a place to hide if she needed it. I don't know if she is or not. I can see if Teo might know of her whereabouts"
Shocked at his strength, Amato immediately lets go of Abby's hand and withdraws, muttering an apology. "Teo…" he ponders. "Yes, alright." Teo and Eileen are on good terms. "Do you know what this man looks like?" Easier to avoid that way and all.
Abigail rubs at her hands, soothing tender flesh as she rattles off what she saw of Tyler Case. "I can probably get a picture of him. Amato, Mr. Salucci, he's… he's very dangerous" Spoken to a man who was likely just as dangerous.
"Whatever you do, do not endanger yourself." Amato sighs and shakes his head. This is one for Raith, for sure. "Have you told any of the others here?"
"No one here. IT has not been something that I have been shouting from the rooftops. If it comes up, if someone comes for healing, I tell them and direct them to someone else that I know who can do what I did" Don't endanger herself. "He's done this to others, Amato, if you should find him, get your hands on him, there are others who need him to try and undo that what he did"
Amato nods. "Alright." He sighs, then shakes his head, lifting a hand to scratch at his head. "Abby… Abby, I'll do what I can, but… I can't make promises."
This had net been her intention when she had asked him to come here. Not at all, but this was the end result. "Okay" Abigail murmurs, leaning back in her seat, shuffling feet forward and resigned. At this rate, Tyler Case was going to be a thoroughly hunted man.
