Jan 22 02:36:31 106 PA
From Chronicles
Kingsdale - Cali's Garage(#1816Rh)
The large garage has a small corner desk, with pieces of paper and catalogues of machine pieces on shelves against the wall. Along three od the walls, huge metal shelving units hold a variety of brown boxes, each marked with some arcane mechanics scrawl that indicates the contents. The other has a long workstation against it, and a series of hooks and shelves, upon which tools sit, in apparently random order. The workstation itself bears the weight of half a dozen dismantled machines of varying sizes. The floor is concrete, stained with oil, with patches of sand here and there. A large tub containing sand squats beside the garage doors, a shovel sticking out of the top as if someone shoved it there after use.
A row of pegs against the wall by the workstation has various coveralls, coats and other things hanging on it and a large noticeboard has a range of oil stained pieces of papers stuck to it with pins. Along the beam that runs the length of the garage, several jars have been attached with a nail through their lid. They seem to be storing small components of different sizes.
A door exits the garage, apparently allowing entrance to the upper floor by the use of a key pad.
There is a noise from downstairs, a muffled thud and the the stairs are creaking quietly. Voices give the person coming up the stairs pause, and the feet retreat once more, hesitating at the bottom as if considering their options. Then, without many choices, the footsteps creak up the stairs. Downstairs, a few old pieces of clothing gave Caliopa options, few of them good but she has found the t-shirt Alistair threw down the stairs and her jeans, even if her feet are bare and her hair is mussed beyond explanation. She emerges from the stairway, her face wary, her cheeks flushed. "Uh, Sage... Desmond..." She glances at Alistair quickly.
With her thoughts on the matter of the picnic distracted away for the time being, Sage looks to the feline with a raised brow. "Oh?" She asks softly, "What's it about?" She asks before the feminine voice draws her gaze over. She considers the woman's state, "I... uh... was coming to check on you.. but..." She trails off, thinking of a good way to put what she seems to have pieced together.
Desmond's ears flick towards the door down to the lower level at the first low sounds from the stairs. Noted, but not drawn attention to by him. Only when she emerges does he turn his attention towards the stairs. Now, Des is a bright boy, despite appearances. And he faces the moment with some grace. When things get awkward, change the subject. "I hope we did not wake you, Cali. But now that you are here, you too can aid me," he rumbles deeply. A hand lifted, motioning for her to come closer to where he and Sage stand. Meanwhile the other hand draws out a picture. It's been carefully torn from a glossy paper of some sort, carefully folded into quarters. He unfolds it carefully and will hold it low where both can come to see easily. "I am seeking a gift for Aimee. For this.. Valentines day. I thought to get her something to wear, yet.. I am unsure if what I have chosen is proper. It seems simple, yet it draws me. I am unused to buying clothing." As some might know, since he tends to wear about the same thing every day.
Alistair looks back towards the stairs. He's blishing a bit, though he smiles at Caliopa. He's dressed, but 'hiding things' might not be possible at this point. Then again, Desmond seems to be helping. He looks back towards Desmond, and at the picture he produces. He blushes more, probably for obvious reasons. "You just have to get it fitted ... " he offers quietly.
Caliopa's blush doesn't help matters and Alistair's seems to make it worse. "Uh, Desmond, that looks real pretty..." She comments, stepping forward, warily with bare feet. "Reckon you know her tastes better than me." She glances across at Sage, giving her a quick half smile, a quick nod and a small shrug, then turns towards the room once more, padding towards the cooler, bending to take some water out.
Leaving certain things unsaid finds its releaase in wrapping the finger so thoroughly into her lock of hair, Sage's finger brushes lightly against the beaded strain once her finger gets that point. Then realizing she's had it in hair so long, she shakes her finger out of it before reluctantly letting her hand drop. She turns her attention to the picture, she considers it. "Something like that might be good to wear for that event.." She murmurs softly, "But, it depends on whether Aimee would be comfortable wearing it." She considers the feline with a slightly tilted head. "Does she... have other things that... are a little revealing?" She asks, unsure of whether she's being too forward with it. She glances to her friend, "Perhaps we can chat later." She says softly.
"I know her tastes in color and such things.. and I feel the style will appeal to her," Desmond admits. "Yet.. I am not certain it is.. grand enough." The term seeming to be as close as he can get to explaining his uncertainty. "I am considering more to do.. for a day such as this, it would seem necessary to be appropriately grand and I do not wish to disappoint her." And there is some honest concern in his firm expression to speak of this desire. He looks to Alistair then and notes, "I know her measurements precisely." And he states so with a simple certainty. He then nods to Sage. "I did plan to present it to her the morning before," he confirms. "My Aimee is given to wearing clothing that flatters her form. She will not be embarrassed to wear this, if that is what you suggest." Again, he speaks from a position of firm certainty.
Alistair dips his chin a little. He then turns to head where Caliopa is, something from the cooler might do him well, too. He Brushes up against her, looking for something to reach for - or at least such is the excuse. He whispers quietly to her, "I said you went to sleep because you were tired ... and that sort of dress would look very nice on you."
Caliopa nods at Sage, giving her a small smile, almost shy. "Reckon it'd be lovely, Desmond..." She murmurs, offering one of the waters to Alistair, his whisper bringing a warm flush to her cheeks, her smile widening to a warm one, the dimples deepening. "Reckon it'd not work in the garage... I got dresses." She whispers back before she opens her own water.
Sage nods faintly to her friend before shifting her gaze to Alistair, "We still need to talk at some point too..." She notes, before she shifts her attention back to the feline. She considers the dress once more before looking to the feline himself. "Valentine's is a special day... but, its usually flowers or sweets that are gifted.." She says thoughtfully, "... if you want to do more... find an accessory to go with it?" She suggests.
One of Desmond's ears flicks towards the whispering pair, though again he if truly hears, he doesn't remark or even glance towards them during it. "I believe I will get it.. but perhaps more, yes. I know not what is tradition for such times, but even if such is the norm, I would go further. It is a rare luxury that many take for granted." He pauses to consider. "An accessory, yes.. something she can carry with her often." He lapses into a silence as the paper is carefully folded to be put away again. Of course, he doesn't come up with an immediate something to fulfill that role.
Alistair takes the bottle from Calip and grins at that revelation, and there's more blushing. He opens the bottle as well, taking a deep breath and a gulp of water, then he looks back at Caliopa. "I - yeah" he agrees with her, still speaking quietly. "I guess I'll have to wait to see."
"Somethin' to go with somethin' you know she likes, Desmond..." Caliopa comments quietly, her cheeks pink as she sips her water. Then she turns, putting her hands on her workstation, and jumping up to perch there. She gives Alistair a quick smile that is full of tease, mischief that the others might not have seen before. "You got plans for the evening, Desmond?"
A dimension of the feline is revealed that she hadn't thought much about brings a small smile to Sage's lips. "Then Aimee is a lucky woman." She comments, thinking back on habits that she's noticed in others. Yet her tone is more appreciative than envious. "Shoes... purse... brouch..." She offers, unsure of what else to say as she isn't familiar with Aimee's tastes. Her mind wanders onto a different topic as she falls silent.
Desmond dips his head to Sage at her comment on Aimee's luck. Accepting the words as given, without a moment of preening. He then gives it some thought, none of Sage's suggestions seeming to implant imemdiately. Cali's question drawing him from his thoughts to regard her. "At the moment, no. Aimee is working and there is, for now, time I can spend away from The Alibi. A proper time to come and ask of this, when I can be sure she will not be near to overhear." Then an idea flickers into his head. "Charms.. I had thought to get her a charm bracelet once before.. yes. Before we came togehter, when she was with him." Time and the moment serve to give no real emphasis to 'him' despite what there could surely be. "Something to be given now and as time passes to be added to. For prominent memories. Yes." While his voice does not rise as he rumbles this half to himself, there is a growing certainty in this voice. He seems to think he's stuck gold.
Alistair turns his head a little to listen in on the conversation, then back to Caliopa as she hops onto the bench. He blushes deeper at the look she gives him. He's probably in some sort of trouble, but it can't be too bad ... can it? He smiles at her, his brows hiking up.
Caliopa settles herself on the bench, leaning back against the wall, her bottle resting in her hands. She listens thoughtfully, her forehead wrinkling. She doesn't speak though, clearly tired, the hour late. She tilts her head back, resting it back against the wall. A smothered yawn...
When the feline seems to come up with his own idea, Sage rouses herself enough to smile slightly. Yet, the decision still brings something to mind. "I guess Cali's better at giving ideas." She says softly, thinking back to earlier when the feline had said he'd come to Cali in the past. Her gaze travels over to the other two. She seems to pick up on her friend's tiredness. "Do you want to walk back to the flat together, Cali?" She asks, but her gaze shifts to the man beside her to consider him a moment.
Desmond looks to Sage and settles a hand on her shoulder, letting only some of it's weight linger. "I thank you for your aid in this." His eyes lift towards Cali. "And yours." He pauses, considering the woman quietly for a few moments before he states, "You should rest, Cali. I know not why you asked of my own plans, but your path in the immediate is clear to me." His hand lifts from Sage's shoulder and he considers all three of the humans before him in a slow sweep.
"Sleepy?" Alistair asks quietly, though it's obvious that she is. He turns look at the others in here as well, after taking a sip of water. He moves closer to Cali, though the choice is hers; as for Desmond, Alistair seems a little uncertain what to make of his statement - even though it wasn't directed at him, it seems to have relevance.
Caliopa's glance across at Alistair is speaking, a reluctance to leave him, in indecision in her face. "I guess you ain't wrong..." She mumbles, her hands pushing herself from the wall. "Uh. Sage, I might .." Alistair's movement towards her stalls her comment and she blushes. "I reckon I might sleep here tonight..."
With the touch on her shoulder by the feline, Sage's gaze drifts back to the feline offering a faint smile. "You're welcome." She offers, even if it was only partially useful. Then her gaze shifts back to her friend to consider her answer. "If that's what you want.." She replies, "Its not like its the first time either. Just make sure you lock up... I don't want anything strange happening with the fog and all." She looks between the people assembled, "I guess I'll head out if there's nothing else...?" She comments as her original reason for coming here has been satisfied with unexpected results.
"This is good advice," Desmond rumbles to Cali, backing up Sage's suggestion on the locks. "It has been quiet thus far, but that is no reason to relax one's guard too much." Whether or not his words had any deeper meaning goes unsaid. And with that stony expression, gauging the big feline's emotions by eye is difficult. He then looks to Sage and dips his head once. "I can escort you to the complex if you so desire. It is along my way to go that far." Though not armored up, he still makes an imposing enough guardian.
Blush begets blush. Alistair takes a quick sip of water, his eyes on Caliopa; he smiles at her warmly, ready to offer a hand to help her down from the bench when the time comes. Looking to the others he offers, "Good night Miss Sage, Sir" pleasantly.
Caliopa slides herself off the bench, taking his hand and giving him a warm smile of thanks. She doesn't release his hand when she lands though, leaning against the man with an odd awkwardness that speaks of a new thing. "I'll be in for breakfast, Sage. Promise." Her voice is soft, and she gives the other woman a quick smile.
"Good night." Sage offers as she looks to the pair that seem to be all blushes. She tilts her head, before nodding to Cali. "I'll make enough for two then." She looks back to Desmond before smiling softly, "That would be nice..." She pauses, "Oh... Isabeau and I were doing a little brainstorming... we should probably all meet at some point to run the initial ideas past you and Aimee to get a sense of which direction we should be moving..." She offers as she begins to walk for the door.
