Feb 04 01:44:38 108 PA - Dancing and Meeting

From Chronicles

Feb 04 01:44:38 108 PA.

THE ALIBI

"I am not exactly sure. The security for a building in the dregs would be expensive. So I was thinking of having like a mobile food van. Just would need to outfit it." Erica says as she taps the bottle against her lips."Well you know I can cook, but my domestic skills don't go much further then that. I am happy to cook for you though if you want." She looks at the dance floor for a moment, following Sage's gaze."

Gabriel wanders into the club, looking a little lost. His coat is partially open, and his wool cap and gloves are somewhere else, presumably in a pocket. He stops by the door, just rather slowly taking the place in. Distracted or confused. Or perhaps something else. Not that he look like he's possessed or anything.

"Yeah, its probably better to have some place that you can move than have to worry about what might happen to the place." Sage agrees, "I can still help you get to your goal faster if you want." She offers, before looking back to Erica with a faintly amused look. "You do realize that I cook because I enjoy it, right?" She asks, "But, sometimes its nice not to have to." She adds with a faint shrug, before she begins to glance back to the club. She spots the slowly moving Gabriel. "Time for mischief now, though." She comments, "Come." She sets her empty glass aside as she begins to wander towards Gabriel.

"That and I'll have to learn how to drive the van." Erica says with a little laugh. "I would appreciate your help of course. I like cooking as well. Nothing like a good meal. I liked cooking for you that one time." She says with a little chuckle. "Ooo I like mischief." Clapping her hands together happily as she follows Sage towards Gabriel.

After removing his outer coat, it's seen that Gabriel is actually dressed up today. Nothing overly fancy, not a suit, but something that looks respectful for an occasion. He's aware enough that he notices his two friends, Sage and Erica, moving toward him, and he raises his right hand in greeting, though he doesn't take the opportunity to raise his voice to shout a greeting. The Alibi is rarely a loud and raucous place, but still, noise is noise. The motions that he goes through seem to be not choreographed, but, well.. respectful.

"Can probably find a volunteer or hire a driver." Sage suggests before shrugging faintly, before nodding simply to the other woman about the potential help. "Grab one of his arms." She instructs before they get close enough to the man to get a good chance of overhearing. "Hey Gabriel.." She greets him once she gets closer, before she steps in to try and grab one of the man's arms. "We're going to start prepping you for the auction... come on..." She comments, and will attempt to lead the man towards the dance floor with hopefully not too much resistance.

Erica steps over to the other side of Gabriel from Sage while smiling slyly. She grabs Gabriel's other arm. "Hi Gabriel." She says with a laugh in her voice while helping Sage to guide Gabriel to the dance floor. "Yes every one likes a person that can dance."

The quick assistance garners a wide smile and quiet laugh from the Kentuckian. "Why, good day to you, too, ladies. I'm not drunk!" Makes him chuckle again. "Though having a pretty woman on either arm probably ups my 'street cred' around here. Did I use that phrase correctly?" He looks to both women in turn. Sage first, then Erica, with an eyebrow quirked. "Sorry if I look a little strange.. whoops!" His coat almost slides out of his grip before he grabs it, wrenching an arm away from Erica. Not purposefully, just reflexively. "Sorry again," Gabriel offers sheepishly. "It's not the best of days, but on the other hand, it is. How are you two?"

"Well, unless you're planning to be drunk at the auction, that's just too bad isn't it?" Sage muses as she begins to switch over to moving the man towards the dance floor. She makes a faint noise and shakes a head at the 'street cred' comment. The coat and resulting jerking motion causes Sage to pause as she looks over to the man, "Doing alright, you?"

Erica pouts a little as she loses Gabriel's arm as he messes with his coat. She follows closely behind and moves to take Gabriel's arm again. "Yes perhaps he can dance for the auction. Drive up those biddings. It is for the refugees after all Gabriel." She says with a little mischievous twinkle in her eye. "Here let me help you with that." She takes Gabriel's coat and sets it on an empty table near the dance floor.

Gabriel starts for the coat as it is taken from his hands, but a quick glance at Erica seems to calm him, and he does nothing more except to utter another rather quiet and bashful, "Sorry." Then with a smile at Sage, "I'm not planning on getting drunk, I assure you, Miss Sage. Maybe you haven't noticed... I'm really a soda man." Wink. "Though today, if this place has some nice brandy, I'll certainly raise a glass." He'll reach out to take Erica's hand, and Sage's as well, if they'll accept it. "Perhaps two friends join me in a round?" He still keeps an eye on the coat.

"After a dance." Sage insists before nodding over to Erica, "Or perhaps he wants to do a little strip tease... you saw how he was trying to take off that jacket... sliding it off..." She suggests playfully before moving to drag the man the last bit onto the dance floor then positioning herself as a block to getting off the dance floor. "Come, let's see a move... or we go to the center of the floor."

Erica takes Gabriel's hand in her own. "Yes a little dance first." Laughing softly she nods her head. "I think all the ladies would like that Gabriel. And you wouldn't want to lose the refugees money would you dear?" She asks while fluttering her eyelashes at Gabriel. She moves to help box Gabriel in on the dance floor assisting Sage.

Gabriel accepts the challenge. He walks out onto the floor, his old-fashioned shoes very fashionable for their era, but perhaps not so much now. But whatever era you grow up in... if you wear what's cool, you know that you look good. After a quick glance between the two women, he nods to Erica. "I believe that our first meeting was a dance, correct, Miss Erica?" Then, with a wiggle of his eyebrows, a challenge of his own, he turns to Sage, to take her up into a proper ballroom stance. "I assume that you mean proper dancing? You prefer swing, perhaps, Miss Sage?" He would loosen his hands (if there were a grip there) at the last suggestion.

Sage flashes a quick grin when the man seems to take the persistence in stride. She had hoped to draw the man into dancing more like some of the others on the dance floor. She glances over towards Erica to see if the woman will confirm this, before looking back to the man as he steps up to her. "Not sure I know proper dancing any better than improper..." She muses, "So, dance partner's feet beware." She chuckles.

"Yes I believe it was." Erica says with a grin as she nods her head at Gabriel. She takes a step back and leans against a nearby table while she smiles at Sage and Gabriel and watches them dance. "Ballroom dancing is lovely. I would love to get a proper gown sometime."

"Don't worry, Miss Sage, my dancing shoes are always steel-toed," Gabriel offers with a humorous wink, whatever it is about the coat perhaps forgotten, or more likely temporarily put aside. Erica's soft wish is met with, "I'm sure that you'd look magnificent, Miss Erica. I've never said this before, but you look very much like my Adelaide. Your shape, your hair. Very similar." He bobs his head in further recognition before turning to devote his full attention (or at least, most of it) to Sage. Not knowing how well she's prepared for such dancing, he move slowly, taking her right hand in his left, with his thumb and the side of his hand properly cupped in hers, and in turn, cupping the right edge in his. Right hand at the small of her back. Now sure, ballroom dancing to contemporary music isn't always the most logical, but it's fun. Fortunately, the Alibi's DJ is on a ballad at the moment. "Ready?" Without waiting, he starts to lead, moving slowly toward the smaller woman, all ready to support her if she were to trip...

Faint amusement comes to Sage's features at the man's comment about steel-toed dance shows, "Cute." She comments before glancing towards Erica at the conversation regarding the dress and the look of the man's previous wife. "She probably would at that." She comments with regards to the dress, before she turns her attention back to the man. She'll let him setup the ballroom dancing stance. Being a little taller, she can cheat a little. With simple dance steps, she seems to do well enough. Fortunately for the man, she's paying enough attention not to step forward into the man instead of back.

Erica blushes softly at Gabriel's words turning her skin a shade of pink. She giggles to herself as she waves her hand dismissively at Gabriel. "Oh you are much too kind Gabriel." Sage's comment makes her blush deepen a little bit. She goes to fetch Gabriel's coat and then turns back to watch Sage and Gabriel dance across the dance floor. She hums along to the music as she watches.

As he does his best to properly, safely and with some good entertainment value navigate Sage around the dance floor, he says, "Yes, Adelaide came from France. She was an orphan from the war. Natasha and I, we found her.. and, well, you needn't know more. She's my adopted daughter, one of them. Totally and legally to inherit from us, but most importantly - to be loved." Gabriel glances at Vixen as she comes inside, and his face droops slightly. Perhaps commenting on what his own problem is, he says, "Today is for Natasha." After clearing his throat, the seems to muster up a good smile again, looks.. up, slightly at Sage, and says, "More drums than I'm used to dancing with!"

"It was nice of you to take in so many lives that needed support, Gabriel." Sage comments when the man leads them around the dance floor. Her feet occasionally coming close to or brushing against the man's foot but avoiding any catastrophic error. She nods faintly to the man's word, "I had a day like this for Tirzah..." She comments, before raising a brow. "Then you'll just have to keep up with today's trends."

Erica holds Gabriel's coat while she takes a seat at a nearby table. She waves down a waitress for a beer while her attention dwells on the dancers. She keeps humming along to the music that the others are dancing to. Giving a quick nod to the waitress she takes her beer and sips on it.

Vixen is heading for the bar, so won't noticed looks tossed her way. The music seems to ease some of her personal upset, her mood balancing. At the bar, she finds her spot and leans against it, paused for a few moments with eyes closed. Then she opens them and makes her order. Credits are given and a glass of whiskey is handed over. She's in a sipping, rather than a slamming mood, however. So she turns her attention outward as she takes her first and looks towards the dance floor. Will take her a few to notice Gabriel and Sage amongst the rest, her head tilted slightly.

Gabriel smiles widely. "Thank you for the compliment," he says with a dip of his head. Even though Sage's head is slightly above his. His Kentucky tone is broken by a comedic attempt at an upper-class New England accent. "You know, there was a time when I had money. A *lot* of money." There is another wink. "With my occupation, and my very, very fortunate luck, well... they say that there's no limit to the good that a man can do if he doesn't care who gets the credit. Are you just here enjoying the day?" He motions his head back toward the bar - tripping slightly, being momentarily distracted - and saying, "We should probably wind this up. I've walked in and taken you away from your friend. Miss Erica was here first." He winks again. Vixen's presence was noted, but for the time, there is nothing more.

Nodding faintly, "No problem." Sage replies to the thank you with a faint smile. Her expression shifts to mild amusement. "Seems like all the money is spilled milk now." She comments, before nodding. "I was just thinking of how to set things up here for the date auction." She comments, "Figure the dance floor wont be used as such for the first bit." She comments, before shrugs faintly, "We can if you want." She says before stepping gently on the toe of the man's shoe to bring the dance to a stop. "Had to make sure you were telling the truth first." She muses before she releases the man and begins to leave the dance floor.

Erica picks up her beer and stands up as the dance finishes up. "So how did he dance Sage? Good enough for the auction?" She says in a teasing manner. "You both looked quite good out there." She holds out Gabriel's coat for him if he chooses to take it.

Vixen watches the two, then notes Erica. She lingers where she is for a quiet moment before easing off the bar itself to wander towards where the three seem destined to intersect. Casually and for now quiet in her generally ambiguous mood. Along the way she nurses her glass.

Not entirely sure how to take the subtle press on his toe and the question about 'truth,' Gabriel can only smile and politely lead Sage off the floor - which means having a hand at the small of her back while walking along side. "The auction, yes, that's a fine idea. Only a few days now. Have you decided where you're going to hold it? Here," he sweeps his free arm across the Alibi, "or a bigger event in the Park?" He does cordially accept the coat. "Thank you, Miss Erica." As the trio comes together, he rolls the coat so that its folded-over collar is exposed. It's lifted, exposing a string of strange characters - Cyrillic. As he moves a finger from left to right, he reads it in its native tongue: "Serdtsa rozhdaet-sya vmeste, navsegda." Harsh consonants, but rolling vowels. Then catching his two comrades' eyes, "Hearts born together forever." As further explanation, "Today is her birthday. She would be thirty-six."

While they're leaving the dance floor, Sage doesn't seem to pay much mind to the touch before she slips away a little bit from the man to more easily accommodate a conversation where they stand for the moment. She glances to Erica with a small smile, "He dances well enough for an amateur like me." She replies with faint amusement before looking to Gabriel. "And, it'll be held here. Aimee will be lending me the use of this place as her contribution to the charity." She comments, "I'm not planning to auction off half the city after all." She notes when the man brings up the comment about using the park. She nods faintly to the man's words about his wife, "Think of her kindly then." She comments before glancing away from the group towards the bar. Her consideration of another drink passed over as she sees Vixen coming closer. "Hey..."

"I'm sorry you won't see her again. I know it must be hard." Erica says in a soft voice. She turns back to the bar and takes notice of Vixen. She gives the other woman a quick nod of her head in greeting before taking a sip of her beer. "You are too humble Sage. You dance quite well. But I am sure Gabriel will bring you some good credits for the charity." She laughs softly while she leans against the table.

"Another auction, huh?" Vixen's lips curl in a casual smirk. She lifts her glass towards the lot with a slight nod of her head. Lacking just a bit of context on the other topic, she remains silent about it. Though it seems obvious enough that she's not really here with purpose. At least, not for the moment.

Sharing the purpose of his sadness, or at least, remembrance, of the day seems to have actually lifted Gabriel's spirits. He waves a hand. "Hello, Miss Vixen. I'm commiserating with friends. Not to be intrusive, but I couldn't help but notice that you seem to be rather mute today too, as far as that little spark of life goes. Leo come home plastered or something?" Gabriel's tone is clearly jest, an attempt to purchase a cheap laugh. Then, "Please, everyone. Join me in a polite round." Without waiting, he calls to the man behind the bar, "Four glasses of your finest brandy, please."

"If you say so, Erica." Sage replies good-naturedly before looking to Vixen before nodding. "Figured it might be some good fun and all the money will go to helping the Refugees." She comments before pursing her lips, "And, since Aimee offered the use of this place ... and mentioned that you might be able to DJ for it, I was wondering if you might be interested." She comments, before glancing to Gabriel at his comments, before shrugging faintly, "I think he's just trying to encourage bids on him." She comments, at the offer of drinks.

"This will be the first auction I have been able to attend. I look forward to it." Erica says as she follows Gabriel's lead to the bar. She chuckles softly at Sage's comment about Gabriel. "Well maybe he can cook to. He can come over to your house clean your weapons, cook and dance for you. Not a bad buy." She chuckles again as she leans against the bar waiting for the brandy to arrive.

Vixen glances towards the DJ booth as Sage mentions what Aimee suggested. "Huh.. I could, I helped set up the gear in there. Unless the current guy went and fucked around with my set up," she says, a soft frown coming to her. Though after a moment she seems to let go of the thought and return her attention to Sage. "I suppose the usual guy won't do?" The concept of free booze doesn't seem to bother her, even as she works on her current glass. She'll go along.

Gabriel removes himself very briefly from the conversation, accepting and paying for the four glasses. His own is raised, and he turns to the others. Whether or not they're listening, "To Natasha Alina Maria Petrova Sollomovicic Blaze, the finest woman who ever lived, and who ever will." He then takes a very solemn drink from the glass.

If the human at the inner entrance of the building is bored with sentry duty, this is his lucky day. The door is pulled or pushed open so that a head can enter. This is followed by the rest of Davirok as it slides inside, undulating into a pleated lie of body. The being turns its head to regard the man before panning across the full view and ending on one of the posted signs.

Sage glances to Erica, "Ah good, then you won't be able to compare it to the original." She notes with a little amusement before she turns her attention to Vixen and gives a little shrug. "Aimee seemed to think you might have more flair, but I'm sure the usual guy could do well enough if push came to shove." She comments, "Be nice to have another friend around, though." She takes a moment before turning to Gabriel, having enough time to grab one of the glasses to raise before the man manages to take his drink. "To her."

"To her." Erica says as she raises her own glass at Gabriel's toast. She takes a little sip of the brandy and then coughs a tad as she downs the brown liquor. Her skin colors a little bit as she blushes from the liquor. She turns her head to look at the entrance of the non human creature. Her eyes go wide for a moment as she looks to see what the security will do.

It does wake people up, given that there has been a lull in the entrants. But the men at the door don't tend to nap and are quick to become wary. A few gasps and worried voices from those closest to the door draw more attention from further in. Some ignore the noise, of course. One of the two men puts a hand on his weapon, but the second looks over at him and stays him with a look. It hasn't acted with aggression yet. The hand lingers on the weapon, but that is all. Seeing that the metal creature has noted the sign, he says, "Rule number one, no weapons. That's not really a full option with your like.. cyborg?" He seems confident in his eye. "But we have options."

Vixen lifts her glass with the others, only a general idea of what is being toasted. But it suffices and she gives a quiet, respectful due. Her lips quirk slightly at Sage's response to her and she's about to speak before the disturbance at the front gets her attention. Then she frowns darkly. "What's that thing doing here," she mutters. With two hands full of glasses, she can't really do much else with them, but a glance down reminds her that her weapons are at the front. Which doesn't improve her mood.

Gabriel's eyes drift to the doorway as the metallic serpentine thing enters the otherwise pleasant establishment. Despite the thing's appearance, he's completely unimpressed, drinking again from his glass. "Oh good, it's here. The thing that's going to just sit by on the side with its thumb up its ass - symbolically - and wait to see how the war plays out, then suck dick and get in the good graces of the winner." It's not said in anger. Just a really, really, really believed opinion.

Davirok spends an inordinate amount of time studying the sign before its head turns to the human that spoke with a hand on his weapon. It replies, "What options?" Davirok has no visible weapons, aside from its own body.

The drink never does make it to her lips as Sage being to sense a commotion over by the door. With the reactions of the others, she lets own ability to suppress her potential for fear as she looks over towards the door to consider the creature. It isn't pretty to look at, that's for sure. She seems to be more intrigued... and a little wary, than anything else.

The older guard seems to not take looks for granted. He must know a thing or two about cyborgs. He picks out a plug in dongle from a shelf near where they keep all the hand weapons people carry. "You plug this in and it should put all your internal weapons on standby. You take it out before we can turn it off, it makes a lot of noise and we shoot you until you stop moving. You let us take it off before you leave and all is well. It's nothing harmful. Just a show of good faith that you'll abide by the peace here. That's the rule. Keep the peace and anyone is free to come here. No matter who or what they are." The younger guard still seems wary, but the older takes a step forward, offering the plug in. "The choice is yours." Now, he is watching Davirok carefully. He's not foolish. Just confident. And the half dozen other armed and armored individuals currently visible around the club are all looking towards the front.

Vixen frowns, not quite close enough to pick out everything that's said at the door. The music continues, though a half hush from people watching the front in various states lingers. The young woman glances towards Gabriel as he speaks and gives him an odd look. "What the hell are you talking about?"

The older fellow drains his glass, raises it again, and says something. Silently, lips moving, but nothing heard. The glass is deposited reverently on the counter, and he turns back to see Erica depart. He offers a wave to her back. A look at Sage, then a turn to Vixen. "I had the displeasure of meeting this thing in the Park last night. Doesn't believe in humanity's strength. Considers us to be fools. D-Bees, aliens, all of us. Just going to sit there and call us cattle without a herd, while he himself said that he would do nothing to stop a battle on either side. I'm afraid that I have no kind things to say for a thing that is not only completely bereft of honor, but also completely lacking of any solid belief whatsoever." Gabriel grunts. "The most important thing that it's said is to bitch about having intentionally stepped onto this world." He never uses its name, though he probably knows it.

"Interesting." There is some intrigue in the synthesized sound as the device is now scrutinized more than the human holding it. Davirok extends one of its smaller appendages to retrieve it under the implied offer and brings the plug close to its face for a more detailed inspection. "Very well." Davirok appears satisfied that the device is as advertised and will not cause any unforeseen trouble. The appendage lifts the device to the rear of its head, inserts the plug, and a moment passes. "Weapon systems offline." With the assumption that notification is enough, Davirok continues into the room with its new accessory.

When she gets over her initial intrigue about the creature, Sage glances back to Gabriel with a raised brow. She considers the man's words, before shrugging faintly. "Not everyone's going to see things the same way." She comments, "And, I'm not sure... it... is the first thing to think such things.... but, I do hope we're not looking at another Ahriman."

The plug in is turned over and the man watches carefully and is satisfied with the report. "Then welcome to The Alibi. Keep the peace and enjoy your stay." He is watchful as Davirok goes in, but he has to turn his attention to the front once more as a fresh group creeps in after the metallic critter. People seem to prefer making some room for the critter as he slides through the place, though with the good graces of security, most seem willing to at least ignore it. Though some will always stare.

Vixen considers what Gabriel says and after considering it for a few moments she shrugs. "I wouldn't pick sides just walking into some place." Despite the response, when the thing starts to come into the club, Vixen gives a sour look, slamming the last of her whiskey before she tells Sage, "Sure, I'll do the thing. Come over to the station later, we can talk details." Then she starts on the brandy on the swift side.

A grunt. "As long as it stays out of everyone's way, and causes no suffering, I'll suffer its presence." Gabriel allows himself to put one leg on a rung of a nearby stool. "Cowardice and complete lack of compassion are something that a creature must expect to be judged by its Creator, and I cannot respect that for the creature, but for its Creator. But it doesn't mean that I have to like it." He says more softly in Sage's direction, "I refuse to allow a second Ahriman to take hold in this city that I have come to know as mine." For those who would recognize it, it is the tone of a man who has seen war, battle, an death - and who will not stand it further. Most of this was said before and during Vixen's motions.

Davirok not only moves further within, but aims for the narrow, staffed serving area. It is the most occupied portion, and one or more of the mammals may be familiar. The red/black top pelt of Vixen is recognizable, as is a mixture of Gabriel's voice and weathering. "What is a Ahriman? If it is the coward, be rid of it." Weapons are offline, not Davirok's sensors.

Sage takes a moment to raise the brandy to take a quick sip from it, momentarily wishing she hadn't invoked that name. Yet, it seems that particular problem has moved else where. She glances towards Vixen. "Yeah, I can understand not wanting to pick sides when you aren't familiar with the lay of the land." She comments before smiling, "Glad to hear it." She replies before nodding. "Sure thing." She pauses to purse her lips, then realizes the creature has approached them and asked about a name. She takes a breath before letting it out. "A being that we probably don't truly understand and killed someone dear to me." She comments, "He seems to have moved on, though." She thinks that's about as neutral as she can state it. "Excuse me." She comments before she places her brandy aside and turns to walk away.

Vixen glances towards Sage, then Gabriel, then Davirok. Then she lifts her glass and finishes off the brandy a little quick. Needing a moment as the alcohol courses through her to join the whiskey. She says, "Time to get home." Said generally. Though at the mechanical critter she says, "Watch what you eat." A narrow of her eyes as she moves around to give Davirok a wide berth as she heads towards the front.

As the two women depart, seemingly one on either side, Gabriel does his best to live up to his mother's expectations. The first words that he actually speaks *too* the creature are, "Hello. No doubt it's better to be indoors today than out." He looks to Sage, nods at the giant metal serpent, and follows her. After a short time, he says very softly, "Miss Sage? Miss Sage, can I help you? I'm good at listening. Or I can see you home." Options.

"Inside is where most of the mammals are. I cannot observe if they are somewhere else." Ironic, as Davirok's head rotates to follow Gabriel now that the mammals are moving to somewhere else. "Where do you go?"

When she's followed by the man, Sage stops and turns sharply before holding up a finger to the man. "Hold that thought." She comments before she begins to approach the strange creature. "Why do you observe?" She asks simply.

Gabriel stops, looks at Sage, looks back at the creature. And holds that thought.

Davirok pans its head to the unfamiliar human that stops to question. "That is my purpose here. Observe, study, and learn." A simple and succinct answer to the question.

Sage purses her lips as she considers the answer, before nodding faintly. "And would any of this studying or learning involving harming others?" She asks simply, "I mean no insult, but this Ahriman apparently regarded lives of humans with no value."

A moderately-quiet Kentucky drawl offers, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Gabriel arches an eyebrow back at the creature. "I believe I said that last night, too."

A quick hiss of air or other gas is vented. "Many mammals attack me without cause, the guards here demand that I disable my weapons, and now you ask whether I am here to harm others. I am not a scientist, and did not come to dissect humans." The head turns to Gabriel. "What is it I should do? Help the mammals? Which? They are scattered, in dens far apart. Many look to fight the other. There is no unity. You are cattle without a herd. I said this last night."

Sage considers the reaction before turning to give Gabriel a mild glare, "Quiet... and don't answer that." She comments, before she looks back to the creature. She offers a faint smile, "I meant no offense, and apologize for any caused... but, I can understand your frustration." She comments, "My friend here has a good heart and a desire to make the world a better place." She gestures towards Gabriel, "But, we humans tend to have trouble understanding things that are very different from us... a weakness, I suppose." She comments, "You may find that you can only learn so much from observing... perhaps at some point you may consider working alongside us during certain tasks... we tend to share more with those we are more familiar with, after all." She pauses, before shrugging. "Anyway, I guess I should go."

Gabriel follows his orders almost completely. What he does say is, "Working alongside is acceptable. For the common good." His arms are crossed before his chest.

Davirok's head extends and lowers closer to Sage and her eye level. "I understand." On what it considers a similar topic, it adjusts to face Gabriel. "The common good is all I have ever served. Unity is strength. Unity is peace. Unity is prosperity." The last phrases are intoned with meaning and are not arbitrary."

Sage nods faintly to the other being, "Then, perhaps we've started a little understanding between you and I." She replies, "But, before I go... my name is Sage. May I know yours?"

Gabriel looks through narrowed eyes at the thing. There's a long silence before he extends a hand to... something... and says, "Unity is something that needs to be forged. As is trust. Still, they can be forged." He makes a motion with his hand, a significant motion. Not of apology by any means, but of asking for at least an armistice.

"I am called Davirok." The name has accent and inflection that is not American, which should not be surprising. Gabriel's outstretched limb is a significant motion, and Davirok's face lowers to study it. The exact significance takes a moment to parse before one of its shorter appendages extends. A portion lies across his open palm and the remainder coils around his forearm. The clasp is loose, but that may be an intentional courtesy.

Unsure of what the beings custom is when it comes to handshaking, Sage hadn't offered her hand. "Nice meeting you, Davirok." She comments, before glancing over to Gabriel. "As I said, a good heart... but there is a saying about good intentions." She muses softly.

With a brief up-and-down of the hand and coil, Gabriel retracts his hand, but gives Sage a questioning gaze through slightly narrowed eyes, unsure as to whether that was a lighthearted note, or a rebuke.

Davirok retracts the appendage afterward. It is not familiar with the saying or knowledgeable enough in human expressions to recognize any exchange, much less comprehend. After Davirok's head sways some between the two mammals, it stops in Sage's direction. "You are not as violent or afraid as many humans."

Gabriel remains silent, but has to wonder exactly if he was either violent or afraid with the thing. But otherwise watches the other exchange.

Sage offers Gabriel a faint smile, but doesn't seem inclined to explain. She reaches out to pat him lightly on the shoulder. She takes a breath and looking back towards Davirok, before nodding to the being. "I am a bit different than most here." She comments, "I have walked paths that they can't and it lets me see with different eyes." She offers a faint shrug, "I do not seek to harm something just because it is there."

"Different." That could be agreement or simple repetition. Davirok does not forget Gabriel even if the human is now silent. "You are quiet. Or do you share your thoughts with Sage?" Pronouns are now used to help avoid errors.

"Just because I don't necessarily like something doesn't mean I'm going to kill it," Gabriel offers in his thick drawl. "But intention and motive means a lot." Gabriel shrugs a single shoulder. "I don't claim do be God, and I'm not exactly the toughest fellow around. I do my best to keep the peace and harmony around here, even if Miss Sage and I go about it different ways. Long as no one tries to deny someone of life, liberty, and happiness, I really don't care." He nods toward the slightly taller woman and reiterates, "As I said, similar intentions, but different paths."

Sage purses her lips as she hears the being ask Gabriel about sharing thoughts, but decides this isn't the time to go into her own quirks. "Anyway, I should be heading out." She comments, "Thank you for being understanding." She directs to Davirok before looking to Gabriel with a faint smile. "And, I've always said you were a good man at heart." She notes before she begins to turn. "Take care." She offers to them before she begins to walk for the exit to reclaim her jacket and equipment before heading out.

Davirok bobs its head in an exaggerated emulation of a human gesture. The words that follow are directed to Gabriel as Sage moves to leave. "I agree." Exactly what it agrees to is not specified, unless it applies to everything said.

"Thanks for the dance, Miss Sage," is what follows the woman. "It's still freezing outside. Stay safe." Then to the thing, "To be clear, no, I was not sharing my thoughts with Miss Sage." Gabriel is clearly attempting to make nice after his incredible distaste at what the creature said the previous night. "You're a scholar? A professional lecturer? Scientist, anthropologist? Xenologist?"

"I am ..." There is a delay for Davirok to determine the best term to use, and the proper tense. "I was ... a technician. My interest in mammals was a curiosity. A hobby. Now it is my purpose."

Gabriel walks a short distance so that he can sit himself on a barstool. Of course, he doesn't sit like most people. One leg is on a rung, one foot clear on the floor, kind of a one-cheek-on, one-cheek-off stance. But it's been very useful in the past. "Mechanic? You fixed things, or you invented things?" His head turns as he clicks his fingers for... a soda, which is quickly delivered. He clips the metal cap off of the brown translucent bottle with a swift whack against the edge of the metal counter, then sips. "If you chose to come here, why'd you leave where you were?"

Davirok retracts its length into a coil, the equivalent to a stance or seat that requires no furniture. "I repaired machines. Communications, vehicles, and others." It is momentarily distracted by the opening of the container and turns its face to the bottle. "My curiosity caused me to leave."

"Any particular reason you chose Earth?" Gabriel pokes a finger toward the floor. "You, know, *this* Earth." Apparently he feels that there's more than one. Or... maybe he's just confused. Which is possible.

"There could be others, but I do not know about them." Davirok does not claim to be a scholar or scientist but knows of the concept Gabriel mentions. "Learning of this world was an accident. Chance."

The soda bottle is tipped back, then Gabriel's eyes return to the creature. "So... you said that you did, intentionally walk through some kind of portal to get here. You didn't have any idea where you were going?" His face cringes briefly as a couple of dancers collide awkwardly on the floor, spilling into a pile. Their date is going to either start going really well, or really poorly. He comments, "That's always a little embarrassing. But a quick thinking man can make it work." The neck of his bottle is pointed toward the floor, the other conversation momentarily set aside.

Davirok follows the human's focus to the movement of bodies and studies the participants. "Is this a place for mating?" An expression of its mentioned curiosity. While still observing, it explains, "I chose to travel here because I discovered this world and became curious. The discovery was not a specific choice. There are thousands of other worlds that are unknown to me."

Gabriel shrugs and tries to roll with turning this into a pleasant conversation with a metal thing. He uses his bottle as a pointer as the two pull themselves up - laughing together. "This isn't a place for mating. You'd definitely be thrown out if you tried that. However, places like this," he was his free hand around to indicate the Alibi. "The Nightingale, the coffee shop, classy places are where people meet. Maybe say the 'mating dance' begins here, and then, potentially, the actual mating takes place when they leave." He can't help but laugh as he says, "The Ivory Lady, where women take off their clothes and dance for men? Well, usually men? That's where a lot of guys go to mate with themselves after work, but before going home, because they couldn't find anyone at one of these nice places."

"That is strange." Informative, possibly, but odd to Davirok all the same. "There is much about mammals I do not understand. Machines are more simple." A question from before comes to mind. "My study would be more easy if I were a scientist."

The older man looks.. up? Down? Over? Wherever, to find Davirok's face. "Mammals are machines. Chemical-electric machines. My first days in Basic, they told us that a trained, conditioned soldier is a constant battery of approximately fifteen-hundred Watts waiting to be used. Our muscles use this electricity, stored as chemicals to create impulses that make us do things. When our energy gets low, we eat, energy is transformed into stored energy." Gabriel shrugs. "It's just a different machine. Personally, I prefer mine. If I get damaged, my body can repair itself without thought. Haven't seen any machines yet that can do that." He drinks from his soda. "Have you?"

Davirok's head is above the level of Gabriel's, but the difference is minimal. It considers the comments. "No. None that can repair without thought. I can repair mine with time, the same as flesh, and also eat. I prefer mine." After a pause, it suggests, "Similar, but different path?"

"Similar, but different path," Gabriel allows. Then with a polite nod, "Food then, you don't plug into the wall at night?" He points to the couple coming off of the dance floor. "Oh yeah, look at that. See that look in the girl's eye? There's going to be some mating tonight. Of course, it's the female of the species that gets to choose her mate. The male's job is to mate with as many females as he can, to spread around his genes and ensure that they continue, and with the best females." The older man seems to be digging much deeper into his brain than most times people converse with him.

"No. I do not need external power." Davirok also watches the moving pair that Gabriel pointed out before. "The females of many species hold power over mating, or over males in all ways. That is," there is a distinct pause "familiar."

Gabriel chuckles and asks a wild, totally off-the-wall question. "Ever had a girlfriend, Slick? Married with little metallic children slithering around somewhere?"

Davirok pivots its head from the couple likely to mate to regard Gabriel. "No. I have no children and will not. That is for flesh and blood." The response is nearly left at that but the expected question in return does come. "Do you have mates, children?"

The older man's face becomes hard. Not necessarily toward the being asking the question, but toward something. "Yes, I have children, and even grandchildren. Twenty-seven beautiful girls, and five grandchildren. Three girls and two boys. I was married once, to a childhood friend, Mary Catherine. She and three of my girls died of the flu while I was deployed." He sips sadly from his bottle. "I don't know what happened to my other children. But my wife Natasha was killed here, with me. When we arrived. We didn't know this world and a beast, like a lizard -" he eyes Davirok a bit "- but not like you, shot her in the back. She's buried with me." Gabriel's last comment might sound odd to those paying attention, as it could be interpreted in a variety of ways. "I do what I can to look out for women and children who cannot look out for themselves. Women are to be respected, and children loved."

There is an extended silence before Davirok speaks. "This world is dangerous, violent, unstable. Not only humans killed here." There is emphasis on the last sentence but Davirok does not dwell on it. It keys in on other comments instead. "You are a soldier?"

Gabriel considers for a long, extended time, barely even moving save for the occasional small sip from his bottle. "I was, for more than half my life. Twenty years. Not a front-line grunt. Special. Then *really* special. But I'm not a soldier now." His gaze turns... um, okay there it is, up, to Davirok. "Soldiers fight for a country. We all go into it with different reasons, but in the end, soldiers fight for their country. I don't have a country. I don't even know what happened to it. Today I fight for a cause, and that cause is my own. Believe it or not, I joined the Marines because I was protecting my young family. Trying to bring peace to the world. There were some awful evils at the time." He sips from his bottle again, empties it, then waves for a new one. "A cause," he repeats. "Whatever you want to call that. I'm not a champion. Not a hero. Not a freedom fighter." He looks *very* sharply and emphasizes, "NOT a mercenary. No one buys me. I choose... my own path. If I die poor, I die knowing that I did what I believed was right." He sighs. "Sorry, a little speech. What do you do? I know, you were a technician, now you're a scientist. Just going to roam around looking at things through a magnifying glass?"

"You fought for order, now there is none to fight for. I understand." That is what Davirok digests from the lengthy speech. "Not a scientist, ...an explorer. My people know this world is dangerous, little more. Someone must be the first to travel and learn."

The Kentuckian raises his head in understanding. "Ah. Dr. Livingston. Darwin. Phileas Fogg. Allan Quatermain. Scott, Amundsen. Quite a company of companions." Gabriel shakes his head though. "No, there's much to fight for. Protecting life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, just to start. Peace follows up right behind. Jefferson, a brilliant man. There's always good to be done. If you can't find good to do? You're not looking hard enough. If you still can't find it? There's no further reason to live, and you're doing your fellow citizens - of whatever kind - a disservice. It's the responsibility of those who can, to do for those who can't." At that point, the watch on his left wrist begins to... not buzz, but silently shake back and forth. Short but rapid motions. Gabriel drains his bottle in a long gulp. "I should be going. My shift is coming up."

Davirok listens to the many words and names. Whether it realizes their significance or relevance is unknown. "If you should go, go. I already have much to fight for, and much to learn. You should share your words with other humans before me." It is not intended as a dismissal, but a compliment or suggestion.

Gabriel dips his head, then orders up another bottle of soda, labeled, "Donovan's Fizz." He whacks the metal cap off with another sharp tap against the counter, then holds it up toward, well, somewhere that the creature might have hands or some other gripping implement. "Here, Slick. It's not Coca-Cola, but it's the closest that I've found so far. A taste of your new world. Enjoy." With that, he sets it on the counter and begins to pull on some winter gear - very light gear, perhaps he doesn't mind the cold - that had been draped over a nearby chair.

There are several appendages to choose from, none of which are hands. It is just as well that Gabriel removes the cap. Davirok does not know the expected response so it studies the bottle instead. One of the smaller tentacles reaches out to coil its tip around the drink to bring it closer while Gabriel dresses for the weather.

He begins to move off toward the door, and will be gone soon after collecting a surprising variety of weapons from the bouncers. "Goodnight, Slick." Gabriel says, "There are many paths to the same end. You just need to agree on the same end most of the time. Drink up, it's good for the soul." With that and another head bob, he's out into the blustery winter.