Dec 19 02:38:41 107 PA - Impromptu and Freezing Greetings

From Chronicles

Dec 19 02:38:41 107 PA.

PLAZA PARK

Today it would appear it's a blizzard out there. Dark clouds piling up in the skies as the wind carries fat flakes down at stiff angles with the gusts. Looks like there will be some serious drifts after this one. The first quarter moon hangs overhead.

Snow. Winter is returning to Kingsdale's region and the Park is a place where some people have lingered out to enjoy the weather. Those few who can stand the blowing snow. Vixen is one who braves the weather, though with her coat wrapped close about her to fight the chill. The garment flaps about her legs and her short hair bobs a bit as it's blown. She's standing out in an open space, back to the wind to let it flow past her and keep the snow out of her eyes. The better to observe those places where it has begun to collect on the ground and in the trees. Not too much yet, but the morning is young and the snow could last a good while.

For those with good hearing, natural or otherwise, there's a rather steady, crunch-crunch-crunch-crunch sound coming from the west, off of Main Street. Increasing in volume, a short shape in a basic dull black color eventually emerges. It's Gabriel, jogging, of all things. As per clothes, he looks no different than he always does, save for the possible extra bulk of another cotton T-shirt and a very thin pair of leather gloves. It's not a sprint, that's for sure. Not even a hat or scarf to protect him. The common steaming look comes from his nostrils, his mouth closed. It will be a moment or two before he's actually within the solid portion of the park itself.

Vixen hears before Gabriel gets too close. Her head turning slightly. Then a bit more as she tracks the sound with a slight cock of her head and a bit of focus. She looks towards Gabriel's approach vector and a soft tension settles in. Quiet readiness, without any actual shift from her posture, arms loosely wrapped about herself.

The man isn't intimidating on any normal basis, and he shouldn't be today. Like any man, Gabriel has flaws, and today one of those flaws is slightly apparent as he steers himself in the woman's direction, slowing as he approaches and waving one of his hands in greeting as they cease their steady pumping at his sides. He looks absurdly comfortable with the weather. Still, because of the muting effect of blowing wind and snow, he finds it necessary to raise his voice as he calls, "Morning, Miss Vixen! Brisk, huh?"

Vixen relaxes when she sees who it is clearly. her head turning again to consider the field before her. When Gabriel pauses near and speaks, she looks back to him again. "Cold." And probably other things, her expression leaning towards the thoughtful. Though there is a certain distraction about her. And a new ring with a violet stone on her left ring finger.

Gabriel slows up and finally stops near the high-tech woman. "Cold? No. Slightly chilly, sure. This isn't cold." If he has a idea of what really *is* cold, it goes unsaid for a moment. Maybe he just doesn't want to babble. Still, one of the thing's that's kept him alive is an eye for detail. A polite finger is aimed at Vixen's hand. "Why Miss Vixen, have you gone and gotten engaged to some nice fellow?" comes out in his drawl.

Vixen gives Gabriel an odd look at his response, though just shakes her head after a moment. His comment prompts her to glance down at her left hand. A flicker of some soft, warm emotion comes to her, but just for a moment before she shrugs her shoulders faintly. "Just making real what's already there," she says. "Me and Leo." She glances away, but a faint threat of smile tugs at her lips. "What are you doing out here right now? Like the snow or something?"

"Well, a hearty congratulations to you, Miss Vixen. I'm afraid that I don't know your fiance overly well, but from what I do know, he seems like a nice enough man. I wish you all the best," Gabriel states with a smile aimed at the woman. Then, looking back and waving at the tracks that he's left - rapidly filling in by new snow - he shrugs. "Combat doesn't always come at you on your terms. Have to train that way, too. Which leaves me on my morning exercise tramping through the snow." He then moves into more of the past as if everyone should understand. "The Nazis, when they moved east into Russia, they got hit by one of the worst winters in decades. Weren't prepared to fight in that kind of snow. One of the reasons that Paulus' Sixth Army was defeated outside Stalingrad. You have to train what you're given, to better be prepared to adapt when necessary." That lesson spoken and done, he's quiet for a time, then asks the monosyllabic question: "You?"

Vixen furrows her brow at him, then shrugs. "Don't know what you're talking about. Nazis and such." She shrugs off the history lesson. "I prefer working out at the gym. And I'm here just watching the snow. It's been a while since I just did that. And the cold feels nice.. for now anyway. Won't be out too much longer before getting home for something hot to relax with."

The man shrugs in response. Gabriel is brief. "Hitler's Nazis and the Third Reich were my time's less-technologically-advanced Coalition States." He then asks two rapid fire questions. "When'd you guys get hitched, and are you a coffee woman, a tea girl, or the kind who prefers hot chocolate?"

Vixen just shakes her head at history again.. or maybe the hint at time travel. "We've been together a while. Nothing's changed with that. Ain't had no ceremony like some obsesses over." She then turns her head, scanning the field slowly. "Sometimes coffee. Sometimes cocoa. Usually warm brandy." She looks towards him then. "I don't do tea much. Doesn't tend to have much flavor to it."

The short, Slavic man offers a quiet chuckle. "When Natasha and I married, it was just her, me, a priest, one nun and one monk at the Rotunda in Constanta, Bulgaria. No one else around for two-hundred and fifty miles who knew us. Or at least, were able to admit that they knew us." Gabriel smiles a strange smile. "We lived a very happy marriage, but it was unique to everything else in most ways you can imagine." After bobbing his head a bit, perhaps asking himself whether this question was fair game, he does finally speak up. "I don't know where the two of you currently live. Do you have a nice place to share? Maybe moving into someplace new and larger?"

"I live at his place," Vixen supplies, though she stops short of saying more. "Used to live somewhere else, but his place is better. Maybe not real big, but I don't need lots of room. Just a place for my gear and a comfortable place to relax. And a cold box for my drinks." A faint smirk comes at the last. "Makes me wonder why some people think they need so much space to live in."

A broad grin spreads across Gabriel's face, and if this is a joke, it's a perfect deadpan that passes for honesty. "When you're the fourth-richest man in the world, and you have twenty-two daughters, trust me, you need space." Probably seems very incongruous when put against the backdrop of his very simple lifestyle here in Kingsdale. "Sure, there are those who do it just to be ostentatious Huh? (Type "help" for help.)

A broad grin spreads across Gabriel's face, and if this is a joke, it's a perfect deadpan that passes for honesty. "When you're the fourth-richest man in the world, and you have twenty-two daughters, trust me, you need space." Probably seems very incongruous when put against the backdrop of his very simple lifestyle here in Kingsdale. "Sure, there are those who do it just to be ostentatious and pretentious -" he pops out two ten-dollar words "- but I never cared for that type. Or I should say, *we* never cared for that type." His grin broadens as he adds, "But they're usually good to win money off of." Then another monosyllabic question: "Beer?"

Vixen grimaces faintly at the mention of children, but doesn't dwell on the issue. Instead, she considers him with a critical eye for a moment before she says, "Sometimes. But most are weak. I prefer something that has body or bite. Not subtle, but something I don't have to think about or search for."

"Brandy it is, then. I'm not much of a drinker, myself." If Gabriel feels that information to be relevant to anything, well, apparently it's up to him. "Grew up on water, milk, and fresh orange juice. Graduated to soda fountains, then, well... then I was in the Corps, without much time to drink." He shrugs. "Plus, well, it's a bit of a religious thing. Not that I ever expect to impose my views on others." The subject is swerved aside. "How long have you and Leonard been together, Miss Vixen?"

Vixen grimaces at the mention of religion as well, but she seems content to not delve there, shrugging her shoulders at the final question. "A while.." She considers a few moments before she shakes her head again. "Complicated. But a lot of months. Long enough, if you're thinking to say anything." A firm defensiveness there. "I know Leo pretty deep. He's good. Probably the first real good one I've ever run into."

Gabriel offers a very small shrug. "I'm only here to congratulate. Only time I tell someone how to run their life is when they're looking to be trained how to stay alive in combat. Anyone else's business is just that, as is mine to anyone else." There's a sharp whistle coming from the direction of Main Street, and the older man turns to look. Nothing seems to come of it other than a distraction. "Good people, truly good people, are very hard to find," he agrees.

Vixen glances towards the whistle as well, her lips pursing a little. But after a moment she glances away and nods her head. "Hell if I don't know it." There is a pause, a few moments where thought comes back to the fore. Then she adds, "Anyway, it's not like anything's changed for us. We're still like we were before. He was just being official. Not like I need anything like that. He knows how I feel."

"That's fine. Well, congratulations to you then, and I'll leave the subject be, as you seem content to leave it at that." The Kentuckian then raises his head to gaze up to the woman's face just a little better. "You remember how I was looking for that Ahriman fellow? I think he's gone. No one I've found has even heard a rumor about him. Don't care why he's moved on, really, as long as he's gone. 'course, would've been nice to stop the bastard from just moving along to kill people somewhere else." Gabriel finally surrenders a shrug. "But you do what you can, right?"

Vixen shrugs her shoulders slightly and says. "Not heard any transmissions yet, but not knowing what I'm looking for makes it a bit like a needle in a haystack. A lot of random radio traffic out there most times. With all the people and mercs in the area, someone's always gabbing about something." She tilts her head a little. "If he's gone, he's gone. Might be back, might not. But I'm ready if he decides to come around me."

The shorter man seems to consider for a moment whether or not any single person would be ready to take on the criminal with success, but as with many of his more personal opinions, Gabriel leaves it be. Instead, he rotates his body, pivoting at the waist with his hands slightly in the air. "I really don't remember St. Louis getting much weather like this. But I guess this is normal for Kingsdale? Does it cut down on the crime? It often does, because people - the smarter ones at least - realize that it's hard to cover your tracks in the snow."

"Dunno. Never was one to count crimes and such," Vixen replies. "Growing up in the Dregs, you'd spend most of your life counting that sort of stuff." She shrugs and adds, "Probably people just do different crimes, like people out doing normal stuff change. What you do doesn't change just cause of the weather."

Suddenly, without really any polite turn at all, Gabriel just comments, "Dregs, right," then moves on quickly to, "Have you heard of a man named Jeremy Black? Dead man, now. A lot of sneaky business. You heard of him, Miss Vixen?" Gabriel shifts his weight slightly as one of the rare snowbirds flitters past overhead in the still strongly-blowing wind.

Vixen considers a moment, then shrugs her shoulders a little. "Heard the name. Dead rich guy, right? Heard he got robbed while at home or something. the thug took him out, they say." She doesn't seem overly concerned. "Wouldn't be surprised if he was shady. How else do most wealthy people make the big creds?"

"Yes, that's him, and yes, those are the questions being asked. His assistant was murdered, too. But he had some interesting dealings, of which I had happened to play a small part, which now interests me, because if I've been played, I'm going to make it right." Gabriel crosses his arms over his chest, though obviously just for comfort. "Not to be dull, but you know that Titan Robotics is busy setting up shop here in the city, right? Probably propping up walls as we speak."

"Heard about that, yeah. But that kind of tech is usually out of my price range. So I haven't been paying too much attention." Vixen replies. She considers the man a moment before she wonders, "So why do you think you might have been played? And by who? The dead guy? If so, not much you can do about it now. What with him being dead and all."

There's a slight cough as something apparently sticks in Gabriel's throat for a moment. "Excuse me." He takes a deep breath, and responds, "Let's just say that I do, and leave it at that, okay? I think that Black may have been played, so playing be by proxy." Further details are not forthcoming. "I don't know if you're in the business of regularly scanning radio chatter, but do you know if Titan broadcasts on a frequency and encoding that you can read? Or listen to? Whatever you call it." Perhaps though a country-bumpkin he may seem to be, he does know just a tiny bit about what he's discussing, at least.

"I listen to chatter sometimes, but I don't tend to look for potentially encrypted signals unless I have a reason. Personal or financial," Vixen says, a brow lifting slightly. "I prefer getting straight to the point when it comes to potential business. So you don't have to hesitate to break it down simple and straight. What're you worried about? Or looking for."

Gabriel's whole face twitches - slowly. "Although I have to compare notes with a friend of mine, I'm fairly certain that Titan played a part in Black's death. Did someone from their company actually pull the trigger? Maybe. They're too secretive. Only bringing techs from outside. Not letting anyone know where their factories are - and yes, just coincidentally having signed a major shipping agreement with Black and his aide, and possibly a contact in MercTown, only a few days before his death." The older man shrugs. "Probably something that I'd consider suspicious, wouldn't you? I want to hear what they're saying. I know that radio can be directional, so I want to know where it's going, and where it's coming from. Pardon my French, but I want to know if someone's getting a blowjob from his secretary. Things just aren't right, and I don't like it when things aren't right." He holds his hands up in a minor gesture of surrender. "Broken down simple and straight."

Vixen considers that casually. "That's a tall order. And a decent amount of personal time, even just setting up traps for keywords to pull down bits and pieces without having to sit in front of my radio all day." She tilts her head slightly. "Maybe they are doing shady deals, but probably most big companies do that. What's your part in this? And what are you looking to get out of it?"

There isn't much hesitation. "Honestly? Justice if there are innocents involved, particularly if they became involved by my unknowing hand." Gabriel plinks off a second finger on his hand. "If investigation warrants it, justice for two murdered men, and maybe more to follow. Just to tack on that at least here in the more civilized portion of the city that can be policed, murders are not tolerated, by anyone, big or small." A third and final finger goes down. "If Titan is as shady as I hope to fuck they aren't, but worry to fuck that they are, something serious needs to be done about it before the whole city is in trouble. I'm not an alarmist, I'm not going to run through the streets shouting 'fire,' but if there's a large problem, it needs to be dealt with, and it would be much easier to do it now, while they're still moving in and slightly off-balance than it would be to do it late." Gabriel lets out a long exhaust of air. "That's my part. I got into this business more than twenty years ago because I didn't like good people getting fucked over by the bad ones."

"I suppose it depends who you think is good and who you think is bad," Vixen replies. Though the moment after she shrugs faintly. "Maybe you ought to tell me a bit more detail. If you want me to listen it would help to know what I should listen for. Think in terms of keywords. Words that, when they get spoken, I can set to have recorders yank out a block of sound before and after them that might be useful. No way in hell I'm listening to a day's worth of nothing chatter. Got a life to live."

The question of 'keywords' seems to stump the older man for a moment, as he taps his lips with an index finger. Gabriel's face is increasingly pained, eyebrows rising and falling, scrunching and relaxing, eyes roaming this way and that. "That's the hard part. We - I - really don't know as much as I wish we - I - did. The murders have been fairly slick. One was an obvious kill, the other looks like a suicide, but I'm pretty fucking sure that it was a murder, or at least one of those murders-through-blackmail, and so on. I guess... the only specific word that I can offer is, 'Theo.' A rather suspect name. That's it." A fellow from Kentucky seems pissed off at both the world and himself that there's nothing better to go on at the moment.

"We?" Vixen frowns faintly and considers Gabriel. "Theo.. maybe you ought to give this more thought. Basically, I need words that mean something when it comes to whatever you suspect." It's morning, between 1-2 hours after sunrise and its blowing snow. The winter here, the inevitable build up on grass and leaves visible. Vixen is talking to Gabriel, wearing a faint frown as she does so.

"I'm giving it as much thought as I can, Miss Vixen." Gabriel is dressed exactly as normal, save for a pair of thin, dull black leather gloves. Further, he seems to be quite comfortable, even in the biting wind and blowing snow. "You know a little bit about the problem. You have any bright ideas about where I should think about 'keywords,'" he asks.

Comfortably garbed in her fur coat with whatever accessories she's deemed necessary, Sage finds herself wandering into the park to appreciate - if not truly enjoy - nature without a large number of people around to clutter it up. There is something about the weather today that seems to remind her of year's past. For the time being, she just wanders. Her gaze mostly makes sure that she keeps from drifting out of the trampled path.

Valeriya emerges into the park a few paces behind Sage, clearly following. She's garbed a bit different, armor and pistols. Though her helmet is off to let her breath fog the air. "Sage." She calls to the woman ahead. Looks like she was waiting for the eventual detour from the busy streets to draw notice.

Vixen purses her lips, eyeing Gabriel. She glances to the side, arms relaxing as her hands come together. Thinking quietly as she tampers with the new ring on her left hand. "Names. Not just of people, but places, events, things. Actions. Words that sound like codewords. Takes a certain ear to pick those out. Strange, precise phrases made of words that don't usually fit together, but are said like they should." She pauses, gazing out at the field she'd been watching before. Perhaps considering the rate of accumulation.

"In that case, this little part of our talk has wasted your time. I only know the one name. I could add 'MercTown' to that list, but that seems pretty broad, wouldn't you think?" Gabriel does in fact look rather disappointed. "Maybe in a few days or weeks I'll have more for you." As the other women enter the area, maybe not close, but visible, he rather humorously comments to the nearby Vixen, "Eight chromosomes, and I'm the only one holding a Y."

The call of her name seems to come rather shortly after she's headed into the park that Sage is fairly responsive in turning about to see the person responsible. The female voice sounds vaguely familiar but it's harder to judge with the wind. "Yeah?" She calls back as she focuses on the other figure. "I'll toss both into a trap or two and see what comes up," Vixen says. "Though if you get something out of this, I expect a cut." Said casually, without much intent to define beyond that. She looks over towards the sound of Sage and Valeriya's voices before she looks back at Gabriel with a confused expression. She shrugs and says. "I'm going to get moving, about time to warm up after being out here this long. You want to clue me in on whatever this is, let me know." She turns, starting to make her way off.

"Just wanted to touch base." Valeriya explains as she closes the gap between with quick long strides. "I've got my basic gear, so I'm ready for that excursion whenever you are." She says, gesturing quickly to the pistols on her hip. The cold tends to leave the park rather barren so two others are noted, though she doesn't actually look to identify.

"No problem, Miss Vixen. Thanks for your time," Gabriel says as he sketches off the kind of salute that a military man would give to a civilian who has no sway over him whatsoever. "I'll be in touch. And again, congratulations. Tell Leo I said hello." With that, he turns and heads over in the direction of the noise. Perhaps that's what that loud whistle was earlier.

Sage begins a nodding motion before deciding against it, "Alright." Sage replies, "I'm trying to arrange the time off... should be able to do it soon, though." She comments, angling herself against a brief shift in the wind. "I have my stuff ready to go, though."

Valeriya raises her brow, speculation clear in her expression. "Everything ok? You seem a bit hesitant." She notes before glancing briefly at Gabriel with a slight nod. "Also just occurred to me to ask how far this trip will take us, and how we will be doing it. Haven't yet nailed down a technowizard for my personal transportation."

The Kingsdale sun has been up for about two hours at this point, but the day is gray. Gray of dark and heavy cloud cover, but with a stiff breeze full of thick, blowing snow. Gabriel is standing near the center of the park, in his normal gear save for a very thin pair of dull-black leather gloves. The biting cold doesn't seem to be bothering him at all. In fact, there's a bit of a smile on his face. He's slowly wandering west, toward some interesting noises closer to Main Street. Looks like two women whom he knows, but in this weather, it's necessary to get fairly close to converse without simply shouting.

"Yeah, I've just started a new business recent and been hoping to get some insight on what this pillar thing by letting myself dream instead of meditate." Sage replies before offering a faint shrug, "As for the trip, I imagine that depends on what kind of transportation we're using... I was on a hovervehicle the last time. It also wasn't winter the last time either." She comments, "What can you pilot?"

"Nothing." Valeriya admits with a slight blush. "Never driven any sort of vehicle, kinda sheltered like that. Well its more feasible when you consider space travel, one ship carrying a few dozen, not everyone needs to drive. And haven't really been here long enough to look into it." She explains, overcoming the blush quickly.

Gray. Snow. Wind. What a perfect time to be out of doors. At least yesterday was only rain. Luckily for Leonard, he's not awake enough to fully notice. He walks into the park armed with an umbrella for defense and a steaming cup of coffee for everything else.

Once in polite conversational range, Gabriel speaks up in a thick, early-morning Kentucky drawl. "Good morning, ladies. Here I was just jogging through the park, morning exercise, and it's turning in to a dinner party. Well, except that it's taking place in the morning." He observes the two for a short time, then adds, "The two of you certainly give the impression of people with plans.'

A soft sigh comes from Sage at the woman's admission, "I can ride a horse, but I have yet to get behind the wheel of anything." She comments before looking towards the approach of the man. "And we're outside in the wind and snow..." She adds, before pausing. "We're planning a little field trip, I suppose you could say."

"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." Valeriya quotes to Gabriel with a smirk. "See, she let the cat half out of the bag too." She also points out before smirking to Sage. "Well then, we are both of the sort to be driven around at our whims. Perhaps we should look to finding a driver then."

Leonard isn't completely oblivious, and hot caffeine does help the senses. The sounds of conversation and greetings draw him, not that they were all that far from his entrance from Main. Sage's last comment is overheard, prompting him to ask, "A ladies' night out? The weather isn't the greatest for camping."

Gabriel raises a hand and comments politely to the two women, "I can drive anything with tracks. They make a lot of trucks with tracks. I don't own, but you could probably rent." It obviously goes unsaid that the Slavic man is quite interested in what a 'little field trip' is, particularly as it had been brought up the previous evening by his instructor. While he still seems perfectly comfortable in the driving wind and snow, Gabriel turns just enough to offer over to the newly arrived - and not very up to the task of handling weather - Leonard with, "Good, another Y-chromosome."

Sage's gaze drifts to Leonard but she doesn't seem to be too concerned about another person arriving. "Something like that... you've been where we're heading, Leonard." She comments before looking to Gabriel, "And, I knew you'd be gentlemanly enough to offer..." She adds with a teasing tone. "See?" She asks as she looks back to Valeriya, "Sometimes its good to show the cat inside the bag... sometimes you can nab something else of value." She muses.

Valeriya smiles, nodding in agreement to Sage. "Quite true. Though I can't conceive a tracked vehicle being inconspicuous it will get us there. Perhaps scare away trouble as opposed to attracting it." She muses, trying to keep positive. "So that’s settled, now we need to set the date." She concludes before glancing to Leonard. "Cant really help the weather, armor keeps me nice and warm."

Leonard nods to Gabriel with a light grin. "It's not so bad to be out-numbered, briefly." Sage snares his attention yet again, though he does share the grin with the other woman, also. "I have? If it's something you'd want my assistance with, I enjoy a trip now and then."

Gabriel's eyes perk up when Leonard speaks, and he dips his head in an obvious sign of friendship. "By the way, Leonard, I believe congratulations are in order. Happiness and long life to both of you." Details are left out, for others to speak of themselves. It's only a few hours after sunrise, but it's still gray out. The weather is a gloomy mix of hard-blowing wind and thickly flying snow, all together with a biting cold. The two women and two men are basically standing together, and as for Gabriel, it's notable that despite the weather, the only change in clothing is a thin pair of dull-black leather gloves. Otherwise, he really doesn't seem to take notice. Turning back to the women, he asks with a smile on his face, "Did I just volunteer for a mission that I had to volunteer for without knowing what it was? I've seen that done before. But only did it once - that's how I got into the Raiders." Then one question and one statement. "What are we doing," and then with a pointed finger to Sage, "I'll get to you later." Wink.

Sage's attention drifts between the three as she considers what she hears before settling her gaze on Gabriel. "Why yes, and it was quite noble of your to volunteer like that." She says with a musing tone. "How about this coming up weekend?" She suggests without looking at Val or Gabriel in particular. Then she considers Leonard. "Well, you might be useful as well... but, only if you can make it and get permission from Vixen. Doesn't seem the best way to say congratulations by stealing away her special man so soon."

"Works for me." Valeriya says with a nod, following the side banter with curious eyes. After a moment she settles back on Gabriel. "Often you will find more interesting assignments that way, and more binding ones." She notes with a snicker.

Snow! There's a sound, a snuffling, and a horse's snout nearly bumps Leonard before drawing back, and Sebastien's voice calls down from above, "Sorry about that! It was not snowing nearly so heavily when I le --" And he leans forward, rough outline becoming more visible as he leans forward, one hand holding his big floppy hat on his head. "Oh my," he decides, peering mostly at Valeriya and Gabriel. "What a roguish group of ne'er do-wells!"

"Thank you," Leonard's smile widens considerably, "and I think you did, Gabriel. One consequence of women is that you find yourself agreeing to things, often without ever realizing it. We, on the other hand, are always required to ask." Speaking of that, he shrugs to Sage, still smiling around another sip of coffee. "I should be able to get permission by then, if needed. Otherwise, I've no problem staying-" He's interrupted by a near-miss of snout, startles, and turns. That he recognizes the rider only relaxes him slightly. "Hello, Sebastien."

It's always a bit of a surprise when a mounted horse is seen roaming around the center of a large city. It's even more surprising, even this far after his arrival, when Gabriel has a robotic horse's snout shoved down his throat, figuratively speaking. He offers the mounted man a smile and nod, but perhaps for other reasons is not yet very vocal about a greeting. Not hostile, not passive aggressive, just not jumping up and down shouting, "Hello!" To the women, he replies with a grin, "I believe that my schedule has this weekend open under the category of, 'let something try to kill me.'" Then, "Don't get me wrong - I'll drive, wherever it is we're going, but you rent the truck." A nod is finally shown to Leonard. "Ah, my innocent, naive friend. Twenty years of marriage and raising twenty-four daughters - yes, twenty-four - you have no idea what you're getting into, even with the best of women." By the end of his little talk, the older fellow seems to have brightened up.

Valeriya raises a brow a Gabriel. "Twenty-four? What manner of debts did you incur to require you to breed and sell twenty-four daughters? And what did you do with the boys?" She inquires, looking quite serious about the question before she turns to regard Sebastien with a smirk. "That's right, never settle for just doing well."

Sage nods faintly when the scheduling seems to be agreeable to the people around. Faint amusement comes to the comment about what women are like, but she contents herself with a small secretive smile. The arrival of the rider distracts her as she glances over towards the man. "Hey." She says simply.

Sebastien blinks at Gabriel, giving his head a small shake to clear snow from atop his hat, and he utters, "Twenty-four? By the ah ... same mother?" He seems dumbfounded by the total, wondering "Was she even ..." and then he just grins, thinking better of it. "She was quite the woman." He flashes Valeriya an answering look, and then gives Gabriel a bemused look. "Imagine. Twenty-four son-in-laws. Easily hundreds of suitors. You would need to enlist most of your city to wield shotguns and maintain their virtue!"

Leonard doesn't contribute much more than his jaw dropping open. Unsure whether to laugh or weep at Gabriel's wisdom(?), he lets out a weak and strangled sound. It does let him easily forget about Sebastien, at least. "I... think I'm already over my head just trying to survive the one." He is not too naive to not realize that much.

With a look to Valeriya that says that he was expecting the obvious question, Gabriel says, "The short story is that Natasha and I couldn't conceive. God didn't bless us that way. But I was a very, very wealthy man -" which may seem odd, considering how normal he is today "- and after the War, there were many young girls in Eastern Europe and other places who had lost parents. Put into service as awful things." The man looks pissed at the last comment. "So, we adopted and raised as many as we could as if they had been our own from the start. I carry a picture of my family right here -" he taps a pocket on his chest "- one of the lucky few personal items that came with me." Sebastien's comment does hit his funny-bone, and he chuckles. "Yes, I suppose so. But I only had four sons-in-law when I was torn away." Another smile is directed at Leonard. "See? What have you done to yourself?" It's an obvious ribbing, and nothing more.

"I was about to say you must have been pretty virile in your day to produce 24..." Sage muses with a teasing quality, before she falls thoughtful as things pass along a vein that is closed to her... at least for the time being.

"Oh so you were the collector, not the payee. Well that is different then." Valeriya agrees with a short nod. But Sebastien's remark on virtue draws a brief scowl before looking critically at Gabriel. "Preserving their virtue? You didn't use endless years of torture to shape them perfectly right?" She asks sharply, her fist clenching with clear tension.

Sebastien grins at Gabriel, and replies simply, "You are a good man. So many with the means do not see the obligation it entails, the --," and he stops then to stare at Valeriya. "What?" He speaks flatly, catching the tone of her voice. "Did you not hear him quite plainly say that he removed his daughters from such things?"

Children are some of the further thoughts from Leonard's mind, and the two thoughts that have sprung up on parenting only push them off over the horizon. "Sage... if you are looking for a way to travel, Vixen does have her new truck. You might be able to convince her to travel with you easier than I could get permission?" It has absolutely nothing to do with adoption or torture, but that could be the point.

The older man winks at Sage and chuckles at her comment before turning to Valeriya with a very quizzical look. Suspicious. Perhaps a little worried and on guard. "Years of torture? No. Teach by example, yes. Discipline when necessary, yes. Punish when necessary, yes. But not pain. A spank, a 'go stand in the corner,' 'go out and pull weeds until I'm satisfied'.. not torture. If we were going to torture them... why would we have adopted them to get out of that very situation in the first place?" He gestures toward Sebastian as support. "That's a really weird fucking question, Miss Valeriya. We raised them to be polite, social, loving, and good human beings." He flexes his fist - only to illustrate his comment, not as a threat - "And how to throw a good jab and hook to defend themselves, too." Gabriel then blinks and adds in an agreement with Leonard, reiterating with alliteration, "If the truck has tracks, I can drive it. I assume someone has a map?" Hopefully the torture comments have simply moved on at this point.

Sage begins to take in a breath but finds the air is a little cool for drawing in a deep one, so she settles for letting out a small one instead. "I was just thinking of taking a peek... not planning on a full out expedition." She says with a rueful look. "I guess that might save us from renting a truck." She comments before offering a faint chuckle. Then she glances towards Gabriel then Val the back go Gabriel. "I can navigate to the place well enough." She replies simply, leaving the odd conversation topic untouched for the time being.

Valeriya turns back to Sebastien to scowl some more. "No. I didn't. And experience has my thinking a bit convoluted on the subject. I've seen a lot of things done to humans, by people who seem quite charming in many other aspects even. But I did not mean it as a judgment, just verification." Valeriya explains, losing momentum as she shakes her head. "Clearly I erred, excuse me." She says quietly and moves to depart.

Sebastien just gives Valeriya a big, friendly smile, while resting a hand on the back of Sara's neck. Making a small noise, he draws her attention to the tall woman, and pats Sara's neck as Big Bad and Bladey makes her escape. "That was odd," he decides, as the woman fades from view in the whirling snow. "Planning a class trip to the local zoo?"

"Are you trying for a homecoming?" Leonard quips in return, acknowledging Sebastien though glancing only from the vanishing Valeriya to Sage. "It was just a thought. I'm not trying to crash your journey, but traveling light may not be a good idea. Just in case."

Happy to be off of the odd subject, Gabriel states with a little sigh, "Well, I still have no idea where this little jaunt is going, or what it's doing, but it certainly never hurts to have a group of four. Small-unit tactics. In, out, no one knows you were there unless you get caught." He looks over at the robot horse and its mounted rider. "Horses didn't often come into play when I was with the Raiders. Sometimes, but not usually. Maybe twice. No offense," he offers with a smile to Sebastien. "I guess it depends on what we're doing. What *are* we doing?" He asks in an ironic tone.

Sage looks to Leonard with a small smile, "Well, it may be worthwhile to have both of you come along. Although, I'm not sure whether they'll be danger or if it'll just be a scenic tour." She comments before looking to Gabriel. She reaches out with her gloved hand to pat his cheek. "Why, we're going to a place to have a look-see... if there's nothing much there, we just come back home. Simple." She comments, "Anything else, you'll figure out when we gather for the outing."

"This horse," Sebastien replies a bit defensively, "Is more heavily armored than some tanks, has heavy infantry firepower, independent decision-making with human-level IQ, and --" He cuts himself off, and just leans forward, patting Sara between the ears and murmuring, "He didn't mean anything by it, Sara. Pay him no mind." The would-be knight gives Gabriel a look, and offers, "If you need a hand, I can either provide my own transportation," he pats Sara on the back, "or ride along with the jet pack as backup. If not?" He glances aside, at Gabriel, and says, "Come and see me. I liked what I saw the other day. If you're going out there alone, I'll make sure you have a pair of good swords."

Leonard smiles back to Sage. "Even a scenic tour would be a change of pace, for us. After the drive to Laramy, I'd be perfectly happy with a lack of excitement. The painful, deadly sort, that is." He turns to look between Gabriel and Sebastien with a little curiosity. "Swords?" Leonard knows that Gabriel is old-fashioned, in a sense, but didn't think he was quite that old.

"Hmm, keep me in the dark, huh? I'm afraid I'm going to need at least *some* information, Miss Sage. If I don't know how to outfit myself for what I'm rolling into, I'm not going to go," Gabriel says with an important nod. "But I understand if you'd like to say it somewhere other than the wide outdoors of the park here." Wink. Sebastian is acknowledged with, "No offense intended, just strange to me, Sebastien. And thanks," he states, probably referring to the 'other day' activities. "I could use some swords right now. Haven't been able to buy any yet for myself." Briefly to the other man, "Yeah, swords. Ironic, because in my day, they were antiquated, and relegated to museums." He ends with a smile and a shrug.

"Alright, we're going to go see if a certain body of water is of interest to a particular group of strangers before I arrange a meeting with them. So, you can flip a coin between our worst nightmare and a waste of time for possibilities." Sage offers with a shrug, "Now then, you'll need to excuse me... I only have so much time before I'm expected for an appointment." She comments before she begins to make her way off.

Sebastien's eyes flick from Sage, to Leonard, to Gabriel, noting the lack of people inviting him 'in.' "Fair enough," he notes, smirking. "Well, I don't know about you guys, but if I get much more cold my cock may decide to stop hugging my pelvis and just fall off. So." He tips his hat at the three, and heels Sara, wandering off at a safe, slow walk. "Gabriel, see me before you leave monsieur. I will see you properly outfitted for ..." he waves at Sage, "whatever this is."

"Hmm?" Leonard isn't sure how the things Sage mentions are related. Not for a moment or two while gears turn. "Ah... I think that I understand. I'll talk to Vixen, unless you have the chance before me." As strange as that sounds, they are good at passing each other. He smiles a farewell to her. "Enjoy your day at work, Sage. I'm sure all your customers will."

Gabriel's head cants to the side slightly. "Those four people? Two men, two women? Two magic, two tech? I wondered when they were going to come and screw up people's lives," the man grunts slightly after finishing in his drawl. If there is any insult in the air, the Kentuckian doesn't seem to be aware of it as he says, "Thanks, Sebastien. If I have a chance, I'll find you if I can figure out where you stay." He then shrugs and speaks to Sage more directly. "Looks like the morning party is breaking up, huh? I guess I'll get on with my run then. Unless you perhaps want to stay and talk about our mutual friends we were looking over the other day?" He finishes with a quirked eyebrow. Of course, the woman has already begun to move off by now.

Leonard quirks a brow, also, mostly because of Gabriel's exercise. "You are running out in the snow? There is a gym for that, by the way." He's only mildly prodding, then assumes the rest was directed at him. "Which mutual friends are those?"

Nodding, Gabriel replies, "Yes, yes. Exercise every morning, trained every day. You can choose your battlefield, but Mother Nature always chooses the weather. You have to take what the bitch throws out you, and you have to take it with a smile." He gestures at his obviously non-augmented warmth. "Once you're used to it, you don't even notice it. Just another pleasant day for me." There's a wide grin, but also one that says that he really knows what he's talking about - and probably through experience. "As for the mutual friends? Well, Sage and I were on a job with Miss Tirzah and Miss Daeni - both deceased now. The major players who hired us are beginning to die right and left. I don't think that Miss Sage has come to this conclusion yet, but I think that Titan Robotics is fucking with us. Don't know why, and won't bother you with evidence, but that's the problem."

"Corporate murder? It wouldn't be the first time, I'm sure, but..." Leonard shrugs, but doesn't know of the major players he speaks of, or much about the company. "Oh, I can stay warm and dry enough to survive, but rarely comfortable. Besides, I'd rather not tempt fate any more than I need to. If I want to get sweaty and exhausted, indoors on a treadmill works just fine."

Gabriel waves a humorously dismissive hand. "Ahhh.." he cheerily groans, "Plain few problems that can't be solved with a little sweat and hard work, and it's a lot harder work fighting Mother Nature." He nods toward the other man. "You said you were trained. Good education. I got a good education. Certainly they taught you how to survive in case, well, I don't know... your magic stopped working?" Gabriel shrugs a little at a subject he knows very little about.

Leonard chuckles and shakes his head. "It was more the other way around. I learned what I needed to in order to survive, barely, long before any formal education. My home wasn't much more than that..." He waves a hand towards a small gazebo off to one side. One that he knows well enough that he can do this without glancing that way. "Not much different than living out in the wilderness."

"Fair enough. Like I said over coffee the other day, I grew up not needing much. Anytime something is called 'The Great Depression' you can probably expect conditions to suck," Gabriel finishes with a smile. "I'm out exercising. What are *you* doing strolling around in a blizzard, shortly after sunrise, with a mug of hot coffee in your hands?"

"Trying to wake up. It took longer than I though," Leonard smirks amicably, "as I didn't realize how bad the wind was until after I made it here. The market has the best coffee, and the library doesn't like food and drink, so..." He lifts the now much less hot coffee.

Gabriel points a questioning finger at the no-longer-steaming mug. "So can you scrunch your eyes at it and heat it up again? Last thing I saw, back in '59 was a microwave that could cook a Thanksgiving turkey in ten minutes." He quirks an eyebrow. "I have to tell you, they tasted like shit. Gave the damn machine away to the Salvation Army a few days later."

Leonard nods sagely. "I can, but I use a microwave to do it. Magic is very useful, but it's like most any other tool or skill. Relying on only it for everything isn't very efficient and is, well, lazy. I can travel most anywhere on this world or others, but that doesn't mean I open a rift to go and get coffee a few blocks away." He upgrades his smirk to a grin.

"Fair enough," Gabriel repeats himself from a few statements back. He turns back to an earlier topic. "You know, I don't like the gym because it smells like - the sweat of dozens of species, some of which sweat odors with than others. I'm fortunate to be a very non-sweaty person, and I don't like to surround myself with it if I don't have to." He points an informative finger at the other man. "In fact, did you know that in the Raiders, we were conditioned to reduce sweat? Harder to set up an ambush or sneak up on someone when they can smell your 'pits coming." That brings a little grin to the man's lips, just as another very hard gust of wind blows another very dense packet of snow between himself and Leonard. He only blinks once.

"Really? That makes sense, I suppose." Not that that makes it less of an odd tidbit. "I'll remember to try not to sweat the next time I hope not to be seen by someone or something that wants to kill me." He drops back to a smirk, since he seems to find some paradox in that.

Gabriel nods at the other man and goes to give him a hearty slap on the shoulder. "Hey, get some exercise, Leonard, and congratulations again. Vixen's a fine woman." He then points east through the park, says, "I'm going that way. I'm already late! Stay warm!" The older man then chugs off at not a sprint, but a good solid pace that could probably be kept up for hours, eat up lots of ground. He tosses a wave over his shoulder as he moves off.

Leonard is heartily slapped and gives Gabriel a wave. "She is! and thank you again." No arguments, there, concerning Vixen. He doesn't go to run after or run for the gym just yet, though. More coffee is required.