Aug 05 04:58:51 108 PA - Morning Coffee and Catching Up

From Chronicles

Aug 05 04:58:51 108 PA.

TRADEWINDS COFFEE SHOP

Morning sunshine is streaming in the eastern windows of the Tradewinds Coffee Shop, and the lovely, yet daft barista, Tiffany, is busy filling orders. Some people get up earlier than others, and Gabriel, after four decades of life, is one of those people. He's seated against one of those warm eastern windows with what might actually be - shockingly - a correct order. Two mugs of some kind of beverage, a glass of milk, and two pastries. His metal briefcase is between his leg and the low wall, and he's reading one of Kingsdale's remaining paper-press newspapers.

Erica comes into the coffee shop after her morning run. She is covered in a sheen of sweat after her run. A bottle of water is in one hand while she walks over to the counter. She orders herself some juice and a pastry. She takes the plate and glass from the counter, and turns around to look for a place to sit. Spotting Gabriel she walks over to where he is sitting. "Hey there Gabriel. How are you doing?"

Gabriel first slumps in his chair low enough to kick out the opposite chair for easy sitting, then just as quickly gets to his feet politely. "Morning, Erica. You look.. sticky," he says with a chuckle. "C'mon, sit. It's beautiful today. You still chucking that javelin around?" He waves a hand toward the open chair.

Erica chuckles a little bit to herself as Gabriel kicks out the chair. She takes the seat and sets down her plate. She takes a long sip from the juice. "Just finished my morning run. Was a nice morning. How have you been?" She asks again. She takes a paper towel and wipes off some of the sweat that has collected on her brow.

"I've been well," Gabriel says with a smile as he resumes his seat. "Been a long time since I had some fun like that. Things have been looking up on the work front, though. People are hiring me for odd jobs here and there, investigation things. Private eye. Gumshoe. Private dick." If there's anything funny about that term, he doesn't see it. "Mostly women right now though, checking up on husbands. Couple of minor merchants, but it's a start, right? Having some relationship issues - the platonic type - but otherwise, I'm well. Wonder how many others there are like us who enjoy the morning twilight."

Erica nods her head slowly as she takes another sip from her juice. "Well that is good. Sounds like you are getting some good work. What kind of relationship issues?" She asks before she picks a piece off of her pastry and pops it in her mouth. "I had a little thing happen at a concert a little while back. It was pretty crazy. If you need any help from me I'll be sure to help out."

Gabriel leans forward so that he can rest his elbows on the table as a support platform for drinking from his mug - coffee, with lots of cream and sugar. "Well, it comes down to promises that we all make sometimes, that in the end, we may regret having made. But we keep them, because if we didn't, what would that make us?" He shrugs. "That kind of relationship issue. The kind that you know that if you keep the promise, you should at least avoid the person, but you don't because then you'd also be kind of an asshole. So, you know; shit trouble that everyone has now and then. Just hard to deal with sometimes. Was that Ruby's concert?" His tone ends on a questioning uptick.

Erica looks slightly confused as she shakes her head. "Alright. I am not really sure what you mean. But I hope your relationship issue works out, and you don't have to end up being an asshole. Yah it was at her concert. An interesting time. I didn't even get to hear many songs." She shrugs her shoulders briefly and giggles a bit.

"Sometimes there are just never any good options," Gabriel states with regard to the first subject. "The Kobayashi Maru no-win scenario. Anyway. Did she get sick and leave the stage or something? Ruby, that is." He sits back and fluffs through his paper. "I think there might have been something in here about it."

"Yes sometime there are no win situations for sure." Erica says with a slight nod of her head. "No men came in with bombs that they attached to people in the audience and Rubidia. Then they demanded a whole bunch of money. I ended up disarming the bombs. Was a little nerve racking." She says with a chuckle.

Gabriel allows a moment for quiet applause. "The swooping heroine to disarm the bomb just as the hand reaches the one second mark? Bravo!" He smiles and lifts his mug to clank with Erica's juice, but doesn't wait for the clank, just returning it to his mouth for a sip. "I thought that the Arena had security. How does a person - particularly multiple people - get in with bombs that they can apparently attach to people without a fuss? You'd think you'd notice someone sneaking in a bomb and being strapped to yourself. At least, I think I would."

"I didn't stick around to ask. I'm guessing they just took out security or maybe security was in on it. No after that I just went home." Erica says with a slight chuckle in her voice. She finishes off her glass of juice and continues to pick at her pastry. "So what else has been going on?"

"Sounds like a concert to be avoided. I always said that I didn't like her type of music anyway. Too loud, no real melody," Gabriel says with a chuckle. "What else? Eh, not much. It's been boringly quiet. I'm considering opening up a private investigation business, but I can't even afford to rent a closet of an office yet. Not that I'm giving up on outside jobs, of course." He holds out an explanatory hand. "You know, I've been hoping that maybe you could show me some of those delicate steps you do. Back flips aren't exactly combat material, but balance would be."

"Well if you need any help I can loan you some credits of course. That might help if you want to open up an office." Erica says after popping another piece of her pastry into her mouth. "Sure I took gymnastics all through school. I could try teaching you it. It takes a long while to learn though. Lots of strength and agility are needed. But we can spend some time in the gym for sure."

Gabriel smiles and nods his head in thanks. "I appreciate that, Erica. I really do. But I'm in no hurry. Money isn't very important at this point in my life. Someday. Hey, if you want to give the front money, though, I'd be willing to hire you on as the front-desk secretary. But you need to learn how to speak with a thick Brooklyn accent." The older man winks and chuckles. "I have to admit, gymnastics is not exactly something that a man would happily be caught enjoying in my time, unless you were a real professional."

Erica laughs as she shakes her head. "I don't think I am the secretary type. Sorry." She takes another bite from her pastry before she continues. "Well if you change your mind I'll be happy to help out. Lots of men learn gymnastics. It helps teach a lot of coordination that is needed for soldiers. If you are interested I am sure I can book us some gym time."

"Oh, I *am*, *am*" Gabriel makes a point to emphasize. "I didn't say that *I* was one of those men," he says with a grin. "Just that that was how it would work. What would I need to do? I'll be honest, flexibility isn't my strong suit. Or brute strength. Or speed." He can't help but chuckle at that. "But I do just keep going and going, I guess that's my bit. Not that I don't have any dexterity. If you're actually willing, please don't tell me that I need to put on clingy pants like I'm trying to show off my package."

"You'll have to wear pants that give you maximum room to move so yah clingy pants. I'll have to come up with a lesson plan or something. Teach you to walk the balance beam, work the rings, lot of things I'll have to teach you." Erica says as she taps a finger against her lips. "I am sure you'll pick it up quickly enough though."

Gabriel makes a show of collapsing to the table, head in hands. "Not stretchy pants. You know who else wears stretchy pants? The fairies at the ballet. Do you have any idea how much I hate the ballet?" His Kentucky drawl is being spoken into the table and muffled by it. "Only time I went to the ballet was when there was a target. Can't I wear cargo pants? I've never had any trouble moving in them." Never raising his face from the table, his hands wrapped over the back of his head. Of course, there's quite a bit of melodramatic performance going on.

Erica laughs as she shakes her head. "Oh well you will just have to make the sacrifice if you want to be able to learn back flips and gymnastics." She smiles widely. "I'll figure out a plan to teach you. Like I said it will take a little while though." She finishes off the last of her pastry and pushes forward the empty dish.

The older fellow sits up and slaps the table with a smile. "I guess it can't be any worse than watching you try to play football," Gabriel smirks. "The Bears will never show up on your doorstep, so don't expect the salary. So, aside from disarming bombs in your spare time, how about you? Seems like everything's been quiet around here. Rumors in the bars of course, but I haven't been there for 'em."

Erica chuckles again. "Uh haven't been up to a whole lot the past few days. I guess I have just been hanging out. I'll have to go out a bit more. Look for some more work." She says with that laughter in her voice. "Speaking of which I need to hit up the gym to finish my workout. I'll see you later Gabriel. I'll get that teaching plan done soon."

Gabriel stands politely, though not letting go of his warm mug in his right hand. "You take care. Have fun on the rings, or whatever it is you do. I hear the girls down at the Ivory Lady get a good workout on the pole. They seem pretty flexible." He winks with a wide grin. "I'll catch you later, Erica. Take care."

Erica shakes her head as she flashes Gabriel a smirk. "I wouldn't know. Perhaps after I teach you, you can get a job down there. I am sure they like male strippers as well." She says with obvious humour in her voice as she stands up and starts making her way to the door.

As Gabriel sits and picks up his paper, fluffing it a few times, he says, "Sorry, I only do strip telegrams." Then he's reading up on the latest of what is probably unnecessary and completely irrelevant information to his life, or anyone else.