12833/Radio Silence Summons The REd

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Radio Silence Summons The REd
Date of Scene: 19 September 2022
Location: The Lending Library
Synopsis: Hellboy finds a friend in need in the Lending Library of the Curio. Phoebe finds some solace in the idea that a seven foot tall bright red demon takes in stray cats.
Cast of Characters: Phoebe Beacon, Hellboy




Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe had sent electronic pics that she thought were funny out to her group of friends. On occasion it was skeletons in unlikely places doing normal things. Some of it was Goth humor. On occasion Gotham humor (making fun of the Bats on occasion), and then it had stopped.

    A single message of 'I'm fine' had gone out when someone inquired.

    And then nothing, for a little under a week. Showing up at The Curio, where she had typically stopped in, someone would have directed Red up to a room above the bar, which had a wooden hanging sign with LENDING LIBRARY on it.

    The Lending Library hadn't changed much since she had gotten the news of her adopted dad's identity a little under a year ago. Phoebe was sitting in the window seat, though the window was frosted and didn't really lead to anywhere. Her hair was tamped tightly down in a black headwrap with grinning skulls all over it, and she was wearing a dark gray T-shirt promoting some punk band and ripped jeans. Unusually, she was wearing sandals, which showed pale, irregular splotches on her feet.

    She was also missing her usual choker-collar. Instead there were the wounds of some vicious creature that had ripped her larynx from her body, tinged with red and glowing with fel light. She was apparently In A Mood, which is what the bartender would have warned Red about.

Hellboy has posed:
    Hellboy pushes open the door to The Lending Library as cautiously as one can imagine a seven-foot demon being. Peeking around, he carefully and quietly closes it behind himself. He soon finds Phoebe. "Hey, Phoebs," he says, just above a whisper. He's not going to have a great excuse for why he's here if she asks other than to make sure she's not possessed, but at least that's a nice thought. Hellboy doesn't address any of that, he's just here for her, same as he's been before.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    If Phoebe was possessed there would probably be a LOT of phonecalls going out.

    She's not hard to find, though she looks up over the top of the book she was reading, gives a small wave to Hellboy, and then drops her gaze back down. She's chewed her fingernails to the nubs, and she curls her toes a little bit in her sandals before she drops the book down and signs.

    -What can I do for you today, Red?-

Hellboy has posed:
    Hellboy sits across from Phoebe and signs back at her, -Checking on you. You touch dangerous things. Making sure you're not dead. You okay?- Of course, he knows she's not deaf, but there's something instinctive about responding in the way you were addressed.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe shifts her weight a moment, and she sets down her book. She holds her hands a moment, in thought on how to respond to Red before she answers with a simple -No.-

    She tilts her head back.

    -I helped build this room. Last year. My dads and I. We ordered Thai. I crushed my thumb between two boards, back when I could talk. Swore so loud that one bumped his head.- she signs.

    She gives a slight smile.

    -They're both gone now.-

Hellboy has posed:
    Hellboy almost smiles as Phoebe recounts time with her dads. However, that almost smile fades. He nods solemly. "My father's gone, too," he says. "Adopted dad, but that doesn't make it easier." He is hesitant for a bit before he asks, "How'd it happen?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    -One was a fake and was mind controlling the other. Had a fight with the latter and didn't fix things before he left. He just... left. And it's fine. Only really knew him for a couple of months. Don't know why I'm so upset about it. I'll get over it.- she signs back, and then leans her head back against the shelves. -My actual adopted dad died five years ago. Crushed to death in a burning building making sure everyone got out. I inherited his heroism, I'm afraid-.

Hellboy has posed:
    Hellboy thinks for a while before he responds. "You know," he says, "I normally only take in cats, but if you need someone to talk to..." He trails off, letting the sentence hang. "I don't know what I can do besides that," he says. "Maybe a hug. I care what happens to you, but I'm not a shrink."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    -I don't need to be taken in. My physical and magical wellbeing are covered. My mental wellbeing is minded. I need to just get over it.- she signs back to Hellboy, and she gives a snort, but her lips curl up a little. -You pick up street cats?-

Hellboy has posed:
    "Hey!" Hellboy says, almost offended. "Cats need care, too!" He's not going to mention the fact that he's got at least half a dozen of them in his room in the BPRD HQ. Well, to say nothing of the fact that most people, even in SHIELD, don't know that the BPRD exists. He calms, though. It wasn't a real offence, just playful banter. "Just let me know what you need, okay? If you were older, I'd offer to take you out for a drink, but you might have to settle for icecream or something." Phoebe may have inherited heroism, but Hellboy's sweet and caring demeanor...is probably learned.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    -No, no, I need to know about the cats, right this instant.- Phoebe signs. -I have a dog. Friends of mine have a cat named Mister Murder Mittens.-

    And talking about Hellboy taking in stray cats was a good distraction.

    -How many cats do you have?- she asks -What are their names?-

Hellboy has posed:
    "Well, let's see," Hellboy starts. He starts counting on the Red Fingers of Doom. "Well, there's Whiskers," he counts on his Right Thumb of Doom. He then explains, "You GOTTA have a cat called Whiskers. It's the law." A bit of hyperbole, but still good. His Right Index Finger of Doom extends. "Blackie," he continues, totally serious.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    -Whiskers and Blackie, got it. Is Blackie a black cat?- Phoebe asks, leaning forward, interested.

Hellboy has posed:
    Hellboy hesitates before continuing. "Well--" He trails off a bit. Not the most creative of namers. "--yeah," he finally says. "Black cats are the best." He stops counting on his fingers, at least for now. "They totally get a bad rap."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe presses her lips together, trying not to give a wincey smile at the descriptive name.

    -It's a good name for a black cat. Like everyone who names their black horses Black Beauty.- she smiles. -They do get bad reps. I considered getting a cat before I ended up with a dog.-

Hellboy has posed:
    Counting off a dozen cats is set aside as Hellboy listens. "Dogs aren't bad people," he says. "What's your dog like?" He seems to be getting the hint that this is helping Phoebe. Took him long enough.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    -Good Boy. Smart. He's probably enjoying some sunlight now, resting.- Phoebe replies with a smile, and she reaches down to pick up her phone, swiping a couple of pictures in, and shows off a dapper looking sight-hound with long, tall ears and blue eyes. Looks like an overgrown fox terrier.

Hellboy has posed:
    Hellboy looks at the phone. He looks at the dog with the expression of an old man looking at a photograph...which is what's happening. "Not a bad looking mutt!" he says. "I guess you have that in common." He seems to realize how bad his joke was. "I mean...not purebred." Wait, is that worse? "I mean--" He's not likely to win this one.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe's eyebrows rise up, and her smile goes wider every time Hellboy tries to backtrack further.

    -Relax, Red.- she signs, and then she brings her left hand up, her fingers brushing against her temple a moment before she sweeps outward.

    <I mean, apparently the village my mother was from was known for stealing supernatural bloodlines, so, who knows what my actual ancestry is beyond 'Heinz 57'> she shrugs, giving a wry smile.

Hellboy has posed:
    Hellboy raises an eyebrow. "You're full of surprises, aren't ya," he says. He's seen the telepathy trick before. That's not what he means. He shrugs. "Well, I'm of royal blood on both sides, but it's not exactly something I spread around."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    <Full of all sorts of stuff.> Phoebe replies as she leans back against the bookcase. <I Mean, I did kind of wonder, given your humanoid and not... human. But wasn't my place to ask.> she replies to Red as she loosely crosses her arms over her stomach. <Figured I hadn't unlocked the tragic backstory portion of our friendship yet.>

Hellboy has posed:
    "Says the girl whose dads are both dead," Hellboy says. "No, my backstory isn't the tragic part. It's the prophecy. It's fine, though. Nothing to worry about. I'm actively working against it."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    <One of them was a puppet and the other one was mind controlled. You can't build a family on lies.> Phoebe replies, though there's a itinge ofanger in the reply. That cut surprisingly deep.

    <And technically three dead dads. Dead mom. Dead dog -- not my current one. And instead of being a normal college student I'm also a supernatural crime fighter.> she closes her eyes.

    <What kind of prophecy are we talking about?>

Hellboy has posed:
    Hellboy raises his hands, defensively. "Woah, hey. I just meant we're definitely to the tragic backstory stage, yeah?" He lowers his hands. "Definitely too soon. I'm sorry."
    Flowing with the subject change, he says, "Oh, you know. End of the world type stuff. Nothing you should worry about. I'm not sure I still age, so humanity's probably got time."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    <Oh is that all.> Phoebe remarks, and she keeps her eyes closed, her head back against the shelf.

    <Well. When the time comes to worry about it, count me in. I spoke to someone from the Heroic era of Greece, and he determined that there's a good chance I'll keep my youthful good looks. On account of the healing.> she states, and then she tilts her head back. <Which means maybe I won't grow old. Or maybe I'll just look really nice.>

Hellboy has posed:
    Hellboy considers her for a few moments. "You know," he says, "If we stay friends long enough to find out..." He doesn't finish that sentence, but he does look a little more peaceful after thinking such things. "Just promise me you'll be on my side when that day comes, okay?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    <I don't break off friendships so easily.> Phoebe replies. <If I'm still around, I shall be by your side when that day comes.> Phoebe agrees, opening one dark eye as she looks over to Hellboy.

    <I mean, as long as it's preserving the Earth. If you trade sides and you're all 'grr, arg, destruction!' I might have to kick your ass.>

Hellboy has posed:
    Hellboy laughs, but it's not clear exactly what part of that comment drew that singular, "Ha!" He does smile, though. "Sure, kid," he says. He stands. "You seem like you're feeling better. You want to go for a walk or just hang out here?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    <Eh.> Phoebe's hand comes up and waggles back and forth. She pushes herself up, and then realizes that her throat wounds are still there and really quite visible, and she sheepishly reaches for the choker necklace she wears to hide them.

    <I should probably head out before others come looking for me. By now it's probably gone through my friendgroup that Chas left. There's going to be all sorts of people who want to hug me. Bleh.>

Hellboy has posed:
    "I'd hug you, but honestly, I felt like you didn't want to wallow." Hellboy offers Phoebe a Right Fistbump of Doom. "Maybe let's hang out when we're not in danger or in pain. Not that I don't want to be there for you, but--" He tries to figure out a good way to finish that sentence. He can't seem to. He's not the best with words. "Anyway, maybe poker night or something, yeah?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    <Maybe sometime we order pizza and I get to meet Whiskers and Blackie.> Phoebe replies, and she fistbumps the Doom Hand, and breathes out as she looks over the library.

    <Take care of yourself, Red.>