Aug 14 19:45:31 109 PA - Worried Man and Barely Blustery D-Bee
From Chronicles
Aug 14 19:45:31 109 PA.
OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES - MAIN FLOOR
It's nearing the end of the work day at the business sometimes abbreviated to simply O.S.S. The D-Bee receptionist and assistant is busy at her desk, working on a local net computer, the screen not able to be seen by those entering. Four of the Office's five operatives, including one very attractive woman, have returned from jobs that apparently did not need to continue into the night. Everything is being shut down and wrapped up, even the Cage is open with the operatives grabbing their weapons to put on and go home. Gabriel is off working with the large scrolling wall maps. Gracie is ready to smile and say, "Welcome to the Office of Strategic Services, how can we help you today?"
Fizzlesnoot steps within the reception area to offer a friendly smile to Gracie behind the desk in return to her greeting, "I'm looking for Gabriel." giving a point in the man's direction, "Here to see if he gave up on driving, apparently he hasn't killed anyone yet. How are you by the way?" remaining friendly as always.
"I'm doing nicely, sir, you must be Mr. Fizzlesnoot," Gracie replies, her four hands busy doing three different things. "I believe the Colonel is open right now. Please give me any weapons so that I can store them safely, and you're welcome to meet him." She lowers her voice and whispers, "Make him laugh, he's been very intense an serious for the past few days. He's normally a very light man, even here at the office." As soon as anything relevant is surrendered, Gracie will move out of the way. Back at the maps, Gabriel continues to work, his uniform crisp even at this hour.
Fizzlesnoot sets down his bag and begins rummaging through it, "I know its in here somewhere." the bag appearing filled with all sorts of random items, unused disposable syringes, candy, pencils, paper, what sounds like empty aluminum cans being moved, and a translator that is taken out completely to see better, "Aha!" setting the translator down to pull out a very small laser pistol, a Wilk's Hideaway pistol for those that are familiar. Handing it to the woman with multiple arms, "Here ya go, that's my big arsenal." then replaces the stuff that needs to go back inside the bag, closing it up and ready to head on in to Gabriel's office.
Gracie gives a big smile, accepting the small weapon and placing it carefully into the Cage. "Please, welcome. See if you can't get a smile out of him," she adds with a whisper. Of course, the large carpetbag and junkyard noises coming from within couldn't happen but be noted with a raised brow. Still, she sits down and gets back to work. Gabriel continues to pour over maps and a simple pencil and notepad, perhaps not even noticing that the door to the office was ever even opened. One of the men scoots his way past Fizzlesnoot with a polite smile. "Excuse me," as he head to the door and presumably home.
Fizzlesnoot waddles on over to Gabriel at the maps, now that the pleasantries are done. At first he stands there looking up at the maps as well, though clueless as to its depictions, "Hey Gabriel, lost?" hoping the jest will pull him away from his work.
"Nope." The monosyllabic answer just hangs there for a long while. Gabriel just looks at the map, which some people might recognize as a depiction of North America, from Lone Star to the Great Lakes, out through the Federation of Magic and up to Free Quebec. A few spots are clearly indicated, if someone might read a map. Eventually, he breaks his reverie long enough to just jot down a quick note on his pad before turning to Fizzlesnoot. "Evening, Fizz. Something I can help you with?" His eyes look intense, worried and tired all at the same time.
Fizzlesnoot smiles with a nod, "Well yeah. You can get your be-hind in that vehicle of yours and drive me to the market before everyone’s shop is closed. On the way you can tell me what's got your insides turned upside down and in a bunch." pulling his watch out to check the time, "Isn't it closing time anyways?"
Gabriel looks around, finding everyone gone but faithful Gracie, the intelligent opposite of her friendly sisters. She's given a low smile - perhaps the best he can manage - "Go home, Gracie, get some sleep. I'll lock up." He sighs again. "I suppose. But I can't drive you, I've been leaving it outside my condo, keeping people out of danger." At another time, that might have been said as a joke, but now it's rather flat. "I'll walk you up, though." He still doesn't comment on his troubles, but the notebook is neatly tossed at the wall - where its back sticks, apparently a bit of tricky but simple magnetism going on there. "C'mon, Fizz. What're you selling today?"
Fizzlesnoot gives a shrug, "Hey, your loss. Ya can't be scared of the vehicle, take it out, don't worry if ya hit anything. It looks like she's pretty tough. The rest'll move. An I'm not selling, I'm buying. I thought you could use the practice and I could use the cargo space. I guess your arms'll do."
The soldier nods. "I can carry." He moves to the Cage, removing his own gear and tossing the small pistol to Fizzlesnoot. After ensuring that all of his things are in place, he opens the door and prepares the simple mechanical locking mechanism to close behind him. "You ready? What're you selling today?" Gabriel asks.
Fizzlesnoot falls in behind the larger man, catching and putting his small pistol away, just dropping it into his bag. He chuckles a bit at the old man, "Age getting to you? I said I'm buying, not selling. Need to pick up some food stuff for the girls."
"Oh, right," Gabriel says as they make their way down the stairs and out onto Main Street. "How're the girls doing? Plushy cream and wiggling like always? Some of them live there, right? That's the benefit package?" He's still not-quite-gruff, but not his amusing self, either. At least, he thinks of himself as being amusing.
MAIN STREET
Fizzlesnoot gives a bit of a shrug with a nod following along side the man, "Oh, well not so plushy cream anymore, and some maybe a bit more wiggly. All good though. I finally got some slot machines up and running, along with a few other changes to cater to the new clientele. So whats up with you? What crawled into your sleeping bag and bit ya? You seem down."
"New clientele? Catering to the blind in order to cut down on paying attractive women?" Hmm, maybe Gabriel attempts a joke, but its tone is still rather flat. He continues in silence along the sidewalk, not doing much tonight to dodge other pedestrian traffic. They can damn well go around this time. "I'm worried for the city, Fizz," he finally admits just between the two of them. "I don't give a damn who won or lost, but I think we'll be looking at a shitload of refugees. More than the city can handle."
Fizzlesnoot nods somewhat in agreement, "Yeah well, ya kinda should give a damn. I'm just hoping my family made it out is all. Until I hear word, I'm keeping my hopes up. Not gonna let it get me down. What are you worried about anyways? Ain't like the Coalition are trying to kill people like you. It's people like me they want to annihilate from existence."
"Not worried about the Coalition trying to kill me, Fizz," Gabriel says more lightly. "I'm worried about numbers of refugees trying to enter the city and live here without not enough food, water, medicine, waste removal or even simple space to lay down and sleep. That's how riots start. First they start fighting with themselves. Then they break into factions. They they try to take over whatever organizing body has been looking them over, then... they spill onto the streets." He nods back toward the 'Dregs. "Think of six-thousand. Sixteen-thousand stuffed in the compound at first. Then the big train starts to arrive. They start pressing sixty-thousand people trying to find food and shelter. Just not enough there, and they go on the hunt. That's why you should worry for your place. People like booze and whores. But it might not even stay in the 'Dregs." He waves forward to the Merchant's Plaza. "What if some of them are up here trying to negotiate, and some of these Brotherhood guys show up. It's a powder keg, in my professional opinion."
Fizzlesnoot listens to the man rattle on about worst case scenarios, responding to the Brotherhood part, "Listen, the Brotherhood is not here to cause more violence. If anything, they are a good thing to have around in times like these. The idea is to better the place, not further destroy it. There's alot of fed up Terrans that have had to put up with the outcome of human wars. Lately, I've become one of them. My family may be dead right now, all because of some human arrogance and principle. If any trouble is caused over any of this Refugee crap, I'll put money on it that a Human will be the one to start it all. I'll give ten to one odds on it." the whole time he never shows anger, he is quite conversational, though the bit of his family seems to hit a cord within him.
Gabriel shakes his head and shrugs as they continue on toward the Merchant's Plaza. "Never said it wouldn't be a human. Just said that if it was up here in the Plaza, it might be more likely to be the - and your - Brotherhood. Doesn't matter who starts it, if the riots start they'll affect everyone. But, arrogance and principle about what? I haven't heard of death camps, and I saw those as human-on-human. And what the hell is a Terran? That like a rank in the Brotherhood or something?" With a perked brow, he waves slightly at Fizzlesnoot. "Shouldn't you be wearing an Ankh somewhere? Just be careful that it doesn't become an armband, and then a shirt, and then painting anti-human slurs on storefronts. It always starts with glowing and reasonable words, my friend, then more often then not turns to shit."
Fizzlesnoot sighs with the still worst case scenario, "In a way it kinda does matter who starts it. Those are the ones not considering the rest of the people living around them. An I don't hate humans, nor am I a full fledged member, but I am finding a lot of what the Brotherhood has said so far, is fact. I've lived it, I've been told no lies. I can't believe you don't see the arrogance in Prosek's principles. I know your not from this time period, but you have been here long enough and I know you listen to the news. Human supremacy? Mass destruction? Kingsdale can use the influx of refugees, they are going to need it when the Coalition comes knocking on our door next."
"You've got to be shittin' me, Fizz," Gabriel says, becoming more conversationally animated. "Needing refugees? *Nobody* needs refugees. Particularly a city that in all likelihood is next or second on the hit list. No, I don't agree with Prosek; of course not. As long as you're leaving people alone, I don't care. But you can't say that how Tolkeen fought was all noble whiteness, honor and rainbows, either." He clears his throat as something sticks momentarily. "You think thousands and thousands of refugees are going to pour into the city armed and ready to help repulse an attack on a city they don't even have any allegiance to? No. Ready to fight when Prosek 'come knocking'? No. If they had been the fighting kind, they'd still be there, or dead. At least most of them. They'll be a drain on resources, and when the riots start - not if, but when - it'll weaken the city even more. More unnecessary carnage. But what are these interesting facts from the Brotherhood? Humans don't deserve the planet because shit happens sometimes?"
Fizzlesnoot cocks his head to the side at the mention of a noble fight, "Really?! Your going to talk about a fight being noble and all whiteness when defending your home from an insane invader. You do what you have to to defend your home, family and loved ones from harm. Plain and simple. There is nothing you can say that would make me think anyone from Tolkeen did anything that was not necessary to try and fight off the invaders. They did what they had to, its just too bad it wasn't enough. In answer to your last question, Humans don't have any claim or right of ownership which seems to be the way many seem to think of it. Like they are owed it or something. What about the rest of us born here? Everyone has a right to live on this planet in peace, the main thing that seems to be forgotten."
"I only said that it wasn't a noble, honorable fight. Never said that they other guys were either. Never even suggested that it should have been," Gabriel says, looking to Fizzlesnoot. "Just wanted to make sure that no one had any illusions that it was. Tolkeen's fight wasn't any nobler than the Coalition fight, and neither were the methods. They both goaded each other into the war, and denying that would require deliberate blinders. Still, that's not why I brought it up." He snaps his fingers. "I'm worried about this place that you and I call home - even if I hate it - getting overrun and tossed into violence by refugees. I'm not saying that I want bad things to happen to them. I'm simply saying what I firmly believe *will* happen. Maybe a few weeks before the first ones start to show up. A month from now the masses will probably be piling up. Then bad stuff happens." As for the Brotherhood? "So what are you going to do, Fizz? Take up arms and spread the good word through booze and pussy? Yankee go home?"
Fizzlesnoot chuckles, getting back into a lighter mood, "Listen, I didn't want to have a debate about it with you. I disagree about the honorable part, I think everything done in defense of Tolkeen was honorable despite what may be said. Many sacrificed themselves over the years. When it comes right down to it, Tolkeen was not an invading force. They were not imposing their values on others. You are entitled to your own evaluation and opinion of the matter however. As an outsider you are less biased one way or the other. Anyway, telling you to go home would probably be your preference, could it be done. Just remember, we're all home already. Let's be good to it and everyone."
MERCHANT'S PLAZA
Gabriel pats his friend on the shoulder. "I do have a different perspective on this whole damn world, Fizz. Where are the food peddlers?" he asks, looking to become the follower at this point. "Anyway, the refugees are a problem, and I hope you see that so you can prepare the club. Think of it this way." He turns so that he can talk, walk and gesticulate at the same time. "Lady Luck gets a crowd larger than the Fire Marshal would ever allow, but it's okay, there's lots of booze, women and nibblin's. The someone closes and locks the front door. No problem. There's still plenty of booze, woman and nibblin's." His hands are rubbed lightly together. "But then the little bits of tasty food run out, and people grumble about the service, but it's still okay, there's booze and chicks. But then the girls get tired. No more dancing, no more whoring. People grumble louder, shout that the club sucks, they'll go somewhere else. But, the doors are locked so they make due with the booze. The booze starts to run low... they grab the girls out of bed and force them to dance. Then the doors open, and a bunch more people are shoved inside. The booze drains, and people are furious! Nothing good to say about the place. Then the doors are locked, and the sound system goes down. That's it, they're pissed. Things get thrown, busted, they break into the basement looking for something to drink..." Gabriel looks up hopefully. "It's a silly comparison, but it's real enough."
Fizzlesnoot gives a considering thought on that possibility, but inevitably gives a shrug, "I am prepared as best as anyone could be for that kind of outlook. If things go as you say, then it is inevitable. I think that it won't come to that worst case scenario, I think you'll be surprised. Many will end up in the Federation long before venturing here, it's much closer. Even Merctown is much closer than here. A fair share will head in those directions, some others will just scatter to places unknown. Kingsdale is not the only city that people can go to. Just one of the few where all types are accepted."
"I hear some of them might head east, but that'd mean the Great Lakes - or whatever it is you call 'em these days. To get to the Federation, they'd have to go past St. Louis and through the heart of Coalition territory. We're not an exact line, but as long as they stay west, it's a better chance at a safer route. But we'll see. I think you're dead wrong, but I'll hope for the best and prepare for the worst," Gabriel says, slapping his friend's shoulder. "Before you get deep into negotiations though, I have to ask one thing. You said these Brotherhood guys that you're associated with, they're all about peace and logic, no lies, stuff like that, right? Everybody live together in harmony?"
Fizzlesnoot gives a nod as he peruses produce that is available at one place, "So far that’s how it sounds. I have heard nothing about rounding up all the humans and eating them or anything. The general idea is they are sick and tired of human driven wars displacing them or murdering them. We were born on this planet too, we have just as much right to be here as anyone. I'll tell you the same thing I told their representative. I am not a violent man, abhor the whole idea of it, a waste of energy in my opinion. I was reassured that violence is not their agenda. We support and help each other as best we can."
Gabriel nods. "It does sound good, and yes, I really wouldn't argue about any of it. I don't think humans should be displaced to make up for it, but otherwise yeah, I agree with the sentiment. Except this." He pulls down one of the smaller posters, and runs his finger beneath the line that reads, 'plunge a stake through the heart of those betrayers.' "That sounds... not entirely non-violent. But if they're just supporting you, that's great. What're they doing? I guess the Family doesn't mind, whatever it is?"
Fizzlesnoot gives a shrug, "The Family only cares that they are making a steady income, that’s it. Otherwise, I could do nothing at all there. Leave it vacant. I'd have to pay em though, I'm just not that rich yet though. And yeah, that’s a strong statement, do ya blame em after what has just happened? Many are angry right now from losing loved ones, and even among non-humans, there are those that will want to strike out. It is not the agenda of the whole group though." picking out a good box of tomatoes.
The old soldier doesn't look convinced, but he still smiles and buttons his collar all the way up as a gentle rain starts to fall. "Well, sorry to meet you, greet you and come with you promising strong arms... but I'm going home. It's been a long day. Week. Month... year. I need some sleep before tomorrow, it's going to be busy." Gabriel pats his friend's back. "Be seeing you around. You need anything, just stop by the office. Have a good one." As he moves off, a non-salute is tossed in the D-Bee's direction, then he's lost in the crowd.
