Feb 26 08:13:05 109 PA - After Victory Party at the Nightingale

From Chronicles

Feb 26 08:13:05 109 PA.

THE NIGHTINGALE

It's only eight o'clock at night, but the Nightingale is jumping. The DJ is belting out the Golden Old-Old-Old-Old-Oldies, and the ladies are jazzed up in period gear. Guys are wearing hats, ties and tweed suits. Someone either made a bundle as a tailor, or the costume shop closed early today. A small banner over the bar proclaims, "BLAZE!" Indeed, Gabriel is up, half-leaning, half-sitting against the counter, a regular soda in hand and no one's making unkind jokes about it. He's the target of lots of toasting, claps on the back, and female attentions that at this point he seems to be slightly uncomfortable with. Still, there's a happy expression on his face that probably has never been seen since he was back in his own place and time.

Maybe alla partyin 'n toastin's how Bella figgered out where he's at. Heard some pretty big talk about 'im already tonight. She comes in lookin kinda outta place with alla moldy oldy fancy shmancy dressup goin on. Least it ain't hard ta find 'im. There's a big sign. Catches eyes even if she can't read it.

He seems to be half-telling a story, and half-hearing stories told about him. Their truth dubious at best. Because of the crowds, it's impossible for him to spot even a close friend. However, there is a lot of laughter and merriment as the DJ kicks into one of Little Richard's best hits. Gabriel... orders a round for the house? Yup!

Bella can pick up Gabe's voice even if she can't see 'im. So she starts pushin 'er way through people. "Heya! Gabe! So what happened?" Just cause she's heard bits of it don't mean she's heard it all. Sounds like there're a bazillion diff'rent stories bout't already too.

Hmm, shreeking voice of pasty girl. Yeah, Gabriel knows that. He politely nudges a few people aside, and spots his prey, giving her a wave and grin of his own. "Bella! Can I get you some red wine?" Then a subtle gesture that he hopes is enough between friends - hide the fangs. "What happened?" He sits up, shrugs and calls out, "The good guys won."

"Kinda figgered." Bella smirks. "Since ya ain't dead. So. Ya get 'er. Get alla 'em?" She nudges right on up ta plop her butt by him. Or on him if she's gotta. She likes good stories. 'N he promised ta tell her alla bout it.

On him? No. Gabriel grabs her hips and scoots her off of his lap, which at the moment means that she's just going to have to stand. Sure, she's getting looks. He smiles at her, though, eyes happy and wide. "All of them. Gone. As in only a mighty power from above could drag them back from whatever dimension it is that happens to you when you die for a second time. No more zombies, no more vampires. Clear. We'll get the poor waitresses sorted out, and the place might be getting back to normal." There's another 'wooo' noise coming from off to the side, at which he points and returns a similar noise. He smiles at Bella, then. A weird smile. "It's really easy to kill vampires because they think they're smarter than everyone else."

Bella smirks s'more at Gabe. Nods too. Ain't bugged none bout standin neither. "Yep. Most alla 'em're like that. S'why I don't like 'em. Course she seemed like mebbe she was smarter 'n most peoples. 'N not just uppity 'n thinkin it." She shrugs. "So was all easy? Wow. Weren' thinkin that."

Gabriel chuckles. "Actually, yeah, it was. Like I said, she thought she was smarter than everyone. So she never covered her ass properly. She knew that I was hunting her, I know that. But she thought she was so much smarter than me that she ended up getting caught, and caught good. We hit 'em just like it was supposed to. Sure, they flailed around and we had to adapt, but that's to be expected, right?" The first is aimed at Bella, but a second, "Right?" is aimed at an anonymous person near him. He really must be happy, because this type of partying really isn't like him. "You ever seen skin bubble and boil and burn in light?"

"Right." Bella nods. Then she makes a nasty face. Even if he weren't askin her bout it. "Uh. Nope. Ain't seen that. Ain't thinkin i wanna neither."

The man smirks at Bella. "You don't believe me, do you? Still holding on to the myth that vampires always win, that evil will triumph because it's tougher." Gabriel shakes his head and shrugs. "I dare you to find a piece of Donna. That undead bitch is undead gone." He nods firmly, then throws back a long, hard pull of fizzy, non psi-cola.

Bella blinks at Gabe. "Huh? Whatcha talkin bout? Was just thinkin she was tougher 'n whatcha were thinkin." She shrugs. Turns ta wave ta try 'n getta beer too. Since Gabe's buyin.

Gabriel laughs. "No, no. I mean, I almost wish she had been tougher! Made all those months of planning seem like a waste, it was really so easy to clear out the place." As the old fellow has begun to focus on one person, the party continues, but is beginning to spread out, back to the dance floor as Chuck Berry belts out, "Do the Twist." He gives Bella a nudge with his knee, as a stool opens up behind her. Then he nods and seems quite serious, though still jovial. "Really, it was very, very easy. We walked in, we cleaned up... we walked out without a scratch. I think Tornaq left a tiny tuft of fur on the ground, but that was it. Makes me feel good, really. Long time to gather intelligence, long time to come up with a plan, long time to refine it and pick the right personnel - leads to quick victory."

Bella grabs up her beer. And the empty stool. She gulps down some of the first one. " Good fer ya. Better 'n gettin dead. Easy's always good. Just don't wanna thinkin ev'rythin's gonna be easy. Cause then ya get facked." She sucks up s'more. "So. Whatcha doin next? Heard yer takin over the place? Gonna keep alla nekkid dancin girls all fer yerself?" A grin pops up.

With a smirk, Gabriel offers, "I didn't say everything was easy. I said this was easy because of everything that went into it. There's always luck, as well. We were fortunate in many ways." He sips from his soda again, then "Yeah, I'll be running the club. But it'll be different. Not totally different, but different. You can be incredibly sexy without just flashing it all, y'know. In fact, it's usually a lot more sexy to give some of it, and hint at the rest."

"Don't look't me." Bella smirks right back. "Ain't dancin there if that's whatcha mean." Then she thinks some. "Sure't was smart ta get everybody up onna news 'n shit though? Cause maybe ya didn't get 'em all. 'R she's got s'more people somewheres. Kinda makes alla ya big fat walkin bullseyes don't it?"

"Yes, but it's not as if I did it. I can't control the news. On the other hand, notoriety can protect you. Donna's protected hers for long, long time, didn't it?" Gabriel aims the neck of his bottle at Bella. "Besides? There are young kids in the city. Kids need role models. I'm not Superman or anything, but the five of us? Not bad, not bad at all. I'm not calling myself a hero. I hate heroes. But a role model?" He shrugs slowly. "Not bad. I didn't expect my name to be put up in lights as taking over the club."

Bella drinks s'more. Then points her bottle back. "Coulda said no. I coulda took it." She grins. "My own place'd be kinda fun. Less ya blowed it all ta shit. So. Gonna go after the rest? Know some people been sayin there's all kindsa vampires 'n monsters 'n stuff inna Dregs. Alla ya gonna just wipe 'em all up?"

"Nope. The 'Dregs are too big for me and anyone I could put together. Just have to wait for Kingsdale itself to get on that," Gabriel says, nodding firmly. He gives her a wink - perhaps about not commenting openly about another vampire taking over the club. "It's not 'blowed to shit' either. It took a blow or two, sure, but that was expected. No, no. It'll be ready in two weeks. This is my little victory dance, then back to work."

"Cool. Good seein ya kickin back 'n havin fun." Bella's back ta smirkin. "Ain't seen ya do mucha that. Whatcha gonna do with the place anyways?"

Gabriel shrugs. "I'm going to class it up. Make it nicer. Fair. Safer for everybody. Good drinks, better bartenders and a general ambiance of inevitable improvement." Then he tickles the ring on his right hand. "Now I have a big place to put a decent memorial for her. Nice picture up on the wall behind the bar, coat of arms, her military regalia." He drinks, then grins widely. "It'll be great. The details are fantastic."

Bella grins. "Damn. Lookit ya. Now yer alla big bus'ness guy huh? No more runnin round shootin people?" There goes the last of her beer. "Maybe kinda fun seein ya tryin that. Inna Dregs even." Then smirkin. "Course if yer classin it all up guess I better go drinkin somewheres else."

"Mmm-mm. Still going to be looking out for the town, looking out for the little guy just like you enjoy ribbing me," Gabriel says, ending by sticking out his tongue. "But I've run businesses before. Not a strip club, but I've done it." He leans very close and whispers in Bella's ear, "In my time, I was still a soldier and a spy... but I was also the fourth richest man in the world. I stayed off the papers, so you'll never find it, but I was there."

"Really?" Bella grins more. Pokes him. "Too bad ya didn' bring lots with ya." She perks up. "'R did ya?"

Gabriel smiles, somewhat sadly. Then someone slaps him on the shoulder with a compliment and he perks up again. "All I brought with me was military gear. I was in the middle of protecting a battleship with a brigade of men at the time. Plus, even if I'd brought stacks of thousand dollar bills with me, I doubt any banks here would honor them, would you?"

That kills her grin. "Oh. Gotta point there." Bella shrugs. Puts her empty up onna bar. "Was just fun thinkin." She eyes him. "Still gonna be a fun place ta go?"

"It'll be a wonderful place to go. I'm even thinking about buying a fountain for it somewhere down the line. Better clothes for the girls, good booze. Better security," Gabriel smirks.

Gabriel smiles. "Well, there's no accounting for taste, I guess. A fountain would class up the place. Doesn't mean you have to bathe in it." He takes a long pull on his drink, then leans back on the counter as the party continues elsewhere. "Please, what would you do with the club. I'm sure it'll be amusing."

Bella shrugs. "Dunno. Keepin the servin girls like they was'd be kinda handy fer me though." She winks. Pokes out her tongue a li'l.

Gabriel looks at Bella sternly. One of those, 'that joke's getting old' looks. "No, we're going to go a different direction, I think. I'd like to put in some plants. Couple of small statues here and there, same nice paintings. Maybe a whole mural behind the bar?" He then does smile after taking another sip from his bottle - a new bottle. "I'm going to be getting a much nicer common income now. No more time at Pro-Tech! Like... well, a lot more," he says, winking.

"Didn't think ya would." Bella smirks. "Was just teasin. Straws got borin quick anyways. Way more fun drinkin the old fashioned way."

"Yeah, I heard about that, Bella." Gabriel waggles a finger. "Go gentle on everyone, because it's going to be a touchy zone for a while.

Bella perks up. Quirks a brow. "Heard 'bout what? 'N a girl's gotta eat. Can't do nothin bout that."

"You can be gentle though, right? I'm not really familiar with your particulars, and obviously we should discuss them some other time in private," Gabriel says with a slight nod. "C'mon, get back in the swing of things, it's a party! I'm going to take down the trashy stuff. No disco balls. Improve the music - not a change, just an improvement. Give the girls better pay, but with promise and proof that they go to school or some kind of trade."

"Course." Bella nods. "Only hurts 'em fer a second 'r two." Then she snickers. "Good music's good. Guess payin alla girls better's better too."

Gabriel smiles and pats that special pocket over his heart that is never absent. "Yes, it is. I have a special spot in my heart for them. What do you think our signature drink should be? I'm going to press good ol' Donovan's Fizz." He raises his own bottle, pointing at the label.

Bella laughs. Maybe too big. "Why'd I figger yer gonna say that." Shakes her head. Still grinnin some.

"Nothing wrong with it! I'll still keep the psi-cola brand available. Just won't be pushing it," Gabriel explains with a low chuckle. "What do you think about decorations? Little memorial to the family and country too much?"

"Dunno." Bella shrugs and hops up. "Yer place right? Can do whatcha wanna. Just happy ya ain't dead."

Gabriel smiles happily. "Forty-one years, Bella, fighting for twenty-three of them. Gotta give me a little credit for knowing what I'm doing." He attempts to clink bottles in a quiet salute to fallen comrades. "Have to admit, I was glad to not be in another stupid brute battle like everyone does around here. How'd it work out? Well! No one got a scratch, and we won, hands-down. All these other people? They see a problem, grab the biggest gun they think they can use, and point it at the bad guy." He shakes his head and waggles a finger. "Poor strategy usually supplemented by equally poor tactics, all helped along by complete lack of gathering intelligence."

Bella smirks at him. Nods. "Yep. Most people're stupid." She waves atta door. "Can come back 'n party s'more later. But gotta go grab a bite first. Don't wanna mess up yer big thing 'n make a mess here."

Gabriel arches a brow. "No, I think that would be highly unpopular here, Bella. Go somewhere far away," is his suggestion. He offers a nod, a raise of his bottle, then walks over to talk with a group of people who continue to enjoy the party.