Feb 18 01:12:27 107 PA - Talk of work at the Nut and Bolt

From Chronicles

The current game time is: Sat Feb 18 01:12:27 107 PA.

The Nut and Bolt is a mechanic's hangout, catering specifically to those who spend the day's working hours with hands and minds buried within machines. It is a large place, with a broad central area on the ground floor that is surrounded on three sides by an upper floor that is open in the middle. This allows the patrons in the floor above to see the activity on the floor and main stage. The entire decor bears a decidedly industrial style. To this end the stairs that lead to the upper floor are metal mesh with an aluminum side rail, the floor in these upper sections being the same sort of industrial metal mesh. Black and white caution stripes are applied liberally as decorations and the drinks are served in glasses that have the appearance of having once been casings for mechanical parts. The tables and chairs of the place have been likewise made from crude steel but are padded and comfortable. A variety of seats are available in all different sizes to suit the body shapes of the bar's wide variety of visitors. The main bar itself has been made from the bent leg of a UAR-1 Enforcer Robot. The upper portion of it has been worked to a flat surface and polished, with the rest of it left as it was the day that it was severed. No effort has been made to disguise the Coalition markings upon the limb, or that it seems to have been severed just beneath the hip by the detonation of a plasma warhead. Other bits of robotic decoration hang about, seemingly having come from the same robot. Indeed, the machine's right arm is suspended by cables from the ceiling -- it's armoured fist closed around the handle of a giant sized beer mug. The main stage is usually populated by a grunge band of some sorts and the population of the bar is a diverse smattering of many races -- from Elves to Men. Occupation wise they seem vary from factory workers to techno-wizards. A grunge techno-rock band, complete with pink mohawks and shotgun guitars is playing 'metallic noise' on the stage.

Erica is sitting at the robotic leg that makes up the bar for the Nut and Bolt. She has out a small toolkit and some binoculars. She seems to be doing some maintence on her binoculars while occasionaly taking a sip of a cold beer she has set off to one side.

Zero ambles into the Nut and Bolt with a light bounce to his step. A good mood is his and he enjoys it as he moves into the bar at a casual pace. He moves well, the young man having a bit of rhythm to him, even if he ignores the harsh music when it comes to what sets the beat for him. He bellies up to the bar not too far from where Erica is, lightly slapping the metal with his palm as he considers what to get today. Finally, he snaps both fingers and makes finger guns at the bartender. "Some good quality brew. I'm feeling wasteful," he says with a grin. That he gets responded to with a roll of eyes doesn't phase him.

Erica takes the binoculars partially apart and carefully puts part of it to the side. Then using a scredriver she unscrews the panel holding in the battery. Taking the battery out she replaces it with a new one and starts putting the IR binoculars back together. She looks up to grab her beer and take a sib of it and spots Zero a little further down from her. She gives him a nod of her head in greeting and gestures towards him with her bottle of beer.

Zero is just turning to lean against the bar a little when Erica greets him in her quiet way. He grins and nods his head in return, though it takes a moment before he gets a beer to tip. A nice, imported variety with a fancy label and all. He eases away from the bar and scoots around casually to take a place closer to the woman, his attention drifting toward her work. "Do it yourself, eh? I kinda like doing that too. Costs less that way, you know." He grins, then takes a pull from his bottle.

Erica shrugs her shoulders as she screws the battery covering back on after replacing the battery. "Well it is only changing out a battery. Wouldn't think it would be that difficult. I have at least that amount of skill." She says while she starts screwing the IR binoculars back together on the robot leg that makes up the bar. "How are you doing Zero? How is the trailer park doing?" She asks while reaching out to pick up her bottle of beer and taking a sip.

"Oh, don't discount that, I've seen plenty of people that can't even figure out something like that," Zero counters, a broad grin offered. "One reason I learned what I know about fixing this and fixing that. Never wanted to be one of those fumblers." He chuckles to himself and lifts his beer for a pull before he settles it on the bar and turns to lean back against it. "I'm fine and dandy, flush off a little job for a decent wad of credits and considering what all to do with it. Well, one of the obvious uses is to spend it on a woman, though not all, of course." His grin takes a mischievous turn. "Though most will probably go into my truck. Old girl is ailing and if I don't get her engine worked over, she'll probably die on me eventually." He pauses then, considering a moment before he laughs lightly. "I suppose I might well spend all of it on a woman of sorts."

Erica bites down on her lower lip and holds it for a moment as she finishes screwing the binoculars back together. She lets go of her lip as she starts putting her tools away in a little case. "Yah I learned a lot about maintaining my various gear. Saves me a few credits I'm sure doing most of that work myself." After putting her tools away she picks up her beer and turns to face Zero. "Glad to hear your making money. Well look at it this way an investment in your truck is likely to pay you back. I mean you don't want to be stuck with having to buy a new truck or having to make really expesive repairs."

"Pretty much," Zero replies to Erica, tipping his head a little. "Plus it won't make so much of a racket when I drive around. Maybe I can sneak up on a few people now and then." He grins broadly, his mood remaining high buoyed. "Though its just a one timer job. Those creds will run out, but I'm looking for something to do. Enough to live on. Get a little place at the Cheapo, maybe. Won't have to be big, I'm used to cramped quarters, so I wouldn't know what to do with a big place. A lot of wasted space that would be."

Nemain slips in amid the early afternoon ebb and flow. Her hair tossled for once as she grumps and grumbles a bit over something or another in the scroll she has opened infront of her. Now reading and walking is a skill some have mastered ot the point of near reflexive turning when they near people. Sadly, it is not one that Nem has mastered yet. She plows straight into the back of one of the mechanics down form the strip and gets a face full of scroll for her troubles. "Sorry, sorry. Ohh... So that could be the coefficient.. no no no no.." She looks up the the gent, "No, sorry. I didn't mean you were a... Ah, nevermind. Would a drink keep you from pounding me into a puddle?"

"Maybe people would be more inclined to ride with you if they didn't feel your truck was about to fall apart as soon as you start it as well." Erica says with a little sly grin on her face. She toys with her beer spinning it around on the bar and watching it idly. "I think you'll find another job maybe. And getting a place will be a good step forwards. Then you can help me move when I get a new place as well." She giggles softly to herself as she looks up and grins at Zero.

Zero chuckles as Erica speaks and he witnesses the bump in the midst of the bar. "Where's your sense of adventure?" He glances at her, a brow lifted. "Though if you're looking for me to help you move, well, there'll have to be an incentive." He then lifts a finger in a 'one moment' gesture before he pushes off the bar and meanders his way towards the white haired girl as she looks to appease her obstruction. "My man, hey. Someone wanted me to give you this. Real flash stuff, have a pull," he says, handing his lightly touched beer to the man. Giving him a broad, casual grin before he looks to drape his arm causally over Nemain's shoulders in a bid to usher her off. Of course, for this to work the man would have to be distracted by the brew and the woman would have to come along quietly. Two potential flaws in his master plan.

The mechanic blinks at the beer offered to him for a moment. "Why would I want a beer someone slobbered into already when the lady here offered a fresh one, hmm?" He reaches out to grip Nemain's arm and glowers at the pair of them. "Now you, missy. You owe me that drink."

Nemain for her part looks more than a little startled when an arm is drapped around her shoulders. Her pale brows shooting nearly to her hairline. "Umm.... I did offer the man a drink as repayment... Or was that a bonus to my conforming neatly to his back?" She glances to Zero and offers a small hesitant smile. "Isn't that fair?" Though when she is grabbed her expressions darkens quite a bit. "Alright, both of you.. Un-hand me or you might start loosing hands!"

Erica raises an eyebrow and shakes her head slightly "Your asking a girl who is going on a dragon hunt where her sense of adventure is? I'm guessing it is located somewhere within my brain." She shrugs her shoulders and giggles softly to herself as she turns around and watches Zero head off. She picks up her beer and takes a drink of it as she watches and recognizes Nemain. Raising a hand she gives the white haired woman a quick wave in greeting even as she watches the quasi arguement unfold with a bemused expression.

"Hey, woah.. no need to get upset," Zero says. "Didn't hear no offers being made. If you two got it being resolved, don't let me stand in the way." He keeps his beer and unhands the lady without a moment of pause to consider. "Loud place this and I don't have any of those fancy cyber ears. Would be kinda nice though, don't you think?" The tangent slid along quick as you please. She considers Nemain and then says, "You know, you have to tell me if that hair is natural or if you color it that way."

Satisfied he's going to get his drink now, the mechanic starts to relax. The nat Nemain's protest glowers down at her. "Why I outta...." He trails off as she just looks up at him and smiles. "Sir, please let go before I decide if you are worth the pain it will cause me to drop an enchantment without my foci. Bar for drink, fingers to self. Thank you." She turns to nod to Zero and shrugs, "Too much magic, too little hair dye." The points to the bar to see if the lout will at least clear a path.

Erica keeps sitting in her seat with a little bemused expression as she takes another sip of her beer. She makes no move to get up confident in someone's good sense to not make the situation worse. Having finished off her beer she turns around and waves to the bartender for another lager while handing over her now empty bottle.

"Really? Didn't know magic could make your hair go all white," Zero replies, his free hand slipping into his jacket pocket. He gives her a careful once over, then considers the jacket again. "Techno-Wiz, right? Ain't that some stuff?" He then looks towards the man that makes the triad of their little moment. "Hey, you might wanna just play it cool," he stage whispers. I hear those Techni-Wiz types got all sorts of crazy gadgets. She might pull one out and singe your hair off. Or.. like, something more important." His eyes flick down slightly, as if to give some indication of this more important thing. Of course, he's too close to Nemain to actually exclude her from hearing him say as much, though really his tone isn't so low as to make an honest effort at it either.

Nemain's lips quirk as she pulls out a small egg shaped device as Zero speaks. Then has to bite her lower lip as the mechanic blanches to nearly the shade of cream. He just nods and starts heading towards the bar to clear a path as Nem simply bounced the device in her palm. "I didn't know it either. Guess it's something like the bleaching of the sun or something. Never fall asleep on a line though. You never know what color you'll be when you wake up." That said she turns to follow the mechanic and buy him the drink she offered.

Erica offers the bartender a small smile as she gets her next beer. She takes a sip of it immediatly and enjoys the cold beer flowing down her throat. Turning her head slightly she takes a quickly look at Zero, Nemain and the mechanic with a slight smile on her lips before turning back to face the bar. She shakes her head slightly and continues to wear a bemused expression.

When the big mechanic turns to blaze a trail to the bar, Zero turns his head a little to give Nemain a wink before he starts to move along with her in his wake. He chuckles as she mentions the dangers of ley lines. "Then magic lines? Never even been close to one. DOn't think you need to tell me that, though I'll remember that." He considers her again, then says, "Nothing wrong with white hair, though. Not too many people like standing out like that. I can respect it, you know? Might not be like.. well, like charing a front line or that kind of thing, but it still takes guts. Or just a fair share of confidence, both good things."

Nemain chuckles softly as she glances back over her shoulder and gives a little teasing sway as she follows the mech. She lays down several credits and ends up sending the mechanic back to his friends with a pair of beers. Greedy cuss."

The nut and bolt is the place to look when your fix it person is not at work. Aside from their home, but that could get awkward. Of course if you don't know where they live a conveniently resolves that line of thought all together. Anyway, Tirzah makes her way into the bar, looking around as if looking for someone. Recognition washes over her face after a scan of the bar and she makes her way over there. "Good evening ladies." She greets.

Erica gives Nemain a nod of the head in greeting as she finally reaches the bar. She takes a long pull from her beer as she swivels in her bar stool to face Nemain and Zero. She perks up a little as spots Tizah making her way over to the bar. She raises a hand and offers Tirzah a quick wave of greeting. "Hi Tirzah. How are you doing?" She asks while taking a sip of beer.

Zero grins as he rejoins the bar scene, nodding to Erica. "I guess white knighting isn't my specialty," he tosses at her, his limited success not troubling the young man. Tirzah's approach gets her taken in, his head canting a little. "I suppose I'm at a bit of a disadvantage here, you all seem to know each other. But I'm used to it." His tone light and casual. He takes a pull from his beer, then lifts in a causal salute towards the three. "Zero's the name and, well, my game is whatever happens to interest."

Nemain turns and leans back against the 'bot leg with a grin to Tirzah, then offers a small grin to Erica. "White knights tend to get eaten by dragoons or just shot by the bloody dead-heads." is her answer to what she caught. She inclines her head to Tirzah. "Afternoon. Boss is dragging his heels on the work. Or weren't you seeking me out for information on your order?"

"Hello Zero, I'm Tirzah, I'm a warlock and I go places and get things." She introduces herself with a wave before looking to Nemain with a nod. "Yeah and the possibility of work as well. If you or your boss should need compnenet from somewhere, look no further." She reminds with a smile before sidling up to the bar to order a drink. "And how is Erica this evening? Business before pleasure."

Erica laughs softly and shrugs her shoulders slighty. "I'm alright. Another day, another beer. I was just messing around with my binoculars and I look up at this place becomes busy with people I know. So that is kind of nice." She offers to Tirzah before taking another long sip of her beer. She tilts her head slightly as she leans back in her barstool, smiling at the small group of people.

"S'why I don't do it too often," Zero nods to Nemain. "But I was in the mood today. I hope you don't think I believe all that stuff I was spouting for the guy. Well, I'm sure its possible, but I doubt most of you guys do silly stuff like that." He considers Tirzah and bobs his head. "Well, don't know that I need anyone to get things. Unless I was to make a joke that might get me slapped. But I'm not feeling like being slapped today." He is in a grinning mood, however, as one lingers with him. He then asks Nemain, "So what was that egg thing? Didn't get a good look at it."

Nemain sighs softly as the egg thing starts pinging. "Drat it.... I thought I had more time." She winks to Zero as she rises and steps in to lightly brush a kiss to Tirzah's cheek. A wickedly mischevious grin showing as she shrugs, "It's an alarm clock I found. Kinda liked it as I can put it in my pocket and it was easy to convert. But that means I need to go check on something I left cooking. LAters."

Kissed on the cheek unexpectedly Tirzah remains very still for a moment, not entirely sure how to react to that from someone she just met once. Though she did pretty much drop enough business on Nemain to set her up for a good year.. Regardless of her thoughts on the mater she does flush a bit and force a smile. "See you Nemain, don't be a stranger." She bids, the best she can come up with under the circumstances her grimace implies. She then looks to Erica perhaps for relief. "So Erica, I've got some work coming up, still interested?"

Erica raises an eyebrow at the peck that Tirzah gets and she looks towards Tirzah with a little smirk. "You are pretty popular Tirzah." She says with a little giggle before setting her beer on the bar and looking more serious. "Sure I'm interested. Just tell me what you need me to do, and I'll get it done." She tilts her head to listen to what she needs to do while leaning forward a bit to hear better.

Zero chuckles at the revelation of what it is. "Nice, very nice," he says. He observes the peck a it prompts a casual grin on his part. "Just something about girls kissing girls," he says lightly to himself, though without intent to veil his words. And he'll listen too, just because he's there. Though he won't be idle, taking time to lift his beer for another pull off the bottle.

Tirzah nods as her drink comes allowing her to relax a bit and put the peck behind her for the moment. "Well we're going to go up to the sidelines of ther war on Tolkeen to a fortified CS camp, hopefully undetected. Shoot them up and take something valuable and anything else they have that you or the others want and come back." She explains casually, like getting the mail.

Erica licks her lips quickly as she nods her head slowly. "Ok and what is it you are looking for initally? What is this something valuable you are wanting? Depending on that I am in. I can do recon or if you want I can be heavy fire support. Where ever you want me." She reaches over to the bar and picks up her beer and takes a quick sip of it it wet her lips and throat.

"That all?" Zero chuckles lowly. "Not too hard at all, that. Just edge up to a warzone and snag some Coalition gear." His tone is amused and he shakes his head slightly. "How much are you paying for that walk in the park?" he wonders casually, but not without a bit of curiosity in his voice.

"Well its a magical artifact they've found and intend to lock in a vault in Chi Town. I think I could offer a much better place to display a relic of such importance." She explains with a smirk. "I'll probably need ou doing both at different times. Cant use my elementals to scout as their patrols can detect them. Its a cash and carry job. Your payment is the look you take from the camp." She explains before taking another sip from her drink.

Erica laughs softly as she keeps nodding her head. "So take out enough stuff to pay for everything I use right? Ok I think I can handle that. So can I ask what this relic does?" She says with a slight smile on her lips. She takes a long pull from her bottle of beer while offering Zero a little smile as well. "Ok so I pretty much accept. I would like to take a look at any intelligence you have of this camp at some point. Who else do you have?"

Zero cants his head a little and grins. "A bit too far to take my truck, but sounds like you'd do good to bring some hauling equipment to cart a load out of there if that's your angle. Only so much that can get carried easy." He glances towards Erica and grins faintly. "Didn't know you did intel. Like, spy stuff or just sneaking around in the bush?"

"I have no idea what it does. I only know they found it and are protecting it until as convoy heads back to Chi Town. So I have this window of maybe a month to get it before its beyond reach." She elaborates with a nod. "Potentially I also have Celaeno and Ahriman so far. Looking for one or two more to join as well. Ahriman's truck is well suited for hauling, we have the capability to hide it well enough for travel too."

Erica shakes her head slightly as she looks over at Zero. "Naw you get greedy like that and the Coalitions counter response is going to take out that truck right quick. It needs to be a fast in and out strike." She pauses for a moment to consider Zero's question before nodding her head. "Yes I do intelligence work as well. Trained in that and surveillance systems and tracking." She turns back to Tirzah and she sets her beer back on the bar. "Alright if you say so. I don't exactly trust Ahriman, but I'll take the job. Although I'm taking orders from you."

Zero grins idly at Erica. "Well, see now that might be true, Of course, if you happen to find a nice cache of mines and fusion blocks in there, you can set up a cozy little welcome for them. Won't take out flyers, but if you're wanting to evade those, you just hit the trees. And anyone that comes after you on foot gets a real warm welcome. Way I see it anyway." He shrugs his shoulders. "But you know me, I'm not real greedy. Simple guy, simple living and all."

"Yeah I know he can be a real asinine prick sometimes. But, if you can ignore that he can also be very useful. Particularly since he can quadruple my already considerable arcane resources." Tirzah counters, her expression quite firm on him.

"Well like I said I'm taking orders from you. As long as that is understood I have no problems." Erica says with a firm nod. "So how far out is this camp? Cause I can go do some scouting. I don't think I'll raise any Coalition alarm bells unlike others." She offers with a serious expression while picking up her beer again and toying idly with the bottle. Turning her head to Zero she shrugs her shoulders slightly. Trees are not the best protection if they choose to just light the forest on fire."

Zero grins at Erica. "Well, they're just cover. Keep the heat off a little until you can break free. But anyway, not my trip, so don't let me fill your head with crazy ideas. Still a bit green myself, so not really the master of tactical planning, as I did show so wonderfully before. But good luck with that stuff. Pick me up a few fusion blocks, would ya?" He nods to her, then lifts his beer for another casual pull, his tone casually playful and lacking in seriousness.

Tirzah says, "This is the sidelines of a Coalition war zone Erica. if you get seen there not only will you put them on alert, you'll get yourself killed. They don't tolerate any foreign intrusions on their airspace. I don't like going in mostly blind either but we simply dont have the resources to do a reliable recon." Tirzah states, her tone again firm on her decision in the mater"

Erica shakes her head slightly. "The war zone has mercs and bounty hunters for both sides Tirzah. Coalition hires them same as anyone else. Heck they are hiring them like crazy right now from what I hear. I know how that game is played, but your the boss. I was just going to walk around, but like I said you want to go in blind ok." She shrugs her shoulders quickly while finishing up her beer. She turns to the bartender and gestures that she would like another bottle of beer while putting her empty bottle on the bar.

Zero nods to Tirzah. "She's right," he tells Erica. "If you're going to play like you're a CS merc, you'd best have some identification to that. Cause if you are seen, running marks you as hostile instantly. And talking only works if you have the papers to back it up. And I'd best those aren't real cheap to get."

Tirzah nods to Zero, smirking at him in approval. "Not to mention the fact that the part of the war zone we're interested in is certainly not a merc contracted operation. Even if you were a valid merc you'd be turned away long before you got close enough for useful information. Do give me some credit Erica, I've done this a few times now."

Erica rolls her eyes slightly as she grabs her new beer. "Of course what do I know. Not like I'm a bounty hunter. I'm a moron." She says in a voice dripping with sarcasm. "I already said if Tirzah doesn't want it then I won't do it Zero. But don't tell me how being a merc works. Ok? I'll never offer a suggestion again." She shakes her head slightly as she takes a long sip of her drink.

Zero shrugs. "Never got close to the war. Group I was with was doing other stuff," he says. He then gives Erica a casual grin and says, "Aww, don't be like that. Just trying to make sure you don't bring no ruin to that nice body of yours. I'm sure some guys would be mourning that for sure. But if you want, you can lean over my shoulder and boss me around next time I'm working on something. Just make sure you lean down real close." His tone casually playful.

Tirzah frowns at Erica's attitude and shakes her head. "And that's enough of that. You should know me well enough by know Erica to know I dont associate with 'morons'. You should also know I'm not going to let a friend do something not well thought out. You probably would have been fine, but at the very least I have saved you from wasting time and resources needlessly. So show some acknowledgement and take it with dignity kid."

Erica eyes Zero for a moment and rolls her eyes. "Yah Zero I'm just a body. Thanks for those assuring words." She turns back to Tirzah and shrugs her shoulders. "Like I said previously. You don't want me to do it. I won't do it. It was just a suggestion. You all don't have to be so condescending if you don't like it. But anyways like I said just tell me what you want me to do and I'll do it. I can ask around and look for some local intelligence on the area if you want, but again up to you."

Zero shakes his head at Erica. "You wound me. Trying to pay a compliment and you make it into an insult. Trust me, if I was looking at you like just a body, we wouldn't have been talking about anything but before, right?" His good mood is unshaken and he adds, "Maybe you can give me some ideas, though. Trying to plan out some things with my big score, you know? Figure it might be good to get an opinion on it."

"I've hired Vixen to moniter the CS channels for that Erica, its covered." Tirzah explains before slamming back the rest of her drink with a minute shudder. "Now, I have to get home to get ready for a dinner date. See you. Was nice meeting you Zero." She bids before swiping her cred card to pay her tab and making her way out. Business before pleasure.

"Alright. Well you have my radio frequencies so just call me when you need me." Erica says to Tirzah before giving her a little wave goodbye. Turning her head back to Zero she raises an eyebrow as she looks at him. "I doubt I wound you. I'm not even sure you care what I say." She says with a little smirk before shrugging her shoulder and taking a sip of her beer. "Well big scores usually involve big risk. So it depends on what kind of risk your willing to make Zero."

Zero lifts his bottle in a casual motion of parting as Tirzah takes her leave. "No lack of confidence in that one," he murmurs lightly afterward before his attention drifts back to Erica. "Well, I suppose that's true in part. I'm not really the kind of guy to get upset over words. Though I did mean it as a compliment. You are easy on the eyes. But that's just one of your pros, so don't hold it against me if I'm compelled to start talking truth." He then shakes his head and says, "The score is done, I'm getting back to spending the proceeds. You remember Sofi, right? Nice girl. Crazy girl. I'm thinking about showing her a nice night. Girl like her, never been to a place with fancy silverware and paper napkins, I bet. So I was gunna get her a dress or something, take her out, let her get a taste of the big time, you know? But I'm not really good with.. dresses and such, you know? Never wore one, after all." His grin turning mischievous. "Got any advice on what to look for?"

Erica licks her lips quickly while setting her beer back down on the bar. She leans forward a bit in her stool, closer to Zero. "You know guys say that to me, but none of them are interested. If I thought for a moment you meant it then I would take it as a compliment, because then it actually is offered as one. I just think your saying to say it. I don't take offense at that. I've talked to enough of the men around her not to get riled up, but don't tell me I'm pretty unless you actually mean it." She pauses for a moment and leans back in her chair and takes a look over Zero. "Well sure a dress would be nice for her. If she would wear one. Some girls are weird about wearing a dress. Sage is a bit like that. But I can show you a couple dress shops around town. Also if you want there is a nice restraunt and also a nice nightclub in the Happy Days Inn. If your looking for a little class that is where I would suggest taking her."

"You're a peach," Zero responds to her advice. "I think later I'd like it if you'd show me around. She would be a beginner when it comes to dresses.. I could probably think of a lot I'd like to see, but you might be a better judge of what's good for.. like.. a training dress, I guess?" He grins and shakes his head, then settles his empty bottle on the bar. He tilts his head towards Erica and wonders. "Now how do you know I'm not interested? Cause I'm not drooling on you and making weird eyes and such?" He chuckles and shakes his head. "Too much class for that. But tell me, what would I have to do to make you believe it then? Other than with my earnest and humble honesty?"

Erica laughs softly and nods her head. "Well I don't know about a training dress, but maybe we can get her just a nice skirt and a blouse instead. That way if she doesn't like wearing the skirt she can still use the blouse with some pants? I don't know just an idea. But I'll show you a couple places. Just make sure you get her size from her." She turns to pick her beer back up from the bar and swirls some of the beer around inside the bottle before taking a sip. "Well if you were actually interested I bet you would take it more seriously. You are just in what I'm guessing is your regular mode of kidding around."

Zero seems amenable to the ideas, nodding along with them, though the precise planning he leaves for later, addressing the more pressing of matters. "Eri, I try to be as unserious as possible as much as possible," he notes. "Cause serious is just the path to stress and worry. I mean, case in point." He dips his head towards her. "A guy tells you, without high creep factor, that you're beautiful and you just shoot him down out of hand. What would make it more serious. Shall I stare at you." Which he does, composing his features as he levels a stare on Erica. "Shall I give you that slooow up and down." And he does, his eyes tracing down down down, then slowly back up. "You tell me, cause I surely can't read your mind. Though that would make things a bit easier, wouldn't it? Though not hardly as much fun." His serious expression passes as his grin returns.

Erica bites down on her lower lip and gnaws on it for a moment before answering. "Well it is cause a few guys have put the exact same moves on me as you are right now. With the same level of seriousness, and as soon as I showed interest they told me that they were just messing around. So what makes you different from them? I mean maybe I am interested, but when all of you guys are just the same joking around cowboys what is a girl supposed to do? How am I supposed to know your different then the others?" She asks in a long monologue before taking a long drink of her cold beer.

Zero grins causally and says, "What makes me different is I don't tell a girl she's eye candy unless she is. It's not a line, its just the truth." He shifts himself a little closer, to make the talk a little more discreet. "Does it mean I'm interested in a tumble? I'm a young, energetic guy with little tethers in life. Hardly have to ask on that account. Of course, my sort of freewheeling way of things isn't always what most girls want. So I don't always lay it on 'em. Worst thing in the world is getting close to a lady that's looking for commitment, even though you didn't offer it. No worse way to turn a potential friend into a nasty, nasty enemy. Me, I don't like enemies. Friends are a lot less stressful."

Erica lets out a soft sigh and shakes her head again. "You are all these freewheeling guys. I mean you and the others seem much too alike for me to tell any differences. I mean I guess I'm not specificly looking for commitment, not that commitment would be a bad thing. I don't know I just don't get it I guess." She sighs again while finishing off the rest of her beer and setting it back down on the bar and waving for another. "So I don't know how to read one cowboy out of a cluster of them. You'll just have to tell me if your interested, and I'll try to figure out what to do then. You are a nice guy Zero. I just don't know what is a joke and what isn't I guess."

Zero shakes his head. "What's to understand? Seems pretty simple to me, you know? If you're not that concerned with commitment.. do what you feel." He smiles broadly. "Maybe the problem is you're tying to look too deep. Not really sure what sort of encounters you've had with this pst guys. Not really my place to speak for or against them. Me, I like to compliment when one is due. It means what it means." He tilts his head towards her. "When I tell you you're pretty, it means just that. You are. Of course, I suppose if you wanted to dig deeper into it, it would also mean I'd fancy taking you home.. though in my case, home is my truck." He grins idly. "If you're interested, we should do it. Though right now I'm afraid I don't have the time. Timing.. that's always an issue, you know? An interview I have to run to soon. But we can talk more about this later, yeah? Or just do something about it if you like. I'm sure I would."

Erica looks up and gives Zero a soft smile. "Well I'll tell you what next time you have time I'll take you out for a dinner or something. Assuming if I survive this dragon hunt that is. Sorry you don't have more time. Give me a radio call when you want me to help you hunt out presents for Sofi. And sorry if I was too harsh on you. I just am tired of being passed over I guess." She picks up her new beer and takes a sip of the cold lager.

Zero chuckles and shakes his head slightly. "I suppose it isn't a real boost to the confidence. But you know.. maybe you ought to try being a little more.. proactive," he says. "I don't know about most guys, but me, I don't mind ladies that know what they want and go after it. I guess some guys get intimidated by that or something." He shrugs, obviously not sharing the same. He breathes out then and says, "I'd best get moving." HE reaches out first, however, and gives Erica's hip a pat. "Don't get it shot off, now." A playful grin given, though its a quick one as he starts off, hopefully before the slaps might fly.

Nemain slips back in shaking her head and chuckling over something. "Poach at 360 degrees. Bring to a rolling thunder and affix to the barrel. I swear this guy was a loon." she mutters as she appraoches the bar again. She manages not to walk into anyone this time though.

Erica laughs softly at the pat on her hip. She looks down and then back up at Zero and flashes him a little smile. "Well Zero it was nice to talk to you. See you around. And I'll keep that in mind." Turning her head she looks over to spot Nemain approaching again. "Welcome back Nemain. Always good to see you. What was that about a rolling thunder?"

Zero winks back to Erica, then gives Nemain a casual nod as he scoots his way out and off to his needed business.

Nemain blinks and blushes, "Ohh.. Was readding through someone's schematics and well.. IT doesn't make any sense at all."

Erica giggles softly and smiles warmly at Nemain. "Well I've got some training in regular mechanics and electronics, and I don't think I can make sense of TW schematics. So I'll have to rely on your expertise on that. Care for a drink?" She asks while leaning back on her bar stool.

Nemain hmms softly as she retakes her seat and rolls her shoulders. "Mmm.. I was going to get a root beer when the timer went off earlier."

Erica raises an eyebrow slightly at the drink order. "A good root beer is nice sometimes." She puts the beer over on the counter before leaning forward to ask. "So how is work going anyway? You aren't too overworked are you?"

Nemain sighs softly at that question. "I have a back log, yes. And the work on your piece has to be on the side as the boss said we don't carry the parts as they are not magical."

Erica gnaws on her lower lip for a moment before shrugging her shoulders. "That is ok. I can understand that. I'll just have to look around for someone else to do the work I guess." She reaches out and pats Nemain's shoulder affectionatly. "Don't worry about it. Sides I'll bring you back some crazy Techno-Wizard device from the dragon. You'll learn how to reverse engineer it and make you and your boss millions. That will make you both happy." She says with a little wink

Nemain chuckles softly, "I never said I couldn't do it. Just that I couldn't do it at the shop, goose." She turns and orders her soda with a grin. The barkeep just shakes his head and goes to get it. A soft dark muttering under his breath as he does.

"Goose?" Erica asks with false outrage. "That's it no millions for you." She says with a soft little giggle. "Well I mean you sure you want to do work when your not at work? I don't want to be the one responsible for over working you and making you snap."

Nemain snorts softly, "You obviously haven't run into many TW's then, hon. We're tinkers by nature. And well, I only have a half-dozen or so side projects going at the moment so I could probably squeeze you in there someplace."

Erica shrugs her shoulders softly as she picks up her drink and takes a sip from it. "Well I've run into a couple of them, but I guess your the first one I've really gotten to know well. Well if you want to I'll be happy to pay you for your time of course. You are very nice to offer."

Nemain shrugs one shoulder. "It is more of a joy to tinker a bit when it's not something that could explode on me when I try to charge it up." She thanks the barkeep as he dusts off a bottle of root beer and hands it to her. "Thank you."

Erica laughs agin as she flashes Nemain a quick smile. "Well you shouldn't have to worry about any of my guns exploding I maintain them well I think. You'll have to show me some of your projects some time. I would be interested in that you are working on." She holds out her beer in a cheersing gesture. "Cheers Nemain."

Nemain lifts her bottle and lightly strike it against the neck of your own, then sips. "Most of the projects are a little apart at the moment. Not many make much sense until they are put back together again."

Erica takes a sip of her beer after the clink from the other woman's bottle. "Well when you put them together maybe you can show me what they do." She shrugs her shoulders quickly and adds. "Well if you want of course."

Nemain hmms softly, "Maybe. Sometimes it is just mean to show someone what something does if they could never use it."

Erica laughs and shakes her head slightly. "I have come to terms with the fact that there are a lot of things I can't do, or use. I don't let it drive me crazy."

Nemain grins and shrugs. "Well, there are ways to fuel most anything off the power just in hte air. Even more so near the lines. I keep pondering making a collector and using it to recharge the batteries."

"Well I'm sure you could make a little money selling those batteries maybe. Although I'm sure money isn't your chief concern." Erica says with a shrug of her own shoulders before taking another sip of her drink.

Nemain sips her bottle and hmmms. "Not really. Though if I could invent a way to use the energies to charge say conventional e-clips. That would be worth millions."

You say, "Oh sure if you didn't need one of those reactors you could make a ton of money. I know it is hard to get one of those things." Erica muses as she swirls the beer around in its bottle."

Nemain nods slightly and grins. "I'm not sure that what would have to be crafted to harness that power would be much smaller. And the sheer amount of jems inside would make it hard to kepe thieves off it."

Erica lets out a 'Hmming' noise as she stops swirling her beer and takes a sip of it. "It might not end up being any cheaper then a reactor, but still I think it might be worth the research. Although I think it might be a project you can mark for later."

Nemain nods slightly, "It would be a long time in coming. So yeah, not in the right now catagory. And I can hardly think I'm the first to try at it. Might have to research those others to see if they got something right or where they went wrong." She taps her lower lip in thought. "I do think I heard of one exploding form an overload. Took out most of a city block when it went too."

Erica shakes her head slightly as she laughs. "Well please don't blow up a city block though. I would hate to attend your funeral." She leans back in her chair and gnaws on her lower lip while glancing at Nemain thoughtfully.

Nemain chuckles darkly, "I'd hate to think of all the other funerals it would cause inside the city limits. I think the record was six hundred and some."

Erica's lips curls down into a frown as she nods her head slowly. "Yah that would be no fun at all. So please don't blow up any city blocks. Would ya?"

Nemain sighs, "It is not my intention to go out with such a bang. I'd rather live to a ripe, ripe old age and dies in bed with a much younger lover and a large grin."

Erica raises her glass up to you. "Well I can drink to that. I wouldn't mind that myself." Finishing her beer she sets it back down. "Alright well I have to get going it was lovely chatting with you."

Nemain inclines her head and grins, "It was a pleasure speaking with you as well. And I think the guy that was in here earlyer thinks you're the bomb or something like that."

"Well we will see about that." Erica says before taking her leave