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The Mighty Hercules smiles in spite of himself as he carries a large pallet of supplies on his shoulder, "I have returned," he explains to no one in particular. One thin woman waggles up to Hercules quickly, "Hercules!" she lets out annoyingly in a high pitched voice, "I'm glad you're back! I think the homeless groups are growing!" she lets out. Hercules waves his hand back and forth as he sets down the large pallet, "Never fear, I shall quell any uprising," he acknowledges, then looks over to the groups of homeless scattered on the lawn of the Harlem building. It looks as if a fire just put some people out of their homes.
*
Lynette steps out from the Cigar Factory, and the scene causes her pause. She blinks, and takes in the group of people standing, and sitting, outside of the old brownstone that's still smoking and smouldering. It causes the dark skinned girl with massive hair to frown, and then there's something else. That man, massive and sticking out like a sour thumb in this part of the city. Hercules? Is that what that woman said? She considers him, silently, and rubs at the sides of her bright capris before talking a few sneaker footed strides forward. She nods to those that recognize her, but her voice carries up toward the towering man. "Hey, dere." Her accent is heavy, and very apparent. "Y'doin' alright? Need a'y help wit t'ings?"
*
"Uh, who's that?" one man asks another. "He said he's Hercules, so I guess he's Hercules," the other answers. "Bullcrap," is the retort.
Hercules announces loudly, "Citizens! Thou hast hot…porridge available," he explains to them, waving his hand toward the bowls and baskets. He looks down at Lynette, and smiles easily because the situation isn't too serious, "Help? Oh yes, young woman. This porridge must reach the people but they don't seem very eager. What is thy name? Maybe you could standst there and ready the bowls carefully, agreed?" he asks her, "Perhaps if they see it is ready, the citizens will begin to organize."
*
Lynette just smirks. She can't help that twisting of her lips and the high quirk of her brow. "Y'serious?" She blinks, just drinking the man in, but when he speaks, that settles it for her. "N'I t'ought Thor was bad." She giggles and nods, the action causing her curls to bounce. "Fine, fine. I help wit de, uh, porridge." The girl then moves to the side, looking at the supplies in question and giving a nod of greeting to an older man and woman who were already there. "Com'on now! Grits is ready." She calls out, helping to dish up the bowls without pause, or hesitation. "Well, if dey ain't said it yet, t'anks f'de help…Hercules, was it?"
*
Hercules raises his hands defensively and smiles again, "Yes, I am…serious?" he wonders why she asks him that question, "I shall owe you a favor, young woman. The people will rejoice knowing you art here to help," he explains. He turns to some people and motions them closer, "Come, enjoy!" he says, patting one downtrodden man on the back casually. He takes a bowl from Cassie and passes it to the man. He glances at Lynette again, "What? Ah yes, I am Hercules."
*
Hercules raises his hands defensively and smiles again, "Yes, I am…serious?" he wonders why she asks him that question, "I shall owe you a favor, young woman. The people will rejoice knowing you art here to help," he explains. He turns to some people and motions them closer, "Come, enjoy!" he says, patting one downtrodden man on the back casually. He takes a bowl from Lynette and passes it to the man. He glances at Lynette again, "What? Ah yes, I am Hercules."
*
"Like de Demi-God? Son a'Zeus n' all dat?" She asks, handing the bowl over and then dishing up more for anyone that's hungry. She'll give them smiles when they come up, making idle small talk, and giving her condolances. She keeps glancing to the mountain of a legend who's just standing there. "Sorry, jus' gettin' use t'all dis…collection of worlds, I guess. Y't'ink t'ings are jus' stories, y'know? Den dey show up, savin' de day?"
*
Hercules waves his hand back and forth, "Thou art too kind. I really have not saved the day," he chuckles humbly, "Yes, even the Son of Zeus is not above helping out," he explains. Some more people gather and pass through the line next to Hercules, some of them smirking but some of them nodding appreciation too. The line dies down thanks to the help of Lynette and Hercules. "Tis just this building that has run afoul of fire, I believe," he explains, "Do you live in this fair city?" he wonders.
*
"Ah, jus' a sayin'. But y'helpin' so dats nice." She tries to explain herself. Once the line starts to subside, she fixes up a few more bowls and sets them on the table for anyone who wishes for more. Stepping away, she scritches up and into her massive hair and tilts her head back, trying to look into the god's face. "Yeah, I do. F'now, anyway. Still new, dough." She pauses and cants her head to the side. "So, how'd y'know dis was happenin'? Did someone call y't' help or…how does dat work? M'jus' curious is all."
*
Hercules frowns a bit confusedly and scratches his head, "What do you mean?" he wonders, "Help was needed and Hercules sprang to action," he says and shrugs, "The details do not interest me. Ah, well, seems as though our quest to satiate the people has succeeded. A small triumph, no doubt, but I appreciate your help," he tells Lynette as he steps away from the serving table, "Ah! Such coincidence! I have just returned to the city too," he says and smiles.
*
"Ah, don' worry 'bout it, Herc." The more he talks, the more she just…smiles. Watching over his face, she can't help herself. Giving a low whistle, she moves to rest her back against a building and cross her arms under her petite chest. She watches up and down the street, feeling comfortable here; the reasons why being painfully apparent. "Y'live here, den? I figured y'd be in Greece."
*
Hercules frowns again as she asks him a strange question, "Greece? Well, it seems much has changed since I last visited this world. Tis more developed than I remember, obviously," he chuckles. "I did have friends all throughout the world, you see. They spoke of me and I of them. There was much celebration and comradeship. But now, I believe…they art all gone…" he explains sadly.
*
Lynette frowns gently as she listens, her amusement over how the man presents himself was dying out, quickly. "M'sorry. Have y'tried findin' dem? Lookin' for dem?" She then smiles and reaches out, placing her hand on his arm and giving it a tender squeeze. Her smile returns, genuine and warm. "Maybe dey find you someday, hmm? 'sides, guy like you? M'sure you c'n find more friends." She looks him over and nibbles to her lower lip. "Y't'ink 'bout gettin' new clothes?"
*
Hercules hmms, "Well, would be an easy task if I knew where to look. Oh yes, I agree, all is not lost," he explains, "What? What do you mean? Am I not dressed appriopriately?" he wonders. He then motions to Lynette quickly, "Come! Let us go get some fried cakes. I am starving. I saw citizens devouring them whole on a large sign," he says and smiles, motioning to Denny's next door, "The waft of the cakes entices me to come in. Join me," he says in a flowery way, overdoing it so he can make a little join. He walks to get his pancakes.
*
"Oh y'look fine, jus'…outta date? Don' worry, I can' judge much. I jus' now got clothes dat fit me right." She explains and smiles, but once he becomes excited, and rushes off to his next conquest, she chuckles and sighs. "Merde…" following after, she glances around the diner for a moment, even if it was more like a cafe and donut shop. If fried sweets was what he wanted, he'd get them here. "Welcome back," she finally tells him as the pair pick out where to sit. She has a few donuts for herself; sugar and cinnamon. "M'Lynette, by de way."
*
Hercules takes a seat at the small table with Lynette and smiles widely, "What do you mean? Your clothes look fine, Lynette. Ah please, order whatever you wish. Thou hast not worry, I am familiar with your money system," he explains, "I have traded in my gold for your paper dollars," he comments. He peers strangely at the pictures on the menu and orders some pancakes finally after some annoyingly obvious questions to the waitress, "You like fried cakes, do you not? You do, right?" he chuckles, "I probably will need more of your help with this city."
*
"T'anks." She smiles and nods at his question. "Course I do. I jus' want s'm donuts 'sall." The girl explains and then waits for their orders to be filled. She pokes at her mug of coffee before adding ungodly amounts of sugar and milk, turning it from pitch to pale tan in an instant. "Y'don' gotta pay f'me, dough, Herc. I got s'm money, too. Earned it." She beams, practically elated by that confession.
*
Hercules motions to her in a congratulatory fashion, "Did you? Well done!" he lets out and laughs, "Tis always good to succeed in your work and enjoy the reward! How did you earn your spoils?" he comments. He peers strangely as she dumbs the table's sugar in her coffee, "Do you always do that?" he wonders. The waitress pours Hercules a cup of coffee and slides it in front of him, "Ah yes, I have heard of this when I here before. It is heated water mixed with beans. Delicious," he smiles.
*
"Oh, I jus' work at de bar 'cross de street." She explains simply. "I do de dishes n'de like. Notin' much, but, it's somet'ing." She holds to her mug and smiles then, the expression soft and at ease. "Hmm? Oh, yeah. I don' like bitter t'ings very much. So, I like sweeter coffee." Picking it up, she blows across its top before taking a cautious sip.
*
Hercules hmms, "Sweeter coffee?" he wonders, then takes what is left of the sugar and dumps it in his coffee too, "Yes, sweets are enjoyable," he comments. He lifts his mug and has a sip, then looks at it strangely, but doesn't say anything. "Washing dishes? Hmm seems not the job for such a lovely young woman," he comments, "Are you in study? Actually, I have had many a job too. I hast chopped wood, hauled gravel, strangled lions," he comments.
*
"I-ah…I don' like bein' noticed really. So, dishes is fine. M'doin' it t'pay for a place t'stay till I c'n save up for m'own." She murmurs, though a touch of heat brushes over her cheeks at the compliment. She sips more and rests back in her seat, her eyes glancing off and out the display window, watching as people move up and down the sidewalk. "Yeah? I read de stories b'fore. I jus'…S'weird. All dis bein' real."
*
After the waitress delivers the breakfast, Hercules smiles, "Ah, such a feast. We did work for it, so it is deserved," he comments. He then watches as Lynette glances out the window and seems not interested in her donuts or the conversation, "Yes, I often tell tales of the old days, no doubt in annoyance of others," he comments, "But you have met Captain America and Thor have you not? They are Earth's protectors too, yes?"
*
"Captain America? No, ain't met him." She answers, taking another sip before reaching for a donut and tearing it apart. She dunks it into her cup and then stuffs into her mouth. She chews and swallows a few times. "Met Thor, dough. On one of m'first days in de city." She beams.
*
Hercules gives a nod to what she says, "Ah, I see. Are you alright, Lynette?" he wonders. He watches her dunk the donut in the coffee and looks impressed, then does the same thing with a pancake. He finishes his plate of pancakes and wipes his mouth.
*
"What d'y mean? M'fine." She blinks, perhaps surprised by the question. She takes her time with her donuts, but has yet to stop her habit of stuffing as much food in her face as possible at one time. Her cheeks round out, completely, and then sink back down to their natural shape once things are down her throat. "Like I said, jus' still gettin' use t'seein' Gods walkin' 'round. S'weird. M'not sure how t'react, I don' t'ink."
*
Hercules waves his hand back and forth, "Tis nothing, Lynette. Do not feel uncomfortable. I am a meager defender," he comments and then smiles as she devours her donut. As the waitress comes back, Hercules hands her a 50 dollar bill and she looks at him strangely before going to get his change, "Well, tis a small day of accomplishment, I should think, but a good one. Thank you for your company."
*
"Oh! Yeah, t'ank you f'helpin' dos people. Keep up de good work." She beams, brushing away any stray crystals of sugar from her lips and fingers. "M'sure I'll get use t'it s'mday. All de gods n'stuff." Chuckling, nervously, she rubs at the nape of her neck and takes a breath. "Where y'headin' now?"
*
Hercules hmms and brushes his tunic, "I know not but I perhaps I will seek out some other heroes I know or…perhaps I will wait until Fate delivers me my next quest," he explains, standing up from the table, "Do not worry, I will be back this way to check on the neighborhood."
*