9053/(Very) Long Time, No See

(Very) Long Time, No See
Date of Scene:	12 December 2021
Location:	Empire Diner
Synopsis:	Three old friends meet and talk.
Cast of Characters:	Sprite, Gilgamesh, Ikaris

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Sprite has posed:
It's not quite the half-way point in December -- although almost exactly half-way to the month's most important day of the year for the adherents of the world's largest religion. Sprite has once again returned to New York City and has spent a few weeks of discrete exploration to catch up on the changes that have occurred in the Big Apple. During one of these explorations, fliting about Manhattan behind an illusionory veil at the low altitude of about ten feet, she sees a familiar face going into an unfamiliar place: Gilgamesh and the Empire Diner respectively.

With a wry smile she came up with a plan of action -- ("Oh, this should be fun!" she thought to herself) -- and began to put it into action.

A request to Mother Box sends an anonymous message to Ikaris around noon on the twelevth December reading, "Your presence is request in Manhattan. A certain king and their current Empire is the location. Post lunch-rush snacks is the plan. Company is the reward."

Message sent, Sprite heads to the Empire Diner herself wearing a twenty-something guise of her current Robin Goodfellow appearance: hair perfect for a Princess Merida cosplay and a forest green coat and slacks with a pastel green blouse and comfortable black shoes.

Gilgamesh has posed:
The diner is just starting to quiet down following the lunch rush. There are still plenty of people here, but the grill cook isn't busting his butt quite as hard as before. The crowd of patrons still present are enjoying their meals and most seem to be enjoying the company at their booths or tables. There's even a couple of former strangers talking amicably to one another at the counter. They seem to be discussing the merits of various video games.

The grill cook, Gil, takes the time to clean the grill now that he's got a moment to do so. His work area is kept pretty tidy with his various tools and accessories stationed where they belong so he can find them easily. The other kitchen staff do a little cleaning of their own now, as well. It looks like an efficiently run operation.

"Yo Gil!" calls out one of the other cooks. "Take your lunch now, man. I'll cover the grill and whip you up a peanut butter, bacon and jalapeno jelly burger."

Gil gives his coworker a grin and a thumbs up and says, "That sounds great. You keep upping your game like this and I might need to have you over for dinner. I have an idea for a new recipe and I need a guinea pig." Then he heads out of the kitchen, removing his hairnet and sticking it in the pouch on his apron before taking a seat at the counter.

Ikaris has posed:
Ikaris was at work.

More specifically, he was busy being 'Ike Harris' and working at his architectural firm. But it was almost Christmas, and Ikaris knew of only one family he could possibly spend it with. Perhaps...perhaps it was time now to start actively looking for the others. Of course, the message he gets from Mother Box seems to perk his interest ever so slightly, and he calls it an early day at work.

Though when he enters the Empire bar, he looks as if not a single day has passed. No scar marrs him, no has one ever marred him, and he looks relatively the same, except with what appears to be a slight white streak in his hair, that looks more an effect of the cosmic radiation in his body or a style choice rather than an effect of age.

He sees Gilgamesh, and he gives the man a smile. "I see I caught you at the right time." His voice accented with something akin to Scottish, Ikaris gives a smile before he pauses. "One of our own is here." He could -sense- them. He could feel their presence. He starts to examine each resident of the diner, until his eyes fall upon 'Robin Goodfellow'.

Sprite has posed:
'Robin' got there at the beginning of the lunch rush and had a fairly basic cheese burger and a soda: specifically a non-cafinated, transparent, lemon-lime drink off the 'tap' (she didn't order it by brand name... didn't even seem to care about the brand name... inwardly Sprite giggled to herself as she avoiding voicing the name, concerned that Gil couldn't help but hear her inflection if she said it outloud).

As Ikaris' eyes fall upon 'Robin' the woman doesn't appear to notice the man's attention but she seems to hop down from the barstool after leaving cash to pay for her lunch on the counter and heads to the bathroom. No sooner than the door closes but Sprite drops the disguise in the empty room and then turns around, exits the room and counts on the 'I do not see anything' attitude of most New Yorkers for the trick to be missed. She heads straight toward Gilgamesh and Ikarus with a broad smirk plastered on her face.

"Hi guys," Sprint says nonchalantly.

Gilgamesh has posed:
"You did indeed, brother, have a seat," Gil says to Ike with a smile, getting up for a moment to offer a handshake. When he hears that one of their own is present his eyes widen slightly and he, too, looks around the diner. As his senses aren't particularly powerful there's no chance of him seeing through one of Sprite's illusions.

When she arrives looking like herself again he can't help but grin. A pleasant reunion. "Hello, my old friend. How's life treating you?" He stands and gestures towards one of the booths, "Why don't we head over there so that we can talk a bit?"

Ikaris has posed:
Just as he had suspected.

Sprite's tricks are impressive and matches the greatest illusionists of the ages, if not superior. However, Ikaris's senses rarely deceive him, and though Sprite has surely pulled the wool over his eyes time and time again, but not this time. This time, he watches this woman move towards an empty room to undo her magic, or rather her illusions, and return as Sprite, the fairy they all know and adore.

"Heh. Long time no see, Sprite." Or rather, a few thousand years, give or take. Nodding to Gil, he smirks at him and shakes his hand, giving him a firm grip with their real strength. Out of the Eternals, Ikaris was the only one who came even minutely close to Gilgamesh's own.

"Come on, let's talk." Ikaris moves over to one of the booths, taking his seat and moving closer to the inner section of the booth, as he looks at Sprite, awaiting her answer.

Sprite has posed:
As she follows her two companions to the booth, Sprite calls out to the kitchen, "Any chance we could get some shakes and jalapeno chedder fries over here?" with a confidence belying her apparent age. She slips into the booth across from Ikaris and seems to wait for Gil to join them to say anything more than, "Not for a lack of presence," with a smile back at the blonde Eternal.

Gilgamesh has posed:
The handshake is a very firm squeeze, Gilgamesh replying to Ikaris' strength with his own as he grins. Then he moves to the booth to join his companions, looking around briefly before taking a seat. He leans back in the booth to get comfortable and says, "It's nice to have a group of us together, isn't it? You two will need to come over my place for dinner and drinks some time soon. I still brew my own beer."

Ikaris has posed:
"Indeed. I'd hate to miss a chance to try out this brew that you're so excited about." Ikaris smirks at Gilgamesh, a warm smile coming the other man's way. "It would be an honor, brother. Though speaking of reunions..." Ikaris turns his full attention to Sprite.

"Probably can get that sorted, yes. Though I'm curious, Sprite: what have you been up to? Telling your tall tales still or have you started investing in other talents?" Ikaris questions her, even if his expression is rather friendly. His accent is starting to shine through now.

"...and have you heard word from the others?"

Sprite has posed:
From the kitchen, Sprite's order is acknowledged with a request for type of shakes. She answers that first: "It's December, give me a peppermine shake, I'm sure you know his preferences," that is said with a wave towards Gil, "And for our friend here will have an Oreo(TM) shake unless he says otherwise."

Once the shakes order is acknowledged she turns her attention back to her fellow Eternals. To Gil she says, "I remember when you started that, it was such a rebellious thing to do as a guy. Totally loved that," about the beer and then, addressing Ikaris' question she says, "I've been keeping in touch... but you know for us that can mean decades between visits. Nothing specific in the last year or few though. I guess nothing for you guys either?" as she turns to sprawl sideways on the booth's bench.

Gilgamesh has posed:
"I'll make sure you both have my address before we depart today," Gilgamesh says to the other Eternals. "I haven't been spending much time at home, though, as I've been working on becoming a superhero. That takes up a surprising amount of time. I'm pretty glad I don't have a lot of hours here yet."

Looking at Sprite Gil says, "You have guessed correctly. It's been some time since I saw anyone before very recently. Hopefully that will change soon."

Ikaris has posed:
Ikaris nods ever so slightly. "An Oreo...classy." Ikaris comments on Sprite's ordering talents with a smirk, though his eyes then turn to Gilgamesh. "I'd like that, best to come knowingly and prepared. Though I can sense your presence Gilgamesh, I can always just stop by." Ikaris mentions with a bit of a smile. "I've been trying to accomplish that as well, understanding who the major players are, on both sides."

Though with Sprite, he turns to look at her. "Nothing on my side. I've managed to find Gilgamesh, and you've managed to find both of us." He narrows his eyes. "We have to gather the others."

Sprite has posed:
It's a testament to the efficiency of the Empire Diner that the fries and shakes are able to be prepared so quickly. There's a pregnant pause in the conversation as the waitress brings Sprite's order to the table on a tray.

"Thank you kindly," the redheaded Eternal says with a (not literally) brilliant smile before the woman steps away to take care of the other customers. Then, she returns her attention to the conversation while she very carefully removes just the barest tip of the paper covering the straw left next to the sundae spoon with her shake and says, "I'd like that, Gil," to the ancient Sumerian king adding, "I already know how to contact you of course," to Ikaris as she lifts the exposed end of the straw to her lips and blows the paper off of it into said super's chest. A smirk and a wink follow that as she thrusts the straw into the shake and takes a sip of it.

Gilgamesh has posed:
"I just go out and help where I can, at least for now," Gilgamesh says to Ikaris with a nod. "It's rewarding to help people again. Even if it's usually just breaking up robberies and helping old people cross the street." He leans forward to put his weight on his elbows, "There are many players in this new game of ours. I've met a handful so far, but none of the more famous heroes that regularly show up in the news. I've agreed to show one kid..." He looks at Ikaris, "The kid that teleported the Shark man at the diner robbery? Bando? I told him I'd teach him and his friends how to fight. If they're going to wage their battles against criminals then it's best they be prepared. I figured I'd trained everything from Sumerian warriors to European knights so I could probably handle instructing a new superhero."

Ikaris has posed:
Ikaris looks at Sprite then as she suggests that she knows how to contact the Sumerian King, though the wad of paper that strikes him in the chest is met with a bit of a frown. "I'm serious, Sprite. We have to find the others. The Eternals. Makkari, Ajak, Phastos...all of them." He tels her then with a much more serious expression on his face, apparently in no joking mood.

Though his eyes turn to Gilgamesh then. "Indeed. Being a hero again in the public eye is...well, it's different. Remember when we first arrived to this planet? They thought we were gods." Ikaris tells Gilgamesh. Though in a way, they are each of them deities...just artificially created. "Bando? Interesting. I remember him." He smirks.

"Good on you, Gilgamesh. Add teacher to your long list of titles."

Sprite has posed:
"I could look for them, got some leverage I could apply," Sprite says before admitting, "But I have no direct ties to any of them right now, Ikaris." Her features take on a familiar thoughtful expression as she ponders that for a bit and says, "Definately have ways to look for them," before asking Gil, "Looking to be a modern-day Chiron?" as she references the mythical centaur instuctor of Hercules, grinning at the thoughts of her involvement in those tales.

Gilgamesh has posed:
"People are not as easily impressed any more," Gilgamesh comments to Ikaris with a broad grin on his face. "But I appreciate a challenge. If I now need to fight fish men instead of Deviants then so be it." Then he nods, "Bando seems like a good person. Possibly too good, but by the time I'm through with him he'll be an efficient and talented fighter."

With a grin at Sprite he says, "Something like that. We've got to make sure this generation is ready for what might be coming. At least prepare them as much as possible."

Ikaris has posed:
"With people like Captain Rogers and Superman in the world, it can be extremely difficult to impress anybody these days. These heroes have been through some of the worst experiences the earth has ever faced, brother." Ikaris tells Gilgamesh then. "But try hard enough, and you may even join their ranks - or outshine them. The world always needs heroes to defend it, and you can never have too many defenders."

Ikaris seems to chuckle a little bit. Though his eyes shift to Sprite. "He most certainly could be. But that makes sense. We'll have to stay on the lookout for them, even find a way to get in the public eye even more, send them an invitation."

Sprite has posed:
Sprite gets a broad grin at the comment about sending invitations. "I... have been wanting to get onto the stage again," she says referencing history that may or may not be known to her companions, "I could leverage that into the search possibly." Regarding the idea of heroing... she doesn't address that directly but no comment can sometimes be a comment itself.

Gilgamesh has posed:
"I'll do what I used to do back in the day, fight as hard as I can for what I think is right and good," Gilgamesh nods at Ikaris. "I think it's only a matter of time before my popularity increases again." Looking at Sprite his eyes widen, "Good idea. Work on finding the others while trying to do better for yourself. Maybe I should go on one of those cooking shows like Iron Chef. That would get me recognized quickly."

Ikaris has posed:
"Really? Stage?" Ikaris questions Sprite, his smile growing a little bit wide. "I think that would be a perfect idea for you." Ikaris suggests to Sprite with a bit of a chuckle. "You've always been an avid storyteller. Maybe now you can take part in some of those stories." Thoug hhis eyes start to turn towards Gilgamesh. "In the end, I think that's what's going to matter. People like Spider-Man because he fights as hard as he can."

He shrugs though. "We will all multi-task, become the best we can be...and yes, Gilgamesh, you should."

Sprite has posed:
Sprite nods knowingly and says, "Which ever of us gets an agent first should let the other know Gil, though I doubt that I should tell them about my experience as a member of Lord Chamberlain's Men," that last -- a reference to the troupe that Shakespeare was a part of -- is added with a knowing laugh.

Gilgamesh has posed:
"I'll start seeking recognition for my cooking," says Gil with a chuckle. "It may take some time. They might require me to be a proper chef in this incarnation instead of a grill cook. Unless there's a show for diner cooks and the like. That would be fun."

Looking at Sprite he chuckles, "I'd keep that on the down low. But if I find an agent I'll come to you right away. We'll get famous again in no time."