Starring:
Summary: Kory drops in on Gabriel with breakfast and talk of saving the world.
Date It Happened: April 22nd, 2008
Warm House, Cold Future
Gabriel's Apartment, Deveaux Building, NYC
It's morning. A bright, chilly morning, with bright sunlight heralding a warming for later. But Kory isn't going outside. She's heading for the apartment on the list, an insulated carry bag on her shoulder. She stops at the apartment she's memorized for this visit, and shakes her head smiling. "Thanks for pitching me an easy one, Pete," she says in a whisper toward the sky before raising her hand to knock.
After Kory knocks on the door, there is nothing but the sound of silence from inside the apartment. It might seem that Gabriel isn't home, but it isn't much longer before the muffled sound of a sliding chain being disengaged comes through the door. It opens slowly, a few inches, and Gabriel peers out through the crack at Kory. It looks like he just took a morning shower, as a towel is slung over his shoulder, covering a white tanktop, his hair dripping slightly onto it. Black pants complete the outfit, and the ex-killer looks Kory up and down for a moment before finally speaking. "Yes?"
"Good morning!" Kory chirps, smiling as if she's trying to compete with the sunlight. "I'm Kory, and you're my new neighbour and I brought over a little housewarming thingie to say hello with! I promise, it's good — not, y'know, a freaky, scary ham-and-pineapple-and-marshmallow jello mold thing. Those never impress anybody." She holds up the insulated bag hopefully. "I hope I haven't caught you at a bad time?"
Eyebrows raising, Gabriel gives Kory another look over, eyeing the bag in particular. At least he wouldn't have to cook, but at the same time, he doesn't really have any idea who this person is other than the fact they live here. But then, Hiro most likely wouldn't allow anyone to stay that would cause trouble. "Sure," is the simply response from Gabriel, who steps back, pulling the door open with him. He turns away from the door, grabbing his towel off of his shoulder to dry his hair better, before tossing it onto the back of the couch. It isn't exactly a welcome invitation, but Gabriel isn't the friendliest of people.
Kory knows that. And how she knows it — she'll get to that. "Thank you," she tells him, bobbing her head in acknowledgement that he's allowing her to come in. She takes a moment to scope his apartment out, just grokking from the way things are laid out where she might find the kitchen. She walks with a sprightly stride toward it, and from there it isn't difficult for her to locate the dining room table. "Oh, wow. Really nice," she compliments sincerely as she unzips the bag…
…upon which a pair of simply heavenly aromas emit. Coffee. Really good coffee. Freshly ground, no less. And something that smells a lot like French Toast — only richer and creamier. "I figure if it saves you doing the dishes, I brought Chinet." She produces paper plates and cups. "C'mon. While it's hot."
The man disappears for a little bit into a side room, but he soon emerges once again, pulling a blue, long-sleeved shirt over his shoulders. He buttons up the front of it as he makes his way to the table, looking at the contents in the bag, or at least as good of a look as he can get. "I don't normally do this," he says as he takes a seat, looking up at Kory. "I tend to… keep to myself." It's not much of an excuse, but at least he's trying to explain his less-than-friendly behavior to the woman.
"Oh, I know, Gabriel," she says gently, taking the lid off a disposable aluminum pan of French Toast casserole. There's a pot of fresh butter softened from its proximity to the casserole. And a carton of cream kept out of the section of the bag where it was warm, for the coffee. "We've met before, y'see. I'm a friend of Peter's. And for that matter, Hiro's. He set me up in the apartment upstairs when I was in the market."
They've met before? Gabriel looks up from the table to Kory, eyebrows raising again. "I'm sorry," he begins, frowning slightly, "but… I don't seem to recall having ever met you before. I don't.. doubt that you're a friend of Peter's." It seems like everyone knows Peter these days. "And Hiro, but…" He frowns again, eyes falling to the food as he tries to remember if he has in fact met this woman before.
"Don't worry about it," Kory says kindly. "It's been a little while. You probably haven't seen me around since, oh, February." A little clue. His polite, friendly visitor, who checks on him in his dreams, and helps to make sure that the locked door in the watch shop stays locked? Yeah — he hasn't seen her in just about that long. "Though I dressed a teense differently then," she adds. Understatement, much? Yeah. But how do you explain this to somebody sensibly?
The clues don't do much to help Gabriel place her. Of course, the only times he's ever seen her were in his dreams, and she looked vastly different in those. He's not putting two and two together. "… I'm sorry," he finally says, shaking his head, hands held out with the palms up. "I don't really know. Unless you came into the watcshop.. but it wasn't even fixed back then…" He trails off, brow furrowing slightly as he watches the table.
"Have some breakfast, Gabriel," Kory says, mirroring his frown. "Let me try to explain a little better." She glances skyward again, an inward glower at Future Peter, before she continues. "I'm a special. Or a mutant. Or an evolved. Too many different phrases for it. But until I got injured, I was watching over you. To help you." She slices into the casserole and gives him a generous slice. She pours a cup of coffee for him as well, before serving herself. "This will help: 'silk pajamas'." The codeword should at least superimpose the image from his subconscious over Kory so he can see them as the same person. The little geeky Lindsay-Lohan-as-gawky-teen image will hold for a few seconds, then dissolve, leaving Kory as she really is.
"You have an ability," Gabriel says simply, looking up at Kory. At least that part is out in the open. Now is where the worrisome part begins: not thinking about that ability. To help with this he reaches out and takes one of the cups of coffee, sipping at it as he listens to the rest of her words. Suddenly, when Kory utters the codeword, Gabriel does indeed see her how he's seen her before. He pushes himself back from the table, standing from his chair and looking down at her. "That was you," he says, shaking his head slightly in confusion and disbelief. "In my dreams…"
"Yes," Kory answers, having a forkful of her own casserole as Gabriel responds to her first prompt. She looks up at him, as he stands, still nibbling on the casserole. "Yes again. In your dreams." She's not going to cower. She's not going to ask him not to be mad. He may well, but he'll come to the emotion on his own, without any psychological crutches offered from her.
"What gives you the right?" he says, staring down at the woman. "To go messing around inside someone's head, defenseless, unable to stop you from doing it. Are you the one that helped Peter get in my head? In my dreams?" That's a prime example to Gabriel of why you don't go mucking about in someone's unconciousness. If they hadn't done that… another life could have been saved.
He's angry.
Lovely.
Kory looks up at him and sets her fork down. "Peter could have done it without me," she explains, and adds, another codephrase; 'Nothing more suspicious than Frog's Breath.'" And with that, the dreams are unlocked. All of them. And he will see that she has done nothing more than show up, converse wtih Gabriel, ask him how he's holding up, and if he's willing (after the single instance she showed up with Peter), make sure that the door holding Sylar back remains steadfast. She has done nothing to influence him, and what she has done, she's had Gabriel's permission for.
"Peter does a lot of things without thinking of the consequences," Gabriel says, his voice full of bitterness. He takes a step back at the next codephrase, holding a hand up to his head, reaching out with the other to support his weight on a nearby bookcase. He looks up at Kory, truly seeing her for what she's done, understanding that she had good intentions. Something that he allowed her to do, even if it was his own subconcious allowing it. "That's what you do, isn't it," the ex-killer says, closing his eyes and rubbing his temple, shaking his head slightly as he moves to lean against the bookcase. "Your ability."
"He thinks more of the consequences than people give him credit for," Kory says mildly. "It's just that people like us, dealing with people like us…it's difficult to predict the consequences." She doesn't move. She simply goes back to eating her breakfast, presenting Gabriel no sort of threat. She knows full well what he's capable of, and she has neither intention nor desire to give him a reason to show her up close and personal. "Yes. It's my ability. I walk into dreams. I don't sleep." She gestures to his place across from her. "Please have a seat and eat. I promise it's not drugged or anything crazy like that." She's eating it herself, cut from the same pan she served him. It's just comfort food, nothing more.
"Consequences are worse than someone thinks they can be," Gabriel mutters to the bookcase, glancing sidelong at Kory. He doesn't miss the gesture, but he doesn't sit down, not yet. He watches her for a long moment as she eats, eyes never leaving hers. Finally, he moves forward, slowly sitting down at the table. "Why are you here?"
"I know that too," Kory says, placidly regarding Gabriel's back. "For what it's worth, in my case, it's what I have besides my ability that made him think I could help. I have a degree in psychology." She has a sip of coffee, and murmurs, "'Omicron Wave Motion'." They've discussed that too. Because it was Kory's own condition of continuing to monitor Gabriel's dreams that he know she wasn't messing with him, and she wasn't doing anything he had to be afraid of. Peter may not think consequences through thoroughly. Kory, on the other hand, is a little more circumspect in her dealings with a man who is more than potentially dangerous. "I'm here because someone else didn't think the consequences through properly either. You know of Pinehearst?"
Another sudden burst of information, and Gabriel once agains bring his hand to his head. Reaching out, he grabs the coffee Kory brought, taking a long drink from it before setting it back down on the table, eyes moving up to the woman. "You were just trying to help," he says, even though she knows this. He regards her for another long moment, before finally reaching out and pulling his food towards him, taking a bite. "Pinehearst," he says after he swallows, a hint of disgust for the company in his voice. "I know them."
"I was," Kory confirms, smiling at him hesitantly. "And I have never been anything less than honest with you. The appearance was Peter's idea, because he didn't want cognitive dissonance hitting you at a bad time if we ever met in person. I agreed, because cognitive dissonance is no fun at all." She smiles wryly as he begins to eat; it's probably a little cold now, but hopefully no less tasty. "As for Pinehearst. Peter …the one with the scar?" She contemplates her own coffee now, distaste for the scarred Peter of the future written all over her expressive face. "He told me they have a formula to give everyone powers and that if we don't stop it, the world is going to crash and burn spectacularly, to put it briefly."
After taking another bite (Kory was right— the food is quite good), Gabriel looks back up at Kory, head tilting slightly to the side, a confused look on his face. "Cognitive dissonance?" he repeats, having no idea what that is. It's probably a question best suited for another time, however, as what she says next really throws the man for a loop. "Scar? … Peter doesn't have a scar… a formula to give people abilities?"
"Peter from the future has a scar," Kory says quietly, meeting Gabriel's eyes now that he's calm again. The Cognitive Dissonance question will wait for another time. "And yes. A formula to give people abilities. One that throws the entire city, if not the world, into chaos, as people grab for it who want it, and people who don't want it try to keep their heads down, and out of the way of those abusing their powers." She shrugs. "Generally not a good scene, not to put too fine a point on it. So he's asked me to gather people in the here-and-now who can help it not come to pass. Your name was near the top of the list. I expect we'll conference call using my ability after I've at least had a chance to speak to everybody."
Peter from the future. Gabriel can't say he's surprised at the thought of Peter still trying to save the world, even if he has to come into his past to do it. "I was supposed to go to Pinehearst to destroy blood. I haven't done it yet.. I don't know if I will. That company is far more dangerous than people give them credit for. I've witnessed the things they can do firsthand. They lie, cheat, kill, do whatever it takes to get what they want. They even tried to turn me into a weapon." The man pushes his food away, his appetite lost at the thoughts of Pinehearst's activities that he's witnessed. "He'll need a lot to bring them down."
"Shall I go over the list with you so you know where we stand on firepower?" Kory asks, easily. The French Toast Casserole gets the lid put on, since there's plenty to nosh on later. Gabriel will have breakfast for at least two more days if he's so inclined. "I don't even know everybody on the list, but I can tell you about those I know and those I've met."
"If you want," Gabriel responds, standing from the table. He moves to one of the windows, pulling the blinds apart in the middle, looking out of it to the street below and watching the people as they go about their early business for the day. "Chances are I don't know them. Most people I've met the past two years I've killed, and if not that, I've more than likely hurt them somehow." He lets the blinds snap close, turning back to Kory. "I'm not exactly popular with people."
Kory is sitting in the same spot, sipping her coffee. "I know. But I also know you're not the man you were. And you're trying to be the man you want to be." She got that much from that first dream session with Peter. And of course, since, in the brief moments of conversation she had with him in his dreams. "Are you concerned that people will feel your past on you and not want to work with you?" She finishes her own breakfast, and folds the paper plate over so as to make it easier to trash.
"No, I'm not," Gabriel responds without any thought to the question. "If people don't want me to help, there's nothing I can do to change that, and it's not going to change how I feel about anything whether they want me to or not. I've destroyed and ruined lives. I've done things to people that I can't be forgiven for, and that's something I'll have to accept. Some people are going to forgive me more than others, some aren't going to forgive me more than all. I'm sure some of those people think I haven't changed one bit." The ex-killer shrugs. "That's their problem, but I'm not going to waste my time with trying to change that."
Kory nods. "fair enough, Gabriel," she says quietly. "I don't want to take up any more of your time or impose on you more than I have." She rises and tucks the paper plates back into her insulated bag. The coffee thermos, she leaves. The butter and cream as well. "I can provisionally consider you part of this project if you like. Hiro trusts you. He wouldn't have given you an apartment — here — if he didn't. I trust Hiro. I trust Peter. So I trust you." She doesn't wish to overstay her welcome, particularly with the pointed reminder of the man he used to be. She tucks an errant curl behind her ear, and regards him evenly.
"I'm not saying I won't help— I understand what this is about. 'Saving the world,' so to speak. The important people in this I'm fine with. Peter, Hiro, you, any others who've come to terms with what I used to be. It's the others I'm worried about." He looks long and hard at Kory, eyes narrowing slightly as he regards her. "They'll have objections, worries, things that could be dangerous when trying to stop Pinehearst. Things that could get in the way. People may not even want to help if I'm going to be part of this." He shakes his head, letting out a sigh, and he holds his hands up. "Believe it or not, there are people I care about, and I've seen Pinehearst do terrible things to them. I want to see Pinehearst fall as much as the next person, and I'm willing to help, but…" He shakes his head again, unsure of how to say what he's trying to.
"Gabriel," Kory says, eyes wide. "If I believed you incapable of caring. If I believed you could not conquer your past… I would have left you out of the list entirely, no matter what Peter said!" Her eyes brighten with the sincerity of her words. She's spent time in Gabriel's mind and gotten to know him a little. And she has the book-knowledge to back up what she sees and says about his progress.
"I've done the therapist thing with you, but hopefully we can get to the point where you'd be willing to consider me a friend as well." She nods, though, to show his point has been taken. "I understand. Peter and Hiro and I can all vouch for you. And honestly? Yes. This is about 'saving the world'. And that's more important than grudges. Or forgiveness. If it's too much the dealbreaker for anyone, we'll just have to work around the empty space and make up for it some other way."
There's another long moment where Gabriel watches Kory again, eyebrows raising just slightly as her eyes brighten, a hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his lip. He's come a long way from hunting down Evolved and acquiring their abilities, and now he's going to actually join up with a list of them to help take down Pinehearst. Destiny works in odd ways, it seems. "I'm on board, then. When things are ready, let me know what I need to do."
"Excellent," Kory says, making sure her hands are clear of syrup and crumbs before offering him a handshake. "I'll be in touch. Probably while you're asleep, because it's more difficult to eavesdrop. If you need me before that, I live upstairs." She gives the apartment number. "If you need me on the secure method? Concentrate on the name 'Terpsichore' as you fall asleep. I'll hear you. I'll be waiting when you hit REM sleep."
Gabriel extends a hand of his own to take Kory's in the handshake. He makes a mental note of the apartment number, and nods his head. "Right. I'm usually here, and if not here, the watchshop, if you need something, or things are ready. Peter will know where it's at." He falls silent after that, watching Kory.
"Done."
Kory is pleased to shake Gabriel's hand; for a girl, her grip is firm and sure, rather than dainty and delicate. She only plays up the cute chirpy aspect of her personality to put people at their ease; but she's clearly capable of going serious when the situation calls for it.
"Peter of this day and age? He's in trouble. But the Peter who came back from the future says he's to stay put. We had been pondering finding him and busting him out, but Peter says that won't make much difference, and …augh. I hate talking about both of them at the same time. But he asked us to concentrate on stopping Pinehearst first and foremost."
Peter in trouble? You don't say. "What happened to Peter? I haven't seen him for quite a while now, but Peter disappearing for days isn't anything unusual." Gabriel shakes his head. Too much bad stuff going on in the world. "Nevermind. If I need to, I'll be able to find out where he is and what happened to him." He doesn't offer any information on just exactly how he'll be able to do this. "I also want to meet this Peter from the future if you could pass the message along."
"Captured, I think," Kory says, uncertainly, making no pretense of it. "The Company's been after him for a while. I'd expect they wouldn't give up easily, considering what he can do." Not to mention his struggle with the Hunger, which she isn't going to bring up in this conversation. "I have the feeling he's keeping a low profile on purpose."
At Gabriel's request, she nods, but adds, "I'm not certain he hasn't gone back where he came from. I got the impression he wasn't planning to stick around after setting me this task. But if I see him — I'll tell him."
"Well, if you happen to see him," Gabriel responds. "Peter should be fine where he is if the Company has them." His mom is part of it, and Gabriel doesn't think she would allow anything to drastic to happen to her son… but then she did tell Gabriel to kill him, so the man could be in more trouble than they all think. There's really no telling.
Kory has more than an inkling of what the Company's capable of. "Maybe. They play very, very dirty when they want something badly enough," she says, jaw set slightly. "Even his own mother." The very idea, by the look on Kory's face is an abomination. Family doesn't betray family. "Peter's kept me out of their sights so far, and I am trying to keep it that way." Her power, in their hands? Yeah, that could be really bad. She turns to walk for the door. "It was good to meet you in person. Awake," she says over her shoulder.
"The Company is…" Gabriel doesn't really finish the sentence. Everything left hanging in the air is enough to sum up what the Company is. "That's good," he says, nodding towards Kory. "Don't let them find you. Or Pinehearst for that matter." He follows Kory to the door, holding it open for her on the way out. "It was nice meeting you, too. Thank you again for the breakfast."
"You're welcome, Gabriel," Kory says, again with that crystal clear sincerity. Must come of her talent. Dreams can be so illogical and hard to interpret — so when she speaks to someone, she conveys her emotions in every way she has available to her. She rucks the strap of the insulated bag up again, and steps out. "I probably won't be in the apartment until late tonight. Still got a bunch of names on this list to talk to." And with that, she's walking for the elevator at a brisk pace.
