Apr 02 21:10:03 109 PA - Unusual Meeting Near Jewels

From Chronicles

Apr 02 21:10:03 109 PA.

MAGIC DISTRICT

Gabriel is in the middle of the sidewalk, walking slowly and peeking in storefronts and at the doors of the establishments catering to the entertainment of mages. It's very pretty, and to him, extraordinarily odd. Still, there's nothing to get in the way of safety and business. Even though it isn't actually cold - not even close, for him - he's wearing his custom greatcoat, likely just due to the threat of rain that the sky holds. It's completely free of clouds, clear to the stars, but the air is moist and a good fellow from Kentucky knows when to take measures of comfort.

Who needsa sidewalk? Bella just walks down the middle offa road. Ain't lotsa things drivin round anyways. 'N they can go 'round if they are. 'R somethin. She's got her normal stuff on. Pants. Shirt. Coat. Cause people look at 'er funny when she's nekkid.

Bella is in the way, and she should know it because there are all manner of techno-wizard and living vehicles trying to make their way down the road in both directions. It's a miracle indeed that someone hasn't picked her up and moved her or teleported her to another dimension just to get the annoying girl out of the way. In fact, it's only because of the combination of honks, horns and riding animal cries that Gabriel turns to look. "Huh," is all he says before returning to his inspections.

"Ok. Ok!" Bella guess maybe there's more stuff movin onna road 'n she was thinkin. So she walks over ta the sidewalk. Maybe she's used to the Dregs. Ain't nothin big movin there much. If there is everybody knows it 'n stays the fack outta the way too.

Screechy voice following honking horns? Okay, Gabriel finally turns to look at Bella more squarely. Of course, they may well be on opposite sides of the road at this point. For now, he stops outside of 'Desmond's Jewels.' It looks open, or at least the lights are on. He waves toward his friend, but looks in the front windows, though not necessarily at the merchandise.

When people ain't yellin at 'er Bella looks 'round. Spots wavin. So now she's inna street again. But just crossin this time! "Heya Gabe. Whatcha doin?" She looks't what he's lookin at. "Gonna buy a buncha pretty stuff? Figgered alla building shit had ya broke."

Gabriel slaps Bella on the shoulder playfully. "I am broke! Trying to tap out friends for funds, promising to pay them back double when I get the profits for it. It's an expensive undertaking, that's for sure. Still, I'm not here to buy shiny baubles. Unless you want earrings?" He gives a nod to the street. "What're you playing in the middle of the road for, anyway? Didn't you mother ever tell you to watch out for cars?"

Bella shakes her head. "Nope. 'N ain't lotsa cars inna Dregs. Sides. What's runnin me over gonna do?" She smirks.

"Piss people off. Make them guess what you might be, try to kill you," Gabriel states matter-of-factually. "This is why staying off to the side and out of mind is a good idea, Bella. What are you doing down here?"

"Ain't gotta guess." Bella shrugs. "Shithead got me thinkin the good thing ta do was tellin ev'rybody." She points a pointy finger at Gabe. "But they better not be doin the tryin ta get me. That'll piss me off."

Gabriel rolls his eyes. "Pfft, don't worry. Can't speak for everyone else, but you know what I promised. Means I couldn't even hire people to do it, if I wanted to - which I don't. Stay out of the rain, Bella, you worry too much. I put down Donna and her hold, and now nobody gives a damn about vampires." He taps his head in mild amusement. "People have stupidly short memories."

Bella perks up. "Yeah? 'N what'd ya promise? Know yer the big bad vampire killin hero guy." She smirks more. "Ya ain't shuttup bout it since."

"You kidding? All I've talked about is building the club. Removing Donna's just the 'why.'" Gabriel waggles a finger. "You honestly don't remember? That first night in my clearing when you saw my cross and bared your teeth? I swore on my Lord and Savior that I would never raise a hand against you, or cause a hand to be raised against you, unless you were directly trying to harm me - which is to say, self-defense. Hell, I didn't even talk about your uniqueness until you floated it out on your own. *Really?* You've forgotten about something that meaningful?" He almost looks hurt.

"Nah." Bella shakes her head. Still smirkin. Way more. "Just wanna hear ya say it again. Maybe ya oughtta talk ta more people. Get 'em ta do it too." now she grins. "Maybe not worry so much then."

Gabriel smirks his own lips and raises an eyebrow. "Now Bella, dear Bella. You know that I'm probably the only person in the city, maybe on the planet who believes my same beliefs. I could tell everyone about it, put it on the news... no one would listen. I think you'll have to do some public relations on your own."

Bella perks up again. "Yeah? Like what? Think I oughtta getta club? Getta buncha creds? So somebody can come chop me up 'n take it all?" She snorts. "Ain't thinkin that's gonna work so good."

"Bella, who's been chasing you down to kill you? Anyone? Or do you walk the streets of the regular city, every single night, hanging out at clubs and bars with friends?" Gabriel shrugs. "I don't think anyone's out to kill you. You might be a vampire, but you're not killing people right and left. That's better than you can say about a lot of regular people in the city, isn't it?"

"Nobody 't I know bout." Bella shrugs. "Just sayin. So. Whatcha thinkin I oughtta be doin? Ta get ev'rybody all happy 'n nice 'n shit?"

"Happy and nice about you personally, or the club?" Gabriel asks. "Either one works. As for you personally, I'd say keep doing what you're doing - but don't be such a bitch sometimes." There's the tongue sticking out.

Bella smirks. "Yeah. Ya go 'n get people tryin'a kill ya alla fackin time fer no reason. Then ya tell me ya ain't gonna get bitchy sometimes." She can stick her tongue out too.

"People *are* always trying to kill me. Why do you think I try to stay out of sight?" Gabriel asks with a laugh. "I didn't sign on with Bart's group when given the invitation because I didn't want to give anyone any other reason to kill me. Maybe the club will give me some good PR and keep yet other people from wanting to kill me." He waves his hand around, indicating the city. "This world sucks. Sometimes I think I'm the only person here who isn't constantly trying to kill someone or other."

"Really? Guess I had ya all wrong." Bella shrugs. "Maybe the club's a good thing fer ya. Course maybe yer right bouta killin. Know I'm always doin it." She winks at him.

"I like to think about it as taking new friends out for a drink," Gabriel says, responding with his own wink. "I sleep better that way, trying to stay out of that little bit of your life. But... wow!" He veritably jumps. "Okay... what would you think about this? Great way to make money for you and for the club. Every week, we put you in the Arena, facing off against somebody. No water allowed. People'd love to see it, paying good money!" Is he serious? Possibly.

Bella quirks a brow. "So. Yer big idea's havin me beatta shit outta somebody?" She eyes him. Then she's grins big. "Sure! Sounds fun ta me."

"Well, only people who would be willing to put down money that they could beat you. Like a stick fight in Bangkok. You put down money backed by the club, the other guy puts down money, people in the stands bet and the club gets a cut." Gabriel shrugs and smiles, his hands against the glass of the magic jewelry store. "Sounds like a win for everyone but the guy who gets the shit kicked out of him. Admittedly, the games would either not last long at all, or they would become popular very quickly."

Bella smirks. "Bettin on beatin Bella huh? I'll 'member notta tell people that itsa sucker bet. Ain' figgerin on gettin beat no time soon."

Gabriel shrugs. "Well, it's better than calling the event, 'Bella Beats You Off' isn't it?"

Bella laughs. then she's shruggin. "Dunno. Maybe get lotsa people showin up ta pay fer that too? It's atta Lady ya know."

"Hmm," Gabriel says with a conspirator's brow. "You may be on to something. Alas, the Lady is going to be a much different place. But no peeking beforehand. I'll bring you in to show you around what you'll be securing when it's ready, so I don't have to dole it out piecemeal."

"Yep. Yep. Told me that. Coupla times." Bella smirks. "Ain't gonna be peekin. Like s'prises. Long's they're good ones."

"Scout's honor," Gabriel says, holding up the proper two-finger Boy Scout salute. "You never did answer me though - what brings you to this part of town?"

Bella shrugs. "Lookin round fer stuff. Magicy stuff." She waves a hand 'round. "Kinda the place ta look fer that kindsa stuff ya know."

"Yeah, I know. Just never figured you have a need for 'magicy stuff.' Me? I'm looking for my mage," Gabriel admits. "Find the best people in the strangest places, that's a rule. Remember it." He grins and gently taps the side of his head, a common enough motion for him.

Bella shrugs. "Dunno I do. Just lookin round." Then she grins. "Lost yer mage? didn't know ya got one."

"Oh I have one. Just don't know who it is yet," Gabriel says with a grin. He stops his searching for a moment so that he can face Bella more directly. "'Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.' Michelangelo. All I need to do is find the mage encased in metaphorical stone." He then returns to his search, and Bella wanders off to cause trouble.