Aug 30 22:55:56 107 PA - The Huntress' New Clothes
From Chronicles
Kingsdale - Merchant's Plaza
Humming softly to herself, Sage wanders through the marketplace as she seeks out things she will need in the coming days to prepare for the gathering she has been planning. She focuses on the stalls and shops that offer things that she doesn't produce herself.
Being late, even within the lights of the Plaza, Gabriel manages to blend in well with the background. He's acting just like every other man, woman, child, and horrific-looking alien creature frequenting the Plaza at the moment. That may or may not be a note of interest, as these days he doesn't ever really seem to fit in and act like everyone else. However, he's been here for a while, so perhaps it's to be expected. His stems are no longer crisp and measured, his hands not clasped efficiently behind his back. He's just swinging free, wandering from table to table, even conversing with the small-time proprietors.
Neither the late hour nor lack of natural light are much hinderance to Daeni. She enters the plaza from the north and the gates, as possibly conspicuous as ever due to her simple attire. Her tunic is becoming less plain and more patched, as of late, and the most recent stitched piece of replacement cloth is green, yet not the same shade.
There are times when this time of day can bring surprise deals as shopkeepers may wish to be rid of some produce due to the hours they keep. It is perhaps for this reason that Sage finds her bag a little fuller than she had expected. She pauses as she glances around the place to consider the time and people left around. Spotting a familiar person at another stall, she begins to make her way towards Gabriel. Yet her gaze still wanders a little and may come to note the approach of Daeni as well.
Gabriel halts at a stall that seems to be selling a fruit that looks very unfortunately like a 10x size cast of human male genitalia. His attention, however, seems to be less on the rather offensive fruit (or possibly a vegetable), and more on the three-armed, and probably three-hundred pound fat woman (of some species or another) who is also going over the food. She's very animated, and becomes more so, in a good way, as the salt-and-pepper haired gentleman from the past begins to chat her up. Whether he's noticed any new companions in the Plaza is completely unknown.
Daeni appears to be, as many others are, interested in what wares are available. It could be both surprising, or not, as her preference is for clothing. The selection might be limited, but so are her tastes. Her eyes do turn towards the animated speech and waving of many hands at a produce stall, with Gabriel's presence noted in the process.
As Sage wanders towards Gabriel, she ends up noticing that he's in an animated conversation with another person when her gaze drifts back towards the man. Not wanting to interrupt the man's attempts to adjust to this different environment, she ends up changing her course towards Daeni. She raises a hand to wave towards the other woman. Her gaze quietly taking note of the woman's discoloured patched shirt.
Entering from the south, Jackson moves a bit slower than normal. No limp or anything, he's simply taking it easy. Fierce green eyes scan the area, smiling faintly when he see's Daeni, and Sage past her. He doesn't yet see Gabriel as he is hidden by part of another booth. His pacce quickens just a bit and he makes his way toward the deceptivly powerful elf.
Still managing to be somewhat in the shadows, yet out in the open at the same time, Gabriel's head swivels slowly and he whispers something in the fat woman's ear. His eyes take in the rest of the crowd that can be seen, and while he doesn't actually make any motion of recognition, it's clear in his eyes that he notices three people whom he knows at least somewhat. Whatever it was that he said makes the woman laugh, a big bellowing laugh at which he pats her back and gives it a good semi-violent rub. She kisses his cheek, and he turns, making his way into the main crowd, a contented smile on his face.
"Hello." Daeni turns to greet Sage when the other woman nears, both with the single word and a simple gesture. Her left hand is lifted in a manner similar to a wave, except for the waving. "When more harvest?" The work so far was hardly tiring, but the success was encouraging. Shortly after Daeni asks of this, she notices another approaching and dips her head slightly in acknowledgement of Jackson. Gabriel is left to his conglomeration of business, conversation, physical affection, and phallic produce for the moment.
As her presence is acknowledged by the other woman, Sage offers a small smile. "Hey..." She replies before letting a faint look of surprise come to her features at the question. Her smile grows a little more. "There should be more harvesting within the week, if you want to help." She replies before pursing her lips. "And, with the greenhouse, there can even be smaller harvests during the colder months." She adds, before considering the woman's shirt for a moment. "Would you be interested in a shirt made out of hide?" She asks simply before glancing where she'd earlier seen Daeni nod towards.
"I'd go with something a little more durable... never know when you'll encounter a lightning storm." Jackson pipes up, walking up to the ladies. He returns Daeni's nod and offers her a smile as well. "Good afternoon ladies. Daeni, I want to thank you for that duel the other day. It was fun, and taught me alot of things. I don't have alot of experience fighting the tougher being in the world, thanks for helping me hone my technique. Sage how are you?" He asks, turning his gaze on her.
Brushing aside some unusual D-bees and downright aliens, although not the kind of "aliens" that he's used to referring to, Gabriel does eventually make his way to this small gathering of people whom he's coming to know as what are currently the closest thing that he has to friends. He opens his mouth and speaks, but that funny twang that funny Kentucky twang, as it has turned out, is gone. The voice is smooth, very... in another time, people would describe it as upper-class New England. Still, his words are fairly normal. With some acknowledging nods, he makes the rounds. "Ladies Daeni and Sage, Jackson, good to see you again. Enjoying the evening, I hope?"
Daeni mirrors some of Sage's smile with the curl formed in her own lips. "Can help more. Hide shirt is good. You make?" Her curiosity and interest are both gained, although she does pan her attention to Jackson. "Was challenge. Have armor, but not wear to make fight better. Not want wear armor all times. Makes slow, makes noise." Now that Gabriel joins the vicinity, he is also included. "Night always good. Best for hunting."
With Jackson arriving, Sage glances towards him with a faint nod before offering a faintly raised brow to his comment. At Daeni's interest, she glances back offering a faint smile. "I can. I would need some things first..." She comments before the topic of a duel is mentioned. Her gaze returns to Jackson. "I am doin gwell enough and yourself?" She replies as she's addressed after it. "I didn't realize you two had dueled." She adds before her gaze drifts yet once more. "Well enough, Gabriel. Seemed like you were enjoying yourself a moment ago..."
Jackson shrugs, and nods at Sage. "During that debacle with the dybbuks out near Laramy.. Daeni and I had a little.. argument. I challenged her to a duel in the Arena to settle it, and she wiped the floor with me. But I need to refine my attack strategy.. I'll stand a better chance of winning next time." He tells the woman before turning to Gabriel. "Evening Gabriel, I'm doing well thank you."
There's a shallow but happy chuckle in the same "new" tone of voice, though still at a pleasant tenor. Gabriel's head dips a little in recognition of events as he turns slightly enough to try and catch Sage's eye. "Yes, well. I've found that my past life's somewhat unique skill-set is turning into an honest-to-goodness occupation. Really, civilians? That Dumb Dora. It's as if I don't even need to try." The way it's said, it's clear that "dumb Dora" probably has nothing to do with the woman's real name. Then his left eye narrows slightly, and he falls into a moment of silent thought.
"Think am weak. Was wrong." Daeni offers a simple explanation and summary of events, primarily for Sage's benefit, as she perceived them. "Still burn me, burn shirt." This also explains the large patch and her need to browse. She advises Jackson. "Need practice more. Tire quick not good, magic or body. Was real, not be alive."
With the conversation seeming to have different branches to it, Sage can only try to keep everything straight. The explanation of a duel being issued due to the action out in Laramy is greeted with a simple nod. As for Gabriel's comment, there's a brief moment of an odd look before she seems to take something the man says as amusing based on her feature expression. Then when she's able, she glances back to Daeni. "She does seem to have the ability to surprise." She comments, more likely meant to be directed to the men despite the direction of her attention.
Jackson shakes his head. "I didn't say or think you were weak. I simply wanted to prove myself as not being weak. I could have done alot more had I attacked straight out instead of trying to play with you. I'll get better as I learn different ways of doing things." He says easily.
Remembering the disappointing sparring match from the other evening, Gabriel seems content to just stand in silence, knowing that his point of view isn't one of great importance at the moment. Just listening to what the others have to say, what interests them, and what is being discussed.
Daeni does not debate Jackson's view, as it is his. Instead, she pivots her full attention back to Sage and the previous topic. "What need for shirt? Can hunt, skin, ready hide." If her patchwork is any indication, it is the seamstress' talents that she lacks. "Can trade for here, but not want most. Too much color or not strong."
Sage's gaze drifts to Jackson, "I imagine I would be quite weak compared to the two of you." She comments, "At least in the respect you are talking about it." She adds before giving a shrug, then turns her attention to Daeni as she returns to the topic of the shirt. She nods faintly, "I've made some allowances for not strong clothing... but I still have strong for when it is needed." She comments before pursing her lips, "If you can get the skin, I would need to know how ... you measure. Like width of shoulders, length of back, and a couple other places. I can get a measuring tape when you have some time." She comments, "And, I may have some questions about the colouring or whether you want any comfort lining."
Gabriel dips his head politely, and states, "Apologies, miss Sage, but I just have to ask.." a moment of silence as he turns his gaze to the tall elf woman. "What was with the sparring match? I've never seen a supposedly friendly fight that didn't involve gloves, pugle sticks, or at least a good referee. How is it that someone can blast you with.. uh, whatever the hell that stuff was - pardon my language, ladies - and come away with nothing but a singed shirt?" A glance between the women, and he asks, "This isn't some kind of expected annual event for citizens, is it?"
"Can bring skin, you measure. Want to fit." Daeni answers as many of Sage's concerns as she is able while also considering what prey might be the most appropriate. "Hide color is good. Will find soft hide. Fawn, doe, other young best." Daeni is pulled from her pondering to answer Gabriel. "Was like lightning. Not just burn shirt. Burn face, flesh, hair." Not that she currently seems any worse for the wear.
Nodding faintly to Daeni's responses, Sage doesn't seem to be put off in the slightest when the man decides to cut in to the conversation. "You obviously haven't seen the Juicer matches." She comments softly as the man asks his questions, but her tone suggests she's not one to really watch that sort of thing. "And, some people can likely take a lot more punishment than where you came from. It will likely take some getting used to." She adds before giving a faint shrug, before looking towards Daeni. "And, some people heal a lot quicker too, perhaps." She offers a faint smile, "At any rate, sounds like we have most of the details worked out for the shirt. We can work out other details when you come for the measurements." She adds, "I suppose I should be taking my purchases home now." She glances between the two of them, "Take care..." She offers, as she pauses long enough for them to respond before she begins to move away.
Gabriel raises an eyebrow, and in that upper-brow New England accent that probably no one in this world recognizes, begins to say something to Sage, but ends with a quiet, "Good evening, miss Sage. Stay in the light on your way home. If you need anything, I picked up this thing -" he pulls out a little rectangular thing and pokes at it " - some kind of phone thing. I'm always ready to help." He turns his gaze toward the elf. "You too, Daeni. If you actually need it." He seems to reach out to give Sage a friendly pat on the shoulder, but apparently thinks otherwise, and just offers another farewell.
Daeni lifts her hand, proving that the gesture serves as farewell, also. "Will bring skin to garden. Hunt well." The last is a bid to Sage rather than a statement of her own ability." Whether or not Daeni needs the similar bid of caution and safety, she nods to Gabriel. "Am always ...careful." That may not be the most appropriate term, but it should carry her intent well enough.
As Gabriel watches Sage fade into the surprisingly thick crowd for this time of night, he turns back to the tall Daeni. "How can you take a blast from a lightning bolt and walk away? I heard about a guy, out in Kansas, didn't come inside fast enough and got a bolt right through is body. Said that he kept steaming for half an hour, and was too hot to touch for 15 minutes. Blew his feet right off and looked like someone had taken a welding torch to is skull. At least, that's the story that I heard." He only offers a shrug as further explanation.
"Am strong, stronger than human. Magic in blood." Daeni continues, admitting after a pause that, "Are others like this, maybe some human before. Like ones you shoot, not hurt. Many people, creatures like this here. Need strong weapons to kill."
"Heh. Yeah, strong weapons. I was out practicing with that rifle and I accidentally blew a tree in half with a single errant bolt." He looks around, with no apparent direction of gaze, then says, "Daeni, I'll be honest with you. I like it back home a lot better. I don't suppose there's any way for another, ah... 'storm' to happen again and take me back?"
Daeni rolls in shoulders in a shrug. "Not know. Maybe some know strong magic help you. Not find way, not search long. Want go back, then learn live here. Need do same."
A resigned nod. He glances back over to the phallic vegetable (or fruit?) stand, where the fat woman still stands, then returns his attention to the conversation. When he speaks, it is rather more animated than usual. Not just for tonight, but over the whole course of his known existence in the Kingsdale Greater Metropolitain Area. "Hey, Daeni. I'm assuming that you don't have children. But... siblings? You know, brothers, sisters? Cousins?
"Had brother..." Daeni pauses, and not due to her linguistic limitations. As well, her expression firms with the tension in her jaw and eyes. "Lost in storm. Not see when come this world. Is gone."
Gabriel's expression falls, the moment of optimistic happiness washing away in an instant. "Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to open an old wound." After a meaningful moment of silence, he asks yet another question. "Daeni, how did the storm come to your world? I think that we made our own storm. I think that's why I was in charge of security for the Montana. Guess I didn't do too well. But I inspected the wreckage - before those generators, or whatever they were - generated. Strange things. Egyptian symbols. Marble pyramids. Some kind of, I don't know, I'm not an engineer. Maybe something nuclear. I think that the scientists destroyed my men, my trust, my family."
Daeni gives another shrug, but does not entirely clarify whether it is nonchalance at his condolences or ignorance of answer to his question. "Storm come like rain, thunder, but was not. Magic like lightning flash all around. Many go out black. When wake, was here." She waves a hand vaguely out of the city. "Not know in new world. Make tents, bury dead, then humans come, kill many."
"Yeah." Whatever that word is intended to mean is probably unknown. Could mean many things. His eyes suddenly perk and his head tilts a little toward the genitalia vegetable (or fruit?) stand. The fat woman is beginning to wander away. That same New England accent comes back into perfect annunciation. "So sorry, miss Daeni, but I have to depart. Work never goes away, right?." He makes a little click out of the side of his mouth, a wink and then, "Catch you later, Daeni. Stay safe." Then he's off, moseying over in the direction of the heavyset D-bee.
"Am safe much as can be." Daeni replies to the departing Gabriel, then turns from before the vendor whom she no longer needs nor has interest in.
