933/War God of the Stars!

War God of the Stars!
Date of Scene:	13 June 2017
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	194, Ares

---

Ares has posed:
    Late night graveyard shift for construction is usually the star gig. It pays the best, some good perks, and the crew is often the most talented. It comes from the need to get things done on a schedule and that schedule has little wiggle room. So it lends a certain level of camaraderie between the people.
    Tonight's no different, even as the morning sun creeps its way up just past the horizon. The city of Manhattan hasn't awoken yet, still a few more hours til the rush kicks in. But it's this point of time when the crew is departing the work site, walking out of the build area and heading to their cars.
    "Next time try to stop slacking and get yer shit done, Aaron!"
    "Bite me, McKlowski." The tall man with the solid build waves over his shoulder as he walks, the keys in his pocket jangling as he fishes for them.
    "Few guys hitting up the Denny's, John. You in?"
    For a moment the incognito Olympian considers the possibility of a grand slam breakfast, but then shakes his head. "No, friend Tarkenton. I must away to my homestead. My progeny shall call soon from the camp of Summer."
    Tarkenton snorts, "You freak. Seeya."
    It leaves the tall fellow alone as his friend heads off. He keeps on walking to where his black SUV is parked.

Bel Canto (194) has posed:
It's just about the time he reaches the black SUV that she comes into the field of vision.

If she's going for a morning jog before the sun comes up, she's definitely going to avoid being accosted by weirdos, drunks and muggers: The woman is dressed from head to toe in an ancient looking bodiced white dress covered in silvery metallic crystal armor. She looks a cross between a noblewoman of the medieval period and a knight. The broadsword set in a scabbard at her left hip certainly doesn't make her look any less like she's set off for a battlefield. If this is cosplaying, she's gone full out.

And then there's the woman herself; she's pale, almost perfectly white, long white hair coiled at the back of her head, held in place with a few white ribbons. Her ears are pointed at the top, elfin. Her eyes are magenta. She's certainly not as tall as John, but she carries herself with the assertive, confident stance of a trained warrior.

She's walking directly his way.

Ares has posed:
    The man's features are stern, his hair shaved short and his beard stubbly and a little unkempt. There's something distinctly haggard about him, but what might be the most worthy of remark is the slight narrowing of his eyes, intense eyes that abruptly cause him to seem so terribly set upon. The tendons in his jaw clench as his features shift into a faint scowl. No he doesn't recognize her, no, he doesn't know who she is. But at a glance, at her stance and walk, he can tell what she really is.
    Trouble.
    His hands slide from his pockets and he glances over his shoulder. Good, at least his co-worker are mostly out of the way so unless this goes /really/ south then they won't have more of an inkling exactly how much of a freak their co-worker may well be. Monday morning questions can be heard already.
    'Hey John, who was the armored chick?'
    A grunt slips from him as he banishes that scenario from mind and stops walking, taking the time to fold his arms over his broad chest and affect an even more stern manner. No words of greeting yet. Let her play that first card.

Bel Canto (194) has posed:
She looks stops her path and looks up at him directly. He's probably seen that sort of look before, and he can likely read body language. She has the bearing of a commander or ruler, but despite his approach, she is calm, centered, neutral.

"Are you a human of power?" she asks him simply. "I've need to address every human of power, authority and influence on this world. I understand there are many."

Ares has posed:
    "And what would you wish to say to these humans of power?" The tall man gives her a steady looking over, not in the manner of most men in the world, more gauging her as a warrior, or a threat. His eyes flit over the way her armor lies at rest, the plates and their likely method of construction, that sword and its length. He assays her reach, the likely strength in a person of her build. But from her stance, she is trained, a warrior, with a style that is perhaps unlike anything he has observed before. There are too many unknowns, so he remains wary.
    The tall man shifts his weight to the other foot, considering himself correct in his first thought of her. There is definitely something troubling about this person. "For I have power. Human? That remains to be seen."

Bel Canto (194) has posed:
"I am aware that this planet has more than its fare share of offworlders and immigrants, and that the population is even more diverse and disharmonious yet," she says. "It is distressing, but I accept that this is the law and way of this land and its people. " She gives him a quick look up and down. "I can see and sense that you are not a commoner, the resonance within you is great, more so than many others I have seen. As such, it proper and honorable that I give you my name and my quest."

"I am Bel Canto of the House of High C, heir and future King of the world of Harmonia. I have been charged by the goddess of harmony with the protection of this world and its people from an evil that will one day come."

Ares has posed:
    Ah. The tall man looks at her and she can see his brow furrow as he charts the best likely conversational path in his head before he offers her his words. "Bel Canto." There is a certain formality to his words, as if he was imparting upon some ritual whose forms must be observed. "I am known as John Aaron. I held standing on this world in the past, however for now my purview is limited to the craft of a builder I have embraced."
    Slowly he unfolds his arms and matches her gaze. "I can grant you access to no court of power, nor can I give you a place from which you could speak of your quest to those whom would be best suited to aid you."
    There's a moment as he glances back over his shoulder, frowning to himself as the rest of his co-workers continue to depart. He then touches a hand to his chest and asks of her, "If you would be so kind as to walk with me, perhaps I can offer options for the continuation of your quest?" With that said he begins to walk again along the sidewalk, but away from his car as he most likely foresees not using it for the tie.

Bel Canto (194) has posed:
She smiles. "I would be honored," she replies. "I will not keep you from your work as a builder. Builders are vital to the wellbeing of everyone. I would take any advice you can give, as I was not told what the evil would be, nor when, and this world is so starkly different from my own that it is difficult to navigate." She looks her sword. "Apparently even carrying one's weapons among the people is a sign of aggression and threat, rather than a show of no hidden evil intent."

Ares has posed:
    "My time of task is ended," So easy to fall into the patter, to slip back into a role. For a moment a ghost of a smile appears, but disappears as quick as it arrived. "So my time I choose to grant you." His brow knits together briefly, but he lets whatever concern it may have been to slip by for now.
    That having been said he walks with her for a time until they reach a place of some reflection. To some it's just a few trees dug into a cement arrangement with a fountain burbling nearby. To others it's a bit of green to take away from the fact that it sits in front of one of the most corrupt Banks in America. To them, it shall be a place to talk.
    One hand uncurls to gesture towards the bench seating that surrounds the fountain in the curve of a circle. He'll take up a place on one of those benches, and then turn to face her wherever she should choose to rest should she do so. "Bel Canto, you are a new visitor. So I will grant you the advice I would to any such being at first, acceptable?"

Bel Canto (194) has posed:
Bel has a seat on the bench and keeps her eyes on John. The surroundings to her are simply buildings - nothing more. They hold no meaning to her other than the resonance lines they occupy and points of power they generate. The city is a mesh of glowing threads to Harmonian eyes.

Giving John her full attention she nods in agreement. "It is acceptable." She waits to see what he has to say.

Ares has posed:
    "If moving without difficulty is a concern for you, I would recommend you acquire a coat of length. Perhaps a hat as well. The shade of your skin's tone is not unknown, merely rare, so that should pass. Your hair similarly so." For a time he looks her over again afresh, as if considering what possible options might be best for her. "And yes, weapons brandished or weapons at hand are frowned upon in most societies that exist here. If possible find another method of conveyance, or a weapon of less bulk."
    Spreading his hands as if all of that was not as important as what follows, he continues. "Now, if you wish to get your word disseminated you may approach that several ways." He rubs at the stubble upon his chin, "The governments of the world would be one way. Yet there is no easy way to contact all of them simultaneously. There is an institution called the United Nation who will accept and convey your message, though the truth of their words is often questioned."
    For a moment he shakes his head and then looks back to her, "Or you could approach the United States Government in some capacity, and trust that they will lead by example. Yet that is assuming much. Also all of these institutions have a degree of corruption, so you cannot guarantee the honor of those you would be dealing with."
    "There is another angle of attack." His eyes narrow as he folds his arms over his chest. On some level she might perceive that he takes her problem as simply an interesting thought experiment as he elaborates. "You could go to the press, and hope your tale gains traction enough that they will carry it for you. Unfortunately these last five years... matters have become more contentious as more and more beings of power have manifested and so the arrival of a being from another world with a dire message..."
    He looks to her and gets a faint smile, as if commiserating, "It is not as unique as it may have been five years ago."

Bel Canto (194) has posed:
Bel listens, and sits back, resting her hands on her knees. She turns and looks at the first rays of dawn, inhales, and exhales softly. As she does, faint, lilting musical tones emanate from inside her torso. She closes her eyes, frow faintly furrowed.

"It is as I intially surmised. This planet is in a sad state of disharmony, and it only grows. The divisions amplify, the provinces splinter into smaller tribes and armies. I have been here only complete phase of the moon, and I have encountered both great evil, and great good."

"I find myself at a loss. I cannot deny the vision my goddess gave to me at the end of my quest, and yet, I cannot determine where the evil will come from. I find myself losing faith in this mission... why bring harmony to a planet that so clearly does not want it?"

She opens her eyes and looks back over at John. "There is no unified government, no unified language, no unified culture. Even the member of the dominant species are widely varied in plume and skin. I have travelled half the galaxy, leaving behind seventy billion subjects awaiting my coronation, and this planet is so fracutuous and contradictory that it cannot even receive a warning of danger approaching, let alone mount any sort of defense against it."

Bel looks back to her dress. "As for my attire... I can do nothing for it. I have no residence on this world other than my ship, and I cannot simply leave behind my sword or armor. I would have nothing to replace them with, and I have no coin or bartering items with which to acquire replacements. I will not steal them. That is beneath my dignity as king."

Ares has posed:
    As she speaks, he looks after her and on some level he can commiserate. For it was not too long ago that he had stood against his father and hurled similar concerns... albeit with perhaps more colorful aggressive language. So he lifts a rough hand to the back of his neck, fingers scritching at his short shaved hair and he looks aside.
    When she finishes speaking he looks back to her and says simply, "Bel Canto, I can understand your disillusionment, and in some ways I am touched with sympathy." He gets a small smile as he leans forwards upon the bench, looking away from her for a time as he lets a few moments pass then he looks back towards her. "I have some small familiarity with the fickleness of the divine." He takes a breath, then adds, "And if your goddess set you this task, I can assure you that she had no intention of it being easy for you or making it so."
    Not that he's familiar with her specific goddess, but he then laces his fingers together. "As for all else." He chews on the corner of his cheek a moment and then shakes his head at himself with a small chuckle. But then he pushes the shoulder of his jacket off of one arm, sliding his arm free and then slips out of it fully. He folds it up once, halfway, then sets it on the bench beside him. "Take this," It's a long flannel coat of red and black, assuredly large on her smaller frame considering his build.
    "It will serve for now, and if you will meet me back here on the morning next, I will be able to give you an item you can barter for funds."
    Then he affixes her with his stern gaze, "These are not gifts. I am not a man so easily who grants of himself." He furrows his brow, "I consider these to be an investment in the leader of a people, whose contact with my own will be a boon. Is this acceptable?"

Bel Canto (194) has posed:
"It is unusual to be sure. We did not even know your planet existed, or what its name was. The vision quests performed by Harmonian knights at the ends of their training have never yet yielded such a quest before. My people do not participate in the affairs of the rest of creation. When another race broached our world, it was nothing but disaster."

"... To my shame, I disobeyed my father and the mastersingers in even coming here. They told me to treat the vision as a mistake, to try again. Yet, it was so real. The fact that this world exists with its people exactly as I saw - it is proof that it was real."

She watches John take off his coat, and place it between them. She touches it, noting the color and texture. She mulls over the offer. "I will accept on the caveat that, should the contact not be beneficial to one or either of our worlds, that I will return this cloak to you, or make restitution with one of my own."

Ares has posed:
    A small smile touches his features, "Sometimes we must step away from our support structure and act on our own, parents be damned." That sentiment might be more his than hers, to be fair. "But it is brave of you to come here on the strength of your faith and seek to aid a people not your own."
    But then she tells him the terms of their agreement and he answers, "A fair clause added to our agreement." The broad-shouldered man then gains his feet before her, standing a full foot taller than her and then offering her his hand. "This is how we seal our decisions on this planet," His eyes meet hers levelly, brown eyes calm for the moment. "Clasping of hands, and a meeting of the eyes to offer our cooperation."
    And should she rise to shake his hand his will meet hers. It will be a short sharp shake, two pumps, done. And she will be able to feel the strength in his grip, but not aggressively so. Once that's done he'll give a nod, "I shall return tomorrow morning."

Bel Canto (194) has posed:
Standing and paying attention, she returns the gesture, taking John's hand and shaking on it. She admits to herself that this man is one of the more noble and honorable humans she has encountered. Bel places him on her mental rankings as on the same footing as T'Challa and Steve Rogers.

"Fare well on your day, then. I shall make note of this location on the Voidsong's maps. I may return with questions, if this will not trouble you." Once the grip of hands is released, she leans over to pick up and take the coat.

Ares has posed:
    "Same time tomorrow, I shall be here." There's a moment as he lifts his wrist up and considers the timepiece there before he looks back at her, "The day after I am afraid I will be indisposed." His lip curls a bit and he considers giving her some form of an excuse, perhaps something suitably cryptic and arcane to let the mind wander as to his existence.
    Instead he says , "I am to visit my son, and cannot disappoint him." As if that had as much weight as the plight of two worlds and their people. But for him...
    "Til then, Bel Canto." He gives her a level nod and then turns to begin the walk of his departure.