Participants:
| Scene Title | See SCOUT Flirt |
|---|---|
| Synopsis | Two old friends meet up |
| Date | December 1, 2008 |
Central Park has been, and remains, a key attraction in New York City, both for tourists and local residents. Though slightly smaller, approximately 100 acres at its southern end scarred by and still recovering from the explosion, the vast northern regions of the park remain intact.
An array of paths and tracks wind their way through stands of trees and swathes of grass, frequented by joggers, bikers, dog-walkers, and horsemen alike. Flowerbeds, tended gardens, and sheltered conservatories provide a wide array of colorful plants; the sheer size of the park, along with a designated wildlife sanctuary add a wide variety of fauna to the park's visitor list. Several ponds and lakes, as well as the massive Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, break up the expanses of green and growing things. There are roads, for those who prefer to drive through; numerous playgrounds for children dot the landscape.
//Many are the people who come to the Park - painters, birdwatchers, musicians, and rock climbers. Others come for the shows; the New York Shakespeare Festival at the Delacorte Theater, the annual outdoor concert of the New York Philharmonic on the Great Lawn, the summer performances of the Metropolitan Opera, and many other smaller performing groups besides. They come to ice-skate on the rink, to ride on the Central Park Carousel, to view the many, many statues scattered about the park.
Some of the southern end of the park remains buried beneath rubble. Some of it still looks worn and torn, struggling to come back from the edge of destruction despite everything the crews of landscapers can do. The Wollman Rink has not been rebuilt; the Central Park Wildlife Center remains very much a work in progress, but is not wholly a loss. Someday, this portion of Central Park just might be restored fully to its prior state. //
After leaving Norton Trask to run off back to his job on the evil streets of New York City, Elisabeth continues on the path toward the center of the park, finishing her own hot dog as she walks. Then with only her bottle of water held in the crook of her broken, slinged left arm, she decides to talk a walk around the lake. Yeah, sure, she's a hell of a sight with her face all cut up and bruised, but the incident that caused it was a week ago and she's mobile and it's beautiful, albeit chilly, day out. While she walks, she considers the strange conversation she just had with her friend, and she keeps a cautious eye out for trouble, practicing the enhancing hearing ability that Conrad told her to work on. She hears interesting things this way, though the snippets of conversations are not really within her control at the moment.
The Park is full of cops today, a few Officers are surrounding each other a good ways away from Elisabeth. Though with her practicing of her ability, she should be able to pick up their conversation. "They don't give us any leads. How are we supposed to stop these bastards?" Comes a voice out of the circle.
William doesn't answer. He is in his uniform with kevlar over it. He gives a light sigh, looking over his shoulder. "I.. I don't know." William responds cleanly after a few moments.
It's not so much the voices that catch her interest, although the topic might make her pause. It's the fact that it's a circle of cops sitting there talking. Elisabeth hesitates near the group, looking toward them, watching their movements, their interactions with one another, their camaraderie. Certain things about being a cop she doesn't miss — being a woman on the force can suck a lot. But sometimes there are those moments. And given last week's action, she can take a good bet on what they're talking about. She starts walking in their general direction, making a point of attempting to focus her ability strictly on them. It's like tuning a bad radio station right now, though — brand new to her and not quite under her control, so she's getting only parts and snippets of the conversation as she walks into their area (still a good distance away, not wanting to look like she's eavesdropping).
"A school, Captain. Fucking kids." Complains one of the SCOUT Officers, they are all SCOUT, geared in SCOUT uniforms. "We've got to find something. Fuck!" The young man says in a nigh whiny voice.
"Get on your rounds, Jordan." William replies simply with a slight frown. The three other OFficers round off after a few parting words, a few argumentative, and complaining words. Eventually though, they carry off. William turns around his heel and starts walking closer into the park. He looks quite lost in thought. As he walks down..
Oh hell…. she knows that guy. She's met a lot of cops in her time, but William made an impression at a particularly bad hostage situation as level-headed and steady. She heard he'd taken command of the new squad, but… As he walks toward her Elisabeth offers, "Hey there, officer." If he remembers her as well, she'll stop and talk. She figures if he doesn't, well… not major either way.
"Captain." William corrects without even looking up, his words go ahead of him, but then his eyes slowly float up to the woman who he is now speaking with. "Elisabeth." Of course he remembers her, he most likely remembers every word she ever said to him. Though he won't tell her that. A light frown of sympathy is given to her. "I am so sorry, Elisabeth. I'm glad you're alright." The man says smoothly.
Elisabeth laughs at him softly. "I heard you made Captain, Will. Congratulations." She hasn't run into him since then. "I'm all right. Although I seem to have a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time lately," she quips mildly. "First the memorial service and now my own school." She shrugs her good arm. "I assume you guys," she jerks her chin toward the group that dispersed, "are on the front lines of all this."
"Thank you." William stops short in front of her, sliding one arm across his chest his other hand goes to scratch at the stubble on his chin. "A little paranoid these days, Elisabeth?" William asks, after his eyes do a sweep of her. "Not that you don't have reason." A quiet sigh. "Of course we are. It is Evolved. We're doing our very best to get to the bottom of this." A line that has been said to so many different people and in front of the many different video cameras.
Elisabeth raises a brow at him. "Paranoid?" She looks thoughtful. "Considering that they damn near killed me barely a week ago and *did* kill a bunch of kids standing less than ten feet from me with rocket launchers, Will, I think that carrying my weapon is more a prudent move than a paranoid one. Would it have done me any good in that particular instance? No," she concedes. "But I think 'be prepared' is the best motto to live by at the moment." She casually checks to be sure her fleece is pulled down into place — carrying does not mean flashing a weapon.
"How long have you been a boyscout?" William asks, it might be a tad insensitive. But it's William. He shakes his head. "I understand. These people are very organized. And having abilities to boot. That makes it very difficult for us. I'm sure you heard about our squad that went to the rooftop after the attack. A bomb waiting for them." A slow sad shake of his head. "We'll catch them though, I promise." A moments pause. "Have you been taking it alright?" A touch of concern in his voice now.
"Since before I became a cop, I think," Liz fires back with a snicker. And then she gets serious. "I did hear. And it breaks my heart for their families. To be a cop in this town right now is… absolutely terrifying." She looks up at him and smiles gently. "Yeah, I'm okay. I still go to one of the support group meetings from a couple years ago — show up when things get dicey. It's good, though. Mostly right now, I'm just….. waiting. Like everyone else. Waiting for the school to reopen. Waiting to see what kinds of traumas we're dealing with with the kids. Waiting to see what shoe falls next."
A little smirk. He nods in agreement with her. "A lot of the guys are getting.. Ancy, I suppose is the word. I haven't seen blind hate like this in a long time. And.. The public is starting to get a little enraged as well. I don't know what's going to happen. If these attacks continue.." A light shrug. "We just have to stop them." Is the simple solution. "So when are you going to come give us a helping hand?" He asks with a slight smile and a tilt of his head.
There's a slow shrug of her good shoulder. "I'm kicking it around. My lieutenant's been calling me for three months now. Just not sure I like the politics of what's going down, honestly." It's her standard story — and it's mostly true. The secret part of why she left will remain just that for as long as possible, or as long as she deems necessary. "How're you handling being a publicly Evolved cop? The boys in blue are pretty unforgiving of anyone not like them. You getting a lot of shit for the SCOUT squad?"
"We could always use you on, SCOUT, Liss. No politics there." Well there are, but they are HIS politics and that makes them GOOD politics. "Some shit, some praise. Some people are just crazy and make silly assumptions. Some people just assume Evolved are killers." A slight shrug of his shoulders. "We do what we can."
Elisabeth nods some. "I'll keep it in mind. I think something's going to have to give soon, but even if I wanted to, I couldn't put the paperwork back in for about 5 more weeks. I wound up with a concussion and the arm in the explosion, wouldn't be able to do anything but desk detail anyway. And you know how much I love that." She rolls her eyes expressively. But she studies him quietly. "If you're serious about a position, though…. I would give it some serious thought."
"I'm always serious." Which is a truth for most of the time. "You will always have a place in SCOUT if you want it." The man comments quietly. Studying her as well in return. "It's been a while Liss, we should catch up sometime." William says evenly, bringing his hands behind his back, clasping them together.
"No." He answers abruptly. "But I could be, if there wasn't pleasant company to be found." William implies, bringing his hands out he tucks a thumb into each side of his belt.
Elisabeth's smile is easy. "Well, here… give me your notebook, cuz I know you've got one hiding in that vest. I'll give you my cell number and we can make arrangements to meet up after work sometime. I always enjoy catching up with friends." Her demeanor is completely casual as she speaks.
"These Cell Phone things just so happen to store other numbers now, Elisabeth. Maybe you have heard about that." Slipping out his cellphone from his pocket he flips it open and presses the buttons to make a new contact, he hands it off to the woman so she can type in her number. Once that's done. He will slip the thing away and go to make his move away. "I'll see you soon."
 December 1st: It's a Small, Inbred Little World |
 December 1st: Pity |