E.M. New York

[Michale CS]

Eden Haller aka Psyhawk

" Well sir, I think you are in good hands. But perhaps we can talk later ? "

She hands both of you a business card with her superhero name and a phone number.

" Good luck and rest well !"

"You have business cards?! Why didn't I think of that? It's so cool!" Doreen exclaimed, tucking it away.

"C'mon, Cowboy, let's go. You can get a hot shower, and some food, and I'll unfold the couch into a bed for you. Ooh, maybe we'll order pizza..." She changed her focus to the Gunslinger, leading him to the hotel a few blocks away.

@Gands @Ringmaster

 

[Ringmaster]

He followed in silence. Where else would he go? Right now, he was mildly curious about his potential host as well as that person with the Touch they just left. It was an odd and alluring figure back there and while the card was interesting? Some part of him wondered where exactly she had been keeping it. The rest of him out of habit focused on the world around him. Every laughing bystander was a potential threat. Every open alley mouth and shadow could be an ambush point. The Unseelie and the other nightmares of the Nevernever drove that into his mind, Tower knows and habit was tough to break.

As he followed after Squirrel Girl, he finally asked the question preying on his mind.

"What is this place? And do you bow to Summer or Winter?"

@Michale CS

 

[Michale CS]

He followed in silence. Where else would he go? Right now, he was mildly curious about his potential host as well as that person with the Touch they just left. It was an odd and alluring figure back there and while the card was interesting? Some part of him wondered where exactly she had been keeping it. The rest of him out of habit focused on the world around him. Every laughing bystander was a potential threat. Every open alley mouth and shadow could be an ambush point. The Unseelie and the other nightmares of the Nevernever drove that into his mind, Tower knows and habit was tough to break.

As he followed after Squirrel Girl, he finally asked the question preying on his mind.

"What is this place? And do you bow to Summer or Winter?"

@Michale CS

"This..." She did a full twirl around, "Is the city that never sleeps... The Big Apple... New York City. Which is kind of miserable in the summer and cold as heck in the winter."

They came to a street vendor and Doreen dug a tenspot out of her pocket - unlike Psyhawk, Doreen had pouches all over her costume - and handed it to him. "Two with everything." She asked, and, despite their appearance, the vendor just nodded and fixed two hefty looking hot dogs, New York style - brown mustard, a pickle and onion relish, and a good portion of sauerkraut.

Doreen handed one to the Gunslinger and grinned. "This'll tide you over til we get to the hotel."

@Ringmaster

 

[Gands]

Eden Haller aka Psyhawk

Eden wasted no time placing a mental marker on the monster Hunter. He seemed like a good soul, so confused in this place, and perhaps touched on by the horrors of his profession.

She reached out to Squirrel Girl telepathically.

" If there is any issue, feel free to call the number on the card. "

@Michale CS @Ringmaster

 

[Michale CS]

Eden Haller aka Psyhawk

Eden wasted no time placing a mental marker on the monster Hunter. He seemed like a good soul, so confused in this place, and perhaps touched on by the horrors of his profession.

She reached out to Squirrel Girl telepathically.

" If there is any issue, feel free to call the number on the card. "

@Michale CS @Ringmaster

Doreen was no stranger to telepathy, but she found it funny. So with a giggle, she quoted an ooolldd show in her mental response, "Mork calling Orson, come in Orson." She accompanied that with an image of her in a red unitard with a silver arrowhead like symbol on it.

"Sure thing! We're just getting hot dogs right now, I'll keep you posted!"

@Gands

 

[Ringmaster]

"This..." She did a full twirl around, "Is the city that never sleeps... The Big Apple... New York City. Which is kind of miserable in the summer and cold as heck in the winter."

They came to a street vendor and Doreen dug a tenspot out of her pocket - unlike Psyhawk, Doreen had pouches all over her costume - and handed it to him. "Two with everything." She asked, and, despite their appearance, the vendor just nodded and fixed two hefty looking hot dogs, New York style - brown mustard, a pickle and onion relish, and a good portion of sauerkraut.

Doreen handed one to the Gunslinger and grinned. "This'll tide you over til we get to the hotel."

It was an interesting name, but if there was anything he could garner from this place? It was the fact that this was not the Nevernever, in any way, shape or form. There was too much iron everywhere for one. Too many humans. But the contradictions elsewhere... He decided to put it to rest for now by trying the exotic looking food given.

Cautiously he chewed before giving the smallest nod of approval.

"What is it?"

It was the reason why he was distracted as that mental marker was grazed onto his mind, surface thoughts emitting.

Mostly about a dark-skinned man who adusted the stance of what had to be a younger, scrawnier version of the man and a and an Ivory-colored robe, that did nothing to hide the strange smile.

@Michale CS @Gands

 

[Michale CS]

Cautiously he chewed before giving the smallest nod of approval.

"What is it?"

It was the reason why he was distracted as that mental marker was grazed onto his mind, surface thoughts emitting.

"This..." Doreen held it up as if in homage after her first bites, "... is some of the best street food New York has to offer. A Coney with mustard relish and sauerkraut."

She took another big bite. "Though technically... It's a beef sausage, boiled, put in a bread roll with a mustard sauce a cucumber and onion chutney and pickled cabbage." Doreen looked even more like her namesake as she cheeked the bite to speak.

@Ringmaster

 

[Ringmaster]

He looked mildly impressed as he chewed, before swallowing. A moment later, he said quietly. "Its real. This isn't a dream or a vision of madness." He shook his head once as he went back to eat quietly, if neatly. Once done, he wiped his fingers on his coat and reached into his pocket. Dropping a pure gold coin into the change box, he said quietly to the hot dog man.

"Thankee-sai."

As he turned to Squirrel Girl, he spoke. "How many humans walk upon these lands?" An intensity in his gaze showed it was a serious question.

@Michale CS @Gands

 

[Michale CS]

He looked mildly impressed as he chewed, before swallowing. A moment later, he said quietly. "Its real. This isn't a dream or a vision of madness."

"No, if you want a vision of madness, there's a place down on 53rd. Spiciest. Stew. Ever. Finish it and they give you a free pint of beer."

As he turned to Squirrel Girl, he spoke. "How many humans walk upon these lands?" An intensity in his gaze showed it was a serious question.

"In New York? Probably about eight or nine million? In the whole state? Probably twice that, maybe a little more." She shrugged. "Here we go. Turn left here." They rounded the corner. On one side of the street was Central Park, and not long after, they arrived at the hotel.

@Ringmaster

 

[Ringmaster]

"No, if you want a vision of madness, there's a place down on 53rd. Spiciest. Stew. Ever. Finish it and they give you a free pint of beer."



"In New York? Probably about eight or nine million? In the whole state? Probably twice that, maybe a little more." She shrugged. "Here we go. Turn left here." They rounded the corner. On one side of the street was Central Park, and not long after, they arrived at the hotel.

@Ringmaster

It was true then.

He had not only discovered Paradise. But he had found a way OUT of the Nevernever.

A world without the monsters and he looked up at the hotel with a brow furrowed in his usual contemplation. Inwardly, confusion and awe warred in a malestrom of emotion before he asked seriously.

"This is a hotel? There are mansions I know of that do not compare."

@Michale CS @Gands

 

[Michale CS]

A world without the monsters and he looked up at the hotel with a brow furrowed in his usual contemplation. Inwardly, confusion and awe warred in a malestrom of emotion before he asked seriously.

"This is a hotel? There are mansions I know of that do not compare."

"Oh yeah, it's pretty big. Probably in the top ten as far as number of rooms, near a thousand? But I think the Sheraton in Times Square is twice this size. I just picked it because it's really close to Central Park, and yeah... squirrels." She escorted him to the elevator and pushed the button.

"I'm on the fifth floor. I think there's like thirty stories to this place?" When the door opened, she waved him on to follow her in and dug out her key card so she could pick the floor.

@Ringmaster

 

[Ringmaster]

"Oh yeah, it's pretty big. Probably in the top ten as far as number of rooms, near a thousand? But I think the Sheraton in Times Square is twice this size. I just picked it because it's really close to Central Park, and yeah... squirrels." She escorted him to the elevator and pushed the button.

"I'm on the fifth floor. I think there's like thirty stories to this place?" When the door opened, she waved him on to follow her in and dug out her key card so she could pick the floor.

@Ringmaster

He looked on with suspicion towards the elevator but walked in after he saw her do the same. Taking a position in a way that would keep him out of first view when the door opened, he leaned against the wall and waited. His eyes flicked towards the walls, like a trapped animal. His fingers tapped the handles of his pistols and only when the door open did he relax. His surprise at the new floor was interposed soon enough with understanding as he glanced at it. A little feat like that would have been beyond the physical power they were capable of back where he understood things.

But here? Here, he wondered...And for the first time, felt the stirrings of unease as he frowned.

His hand reached to his side again, this time pulling out a silver pocketwatch. Clicking it open, a holographic display of the solar system presented itself as he held it to his eye and frowned once.

"Time is flowing strangely here. As the stories say."

He snapped it closed and looked about, back and forth along the hallway.

"Do they have guns here? In this world?"

@Michale CS @Gands

 

[Michale CS]

"Time is flowing strangely here. As the stories say."

He snapped it closed and looked about, back and forth along the hallway.

"Do they have guns here? In this world?"

Doreen pulled up a song on her phone in response to the first comment, letting it start to play.
"Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future
Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future
I wanna fly like an eagle
To the sea
Fly like an eagle
Let my spirit carry me!"

"Do they have guns... pfft. probably about a million kinds... well not a million, but tens of thousands for sure..."

By then, the door opened and the sounds of the ice maker being used greeted them right away, but the sound didn't seem to disturb Doreen. "I'm the fourth door on the right. Come on."

@Ringmaster

 

[Ringmaster]

Doreen pulled up a song on her phone in response to the first comment, letting it start to play.
"Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future
Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future
I wanna fly like an eagle
To the sea
Fly like an eagle
Let my spirit carry me!"

"Do they have guns... pfft. probably about a million kinds... well not a million, but tens of thousands for sure..."

By then, the door opened and the sounds of the ice maker being used greeted them right away, but the sound didn't seem to disturb Doreen. "I'm the fourth door on the right. Come on."

@Ringmaster

"Do you do that often?" He asked glancing at her phone in response to his muttered prior comment. Inside however, he looked around. Contemplative after her statement before very gingerly and aware of his current state, sat down on a chair. He didn't want to get anything dirty and after a moment, he asked.

"You helped me. Why?"

@Michale CS

 

[Michale CS]

"Do you do that often?" He asked glancing at her phone in response to his muttered prior comment. Inside however, he looked around. Contemplative after her statement before very gingerly and aware of his current state, sat down on a chair.

"Naw. I just had the song in my head suddenly when you mentioned time." She admitted.

"You helped me. Why?"

"Why not? Okay, the long reasons?" She went to the kitchen to start working on a bigger dinner - why not cook, the place had the kitchenette.

She ticked them off on her fingers. "One, you looked lost. Two, you look... kinda homeless. Three, you're carrying weapons. Four, you might have been a little mentally unhinged and... five... I'm one of the good guys. It's what we do."

@Ringmaster

 

[Ringmaster]

"One, you looked lost. Two, you look... kinda homeless. Three, you're carrying weapons. Four, you might have been a little mentally unhinged and... five... I'm one of the good guys. It's what we do."

"I'm never lost. I just sometimes find myself in unexplored territory." He said with dignity as he watched her move about. His eyes flicked to her tail as it moved and after a moment, he continued.

"And my home I carry with me, wherever I go. I'm the Gunslinger...In both name and in deed. The last of Gil-Elad's folks, the sort of whom won't ever walk the worlds again when I perish." His hand stroked the handle of his sword, contemplative as he continued. "And its a death sentence to walk unarmed along the Hedge. I had thought myself within its confines, when I first met you."

@Michale CS

 

[Michale CS]

"I'm never lost. I just sometimes find myself in unexplored territory." He said with dignity as he watched her move about. His eyes flicked to her tail as it moved and after a moment, he continued.

"Ha! Just like a man. Never admit being lost. Even wherever it is you come from. Or When..."

"And my home I carry with me, wherever I go. I'm the Gunslinger...In both name and in deed. The last of Gil-Elad's folks, the sort of whom won't ever walk the worlds again when I perish." His hand stroked the handle of his sword, contemplative as he continued. "And its a death sentence to walk unarmed along the Hedge. I had thought myself within its confines, when I first met you."

Blink. Blink. "Uhh... the only Gilley I know of is Mickey Gilley, some old timey Country-Western singer. And the Hedge? What, the suburbs? Man, I knew things had gotten bad, but I didn't know you had to wear swords in Attica. Waitaminute... did you come through some kinda portal thingie? They show up now and then due to the reality-crystal-doohickeys."

@Ringmaster

 

[Ringmaster]

"Ha! Just like a man. Never admit being lost. Even wherever it is you come from. Or When..."

Blink. Blink. "Uhh... the only Gilley I know of is Mickey Gilley, some old timey Country-Western singer. And the Hedge? What, the suburbs? Man, I knew things had gotten bad, but I didn't know you had to wear swords in Attica. Waitaminute... did you come through some kinda portal thingie? They show up now and then due to the reality-crystal-doohickeys."

@Ringmaster

He considered for a moment, contemplative. And then he walked over to her, turning her briefly away from her cooking as he took her hand. Putting it palm up to him, gently he placed his finger in the center of it. A beat later, he explained.

"We're aware of reality changing. But it affected more than the physical. In the place I came from- The spirit world, the boundaries shifted in turn. The Tower has always seen multiple worlds, but this was the first time they combined so. Lines were drawn, new allies and kingdoms formed. Among them- The folk of Gil-Elad. An order of warriors dedicated to the protection of the Tower."

He tapped the middle of her palm. "The tower lies here, seeing into eternity. A lighthouse against the things that may come from the Outside. Your world is here." He dragged his finger down her palm, to her wrist as he continued. "Outside of the Hedge, the realm of Faerie. In the Hedge I lived out my life and I plied my trade, hunting down-." There was a slight hitch to his speech before he continued. "-monsters and the like that live there. Creatures from the Leshen to the Skin Changer to the Druxae. And on occasion, the nightmare that is the beauty of the Faeries. That is the Hedge."

He let go of her hand, his grip warmer than expected and the loss of heat felt as he took a step back.

"My magecraft lets me travel to places where I am most needed, but this was the first time it directed me here. To escape." I don't know why yet. I will."

@Michale CS

 

[Michale CS]

He tapped the middle of her palm. "The tower lies here, seeing into eternity. A lighthouse against the things that may come from the Outside. Your world is here." He dragged his finger down her palm, to her wrist as he continued. "Outside of the Hedge, the realm of Faerie. In the Hedge I lived out my life and I plied my trade, hunting down-." There was a slight hitch to his speech before he continued. "-monsters and the like that live there. Creatures from the Leshen to the Skin Changer to the Druxae. And on occasion, the nightmare that is the beauty of the Faeries. That is the Hedge."

"Huh." she blinked. "You know who'd understand all of this stuff? Doctor Strange. He's like, the Sorcerer Supreme or something like that. He's got a place in Greenwich Village but he's probably still on the West coast dealing with that- uh, our last mission."

Doreen wagged her tail a few times in contemplation. "Hmm.. last I remember Thor was out of town, some rock concert or something... Zatanna, maybe? We should just call Psyhawk - I think she's a former SHIELD agent... she'd know who to talk to about this."

With that, she 'thought hard' at Psyhawk, hoping that would work. When it didn't, she just attached a cute little video to the text she sent Eden...

"Hey. Park Central Hotel. Room 314. This is freaky."

@Ringmaster @Gands

 

[Ringmaster]

"Huh." she blinked. "You know who'd understand all of this stuff? Doctor Strange. He's like, the Sorcerer Supreme or something like that. He's got a place in Greenwich Village but he's probably still on the West coast dealing with that- uh, our last mission."

Doreen wagged her tail a few times in contemplation. "Hmm.. last I remember Thor was out of town, some rock concert or something... Zatanna, maybe? We should just call Psyhawk - I think she's a former SHIELD agent... she'd know who to talk to about this."

"There's nothing really to understand." He said with a shrug as he went back to his seat. Hat tilted low as he kicked back, comfortable and relaxed by a hair trigger.

"And if its my fate to learn more, I will. No more, no less."

@Michale CS @Gands