3185/1-800 Dial Diana

1-800 Dial Diana
Date of Scene:	31 August 2020
Location:	Themysciran Embassy
Synopsis:	Diana and Phoebe have a catch up and get to share a bit of back and forth.
Cast of Characters:	Diana Prince, Phoebe Beacon

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Diana Prince has posed:
It is a quiet afternoon at the Themysciran Embassy, it's been raining all day in Manhattan in fact, so the city is a bit quieter than usuall all around as the bulk majority of people are trying to stay inside to avoid the wet weather.

When Phoebe arrives at the Embassy, she's greeted by a lobby attendant who tells her that Diana is sitting in the courtyard at the moment, and happily able to be joined, if she'd desire. If accepted, the Attendant would lead Phoebe through the central hallway and toward the glass doors at the heart of the building that open up on to an outdoor courtyard that is two stories high, but has a garden at its heart and a balcony level above that looks down from other doors and windows from the second floor.

Diana is sitting underneath the balcony level at a glass table. Out of the rain, she's just enjoying the cool temperatures and rain scented air as it falls down upon the garden, and its fountain in the middle.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    When Phoebe had stepped into the embassy, she had done so hesitantly. It had been some time since she had last visited the building, and it was still warm and inviting. She was wearing nice, dark jeans and a peasant girl blouse, about as dressy as she dared to be as she steps out of the embassy and into the courtyard. The young woman's braids were waxed blue for now, the color clinging to her and seeming dulled by the gray stormclouds overhead. Her dark eyes seem tired, and when she sees Diana, she gives a slight smile, and hesitantly makes her approach, giving a small nod of her head.

    "Good afternoon, madam ambassador. I hope I'm not disturbing anything?"

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana is dressed in a white top and a pair of black slacks that lead down to simple black shoes with small heels. Her dark hair is tied back into a braided bun that rests on the back of her head. She looks up at Phoebe as the young woman arrives and smiles to her. "Phoebe!" She happily exclaims as she stands up and moves to offer her her hands to hold for a moment. "It is so good to see you again. It has been quite some time." She motions to one of the chairs at the patio table she'd been sitting at, then will move to sit back down herself. "Would you like something to drink?" She asks, the Attendant who brought Phoebe to her, standing by just in case.

"I am eager to hear how things are for you. Have you seen Cassie lately?" She asks, the last time she'd seen Phoebe was her sparring with Cassie after all.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "I have, off and on. I've been working in Gotham, mostly... still." Phoebe admits as she takes a seat across from Diana. Her eyes draw down and to the side, her fingers curling against her lap a little bit. "And ah, no, thank you, I'm all right, thank you." she replies, giving a smile to the Attendant, and looking back to Diana. "It has been a long time since I've been by, but I'm always so thankful for the friendliness and the help everyone here has loaned me -- even if I'm kind of the odd one out." she gives a small joke.

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana's eyes are on the young woman as they both settle in at the table in front of the rainy courtyard vista in front of them. "We all feel like the Odd One Out from time to time." She tells the other to begin with. "I have felt like it on a number of occasions myself. But, the fact of the matter remains, in this instance, you are very much welcomed here any time you wish to be here. Your efforts in Gotham were admirable, and I assume that they remain to be just so." The Princess shows a hint of a grin for a moment. "Are there any issues there that I can assist with? I hope it is going as good as can be expected. I am, as ever, happy to help however I can."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "I find that hard to beleive someone like you ever feels the odd one out. You seem to approach everything with the same sense of grace and purpose -- from what I've seen, anyway--" Phoebe suddenly stammers "not that I've been studying everything. And--ah..." she suddenly just goes quiet, and rubs the back fo her head.

    "The other night, I made a patrol in a more dangerous place. There was an incident." she states, as generalized as she could get it.

    "... I wasn't able to fight. Two other Gothamites were involved, and one was hurt pretty badly... I was at the right place at the right time. He recovered, but I'm concerned that... that my home might be targeted if I cross paths again with the ones who did the hurting... and..." she trails off a moment, "... what's the best way to balance duty to your family, with what you feel is duty to society? Do you have advice?"

Diana Prince has posed:
A slow smile crosses over Diana's visage at the initial statements from Phoebe. She sees the other's desire not to linger on that topic though, so she just quietly says. "Confidence comes with practice and time. We all have our inner dialogue that we mull within our minds, however."

At the more serious matters, Diana's expression softens as her chin lowers and her eyebrows raise up ever so slightly. She keeps her stare fixed on Phoebe, and after a moment's thought she speaks up. "My first piece of advice, is to ask you to tell all those who threaten you that your home address is this Embassy. Refer them here with all questions, concerns and comments." she states, following that with a soft smirk. "Beyond that, my questions for you are if you are exposing your identity to these people openly? Are you not attempting to conceal yourself when you are out on the street?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "No, I..." Phoebe blinks, and it's clear that she's not used to discussing Business with anyone "-- have a suit. Red made me one, because a cloth jacket isn't eeexaaactly good for Gotham's streets. My identity's pretty secure, even before Red encountered me, I wore a mask, but there's a big difference between circling homeless camps and healing cuts and bruises and venturing into Gotham's Undercity to try to find someone." she replies, and she pauses a moment, and purses her lips.

    "I couldn't ask the Embassy to fight my battles for me. That's not fair to the people who might show up." Phoebe replies with a wry note in her voice.

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana shows a soft smile to the other. "Well, you are a friend, and we stand up for our friends here. And believe you me, there are a number of enemies to this Embassy already, who dare not delve within it to cause trouble, less they face rather serious consequences." She smirks then for a moment before she pauses and looks out at the courtyard, then back to Phoebe. "Your suit is protective then? Of your identity and your well-being? I only ask out of concern, of course. If you are chasing people into dangerous parts of Gotham, you... are really putting yourself into a world of immense danger. But you are well aware of that, I am sure. I truly do urge you to not do such things alone. If you have contacts with others who might help, you truly must reach out to them, if not me then to Cassie, or others. The darkest corners of Gotham are not to be underestimated in what lies within them." She warns.

"That being said, you are fearful for your family's well being, because of this life you have chosen to take?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe is quiet for a moment. "Red Robin made it, it's... it's similar to what he uses. Mask, armor, technology that I can't even figure out how to use yet. Probably figured having me alive is better than my being just another statistic in Gotham." she replies quietly. "We have hostage drills at school, have since I was a kid, I knew about that part but... I mean, Nightwing is so much more experienced --" she trails off a moment, and she breathes out.

    "... I lost my dad already to fires in Gotham. He was a firefighter, a hero." she drops her gaze, her eyes going unfocused. "... all I have left is my mom. And she doesn't know anything about this. About my powers," her nose wrinkles, "--my life. She thinks I come over here for cultural topic exchange and I'm working on a paper about Theymsciran versus American political practices. And I don't want her to know the truth. Not yet."

    "... does that make me a bad daughter?"

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana's attention never wavers from Phoebe, she sits across from her at the patio table, her hands folded together in her lap and her legs crossed at the knees as the rain patters against the foliage and stonework in the garden beside them.

"I am very sorry about your father." She says in a quite tone. "I would have very much liked to have met him. But on that note, I would also very much like to meet your mother too... when you so deem it a proper time to do so."

At the question of her quality as a daughter, Diana shows a brightening smile. "I do not share everything with my mother either, you know? There are many things that, even if the Queen of my people, she could not properly process, or I know her reaction to it would only cause... issues. So I understand, at least I hope I do, what you are feeling thre. I also would say that it does not make us bad daughters, merely daughters concerned for their mother's well being." She hints at a grin. "Maybe I am biased though..."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "... he was a good person. If there's a place where we go when we pass," Phoebe states, her voice growing a bit thick as she breathes out, "I should hope to see him there." she replies, and she steadies herself as she turns and looks out over the garden as well, considering the idea of bringing her mother to the embassy. That was... terrifying. How would her mother take learning that she sparred with Amazons?

    "You'd like my mom. She deals with sixth graders -- I hear dealing with politicians is very similar to dealing with middle schoolers. You'd probably have a lot in common." she gives another wry grin to Diana, and she breathes out, relaxing a little bit as Diana shares the concern, and she gives a nod.

    "... your mother must be terrifying."

Diana Prince has posed:
"I do believe that you will see him again someday." Diana says of Phoebe's father while she smiles softly at the talk of her mother. "Young children are arguably much better than the average politician, in fact. As they generally are not as often motivated by gluttonous and greedy desires. But yes, your mother is a teacher then? One of the very most respectable professions. When, and if, you ever wish to bring her here, she will be welcomed."

A quick smile shows at the mention of her own mother and Diana softly shakes her head. "She is an old soul. That can be a bit off putting at times. But she lights up at the sight of youth, like yourself. She would be very pleased to hear your story, especially if it was told at a grand feast or celebration. Perhaps we will find a way for you to meet her some day. But you have to promise me that you will be as careful as you can on your patrols in Gotham."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Not often." Phoebe agrees, and she gives a small nod, and has to smile in spite of herself as Diana speaks of her own mother, giving a smile at the explaination of the Queen of the Amazons -- but at the mention of her story, of having to speak, Phoebe visibly darkens, and she looks horribly embarrassed. "Oh -- oh no, I'm not, I'm not anyone important, Diana. I'm just -- it's--" she trails off, looking positively terrified of the idea of having to speak in front of a lot of people with anything with a 'Grand Feast'.

    She switches topics: "You have my word that I'm as careful as I can be on my patrols -- Red already sort of told me off on going out alone."

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana remains casually seated across fromthe other withher hands together, she smiles lightly at Phoebe's comment about being lectured already by another. "Good for him. If he has provided you with a suit, and such talks... then he cares about you, and does not wish to see any harm fall upon you." She takes a second then before she has to shake her head. "I must argue against this idea that you are not anyone important either. Because it is entirely untrue. You are important. You are important to your family, to your friends, and to whomever you so happen to offer your aid to, out there, in the streets of Gotham. You have an important role to play, and the actions that you performe within that role have important outcomes that will shape others actions, like a game of dominos. The blocks will fall, based on how you push them, and that is a very important role, Phoebe."

She shows a grin then. "But I would not make you speak in front of a large crowd, I know that that can be quite an uncomfortable experience if you are not already used to it."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe rubs the back of her head, embarrassed slightly as she breathes out, and she tilts her head a moment. The teenage vigilante breathes out in a small breath at the slight dressing down from Diana, and if the Princess of a nation is telling you you're important, probably at least carries some weight.

    "Thank you for that, Diana. I... I really appreciate it." she replies with ernesty, folding her hands in her lap.

    "... I'd rather deal with the Undercity of Gotham again than speak in front of an assembly. That's terrifying." she replies, and then gives a wry grin. "Any tips for speaking in front of groups then?"

Diana Prince has posed:
Another smile is given from the Themysciran Princess to Phoebe, she nods hr head softly but then listens tot he question for advice aabout public speaking. This gets a slight grin from Diana as she looks away toward the light rain fall just beyond the balcony that they're seated beneath.

"One thing to know aabout such a thing is that just about everyone in the audience knows that speaking in front of large groups is, or can be, a bit daunting. They all understand that you being up there, puts you under a lot of pressure and they all simply, individually want you to succeed and be comfortable. Of course, there are always the odd members of an audience, that might not be quite so kind or courteous, but their opinions mean next to nothing in the grand scheme of things." Diana grins softly after saying these things, then shakes her head very lightly from right to left.

"It is a matter of confidence, and confidence builds in you the more you realize your value, your skills, your productivity impact on the world around you. I think your confidence will rise too, Phoebe. With what you are doing, it absolutely must, simply by you continuing to do the things you do. You are an aspiring hero, and your efforts are to make the world a better place. There is nothing more noble in this world, than to aspire to do just that. Selflessly attempting to make ... everything, better, for others."

She pauses a gain for a brief moment, before adding. "Eventually, a public speech will be easier to you than many other things, I do believe."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "... I think that is the first time no one's suggested 'picture the audience in their underwear', so thank you for that." Phoebe replies with an uneasy grin, and then looks back out to the courtyard, before returning her gaze back to Diana, and she bows her head again.

    "And, thank you for your advice. I really do appreciate it -- aaand the seeing me on short notice. And... really, everything." she states to the heroine, and rubs the back of her head.

    "Also, as a head's up, you do realize if you meet my mom, she's going to want to invite you over for lasagna at some point. And you're always welcome at my place in Gotham. For what it's worth."

Diana Prince has posed:
The underwear comment makes Diana smile, then laugh lyrically for a moment before she glances away and mulls a few thoughts over in her head before re-centering her stare on to Phoebe and nodding. "That is more of a thing I would say to Superman, since it is an ability he is capable of." She says with a playful grin before shaking her head. "I am kidding though, he promises he never uses it like that. And... I believe him. Mostly."

She holds her grin then before tilting her head and at the option of dinner at the Beacon's. "I would love that. Truly so. I am often quite willing to find a reason to step out of this place. Not that I do not love it here, but it is always nice to get out and refresh yourself with a new setting. An unusual setting. Something that you are not used to. Lean in to discomfort, as someone recently told me." She shows another quick smile then. "You should stay for dinner here, if you are able. We can arrange a car to take you back to Gotham afterward."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "... he's Superman, pretty sure he's rated pretty high on the honesty meter!" Phoebe replies, though she's never had the pleasure of meeting Superman. And she gives a smile, seeming more relaxed as Diana cracks a joke.

    "I... I agree. New places can be pretty intimidating, but my house isn't so bad. Unless you're really intimidated by ancient dogs and brownstone archetecture." she jokes and she gives a smile, straightening up slightly.

    "Iwould enjoy that a lot, thank you." Phoebe replies with a smile. "Anything I can help with?"

Diana Prince has posed:
Another little melodic laugh comes from the Princess as she hears the response about the dogs and brownstone building. "It sounds truly lovely, if you ask me." She states as she moves to stand up then, gathering up a tablet computer and a silver cup that had been on the table in front of her the whole time. "As for the dinner, and what help can be offered--" She says, motioning with her hands. "Let us go find out, shall we?" She asks. "I will introduce you to our head chef. I think he might... well, be quite memorable. Such a personality, he has." She says with a loaded grin as she leads Phoebe back toward the open double doors to the interior of the Embassy ground level.