Feb 13 07:32:10 106 PA
From Chronicles
With the day starting fresh, people come to get their morning workouts done. Thus business is brisk and the low din of talk, clanking machinery and physical activity fill the place. Vixen is working a heavy bag smoothly, her hands wrapped in light sparring gloves as she snaps jabs into it. Keeping it light, she pauses the assault now and then to mock defend, shifting her feet in small moments of advance and retreat. Making a bit of a production of it, perhaps, but the light sweat she has going attests to the workout it provides her.
Emerging from the change room Tirzah head over to the mats to get started with her stretches. Looking quite awake and alert in the morning and committed to a good work out as she walks with a measure of discipline. She works through her stretches at a steady patient pace. Stretching all here tendons until she is satisfied that she has done so extensively.
Vargus is off in the land of free weights, working a lightly-loaded bar. At least, the bar started with a certain amount of weights to it. Seeming added later, a metalic bird sits perched on the middle of the bar. It leans over occasionally to poke Vargus on top of the head as the bar is brought down to his chest. Upon next extension, Vargus addresses the critter. "Do you really /have/ to sit there and keep doing that?" The bird trills slightly, and ruffles its feathers with a metalic screech. Vargus rolls his eyes and keeps going with his set, "...no, I don't think you're helping."
The sound of the bird, discordant to the more even din, draws a glance from Vixen. She glances towards it, her flow pausing in mid stride. Only takes a moment to see it, her brow furrowed slightly when the bar goes up and the odd thing is at its most visible. She shakes her head slightly and looks back to the bag. She smirks at it and makes a casual attempt at a jump kick at it. Striking, though not so neat or clean as one with a deeper training in hand to hand combat. She then gives it a pat before stepping to the side to pick up her gym bag casually.
Once her stretches are finished Tirzah loosens herself back up to prepare for her exercises. She's always preferred motions with her own body over pressing weights, considering bulky muscles unsightly. So starting with some push up she works through a set of ten to get started with her warm up. She doesnt rush them, quite the contrary she seems to go to lengths to spend several seconds on each pump of her arms.
Vargus racks the pack back on the supports and then sits up. He reaches down to grab a bottle or water and takes a heavy pull, draining most of the contents. He brief glance is spared back over his shoulder for the bird, and Vargus squirts a bit of water at it from the same bottle. He chuckles a little at himself as the bird makes a disgruntled trill. "I know it doesn't do anything, but, makes me feel better all the same." He gets up and wipes the bench down, then stretches his back and then leans forward to touch down to his toes. Righting himself he stops to look around the room. "...busy this morning, eh?" It seems to be addressed to the bird-thing.
Vixen strolls casually away from the heavy bag, her attention casually shifting towards the man and his bird again. Head cocked slightly, the one sided banter amuses her casually, though she doesn't yet seem inclined to approach directly. Instead, she pauses near one of the nearest weight benches and settles her bag down on it. A casual shift lets her sit astride it, taking the time to open up her bag and start rooting through the contents. "Does it actually say things or do you make it up as you go along?" Asked without direct focus, though Vargus is the nearest person to Vixen. So it might be for him.
Tirzah finishes her set of push ups and rolls over onto her back to do her sit ups in the same manner. Each eliciting a small grunt as the crunch on her abdomen forces out air and makes her breakfast slightly uncomfortable.
Vargus's ear quirks as the close question is heard. Even if he wasn't paying attention, there's soemthing different about a question asked in your direction that causes it to stand out a bit. He turns and looks Vixen over, turns again to eye the bird and then looks back to the woman. "Ah, yeah, it talks. But only I can understand it... lucky me, huh?" The last little barb aimed at the bird, who ruffles its feathers again and otherwise ignores the human. Vargus chuckles. "I tweeked the familiar link a bit when we bonded. He's got more freedom then most mages give, but I wanted a companion instead of a slave." He shrugs a bit, "He's got some quirks.. but.. it's worth it." The bird's head had swiveled around to watch Vargus' monologue. Upon completion, he flips its head back to look out the window again.
"Wouldn't know, all I have is a cat," Vixen comments as she pulls out a small, soft cloth that she makes use of to lightly dab at her face and arms, blotting away some of the sweat that lingers, glancing at Vargus once she's done with her face. "So long as I feed him, he doesn't seem to care what else goes on. One reason I like cats. Low maintenance. A plus when you're moving around a lot most days."
Finishing her sit ups Tirzah looks at the two conversing in earshot. Their conversation catching her notice of late. Must be interesting having an aide that talks back or even cares about what you tell it. I've become quite used to the indifference of elementals but I have been wondering about the nature of pets and other animals even familiars. A curious difference in scale for me." She notes as she stands and loosen her self up a bit more.
Vargus grins at Vixen, nodding his head a bit. "He's not from around here, as you might guess. He's smart, and pretty independant. He'll go off and hunt on his own, and that's fine. Sometimes when I'm able I make it over to Cali's garage to pick up some metal scraps for him, just so he has something at home to munch on. He used to go into the junkyard, but, something in there apparently doesn't like the intrusion. He came home with laser burns after a few such forays."
Finishing her sit ups Tirzah looks at the two conversing in earshot. Their conversation catching her notice of late. "Must be interesting having an aide that talks back or even cares about what you tell it. I've become quite used to the indifference of elementals but I have been wondering about the nature of pets and other animals even familiars. A curious difference in scale for me." She notes as she stands and loosen her self up a bit more.
Vargus grins at Vixen, nodding his head a bit. "He's not from around here, as you might guess. He's smart, and pretty independant. He'll go off and hunt on his own, and that's fine. Sometimes when I'm able I make it over to Cali's garage to pick up some metal scraps for him, just so he has something at home to munch on. He used to go into the junkyard, but, something in there apparently doesn't like the intrusion. He came home with laser burns after a few such forays." He looks to Tirzah and chuckles. "Well, he doesn't /always/ care. He's just as free there as any other sentient. I try to keep him happy enough that he does, though." He eyes Tirzah, "Is it strange.. dealing with something that different? Like a rock or a glass of water...?"
"Obviously not," Vixen replies to the note on origin of the metal bird. "Though if not here, where'd you get it from? Got another one to trade?" The second half of her words given less seriousness than the curious nature of the first. "Eats metal?" That concept seems to amuse her, the amusement lingering as she glances towards Tirzah. She's nearby where Vix and Vargus are. She herself is straddling a weight bench, though only for use as a resting place to fiddle with her gym bag. "Indifference, huh? Yeah, your elementals don't seem to do much other than what you tell 'em to. Kind of like the sort of people you hire in a fancy hotel. They work and get paid not to smile or some crap like that." She puts the cloth back into her bag and pulls out the water bottle within, slowly unscrewing it.
Tirzah nods, crossing her legs to sit comfortably for the conversation. "It was quite difficult a first, took a lot of guidance from the warlocks that raised me to help me realize that that nothing on this plane matters to them. Two things matter to them, their affinity for me and other warlocks, and returning home after a short visit of a day or two. So long as those are met an elemental is indifferent to any task given." She explains casually.
Lacking anything resembling athletic attire, Leonard enters the 'sports center' somewhat conspicuously. A future member, perhaps, as he looks and steps around with no immediate focus in mind. He is not entirely alone, however, his avian companion nearly blending into Leonard's cloak. The corvid is surprisingly quiet for the moment.
Vargus's brow furrows, listing to Tirzah. "Huh... so. You can ask them to do whatever you need, and really all you have to do in return is let them go home every once in a while?" He rolls his eyes and looks over his shoulder, "Gee, doesn't that sound nice?" The metalic bird sits up and turns around to face the room as Leonard enters. It cocks its head to one side and the other watching the man. Vargus looks back over to the bipeds in the conversation and replies to Vixen. "I ran across someone selling exotic familiars in... well, I'm not really sure where I was. I had a habit of stepping through random rifts. I never found out where I was, but, found Steelwind there. It's been a pretty good partnership."
Vixen considers Tirzah thoughtfully for a few moments before she murmurs, "That's pretty dangerous. Could just tell one to kill a bunch of people and they'd just do it I bet. Or whatever else." Her tone thoughtful on the matter. "Guess you can't bargain with 'em either." Her expression remaining thoughtful as she lifts the bottle to take a drink. She gives Vargus a sidelong glance afterward. "Random, huh? Yeah, some of you magic slinging sorts are pretty odd, but then so are people that like doing dangerous stunts, I guess. Just depends what gives you your jollies."
Tirzah snickers at Vargus, noticing he doesn't quit have it right. "Well asking an entity that has always existed, and as far as anyone one can determine will always exist to give me a hand for a few days is comparable to asking you to do something for me for a fraction of a second. Time really has no meaning for them until they come to this plane, which causes them to return to where it continues to have no meaning. it is only when a very sinister or very foolish summoner or warlock binds them to tasks that may very well kill them that things really start getting dicey. Though if I even caught such slavery I would not hesitate to enforce the elemental's release." The looking to Vixen she nods. "Luckily many of us are of enough conscience to to give such orders."
The big metal bird cries a short, staccato note and Vargus looks over his shoulder and nods. "Ahh, yeah, you're right." he leans down and picks up his bag and pulls out a thick leather pad and wraps it around his shoulder, which the bird jumps up onto. He gives the groupa little wave. "Gotta head out, see you around.." he makes his way back to the lockers and returns a bit later to head out to the street.
"Now, that isn't very nice..." Leonard chuckles as he approaches the conversation, having caught some of Vixen's opinion on slingers of magic. "We are not THAT odd..." The ladies are given a smile, and he nods to Tirzah.The raven upon his shoulder seems to be quite interested in the metallic... cousin(?). Another bird, and it's shiny! In its mind, the staring proves its dominance, as the metal bird and its pet leave. A triumphant caw follows them out.
Vixen eyes Vargus as she departs. Though her words address Tirzah, even if it takes a moment for her eyes to flick tot he other woman after. "Slavery means a lot to a lot of people. But I dunno, don't know much about you and yours," she says. She then looks to Leo has he puts in. "Well, one of you walks around talking to a metal bird and treats dimension hopping like it's an extreme sport, one has a bunch of magical butlers that follow her around and you.. well, I'm sure you've got something wrong with you." The words light in tone and edged in amusement. She pokes her bottle in his direction. "Just a matter of time before you show it." She caps the bottle again before she puts it away.
Tirzah just shrugs at the reference to her aides as butlers, she wouldn't expect someone who was not a warlock to truly understand. Uncrossing her legs she gets back to her workout, doing another set of sit ups in cross over fashion.
"Magical servants could be very handy, but I would watch out for people who talk to birds..." Leonard nearly keeps his advice deadpan, at least until he looks to the raven, "Don't you agree?" His smile finally breaks wide as he looks back to Vixen.
Vixen smirks at Leo, then glances towards Tirzah as she goes quiet. "What, don't like your buddies being called butlers? Give me something else to call them, then. Vixen calls it like she sees it, but is always open to info," she declares, starting to work off the light sparring gloves she has on her hands. Though she doesn't delay in commenting to Leo. "Seems like you manages to find your way home safe enough."
Tirzah smirks at Vixen. "Why don't you just call them aides like I do." She suggests, her expression noting on that obvious solution. "I actually don't care what you call them, because whatever mortal label you use its highly unlikely it will be said in any manner close to the truth. So if you don't want cause friction, call them aides. But beyond that don't worry about it. Its nothing to get concerned over." She offers, her tone trying to comfort Vixen even though her expression shows she cant quite grasp the words to adequately relate the truth in common.
Leonard nods to Vixen, his smile curling to a smirk in return. "Yes, and without stumbling too much. I should thank you for your advice." He looks to Tirzah at her attempt at explanation. "I have some idea of the concept, but I don't think I would truly understand it, either."
"Like I said, I call it like I see it," Vixen returns to Tirzah. "I'm not worried, but it's obvious it bothers you even if you say you don't care. Maybe when you can tell me why I should call them aides, I'll decide to call them aides. Until then.. well, they're 'you know whats'." She grins lightly, then nods at Leo. "You're welcome. Though if I had more time to hang around, maybe I would have delayed offering it up. Just to see about how wasted you might have gotten in the end." The first glove goes into the bag, her tone remaining light.
Tirzah lowers a lazy glare at Vixen, her expression showing her dislike of the reply. "Oh my mistake you weren't looking to avoid friction but cause it.. Why not call them demonic servants of evil then? Too long?" She lets that sit a moment before she sighs and shakes her head. "I guess it really isn't clear to you. Butlers get paid for their indifference, quite well. My aides serve in answer of my request for them to do so. There is nothing any mortal can offer them in payment. They answer because I am of their chosen, their emissary." She explains.
"I am definitely thankful that you didn't, then." Leonard shakes his head in mild bemusement. "Somehow, I don't think my drunkeness would amuse you for long. Besides, I thought that I was supposed to impress you with my generosity and wit /before/ I try alcoholic stupidity..." He starts to offer some words to Tirzah, pauses at her venomous sarcasm, then decides to refrain from comment.
Vixen returns Tirzah's stare with her own calm, relaxed expression. "You do what you can to get the truth, you know? Sometimes you have to stir the pot a little. If I wanted to call them that, I would have. But I didn't because it's not the truth as I see it. Though it sounds like you got some other issues, pulling that out of the air. Get that sort of distinction a lot?" The last question actually an honest one, rather than a goading one. "Chosen for what and emissary to what?" Those also curious questions. She then regards Leo with a casual grin. "Drunk guys are always am using, so long as they aren't mean drunks." The bit about generosity and wit gets no comment, though she does seem amused by it, though keeping the reason why a mystery for the moment.
Tirzah snickers at Vixen her stare betraying new insight. "You mark me for my methods of interaction but don't hesitate to use them when it suits you, how two sided. Never occurred to you that the truth would come easier and cleaner if your stirring was more discrete?" She asks, letting her annoyance at a poor attempt of manipulation show. "Keep that in mind the next time you want honesty maybe. I have to go to work." She states before rising to head for the change rooms.
Leonard's amusement at the portion of the dual conversation most involving him is cooled somewhat by Tirzah's surprise ending of hers. He shrugs slightly with his comment to Vixen. "Direct works better than discrete, doesn't it?"
Vixen glances at Tirzah with a soft amusement. After a moment she looks towards Leo. "Not sure what she's on about, but if I just jumped at her and yelled, let me know." She shrugs her shoulders a little. "I guess honest questions are considered manipulation these days. Though it makes me wonder, why would a bunch of things that don't care one bit about this place need an emissary?" Her expression thoughtful after putting the question to Leo, the other glove into her bag and zips it up.
"The use of magic tends to be very... personal." Leonard offers a slight shrug with his attempt at answers and explanations. "Maybe that is why she was offended. As for her... whatever they are..." He waves a hand around vaguely. "I'm not sure, since most creatures from other worlds that I know of have some sort of want or need as we know them."
Vixen smirks faintly as she rises up off the bench, casually tossing the bag over her shoulder lightly. "Then that's all she has to say. Instead, she gets testy. That's the thing about my trade. You can always say 'no comment'." She grins broadly. "So you here to get some muscle tone or just like looking at all the ladies in tight clothes?" The issue already sliding behind her as she eyes Leo. "You don't look like you're geared for it to me."
Leonard shrugs nonchalantly. "I was just taking the tour, getting familiar with the city... although the sights are rather nice, now that you mention it..." He returns grin with a pleasant enough smile before adding, "Some sport and exercise couldn't hurt, either."
"Just make sure you ask before you touch. Another of those helpful tips," Vixen returns, amused. "So what do you plan to do now, then. Keep touring or work up some tone? Or you could keep it up with the compliments. Can't go wrong there. Usually." She'll start to move then, walking towards the changing rooms, though the pace is kept slow, inviting following rather than discouraging it.
"Tip noted. I do prefer my hands to stay attached." Leonard chuckles, his eyes following her as she moves, and he hesitates just a moment before taking up the perceived invitation. "Maybe after I am dressed for it, I'll try to tone. Since the compliments are easy to come by at the moment, I think I'll stick with those."
Vixen nods her head once. "Good choice," she confirms, grinning back at Leo with a turn of her head. "You know what?" Asked as the two move up to the changing rooms area, turning around as she takes a few steps backward. "You hang out here a moment and I'll get changed. Maybe you can think of a good place to take me by the time I come back out. Deal?" Though even as she asks, she's turning to move towards the doors to the women's changing room, pace more normal than the prior slow amble.
Leonard nods, pausing his steps since continuing to follow would be a very poor idea. "I will be here when you get done."A smile curls his lips at her deal. "Hopefully with a good idea, too."
"No pressure!" The last bit she offers before she disappears inside. It'll be about ten minutes before the young woman emerges again, clad in the catsuit and armored longcoat that she's worn often. The only addition to her normal garb being the addition of the gym bag. She's just pulling out her little case as she emerges, the bag hanging from her arm. One of her little handrolled brown paper cigs drawn out and placed between her lips as she slips the case back into her coat. One of the passing people gives her a dirty look. No smoking is clearly marked, though she only grins back, not yet going for her lighter. "What'd you got, man?" Asked as she walks up to Leo, a brow arched subtly.
"Since compliments and bribery seem to work," Leo smiles and gestures with a sweeping hand to the great beyond, "I thought I'd offer to take you to... wherever you wish to go." The fact that she knows the city infinitely better than he has absolutely nothing to do with it. Almost. Maybe. His brows arch in anticipation of her evaluation. You have just received a vote.
Vixen laughs at that and grins at Leo wryly. "You know, you're lucky I 'm not some kinda gold digger or I'd drag you off to one of those posh places just to wring some cred out of you, man." She casually points a finger at him. "But I figure I know why you're defaulting to that. Just don't know the place well enough, eh?" She rescues the waggling cig from her lips, fingers deftly twirling it between them slowly as her arms cross her chest. "Lotta places to go. Bars are casual enough. A few places to eat. The garden is nice, since the park is usually snowy and cold this time of year. What kind of things amuse you, since you don't know specifics."
Leonard rolls his shoulders and holds his hands up in sheepish shrug of mock defeat. "I have had little time to learn of the city. The first day here there were undead hordes, and the second there were proposals and alot of alcohol..." He grins and points a finger back in her direction. "It's your choice, and you're the one amusing me, so I will be comfortable no matter where. Convenient, isn't it?"
"Oh, I amuse you?" Vixen's brows lift subtly. She smirks faintly and turns then, fishing for her lighter. "I suppose I can think of something," she decides, considering the options. "As long as you're buying. Though don't worry. I won't be looking to spend too much. Don't gotta be rich to have a good time, after all." She glances back towards the man. "You don't mind smoke, do you?"
"No, I don't mind. Do you actually smoke them?" Leo smirks as he mirthfully prods. "The last one I saw you just let burn... and, yes, I'm buying. Wherever strikes you. Sky's the limit..." He chuckles again. "Well, maybe it's not... Is there anywhere you would like to visit but haven't yet?"
"C'mon," Vixen says, giving no explanation or not of what she has in mind. Turning with the lighter in hand, cig moved back to her lips. She'll light it up and smoke it as they walk, that odd smelling herb hat isn't tobacco.
Vixen will lead Leo out and into the Merchant Plaza, stopping off first at a little liquor store that she seems to know more than casually, so quickly she finds what she wants from the place. A brand of strawberry tequila that she proclaims as being 'pretty damn smooth for tequila'. And that bottle will be what she brings here, along with a pair of cheap, light plastic cups. And as she walks in, the bottle in one hand, glasses in the other, smoldering remains of her cig dangling from her lips. "Not a bad place to relax, don't you think?"
Leonard is led, observing the intervening scenery and making mental notes. The fruit-tinted liquor is one of the highlights, though the massive array of knowledge draws his gaze in several directions as they pass through the library. "Not bad..." is his reply as he now looks over the greenery and artistry. "I'm glad that we haven't lost appreciation for things like this, or the chance to rebuild them. I have never seen anything close to this before..."
Vixen laughs lightly at that. "Yeah, Kingsdale is the essence of civilization and good taste.. so long as you ignore the Dregs, the Arena and the fixation on Juicers and Borgs," she comments, tone light and jesting. She walks right up to the central fountain, the place only lightly populated with people, none paying much mind to the latest two. She pauses near to one of the benches and crouches down, settling the cups before she pours into one, then the other. The bottle is laid down and she picks up the two cups, turning to Leo. She offers up both with a sly grin. "Make your choice. Only one has the poison inside."
"Not both, just to be sure?" Leonard grins and takes the cup in her left hand, for no particular reason. "I think I can overlook the Dregs, and I can always walk here if I can't. The Chi-Town Burbs weren't much different... except for the very large gates to keep everyone from things like fresh water and reliable power."
Vixen gives up the glass with an mused grin. "Only one," she confirms before plucking the remnants of the cig with her now freed up hand. "Wouldn't know a thing about Coalition land. Tend to stay far away from places where knowledge ain't free." She motions around. "Here, you can do what you want.. just as long as you don't cause too much trouble doing it." She then lifts the cup, drinking deep of the still chilled liquor. One good thing about the cold weather out there, it keeps things cool.
Leonard takes a mouthful of the liquid and holds it briefly before swallowing. "Hmm... an interesting flavor, though that might just be the poison.' A wry smirk forms as he continues, "I have no plans to return there any time soon. Not that I expect to be invited back, either." He shrugs slightly and takes another drink. "Can't choose where you are born."
Vixen chuckles lowly. "haven't you heard, man? A little of this.." She takes a lighter sip from her glass. "..and a little of this.." She lifts the cig to her lips and draws on it lightly, releasing after a moment of holding it, the smoke trailing from her nostrils lightly. "..that'll kill ya." Though his further words bring her pause. "So the magic man was born in 'magic is evil' land? I guess that'd be the ultimate anti-society stand to take around there."
"You seem very worried about the risks, too." Another amused chuckle before Leonard drinks a bit more. "That wasn't my reason, but I was told that I should go elsewhere after I was found out. Snarling hounds, weapons firing..." His easy mirth fades rather quickly at the recollection.
"All tied in knots every day," Vixen confirms. Her brows hike then and she shakes her head a little. "That wasn't all that smart.. they got them dogs that sniff out your sort, don't they? But I guess you got some real balls for hanging around there long enough to get found out." She then extends the dwindling cig towards Leo with a flip of her wrist. "Best to keep it mellow and a little hit of this'll help that. If you're the sort to try a little."
His momentary melancholy fades and his grin returns. "Why waste a perfectly good opportunity?" Leonard takes the tobacco-free cig and pulls a moderate inhale before offering it back. After holding it for a moment, he exhales. "If I'm doomed to death, I might as well enjoy living, right?"
"That's just a little weed, it won't kill you," Vixen puts in, picking up the bottle. She tops herself off and steps up to top his cup off as well. Only then will she set the bottle down and accept back the cig. "Clean stuff, no artificial bullshit. I like a little high to relax, but not sucking on a load of artificial chemicals and such like they out into those chemsticks some like."
"I'm sure there are plenty of other things in this world, or another, that could end me." Leonard chuckles. "More than enough reason to enjoy what I can. How about you? If you avoid the Coalition, you're smarter than most. Have you always been here in Kingsdale?"
"Lived here a few years ago when I was little, but went on a trip then. Dragged around for a bit, though now I'm back. Some new things, some old things." Vixen takes a long draw from her cup, breathing out a low, raspy breath after. "Mmmn.. yeah, I got no interest in the Coalition. I figure if I go there, won't be but a matter of time before I flip the shit at some deadboy and get shot for being an agitator."
His grin widens. "Maybe I should take you to visit. I would enjoy seeing that..." Leonard takes a long swallow before clarifying. "The flipping, I mean, not the shooting. They might keep people alive, but they certainly aren't living..."
Vixen snorts faintly. "I was wondering, Not about to hang around no one who wants to see me get shot," she replies, amused. "I don't flip at people too often. Takes some effort, though just like everyone, I got a few buttons you just don't push. Makes me wonder what yours might be." She grins and takes her time in drawing one last lung full from her cig before she lifts a foot to stub it out against the sole of her boot, the butt slid into her pocket. "Waste not, want not," she murmurs.
Leonard lifts a brow in a mix of curiosity and bemusement. "Are you looking for buttons to avoid, or to hit? I am curious as to what would make you ...flip out. The only buttons that come to mind with you are 'transmit' and 'record.'" He sets his empty cup down beside the bottle, but does not yet move to refill it. Probably waiting for flipping after his poor pun.
"I'm a stickler when it comes to monogamy, believe it or not," Vixen puts in. "As long as you're not committed to someone, what you do don't matter to me. But once you are, you damn well better not go fucking around." and she does put some steel into that last statement. "But now that I've told you one, you have to tell me one." She picks up the bottle again, tipping it to dribble a bit more into her cup. A little unsteady, but still holding on strong. And she glances down towards his cup before tipping the bottle to pour in a bit more without lowering it too far down, thus the liquid sloshes about some, spattering some of the tequila on the bench. "You'll just have to wonder why I wanna know it."
"A woman of mystery and morals..." His smile is simply that, without any wry mirth lurking within. Leonard retrieves his refilled cup and swirls it absently as he forms his reply. "I abhor ignorance. Education is one thing, but I've seen too many who /want/ to be ignorant, even if they could learn. The ones who help them stay that way are even worse..." He downs the majority of the flavored tequila in a quick slug.
"Wouldn't say morals, not like I'm all that upright about everything," Vixen puts in casually. She keeps the bottle in hand, tipping in a bit each time she takes a smaller swallow, though with an air that she doesn't even really notice that she's doing it, as casual as the motions are. "Yeah, that's bullshit too. Info wants to be free. Lock it up and you're going against nature. That won't last. So ways i see it, just a matter of time before the Coalition falls apart, one way or another. Just a matter of waiting the suckers out."
Leonard chuckles and lifts his cup in a plastic salute. "I noticed you are eager to help free it, and you have one more faithful fan for that and more. Hopefully, that time will be short... they've been around long enough as it is."
"Eh, we'll see, I guess," Vixen murmurs, thoughtful in the wake of that. "Suppose maybe it ain't so bad they exist in some ways. You know, the whole power vacuum thing and all that. Maybe a nice, slow downward grind so someone more agreeable can slide into a position of power." She laughs then and makes a broad gesture with her cup, a few drops of the liquor dripped as a result. "Like that'd do a thing. POwer and corruption. You know how it is."
"They did protect, at least." He exhales a sigh as he has to concede that much. Leonard now nurses his drink in small sips, picking up the habit of small pours from the bottle. "I think I'd rather something big just crawled out of a rift and ate them..."
Vixen steps forward and pokes the mouth of the bottle at Leo's chest. "Yeah, but then what's desert? Think about that, magic man?" She grins and pauses, her brows rising subtly as she takes stock of the moment. "Huh.. what time..?" She casually fills her cup as she glances to the side a moment. "Oh.. shit, I gotta go." She looks back to Leo, lifting the bottle one more time to fill his cup. "Been real, man, but I got something to do. I'll just take this with me," she adds, keeping the bottle in hand. "Good talking, go on and look me up sometime," she adds, already starting off. Tispy, but not unstable in her loose step.
"That magic they ignored would stop that..." Leonard smirks, as if having it all planned out. Not that it would be gauranteed. He blinks at the sudden rise and his face stretches in surprise, then concern. "So soon? Always on the run, I guess... Are you goin' to make it?"
"Don't you know, man? Always on the job," Vixen says. She says that a lot. "I'm good, just gotta get to my place, ain't far at all. Have a good one." Her cup waved in his direction as she goes. she does actually slam back the last cup full before she heads into the museum, the cup left on the stairs railing, the bottle slid under her coat as she did on the way in.
