Jan 05 04:15:57 109 PA - Meeting a Robed Figure in the Plaza

From Chronicles

Jan 05 04:15:57 109 PA.

MERCHANT'S PLAZA

Near dawn on a Saturday, there is little activity in the market. A few dedicated merchants or those catering to the early crowd, possibly. Even con artists, pick pockets, and hawkers of overpriced mediocrity must sleep sometime. The hour is not too early for one cloaked figure, however, and Aya walks through the open space from the nearby gates, wooden staff in hand.

With a whistle coming from his lips, Gabriel wanders in from the north, wrapped in cold weather gear, but with the hood down and the greatcoat thrown open. Cold is different for some people. His eyes look around as if he might actually have business here, but has yet to find it. A slowly moving robe is easy to spot, however. Even if the Merchant's Plaza is unusually empty, as 'empty' for the Plaza simply means, 'not total chaos.'

Aya pauses near one of the few vendors setting up for the day; a local hunter or rancher, judging by the selection of smoked meats. The wares are studied as much by scent as other senses. A morning snack is always a possibility.

Gabriel makes his way over to the vendor. Maybe not his first choice, maybe not his business. But he makes his way through the relatively light throngs - glad that he doesn't keep his wallet in his back pocket, or much else for that matter. When within polite earshot, he calls, "Morning, Aya. Nice to get out before sunrise, isn't it?"

"Get out? I came in. Or do you not speak of the city?" Aya does not entirely understand his comment. The meat is a different matter, and she purchases several portions of cured venison. Her wallet appears to be a simple pouch that she draws credit tokens from to exchange to the seller. The older man chuckles. "I mean 'get out' as in 'get your day going.' I see you're still working on the literalisms. You find all of your meals within the city?" Gabriel moves closer, but continues to keep a polite distance.

Aya shakes her hood. "No. I hunt most of my food outside the city, but it does not keep long." After storing the meat inside her cloak, she turns towards Gabriel. "Do you?"

"I get most of my food outside the walls. I like it out there. Makes me feel far more comfortable - in many ways - than staying in the city. Maybe I'll bore you with the story sometime." Gabriel chuckles lightly. "I only eat in the city if I've run out and need something fast, or like last night, when the Silver Fork was holding a benefit. It's just easier, as you obviously know. More fulfilling too, right?" Then, pointing to where the meat has just disappeared, he offers, "I have rations for when I need to keep food, but for the most part, I eat it when I catch it."

"My rations are low," Aya nods, "and they are easier to trade for than make. I am more comfortable outside the walls, but I cannot ignore this place. There is much to explore even if I do not rest here."

"Yes, true." Gabriel steps back as a child goes flying by - followed by a screaming parent. "So what have you seen of the city so far?"

Aya's hood cants slightly to the right. "I traveled this road south to the end, west to the river, then north along the water."

"So?" The man opens his arms invitingly. "Sounds like the safe areas. Though you could have gone southwest into the Magic District, if that's your thing. Or hit the landing strip, maybe. What'd you think? Find anything interesting other than Harry's Gym?" Gabriel waves off a merchant selling wooden crucifixes. "No, thanks. Got a real one already."

"There are many here," Aya voices her observations, "and most move rapidly to somewhere else. The landing strip is chaos. The magic district is interesting. Do many here need crosses?" She does not trade with the merchant, but the wares are noticed.

Gabriel shrugs. "Apparently. Fighting vampires, something like that. Apparently they don't like 'em. I mean, sure, it was good enough for Bram Stoker, but today it seems a little too... well, literal, I suppose." He grins. "But I'm not a vampire hunter. Though current circumstances may suggest otherwise. I don't know. You need to talk to someone else about that, really."

Aya purses her lips. "Vampires? They should not be here." Exactly why this is so is left unsaid. His exclusion of one profession prompts her to ask, "What are you?"

"I'm just a man," is Gabriel's first explanation. "Nothing special. I'm out of place, I don't belong here." Then he offers a slight shrug. "However, where I come from, I was a problem solver."

"If you do not belong," Aya asks, "why stay? What problems did you solve?" Her curiosity is direct.

Gabriel sighs, long and quiet. "I can't get back. The... road has been closed. So, I'm making the best of a bad situation. As for the problems? I solve the problems that people can't solve themselves. I'm fortunate in what I've had in my life, which is more than most, and in many ways. So I do my best to carry it on, passing along what I can to those who need it." He nods to Aya with his chin. "And you? What do you do? Or what do you see yourself doing, after you get more acquainted with the city?"

Aya lifts her empty hand in a low, vague gesture. "I am a warrior. That is my purpose, what I do. When and why I do so..." She pauses and her lips form a frown, "I do not yet know."

"Good! Then we have something in common," Gabriel says. "Though I've no doubt that our methods are different. Tell me, Aya... if I could keep up with some expenses, would you be willing to do charity work? Not necessarily warrior work, but jobs that would require a firm - but gentle - hand and some intellect?"

"What manner of work?" Aya seeks more detail before considering the question. "I can be firm, and am not an ignorant brute." She reciprocates by addressing some of his requirements.

"Security. Construction. Raising money. There's an organization in the 'Dregs that's making it a better place. At the moment, I have very tentatively become the man in charge. Unfortunately," Gabriel says with a sad shrug, "Due to how they lost their leader, they're disorganized. But... if this doesn't sound interesting, how would you feel about fighting vampires?" He nods his chin again. "This far north? You seem to know something about them."

"I know that they are dangerous enemies, to be destroyed whenever and wherever found." Aya affirms, with an admission, "Although I have never found one. What does your group do? Are they too few to be secure and rebuild? You are the leader, it is your responsibility to organize them."

"I am a very new leader, and as I said, they're very disorganized because of the sudden way that they last their old leader. But I'm not incapable, they will be organized. I was only trying to give you something to do," the Kentuckian says with a smile. Then Gabriel leans on the merchant's table and asks Aya, "So you know of vampires, but you've never fought one? Are you sure that you *could* fight one? I don't mean any disrespect in that, it's just good to know limitations - like I know that I should never get into a fair fight with one." He then tosses back a hand and laughs. "Of course, any fair fight is a stupid fight."

Aya's hood dips with her nod. "I can assist you. I could fight a vampire, or any other foe, and will when needed. A fight is never fair. Even, possibly, but only until one side gains the advantage."

"Very true," Gabriel allows. "Once you get settled in the city, we should talk more about it. So... try to get settled quickly!" There's a bit of levity - and truth - in the last statement.

"If I must settle in the city," Aya shakes her head, "then I cannot help you. I make camp to the north and west, not far from the river."

"No, no. Not the city. Just settled anywhere, and the wilderness is as fine a place as any." Gabriel looks to the east as the very tip of the sun is now above the horizon. "I'd best be going, another shift to fulfill up on Steel Street. Take care, Aya. Hope you find some more interesting things today." With that, he begins to move off.

Aya voices a simple "Farewell" and turns to follow the large street with the intent to find more of those same interesting things.