[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/eE6lcKb.png[/img][/center] [center]And[/center] [center][url=https://flic.kr/p/WGT21Q][img]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4292/35905879436_40cabfee08.jpg[/img][/url][/center] [center]In[/center] [center]The Birdcage and the Canary [/center] Leading down into the depths of the sewers Sewer Gator had shown Eva to the entrance of the Hero Diner, a place owned by Rosie the Riveter. Taking off to meet up with another hero Sewer Gator bid his farewell as he debriefed Rosie in his usual if eccentric way. “The Legions of villainy have been laid low this day under the mighty weight of justice and her hammer of virtue! For I am the chip at the bottom of the bag that is still crispy, the leafy greens your parents tell you to eat that make you stronger! For no matter where evil rests the sandwich of justice will be there to serve a heaping of tuna!” Eva stared he made no sense, a man who could easily be mistaken for someone right out of Street Fighter with the outrageous costume choice to match. Sewer Gator’s pose and subsequent departure happened faster than she could process with a wide smile and simultaneous salute. “So. Covering the basics you’re a would be hero. Who is not as helpless as we were led to believe.” Rosie spoke up as she sat down a glass jar full of coffee on top the wooden tables lining the rather pleasant underground diner. “According to Gator might have had a hand in the Pacific Point event that was all over the news.” Stick-It note kid who had until now been washing plates spoke up himself. “From what we got maybe the caller just didn’t know too much of the details. But maybe you should lay low for now, we aren’t a target we’ll see about collecting info from the caller. Maybe trace the call bring in the Blue Beagle for that if he’ll stop trying to eat the scraps on the tables.” [color=00aeef]”Look, I can handle myself. It’d be nice to find out why someone tried to kill me though.”[/color] Eva said as she took a seat. “Well miss, what was it. Pendragon. I know asking personal information is difficult in our line of work.” Rosie said gruffly her age showing through her voice and mannerisms. “But since you do have abilities of sorts we can rule out regular revenge schemes, as the assassin was for normal humans.” “So.” Stick-It note kid said. “You must be someone important to somebody, pissed off regular folks with money. And I doubt it was for texting and driving.” [color=00aeef]”I’m not important no more, just someone trying to make sense of this world.”[/color] “But it sounds like you were, so. If I may ask can we start from the top?” Rosie said as she set down a plate of appetizers. Eva sighed as she eyed the old clock on the wall then began to reveal as little about herself as she could. Things she hoped would help but still keep some privacy, after an hour or two their questions had stopped and all that remained was what to do now. “Even if you don’t bleed bullets hurt. These are trained assassins, and it seems more will come. Stick-It note is correct, laying low or getting out of town would be better.” Stick-it Note Kid spoke as he munched on a cold fry. Merlin watched, carefully planning when to butt in. It was about time Eva met Salamander and his protege and this was a perfect excuse to do it. [color=92278f]Perhaps I have something.”[/color] Merlin said floating down from the ceiling as if she could pass through walls. [color=00aeef]”Merlin. Course you’d show up now.”[/color] [color=92278f]”I am Merlin, well one of them, that is more complicated than I wish to fully explain, but her getting out of town is what I want right now. I have some people I want you to meet.”[/color] Rosie was not thrilled to have this half naked street walker enter her diner, but she and Pendragon knew each other. And had some degree of trust. “Your manner of dress is highly inappropriate.” [color=92278f]”And I find this establishment lacking. If one could call this dingy place a restaurant.”[/color] “If you have the means to leave the city it might be best to spend a few days away while the rest of us look into this matter, Pendragon you’re young. Fighting alongside Icon and the playboy knight although impressive hasn’t prepared you yet. Come back after a few days. We’ll give you some pointers.” [color=00aeef]”I. Yea might do that. But Merlin you had something.”[/color] [color=92278f]”After me.”[/color] Merlin said as the doors to the hidden diner opened to reveal an expansive library. “Does anyone understand what’s going on?” Stick-it Note Kid said. “When did doors to libraries open up down here, or ever?” “You see odd things, teleporting is often the strangest kid.” Rosie said lighting a cigarette. --- Berenice made a corkscrew turn in the air, causing Sunheart to scream yet again, they had been doing this a good hour already, and while the siren was having her usual fun, she could tell her new friend was [i]not[/i] enjoying the flight time. “[color=82ca9d]Are you not used to being off of the ground so far?[/color]” she asked, aiming her mouth somewhere near her waist. Her response was to feel a warm spot growing along her thigh. Sunheart had let go of the contents of her stomach. So she swooped down as fast as she could(something her tiny compatriot did not approve of) and landed on the beach below her nest, carefully washing herself without drowning the girl. “[color=82ca9d]You know, you are going to have to get used to this if you are going to accompany me any length of time.[/color]” [color=FFFACD]”I know![/color]” said the girl, scrubbing her chin with the water beading on Berenice’s thigh feathers. “[color=FFFACD]But perhaps the lessons can be slowed a bit> I have never been away from the ground at [i]all[/i] except for climbing walls![/color]” Berenice grinned at her little friend. “[color=82ca9d]Maybe think of this as a very high wall that moves around?[/color]” She was rewarded with only a grunt of disapproval, so she decided to sit and wait for Sunheart’s stomach to settle before taking off into the evening sky again. --- [color=92278f]”Welcome to the ass end of nowhere. Where biting insects are the least of your worries. We’ll be going up a bit farther.[/color] [color=00aeef]”Great. And me without my bloody bug spray.”[/color] The two entered the forest where Salamander and the unknown Siren waited up ahead soon spotting a clearing where the sea breeze struck Eva in the face and the sight of the run down and nearly destroyed shack remained as the only reminder anyone had once lived here. Trees thinned out as few toppled over while the wild grasses grew unchecked by even nature herself. [color=00aeef]”So who lives here that we have to meet?”[/color] [color=92278f]”Some interesting folk. Ah.”[/color] Merlin said as she spotted Salamander leaned against a tree. [color=92278f]”Here is one now. Meet Salamander. A acquaintance of sorts.”[/color] Salamander grinned as the two moved up near him. “Seriously? [i]This[/i] is the one the blade chose?” The clearing echoed with laughter. And in the human’s ears, the laughter echoed off of itself, so that it became an endlessly repeating and building crescendo, bouncing off of the edge of perception and back until it was so loud her teeth vibrated. At the same time, Salamander's body split into a thousand crows, who flew so low and fast past her face that she probably couldn’t see anything but black shiny feathers. And then suddenly, without warning or transition, everything was back exactly the way it had been, and he was laughing normally, though now, instead of his old travelling clothes, he was wearing a torn denim vest, ripped up jeans, and sporting a mohawk of violently iridescent purple. He was still laughing, although it sounded normal now. “This is going to be fun,” he said, in between chuckles. “If the bird says it’s fine, she can camp here. It’ll probably be safer than anywhere else for the moment.” [color=00aeef]”NO, nope, no. Bloody hell and god save the queen and that fucking jazz.”[/color] As Eva snapped out of whatever Salamander had done to her. Meanwhile Merlin sat floating above the ground simply relaxing.[color=92278f]”Yes yes, it was just a few seconds. You’re fine. Now yes Excalibur chose her. She’s not even used to such parlor tricks barely wet behind the ears I'm afraid. Now where is your girl? I don’t suppose she’s more house trained than this one.”[/color] [color=00aeef]”Standing right here.”[/color] Salamander stuck two fingers in his mouth and blew what [i]should[/i] have been a shrill but normal whistle. What came out was a hawk’s hunting cry, and it had that same echoing quality, though this time it rang about the clearing as if it had a mind of its own and it was looking for something. Out of the evening sky came an answering call, though clearer, and out of the gloom came a fast-flying feathered menace that would make most furred mammals run for cover. As Berenice came in to land, she wondered half-heartedly [i]why[/i] she had answered so readily to that call, but that thought immediately left her mind as she landed on a nearby tree stump, talons gouging out chunks of bark to reveal bright white wood beneath. She shifted a bit to fold her wings behind her, then folded her arms to try and look authoritative. After all, this was [i]her[/i] nest. The overall effect, however, was more like a five year old trying to assert dominance in a room full of adults. She might have been serious about it, but no one else was buying it. [color=00aeef]”That. I. Um, Bollocks, big bloody bollocks. On one hand I’d like to say, Birb lady. SHE’S A FREAKING BIRB! On the other. You are um. God you smell like you took a bath in the Hudson. Soap, lady it’s a thing.”[/color] [color=92278f]”She is more pungent than I imagined.”[/color] Merlin said erecting a barrier to mitigate the smell between herself and Berry one the Siren would likely fail to notice. [color=00aeef]”Well this is all fine and good but why are we meeting?”[/color] Eva said as she held her nose. [color=92278f]”Perhaps we thought you could use some practical experience. And help this, speci, um. Lovely creature here explore what she is truly capable of.”[/color] Berenice stared at the two newcomers. While her eyes were mostly human shaped, they were still the great golden-black orbs of an eagle, and had somewhat more intensity than most would expect from a human head. Then again, the rest of her body detracted from ‘expectations’ to begin with. “[color=82ca9d]I know what soap is! What is a Hudson, though?”[/color] Salamander put his palm to his face and shook his head before glancing over at Merlin. “Shall we put that at one for yours, then? I’m afraid mine is a bit younger than normal. You can feel the power, though, yes? My old apprentice may have overdone himself.” [color=92278f]”Throbbing with power. She does have potential. More so than what I am currently working with.”[/color] [color=00aeef]”Have you considered a nice bubble bath, or I could just have Dickens lick you clean. He won’t eat you promise.”[/color] Eva looked towards Merlin and said. [color=00aeef]”You plan on tossing us into trouble aren’t you?”[/color] [color=92278f]”Not trouble, heroics, a test. A trial of your abilities, honor and likelihood of dea, defeat. A guideline and Berry needs a good influence. And the Hounds need stopping.”[/color] [color=00aeef]”She plans on giving us trouble, first time she dropped an alien on my ass. Um big creature. Yeah. And the Hounds are bad people, killing good people and destroying lives, mages, sirens like yourself and anyone we like.”[/color] Salamander looked at Berry. “It will also give me a good idea of where I need to start with you, and where your capabilities lie, so that I can teach you more effectively.” Berenice nodded throughout all of these statements, though she gave off the sneaking suspicion that she might be nodding more because she thought that’s what you were supposed to do rather than because of any sort of actual understanding. And then she bent low, folding one wing over herself, looking like she was after an elusive itch somewhere. After several moments, she came back up. She smiled at Eva, displaying her unusual mouth of teeth. [color=82ca9d]”Okay, We will do this...whatever it is you are talking about. And you can get me some soap, maybe.”[/color] [color=00aeef]”I skipped out of tracking my own assassin for this. Fine. Just. Can we get you washed up first? You smell like someone threw up on rotting meat.[/color] [color=92278f]”I do have a bath, although that is not the smell of rotting meat.”[/color] [color=00aeef]”I will regret asking won’t I?”[/color] Eva said as the four of them stood in the middle of the clearing as Berry perched herself on the stump with the cabin behind her. Eva held her face with her right palm before swaying to her side back and forth. [color=00aeef]”Gah! Weird things keep coming, why can’t this world be normal. Take out meals and tv dinners with games on the weekend. But fine. Fine. I’ll play your dumb game, take your tests.”[/color] [color=92278f]”For a legendary hero in training you while about the simplest things. And this is what I get for dealing with children always wanting to be pampered.”[/color]