6616/You meet the oddest people in Boston

From United Heroes MUSH
Jump to navigation Jump to search
You meet the oddest people in Boston
Date of Scene: 22 February 2019
Location: Boston
Synopsis: Summary needed
Cast of Characters: Vintridr, Angela




Vintridr has posed:
    With New Asgard stabilizing, and Valhalla rebuilt, Vintridr has finally managed to clear enough time to re-open the Sacred Grounds, hiring a few extra staff to keep the place running when she's elsewhere. She can still be found there regularly, although the sign at the entrance containing the rules of conduct has some... Unorthodox additions. Most regular coffee shops don't have an explicit rule asking that swords remain sheathed, or that history students get to ask one question per cup, after all.

    Despite that, business is decent; the place is rarely overly crowded, but it's even more rarely empty. Today seems to be an average day, various people -- mostly students, at this time of day -- sitting at various tables, poring over books or laptops while nursing their cups. 'Vinnie' herself is taking advantage of a brief lull to clean some returned mugs, looking for all the world like any other barista, if perhaps a bit taller than the stereotype...

Angela has posed:
Angela has not had much practice in the art of teleportation through Limbo. When she decided to make a return visit to Midgard - she had focused in on the strongest Asgardian spirit she could find. And then she stepped through the portal.

With a whoosh of ribbons that snap out around the Asgardian Angel's body, the woman finds herself standing in the middle of a strange shop, accosted by the smell of freshly ground coffee. "Where in the Ten Realms is this?" she asks in demand.

Even in the dead of winter, she wears the revealing angel armor, the gold breastplate and wide sword belt the only things protecting her modesty as she looks around the coffee shop. "I was told that there is a svartálfar that has been freed on Midgard. I am here to collect it's bounty."

Vintridr has posed:
    There are several shouts of shock and surprise - apparently, this is not a common occurence here - and the smell of excellent coffee becomes significantly stronger as one or two people wind up spilling their coffee over themselves startling away from the sudden appearance.

    Vintridr, on the other hand, barely bats an eye as she puts the cups down and looks the woman over. "To answer your second question first, Hunter-for-Hire, not many of that cursed race remain alive today. To the best of my knowledge, one of them recently fell to Midgard and tried to claim asylum, a request the people of this world take seriously. She's currently in custody of some of this world's mightiest defenders while her story is being evaluated."

     Vintridr smiles thinly. The laws of hospitality don't /demand/ perfect courtesy, especially when the guest is being rude, but they do recommend it. "As to your first, this is a place for rest and refreshment. It is called the Sacred Grounds, and it is mine. Be welcome, as a guest -- and as a guest who honors the accords of neutral ground, your first order is free. What would you like?"

Angela has posed:
There's a snort from Angela. "World's mightiest defenders. I have heard tales of these Avengers. The Asgardian God of Thunder coddles them." she responds, apparently not at all offended by the way that the barrista addresses her.

Her attention swivels around the coffee bar, and at all of the guests there, and then back to the counter. She strides to it. "I have had this coffee before. At the place of the Indecent Mermaid. I should like to try it again." she says with a firm nod of her head. "But. Nothing is for nothing. You offer me a free coffee. I cannot accept. What is your price?" She knows of the rule - something must be given in trade.

Vintridr has posed:
    This elicits a raised eyebrow, even as Vintridr half-turns to select a number of beans from various bags, making an experienced barista's best guess at the kind of blend most likely to appeal. "... An interesting point of view. Would it satisfy your concerns if I said that the price for this coffee was paid forward, a thousandfold of thousand times over, long before either of us were born, when wise people first recognized the need for hospitality as a custom? Over time, hospitality has saved lives and ended wars without count. My people still live and thrive, despite Asgard's destruction, because hospitality was offered when we needed it."

    She clenches her fist, and a crunching sound can be clearly heard in the sudden silence as powder and fragments of bean trickle into the grinder's hopper from her hand. "A free coffee to a guest in exchange for a promise to behave as guests should is a small price to pay by comparison, wouldn't you agree?"

Angela has posed:
With Vintridr cracking the beans, Angela's red brow rises regally. "You are not what you act to be." she points out bluntly. "I accept your offer. What are you?" comes the next blunt question.

"You have the look of the Midgardian, but you act as though you know of the customs of the Realms. Are you one with no memory? If so, I will have you know I am Angela, the Hunt-Mistress of the Tenth Realm of Heven."

Vintridr has posed:
    "Have a care before you accuse me of deception," Vintridr replies, meeting Angela's gaze straight on and letting some of the steel flicker through. "I'll admit I'm more than what you assumed, but perhaps if you'd paid more attention to the sign you'd have realized not to make assumptions..."

    She smiles disarmingly, flicking her hand to drop the last bit of the bean melange into the grinder and starting it up . "And I /am/ what you see - the people here have known me as 'Vinnie' for a long time, and this is my coffee shop. It is simply not /all/ of what I am."

    She tilts her head. "Heven? Tenth realm? To my knowledge, there are only nine -- eight, now that Asgard is no more. I've never heard of the place you claim to hail from."

Angela has posed:
"I have heard much of the denial of Heven." Angela gives a little snort at the comment. "Are all so dense to the idea that much like Asgard has recently become no more, that there may have also been others lost to time?" she asks.

"I seek the one that brought me here. That took me away from Heven. He is of this world." There's a considering glance at the woman behind the counter. She gives her a long look over, and a second. "Yet you are here. Among them. Why?" she asks. "You are much more." comes the question to the Valkyrie - not that the angel has completely figured it out yet, but she's starting to get the vibe.

Vintridr has posed:
    "I said I hadn't heard of it, not that I deny it existence," Vin replies. "And Asgard's fall is much more recent - it was lost not a year ago, when Surtur made common cause with Malekith and both Jotunheim and Svartalfheim attacked as one. The survivors have settled on Midgard, and we are rebuilding."

    She picks up a mug and places it under the machine without looking around, just when the dark brown liquid starts trickling out. "As for who I am..." She places the now-full mug before Angela as she draws herself up to her full height. "I am called Vintridr, of Asgard's Valkyrior. As I said, I have no knowledge of the realm of Heven, nor do I know who might have taken you from there. If you know the name, I might be able to help, but the only promise I can make is that you will enjoy this coffee."

Angela has posed:
"Yet the Midgardians allow the protection of a svartalfheim among them." There'a a frown from the angel. "I do not know of the name of the realm ripper. Only that Midgard is his home. And I will force him to return me to my realm. Or rip the flesh from his bones." Angela responds calmly.

When Vintridr announces herself as a Valkyrior, the woman pauses. And she gives her a closer look. "Why would one of the vaunted battle maidens of Asgard be here. Though the smell is an intoxicant in it's own way."

Vintridr has posed:
    "As I understand it, she claims to be a refugee, and Midgard wishes to ascertain her claim before making a decision purely based on what others say about her," Vintridr replies. "It's a good attitude, even if it feels naive to those of us who know from experience what Svartalfr are like. My King has warned them; if and when she proves treacherous we'll be ready to do something about it."

    She smiles again. "As to how I came to be here... That is a long story, but suffice to say that even the choosers of the slain can have their fill of war and bloodshed sometimes."

Angela has posed:
There's a little frown. Of all the places to find a Valkyior, the lost angel of Heven did not expect it to be in a coffee shop. She remains, however. She is bound to be hospitable by the rules that Vintridr set - she does not make any more comments on the humans, instead she folds her arms on the counter and watches her work.

"This is relaxing for you? Making these beverages?" she asks finally. "If it is for riches or treasure, I know of some minor ones that would support you if you are willing to seek them." comes the offer. Because she can't think of /any/ reason why an Asgardian would be serving Midgard.

Vintridr has posed:
    Vintridr smiles. "I've lived on Midgard for nigh on four of its centuries now," she replies. "Rest assured I don't lack for money. 'Relaxing' is perhaps not the right word, but yes, I do find enjoyment in this. It's quiet, it's simple, it's straightforward yet requires more skill than one might presume on the face of it... And it's something I /chose/ to do, of my own will."

Angela has posed:
"Everyone does have their own hobbies." Angela finally agrees. Apparently, she's decided to climb down off of her high horse for the moment and join everyone else. She looks around with a critical eye, the woman's attention drawn back to the attractive Asgardian behind the counter. "I was told that Asgard has been relocated to Midgard. In a place they call Scandanavia."

Vintridr has posed:
    Vintridr's smile turns bittersweet. "Relocated is... Not the word. But yes, those Aesir who survived Asgard's fall have settled in Scandinavia, in an area bequeathed them by the king of Norway in recognition of our ancient ties. New Asgard is still rebuilding, although in recent months enough of it has been built that I've been able to split my time between here and there."

Angela has posed:
"Asgard was a worthy adversary. I am sadden to hear of it's loss." Angela replies. If she had wine, she'd drink to the collapse of the realm. Instead, she will have to wait for her coffee. Her eyes study Vintridr for several moments. "You are attractive for a Valkyior." she says simply. Rather matter of factly.

Vintridr has posed:
    That earns her a smirk as a mug full of a lovely fragrant liquid is pushed toward her with care. "Flattery may get you quite a ways, but not while I'm on shift. For now, please enjoy your coffee."

    At the reference to Asgard's death she grows wistful again. "We fought until we could fight no more, and then we fought on to evacuate as many as we could -- and to ensure that Asgard's killers would not live to enjoy their victory. It was not a bad death, as such deaths go." She says that last with some authority -- but then, the Choosers of the Slain do tend to see more than their share of deaths. "But as Thor Odinson, King of Asgard, pointed out, Asgard is not a place, but its people. And its people yet live, and shall thrive again."

Angela has posed:
There's a nod of her head at that. "It is an admirable thing, Vintridr. One that you should carry with pride." comes Angela's response as she smeels the fresh brewed coffee that the Valkyior is making. "And now, that the battle is over - it is time to rebuild. Time for you to establish a new home. That, as well, is admirable. I am told by all that Thor is a decent man. I suppose time will tell."

She accepts the mug, but with Vintridr tells her now when she's on shift, Angela does not push it any further. Instead, she sips from the mug, closing her eyes against the taste of it. "...by the Realms. Did you find this drink someplace magical?"

Vintridr has posed:
    Vintridr simply smirks, no small amount of pride in her eyes. "As I said. There is more skill involved in doing this job /well/ than might seem apparent. The blend of beans, the coarseness of the powder, the time spent roasting and brewing. All matter and need to match the tastes of the drinker. This particular variant is my personal blend. I do hope you weren't planning on sleeping any time in the next ten hours or so..."

Angela has posed:
"Sleep. I rarely sleep, Valkyior." Angela boasts, a little raise in her chest in pride. "An angel is always ready to carry out her duties." And with that, she's drinking down the rest of the very potent blend. "This is delicious." she offers to the woman, before there's a smirk towards her in return. "And in which part of that ten hours are you no longer on duty here?" There's a clear tease in her voice.

Vintridr has posed:
    "A few hours more, until I turn the shift over to my employee," Vintridr replies with a smirk. "Do you intend to stay in town long?"

Angela has posed:
"I came to Midgard to find the one who pulled me from Heven. Until that happens, I will be present." Angela responds. "I can travel as I need to." comes the woman's decision as she sets down the cup on the counter.

Vintridr has posed:
Vintridr smiles a bit wider. "In that case, I do hope to see you later," she replies, glancing at a clock on the wall. "But until then, the local college is breaking for lunch, and I'm about to get somewhat busy. The students are aware of the rules, and will not ask nosy questions once you've asked them to stop - they know that I'll ask them to leave if they don't. In return I'd ask you refrain from maiming anyone on the premises who does not offer actual violence here."

Angela has posed:
The woman is standing their in her battle armor. Which admittedly, isn't much. "Then perhaps, to prevent such bloodshed, I should make my departure. You have a way to be contacted so that we may meet again?" she asks, a lift of a curious brow as she rises to her feet and sets the cup down on the counter.

Vintridr has posed:
    Vintridr grins. "Traditionally, dying heroically in battle does the trick, but if you'd prefer a less drastic way..." she snags a napkin and scribbles a number on it. "I take it you're familiar with telephones?"

Angela has posed:
"I am familiar with communicators, yes. Though the death I planned will do more than draw your attention." Angela offers in a very teasing tone to the woman, a smirk crossing her features as she glances towards the napkin and accepts it. "I will call you then and find out when you are not occupied to spend time together."