Jan 26 21:00:35 106 PA
From Chronicles
The throaty thrum of a motorcycle engine will precede the arrival of it and the passenger atop it. The bike is black painted with violet striping and highlights, matching the passenger and her black leather and violet accessories. A simple motorcycle helmet rests on her head, veiling her identity right off the bat. She pulls into the garage smoothly, braking to a modest stop at the middle of the work floor.
The music in the garage is loud, but the female voice sings of love for once, and Caliopa is there, singing, out of tune and badly. However, the only body part visible are her legs, sticking out from beneath a large and ancient truck. Her legs are covered in the coveralls she wears on a daily basis, and the heavy boots are present. The thrum of the motorcycle brings the singing to a half and Caliopa wiggles out from beneath the truck, smudges on her face and arms, the coverall open and resting on her hips, the vest top covering the rest of her.
Vixen pushes down the kickstand smoothly before dismounting in a smooth motion. The bike she knows well, clear from how easily she handles it. And, perhaps, the lingering slide of her fingers along the handlebars as she moves forward. It's a common highwayman. Lots of people have them. "You work here?" The voice a but muffled from within the helmet, but easily legible. "Looking for some high test oil.. heard this place was pretty good." Perhaps detectable, a hint of amusement in the tone of her voice.
Caliopa reaches for the oily cloth that hangs from her pocket, her sunny smile warming her face, her eyes lighting up. "Real sweet machine you got there." She comments softly, turning to twist the volume on the music player. "I own the garage, do most of the workin' myself." She moves closer, her gaze more on the bike than the other woman, her forehead wrinkling. "Oil ain't a problem." She nods firmly, rubbing oil off her hands, the smudges on her cheeks and forehead left untouched.
The helmeted head shifts subtly, indicating a lowering of the wearer's gaze to the woman herself. "I can tell." Clear amusement there, though without a negative lean to it. "Won't have to put it in, I can do that sort thing myself. Just don't know enough about it to pick out the best kind for high performance engines." She turns her head, considering the cycle. "Been through a bit with that one. I like to take care of it. So it takes care of me." Her attention returning to Cali.
Caliopa tilts her head, her forehead wrinkling as she considers the question of oil as seriously as any deep philosophical question. Then she nods firmly, moving swiftly to the rack of supplies. She picks the precise one she wants, without hesitation, turning back to the other woman. "Here, this'll do your girl nicely. Keep her runnin' nice and smooth..." She smiles, giving her a warm smile. "So, you new in town? Ain't seen your bike before I reckon."
"I'm new and old. Been away for a few years, but heard some trouble was on the rise.. decided to come back for a look." Vixen lifts her head to draw off her helmet, a toss of her head setting her hair into a more reasonable order after a time locked into that protective device. She grins slyly at Cali. "Won't be many here that recognize me, but you never know, eh?" The helmet going under one arm, the hand reaching out to take the oil that Cali brought back. "How much?" A casual question as she considers the can.
Caliopa nods thoughtfully, her mind on the machine and the oil, "Reckon it as a welcome present. Things are gettin' a piece wilder here, reckon we got real trouble comin'. Brings in the oddest of folks, it seems." Caliopa's comment shows a brief flash of the troublesome thoughts in her head, "You been gone long?" Her gaze finally moves to the other woman, resting on the hair style, her eyebrows drawing together into a frown, then her eyes fly to the other woman's face. "Oh!"
"A few years," Vixen confirms again, her sly grin lingering. "But I ain't looking to build off no old creds. I'm starting fresh." She turns, taking the can back to the bike, slipping it into one of the side bags before she hangs her helmet on one of the handlebars and turns back to Cali. She slips her hand into her coat, drawing out a little money pouch on a chain. Taking out some credits to hand over. "That should cover it?"
"It wasn't an offer on old creds. It was a welcomin' present." Caliopa's forehead wrinkles once more, perplexion mingling with hurt in her eyes for a moment. She doesn't take the credits, but puts her hands in her pockets stubbornly. "Reckon folks can be friendly 'n' help folks out at times. Mind, old friend of mine used to tell me I oughta get folks to pay more." She leans against the truck, giving the other woman a thoughtful look. "Name's Cali. Caliopa but only my pa calls me that."
"And I like paying my way.. the thought counts for a lot, though," Vixen says, continuing to hold out the credits for the moment, anyway. "I'm Vixen. Still getting settled in, but already well on my way to it." If, in the end, Cali flatly refuses the money, Vix will put it away, into the pouch then back into her coat without another word.
Caliopa doesn't take the money, keeping her hands firmly in her pockets, watching the other woman thoughtfully. Her gaze flickers to the woman's hair and back to her face. "Yeah..." She nods, confirmation in her expressive face, a slow smile widening her mouth into a bright grin. "Reckon it is nice to meet you." She comments softly.
"I'd hope so, haven't done anything yet." Vixen's amusement lingering as she puts the little money pouch away into her coat again. She then crosses her arms, considering Cali for a moment before she wonders, "So what' your word, Cali?" She grins, drawing out her hand sized video camera out casually. She handles it quickly, flipping out the side screen before using a glance at that to point the little device right at the other woman. "If you could, what would you tell everyone in the city?"
"Word?" Caliopa's eyes widen in startlement as the other woman draws a camera on her and she turns away, pushing from the side. "I ain't one for talkin' 'n' I ain't bein' filmed neither." She speaks bluntly, an edge of concern showing in her face. She moves to the cooler, pulling out a coke, opening it as she turns back to the woman. "I fix things. I don't fix the world. Only do the job in front of me."
Vixen grins as she willingly shifts the camera, angling the business end of it away. Though she's careful to conceal the on nature of the recording light. "Never said nothing about fixing the word. Just said what you'd tell people if you could.. everyone's got a word, even if they don't know it yet." She follows along with Cali slowly. "But that's alright.. maybe some day you'll figure out yours, then you can come talk to me. We'll get it on air."
Caliopa shakes her head slowly, "I ain't got plans on tellin' the world anythin'." She comments quietly, returning to the truck, picking up her spanner and resting it in her palm lightly. "Fact of it is, if I'd a word, 'n' I ain't sayin' I do, I wouldn't be sharin' it with the world neither. Ain't none of their business. Thoughts are private sometimes." She looks up at Vixen's hair for a moment before she speaks softly. "Like other things."
"Fair enough.. but I ain't drawn back that offer, cause you never know when you might change your mind." Discreetly Vixen thumbs off the camera, slipping it into her pocket again as she says, "Ain't the world, though. I got maybe.. 200.. maybe 300 miles of range." Her shoulders shrug faintly. "Something like that, anyway. Once I find the right place to set up shop."
Caliopa hesitates, torn between defensiveness and her natural helpfulness. Finally the latter wins, and she speaks. "Got a room downstairs. I use it when I'm workin' late." A flush in her cheeks suggests perhaps not just then but the offer is half done. "Could rent it, if you got a use for it." The abrupt offer is spoken as Caliopa turns back to the truck, flipping the bonnet open. She leans over the engine, beginning to work on it.
Vixen's brows lift slightly. "It have a lock? I'd be bringing in some expensive hardware.. though I guess you got plenty of that as it is around here." Her head turning, considering the various parts and pieces that are present. "What kinda rent we talking about here?" Casual interest shown, the young woman moving closer to the truck now, as if to casually observe the work being done.
"Guess you could put a lock on it." Caliopa's voice comes from beneath the bonnet, as she uses the bumper to reach further in. "Ain't thought of rent. Whatever you reckon is rightful." She emerges, a handful of machine parts in her grasp. "Thing is, I work funny hours, 'n' Atticus comes 'n' goes from upstairs too." This in the manner of a warning, her focus on the part. She moves to the worktop, picking up a screwdriver and setting to work.
"Beggars can't be choosey.. if you don't mind me setting up shop and some housekeeping down there, won't be no skin off my nose either way," Vixen says. "When you live where you work, things get way more efficient, don't you think?" She leans against the side of the truck's front end and states, "I'm running a radio signal. "Will be selling PDDs too eventually.. but I'll set up a box at the post office for any correspondence. I'd like to keep my work here discreet, you know? Anytime you tell the truth, you're gunna end up pissing someone off." A manner of warning, perhaps.
"Some housekeeping?" Her forehead wrinkles in concern, and she turns to give Vixen a serious look of consideration. "I ain't sure of havin' someone livin' here. A real difference in that." She twists the top off her coke and takes a swig, putting it to one side as she returns to the part. "We had troubles before, 'n' I ain't keen to have no gangs bought down on me." She comments, her tone distracted. "Might be best to find a place separate. I ain't wantin' no trouble." She retracts the offer, giving Vixen a look of apology.
Vixen shakes her head slightly. "Can't say what might happen. I'd be lying if I said nothing at all. Not to say I don't have safeguards against that. Having the signal traced, that is. I have those. But no plan is perfect and no life is without a little trouble." She grins then, effecting a casual air. "And sort of defeats my purpose if I don't live there, cause I'm looking to cut down costs. Renting out of Happy Days isn't as low as I'd like. I'll leave it to you.. your property after all."
"Sorry." Caliopa's tone is flat, her face showing the fear she feels, at the thought. "I ain't gonna lose another piece of me for a fight that ain't mine." She shakes her head, lifting the lid from the part, taking up a tiny screwdriver. She twists, pointing it at the other woman. "If you were local, you'd know how much trouble we've had, 'n' I ain't gonna be riskin' what I got now, nor gettin' hurt, not unless it is somethin' I can count as worth it." She pauses, shaking her head. "Radio, it ain't somethin' that tells me is worth is."
Vixen nods her head once, seeming to accept it without a hint of disappointment. She turns herself a bit, leaning back against the side of the truck. "I can respect that. Should be worth it, though.. once I get off the ground. Get me a base, start getting word out." She glances towards Cali. "You might wanna start carrying a cross if you don't got one. vampires around.. dunno how many, but never hurts to be prepared."
Caliopa's eyes widen at the comment of vampires and she gives an abrupt nod, her lips tightening. "I hope you get sorted out, I ain't meanin' to be awkward, nor mean." She comments softly, awkwardly, "I'll get myself a cross." She turns away, returning to the topic of the vampires. "Where were they? Anyone get hurt?" Her cheeks are flushed, her eyes turning worried.
Vixen grins idly. "I was front and center for it.. got my arm bruised up, but that's it, really. Dogs." She considers a moment. Well, it was at the place over there.. Raleigh's Retreat. Was looking into maybe getting a place there. Ran into this two chicks.. one with beaded hair and a readhead. Was late, with the fog. Came outta nowhere." She looks towards Cali. "Going to talk about it soon, even if I have to, for now, work out of the Inn." She pulls out a sticker. One that's been appearing all over the city, handing it towards Cali between her fingers.
Caliopa draws up a stool, perching herself there as she continues to work on the part. "Take a drink if you reckon you want one." She takes a swig of her own, glancing across at Vixen. "Redhead? Got a bear with her?" She asks softly, her face thoughtful. She takes the sticker, her gaze looking down at the thing, her forehead wrinkling. "The other...could be my flatmate."
"Nah.. and some kinda.. wind thing." Vixen forgoes the drink offer for now and pulls her camera back out, though not to point it at Cali. This time she paces over, casually manipulating it as she nears, then moves up a bit beside to let her see the small, flipped out screen. Playing back two clips, one showing the red head, tackling a beast faced humanoid, then another showing the beaded haired woman firing a laser pistol, though not at what. Both shots are askew and brief, not good for broadcast. "Would have got better shots if I didn't have those dogs on me." She points out.
"Wind thing." Caliopa repeats blankly, before she shakes her head, turning towards the screen. Her forehead wrinkles and she leans forward, "Tirzah. She is a friend of Sage's." Her lips tighten and she shakes her head, turning back to the machine part. She is perched on a stool, working on a part from the truck parked in the garage. Beside it, a bike is waiting, and it is late afternoon. "Dogs?" She replies absently, returning her gaze to the screen. "You always carry that."
"Dogs.. dunno, maybe they were trained or something.." Vixen shakes her head a little and flips the side screen closed again on the little camera. "Tools of the trade, Cali. You don't go to work without them and Vixen is always on the clock," she states with a broad grin. "Wasn't expecting no news that night, but that's how it is.. when you least expect it, 'bang'." She takes a step back from beside Cali and slips the camera back into her coat pocket lightly. "Once I get settled and a base, I can start making discs. Get some stores to give me a little shelf space for 'em for a little cut of the profits."
The door opens and in steps Alistair, coated white from the snow - freezing, undoubtedly. He's wearing a grey turtleneck rather than the white t today as well. Closing the door behind him, he exhales, finally getting some reprieve as he shakes the snow off of him. [Public] The dark side Renos says, "Ah. Okay."
Caliopa nods slowly, her face worried for a bit. "News discs?" She comments softly, her gaze turning to the machine part, before she rests her elbow on her worktop. "Watch yourself. Some folks don't appreciate..." The door opening stops her words and she turns towards the door. Her smile lights up her face, and her eyes warm. "Al, this is Vixen. Lookin' for a place for her work." She waves a hand towards the other woman.
"Vixen knows how to be discreet when discretion is called for," the young woman notes, giving Cali a sly grin. "Don't gotta have my camera out to record you." Though she doesn't reveal the secret to that one, her head turning to consider Ali for a moment before she nods to him. "Ran into him last night," she tells Cali before asking him, "Found me a place yet?" Her expression playful as she looks back to Cali. "Until there's a better way to distribute video, sort of dropping loads of cred on broadcasting gear, the old fashioned way is the way to go. Sell a few hundred and let the people copy it for their friends.. word gets out, I make a tidy little profit."
"Cali" Alistair smiles at the woman brightly. Yes, he's just a bit too cold to blush right now, but he would have! "Oh ... Good morning Miss Vixen" he looks from one to the other as he aproaches and makes his way next to Caliopa. "Good morning", then looking over at the other woman, "Not yet" he offers apologetically.
Caliopa glances between the two, her forehead wrinkling a little. She nods slowly, acknowledging the words of the other woman. Her smile doesn't fade at all though and when he comes closer, she reaches out her arm towards him. "Guess that'd work." She comments, giving her a quick smile, sunny and bright.
Vixen takes a moment, glancing between the two idly for a few moments. "Special lady," she murmurs idly to no one in particular. "It works, but the overhead is troublesome.. until I get a proper replication unit, I'll have to make each by hand. Tedious and boring. One of the reasons I want to live where I work. Then I can flip PDDs while I'm relaxing, doing something else."
Alistair reaches out to take Caliopa's hand into his, twining fingers. Aren't they sweet? He moves closer to her still, and gives her a hug. A cold one, at least physically, but the affection is obvious. His cheeks finally manage to color and he looks to Vixen, overhearing that comment; but he leaves it alone. It's ovbvious after all. "So you two know each other for a while now?" he asks.
[Public] So desu ne! Katsumi goes to do some office stuff, back later. She snuggles into the hug, her smile softening, her cheeks flushing. She turns, giving Vixen a confused look, the comment making no sense to her. "Ain't met before today." She answers for them, shaking her head. She reaches for the drink with her spare hand, resting the bottle between her legs to hold as she twists the lid off.
Vixen nods her head once in reply to Cali's note of their unfamiliarity. "But sometimes you get a feeling about people, you know?" Her eyes resting on Cali for a moment before she turns slightly, grown a touch thoughtful before she notes to Cali, "If you hear of any good, cheap living options, you'll let me know, right? Not looking for anything fancy, but I don't thinkt he Dregs will give me the security I need."
"Aaah. We just met last night, I dropped by this nightclub because I was curious, and we had a chat" Alistair explains to Caliopa. Looking to Vixen as well he smiles, "A feeling about people?" he asks. He stays next to Cali for now, releasing her so she can do her work.
Caliopa releases his hand with reluctance, turning back towards the work. "I'll let you know, but folks don't mostly talk to me over that, mostly askin' for stuff to be fixed." She shrugs lightly, frowning at the part as if it is being perplexing. Then she touches it lightly with her bare fingertips, and closing her eyes. For a long moment, she is silent.
"Yeah, some people you know you can trust," Vixen states simply. "Not too often it happens, but when it does.." She leave it at that and glances towards Cali. She fixes on Alistair again, considering him as Cali does her thing. "You know, that farm thing.. if you look into it, let me know. Could be a good piece. And I bet my signal reaches a lot of them.. or will once I open it up. Bet they don't' get too much news out there. At least, not the sort they should."
"Oh" Alistair places a hand on Cali's back, discreetly. He smiles, "Sure, I will be doing something for Miss Sage. She might ... like some help with funding her project" he suggests, shrugging his shoulders a little.
Caliopa opens her eyes, blinking slowly, her disorientation showing on her face. She shakes her head, clearing it. "Knew I was missin' somethin'. Sneaky." The words are muttered under her breath, possibly to the part in front of her. Her attention is gone from them, the work absorbing her, leaving them to talk. She glances up when Alistair touches her, giving him a quick, absent smile.
"Funding isn't something I can do right now.. though if she's looking to solicit donors, a little spot on the air might help with that. Got plenty of airtime to fill. Could even do it pro bono, since I can't make no guarantees with effect now. Don't know how many might be listening the first day. Put some of her stuff on the PDD." Her eyes move towards Cali. An idea coming to her suddenly, the young woman considering the other female speculatively.
Alistair doesn't seem to mind the temporary lack of attention too much; he meets her smile with his, and just puts his hands on her shoulders lightly, letting Caliopa do her thing, and just staying with her like that. Looking at Vixen then, he suggests, "It might be something to discuss with Miss Sage, as you have your needs and she has hers." Caliopa glances up at the touch, leaning back into his arms. She wrinkles her nose, glancing down at her hands. "Reckon Sage'd be at the field, or the flat." She murmurs, absently. "I reckon I need to get this part from the supplier." She pushes the old one aside, turning her face up to Alistair. "Will you watch the place while I go?"
Vixen nods her head slightly, only idly so at the suggestion given by Alistair, as if the topic has already slid to the side in her mind. Though as Cali seems about to go, she speaks up, "Got a proposition to talk with you about, Cali. But it can wait.. a little something that could make a tidy profit if we play our cards right. And help people, of course.""
Alistair looks to Caliopa and nods his head, "Of course I will" he smiles, "But dress warm, it's terrible out there" then a look to Vixen - it seems she has found another topic to dwell on for now, but he gives her a smile as well.
Caliopa hesitates at Vixen's words, her forehead wrinkling. "Proposition?" She waits, folding her arms across her chest, the movement wary, a glance towards Alistair that speaks of little. "I ain't much interested in the money." Unspoken, helping people might be of interest to her.
"It's on the up and up, Cali," Vixen assures her. "It's actually something that I've played with before.. but I'm not big on making things. I can cobble together small things, but for something more.. mainstream, I'd need someone with a better mind for mechanics. And you seem to have one." She moves a little closer and says, "A while ago I sketched out some plans.. for a little mechanical water grenade. Heard once that 'running water' hurts vampires. But most use water ballons for that.. not real easy to use or stable in a conflict situation. Heavy too. What I had in mind was a mechanical water grenade.. something that doesn't explode, but holds a small amount of water and sprays it out in a mist. Lighter, more stable and reusable if you can recover it. Considering that little incident a few nights ago, might just be the right time to dust off that schematic. Lend a little of your know how and it might be something marketable. I know you're not too interested in the money, but fair is fair.. put in work and you get part. If you want, you can give it away to someone." Alistair smiles at Caliopa reassuringly, and then he looks back to Vixen as she speaks - a brow hikes up a touch, his expression showing some interst in the device. It's a neat idea; he looks back at Cali to see what her opinion is on the matter as well.
Caliopa's thoughts have leapt ahead, towards the mechanics of a thing. She speaks slowly, her forehead wrinkling. "Reckon it is doable..." She leans forward, tiptoeing to reach for pad and pencil, her mind clearly sparking as she works on a design.
"The schematic I made didn't make it too light.. had to stuff a half gallon in it to get the right effect, but it cost 15 credits worth of materials to make." Vixen grins. "Wouldn't be too bad making it a bit more expensive if it could be made smaller than that and less like throwing a tank of water at them. Perhaps some variations. I can dig up the diagrams I made.. crude stuff, but it'll show you what I had in mind. Though I'm sure you'll find better ways that what I can come up with." The young woman deferring without a hint of upset for being so deficient. She knows where her talents lie. "What do you think.. we gold on giving it a go?"
She nods slowly, her forehead wrinkling as Vixen loses her real attention as images of designs dance in her imagination. "Reckon... reckon I could do that." She mumbles, her eyes on her paper as she makes sketch after sketch, almost forgetting the others are there. "Mebbe glass..." The mumbling continues, dropping to a pitch that isn't audible.
Vixen moves up near to Cali, giving her a little knock on the shoulder to get her attention away from her thoughts for a moment. Wanting her to hear this part of the thing. "No glass, Cali. We want it reusable, refillable and shock resistant until you're ready to toss it. Thumb the catch and toss, then it can mist on impact. Cheap, reusable. Perfect, everyone will want a dozen." She grins lightly. "I'll bring my sketches by soon, we can talk more on what you envision and mingle ideas."
Alistair is a bit of a decoration at the moment, but if the ladies approve, who's he to argue. He smiles as he watches Cali become engrossed in her work - that's a first for him to see, and it's always fun to see someone enjoying themselves. A creative thing, this is. And hey, it's for defeating an evil menace which is a bonus!
Caliopa pauses at the reusable words, frowning at Vixen, her eyes clouded as she turns back to the sketching pad, almost unaware of the others. "Ain't sure on the reusable, might be hard ..." She mumbles, leaning her chin on her hand, smudging oil across her cheek in the movement. "Plastic, mebbe, with a pressure valve that reseals..." She begins to draw, falling silent, clearly lost to them
"Plastic is good. And hard is just another word for challenge. If the good stuff was easy, what point is going for it?" Vixen grins slyly, casually giving the other woman a hip bump. "I got some stuff to take care of, so I'm going to skip." Already turning, willing to let Cali drop into her work again, though she does look to Alistair then. Considering him for a moment before she waggles fingers at him and starts back to her bike. "Have fun." Lifting her violet helmet as she nears the machine to settle it back on.
Alistair seems amused with Caliopa's attention to her work; he doesn't disturb her from it. Looking up at Vixen he smiles shyly, "Oh, goodbye Miss Vixen" he waves back at her, and moves on to close the door behind her if needed so that her exit is made more convenient.
Caliopa gives Vixen a startled look, as if she had forgotten she existed but her mind clearly tumbles back into work, her head leaning against her hand as she begins to draw again, murmuring softly about materials, and plastics, and valves. Vixen's movements aren't even noted, as Caliopa suddenly rises, moving across to one of the boxes on the shelving, beginning to search.
"Now I just need a good idea on a quick burn kit," Vix muses idly to herself as she slips astride the motorcycle. Kickstand flipped, the machine started, the engine rumbling throatily. She pulls back smoothly, then turns and cruises out into the snowy evening as he starts to creep up on the day. A lot of work to do before too long.
