Apr 17 01:20:31 108 PA - Old or New Acquaintance, Depending

From Chronicles

Apr 17 01:20:31 108 PA.

NUT AND BOLT BAR

It may not be Sage's preferred choice for a hangout, but sometimes there's a need for being mostly anonymous among the crowd. "Come on, Gabriel... it's not that bad in there..." She comments, having bumped Gabriel in the plaza and asked him to accompany her for a chat. She holds open the door for the man to enter.

Bek is back! That's the rumor that's been going around for the past couple of weeks, but anyone who isn't a longtime regular at the club probably wouldn't have heard or even known what they meant. She's back though, back behind the bar, back to work. Bobbing her head to the beat from the band, Rebekkah moves around from person to person serving up drinks and friendly smiles.

The older man hangs back a bit, and belatedly enters the door politely held open for him, though he can't enter the noisy place without a smirk to his assistant and, "That's my job, y'know." Then Gabriel's in, searching his pockets for the ear plugs that he constantly keeps with him, just for these occasions. Despite the gender swapping, he does the right thing - and pauses just inside the door so that Sage can pass through ahead of him, even if she's passing through after him to begin with. Eyes search the bar, wondering why he's here.

"You might just let the door close and run away if I let you hold the door." Sage teases before she moves to enter the place herself. She considers the place before getting a grin, "And, it seems I'll have a surprise for you too." She comments before waving the man forward as she begins to make her way towards the bar. While she might not be a regular around the bar, she does remember the woman. "Bek!" She calls out, trying to get the other woman's attention.

Rebekkah makes her way back down the length of the bar, sunny smile never leaving her lips. Little teardrop earrings flash and glitter with lights embedded within them, pulsing along in time to the music. "Heeyyy!" she greets Sage with a finger-wiggling wave. "Sage! I haven't seen you in, like, forever!"

Gabriel follows Sage into the mechanic's hangout, stuffing in those ear plugs. Can't work in his business with poor hearing, after all. "Where're we going?" He catches sight of the tall and attractive - and to him, perhaps oddly dressed - woman, but at the moment she's little more to him as, well, someone pretty in the bar.

Sage raises her hand to return the wave as a smile takes her lips, "It's been far too long!" She agrees, "Figured you may have taken that power armor of yours and flown off somewhere better." She pauses before glancing briefly and gesturing towards the man, "If you still have it, this fellow might be able to help give you excuses to use it." She comments, "Gabriel, I'd like you to meet the best looking bartender in the city, Rebekkah. She's a darn good pilot in that suit of her's... and, Bek, this is a Gabriel. Don't mind him if he's a little weird... he's not around these parts originally." She comments with a chuckle.

Rebekkah turns away to the till and makes change for the elf three stools down. "I did go somewhere better," she explains over her shoulder. "But I came back." The elf gets his change, the girl returns to Sage and Gabriel. "And nice to meet you! I'm Bek." First wiping her hand on a towel, she extends it across the bar to the short man.

Gabriel has no problem reaching across to shake the attractive bartender's hand. Also dipping forward at the waist and neck politely and as propriety demands. "Nice to meet you, Miss Rebekkah. Good Biblical name, didn't really think they had those around anymore!" He quickly offers a wink on his previous statement. "Don't worry, I only Bible-thump when Miss Sage is around. She gets a kick out of it." Quick glance back at his target of mirth.

Sage nods faintly, "Must have missed something to have come back then." She comments, unsure of the woman's true motives to guess or tease. She can't help but roll her eyes a little at the mention of her getting a kick out of the man's bible thumping. "Yes, I kick him in the butt... or at least give it some serious thought." She muses, before glancing over towards the man before shaking her head. When her attention turns back to Bek, "So, Bek, what do we need to buy to have you stick around a moment or two?" She asks with a mildly joking tone.

The reference to the Bible goes by without response or even indication that Rebekkah knows what a Bible is. "Buy anything you like!" she invites instead. Arms spreading wide, she encompasses the selection of liquor and spirits on the shelves behind her but there are less potent drinks hidden under the counter as well. A glance is cast down the length of the bar, expert eyes checking on the glasses of each of her customers. The irises of those eyes shifts from golden brown to a veridian green as she returns her attention to Sage. "What can I help you with?"

Leaning against the counter top, Gabriel peers behind Rebekkah with a searching eye. "Ah, when I hit the Nightingale and the Alibi, they carry 'Donovan's Fizz.' You know, the soda? Hiding any back there?" His eyes are sparkly, and he turns to glance at Sage. "What can I buy you, Miss Sage?"

Sage gives a mildly amused look to the woman's response before briefly taking in the stronger drinks, before gesturing down below the bar. "Probably something from down there... Chias sweet or a sunrise." She comments for her choice in drink, before offering Bek a small smile. "Don't suppose a little catching up might be a bad answer?" She asks.

"I can do that," Bek answers, cheerfully but not making it clear what she's referring to specifically. She makes do with what the club has - not precisely what the pair were looking for, but something close. "What have I missed while I was away?" She asks the question mainly of Sage, but a glance to Gabriel at the tail end includes an interest in his answer as well.

Gabriel shrugs and smiles. "Depends, how long have you been away? I haven't been around very long. Only since September, so there could be a lot for me to leave out. But I have to say.. I'm really not a fan yet. People die a lot more frequently here than I'm used to." He'll readily accept whatever kind of drink is delivered, unless it's on fire or glowing. Or looking back at him.

Well, at least the drink came from below the bar at least, Sage muses to herself as she takes up the drink to take an experimental sip. She purses her lips as she lowers the glass away from her lips. "I'm pretty sure you've missed a fair bit... both good and bad..." She comments, "Met new friends, lost others including one or two dear to me." She adds, "But, I have a place of my own... and a business to go along with it." She gives a brief overview. "You might have to remind me how long you were gone, though."

"Oh, it feels like it's been a year," Bek responds with a light shrug of her shoulders. "I'm sure there's been all kinds of things going on here. People coming, people going, people dying." She nods to Gabriel, a little more accepting of this than he is. "It was pretty lucky I got my job here back, I guess. The other girl quit a week before I came back, she's pregnant now, you know? It's just crazy."

Pregnant? That catches Gabriel's attention. "Oh? When's she expecting?" Perhaps just idle conversation. "Like Miss Sage says, I'm not from around here. From Kentucky, by way of I have no idea how long much time has passed." That probably explains his drawl. "I'd like to get a good job, but I've never been one with a steady job outside the occasional desk that you sit behind when you wear a uniform. Peace though, that's nice. Hope it's been quiet for you?" His light tenor quirks at the end as a question.

"About a year? Yeah, there's been some trouble around a polluted lake that seems to have involved a dragon. Even got married briefly... until Tirzah died." She comments, "But, the real trouble seems to be coming from the Coalition these days... although, I suppose they have a way of stirring stuff up in one place or other." She comments, "Not sure if I ever told you about the vegetable garden I run... and, perhaps you'll drop by my place sometime so I can serve you." She offers with a light tone, before nodding. "And, I suppose there's congratulations to go to you both then."

Erica walks in to the bar dressed in her usual military fatigues. She looks around the tech oriented bar for a moment, taking time to listen to the music that is being played. Quickly enough she walks over to the robotic leg that makes up the bar and climbs up on to a bar stool.

"It's never quiet in here!" Bek chirps at Gabriel with a musical laugh and a wry shake of her head. Her mood sobers visibly as she listens to Sage however. She never liked Tirzah all that much, but all the same, "She died? Oh, I'm really sorry to hear that Sage. It's real wizzer that you're still moving forward with your life, though. A lot of people forget to do that, you know? Excuse me." She steps away, drifting down the bar towards Erica. On the way she snags a couple of bottles from a cooler and sets them down in front of two men in greasy coveralls. "Hi!" She greets the new arrival with a smile. "What will you have?"

Gabriel sips at his drink, whatever it is, remaining silent on the comments regarding Tirzah. To be fair, he really didn't know her much, just knew that she was loved. Erica's movement out of the corner of his eye grabs his attention, and he waves a hand in the air, not bothering to even attempt to scream across the noisy bar. Or club. Whatever it actually is. Sure isn't a speakeasy, soda fountain or hip-hop. Immediately before Rebekkah gets out of earshot - he hopes - he asks, "You've.. been around North America? Anywhere exciting?"

Mentioning Tirzah might not have been the best to keep the mood light, but Sage figures it was bound to come up at some point. She nods faintly in confirmation, before offering a faint smile. "Thank you. And yeah... but, I'm sure Tirzah would find a way to come back and kick me in the butt if I forgot to continue living because of her." She comments, "Of course." She adds as the other woman goes back to her work. No need to risk one's job for the sake of an old friend when more catching up can be done later off work. She takes a moment to sip from her drink as she considers the surroundings.

Erica looks up at Rebekkah and gives her a quick smile. "I'll take a beer. A lager please." She orders before turning her head as she notices Gabriel waving at her. She returns his wave with a quick wave of her own. "Uh I'll take it over there." She says while gesturing over to where Gabriel is sitting. Climbing down off the bar stool she walks over to where Gabriel and Sage are. She offers them both quick smiles. "Hey. How are you guys?"

Rebekkah follows after Erica, lager in hand. She sets it down at the other woman's new seat. "I've seen some interesting places, sure," she says to Gabriel, picking up the tail of the conversation again. "Mostly from the air, you know? I have to start getting ready to close up, though. Maybe I'll see you at Sage's place or something and can tell you then."

Nod. "You bet, thanks, Miss Rebbekah I look forward to getting to know you. Hopefully somewhere a little quieter." Gabriel grins as he pokes at the very visible plugs in his ear. He seems to think that they're amusing. He then leaves the bartendress to her closing up in peace. After watching Erica settle herself, he says with a smile, "I actually made some decent bread! Not hard to cover a couple of rifle bursts, y'know. Where've you been recently? Trolling for work?" He offers a big grin and raises his glass barely off of the table in a tiny salute.

Sage offers Rebekkah a small smile, but decides to avoid distracting the woman away from her appointed tasks. Instead she looks over to Erica with the small smile lingering. "Hey... I'm doing well enough. Lost a suit of armor, though. How about you?" She replies, before glancing towards the man. "Oh? What else can you make?" She asks softly to Gabriel.

Erica takes the beer from where Rebekkah put it. "Thanks" She says as she fishes out a few credits from a pocket to cover the beer and a tip. She takes a sip from the bottle as she turns towards Gabriel. "Yah looking for a job. Glad to see you are making credits. Nice to have some savings." She chuckles softly to herself before looking at Sage. "You did? Do you need a new suit? I have a couple spares if you need something. Or can loan you some credits if you need it Sage."

Gabriel is also surprised. "How the hell do you burn through an entire suit of armor? And live to tell about it?" Erica's comments are also interesting. "Spares? Hmm. Here all I've had is that some beat up set I ah... came about." There's a combination of remorse, mirth, anger and satisfaction behind his eyes. "Miss Sage, you at least get a good pay out for it? Maybe get to keep a new rifle or something? I know you have another loving L-20 like I do."

"Unfortunately." Sage replies to Erica, before nodding. "I'll probably be getting a new suit, just not sure which way to go just yet. I have a lighter suit or two, but if you have something heavier it might be worth a look in the meantime... as long as I promise to do my best not to wreck that one too." She adds with only a faint bit of humour, before she glances towards the other man. "I just happen to know of another kind of armor that can be worn underneath without hindrance." She mentions, before shrugging faintly. "But, the pay out won't cover it... should get some new toys out of it, though."

"Well if you need to borrow a suit no problem. I have a light recon suit and a heavier suit if you need them. Be happy to loan them out to you." Erica says with a smile towards Sage. She takes a quick sip of her beer while she listens to Sage and Gabriel discuss their pay out. "What toys are you going to get?"

The "other man" smirks at Sage. "As do I. In fact," Gabriel stands and twirls, "I might even be wearing the undergarment at this very moment." His eyebrows go waggle-waggle. Then a shrug. "I'll just reload the empty mag and top off the partially empty one. I might buy another laser sight to slap on the NTI here," he pat-pats the pistol at his side. "Other than that, I'll just save up for a rainy day, because you know that eventually, those days always come. But you know.. if I save up enough, I might trade in my electric Falcon for a nuclear driven one. Lots of saving before I can do that, though."

Sage nods faintly to Erica, "Thanks. Fortunately if something did happen, I wouldn't have to go far to get it fixed up." She comments, "And, just some re-chargeable throwing grenades... might as well put my throwing arm to good use." She comments before shrugging and taking a drink from her glass. She glances towards Gabriel, "Now that wouldn't surprise me." She comments, before simply nodding to the rest. She pauses as her pager goes off and she frowns faintly as she takes it out to take a look at it. "Well, guess I'll talk to you guys later." She comments before she turns to head out.

Erica looks up and waves at Sage as she starts to leave. "Bye Sage. Stop by if you want to borrow that armor." She says before the other woman leaves. Taking a long draw from her beer she turns back towards Gabriel. "You'll be saving for a while if you want a nuke powered Falcon. I would just go for a better brand if you are going to save up that much. Get a Triax version. Much faster."

"Take care, Miss Sage," Gabriel says to his departing friend, raising his glass in salute and wishing that this place carried his favorite line of soda. "I don't care what you wear underneath those pretty clothes, don't take 'em into the wilderness. Well, personal opinion, not like I'm meaning to order you around." He offers a final wave, then turns to Erica. "I'd like that, a superior model, but the thing is my armor has to be able to accept it, which means that it needs to be modifiable. Not sure how many can be fixed up like that. I don't want one fixed to a dedicated armor. I want one that I can carry from piece to piece if they get blown away."

"Yah I guess that is a problem." Erica says with a quick little shrug of her shoulders before taking another long sip of her beer. She gestures to the bartender for another beer as she comes close to finishing off her first beer. "Well at least your not broke anymore. You have that going for you."

"True. There's always an upside, right?" Gabriel smiles and quirks an eyebrow. He's then very brief before lifting and sipping at his drink - whatever it is, even he doesn't know. "You get a message from Bart?"

"Yah I got a letter from him. Guessing he is wanting to start a Merc company or something like that." Erica says with a shrug of her shoulders. She finishes off her beer and sets the empty bottle on the bar. Reaching for the new beer that she gets she takes a quick sip from it.

Gabriel nods. "Looked like a damn big bunch of people. I don't know, maybe I'm cutting of my nose to spite my face, but I'm not interested in a gang. No matter how they start, they always end up as nothing better than cut 'n slash merc groups - or worse - out for nothing but money. No principles, no ideals, nothing." He makes a spitting motion toward the floor - but keeps the actual liquids to himself. "Plus, Bart was one of the ones behind the fuckup in Minnesota. If he's the genius planner behind these things, he's got a good way of making people go horizontal six feet under."

"Then perhaps you should go and try to talk to Bart before he has this big event. Tell him that you are interested in starting a small merc company. I'm sure he might be agreeable. We need to discuss the details of that at some point anyhow." Erica says with a chuckle in her voice while she nurses on her beer. "Well I don't think I would like to take command from Bart or a small list of people, so not sure how that will go down."

The fellow from Kentucky shakes his head, staring into whatever his drink is. "No. I guess he's ex-military, from what I gathered. Coalition. But if that was his best shot, I'm not in. I'd rather sign up for less money, with less promise of compensation, because it's a better promise of staying alive. Best, yes?" Gabriel smiles.

"Yah can't spend the credits if you die or lose all your gear. That is for sure." Erica says with humor in her voice. "I have fought with Bart a few times. He can do support if he is ordered properly." She shrugs her shoulders briefly before taking a quick sip of her beer. "Well who all do you want in your company anyhow?"

Gabriel's small comm begins to blink. It might be buzzing. Possibly ringing, but far too quietly to be heard in this place. "Sorry, Erica, I'm going to go outside and take this. Following up a little lead on something." He nods as he stands and begins to pass her on his way to the door. "Don't worry, we'll get together again to talk. But to answer your question? I don't know. Aside from you, I can't think of anyone that I'd really depend on. Catch you later."