Secret Meeting in the Park

Secret Meeting in the Park
Date of Scene:	30 June 2014
Location:	Prohibition Chicago
Synopsis:	Eliot Ness calls Pinkamena and Homura for a meeting.
Cast of Characters:	2, 264, 470

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Eliot Ness (264) has posed:
Eliot Ness had called Pinkamena the other night to arrange a meeting after Stalliongrad. Homura had been invited afterwards because he could tell the assassin had strange powers and it would be best to keep someone with Homura's abilities around.

Which leads us to today. Today there is a meeting, in broad daylight, in the middle of a crowded park. It's a 1929 crowded park, so people are dressed period-specific. Ness's chosen location is a pair of benches under an overhanging tree, which provides shade from the summer heat.

The suit-wearing investigator is reading a newspaper with the headline 'Capone Baffled: Ness Literally Backed By Angels?'.

Thank Vruasa and Homura for that.

Pinkie (470) has posed:
Now let's set down a little mood music for this particular meeting...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s99Y8-eTtOQ

Broad daylight or not, Pinkamena is here, the murderous Jester seemingly appearing from out of nowhere in the shadow of a nearby tree. One minute no one's there, the next instant... All it takes is a blink and she's there, flipping a coin dramatically, over and over. Complete with fedora, three piece pink suit, and an utterly garish red and white polka-dot oversized bow tie.
Of course she has on that mask. That menacing, faceless smile and teardrop mask obscuring her features.
Considering the absolutely clownish outfit she's got on, the lank grey-pink hair and tail might just get passed off as some dumb clown outfit.
"Whatcha readin'?" Whispered as she peeeeeeks over Ness' shoulder.

Homura Akemi (2) has posed:
Homura was here all along this time, with no surprise appearance. She has been leaning against that tree silently and enjoying a bit of fresh air and quiet. No comments are made about the newspaper headline because now she's feeling a bit guilty screwing with history like that. Well, it's still less of a deal than Vruasa pretending to be God that one time. That was a thing.

She is dressed a bit more casually today, a nice purple one piece dress that goes down to her knees. Her hair's in a sidetail tied by a red ribbon, as usual, and she has her glasses on.

She does not move from her position when the would-be assassin appears, and instead just opens one eye halfway to watch.

Eliot Ness (264) has posed:
"Newspaper," Ness says, cracking a dryer type of humor than the murderous clown may be used to. Months ago, this would have given him a terrible shock, but the Multiverse is slowly making him more used to these situations. So instead he just folds up his paper and looks at her, "Quite a surprising entrance."

Ness calmly looks between Homura and Pinkamena, folding the paper up some more and placing it down next to him, "After yesterday, I'm willing to hear you out. Why should she die?"

Pinkie (470) has posed:
"Well yes, I can see that. Is it just me or does everyone around here reeeaally need to work on their delivery?" The cult prophet pouts. It's hard to tell with that mask on, but the tone of her voice might give it away. Nevertheless, she props her elbows on the back of the bench. Green eyes glint through the shadow of her mask, flitting from Homura to Eliot as she rests her chin right on her hands. "Oh that IS a good question isn't it! Well I'm not busy right now, so I can get right into storytime!" The deadly jester chirrups and waggles a finger.
"Fifteen years ago there were six little ponies, each who represented one of the elements of harmony! Loyalty, Honesty, Kindness, Generosity, Laughter, and Magic. Then the two most powerful ponies in the land up and left and everything was fallign apart. So Twilight Sparkle thought she would make everything better and killed me in the process!"
She lets that hang a moment.
"Whoooopsie!"

Homura Akemi (2) has posed:
Her delivery is fine.
She just has almost no sense of humor.

Homura fully opens her eyes, listening to 'storytime'. From what she's heard that all fits together, until the last part. That's different.

On to the important questions then:
"So it was an accident in an attempt to genuinely help?"

Eliot Ness (264) has posed:
Ness listens as well, leaning back in his seat and folding his hands in his lap. He tilts his head a bit... most of that story sounding like a bedtime story for children, at least up until the end. His hands come up against and he rubs them together.

"But you got better. Or she didn't, and you're not her. Which would explain the masks, wouldn't it? Unless whatever brought you back disfigured you," Eliot muses. To be talking about transcending death or coming back from the dead is strange for him.

"So it's blood for blood, then. She kills you, you kill her back?" He rubs his chin with his hand, "You are aware she's working on the ability to transcend to spirit form. You may just empower her."

He scratches the side of his head, "A complex world you live in."

Pinkie (470) has posed:
"There was a -power vacuum-. Our princesses abandoned us. Equestria was in chaos and Twilight's first answer was to try and turn us into Alicorns. Do you know how that went?"
The killer clown sure isn't happy now as her focus slides to the Puella magi. "Rainbow Dash was scarred beyond belief, Rarity was turned into a crystal freak. I didn't even want to do it. But she told me if I didn't do it, then the discord that would fall on Equestria would be all MY fault." Her hiss muffles through her mask.
"It's more than just blood for blood." Pinkamena counters, drumming her fingertips on the crying white porcelain cheek.
"You saw what she's making. She broke our friendship with her pride and now Equestria is at war isn't it?" Tsk. "Now that's not funny at all." She says waggling a finger at Ness. "I didn't get better, I mean look at me~." A vengeful spirit perhaps, but then she starts nodding. "Oh yes yes! Everything just got worse! Applejack is warlord of the plains, Rainbow Dash has declared herself the greatest Sky Marshall Equestria's ever seen, we've got changelings, Everfree spreading... And of course my little cult!" ... "(We even have a cult blimp.)"
Ahem.
"And all of it?"

"Twilight Sparkle's fault."

Homura Akemi (2) has posed:
"To do good at any cost without thinking of the potential consequences. Where have I heard that before..." Homura trails off, internally rolling her eyes before settling them back onto the masked killer. "And what does she intend to do now? Fix her mistakes and reunite everyone, or continue the nonsense and keep power for herself only? Will killing her fix the problem, or will it just allow someone else to take her place, and the balance of power will simply shift to one of the others, who are now just as bad?"

Her tone isn't too judgmental, it's more than she wants to know what they're getting into, in full. Granted, after yesterday, she doubts the Archmagister is in this to make everything better for everyone again.

Eliot Ness (264) has posed:
Ness takes a long look at Pinkamena. But it's Homura he answers, "No. Her goal isn't just to kill Twilight, is it?" A gloved hand rubs his face, palm running across his mouth before he lets it drop and he rubs under his chin.

"You plan to take them all out, don't you. You haven't just targetted Twilight, you were taking people out from her house, at the bottom and at the top." He narrows his eyes. His knowledge on this topic is uncanny, but one can figure it owes to his experience disassembling a mafia.

"After Twilight, you take out the other bases of power? Disassemble it all down to the framework. And then you leave it for the rest to rebuild. Mask comes off, you vanish into the crowd."

Pinkie (470) has posed:
"Well let me see..." Pinkamena muses at Homura. "She ruined everything is hardly a good excuse, but killing her is a -start-." And now she's counting off on her fingers. "There are five Elements of Harmony left... Rainbow Dash and Applejack have turned into warmongers, Twilight holds control over the capital, Fluttershy wants to cover Equestria in endless forest... Killing all of them well... That would do everyone a favor." She admits before pausing. "Rarity was a victim. Just like me! Oh but she got off on a fate worse than death... Killing her would..."
She seems unable to keep up on that line of thought. The clown just isn't amused anymore.
So she holds up her palms. "Kill the four of them, and I'm happy again! Avenged, exorcised... I HAVE FREED THA DEMONZ!"
Jazz fingers.
Well that is a form of taking the mask off and vanishing.

Homura Akemi (2) has posed:
So basically it's a huge mess and there's no easy way out. Or at least, it doesn't look like there is; whether people can carve one or not can be a bit unpredictable. The assassin's method is probably not the worst possible backup plan, though. It's just not a very good looking one.

Homura turns towards Eliot, giving a sigh. "So what do you make of this? It doesn't sound like helping the Archmagister is a good plan, but none of her opposition sounds much saner or better. Assassins included."

Pinkie (470) has posed:
Pinkamena tilts her head in the most amazing pout right at Homura. Her epic pouting is palpable even through the mask.

Eliot Ness (264) has posed:
"Mm," Ness faintly makes a noise in response to the entire situation, mulling over some internal struggle over the entire situation. Eventually, both hands slap down on his knees and he sighs. He reaches into his jacket and pulls out a pack of cigarettes, putting one in his mouth and lighting it.

"Twilight wants me to help with her security to counter your attempts against her," He tells Pinkie pretty directly, "I've told her what I need and I'm waiting for her to make a counter offer or accept my offer." It's a matter of fact statement.

"But I do not fully trust her. Nor you. I am going to do the job she asks of me, which means I may need to oppose you. HOWEVER. If I decide that your stance on her is correct, it gives you an insider in her operation. Potentially two, if Ms. Akemi stays with me on these matters."

"I won't declare us allies yet, but perhaps we can be of use to eachother."

Pinkie (470) has posed:
Well, the clown is still holding her palms out. "In my defense I'm perfectly sane! Just vengeful and wrathful! It's kind of funny isn't it?" She finally chirrups before planting her chin back on her palms. "Oh you do that." She replies to Ness. "I won't get mad, I'll just laugh harder." She explains before getting into further detail: "Don't hold your breath on that Manehattan office."
Whatever she could mean by that she doesn't elaborate. "It's all one big play anyway. I'll let you two see how the acts progress and make your choices from there."
"It's funnier that way."

Homura Akemi (2) has posed:
"Unfortunately, I'm not afforded the same neutrality as you. I also lack the time for an indepth undercover mission. I won't be able to accompany or help you with this unless it's a decision the Union can endorce. And if her story has any shred of truth to it," Homura idly motions towards the clown, "Then that seems somewhat unlikely."

The Puella Magi shrugs, closing her eyes again.

"But I will note if there is truly some sort of racial bias against your being a normal human, then you may be walking into a situation where they use you and then discard you. It did seem as though the unicorns had sway over the others at those factories, and held much cleaner and less bothersome positions."

Eliot Ness (264) has posed:
"I don't think that it was me being a human," Ness admits, "I can hide that well enough with the jacket and hat. I got harassed for being what they were callin' a 'Blank Flank', but I do see your point," Ness says to Homura, leaning back in his seat.

"And, well. I think if we went to anyone's territory, we'd see their race getting preferential treatment. That's... a problem a lot of places," He's speaking generally about Equestria, but also in a broader sense. His hands rub together and he looks at Pinkie.

"Don't you worry too much about me, li'l lass. I'm hardboiled and tough to crack. If they try to discard me, well, that'll be tough for them," Still, it does get a worried look on his face, "I understand if you need to tell your bosses what I'm doin', though."

And finally, to Pinkie, "The office was the decoy. Ask for something big, so she doesn't really realize the all-access badge is what I'm actually after. Actin' greedy gives you more to bargain with."

Pinkie (470) has posed:
Ah therein is the kicker. Fingertips drumming on her mask, Pinkamena turns right around to sit her ass on the back of the bench, one leg crossing over the other as she folds her arms. "What I'm saying is. Manehattan might not be the Archmagister's much longer."
Upon this she does not elaborate before 'tsk'ing, "Oh yeah, being a Blank Flank is a pretty harsh way to go. Still haven't found a Cutie Mark into adult age? Well that's tough luck isn't it? You looked like you faked one pretty well enough though." The jester singsongs before planting a hand on her chest at Homura's remark. "Doesn't seem likely? You -wound- me madam!"

Homura Akemi (2) has posed:
"I meant it's unlikely the Union will stand at the Archmagister's side if your story were to be true," Homura corrects, idly, before nodding towards Ness. "I can sugarcoat it. But I'm probably expected to warn people. You know what you're getting into, though, and you're ready to back out if she would turn out to be someone not worth helping, so I doubt it would matter much in the long run."

"It probably won't take long for people's real colors to show themselves. As most of my allies are extremely impulsive, it probably won't take long for them to pick a side either. I won't make the decision for them because I don't know enough, and there are people better suited for it than me."

Eliot Ness (264) has posed:
Ness sighs a bit and picks up his paper, "I can understand your duty to the Union, Ms. Akemi. They've done a great deal for me, so I wouldn't dream of asking you to do any more. Report back your findings so far and my involvement. But stress to them that if they compromise my position by knowing I am attempting to contact both sides, the consequences could be dire for me."

He stands up and nods his head to the both of them, "I'm going to leak to the Archmagister that you are planning to focus on Stalliongrad and sabotage her work. You will need to fake activity in that area to make me look credible."

And then he has one final question, "Who will be taking over Manehattan?"

Pinkie (470) has posed:
Who will be taking over Manehattan? It's a question that makes Pinkamena glance between Akemi and Ness. Yet the killer clown simply takes a step back. "I'll make it look like The Cult is poking there harder~." She decides. Before sliding into the nearest shadow. "As for Manehattan..."
Just like hat she's gone. But not without one last whisper, "That's a Cinderella story."

Homura Akemi (2) has posed:
Homura nods to Ness. It goes without saying.
"I'm not going to trivialize your operation, and I'll ensure they all know about it and not to mess it up for you. I can probably ensure if any of them have to fight you they hold back to keep you in the game, though I have no doubt you can hold your own and wouldn't need me to do that. Push come to shove I'll let you kick my teeth in to convince the Archmagister you have her best interests in mind," she even offers, before glancing towards the killer, who makes her leave with a few last cryptic words. She looks back at Ness. "I have no idea what that means. I need to brush up on my vocabulary."