8597/Special Delivery!

Special Delivery!
Date of Scene:	08 November 2021
Location:	A rooftop in New York City
Synopsis:	Knox gets a strange message and meets cousin Sofia.
Cast of Characters:	Knox Kennedy, Sofia Maroni

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Knox Kennedy has posed:
It's Night in New York City. A rooftop with a heavy moon shadow silhouette of a nearby tower. A figure emerged from that same shadow, clad in what looks like matte black leather. He strolls to a nearby edge and crouches, eyes narrowing as he scans his surroundings. "Okay... Not flying men of fire. No less then friendly spidermen. This one is finally going smoothly."

He dismisses the hood of his costume, the material disappearing in motes of inky darkness that fade into the air, and then he reaches into a backpack slung over his shoulder to produce a vase. "One less fat cat hording a piece of history for his personal collection, and more pizza money for me in the long run."

A grin curls on his lips, dark purple irises leave the vase to scan the cityscape, lights of various signs and billboards piercing the darkness. "Not a bad night."

Sofia Maroni has posed:
Sofia Maroni had just settled in to watch an old movie with a glass (or two) of wine when the call came. Most of the time she didn't mind her divine duties, but sometimes they were just downright inconvenient. Tonight was worse, however. The message was from Mother.

At least it wasn't for her. Sofia managed to remain polite as Aphrodite crafted her message (in only 6 takes), managing to sneak in more than a few snarky comments about her daughter's fashion and hair choices.

At least the delivery was in New York.

All she needs is a person's true name, and the magic staff does the rest.

From his vantage on the rooftop, Knox can see something approaching against the night sky. Something big. Something flying. Very. Fast.

Knox Kennedy has posed:
Eyelids briefly mask his purple irises as he blinks. Rubbing his eyes, he takes another glance and offers a deep sigh of resignation. "Spoke to soon..."

With a wave of a hand, he knits darkness around his scalp and lower face, once more forming a black hood and mask. He decides against running, instead he crosses his arms and waits for this new visitor to arrive. Though he appears to be apathetic to its arrival, his body is coiled with tension, prepared to spring into action if he needed to avoid a web, fireball, or whatever this thing's gimmick was.

A brief glance down confirmed his feet were in contact with the silhouette of the nearby building. Escape route confirmed. "Alright fate, bring it..."

Sofia Maroni has posed:
Sofia approaches at speed, more to get this over with than anything else, and the rush of wind when she lands on the rooftop ledge isn't unlike that of a military jet.

If Knox was expecting some harbinger of doom, he's likely to be disappointed. Instead there is a blonde woman wearing comfy jeans, riding boots, and a Greatful Dead t-shirt. Large, rainbow-feathered wings protrude through slits in the t-shirt, and she looks directly at him. She is holding a rainbow-hued caduceus in her right hand, and she looks a bit annoyed.

"Knox Kennedy, I bring you a message from Olympus." she declares, letting out a sigh before adding. "And please don't try to run."

Knox Kennedy has posed:
Knox frowns gravely behind his mask and raises both hands up, as if being mugged or stopped by the police. "Hey... Hey... Look, I have no intention of helping her escape her prison. I'm not going to be her, alright? I'm just looking to live a semi-normal life, outside of a cult. The big man and the rest of the family have absolutely nothing to worry about, okay?"

Being told 'Please don't try to run' doesn't exactly put one on ease, one of his feet melds partly with the shadow beneath him. "So let's not get smite'y, okay?"

Despite the lack of Sofia's uniform, the fact she arrived so quickly and is flying in rainbow wings is enough to give her all the cautious respect she does. "So we good, Rainbow?"

Sofia Maroni has posed:
When Knox's flight isn't immediately pending, Sofia's spread wings slowly fold in against her back. And she smirks. "Sofia." she corrects. "Okay, I've gotta follow the formula here, so bear with me a moment." Clearing her throat, she raises the caduceus high into the air.

"Behold, I bear a message from the Goddess Aphrodite upon the arch of the rainbow." she recites. And suddenly there is a rainbow spray from the staff, and the image of a stunningly beautiful woman appears in the mist.

Walt Disney would've been envious.

"Hello, nephew, this is your Aunt Aphrodite. Just wanted to give you a friendly reminder that we're watching. You can do better than this! Demeter and I vouched for you, so don't screw it up." She smiles broadly, then, enough to break hearts within a 30-block radius. "Enjoy your evening!" The image fades.

Knox Kennedy has posed:
Knox purses his lips, as he fights the smile that Aphrodite's visage almost demands. He coughs and grunts.

"Ahem, well, this is a first. It was always little polite nudges before, never direct matronly disapproval." He clacks his tongue and gestures with a hand. "And if I don't... do better.. what exactly happens? Do I end up with some psychotic ex-partner?"

Looking to Sofia, he tilts his head. "I... uh... feel like I need to apologize that you were drug away from Netflix, or whatever you were in the middle of, to deliver that message. I guess she regularly stands on formality?"

Hiding the vase behind his back, he casts his gaze off to the side. "I wonder what she means by... do better. Cryptic. Very God-like."

Sofia Maroni has posed:
Sofia Maroni shrugs at the question, stepping down from the rooftop ledge. As she does, the blonde tosses the mystical staff almost casually into the air and it disappears. She steps closer, invited or not, and lets out a long, low sigh.

"How the hell should I know? I just deliver the mail, y'know?" she replies. "For the record, it's just like her to be all cryptic and weird. But never forget that Aphrodite has always been a manipulative, conceited bitch."

And no, Sofia doesn't look for lightning to strike her. She does smile a little at his apology, however, and offers a hand.

"I'm Sofia Maroni, but I go by Sofia Marion these days. It's complicated. I'm on Iris' messenger staff, and I'm also Aphrodite's daughter. So that makes us cousins."

She leans against a piece of HVAC equipment on the roof, then adds. "As for interpretation, I'd consider it a warning that whatever you're doing isn't enough. Or isn't to her liking." And with that, she gestures casually towards the vase.

Knox Kennedy has posed:
Knox tries to move the vase outside the direction of Sofia's gesture almost comically. "Nice to meet you then, Sofia Maroni. I guess you already know I'm Knox Kennedy."

A hand wave dismisses his mask and hood, lips curled into an amused smile on cheeks brushed with a 5 o'clock shadow. "Conceited bitch, huh? Sounds like we are in a similar club, but I think she's a step up from Nyx. At least she doesn't want to destroy the world as we know it, yea?"

"So a scion of the divine, with a divine messenger hope. Hope it pays well. I'm pretty much left on my own, no allowance, no trust fund." He brings the vase back into view. "So... we do what we can."

Returning to the conceited bitch topic, "As one estranged child to another, what did mommy dearest do to piss you off? Or is that a private topic? Sorry to pry. You are... I think the first proclaimed child of Olympus I've had the pleasure of meeting."

Sofia Maroni has posed:
Sofia Maroni tilts her head at the 'destroy the world' remark and the smirk returns. "No, that's not my mom's style. She'd rather have everyone waiting on her. Can't do that if they're all destroyed, right?" Reaching up with both hands, she runs fingers through her blonde hair to tousle it out.

"Nyx is your mom? Wow..." she replies. Sofia looks thoughtful for a moment, then. Like SHE had it bad. "What did my mom do? The list is long, of course, but well-earned. Mostly letting my dad die. For a mafia don he was really good to me." Likely another long story.

"This whole messenger gig doesn't pay in anything but experience, but I've made some investments over the years. Most demigods have a pride issue, so I won't offer charity. But if you need something you can call me."

She smiles a little at the last. "The staff gets cellular reception anywhere in the world."

Knox Kennedy has posed:
"Mafia don, huh? Well, condolences on losing your father. I could see how that might sour things." Knox similarly draws a hand through his dark hair out of habit. "Nyx and an a sorceress with a bad attitude named Marina. Two moms. Both kinda iffy."

"So you do this stuff for free? Okay, that's a raw deal. We demi-gods clearly need a union or something, because that's an unacceptable work condition." He rubs one of his cheeks, "Ah yea. No charity please. I'd rather ripoff some jerk then take a freebie. New York does not have a short supply of people who don't deserve their abundant wealth."

He mumbles, "You'd think steal from the rich and give to the poor would resonate at least a little. Cellular reception, huh? Does it have a number or do I just yell Sofia?"

Sofia Maroni has posed:
"I think the proper term is 'Apprenticeship', but it's more like indentured servitude. Another situation that is high on my list of parental grievances." Sofia replies.

"Oh, speaking of other demi-gods, you also have a cousin Hercules." Pause. "Yes, THAT Hercules. Follow the trail of exhausted women and you'll find him. Or I can send him a message for you. Oddly enough, just spell out my name with a hashtag prefix. No spaces, text or call."

She folds her arms, then. "Actually, I don't think mom's all that keen on the Robin Hood approach, from her message. And also from the tone. It took her several rewrites before she apparently conveyed just the right amount of disdain."

Knox Kennedy has posed:
"Well, I guess she likes me enough to be my adopted aunt and actually care what I do. So I... think that's a good sign." He mutters and nods slowly at the mention of Hercules.

"He's kind of hard to miss. I definitely had no shortage of education on that walking myth. I can't say the education was imparted with the best of intentions. But that's what life in a cult gets you." Knox offers a shrug. "Though you make him sound kind of like a sex hound. I guess he gets that from his old man."

"Hashtag.. Got it. Well, that's convenient. I'll send you some contact details of my own. Nothing so magical." He pauses, "Do you do anything beyond deliver messages? Like... battle enemies of the gods? I guess I need to raise my karma points with Auntie. A team-up might be just what the gods ordered."

Sofia Maroni has posed:
Sofia Maroni keeps her arms folded and chuckles softly, shaking her head. "Oh I thought about joining the Avengers or something. I dated one for a while, even. But even though we talked about it, nothing ever materialized." A blonde brow lifts, then, as she considers. "In hindsight, I probably wouldn't fit into their little hero club. I can fight just fine, but I learned from a bunch of bored hitmen who were stuck guarding the boss' daughter."

"But I do have a 'day job'. Or a 'night job', as it were. I'm a lounge singer." Pause. "Don't laugh, either. I've been singing in clubs since the 1930's. I'll let you know when my next gig is, if you're interested. I can sing just about anything out there."

She considers him for a moment. "I'd really like the idea of a team-up, as well. I've been playing hide-and-seek my whole life, so it would be nice to be able to talk openly with someone. Even if you turn out to be a jerk, which I don't think you will."

Knox Kennedy has posed:
Knox whistles, "Alright, that's a bit to absorb. An Avenger, huh? And the... since the 1930's. Well, you spectacular for your age. I guess its in the bloodline. Do daughters of Aphrodite like compliments on their appearance or does it just get old?"

He nods continuing on to comment on the singing gig, "I'm always on the lookout for the next best bit of entertainment, and I can only imagine you must be something if you've been doing it for so long. Experience counts for a lot."

Knox offers another casual shrug regarding the jerk moniker, "Depends on who you ask. I tend to be a raging jerk to other jerks. Best of Friends. Worst of Enemies is my motto. Treat me with respect, and you'll get the same, maybe more. Cross me... Well, things get dark. Mind the pun."

Gesturing to his vase, "Hope you don't mind a little vigilante theft. Despite what my adopted aunt thinks, I don't think I'm changing my tune on this anytime soon. Though maybe I can retain her good graces other ways."

Sofia Maroni has posed:
Sofia Maroni laughs at the compliments crack, but her expression is full of warning. "Careful, cousin..." she replies. "But no, I don't have my mother's ego. Thankfully." Sofia considers him again, then nods. "I don't think we'll have any problems, Knox. One thing I learned growing up is how to treat people with respect."

Or else.

"And just because I'm not exactly 'in' the Family anymore doesn't mean I'll be calling the police to report thefts. But you might want to think about how to put a positive spin on your occupation. I'm willing to help you with that."

"Don't forget to call me. We'll do coffee or dinner or something." Then Sofia turns towards the roof ledge and dives off, like she was jumping into a swimming pool. By the time she rises above the level of the buildings, the winged blonde is far away.