Feb 27 22:37:00 109 PA - New Face, Annoying Friend
From Chronicles
Feb 27 22:37:00 109 PA.
MAIN STREET SOUTH
It's snowin. Wee! Don't keep ev'rybody from walkin round inna dark though. Like Bella. She's comin down the road. From somewheres else. Cause she'd look really silly walkin here from here.
Gabriel is out as well, and apparently plenty warm in his greatcoat. A far cry from the almost-nothing gear that he wore last season. Not that it seemed to bother him, as he's stepping out of City Hall at the moment, pausing on the steps as he looks at some paper in his hands, then tucks it back into his inner jacket.
Bella ain't lookin atta big hall. Justa worthless place with a buncha worthless people mostly. She's lookin round a li'l though. At other people walkin this way 'n that mostly.
As he descends the steps to head up the street, Gabriel breaks into quiet song. The first song he's been feeling up to singing aloud in a number of months. "You'll never know how many dreams, I've dreamed about you, Or just how empty the all seemed without you, So kiss me once, then kiss me twice, Then kiss me once again, It's been a long, long time..." He doesn't have the greatest voice, but it's not bad - and likely a song that no one alive has ever heard. His greatcoat is blown with an unfortunate drama as a brief burst of wind passes, but it doesn't seem to dampen his spirits.
Ok. Singin's kinda diff'rent. Makes Bella look over. Brows pop up. She don't say nothin right 'way though. Maybe his singin ain't so bad. 'R maybe she dunno if he's gonna hear her when he's singin.
Gabriel is happy to make his way along with normal pedestrian traffic, a little bounce in his step. "Ah, kiss me once, then kiss me twice, Then kiss me once again..." Yup, he's enjoying it. Hey, who wouldn't. He's probably still riding high on a victory against something he was never trained to fight.
Bella's patient. But two refrains're bout her limit. She can't stay shut up that long. "That's alotta kisses." She's walkin Gabe's way now. Smirkin too. "Ain't no wonder yer all happy."
"Mmm?" The old guy's head turns toward the words that seem to have been directed at him. "Ah! Beautiful, bountiful Bella with such bloom and blessing to her behind. How're you doing? Coming out of the Plaza? Or perhaps coming to take me to coffee. That's it, that must be it." Gabriel stops, waiting for Bella to reach him. "It is a lot of kisses. They sang it during the War; it was longing when then girls at home sang it, and when the guys fighting sang it. Then when we won? It was victory, with a lot of kisses all around. Some rather more entertaining bits of boy-girl interaction as well, right?" Wink. Heavy wink.
"I bet." Bella smirks bigger. "'N whatcha talkin bout my ass fer? Ya get drunk 'r juiced 'r somethin?" She eyes him. Maybe half suspicious.
"Sorry, Bella. You have beautiful red lips and a rack that you could do Shakespeare from. Better?" Gabriel grins at his fangy friend. "Not drunk, not even buzzed. Only drug I've ever done was a few field amphetamines during extended battles, when there was no time to sleep. Well, unless you didn't mind being killed." He finishes off with a shrug. "You don't like compliments?"
Bella shakes her head. "Ain't used ta gettin 'em. Less it's somemody wantin ta get somethin." Right back ta smirkin. "'N I know yer bullshittin anyways. Been doin that lots lately ya know." Now she's eyein him again.
"Yeah, trying to keep you from being killed by angry folk," Gabriel says sincerely. "Can't blame me for trying. And stop looking at me that way. I don't have anything left to do except slap on paint and hire new waitresses. But, if you don't want to hear nice compliments, I won't offer them. How about this. 'My, Bella, you've really managed to keep a slim figure.'"
That gets a li'l laugh. "That's easy. Just gotta watch who ya eat." Bella winks. then blinks. "New paint? Oh. Right. The new new Lady. That's gonna be fun ta see."
"Not too many changes, just classing it up. Changing it. As long as I keep the money coming, it makes no difference to anyone," Gabriel states easily. "Want to get in out of the cold? You might not care, and I might be warm, but it's always nice to be inside, isn't it? I'll tell you more somewhere other than standing around on the street."
"Sure." Bella shrugs. Looks 'round. "Where we goin? 'N no damned happy fackin burger." Finger points at 'im.
"I *LIKE* Happy Burger!" Gabriel exclaims loudly enough to get the attention of people passing by. Perhaps they think it's an odd argument between two very odd friends. "Fine, where do you suggest. Fancy, or coffee? Personally, I'd go for coffee. Yup." He reaches out to grab Bella's shoulder and turn her north.
Bella gets turned. "Coffee's fine." She'd maybe take fancy too. 'R anythin else. Long's it were't happy burgers.
"Coffee it is then. Race you. Whoever gets there with a beating heart wins, and doesn't have to pay." Gabriel sticks his tongue out, then starts off at his normal chugging pace.
Bella's gotta laugh again. "Sure. Riggin the bets." She can sorta race him 'n keep up.
TRADEWINDS COFFEE SHOP
Late night at the coffee shop, and Tiffany has been joined by her sister Stefanie. Stefanie is older, and brighter, but defers to her younger sister who has far more experience at the trade. In the end, this means that orders are even more screwed up than usual. But at least it's done with a smile, and wrong orders are free. Gabriel accepts his five mugs and a pile of assorted pastries with a smile, and offers a decent tip anyway. Based on the way they conversed, they may actually be friends outside of work as well. By the time anyone is likely to catch up on foot, he's placed himself along one of the smaller tables at the western plate windows.
Bella ain't that far behind him. Can catch up by skippin the coffee part too. But she don't. Waits in line like a good li'l girl. Orders up what she had last time. Maybe they'll get it right. Maybe not. S'prises can be fun.
Into Tradewinds steps Jokin, leading his way through the door by means of his outstretched bionic arm, and the accompanying blaster on it's forearm. His steps are heavier on the floor then even his booted feet would suggest as he makes his way across the room, "One Caramel Brulee Latte, Large." He says to the barista on duty, "And one of those lemon squares." He adds, paying the woman before he steps back to the little side area where the orders are delivered.
The teenage girls with the multiple arms and blue skin hurry to fill both orders. They're mostly right. Give or take a few mistakes. Over at his own table, Gabriel has swept his greatcoat over back of his chair, folded it, and placed it next to him. After sampling on of the mugs, his head turns to see the newcomer. Hmm. Interesting. However, as he's not in the business of hopping up and greeting people, he remains happily quiet, perhaps even getting back into a quiet song to annoy the friend with whom he's come.
Now Bella catches up. Plops her butt down with Gabe. She's only got two cups. "So. Whatcha wanna talk bout now? The new place?"
Jokin takes up his lemon square as it's delivered, taking a bit of a bite out of it, munch munch. The latte is lifted up in his other hand as it's delivered, after sticking a little straw in it of course and he takes a little sip from it before moving to find one of the empty chairs.
"New place? More like an old place being polished." The older fellow pauses to sip from his coffee. Gabriel then indicates the somewhat robotic man with his chin. He asks softly, "Interesting guy. You seen him around before?"
Bella looks over. Spots Jokin. Shrugs. "Seen 'im. Met 'im. Kinda." Looks back at Gabe smirkin. "Old place. New place. Whatever. Just makin it how ya wanna now. Same's ev'rybody had it 'fore. 'N ev'rybody't gets it later."
Jokin doesn't seem to give the two much mind, he settles easily into his chair, kicking out a foot with a little thumb as he lounges back, taking another bite of his lemon square and setting his latte down on the tabletop as he looks out towards the street.
Gabriel shrugs at Bella's words, then takes a passive approach to meeting people with metal arms. He gathers his mugs, pastries and coat, and moves from the individual, more private table, over to one of the long tables in the center of the establishment where people are meant to gather and talk to people they might not otherwise know. "C'mon, Bella. Take up a bench seat."
"Eh." Bella thinks bout that a sec. Stands up. "Can walk over that way." She comes over. But don't sit again. Guess Gabe ain't wantin ta talk so much now.
Jokin finishes off his lemon square before scooping up his drink, sipping at it a little then standing up and heading over towards the big center one and sliding in, "You coulda just come over and said hi, you know." He says with a grin, tapping his ears, "One of the first things you get upgraded." He adds.
"Yes, I'm sure. Seems like everybody has things like that these days." After setting his cup down and carefully wiping his hands, he extends one. "Gabriel. Nice to meet you. Lemon squares?" His eyes turn to Bella. "Being antisocial, or just shy?" Chuckle.
Bella shrugs. She's holdin her coffee. Just ain't drinkin none. "Neither. Just chasin ya down cause yer runnin 'way." Now she smirks at Gabe.
"You think?" Jokin asks as he takes a sip from his drink, setting it aside, "I mean sure, little things here and there aren't too unusual, and having some cybernetics or bionics does help in the merc gig sure." He says with a grin, "And you are in Kingsdale." He adds like it needs no further explanation., "And they're good yeah. Name's Jokin. Pleasure to meet you as well, Gabriel."
Gabriel smiles at the other man's words. "Yes indeed. Mercenary, huh? You know Bella, in passing?" He gives a soft motion toward the girl, then turns to her. "You know, bench seats don't bite. If I've run away, you've certainly caught me by now."
"We met. A li'l." Bella grins. Still standin. Points at Gabe. "He don't like mercs much. Ain't out shootin people fer creds." She winks at Jokin. "Does it ta take over their clubs."
"Yeah, a Headhunter." Jokin laughs, "Fight the good fight and die with the enemy's heart in your hand, and all that," he says with a grin, "But yeah, we met, she was talking about shaking her tits about naked and what have you." He explains to the other man before sipping at his latte again. "Something of a heavy weapons expert, amongst other things. Know my way around power armor and robots pretty well, mostly power armor though. Looking to find a few small time jobs before going back to the big leagues. Get some of my shit tuned up a bit more."He says, wrappin at his thigh with his bionic knuckle, the thump of metal on metal ringing out through the room, though tempered by the material of his pants.
Gabriel gives Bella a semi-dirty look before turning to Jokin with a smile. "Don't listen to her. It's just a different philosophy is all, and everyone's entitled to their own without consequence. Basically, she just likes to show up places and cause trouble. Like titillating people by saying she'll be flashing a flat chest for your entertainment." Clearly, they're friends. Just the kind of friends who enjoy time by poking at each other, sometimes more heavy-handed than others. "I'm sorry, Jokin, I'd love to get to know you right now, but as I'm sure Bella will probably fill you in, I have some very busy days going on right now and ahead of me. I really need to take off." Indeed he lifts his leg over the bench and stands, flipping out his folded greatcoat and tossing it onto his body. "You're welcome to my drinks. Not sure what they are, but it's free, right? I'll see you around." Bella gets a tap on the shoulder. "I'll tell you all about it, you're going to love it." Then, with a final wave, he leaves, back out into the cold winter night.
