Legacies of Justice

[Tribulation]

WHO: Tribulation and Ted Kord
WHERE: Queens, NYC
WHAT: Taking a short break from work at his company, Ted Kord stumbles upon a pair of homeless children fighting over food. A "street angel" of sorts enters the picture, and Ted extends the right hand of friendship.

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The night-time air is still chilly in March, but it's not too bad. Certainly not bad enough that the children aren't out playing. Though the only children who would really be out at this time would be punks seeking to do harm, or the children of homeless people. A couple of this latter group can be seen just inside one of the city's many alleys. They aren't far enough in not to be easily seen. The calls of the children playing are pretty clear. "Hey, give it back!", "Nuh-uh! Finders keepers!", "I'm tellin' Mom!"

The typical outcome is that the thing they're fighting over get dropped. In this case, it's a milkshake someone threw away part of. And sure enough, as they're fighting over it, it falls. "Now see what you did?!"

And here's one Mr. Kord, millionare and fun loving guy. He decided to take a break from doing some work at the NYC branch of Kord Industries. So of course he spent some time walking, and quick cab ride later found himself in Queens. Why is he here, he doesn't know, but he just wants to see all of New York before he has to go back to the world that he comes from. Then he hears the sounds of the kids playing and decides to go and watch them. And of course the moment he sees what they're fighting over, well his heart almost leaps out of the chest. He watches them for a moment, "Kids, where are your parents?"

"Mommy's in there," one of the children says, pointing into the alley. The child looks to his brother and declares, "An' I'mma tell Mom what you did!" Here he sticks out his tongue and runs deeper into the alley--

Almost immediately running smack into someone. There is a figure shrouded in black that the boy runs into. He looks up, wondering what he hit, and then sees the figure standing there, his eyes widen a bit, and he takes a step back.

And there's Mr. Kord about to follow the kid, maybe there is something that he can do to help them, this just can't be the way life was supposed to have gone for them. And of course following the eyes he spots the person that they run into as well, and blinks at her a little bit as well. He watches for a moment, then finally speaks, "Don't know who you are, but please move away from the kid."

Just his luck, he'll run into a mugger or something and he doesn't have any of his equipment with him right now, just him and a suit.

Instead of the frightened reaction that might have been expected, the child immediately grabs hold of the figure's leg. "Auntie Tribs! You saw it! He made me drop it! An' I'm hungry, too!"

"So am I!" the other child retorts. "An' I found it first! You stole it!"

"Did not!"

Before the argument can get any farther, the figure replies, "Both of you. Go back to your mother. I've given her enough food to feed the three of you. And no fighting, unless you want that to happen again." Without needing to be told twice, the boys run back, farther into the alley.

Then the figure looks up to the unknown man. She doesn't know him, no. She raises her head, displaying the chalky-pale complexion and oddly-colored eyes. For a moment, she doesn't speak. "...They have more reason to trust me than to trust you," she notes calmly.

More watching of the people, and once he sees that the kids know the person, he eases up his own tension about person a little, "Yes well I didn't know you. And unfortunately you hear all of the stories about people doing things to others in this day and age." He looks at her, "And well there was no telling why you were here, until the kids showed that they trusted you." He looks at the lady, "And yes they don't have any reason to trust me, I've been away from the city for a while, so haven't had a chance to do much here as I would have liked."

The woman nods slowly. "An honest mistake on both our parts," she notes simply. and then she turns slightly, to look down the alley. "That behavior...is normal for those two, you'll have to excuse them. They've been fighting since practically the day the younger of the two was born...."

"Yes I guess it is one of those things that will happen. Can never be too careful this day and age of course." He watches the kids for a moment, "Yes well I've heard that's the way it always is with siblings. They have a tendency to fight like that, it happens." He looks at the lady some more and extends his hand, "Sorry didn't introduce myself. Ted Kord."

The woman regards his hand suspiciously for a moment. She does not seem like she's going to move to take his hand, but finally she nods once more, in greeting, and extends her hand. The skin is pale and literally white. Not just pale. White. Like milk, or chalk. But her hand isn't clammy, just cold. "I am called 'Tribulation'," she returns. It doesn't appear that she's heard the name 'Ted Kord', as she does not seem to react to hearing it.

Wow someone that doesn't know who he is. Cheer! Maybe he can just have a nice normal conversation for a change, just don't mention the company at all Mr. Kord, not one word. The hand is shaken, and the guy looks at the very pale person, don't stare too much, could just be an albino, and nothing wrong with that. "So what brings you to this neighborhood? Or do you usually come and give the homeless food?"

"I live here. This is...the closest thing to a home I have," is the answer from the pale woman. She notes the stare and hides her pale hand quickly. She also lowers her head, to make it more difficult for this man to see her eyes--red and purple tend to be noticed very quickly by normal people.

Yup, red and purple would be noticed by normal people, and even Ted would notice something like that of course. He listens to her words and things for a moment, "So you're homeless as well? Or do you live here because you like to?" He never knew anyone that was willing to be homeless, but then again you never know these days. He watches the lady some more, "And if you are homeless as well, how did you get the food that you brought the people? If there is a way, I would love to help."

She nods. "Yes, I'm homeless as well. Not by choice. I was...." Here she pauses. "...Suffice it to say I was...thrown out of my home...." Not completely true, but good enough an explanation for the time being. "Some restaurants have regulations about not selling food that's so many hours old. They throw out perfectly good food. It's there for the taking..." she explains.

A pauses as he listens to her some more and nods, "Yes well still sad to hear that. If there is anything that I can do to help, please let me know. Even if it's a job, I can arrange one for you." He reaches into a pocket and pulls out a card that he goes to hand to her, "The same goes for your friends as well. If there is anything that I can do to help them, please let me know."

"That's much appreciated, Mr. Kord. I will pass the information on to my friends; perhaps one of them can be of use to you," Tribulation replies, tucking the card in her pocket without bothering to look at it. There wasn't anything he could do for her, even if he wanted to, and from her response, it seems she's already decided that.

"You're welcome. And well I do like trying to help others when I get a chance. Feel free to have them call there, hopefully we can find them a job." Hey he gives ex-cons a job, why not hire some more of the homeless. He looks at the lady, "Plus if you need me, you can also contact me, or if you need some help with what you're doing here."

Tribulation nods. "That is very kind of you," she notes simply, nodding once. "I know of many here who would jump at the chance to try to make it out of these conditions, if only for their children." She herself, though...doesn't sound like she's including herself in that group of people. The woman pauses a moment, shaking her head. "A child should not have to live like this."

"I do agree with that. Which is why I am willing to help out as much as possible." He looks at her, "And as you said no one should have to live their life like this. And if not I know people that are owe me a few favors, and can help as well."

For a moment, Tribulation says nothing. Doesn't seem like he's quite understanding what's the matter. So, there's only one thing to do. She looks up. She tilts her head up, looking at him squarely. Her face is visible then--chalk-white skin, black hair...and her eyes too, are visible. No apparent pupil, red irises, purple where they should be white. She says nothing, waiting for the inevitable freaking out that usually occurs. And if Ted has been particularly astute throughout the conversation, he may have noticed the black feathers upon the ground around her feet.

Well Ted doesn't freak out, he's seen plenty of strange things in his life, and well this isn't barely in the top 10. But that explains a lot, like why she had the attitude that he couldn't help her. He looks at her for a moment, but doesn't say anything for a while, "You know if you wanted one I'm sure I could find you a job as well." Well Kord Industries could help her. He has noticed the feathers, and well he has to ask, "So what happened? Some kind of accident or something else?"

"No, not at all," Tribulation replies. It's been a long time...and no one really knows her story except those who were directly involved. "I was...'born' this way...." There's an emphasis on the word that seems to indicate it's not one she would have ordinarily used.

He looks at the lady some more, "Well that is definately interesting. Alien, or something else?" Well he doesn't know many born strange, unless they are aliens, so well feels like he has to ask. "And where is your family, if I can ask?"

Tribulation pauses, and takes a step nearer. "Honestly...I'm not certain you could take the knowledge," she notes. However, the comment is not offered snidely or rudely. It's offered in a completely honest tone. Ted is just a human, after all...so far as she knows, anyway....

The man looks at her for a moment, "Hey I can take knowledge, it's something I do." But then if she doesn't trust him, with it, well then he's not going to press the issue really. "So I'll just assume that you are an alien and leave it at that."

Tribulation gives a smirk. "...Probably for the best," she agrees. Too many ways he could freak out, and she didn't really want to have to hurt anybody right now...she just wasn't in the mood to fight a perfectly innocent human being today....

He's glad he didn't have to freak out as well, he doesn't like freaking out, a glance at her some more, "Well at least we do have that one settled." Nice alien lady who helps the homeless, yup it definately makes sense, why wouldn't it.

Tribulation simply nods. Honestly, long conversation isn't one of her strengths; conversation in general isn't a strength of hers, really...but as has been demonstrated, she can be persuaded to speak if the need arises. She simply looks to Ted, her oddly-colored gaze on him as if she was trying to look past his exterior, to see through him.

Well Ted does love to talk, but unfortunately for him, there are things that he needs to do. "Well it was nice meeting you ma'am. But I do have to get going. Please send your friends to my company, and I will help them out."

Tribulation nods. "I will do that," she replies. "However...." Here she takes another step closer to Ted. This way she doesn't have to speak very loudly. "...Please understand, I do appreciate your offer of help for these people. But they--as well as I myself--have been betrayed before. If it happens again...." Here she tilts her head up, to look him in the eye squarely. Her expression is hard and her eyes narrowed. "...I will not be happy." She doesn't threaten him, but she makes it quite clear that making her not-happy would be a bad idea....

The guy does nod at that one, "Yes, I do understand that one. And trust me, I am not here just to try and hurt them in any way. I am the type of person that does want to help them." He nods, "But sadly I must head off know. Please do have them call, okay?" After that he turns and walks away.