[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/mgdEH0d.png[/img][/center]
[indent][indent][color=80ffbf][b]          L O C A T I O N:[/b][/color] Somewhere in Hollywood, California
[color=80ffbf][b]          T I M E:[/b][/color] Present Day [i][b]([/b][/i] July [i][b])[/b][/i] — a little past midnight [/indent][/indent]
[I]*italics denotes dialogue spoken in either Chinese or Korean[/I]

         The weather was shining, overwhelmingly hot, and without signs of relief in the middle of July. With the cars blaring their horns as if they had a right to go first, traffic was incessant and nothing would stop them from rushing to their next location. All in all, it was a busy day, like any other typical day.

          The news was displaying news coverage was talking about the recent events that happened in a city called Lost Haven. A young woman lifted her head from looking down at her phone, her face mask and sun hat covering her features from being recognized while she wore an inconspicuous outfit. It was a plain loosely knitted cream colored sweater that revealed her shoulder with a white cami underneath and washed out light blue jeans and white sneakers. There was a small black bag slung over her shoulder as she sat waiting for her flight, blinking at the news.

          [color=ff99cc]"I hope that's not—"[/color]

          Footsteps approached her and her bodyguard shook his head as he sat down beside her. [b][I]"Looks like Mei's plan to travel to Lost Haven backfired,"[/I][/b] he said in Korean.

          Her eyes turn to him. [color=ff99cc][i]"Why? Where are we going now?"[/i][/color]

          [b][i]"We're going to New York for a while—said it's safer there. Plus, the news media will think you've gone to Lost Haven so they won't know to follow you to New York."[/i][/b]

          The woman turned her attention back to the phone. Well, that shouldn't be so bad then. If she remembered correctly, a few of her friends should be there. But then, she wondered if they remembered her.

          Nodding her head at the bodyguard, she waited for them to be called into the plane.

[center]— x —[/center]
[indent][indent][color=80ffbf][b]          L O C A T I O N:[/b][/color] Somewhere from the Kennedy Airport to an apartment in NYC
[color=80ffbf][b]          T I M E:[/b][/color] Present Day [i][b]([/b][/i] July [i][b])[/b][/i] — about 6 - 7 AM[/indent][/indent]
           When her plane landed and she was walking through the tunnel that attached itself to the plain, she peeked out of the small windows to spot a black crow sitting on one of the workers' golf carts. With another blink, it flew off and see quickly turned her head to follow after her bodyguard.

          The lights and the traffic didn't feel any different than how it was in Hollywood, the car horns blaring and the lights flickering with advertisements and the news. By the time she arrived at the apartment that her manager, Mei, bad leased for her under her brother's name, Athena was finally able to take off her face mask and hat. 

          Looking around, it was furnished with a contemporary style of a modern aesthetic. Hm, looks like her brother had a hand in decorating. But, looking around one of the few personal items that littered the apartment was in her room: a small picture frame no larger than the size of her hand and an envelope with her name on it. When she picked up the envelope, she heard Jayden tell her to get some rest and that he'll be back with some breakfast after he had made sure to check out the rest of the apartment. When the sound of the door closed, and it's lock echoing throughout the apartment, she set down the envelope and went into the kitchen.

          She pulled out a ceramic bowl, big enough to see her reflection and set it down in her room's sitting table. She went looking for the small bag of supplies she requested of her brother to provide and found it in her bathroom under the sink. Once she perused the contents, she left to head back. It was only after she drew the curtains, she pulled out some Raven feathers, a braided Celtic knot of mugwort, yew, and Willow, and arranged three small scented candles around the bowl in places of what would be north, west, and east. After placing the Raven feathers inside the bowl, she gathered the knot in hand and began to focus. Normally, she'd decorate with some Jasmines and some other things but with this not being her home, she wanted to gather everything else over time.

          [color=ff99cc][I]"It's time for some fun and games; after all, what's life without a little bit of chaos?[/I]"[/color] she called out.

          The water began to swirl and soon, it wasn't her reflection anymore, but another—an elderly woman that bore red eyes and a tattoo by her eye. Unassuming and perhaps even plain, there was nothing about her that spoke of something… extraordinary.

          [color=ff99cc]"Hello, Morrigan, Athena here, reporting and checking in,"[/color] she greeted with a smile. Tapping the bowl, she checked to see if the connection went through. [color=ff99cc]"I hope the connection is coming in clear?"[/color]

          The elderly woman flinched at the tapping. Her red eyes took on a scolding expression as she frowned.

          "Please dear, don't tap on the bowl. I like my hearing undamaged..." The Morrigan's voice spoke in a reprimanding tone.

          [color=ff99cc]"Oh, sorry."[/color]

          The voice wavered with the ripples of the water causing a small distortion. When they settled, the older woman continued.

          "My sources told me you're in New York City instead of Lost Haven. A little change in travel plans?" Amusement crept into her words for a moment, then vanished when she moved on.

          And the only thing Athena could do was helplessly shrug.

          "Since you're in that area, I do have a task for you. I hope you can clear your schedule for it."

          Tilting her head and tapping a finger to her chin in thought, Athena hummed and nodded. [color=ff99cc]"I'm supposed to be here to get some R&R so my schedule is pretty open, for now."[/color] It's been a while since Morrigan had given her a task. [color=ff99cc]"What can I do for you?"[/color]

          "Do you recall Benjamin Reeves?" Morrigan asked. 

          There's the recognition that flashed through her eyes, it's movement flickering around the bowl as she looked for the familiar figure. [color=ff99cc]"What about Ben? Why? Did something happen to him?"[/color] Concern colored her tone.

          "Deary, pay attention to me. It's not [i]that[/i] Ben. It's the other one."  

          Athena sighed a breath of relief, briefly but the frown remained.

          Her hand rose and a blackbird fluttered onto it. Morrigan lowered it to her lap where she began to pet it, its feathers wafted off dark magic with each touch. She continued the conversation in a calm voice.

          “Well, there’s been a few complications. My little friend," she paused to show the creature, then lowered her hand again, "Has found him in New York City. How he got from Las Vegas to New York is a mystery, but I'm hoping you can figure it out. You will keep close to him and keep him safe."

          The idol hummed thoughtfully, wondering if there was another power at hand. If Morrigan didn't know…

          What caught her attention, however, was the fact that Ben was in the same city. [I]Her best friend, Ben.[/I] A rare occurrence, certainly, but not unwelcome. That simply meant it was time for her to catch up.

          [color=ff99cc]"I can do that, yes,"[/color] Athena started slowly. And then she shifted in her seat, tapping a finger to the table. [color=ff99cc]"Is that all you'll have me do? Is there anything else I should know before I go into all of this?"[/color]

          "Yes, and check-in with me over his progress. Remember he can't know anything about his future. As for where he lives, I don't believe he's moved. So he should be easy to find." Morrigan took a tanker and took a long draft.

          Athena slowly nodded, conflict flashing behind dark eyes.

          Morrigan inhaled after the drink then raised her hands.

          "Now, get to work. If I think of anything else, I’ll send a crow."

          And then the conflict was gone as if she remembered something. [color=ff99cc]"Will do. Until next time then, Morrigan."[/color] And she made a genuine smile and a little wave.

          Morrigan shook her head. Her image faded, becoming more shadow until it completely vanished.

          With Morrigan gone, Athena leaned back in her seat and stretched. She glanced back at the clock and with a hum, noted it's a little after 7 AM. Cleaning up the ingredients and focus, she set them aside and returned them to their appropriate places with naught a trace. With a yawn, feeling the jet lag and exhaustion from her lack of sleep on the plane, she began to prepare for bed. As she did so, she pulled out her cellphone and skimmed through her recent contacts to find Benjamin's. Ah, the recent scandal had left their recent messages back a little over three weeks ago. Even without Morrigan's instructions, she would've gone to see Ben anyway. But now, it had a purpose and she had to stop beating herself up for the decision.

          [sms; 7:39 AM] to: Best Boy, Ben
                    Hey, Benjamin! Guess where I am?
          [sms; 7:39 AM] to: Best Boy, Ben
                    [attached file]

          She grinned, satisfied with her message, and proceeded to head to bed.