Participants:
| Scene Title | Trust Takes Time |
|---|---|
| Synopsis | Helena and Hana meet up with Diego in Central Park. |
| Date | November 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.
Once more Helena's parked at her favorite spot in Central Park, casually seated on one of the smaller mushrooms and looking over toward Tavern On The Green with a bemused sense of people-watching. Of course, there's more to it then meets the eye, having received a contact from Diego with regard to the intel she requested. Hana is no doubt loitering about to keep an eye on her, in the event that someone somewhere decides to do something foolish. Or maybe Hana's waiting to see if Helena does something foolish. Either way, everyone's got a purpose.
The older woman is indeed loitering nearby, having been instrumental in establishing the contact. Eavesdropping was rather inevitable, and she hasn't really agreed to trust Diego. Dressed in her black leather jacket and black jeans — Hana's biking clothes — the technopath walks up beside the sculpture, her hands not quite tucked into pockets but resting comfortably at about hip level. "Helena," she greets quietly, so the girl isn't too surprised by her arrival.
There really are no surprises here. Helena is at her favorite mushroom. Hana is loitering protectively like a mother lion watching after her cub. And then there's a dog named Capone, trotting at the heels of a man dressed to.. go to work at a factory? No matter the presumed employ of Diego he walks at a casual pace. Just a man out walking his dog. He eventually approaches the 'shrooms, though he eyes them doubtfully and doesn't sit. "Nice chair."
"Isn't it, though?" Helena offers a smile and reaches out to offer Capone her hand. Her eyes dart sidelong to Hana, giving the woman a quick nod acknowledging her presence. She doesn't want to make a fuss. Assuming the dog is willing to accept her attentions, she scritches the top of his head and inquires to his owner, "Do you have something for me?"
Diego's arrival is met with a polite nod from Hana, rather as she was greeted by Helena. The dog is given a glance, but little other attention on her part; Hana seems to have no interest in petting him. Hearing Diego's response, however… well, that's a different story, and her dark gaze is focused steadily upon him.
Capone is amicable to receiving attention in the form of loves. Diego returns her nod but otherwise wastes little time on the serious minded woman. When he returns his attention to Helena he nods again. This time the gesture is coupled with him producing an amber colored rewritable cd in one of those cheap plastic jewell cases. "Yeah, thought you could use some jazz in your life. Get away from that popular shit." He offers Helena the cd even as he finds a nearby 'shroom to serve as a chair duplicate to her own. Once a bit closer- though keeping his body language unthreatening for Hana's sake -he speaks in a lower tone. "I'm afraid its not exactly what you were looking for. Mostly just logistics. Guy has a pretty tight inner circle. I've got a couple leads on some more interesting facts, though."
Helena tucks the CD in the inner pocket of her jacket. "I have some news for you." Helena says. "There's been…" she considers her word choice for a moment, "A schism. You know my little social circle used to be very extreme, right?" She speaks of course, of PARIAH's previous activities which include bombing. "Those of us who don't take a shine to that sort of thing and those that do have decided to go seperate ways."
Hana doesn't make any secret of the fact that she watches Diego closely as he moves in to hand over the disc and sit by Helena. Her gaze flicks to Helena as the girl continues; the slight dip of the ex-operative's chin could be easily taken as either affirmation or approval.
Diego takes a few moments to digest that information even as Hana dips her chin in Helena's direction. "I had a feeling something may have happened. I mean, unless all the new marketing wasn't your 'firm'." He takes out a pack of cigarettes, removes one, and promptly breaks it in half. Then he puts this in a convienent zip lock baggy formerly in a separate pocket, and tucks both away. He puts his elbows on his knee's and watches people going about their business in the distance. "Suppose that kind of puts us in an odd situation, then. I'm all for the shot not fired, but not if it means I don't have the stomach to do what needs to be done. /If/ it needs to be done."
Helena gives him a faint smile. "I'll keep it simple for you. If you're interested in justice, then we can continue having conversations, and you may even get to come over to my house for a barbecue. That doesn't me we won't bring the necessary force to a situation, but if you're looking for people more interested in Russian Roulette with C-4, then you'll want to look elsewhere. Now you know what side I'm on, so you can decide for yourself if we keep talking."
Diego raises an eyebrow initially upon hearing her words, but a smile slowly forms afterwards. "Kind of an old school analogy. I'll return the favor and keep it simple, too. I did my time in Iraq. I don't like terrorists. Tell you what. That cd? Its got my company logo all over it digitally. I trust you'll take that seriously. But for now, go ahead and keep it. If the time comes when you decide to trust me, break it. Break it, burn it, throw it in the river, something, just get rid of it the second you trust me. But keep it til then."
Helena nods. "I'll do that." she says softly. She watches him for a few moments, scrutinizing. "You may run the company, but you're not the one who was doing the poking online, were you?" she questions.
At Diego's words, a thin smile passes briefly across Hana's face; she can more than agree with the dislike of terrorists. And acknowledge his placing of a hold over himself as a good move. She glances back to Helena as the girl continues, and this time makes no gesture either way. Dark eyes flick to Diego — what will he say to that?
"Oh, Hell no." Diego can't hold back the quiet laughter, then. Not exactly his most professional move, but what's done is done. "I can barely run my administrative software. I brought in an outside resource for that. A fan of your's, actually. And whoever you had playing with my network, too. A little.. over anxious, but a smart kid. Wants to meet you guys."
"It might be doable." Helena says. "We can certainly see how our relationship develops in order for you to bring others on board. We have some projects in plan that we might ask your help on. I think with that, once we determine if there's a need, there might be an opportunity to consider throwing this little gift in the Hudson. In the meantime, you've earned yourself something. Do you have a question you want to toss my way?" She didn't say she'd answer it, but then it depends on the question.
"I'm not advocating myself as a recruitment resource." Diego straightens, holding his hand out for Capone who promptly takes a seat between his legs and puts his maw on D's thigh. "Right this second, no. But don't worry, I'm not shy if one comes up."
"You're advocating for your 'resource', though. Aren't you?" Since he doesn't have any questions, Helena opts to slide off the mushroom. "You know how to get ahold of us. We'll ping you when we have something we need you to do on our upcoming project. Have a good evening, Diego."
Hana inclines her head again to Diego as Helena takes her leave. "The 'kid' can do the same," she offers, the words reserved, an 'if they so desire' sort of tone. "Unofficially," the woman adds. She's not advocating recruiting the 'resource' into either organization now — but making the offer for the other technopath to get back in touch with her seems appropriate.
Diego nods in response to Hana's words. "I'll give her your number. Let her decide whether or not she's really ready for something like. Or whether she really wants to. But she'll have the choice one way or the other."
"She already has the choice," Hana remarks. "But she might appreciate the reminder." The figurative cracked door, an invitation offered. The ex-operative inclines her head to Diego, possibly in some version of thanks, then turns and heads off in Helena's wake.
 November 1st: The Other Tiger |
 November 1st: Misinterpretation |