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There is one particular luxury that Amara has missed. Certainly she can get it from this 'room service' at the hotel she's been occupying, but it is… insufficient. This is something of a shock to most of the staff she's spoken to, but Amara grew up in the wilds of Brazil, and the coffee grown and roasted, brewed and served by her native servants is unmatched by any she's tried in this city. The hotel staff have tired of her complaints, and a manager pointedly informed her that if she did not like the coffee she received in his hotel, she should go outside and seek better. After all, coffee shops are hardly uncommon in New York City.
And Amara agrees, she should do this, but New York is a terrifying place for a young woman who has grown up in the lap of luxury. And Roman luxury at that. She has been primped and pampered every day of her life, and the city is rude and loud and full of objects that scream by faster than any horse could ever manage.
But Amara Juliana Olivians Aquilla is a senator's daughter. She is next thing to royalty (better, in her own eyes), and she will not be a fool before these plebeians. She gets directions to the nearest 'coffee shop', and marches out of the hotel in her light toga and gilt sandals, stalking down the street.
When she arrives at the coffee shop (a greasy spoon, but one that actually serves a good cup of coffee — whether or not it would meet Amara's standards) she waits as patiently as she can for her turn. Not very patiently, unfortunately. By the time she gets to the counter and orders her drink she is fuming. And when she proffers payment, and the lady behind the counter (who practically reeks of cheap tobacco) jerks back her drink in response there is the faintest tremor from the ground below as Amara explodes.
"What do you MEAN you do not accept gold as payment?!"
*
Julie is sitting at the counter, she's got a coffee of her own, and is partway through a burger and crinkly fries, that pronouncement seems to strike her as familiar. Well, at least it's not platinum, this time: she speaks up a bit to the waitress, saying, in a Brooklyn-Italian accent, "Ah, how bout I got it," she says, just pointing at her own check, irony as that may be, "Must be from outta town," she observes. Gives a little smile, about the strange get-up.
*
Crystal knows a thing or two about joining the world from a much more isolated society. Also about leaving a place where you're part of the ruling class. And also earth-based powers. So with a rumor that a young woman who also fits all three of those categories is in the city going around, she's come out to offer what assistance she can.
Word at the hotel was that Amara had gone in search of better coffee, and it doesn't take too much work to follow the trail to the dingy little diner - especially when the earth itself starts to tremble just as she steps inside. Crystal arches a brow, a hand at her side flattening in a smoothing motion that eases the rumble.
"That is very kind of you," she smiles to Julie when she offers to cover the coffee.
*
Amara is about to do something that would probably be offensive — stick a pointed finger in the waitress' face or start to rant in Latin — but Julie's interruption puts her off her stride. She stares at the other young woman, looks back to the waitress, then back to Julie. "Thank you," she says stiffly before snatching away both her coffee and her gold. She's not sure of the exchange rate, but she extends a heavy coin to the brunette. "This should cover it, I think." An Aquilla always pays her debts.
The cup is brought to her lips and she glares at the woman behind the counter over the rim. The heat does not bother her. It's nothing compared to the fires she summons. She takes an experimental swallow.
She's about to make some comment on the drink when there's another voice, and she turns her attention back toward Crystal, blinking at the newcomer for a moment, wary — particularly when her tremors are cancelled. She did not want to shake the building to its foundation, of course — the building quake was stress, not desire. However, the idea that somebody else can stop her from doing what she must when she must is disturbing. "Who are you?" she demands in her most imperious tone.
*
Julie nods a little to Crystal, curious who that might be all of a sudden, as well, she's about to make motions that's *really* not necessary, then a bit of curiosity takes over and she has a glance at the coin, just to see where it's from or what it's supposed to be, perhaps, and hefts it a bit. "They say you get some pretty interesting celebrities up this way," she says to the waitress. "This might actually be worth something, better, ah, kind of explain or something." Hopefully that'll cover a few contingencies, as covering up, goes. She waits for the lady's challenge to Crystal, first, though, not even seeming to acknowledge the building shaking.
*
Crystal's smile quirks at Amara's response. She doesn't seem insulted, but neither does she seem particularly worried for herself. "My name is Crystal," she introduces herself simply, offering a hand. "And I think that perhaps I can offer you a bit of assistance here. Perhaps you might like to take a seat, though?" She gestures toward a pair of seats at the counter, right next to where Julie was sitting.
*
The blonde regards Crystal, still wary, but recognizing that she definitely does not have the upper hand here. Oh, for a royal guard! With a sword!
Amara sinks into a seat next to Julie, clutching her coffee and not saying a word, but looking from one to the other and, on occasion, glaring at the waitress' back. Try to refuse the brew of life to a Roman woman.
*
Julie nods, and settles right back down there. Says a little more quietly, …platinum, she wouldn't know on sight, but gold's no mystery there, and she says, "So, guess you're not from around here, eh?" Indicates the coin, "I think it's too much, she must have thought it wasn't real, or something. Anyway, you gotta trade this for some of the local money, probably you could get enough to eat all month here for this, I'd guess." She eyes Crystal again, not sure how she'll take any of this, or who she is, but Dizzy Bottero doesn't take advantage of strangers that way.
*
"You'll need a male family member or else some sort of chaperone to open an account at most of the banks here, I'm afraid," Crystal wrinkles her nose briefly, settling onto a seat and smoothing a hand over her skirts. "The exchange rate on gold is respectable, but you'll likely need a special service to actually convert your gold to cash. Which is…ancillary."
She waves a hand, moving on. "I've gotten ahead of myself. It's my understanding that you may have come to town for some assistance in dealing with some new personal developments." She smiles faintly, talking her way around things without actually saying them. After all, people can be touchy about powers. "I believe I can be of some assistance with that. Both personally, and as a representative of a specialized school."
*
"I have accounts," says Amara, "but in what world will people NOT take gold as payment? It makes no sense." Her expression is a hair's breadth from petulant — but she would never let herself take on such an expression. "I have American money in the bank, but not in coin." She has refused, so far, to believe that Americans pay for goods and services with paper.
She listens to Crystal's speech, though. She is not precisely touchy about her abilities — she simply wishes they were not so difficult to control. Especially when her anxiety or temper gets the best of her. "I came because I was told there were people who could help me," she says, frowning faintly. "This school sounds like the sort of place about which I was told."
*
Julie definitely seems to prick up an ear about that school, having introduced herself there, whether or not Crystal's kept up to date on such things, though some of the kids were a bit abuzz about her custom Chevy. There's clearly a look of recognition about the place, though. She ahs. "Well, I know someone honest in the gem district, how's about I give you some in return, and then you can try that out next time. Sounds like the Professor's more important right now, though…" Oops.
*
"It's a regulated currency," Crystal points out, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. "Gold's value is universal, but-" She pauses, giving Amara's attire a look and matching it up with what she's leaned of history outside of Attilan. "The average citizen lacks the information to assess the true and current value, since most currency is no longer represented in actual gold. It's actually rather clever from the governmental standpoint, since it allows the government to set an manipulate-"
She cuts herself off again, clearing her throat. "I'm sorry, I'm rambling. The school itself has all the necessary facilities to give you a chance to get your bearings in this world, but also offers some distance from the madness here in the city."
Julie's mention of the professor gets an arch of her brow as she pieces a few things together, but she doesn't seem to be a potential source of earthquakes at the moment. "On a more personal level, I suspect I know something about how you're feeling right now."
*
Amara looks to Julie for a moment. "Please, just keep the coin," she says. "Trade it for the ridiculous bits of non-precious metal you people use for currency if you must, but take it." She has a few hundred of them in her hotel room. Along with other bits of wealth in the forms of silver and platinum and gems. "You know this professor. You can help Lady Crystal introduce me. Consider it payment for services rendered."
Yes, Lady Crystal. There is no question in Amara's mind that the woman is of her own class — in some way, at any rate. Julie, on the other hand… well, likely not so much, but Amara's not demanding her tribute, at least.
"I am confused and this city is enough to drive any Roman citizen to madness," she says to Crystal. "But I place my welfare in your hands — as I clearly have no idea what to do. I cannot begin to comprehend the thing on the table in my room. I know only to spin it as far as I can so I can call the desk for help. Certainly I have no way of contacting this professor on my own."
*
Julie hrms, a little perplexed, but she keeps meeting people from outer space and Planet Asgard lately, so she just nods, says, "I'm parked up the block, actually," to Crystal. She'd just happened to get hungry before one of her drives. On the coin, she, err, tucks it away, and says, definitely as an aside, "Ah, we'll work it out." Does munch on a fry.
*
"This city drives even people who were born and raised around these things mad," Crystal laughs softly to Amara, reassuring. "But we can certainly start introducing you to some of the vagaries of life here." She doesn't correct Amara's use of a title, glancing to Julie at her mention of a ride. "That…might be more prudent than the method of transportation I used," she agrees. "But. Let's get you a few things from the hotel first. If you'd like to stay tonight at the school, you'll be able to, but if you want to come back here instead, you'll still have your own room. Sound good?"
*
It takes Amara a few moments, but she nods. "Yes," she says. "That sounds fine. Thank you." She takes another sip of her coffee — far better than that at the hotel, to her tongue. There's a hint of relief in her eyes and on her features. She has a direction now, and people to guide her. It is humiliating to need them, but she will do what she must.
*
Julie nods, there, says to the waitress, pushing over a bit more of that paper and funny metal money, "Ah, guess got a doggie bag, looks like we're motoring," she says, "That's show biz, and all." Puts the rest of her meal in there, and says to the others, "OK, I'll go warm 'er up while you do that." Well, just in case Amara's always dressed for summer in Rome or something, perhaps.
*
"Thank you," Crystal smiles warmly to Julie as she offers to get the car. "I know all of this can seem overwhelming," she turns back to Amara. "I've been where you are. But you'll grow accustomed to it in time. I'll confess, I'm looking forward to seeing what you can do," she adds, smile flashing. She doesn't seem to be worried about volcanoes, at least.
*
Amara smiles at Julie in gratitude, however poorly such an emotion may come to her. "Thank you," she says in turn before turning back toward Crystal. "I look forward to getting out of that hotel," she says. "Thank you, Crystal. I appreciate your help."
*