Feb 20 17:36:31 108 PA - Conference about Nothing
From Chronicles
Feb 20 17:36:31 108 PA.
THE ALIBI
Erica is sitting at the bar like she usually does while at the Alibi. She has her usual drink in front of her while she listens to the music that is playing. Her fingers tap against the bar while she takes the occasional drink.
It's still below freezing, but at least right now it's foggy, and foggy generally means that thermal energy is held closer to the ground. Gabriel comes walking into the Alibi with all of his snow gear off - gloves, cap, even his light overcoat is simply draped over his left arm. He stops for a moment to check in his two pistols as required, then moves in. The afternoon isn't horribly crowded yet, so it's not long before he spots a friend whom he wasn't expecting to see. The older man's path turns directly to where Erica is seated, but as getting her attention would require yelling, he's simply quiet for now.
Erica takes the occasional sip of her drink while she listens and enjoys the music. She takes a small paper back out of her pink purse and opens it up to start reading. Nothing special seems to be going on with her while she does the same thing she does most nights at the Alibi.
"Privet, Erica," Gabriel says in a Russian greeting as he comes up behind his friend. He'll set a gentle hand on her shoulder as he plops his own short body onto the thankfully-empty stool immediately next to her. He waves to the bartender - "Donovan's Fizz, please" - then turns to face his instructor with a pleasant smile. "How's your day, Erica? I really don't know how you spend 'em." Gabriel nods as his soda is quickly delivered.
Erica marks her place in her book with a bookmark before closing her book. She puts her book away and turns to face Gabriel. "Oh. Hi Gabriel." She says with a little smile on her face. "It has been ok. Doing pretty good. Just hanging out." She says while taking a sip of her cocktail.
The man from ancient Kentucky smiles widely. "Someday, you'll have to tell me what you do in day-to-day life, Erica. But, 'hanging out' is nice. Good book?" He whacks the head of his soda bottle on the sharp edge of the marble counter, sending enough energy up to pop the metal cap off - then with a free hand, catching it in mid-air as a parlor trick. He then raises the bottle in salute, and before drinking, asks, "You been thinking on this shit goin' on up in Iowa?"
"Sure it is good." Erica says with a quick wave to her purse. "Yah I am sure the staff don't want you to damage their marble counter by doing that." She says with a little shake of her head as Gabriel does his childish stunt with the soda. "Nope I haven't been giving it any thought. Remember there is nothing I can do against a Mystic Knight."
"I know - and I don't have a bottle-opener on me." Gabriel nods to Erica. "So that's it, you're not coming then? I mean, not that I blame you. I just shook things up a little as far as personnel. And incidentally, my own military future with a certain annoying woman." He shrugs and suggests, "Frag grenades? I understand that they don't wear environmental body armor, either. Been doing some research at the Library. So maybe you drop some tear gas, knockout gas...?" His voice trails off, questioning.
"Yah I am sure the bar staff have bottle-openers on them. How about you stop doing that to the nice counter." Erica says with a little humor in her voice. "That sounds like a terrible idea. Not only are frag grenades ineffective in battle but it seems like that would also damage miss crazy swords. So any sort of stuff like gas or grenades would stop her from killing them. So do I think being useless is fun? But going on a mission where I am not needed nor would I be any help is just dumb."
Gabriel chuckles. "Well, since you brought it up, it has to do with 'miss crazy swords' that I've made a stand. I don't appreciate going out on a military maneuver with someone who not only doesn't try to understand and work as a unit, but flagrantly walks off and does whatever the fuck that she wants. Throwing herself into the fray before everyone else is ready. I also enjoyed it when the rest of us went into a hostile situation and she stayed behind picking through bodies for salvage." The older man's face becomes that of an experienced, commissioned officer of small and expert units. "Perhaps even worse, people who cause dissension within the ranks while on a mission." He nods at Erica, as she probably remembers it. "Still, I had planned to handle things differently. But you can't always predict circumstances, can you?" He pauses to sip from his bottle of soda.
"Wow even more great reasons on why not to go on that mission. I think you explained things very well." Erica says with a laugh in her voice. She pauses to take a sip on her cocktail. "So yah sounds like you don't want to go on that mission either. She is more powerful then like three of me, so I don't see why I would even be wanted on the mission. I can't do much."
The older man shakes his head. "What, you don't actually what to hear what I told the bitch?" Gabriel grins widely, holding his bottle stationary. 'Bitch,' wow. That's one word that he uses with extreme rarity.
"Oh yah tell me what you told her." Erica says her grin showing a little slyness. "Give me a good story." She chuckles to herself while she stirs her drink with a straw.
"Well, I was at Harry's Gym, only because my normal workout spot was too icy. Valeriya was beating the shit out of a punching bag. So, I made a joking hello, the kind of thing you'd say to anyone. Something along the lines of the bag making her angry by asking her a math question. She took offense, I stepped back and explained the humor to someone without a sense of humor." Gabriel rolls his eyes and shakes his head. "But she's just an arrogant bitch with either superiority-complex, a God-complex, or maybe both." He hikes his bottle. "Short exchange, then she rolled out this gem - 'I think you should get to know me better before trying such jests. Especially considering how you spoke to me in Iowa when I had the right of it. Working out is a similar line. I'm not sure I like working with you a professional basis, let alone a casual one.'" The older man seems to enjoy himself by retelling the words in a voice that only vaguely resembles that of the woman in question. "Just a second." He sips at his soda, then, "Had the right of it?!"
Erica laugh softly as she shakes her head. "She really knows how to make friends huh? Well then let her go against those things herself. I don't want to back up someone like that. She can be the hero. I don't want to waste my time." She chuckles again and then finishes off her drink. "Kingsdale seems like it is a shitty place sometimes."
The older man nods. "Yeah, sure is. Anyway, here's the punchline. I only remember this so well because it was an important thing to say in response." Gabriel clears his throat so that none of it is muffled and confusing. "Miss Valeriya, your conduct in Iowa was not conducive to the fortunately successful conclusion of our mission. In fact, from what I saw it was only detrimental to the team. You are a weapon, and I'd never deny you your lethality. But you were a disruption. I have no idea where you're from, and frankly, I don't care. But if you want to work as part of a useful team, you need know how to work with the other team members." He stops his quoting long enough to add, "This is the truly important part. I said to her, 'You have my word, I will never search you out as a member of a combat team.' So that's gone. She made a crack about people not pulling their weight as an excuse to pull her own skin out of the fire." He shrugs. "There it is then. I just thought, y'know, since I consider you a good friend, you might want to know what's going on in my life. Just a little, in case it were to come up in conversation." Obviously, he isn't expecting anyone to take great interest in it, just a precaution.
"Well if I thought anyone would get off their high horse and talk to me. Then I would think it might come up in conversation, but I don't see that as a possibility." Erica says with another little chuckle. She gestures to the bartender for a refill as she finishes off her cocktail. "It was a good story. Just watch out. Crazy people like that might try to get back at you."
The older man smiles across at his friend. "Well, maybe I just felt good about telling a complete bitch to fuck off, for once." He looks down at his communicator as it vibrates. "Excuse me, I need to take this call." Gabriel moves just outside the door for privacy.
Jason comes into the Alibi steadily a few moments after Gabriel leaves. Drawing off mask and hat and handing over the heavy pistol he carries with a casual disregard. The hat kept in hand, he steps further into the club with a slow sweep of his eyes to take in the place.. or people as his eyes seem to catch on them in casual moments of examination.
Erica nods her head towards Gabriel as he goes off to answer his communicator. She turns her attention back to the bartender as she smiles while getting a new cocktail. She stirs it at first with her straw before sipping on it. Her fingers tap against the bar while she takes a paperback book out of her purse.
Jason wanders through the room with an unhurried air. But he gravitates towards the bar and so comes soon enough near where Erica lingers. Though recognition comes after a few moments of considering the wares and the other people. When his attention does roll across her he smiles faintly and moves a little closer. "Good evening. I recall you from the evening here. The woman quite free with her credits," he says in a cordial tone.
Erica turns her attention from her book over to the man greeting her. "Hello. Good evening. Yes I believe you were up for auction. Good for you to help out charity." She says before sipping on her cocktail. "I hope your evening is going well." She says with her lips curved in a little smile.
"A bit dirty and exhausting in a sense," Jason replies. "But such is the way when one pledges service. Rarely does that service involve fine foods, silks and other luxuries." A casual air of jest in his tone. "It goes well, however." A pause, then he says, "Did I hear right that the man who was there.. the one who 'purchased' me was killed recently?" His brow furrows softly at that.
"Uh I think I heard something about that. Was killed for killing people I believe. Such is the way of things. Always have to be careful like that." Erica says with a slight shrug of her shoulders. She puts her novel back into her purse after which she stirs her cocktail and then takes another quick sip. "Good thing you didn't yet go on your date."
Jason tilts his head slightly and says, "I am a man of some defensive talent. Though one never knows when one will meet someone who is stronger." A pause, then he adds, "It might have been interesting to see what this man wanted of me. But I suppose it shall remain a mystery. Pity." He shakes his head and says, "Things we cannot change. What of you? I trust your evening progresses well."
Erica takes her straw out of her drink and pops it into her mouth before putting it back in her drink. "Well glad to hear you can take care of yourself. A lot of people around here can't." She says with a little shrug. "My evening is going well enough so far. There are nice songs and good drinks here. Who can ask for more?"
Jason considers that and replies, "I suppose that might depend on the person." He motions towards her with a lift of hand. "A more apt question would be, what more would you ask for? I suppose the question is a trite one, but what might you ask for were you given the chance to have anything?"
Erica shrugs her shoulders. "Peace on Earth and good will to man and woman. How about that." She laughs softly to herself before sipping on her mixed drink. "Sounds like too much of a hypothetical question. I am fine with right now."
"A common answer to a hypothetical question," Jason replies with a light chuckle. "That seems the safest answer one could give. But I will accept it. If you promise that when you have a more personal answer to the question, you would enlighten me. I am, if nothing else, a curious man. Odd perhaps, but matters like this interest me." Evening at the Alibi and Jason is speaking with Erica at the bar. She with her drink, he currently lacking one.
Rubidia steps into the alibi with a light smile. Some waves given in residual glamour from last week. She smiles and returns them with enthusiasm as she makes her way towards the bar.
"I don't think I would have a real answer to that, but if I do come up with one I will be sure to tell you." Erica says with a little laugh in her voice. Spotting Rubidia she give the other woman a quick nod of her head in greeting before returning her attention to her mixed drink.
As Gabriel had only been ducked in the doorway taking a call, it takes him very little time to hurry back and plop his body back in the seat next to Erica, the stool he'd vacated. He does ask a polite, "Excuse me," as he passes Jason. To Erica, "Sorry, Erica. Laramy thing. Anyway, just to finish, she's using it as an excuse. People who don't carry their weight and all was her excuse. 'nough said on that." He lifts the soda bottle that he'd left behind, then turns. "Hello, Jason." His smile is genuine.
"I'm sure you will in time," Jason replies to Erica, a nod of his head sealing the casual deal. He glances over as Erica offers her greetings towards Rubidia and a casual smile comes to him. Though Gabriel's return distracts him. "Of course," is offered as he passes and he considers what is said. The greeting is met with a nod of his head and he wonders. "Who is it you're speaking of?" Casual curiosity, of course.
Erica chuckles at Gabriel and nods her head. "When you have that sort of power then everything that goes wrong is everyone else's fault. Maybe she should try working for a living." She giggles again to herself as she takes a long sip of her cocktail, working on her buzz. She looks at Jason and shakes her head. "No one important. Not to worry."
The older man offers Jason a politely dismissive wave. "It's a little personal, and doesn't really matter, either. Truly, let's move on." Gabriel looks between the two, sipping at his bottle of Donovan's Fizz. "I missing anything during the call?" A large D-Bee falls against him, nearly knocking him off his stool, but it garners a laugh from the man, not a frown, as he retains his position.
Rubidia returns the wave to Erica with a more personable expression than they distanced fans get. "Hey Erica, hows things?" She greets to follow as she finds herself an empty seat at the bar. "Jason, Gabriel." She greets as well with brief nods before calling for a dry cider from the tender.
Jason is obviously a bit intrigued, but he seems content to let the topic drift without further bother. "We were speaking of wants and wishes, if briefly," he supplies to Gabriel. The D-bee the bumps the man is considered, then ignored as Rubidia offers greetings. He dips his head slightly towards her as he says, "Good evening, Rubidia." He then looks back to Gabriel and asks, "What of you? Were you granted a single wish, what would you do with it?" He turns a curious look on Rubidia, extending the query her way as well."
"Nope didn't miss anything." Erica says with a little shake of her head to Gabriel. Her lips curve into a warm smile as Rubidia greets her. "I am well. How about yourself?" She asks while she stirs her drink with her straw. She turns in her seat around to better see all the people she is talking to. She gestures to the bartender for another refill.
Gabriel's face brightens into a different kind of happiness when Rubidia approaches. "Hey! My favorite musician. No music tonight, though, huh? Maybe you could just sing, find someone to use their hands on a table for rhythm?" He smiles and sips back on his bottle again. While he may not have actually been asked, the older man adds in his own two cents to Jason's query. "I seek to provide the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
Rubidia smirks at Gabriel but shakes her head. "Nope, no singing tonight. The Alibi is not actually an official venue of mine. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Nice to have a decent club i can go to and not be on display. I can come here and just let the other guys handle it, which is nice." She replies before smiling again to Erica. "I'm alright, still a little thrown at Daryus' fate but recovering." She says before looking to Jason with careful consideration. "A single wish, I'd wish it to someone who needs it and carry on."
Jason seems lightly amused with the answers that he gets from Gabriel and Rubidia. But he nods and accepts them without a word otherwise. "It is a question I have asked often in my travels. And the answers have been broad and varied. It is good to have more to consider." A pause, then he nods slightly to Rubidia. "I too am left a bit wanting when it comes to his death. I do dislike a mystery I cannot unravel. But such is life."
"Yes I think I remember Aimee is quite particular about her club." Erica says with a little laugh in her voice. "Although Rubidia is big enough for any place in Kingsdale. She should do a tour. Maybe go to Whykin and Merctown some time." She smiles encouragingly at Rubidia as she finishes up her drink. Putting the glass on the table she grabs her next cocktail.
Gabriel's only comment on the deceased is, "Only saw the man at the auction. Never even shook his hand. Weird thing, but at least it's over, apparently." He can't help but raise an eyebrow as Erica moves on to her... second? Third? Having been out of the room for a time, he lost count of how many drinks she was tossing back. Not that he'd ever say anything. Just be ready to hold someone's hair back. With a little twinkle in his eye, he asks Jason, "Just how far have your travels taken you, Jason?" Erica's comment about taking Rubidia to Whykin quirks an eyebrow.
"Oh I'm considering it. Possibly this summer." Rubidia replies to the possibility of touring. "Is a tricky thing though with the war. Where I will go is definitely tentative. What I could really use is someone into traveling who is connected with the prospective locations. That would greatly help the setup." She explains with a slight shrug.
"Over the last year I walked here from what was once called South America," Jason answers Gabriel. "A slow and dangerous trip, but enlightening in many ways. More so than I'd known before." He then notes to Rubidia, "I would offer services in that, but my own travels were quiet and I made few connections along the way. In a world of chaos and danger, one who walks quietly is often the safest. There are many ways to die, even for those who can defend themselves." Though he observes that point as something interesting by the timbre of his tone.
Erica stirs her drink idly while she listens in on the conversation. She shrugs her shoulders quickly at Rubidia. "Well my time in Merctown wasn't really about touring the various stages. More getting military equipment. Since the economy in Kingsdale seems to suck a lot of times." She chuckles softly before shaking her head and sipping on her drink. "There is fairly regular air service inbetween the cities though I think."
While Sage doesn't enter like a conquering hero, she may elicit comments as she makes her way through the checkpoint into the club. She's wearing her normal clothing, having never truly adopted a clubbing outfit like some others. She smiles softly and politely responds to any such praise. But, for the most part, she seems to be on her way towards the bar.
Though Gabriel keeps an ear on the conversation among the three women - a conversation that he basically knows nothing about, and has very little contribute to - he addresses Jason. "Interesting. Yeah, I spent a lotta time down there. Not so much as other places, but good enough. Argentina, after the war, up into Venezuela, Columbia when the Cold War started. Did a lot of training in the Andes from '39 to '41, before the Japs attacked. Where'd you hit?"
Rubidia looks to Sage as she makes her way to the bar, waving to invite the woman over to sit beside her. Though she looks a bit shy in doing so, an unusual expression for Rubidia to those that are familiar with her.
"Hit?" Jason seems a bit uncertain of the man's meaning in that. "You speak of the old borders from before the end of the world long past." He casually curious when it comes Gabriel's words. The light disturbance of Sage's arrival draws his attention and as she comes towards the bar, he dips his head towards her. "Sage. I hope your meditation room is not taken this evening. If so, I will have need of it."
Erica looks up as she notices another person making her way to the bar. Her lips curl into a very warm smile as she spots Sage. She raises her arm up in the arm and waves it to attract Sage's attention. "Hey over here Sage!" She calls out not as shy as Rubidia.
The older fellow does turn on his stool to look toward Sage as she enters. Gabriel hoists his soda bottle in salute. "I hear you're a local hero, Miss Sage." Then, to Jason, "Maybe the borders don't exist between political entities, but you still knew exactly where I was talking about, didn't you? I assume the Andes are still there? Patagonia? The Amazon Highlands?" His eye is on Rubidia, who seems awkwardly excited to see the local hero.
The friendly faces at the bar draw a small smile to Sage's lips as she notices them. She holds up a finger before looking to the bartender only to find a drink placed in front of her. This brings a puzzled frown to her features before the bartender points to a particular table. She takes up the drink and raises it in thanks to the table with a smile and a mouthed thank you. With that the last ripples of her presence seem to ebb away and things return to normal. She looks to the others and offers a brief chuckle to Gabriel's words. "Something like that." She comments, before glancing towards Jason. She purses her lips briefly before nodding, "Might be able to arrange that." She comments before she looks between Rubidia and Erica as she steps closer to them. "Hey..." She offers in a more subdued manner than Erica greets her, but it is intended for both.
"I wanna know what happened." Rubidia starts quietly, just loud enough to be sure Sage hears. "How did that teenage tramp lead to the brutal murder of Daryus Grea?" She asks more boldly. "We were having a fine time. Then she showed up and took him away. Then I hear he is dead." She says with clear exasperation. "Leaves a most unpleasant taste in my mouth."
Jason nods once to Gabriel. "Roughly. We don't have so many maps from the time before. Or not so many that I was able to observe. People are far more interested in the now and the current borders that blood is shed over. I am sure that those places are still there. I never made a deep study of geography itself." he then smiles at Sage and says, "I would be much obliged. The work has been.. a new thing. I haven't exerted myself in quite so focused a way since I was first put through training. A welcome sensation." Then Rubidia's words draw his attention and an obvious air of curiosity touches his expression.
Erica smiles up at Sage as she nods to the woman. "Hey. I hear you had some excitement. I am sorry that I wasn't there to back you up." She says in a voice that seems relieved to see that Sage is alright. "Just glad to see you are alright Sage." She gnaws on her lower lip for a moment before taking a little sip from her cocktail.
Gabriel primarily keeps his mouth shut, as Jason seemingly has no interest in an interesting discussion of the here and now, putting aside even a congenial discussion of current events or past global history. Instead, his attention now turns to the entirety of the conversation. Not that he has anything to add. He's already said as much as he knows about the crime, and bringing up the auction a second time seems rather pointless. In the end, he calls for his second bottle of Donovan's Fizz. Gotta wonder if the man goes home and burps for a few minutes.
A soft expression comes to Sage's features as she hears the words being offered by Rubidia. Her hand comes to lightly touch the other woman on the back before it moves lightly against the woman's back in what's meant to be a comforting gesture. She settles into the seat next to Rubidia but on the side towards Erica. She simply offers Jason a nod to the comments regarding the work, but doesn't seem to have anything in mind. "It is possible that Daryus leaving with Tiffany may have saved your life." She comments to Rubidia, before glancing towards Erica. "I wouldn't call it excitement, really... but, don't worry yourself too much, I had Monique and Tornaq there to help. And, Leonard showed up later on as well." She comments before focusing back on Rubidia, "As it turns out, it was the cane that Daryus was carrying was the source of the murders. It had some sort of possessing entity that could take someone when they touched the cane. The being enjoyed inflicting pain even beyond what a person should be able to live through." She comments, sparing little. "I got a look at what happens to someone when they lose control to that thing... it was a disturbing thing."
Rubidia nods slightly, seeming all to aware of that fact. "Yeah, I get that. What I don’t get is the fate around it all. When that tramp showed up I felt like a whore. And I told him where to go like I was one. And he goes, and it gets him killed. Now I feel like I'm worse than a whore for reacting as I did."
Jason seems most intrigued in the hints of what has occurred. "Fascinating. And sad," he comments to no one in particular. His tone and expression thoughtful. "I suppose it is a lucky thing indeed. I've never faced an entity before." Though he pauses, considering Rubidia's words. "Mistakes are all to easy to make. If they teach you, then there is some recompense for them." His attention returns to Gabriel then and he wonders. "I would assume you make a study of history if you refer to lands by the borders of their past. If you have seen action there, then you must have aligned yourself with a republic."
Erica nods her head in a slight manner as Sage speaks. She gnaws on her lower lip while she picks up her glass and takes a long drink from it coming close to finishing it off. "Oh... uh good that you had back up and what not." She says as she fidgets with the straw in her glass. She looks down at her glass and keeps gnawing on her lower lip.
The man with the graying hair laughs a little a Jason's comments. "I'm not making any study of history. I *am* history. I was there, I know it, I can give you detailed intelligence reports about it. Whole fucking planet. World traveler, in a way. But yeah, I swore an allegiance to a republic - the United States of America." That's all that Gabriel says, though, his eyes are quickly turning to his friend on the stool next to him. Four decades of life, seeing people in various states has been enough to tweak his mind. Of course, there's no reason that Erica couldn't be jumpy for any number of reasons. This world is a fucked-up place.
Sage nods faintly to the comments of the others, "We got lucky that the process of the being taking over the girl gave us enough time to knock the cane away before anyone else could be harmed." She offers to Jason and Erica before her hand returns to offering a light comforting run against Rubidia's back. "Daryus was an incredibly handsome and charming man. I was half-tempted to take your place for that dinner." She comments before pursing her lips, "If it would make you feel better, we could go somewhere and I can attempt to reach out to his spirit... but, I do not think he would have held your anger reaction against you. If you feel the need to atone, I may be able to find a way to help with that."
Rubidia shakes her head with a slight sigh, turning back to her drink. "Nothing to atone for, no err learned from. Death as always continues to be unfair." She says darkly, taking a large swallow to start moving on.
Jason considers Gabriel for a moment before he wonders, "You are from the past? Interesting." And it does seem to be so to him. "Though it would hardly be proper to interrogate you on such matters. Though I have made a casual study of the times before. More of a light hobby and curiosity I pursued deeper when I was younger." Rubidia's comment draws him back over though and he considers her. "I would more term death as indifferent. Ultimately fair, for all face it. And there is little one can do to escape it. Evade for a time, perhaps, but it is the one constant. All things will, in time, die. It is only a question of when and how. Though I will admit, it seems an ignoble death for the man. No one should be made a tool for another force."
Erica fishes a handful of credits out of her purse and tosses them on to the bar. Picking up her almost empty glass she finishes it off with a quick sip. "Uh I have to get going. I think I have had enough." She says quickly before turning to Sage and offering her a quick smile. "Glad to hear you made it through ok. Keep up the good fight." She then gives everyone else a quick wave before heading off towards the exit of the club at a quick pace.
Erica's friend Gabriel starts after her as she rises and runs - but he eventually hangs back, slows, and returns to his seat, pulling out his communicator and checking its readout. Jason's philosophy is taken in, processed, and filed away as blatantly obvious. As is the apparent, and to him, new, closeness between the other two women. His eyes glance up at the door, though.
Sage nods faintly to Rubidia's words, "I know the unfair touch of death as well." She comments, before taking her hand away from the other woman's back. "It is part of life's journey, though." She pauses, "And, if you would like some time to yourself..." She says before glancing over towards Erica when the other woman speaks, her response paused as something strikes her wrong about the other woman's words. A mild frown coming to her features as Erica flees the place before glancing briefly towards Gabriel. She begins to rise from her chair herself, "Should I go after her?" Her tone a little uncertain.
Rubidia shakes her head, most of her cider gown now she turns to look back at Sage with a weak smile. "Nah, best to move on instead of moping. I need a new topic to move on to though." She points out, looking to Sage then Jason and Gabriel.
Jason looks between Gabriel and Sage as both react to Erica's departure. He glances towards the door himself, then opines to Sage, "The neighborhood is less than safe. And she has had several glasses." Potential arguments for some manner of pursuit. He then offers Rubidia a smile and wonders, "Where did you learn your abilities? I have not seen their like before. And they were quite impressive."
With his graying hair rustling slightly in its neat cut, Gabriel sips from his bottle, then sets of down on the counter, still gripping it. "No, no. Let her go. She's not a little frail butterfly; she wants space, she deserves her space. I'll see if I can't find her later. This may not be true, this could be a huge inflation of my own ego, but I think that I'm her best friend around here. At least, I'd like to think so." He sips from his bottle again, then returns to simply listening in to the three around him, and enjoying watching various groups of people out on the dance floor make fools of themselves.
At the differing opinion of the two men, Sage's gaze drifts between the two of them. Considering Gabriel is usually the first to offer to escort woman home if he feels there is any danger, she gives a faint sigh and nod. "Alright... but, Gabriel, if she gets hurt... you know who I'll come talking to, hm?" She comments, before glancing towards the exit with a faint frown. Something feels wrong about that leaving, before glancing to Jason as he asks the question of Rubidia. "That could be interesting to hear." She concedes, before retaking her seat. She glances towards Gabriel, "And, remind her that we still need to do that auction date and I need to talk to her about a potential spa prize when you see her."
Rubidia looks to Jason with a slight smile. "Orkney, Scotland. They are a heritage of my race." She answers in brief before finishing her cider and pushing it forward to signal for another.
Jason nods to Rubidia and a broader smile comes to him. "I hope your home was less troublesome than my own. In a place where some are born with power and others are not, the inevitable tensions rise. Tell me of your home?" Though Sage's words do tug on another thought in his head and he notes to her, "Your spa.. I have been considering that. I am not sure the path of your own abilities.. that you can speak to the dead is intriguing enough. But I might be able to offer some.. mental relaxation to your patrons. Brief, but perhaps enough to hold worth to the stressed."
The Kentuckian can only chuckle, for any number of reasons. "Been to Scotland, Miss Rubidia. Didn't much care fore it. Dark, dreary, and cold - in the annoying way. Of course, you really only have time to notice when you're not trying to survive with more than a knife." Gabriel shrugs and takes a long sip from his bottle, then laughs even more heartily. He leans on the first word: "*Everybody* seems to come from a place with people are born with powers. I'm no rah-rah human or anything. In fact - being 'normal,' at least in my eyes - no offense to anyone intended - makes me special, in my eyes. Still, life is a crap-shoot, right?"
Sage can't help but smile faintly at the short answer from the other woman as she reclaims her drink to sip from it lightly. "That seems to be the case anywhere, Jason." She points out, "There will always be a mix, I think." She pauses briefly, "As for the spa, it would depend on whether customers would consent to that. And, I have not truly tried to communicate with the dead... save once, but I received no answer... I sense the potential, though." She purses her lips before she glances over towards Rubidia. "And if conversation topics don't help much... you could always be amused over my attempts to dance."
Rubidia shrugs lightly. "Outside of our community things are mostly normal. Extraordinary people or the minority, but that much more noticed. Inside though almost everyone is extraordinary. To be born among the children of the earth and stars is to be raised as one. And so we are. It's a heritage, not a trait."
Jason glances towards Gabriel, then Sage and nods his head slightly. "I have seen that in my travels. In some places those with power and those without live in harmony. Perhaps not perfectly so, but in a marked contrast to what I grew up with. Thus I am often curious at how others react to those with power in the presence of mind or magic." He tilts his head slightly as he considers what Rubidia says. "Sounds delightful," he decides after that moment. "Perhaps one day I will find your home and observe it for myself." Then he addresses sage. "Of course it would be with consent. If you wish, once my labors are over and the tax on my endurance is eased, I can lend you my services for a time. With no charge, to see if it is a useful addition to your business."
After tilting his bottle back again, Gabriel settles himself on the stool, one foot on the floor, one foot on a rung. He always sits like that, just rearranging the cheeks, really. When he speaks, it's to Jason, and the tone is friendly. "You really seem to have something that you want to tell all of us about yourself. Maybe just wanting to drop an information bomb on us. Where you're from, who you are, what exactly your superpowers are. I dunno, your thing, not mine. Not to be rude, but at this point, even I'm curious." The man's expression isn't entirely curious. More... flat. But polite.
Content that her offer of dancing for the other woman's possible amusement seems passed over, Sage takes a sip from her drink once more as she listens to the comments being offered. "In a way, everyone is extraordinary in their own way on the inside..." She offers, "Or should I say most?" She offers with a faint bit of humour, before she nods towards Jason's comments. "We can discuss it then." She comments, before glancing to Gabriel. "He has told me some about what he can do, but I suppose it may be best to let him explain."
Rubidia smirks at her still half full cider but shakes her head. "Well I think I'm done for tonight. Sorry about not being my normal chipper self. I'm sure I'll be fine in the morning though." She enthuses, starting to extricate herself from the bar stool. "Good night everyone, Sage." She bids with a smile and a nod.
"I am not reluctant to speak of myself," Jason admits as he looks towards Gabriel. "I would not say 'superpowers' is an apt term. I am psychic. Which entails many things across many people. For myself, it centers primarily around two principals. Force and the mind itself. I can lift great weights by will alone and can promote many states of mind in others. Which I did with the woman Cali during the action. I suggested she forget her fears and gave her the nudge to do so, if briefly. After asking her permission, of course." he then nods to Sage. "Perhaps when next I enjoy your hospitality, we can find a place for business matters." Rubidia receives a nod. "Rest does wonders. Good eve. If your stress does not leave you, I could offer my services, such as they are."
Gabriel smiles as Jason speaks, then shrugs. "Yeah, like I said. Superpowers, right out of the comics. You, super. Me, squishy." He stabs his chest with an index finger, grinning all the while. "You, Miss Sage, Miss Rubidia... in fact, you know what, absolutely everyone I know in this city with the exception of Erica has some kind of neat power. I'm not complaining, mind you. Just observing. Because that's what I do. Well, one of many things." Rubidia's imminent departure elicits a happy wave. "Good seeing you again, Rubidia. Next time though, bring the guitar!" Gabriel hoists his soda to her.
Since Rubidia's words are greeted by a similarly quick departure, Sage won't dwell too much on how similar some of the other woman's words are to Erica's before she left. She offers a small smile to the other woman, "Take care of yourself, Rubidia." She comments simply, "If you want to talk sometime, you know where to find me." She offers, before glancing towards Jason and nodding faintly to the man's comment regarding business. Then she glances towards Gabriel. "Shall I take it that you are getting used to neat powers?" She asks with a light teasing tone.
Jason seems amused with Gabriel's words, his eyes shifting to Sage as she speaks. "I suppose there were none such as you have seen in the time long past?" He looks to Gabriel. "Of course, I am curious at how you first met this time and place. When you first realized where you were.. when you were. It is something I cannot imagine. Would you tell me what your thoughts were then?"
The older man looks to Sage and responds with a rather hard expression, though his actual tone is fairly normal. "Yes, I am. I'm learning quite a bit about how to deal with them when they become dangers to myself and others, as they do, unfortunately continue to do. Something called a 'mystic knight' roaming around Iowa blasting villages and entire Coalition infantry platoons with Skelebot support. I know how to gather information, I know that you need to plug the bastards with KE (it comes out as "kay-eee") weapons like I grew up with. I know that I need to avoid magic somehow. Haven't figured out how to do that yet, but I'm sure I'll find something that will at least make it better." Gabriel seems sure of himself. His eyes shift over to Jason. "When I realized it? It took a while. It didn't even hit me when I woke up and almost all of the two-thousand men under my command were dead in various horrible manners, with a test-bed battleship listing, bow-down in solid rock up fo'c'sle. Laying in a field next to my wife - also a soldier - looking at the blue sky, when I'd been floating in the Sargasso Sea, my last memory. Monsters, armored soldiers, slavers. People dying. It took a while, and it was not pleasant, and neither does it continue to be." As Gabriel tells what is only *part* of his story, his voice turns more gruff, harder, angry. Not directed at anyone, just into the ether.
Sage considers the words spoken by the men, but she can't help but think on the departure of a couple friends from the place. She offers a nod to the words offered. "You'll have to excuse me, gentlemen..." She comments, before rising from her chair. "Take care." She adds before she begins to head off.
"It must be overwhelming," Jason replies, his tone smooth, but not condescending. Then he looks to Sage and nods his head towards her. "Good eve, Sage." He returns to considering Gabriel and says, "I am sure it is hard to trust when people can do things difficult to defend against. The swing of a blade is simpler and more tangible than a thrust into one's mind."
As Gabriel sees his final female friend leave the room, and once again, at speed, he asks, "Is there a bomb planted in here that everyone else knows about or something? I really should be escorting them home." The old-fashioned fellow is more concerned with Sage's departure than Jason's comment, but he does manage to reply. "People didn't swing swords in 1959 unless it was a traveling circus. We had knives, we had bayonets, but they weren't intended for fencing. Most people killed with bullets. I was one of those people for about a decade. Then the next ten years? Well... I was something more specialized. Still, swords were museum pieces, and the mind only needed to attempt to defend when being interrogated. Believe it or not, it might have taken us longer, but we could break a man's brain just as well as you can."
Jason arches a brow slightly at that. "I cannot break someone's mind," he says. "I can.. influence it briefly. In a few ways. Though that is not to say my mental prowess are my only talent. I do know a thing or two about interrogation. Of course, it is easier to know if a man lies when you can listen to the whispers in his head. The lips are easier to control than the thoughts."
The older man taps his temple with a smile. "The two most powerful warriors are patience and time. Almost anything can be done with patience, time, and ingenuity. Even the things that all of you folks do with magic and psychic abilities." Gabriel nods his head, saying, "This world is still ripe with opportunity for those of us who don't carry around special powers beyond what God intended."
"I never said it was not," Jason replies. "You should take care. You remind me of some who made my home a tense place. I would not say you are prejudiced, you obviously do not limit your friends. Yet there are times I wonder just a little." He smiles. "Or perhaps such hints are limited to me. You can speak true if they are. I am not one to take casual offense at such things and I would prefer if you were honest. Honesty I can respect. Too many seek to veil their feelings behind false smiles and feigned politeness."
Gabriel is honest. "I have nothing strongly against you. I don't know know you well enough to have anything significant against you. But honestly? You talk about your abilities too much. You have them, great, and I have nothing against it. But I don't need to hear about it all the time. That's not you, that's everybody. It's like having someone tell you over and over again about their vacation to Cuba, and how great it was. I get it." The older man shrugs and sips and his bottle, shrugging. "Other, little things. But everyone has little things. I know that I do things that piss people off. Maybe I blink too much. Maybe I laugh at myself too often. Maybe my drawl?" He allows the line of conversation to trail off, his primary point having been made.
Jason considers Gabriel quietly for a few moments before he says, "There is little I can say to that, save that what I can do is as much a part of me as your arms and legs are. When I was young, I lived and breathed it to harness the raw potential and turn it away from the wild, destructive urges of the unrestrained mind. When other children were learning more practical skills, I was training my mind and unlocking what was in my head. Though I don't think I speak of or flaunt it very often, it is what I am as much as your training is what you are. I am sure there is much you can do that I cannot. I do not begrudge you that, for it simply is. It is much the same between you and I."
The Kentuckian chuckles - at something that goes unspoken. "I understand, Jason. Incidentally, y'know, in my time, people had at least two names. Even the fucking negros hopping around Africa had two names. Given name, surname. My last name's Blaze. It's a shortening of my parent's Polish name, Blazejewski (which was pronounced "Bwah-ZHE-ski"). Immigration officer did it on Ellis Island when they came over. Here?" Gabriel waves his bottle around to indicate Kingsdale, at the very least. "It's as if people only have one name. So - you have a last name, Jason?"
Jason shakes his head slightly. "I have left my family behind me. So too I have left my family name behind me. I do not travel for them and I will give them none of my triumphs or failures. Thus I am merely Jason. Myself and no other."
"Oh, well... things are different these days," Gabriel says with a shrug. He glances at his watch, rocks his head back and forth for a short while, then sets his bottle down on the counter - and orders another one. Donovan's Fizz is probably thankful that the man has arrived in this century, and may well be their best customer in the city. He suddenly chooses a new topic. "Met a man the other day, not sure if you can call him a man, though I assume he has a soul. Almost everything machine. Can't imagine what that has to be like a living hell, I imagine."
"Who can say?" Jason motions towards Gabriel. "I have observed many borgs. Cyborgs. Most seem to enjoy their nature. If one wants physical power and to be a walking tank of sorts, it is likely a sublime experience." He lifts a hand to himself. "For me, it would mean the loss of much of what I know. It all depends on one's outlook on life. Likely it is the same for Juicers, who spend much of their lifespan for power."
"Well, I know that this person feels like it. Not fond of it. I wouldn't like it, I'd die first, and I don't even have psychic powers to lose." Gabriel whacks the neck of his new bottle on the edge of the marble counter, which jostles the metal cap into the air, which he catches with his free left hand. "Hey, that's good luck!" the man states happily. "Can you do parlor tricks? Shell games, pick the card, that kind of thing?"
Jason shakes his head slightly as he says, "I cannot. Though I may be able to cheat at such games. Few of my abilities are what might be considered parlor tricks in the way you describe. Though some are simple and minor." There is a pause as he looks to the side slightly. "I should away before it grows too late. It takes time to draw back in one's mental fortitude after expending it. Which is best done in the stillness of meditation."
"Fine by me, whatever that means. Take care, it's cold out there, and for some reason, a lot of people bitch about it." Gabriel shrugs and hoists his soda. "One last thing when it comes to talking about your powers? It's often good to keep to yourself anything that makes you special. If and when they become necessary or useful, you take someone by surprise." He smiles, then turns to the counter, starting up a chat with the four-armed man next to him.
"You assume I reveal all I can do," Jason says. "I do not." A light, almost sly smile coming to him. "I did not come as far as I have by being foolish. Perhaps one day you will let me teach you something of meditation. It will not aid you as it does I, but seeking peace in mind can be of use to anyone." He nods his head, then turns to take his leave. "Good evening."
