717/Endless Embassy Encounters!

Endless Embassy Encounters!
Date of Scene:	23 March 2020
Location:	Themysciran Embassy
Synopsis:	While Acting as the Receptionist for the Embassy, Cassie recieves and Entertains A Variety of Guests.
Cast of Characters:	Cassie Sandsmark, Alexander Aaron, Achilles, Heidi Ingerdottir, Jessica Drew

---

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Later in the afternoon, the Themysciran Embassy isn't nearly as busy as it is during the day. Diana is meeting with another Ambassador over in their Embassy, so the line of visitors is pretty much non-existant now. Which gives Cassie a chance to catch up on some of the day's paperwork. Well, and re-check her email every 10 minutes or so to see if she's recieved a reply. But, the blonde girl in a very professional suit, sitting at the receptionist desk is also keeping track of who arrives, greeting visitors and trying to tend to their needs as they arrive and explain what they're thre for. And only...2 hours before official hours are done for the day, Cassie notes with a sigh that blows a strand of her blonde hair out from in front of her face.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    The usual fare of the embassy is a varied sort. There are many folks who come and go, wander in and wander out. Almost all with their business ready beforehand, with an appointment, or with some measure of expectation beyond the casual. Often they are garbed well, for the embassy is a rather well maintained place and high profile.
    But then through the front door wanders a blond youth not even twenty. He could be considered handsome if he had better fitting clothes or took a comb to his hair. But right now with his hands in the pockets of his jeans, and a loose grey hoodie zipped up with the hood down, not even to mention that black ESU backpack, looks like he might have missed a few doors on his way to be a tourist at the Air and Space.
    Yet he seems to know his mind as he approaches the front desk, smiling as he waits pleasantly and just as he pleases he pipes up, "Hi, is Ms. Prince in residence today?"

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Cassie looks up at the young man, giving him a dazzling-professional smile. "I'm sorry," she replies. "But Princess Diana," there's a slight emphasis on her formal title," is currently in a diplomatic meeting elsewhere. However, I am her assistant, and if it's non-official business that you have, maybe I can try to help you out?" She reaches out to the young man, hand stretched out in greeting. "Cassandra Sandsmark." With her hand outstretched, the sleeve of her blazer pulls back enough to where a hint of shiny metal around the woman's forearm can be seen; very similar to the bracers that Diana herself wears as Wonder Woman.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Accepting her hand, he smiles easily enough as he murmurs, "Alexander Aaron." The handshake is gentle, clearly not pressing as he just gives her three small shakes then lets go. "I'm her nephew." He offers in way of explanation then he tilts his head to the side, chewing on his lower lip.
    A moment as he looks pensive, then he looks back to her, one eye scrunching up as he murmurs, "Would you mind terribly taking a message for her? Like handwritten and handed not on electronic stuff if that's ok?"

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
"Really?" Cassie asks with an amused smile as Alex reveals his relationship to Diana. "Small world..." she comments innocently while she picks up a legal pad and a pencil. She starts writing the note down as she speaks. "So, that would be, Mr. Alexander Aaron...two 'A's? Ummm...son of ...Now, who would your father be, again? Princess Diana has so many half siblings, it's hard to keep track, sometimes..." She's got a playful glint in her blue eyes, and she's clearly enjoying some kind of private joke, most likely at Alex's expense. "And, what would you like to notify the Princess of, or request?"

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    A small snort comes from Alex as he watches Cassie's eyes, then his gaze flits toward the office, as if suddenly getting the hint that she might be a relative too that sudddddenly he doesn't entirely trust her. So leaning upon her desk Alexander watches what she's writing, turning his head oh so suspiciously. "Two A's yes," He lifts his chin, "My father is John Aaron." He nods again as the information is recorded.
    "Ok here's the message. 'Dear Honey Bunny. Sorry I can't make it tonight. Love and all the snuggles. Alex. XOXO.'"
    At that he nods nods and then leans back and nods, "Alright, all set."

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
"So...'John Aaron'." Cassie repeats. And yes, one can actually hear the air quotes around the name. "That doesn't tell me a whole lot about who your father is." She does take down the message word for word, however. "I mean...I'm assuming that's a mortal ID. So, your father could be...Hercules, Hermes, Hepeastus, Ares, Pan, Apollo..." Cassie resorts to naming off Zeus' male offspring by counting on her fingers. "Dionysus, Manes, Perseus...." Cassie looks back at Alex and gives him a teasing smirk. "We could be here a while..."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Not reeeally," Alexander says as he points toward the door, "Since I can, you know. Leave." He emphasizes that last word with a casual smile, and clear he's not likely to come about with the name so easily. "But hey..." He leans against the desk, resting his butt right on it and looking over toward the window with a casual shrug.
    "If you want to /fail/ in your duty and obligation to your boss. Then that's very brave of you to take that position. Though perhaps with your horrible feelings of entitlement and privilege it's not that big of a deal to you."
    He clucks his tongue, "For shame."

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Cassie shrugs, finishing writing up the message. "Hey, the phrase 'Don't Shoot the Messenger' originated with the Greeks. I'm doing my duty to my Princess and Sister, delivering the message word for word." And now, her smile turns very saccharine, but still polite. "And even if Diana doesn't tell me, I'm sure we'll be running into each other again. Maybe at a family reunion. Who can tell what the Fates will?"

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Indeed!" Alexander says all casually and extra effusively as if to meet and match and overwhelm Cassie's overly sweet disposition. "Sooo looking forward to meeting another sprog of the family." That said he tilts his head a little and crinkles his nose.
    And then he surrenders the charade of the message and just offers casually, "Just tell her Alex stopped by, she'll know what's what. Since, you know, she and I have this simpatico thing going." He holds up two fingers and then brings them together to lightly tap at his chest, as if to signify such closeness.

Achilles has posed:
    Put simply, a black car pulls up out front of the embassy. It's not a limo so much as just a classy sedan. The front passenger door opens and Achilles steps out in a three piece suit. It is not a designer suit so much as a custom tailored one.
    He gets out of the car, straightens his tie and turns to approach the embassy. "Thank you Sean. I will call when I am finished. Consider yourself on the clock but on break all day until then." he says, his voice tinged faintly with the hint of an English accent.

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Cassie arches an eyebrow at Alex's gesture, then raises and crosses her arms in an Amazon salute. There's even a muffled clink of metal striking metal beneath the sleeves of her blazer.

But, there's a new arrival, and Cassie's attention turns to the large man in the sharp suit. "Welcome to the Embassy of Themyscira, sir," Cassie greets the man in a clear, cheerful voice. "How can I help you?"

Achilles has posed:
    Approaching, Achilles also has just a hint of bronze glinting on the wrists under his suitcoat's sleeves. Actual honest to goodness bronze. But it only glints for a moment before he comes to a stop and lets an easy smile cross his face. "Well, you are not Diana." he observes. See?! He has an incredible grasp of the obvious!
    "She had indicated that I should come by sometime to spar with her." He offers a hand in greeting. "I have made overtures of apologies for my past deeds, and I do hope that the rest of your people can be as forgiving as she has been. My name is Achilles of Pithia."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
It had taken some research just to find what she thought she was looking for. Books were only so much help and Heidi found that asking people was useless, they only told her to look 'online' or use her phone, but she was unsure who she was supposed to text on her phone for the information. With a pair of books tucked under one arm, Heidi makes her way up to enter.

She opens her mouth to say something, then realizes people are already talking and she slowly closes her mouth and steps back out of the way so as to not interupt, instead opening one of the books and flipping through it as if to find a particular page.

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Well, after the exchange with Alex, Cassie is happy to have a semi-relative that's straight-forward. She stands and gives him an Amazon salute. "Cassandra Sandsmark," she says by way of introduction. "I am Diana's assistant here. Unfortunatley, she's out on a diplomatic meeting. And I am not sure when she will return." She pauses for a bit before adding to her introduction. "Along with being Diana's assistant, I am also an Amazon and...a daughter of Zeus, as I recently discovered. And it is an honor to meet one of your personage, Achilles." And she leans forward in a slight bow.

Achilles has posed:
    Smirking a bit, Achilles shakes his head, "Not sure how much of an honor it is to meet me. As it happens, I am a lot less impressive than the legends say." He shrugs, "But thank you for being at least polite and welcoming to one who killed Amazons in battle in the past."
    "So, you are her assistant then." he says, mentally shifting gears before his green eyes take note of the Valkyrie nearby. His smirk turns into a bright and cheery grin, "Ah, if it isn't the keeper of the Pegasii.. the most polite of the Valkyr."

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
At the mention of slain Amazons, Cassie does tense up a bit. But she takes a deep breath and releases that tension. "Holding onto the wounds of the past prevents you from moving forward," she says quietly. "What was done then, cannot be undone. Rememberance and honoring the past is fine; carrying a grudge just poisons both parties." Another deep breath, and then a smile. "There's still an hour and a half that the Embassy is open to the public, but afterwards, I would be happy to play hostess to you, and perhaps give you some adequate sparring until Diana returns."

And, there's another visitor! Cassie smiles at the woman who just entered. "Good afternoon and welcome to the Embassy of Themyscira. I'm afraid if your trying to see the Ambassador, she is currently out at a diplomatic meeting. But perhaps I can assist you? And...did Achilles mention that you are one of the Valkyrie? From Asgard?"

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"Technically, I haven't earned that title yet," Heidi smiles, sheepishly. "But, ah, I certainly shall be in due time. I just need a worthy battle." She notes both Achilles and Cassie, then slowly closes the book she was holding, moving to hide the pair behind her back. She smiles /extra/ broadly. "I was just in the neighborhood and..."

The flaxen-haired Asgardian looks around. "... I'm admiring the architecture. Yes." That's entirely the reason she came in, after all. Who wouldn't want to admire it. "But hail, I am Heidi, daughter of Inger, of Asgard," she directs to Cassie.

Jessica Drew has posed:
Not far behind the tall handsome man, the doors of the Embassy open to admit a very un-godlike woman. Jessica blends in with the mainstream New Yorker, black hair shoulder length hair over a chic camel hair coat, covering black jeans and knee high boots. Only her British accent marks her out as not being from the city.

"Sorry about that Achilles. Next time I'm taking the subway. It's faster." She nods graciously to everyone, "Hello, I am here with the gentleman."

Achilles has posed:
    Turning sidwways to view Jessica and the others at the same time, Achilles smiles and gestures her way, "I had hoped that you would be here. I was going to introduce you to an old... acquaintance of mine from the original age of heroes. Someone I knew in my original life." he says to Jessica. "I had a standing invitation for a sparring match but... this is Cassie, she is Diana's assistant, and quite the gracious hostess. You know Heidi here." he remarks, all polite manners and smiles.

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Yes, Cassie is trying to be a gracious hostess and representative of Themyscira. But for a moment, she wonders if she hasn't died and be sent to Tartarus for some eternal receptionist task of greeting an endless stream of visitors... "A pleasure to meet you all," she says and manages a still sparkling smile. "As I said, Princess Diana is currently away from the Embassy and I do not know when she will return. In the meantime, I am sure she will be happy for you to partake of the Embassy's hospitality..." Cassie stands up and away from the receptionist's desk, and another woman comes over from another office to take over Cassie's position.

"Now, if you will follow me," she says to the mass of visitors, "The garden is a lovely spot to relax while waiting, and I will have wine, cheeses, breads, and fruits brought for you to sup on." And she politely starts to herd the others into the garden area.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"Oh, er," Heidi begins to protest, the books still behind her back. She's got no bag to hide them in either so there they remain. "I had not intended to stay, only admiring the beauty of the stonework... but I suppose if everyone else is staying..." She gives a wiggle of her fingers in Jessica's direction, Achilles gets a bit of a nod so he knows he's not being ignored.

She slowly rotates so her back remains away from the majority of the group.

Jessica Drew has posed:
"How do you do, Cassie! It's a real pleasure to meet you and have a chance to visit the Embassy." Straight and erect as a young woman being presented at court, Jessica follows behind the young woman whom she suspects might be old enough to qualify as her 20th great-grandmother. Heidi's odd attempt to hide something behind her back only draws attention to it. Jessica widens her eyes at her in a silent question after the finger waggle, looking askance at the woman.

Achilles has posed:
    Nodding his head, Achilles turns to follow Heidi. But he pauses as Jessica gives that odd look to Heidi. Then he himself looks more closely at the Asgardian. A soft 'huh' comes from him, but he gestures to Jessica. "Shall we enjoy the gardens?" he asks. His opinion... if the Asgardian wishes something kept to herself, then best to respect that. He has had thousands of years of keeping his own secrets, and he knows how stressful it is when people pry. So he does not pry. Nope. No way.

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Once in the gardens, Cassie allows herself to relax a bit, letting her blazer fall open in front. The light of the setting sun provides a wonderful illumination for the garden with the various hanging planters and seating accomidations. A brief mention to one of the Embassy staff, and soon the guests are served wine, robust breads, goat cheeses, and fruits. Cassie turns to Heidi, smiling at the woman. "So, you are striving to join the Valkyrie. That is a worthy and noble goal. I myself only recently gained acceptance into the Amazon Sisterhood. So, I know that the path can be rough. But the feeling of accomplishment at the end is... amazing."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"I've trained for hundreds of years," Heidi nods slowly. "I look forward to everything the comes with being a Valkyrie. I will wear that title with pride." Behind her back, for those trying to peek, are a pair of books with the titles of 'Greek Gods' and 'Grecian Mythology'. As soon as she she finds a spot to sit, the books are promptly placed there and sat upon without a thought. "So. Lovely weather!"

She does manage to look almost like she's comfortable atop those books. Almost.

Achilles has posed:
    "Ah yes. A sense of belonging can be an important part of a warrior's accomplishment. I recall that feeling from my youth. And then... the burden of others striving to join with -me-... that was something that I reveled in, and to this day I wish I had not." offers Achilles with a shake of his head, "I created the Myrmidons, and truth be told... after my so called death, they managed to persist without me. A testament to them, not to me."
    "The only advice that I can give is.. do not give up whom -you- are, or whom you wish to be, in order to become a part of something. Be sure that such a group will benefit as much from your membership as you will from being one of them."
    But then Achilles shakes his head once more and mutters, "Damn, I am growing far too maudlin in my old age."

Jessica Drew has posed:
The hidden hedonist in Jessica, the part that HYDRA tried to drill out of her, rears its head happily at the spread of food. It is only politeness that keeps her from being the first to serve herself. Mediterranean food, the wine and cheese, as well as the fruit, is among her favorite things to eat. Lingering near the table she admires the lovely garden, occasionally glancing at Heidi but following Achille's example and leaving well enough alone. Sitting on books strikes Jessica as exceeding odd, she limits herself to hiking her eyebrows high at Heidi and sending hopeful looks at the table. She adds nothing to the hopes and aspirations of the others except an encouraging nod. Achilles sadness strikes a wistful smile from her.

"Pour me a glass, my dear Achilles, please."

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Instead of the wine, Cassie takes a sparkling glass of water in a crystal container. She gives Achilles a gentle smile. "What is in the past, cannot be changed. What is in the future, has yet to be woven. At least you won't make the same mistakes or have the same regrets."

Looking over at heidi, Cassie gives the Asgardian a smile. "Are you interested in the Greek Gods and the Myths? I would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have. My mother basically raised me on them, taking me with her from dig site to dig site, around the Mediterranean Sea. Anything you wish to ask, feel free."

And then, there's the silent woman, Cassie looks over at Jessica, sipping water before speaking to her. "So, how do you come to know Olympians and Asgardians? You must have an interesting life to keep such company."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
Agh. She can't do it. Reluctantly, Heidi shifts her weight enough to pull the books out set them near her on the table. She doesn't, however, make mention of them. Instead, she eats a single grape /very/ intently. "I do not believe anyone could stop me from being who I am," she says after a moment, looking over at Achilles. "My duties will change. I will be one of the Valkyrior, after all. One of the mightiest warriors. Ferrying souls, fighting wars..." She pauses. "But I will probably be here when I am not needed. Midgard does need protecting and Lady Sif is here."

She looks at the books for a very long moment, then in Cassie's direction. "I, uh, I just wanted to know if these history books were accurate." The books are slowly slid down the table towards Cassie. "I have been reading. A lot. I thought this would be a good place to go to determine accuracy. I could find no access to early manuscripts..."

Jessica Drew has posed:
Dawning comprehension at Heidi's books and her odd reluctance to show them brings Jessica to her side. Several years of college helped fill the gaps of the ten-year hiatus from life she slept through but she is no scholar. "What kind of history are you reading, Heidi?"

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Cassie thinks about Heidi's qestion for a moment. "Well...let me ask you this." She looks at the young Valkyrie-to-be, tapping her chin. "How accurate do you find the Prose Edda? Or the Poetic Eddas? Or the Havamal? Are they completely accurate? Or do they have both truth and legend intertwined? I imagine that the Olympins view those books of yours in the same way the Asgardians veiw the books I mentioned. A good beginning, but not the *absolute* truth. Reading them can lead you to find the truth of the matter, though. Just as I imagine that reading those book brought you hear in search of the truth. I'm sure that Diana would be more than happy to clarify any inaccuracies that you've encountered in your reading. She values knowledge a great deal and is happy to spread knowledge of Themysciran and ancient Greek culture."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
There's some slight embarassment now. "I have a few friends now who have personal ties to the culture and I thought I would read a little to try and be perhaps more understanding or thoughtful in engaging them in conversation. I have felt people have wanted to learn of Asgard and how things are there and I have been very rude in not wanting to return the favor," Heidi looks a little sheepish, glancing between Jessica and Cassie.

"There are tales here in Midgard of my people that are more accurate than I believe people think them to be and I was curious as to how accurate what are considered myths here are to truth. I thought it right to go the source."

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Cassie smiles and nods at Heidi. "And that is a wise course of action. But, just as you understand that there is confusion in regards to the Asgardians, yet do not get angry at someone asking you a question; you'll find us here at the Embassy to be very similar. There is confusion about the ancient Greeks and the myths, and even the Amazons themselves." Cassie rolls her eyes and shakes her head. "There must be at least 4 tourists a day that ask if because Themyscira is an island exclusively populated by women, if we're all lesbians..." She takes a deep breath. "But, we always answer any question, regardless of how purient we may think it is. Because only by answering questions can we learn about each other and bond over our similarities."

Cassie's cell phone goes off, and she takes a look at the screen. "And now, ladies, I'm afraid you'll have to excuse me. But, it was a pleasure meeting you both and talking. Stop by whenever you have questions that need to be answered. We're always happy to educate." And as she stands up, she starts speaking into the phone in rapid Greek, headin back towards the offices.