Jan 17 12:59:52 109 PA - Coffee Shop Intrigue

From Chronicles

Jan 17 12:59:52 109 PA.

CITY GATES

Fizzlesnoot is on his way to the city from who knows where, passing through the small bazaar of vendors that struggle to keep their businesses open in the foul Kingsdale weather. A clear plastic bag is worn as a poncho to protect his bright orange winter coat from getting soaked through.

Gabriel is also coming in from the wilderness, though his path is coming from the west, which is mostly impassible trees and shrubbery. The weather has him clad again in full cold weather gear, including his greatcoat and hood over his head. Only the ski-mask warmth remains to be added if it gets worse. The sleet is pounding on the dirt inside the gates, and as he has no vehicle, he's keeping to the side of the road where most of the mud exists. However, bright traffic-cone orange is hard to miss, and he speeds up his steps to catch up to the odd traveling merchant and tailor.

Fizzlesnoot is quite easy to catch up to, his little legs don't make long strides, even at the quick pace he is moving, it is still not much more than a fast waddle down the road. He also takes a moment to say something to a merchant along the way, which he is quickly chased off by the irritated peddler who mumbles some angered words, something about credits and him being a bank and damn bug.

Having not taken long to catch up, Gabriel does have to wonder what the exchange was - but doesn't ask. "Hey, Fizzlesnoot. Running from the law?" His drawl comes out in the form of a chuckle. "You need to get yourself a better coat, I think, if you're going to be advertising yourself as a tailor."

Fizzlesnoot slows up when his name is called, a broad smile offered in greeting, "Eh, don't mind him, just one of those types who doesn't like to share the wealth," commenting on the cheap peddler with a shrug, "You know how it is, sometimes you run into streaks of poor luck. The weather has been killing me. I'm glad you ran into me, mind buying me a cup of coffee?" he doesn't ever stop walking, who would want to hang out in this crappy weather if they had a choice.

Gabriel follows along, quietly. Then laughs softly. "Sure. One cup of coffee. That's about all I can afford right now. Lead on, sir." He gestures into the Plaza.

TRADEWINDS COFFEEE SHOP

Fizzlesnoot pushes onward to the coffee shop, where it is dry and warm, unlike the wonderful winter wonderland Kingsdale outside world happens to be. Along the walk he makes a small comment, "I got a peek in some of the doors, and it wasn't happening in others, no matter how hard I tried. Told ya I saw that woman you mentioned, didn't I? Thought I did, just couldn't remember."

"Yeah, blonde woman, young, probably looks a little vacant right now?" Gabriel confirms. "I don't recall you telling me where she was, though. Or what she was doing. But how about behind those doors?" He'll pony up whatever credits are necessary for a single cup of coffee for the other man, perhaps conspicuously taking nothing for himself except one of the glasses of tap water that are offered for free.

Fizzlesnoot happily accepts the warm cup of coffee and waddles over to a table and removes his makeshift rain gear and winter coat, draping them over a nearby empty seat, "Well, she is a regular down there. I see her every night pretty much. I haven't tried getting to know her yet, I wasn't sure if you wanted me to or not, but I have been getting to know one of the waitresses, a nice girl. She's been there the longest actually, trains all the other girls that come into the place. Oh, and that one I told you Bella liked, she's gone, I think like gone gone too. I haven't seen her for weeks now." Once just in his tweed suit, he takes a seat and gives the coffee its first sip.

Sitting down across from the D-Bee, Gabriel nods - sadly at times. "It's not unexpected that the girl's gone. Stay away from the blonde woman. Her mind is already owned, and unless you've got something super-special up your sleeve, she's quite powerful enough to ready your mind and maybe own it, too. I'd hate for that to happen, it might blow the operation. And for you, too, of course." The bland delivery may belie other things going on in his mind. "Any look behind those doors? You mentioned something." A pause. "If there isn't anything, tell me about this waitress, the head waitress."

Fizzlesnoot grins with the mention of reading his mind and such, not commenting until the doors are mentioned. This has him fishing in his big bag for the pad inside. Flipping through to the page containing the layout, new markings are made showing definitive private dance rooms and the doors that there is no way to get a look see in without being obvious. "Well, it's not what I saw, but what couldn't be seen. These doors are well guarded from any peek. And as for the owner, she never leaves the place. Ever. Least I have yet to see her leave. The waitress was bought from the family, until she can pay off her debt. Then she will be free. I haven't spoken to her about where the new girls are coming from, I didn't want to scare her off just yet. I figure when she feels safe with me in her home, that will be the time to bring it up."

"Her home? If slave quarters can be called a home, I suppose. We're talking about the one that trains the others, right? Yeah, lay off for a while, just make friends." Gabriel then leans forward on his arms. "Okay, this is important. Tonight, tomorrow, as soon as you can. Get there early, before they even open the doors. Maybe you have bikini business or something. Take down some numbers for me." He ticks off items. "How long is it between them opening the doors, and you seeing Donna? On average, how many times do those special doors open and close - if at all. Who goes in and out, and what kind are they. Staff? Undead visitors? Women? Everyone? Then note the final time that you see Donna that night, and exactly what time they call for last call, and finally shut the doors." The Kentuckian admits, "I can't pay you to grease the wheels, but it's important."

Fizzlesnoot nods as he listens to his instructions, "Well Donna is easy. She is behind the bar soon as the doors open, until the time they close. It's only open dusk till dawn, you're out by the time the sun rises and not allowed in till it sets again. The doors are only used by staff, mostly the security and Donna only, dancers have their own area for changing and such. Any business seems to be conducted in the private dance rooms, no one goes anywhere else if they are not staff. No one. This Psi-cola stuff seems to be a very important factor in all this somehow. The ones addicted to the stuff seem to be the ones who hang around the staff the most. I should be able to find out more from this waitress if she don't get bought first, she's been lucky so far, unlike Bella's favorite. She almost has enough to buy out her contract too. That’s the deal supposedly for all the waitresses. They can buy out or work it off."

Gabriel listens intently, his face impassive, simply accepting the information. He opens with, "Wow. That's some great stuff. Considering that... I think you've done everything for me that I'd ask you to do, Fizzlesnoot. Unless you're a secret vampire killer in your free time?" There's the smile, followed by sadness. "I know that you've got a business with them now, the clothing stuff. That girl isn't going to go free. Not alive, at any rate. Don't get too attached to her." He shrugs a single shoulder, then begins to stand. "I think that I've got some business with them now, so I'll be off."

Fizzlesnoot gives an expression, not wanting to believe anything bad will happen to his new friend working out a bad situation, "Don't worry about the business, it was more a cover than anything else. I would rather see all the girls free of the slavery they have fallen into. I'm not sure I can help, but I'll tell you a little secret." he mentions with a grin, "My mind is not an easy prize to get. As it should be, as valuable as it is. Us Carpetbaggers are very resistant to mind manipulations, hell, even healing is not so easy with us in that fashion. Just don't work so well. Don't get me wrong, it's not impossible, there have been stories among other merchants like us in Tolkeen that so an so got swindled by a Mind Melter on occasion, but no one I know personally has ever had it happen, an not from lack of trying. My father told me a story of this woman that tried to hustle him out of his wallet after a great card game one night. Tried luring him with some mind control stuff, girl left with a broken eye socket when he figured it out. Poked her right in the eye. Oh, we're also a bit stronger than you human types, so the poke was a bit more than a simple poke you might have done." he then realizes the ramble syndrome he tends to have, "Here I go again, rambling on and on." Coffee to the rescue, something to give him pause.

"Hmm." Once more, a new world kicks Gabriel in the chest, but at this point he's learned to roll with it. "I guess everyone's special, right? Makes me feel better about hiring you! Nevertheless, if one of them gets it in their mind that they want to kill you, they'll kill you - unless you're geared up to fight a vampire or two. However, if you can.. try to talk to Stacy a little, if you're truly somewhat safe from possible mind control. She's a very important person, but she's also a pet. Sometimes pets see things that their masters don't realize they're seeing. Chat her up." He shrugs, then begins to head out. Over his shoulder, he offers softly, "If I ever have some more credits to compensate you for your time, I will."

Fizzlesnoot nods happily, "The coffee was swell today. Thank you." giving his cup a raise. "I'll let you know if I hear anything else or finally get a peek in those rooms."

Gabriel smiles, waves once more, and is then out into the winter air again.