Jan 03 08:55:33 108 PA - Polluted Lake
From Chronicles
Jan 03 08:55:33 108 PA.
THE NIGHTINGALE
Leo Yuey sits at a table alone, yet manages to occupy most of it with his presence, and breakfast remains. A pitcher of water sits in front of him and a half-dozen emptied plates are being cleared in stages by a harried waitress, possibly from the nearby diner.
With the strangers making no particular secret about where they are trying to gather information, it doesn't take too long for Sage to end up finding her way to the Nightingale. She'll likely have company coming before or after her in the form of Gabriel. She makes an inquiry to one of the staff and gets pointed towards the table where Leo Yuey sits. She begins to make her way over towards the table.
The older adventurer arrives at the maitre de shortly after the much younger Sage. While not exactly dressed for the place, neither is Gabriel completely out of place, either. Perhaps breakfast out, in mid-winter, just sounds better than catching game this morning. Instead of having the interest in actually asking about anyone's presence, he can't help but spot Sage as she moves off toward the Asian fellow. There seems to be a short discussion with the establishment's host, and he tromps in, following his friend. Fortunately, his boots have apparently been wiped of snow before arriving at the Nightingale.
The waitress is thanked when she returns for the last of the dishes before Leo glances towards those approaching. "Can I help you?" His tone is polite, if direct, which may be more than can be said of the absent drumming of fingers on the table in the interim.
While she normally isn't one to dip into other's thoughts, Sage forgoes her customary wishing permission as she reaches out with her mind to see if she can skim the other man's thoughts to see what the man might think of her response. "I heard you are one of those looking for the lake." She replies being fairly direct, "I was wondering what your group's intentions for the lake are should you find it." She tries to structure her comment to bring forth the heart of the matter.
Oddly enough, Gabriel seems to be quite in his element. Or at least, *an* element of comfort with a stranger of higher-class, or at least, temporarily-deserving of higher-class. He arrives quickly after Sage, and simply nods his head, saying, "Good morning, sir." Further words are left to the psychic, for now.
Leo Yuey shakes his head. "We're looking for something that might be in a lake, or pond, or ocean. Our..." he scowls, "intelligence is vague." That does not sit well, and he moves to a question of his own, "Do you have any useful information?" His eyes move to include the older man with their expectant gaze.
Sage makes a faint wave of her hand to dismiss the evasion, "Regardless of whether its the body of water or an object within it, that doesn't really answer my question." She replies, "I believe I know where you need to go, though." She takes a moment to draw a chair out for her to sit on. "So, I don't think its unfair to ask some information about the why." She comments, before glancing briefly to Gabriel to nod faintly before looking back to Leo.
Gabriel smiles in response to the man's question, and apparently decides to civilize the conversation somewhat, by taking the time to introduce himself. "My name is Gabriel, sir." Then, rather deftly, he states in response to the question he'd been asked, "My particular knowledge of events is somewhat limited at the moment, and from what I have seen, rather out of my normal scope of operations. This lovely woman can certainly help you. But I may be able to fill in some gaps." A polite smile is offered. "Do you mind if I sit down?" Friendly, but formal.
Celaeno slides her way into the club, looking neither left nor right as she slinks toward the bar. A brief interaction with the bartender, a moment's mixing, and a tall red speckled glass with assorted foliage is slid to her. She crunches happily on a stalk of celery as she begins drinking in the room at large. Her eyes settle on the gathering group, an amused twinkle at the recognized faces.
"It is important, that's why." Leo is as much annoyed as evasive. "If you know something..." he stops and exhales, relaxing the fist that was tightening, "please share. Many lives are at stake." He helps stretch out those fingers by waving Gabriel absently to a chair. "We're paying good credit for leads. -Good- leads. I don't want you to waste my time." Fingers begin to drum again. Mr. Yuey is not the most patient of people.
"I can show you to a lake that's contaminated and jealously guarded by some sort of magic creature that takes the form of a wolf... and there is something else that comes out of the lake to help deal with intruders." Sage comments, "If that isn't what you're looking for... then, I guess you can stop giving me vague answers and I can stop wasting your time." She comments simply before glancing towards Gabriel. "Let's wait on gap filling for the moment." She suggests before looking to the man, "Unless..."
The older man shrugs, and with a moderate drawl, offers, "It's not like any lake I've seen before. Wouldn't even call it a lake. More like a thick oil spill. All around it, for maybe a mile? Just, dead." He sits, then leans his forearms on the edge of the table, hands clasped. "I don't care why you're looking for what it is that you're looking for. That's your business. But certain people such as ourselves -" he quickly waves a hand to indicate himself and Sage "- would have a better chance of helping, if we at least knew what it is that we should be looking for." Gabriel thinks a thought really hard at Sage, not knowing how psionics works, but hoping that she'll read it somehow.
With a slight spring in her step, Celaeno moves to join them, eyes skimming from person to person as she chimes, "Hallo hallo, one and all. Don't mind me," she says, moving to stand toward the side as she beams. "Sorry to interrupt," she tacks on with a punctuating crunch of celery.
Leo Yuey's disdain changes to interest, almost as quickly as he plants his hands on the table and rises. He then halts just as suddenly when his eyes flick past the couple at his table to a woman entering from the lobby. She is petite, with dark skin, hair, and eyes. A large and colorful scarf covers most of her head; a simple robe the rest. She approaches while Leo looks back to Sage. "I'm listening and interested." He takes Celaeno's suggestion so well that he doesn't immediately acknowledge her.
Sage's gaze follows the man's reaction, before glancing briefly towards Cel at her arrival. It seems she'll mind the woman's suggestion as well. She glances towards the arrival of another woman and flicks a glance to Gabriel, before looking back to Leo. She nods faintly before pursing her lips, "This past time we visited this lake, we encountered some undead... I'd say on the lower scale if it weren't for the robot sized one with guns attached to it." She comments, "And, he..." gesturing to Gabriel, "has felt one of the wolf's abilities." She adds, "I have a feeling as to why you're looking for this ... pillar." She pauses briefly, "So, the proposals is simple... we head out there in separate vehicles... I show you where... you guys figure out the rest... I don't intend to do any fighting myself."
Gabriel clears his throat. "I'm afraid that I must take a slightly different view than my friend. Anything out there like what we encountered may have designs on this good city. If there's battle to be done, it needs to be done. If there is not... there is not." He glances to the three women, then adds the monosyllabic, "Magic."
Crunch, crunch, slurp, goes the Celaeno as her gaze slides between the three as they do their talking, nodding idly to herself as if going down a checklist in her head. She spends a little longer eyeing the now-approaching other woman, clicking to herself as she does before turning back to the group. "Scary," she adds with an earnest nod at Gabriel's finishing comment. Crunch.
"Done." Mr. Yuey nods to Sage. If nothing else, he is easy to negotiate with. "How soon can you lead us there?" The arriving woman smiles softly to everyone at the table and comes to a stop near Leo. It sounds as if there is some news, but she remains quiet for now. "If you want to help us in battle," the man looks to Gabriel, "go right ahead."
Sage takes a moment to consider the question and glances towards Gabriel at the man's piping in. She doesn't seem inclined to abuse the man of the idea. "I'll need some time to arrange things, but depending on how things go... it might be as soon as later today or within the next two." She comments before glancing to Celaeno. "Are you thinking of tagging along, Cel?" she asks, figuring the woman has been listening the entire time.
The older man has little to nothing to contribute to the conversation at this time. Gabriel merely waves down a waitress, ordering a bottle of soda, and simply asks, "Have you been in this part of the world for long? Myself, I'm from rather east of here."
"Oh, you know me," Celaeno says with a sip at her vegetable-drink, "I'm all for fame and glory. It might be a fun time to follow and see what comes of it all, though the joining in tends to depend on pricing and what exactly I'm up against." She bites into a non-celery stalk and continues through the slighter crunching, "And since these wonderful people," she dips her head to Mr. Yuey and the woman who's settling in, "certainly have no idea how wonderful I am, and seem quite confident, they've yet to float an offer. Not that I expect anything, of course." She flashes the two a warm smile as she rocks back on her heels.
Leo Yuey nods to Sage. "You can find me here," he waves a hand around and towards the lobby, "or leave a message at the desk. We'll be ready when you are." His head shakes to Gabriel in answer before he explains to Celaeno, "If you want to help guide us there, it's two thousand credits, the same as it is for anyone else. The offer's out there, has been for awhile."
Sage nods to Leo, "Alright, I'll be in touch." She replies simply before she begins to get up out of her chair. "And, keep in touch, you two." She adds glancing between Cel and Gabriel before she begins to make her way towards the exit.
For a time, it appears that Gabriel has something to say. Perhaps rather pointedly at Celaeno, judging by the general direction of his gaze. But no. Instead, he rises as Sage does, saying, "Thank you, sir. Hopefully we can all resolve this situation with as little force as absolutely necessary. Enjoy your day." That stated, he too moves toward the exit, pulling his gloves on as he goes. Celaeno will receive little more than a glance in passing.
"Oh, yes, yes," Celaeno says nodding as her hands rise defensively, "excuse me. I was talking about the fighting side of things, though you seem quite confident in that regard, so I'm sure it's not an issue in the least." With a parting smile toward Sage she calls, "I'll do what I can - and I think you're still holding onto my flask," she gives a wink. "I'll be sure to catch it later." She does a little spin as Gabriel takes his leave, grinning at the world at large. She waits a further moment before sliding into a seat, turning back to eye the man across from her, the mirth draining, "As you say, it's been out there for a while. Can't say I know the area too well, but if you're looking for another head, why not."
"You want to shed some sweat and blood, you're welcome to." Mr. Yuey extends the welcome to the extent of his cheerful demeanor. He turns his attention to the scarved woman afterward. "We need to tell the others and get ready." She simply nods , once to him and once to Celaeno. "Thank you." More reserved, but also more polite, she appears.
Celaeno simply shrugs, "We'll see, we'll see," she says, giving a dismissive wave. "I'm sure I'll be seeing you here or there, or nowhere." She seems disinterested at the moment, sighing to herself as she lowers her head to the table to peer through the glass.
