Jul 04 01:30:22 108 PA - Pinching, Drinking and Greeting
From Chronicles
Jul 04 01:30:22 108 PA.
THE ALIBI
Sometimes it's the later hours that are the most fun. Sometimes it's the early ones. Often it's the ones that people can't agree are either late or early. Pavel is one such person, having hit the Alibi shortly after sundown and still being here - just before two in the morning. He's put a decent dent in the bar's profit margin, as stated by the lined up beer and vodka bottles. Yet he's as lively as ever, out on the floor laughing it up with the ladies at this particular time. Ladies who at this hour are often more 'professional' ladies, but fun to play with in the open none-the-less.
Erica walks into the nightclub dressed up in her best outfit. She took the shuttle here so she wouldn't have to take her hovercycle. Her long hair hangs down to the middle of her back. It has been dyed bright red to match with the crimson silk brocade. Her tall heels make her sway sensually with every step as she makes her way through the security checkpoint and over to the bar. Her painted lips are curved into a slight smile as she takes a seat at a barstool.
Professional women are fun, but genuinely beautiful women are much better, and Pavel is quick to notice the new entry. Not immediately as a friend, but immediately as another woman to hit on and potentially score with. Indeed, it is such that as he comes up behind her, with her seductive swaying, perfectly anointed hair and tailored dress that he reaches out to tweak her bottom. "Allo! Pavel bahee yoo dreenk, preety gehrl?" His eyes are bright, his smile charming.
Erica's eyes go wide as her bottom is pinched. Her lips curl into a disapproving frown as she turns to look at who would do such a thing. Catching sight of Pavel she turns her frown towards him. "You think it is just ok to touch someone like that without any approval?" She asks an obviously angry voice.
"Ereeca!" Pavel jumps back - in excitement. "I'm sohry, I deedn't knoh eet vas yoo. Vould noht do aht yoo eff knoh. Vant dreenk? Seet ahnd tahlk?" He motions toward the counter, never bothering to explain away his forwardness beyond what he's already said. "Pavel geht Ereeca dreenk, ees ohn my mohney. Good, da?" He quickly glances over at a clock on the wall. "Oh! Ees, ehrly, ohr ees leht. Does noht mahter, buy dreenk, da?" He begins to move on as a guide, though not attempting to touch her further.
Erica raises an eyebrow in disapproval as she shakes her head. "That doesn't make it alright. You shouldn't go around man-handling woman like that." She says with a bit of disapproval still in her voice, though the offer of a drink seems to have helped soother her a little bit. "Very well you may buy me a drink to soothe this all over. Get me a margarita without salt please."
Pavel smiles at his friend and moves to the counter - only a few steps necessary with that long stride of his. He slaps the counter energetically. "Barmen!" He pauses only long enough for the man behind the counter to look up. "Eh mahrgahreeta, pozhalui'sta! Vodka, bohttle! Spaseeba." The large fellow tosses some credits onto the counter. Enough for the drinks and a polite tip. He turns an pats a nearby stool. "Ereeca, cohm, seet by Pavel!"
Erica shakes her head slightly at Pavel's behavior, but she doesn't seem to overly mind. She sits down at a barstool near Pavel, taking a moment to settle her skirts. "So how have you been Pavel?" She asks while tilting her head slightly to the side. She smiles at the bartender as she gets her margarita. Taking a cocktail napkin she wipes off the salt on the rim of the glass since Pavel neglected to order it without salt. "What have you been up to?" She asks while crossing her legs.
Pavel doesn't make any bones about inspecting his friend's body. Nope. But neither is he so forward and direct with her as he is with the random women in the club. "Ereeca look vehry good szees hour. Ees good. Dreenk good?" He nods toward the margarita, probably not noticing the omission of the complete order. He then talks about himself, but probably mostly because he was asked. "I go hyelp pehrson ees outsaheed sze valls. Ees mahn veesz cahrt, and.. ah.. a hohrse szat vas no hohrse. Mehtal. Mehbe Pavel vohrk veet hohrse laheek szees. Boot eet vahs no good. Tvo beeg caht, beeg -" he extends his arms wide to help get across his expression of size "- hoort Bella, hoort strahnge vehry oogly blohb. Pavel ees vahn who mahk cahts go no heer. Man veeth cahrt ees ohkay. Vehry naheece, geeve mohney." He tilts his head and tilts his bottle. "Ereeca good?"
Erica seems to ignore Pavel ogling her and instead takes a long drink from her margarita. "Well if I looked bad I am guessing that you wouldn't have been pinching my ass and manhandling me." She says but without any real anger in her voice. Erica and Pavel are sitting at the bar. Erica is dressed up for an obvious night out on the town and has a glass in one hand. "Well it was nice of you to go off and help people like that. Nice that it was worth your while. Not always get payed for good deeds."
The large man shrugs. When you're that tall and broad, it's a big motion. Pavel goes on to laugh, a low and rolling tone that goes well with his flashy, perhaps over-the-top clubbing gear. "Oh, Ereeca ees vehry naheece. Ees good to hyelp peepohl, peh, no peh. Boot peh ees behttehr, yes. Pavel ahrmor ees bahng, szeenk ees tehk dehy too feex. Ees ohkay. I looky cahn feex sehlf, noht so laheeke mahny veet sze..." he then blushes and his thick Russian accent disappears as he remembers, << Hey, you understand Euro, don't you. Anyway, as I was saying, I can fix my own armor, which is a lot cheaper than the folks with the whole environmental body armor. Of course, that doesn't give me the full EBA capabilities. >>
Walking in from the entrance, Darlos explains to the bouncer about his pistol, the bouncer keeps it at the door. Making his way actually into the building he looks around and sticks his hands in his pockets looking around for someone to get to know. He notices the huge man waving his arms and grins. That’s someone he's GOTTA talk to. He approaches the two after finally noticing the woman the large man is talking to he waits to see if he may be invited to converse with them.
"I can do field repairs and what not to my armor, but I usually get the professionals to do the repairs. It must save you a good amount of credits." Erica says before she takes a sip from her margarita. Turning her head she notices the new person arrive. She nods her head briefly to him before continuing to speak to Pavel. "So is that what you do for a living Pavel, when you are not saving wayward people, repair armor?"
A soft glow shines in the pale green eyes of this teen who has seen rough times. He stands at 5'5" and has pale skin on his smiling face. He rest of his body is covered in ornate robes and jewelry that makes him seem like someone from the merchant caste. He keeps a hood over his flaming red hair while moving about the town, but it has a tendency to fall around his face. A respirator and mask are kept close by if not on whenever he travels. Metal cylinders poke up off the top of his head on each side, though their purpose is unknown.
Pavel doesn't actually notice the new person come in, perhaps because the person carries a Y-chromosome. Nevertheless, he follows his friend's eyes to the doorway and notes the youth. He continues in Euro, now that he's recalled that it works. Hey, it's early, and actually for him, late. << Haven't seen him around. Of course, I haven't seen a lot of people. I think that I might be the only person in the city - or outside the city - who doesn't own a mask and goggles. >> After a big sip - more like a swallow - from his bottle of vodka, he goes on to confirm, << Yeah, I repair armor. Make plows and farm equipment, a few blades and axes if people need them. Basically anything that doesn't require technology or excessive mechanical moving parts. I wear a big suit of chain... special chain... so I do the detail work too. Want to buy some flatware? I do beautiful art and embossing work. >> He grins, laughs, and returns to checking out the various women on the dance floor, both common and 'professional.'
After hearing the speech given by the man, Darlos stops and frowns, that he can't speak. He considers for a moment noticing that this place is pretty much a ghost town, "You, uhhh. Wouldn’t mind if I join you? I don’t know anyone in town really yet...I just.." he lets the sentence trail off, hoping someone else will take it up.
Erica smiles briefly up at Darlos as she nods toward a chair. "Please feel free to join us. I am Erica, and this big guy here is Pavel." She says before taking a slight sip from her drink. "I don't own any mask or goggles, but I have body armor for that sort of thing. What would I do with nice flatware Pavel? It isn't like I entertain at my apartment. It is usually just a small dinner for one. But who knows perhaps I'll think of something you can make for me. Some art piece perhaps."
Pavel gestures the teen over to a nearby stool with a hand that would make a good catcher's mitt. "Pleese seet? Cahn dreenk veet Ereeca, Pavel?" He them smiles and asks in the appropriate languages, << Do you speak Russian? >> Pause. << How about Euro, maybe? One of these? >> He just looks around, hoping for translation, not explaining himself any further for the moment except to ask, "Cahn gyet new pehrsohn dreenk? Mahrgahreeta laheek Ereeca?" Even when he tries to grind out the term 'margarita' he isn't terribly successful.
Taking a seat Darlos looks over the large man and frowns as he cycles through each language and he shakes his head, "Sorry...I only speak American and...well others that I’m sure you don’t speak I’m afraid. Thank you for the thought however.." He gives a soft boyish smile. "I'm Darlos by the way, new in town trying to meet people...these seemed like a good place, but wrong time I’d guess. Heh"
Erica waves towards Pavel. "I can translate for you Pavel." She says with a nod towards Pavel and Darlos. "What would you like to drink Darlos? It is nice to meet you." She waves to the bartender to catch his attention before she takes a long drink from her margarita. "Welcome to Kingsdale. It is an ok place I guess." She says with a little chuckle to herself.
Pavel nods across at his female friend, acknowledging her statement. He does his best at friendly communication prior to the commencement of translation. "Keengsehle ees ohkay. Noht beyst, boot good ees ohkay. I Pavel, da, I sohrry speek Eengleesh vehry bahd. Undehrstahd ees good, boot no tahlk." He extends a large hand, offering it to shake in greeting. Then, << Thanks, Erica. Much easier with a paid translator. Wait, did I say paid? I'm sorry, I misspoke. >> Wink.
Darlos shakes Pavel's extended hand and nods to Erica, "I'll take whatever you think is good...I’ve never been to a bar before." His voice trails off looking at all of the 'sights' that a teen might consider new and exciting that an adult dismisses as mere background noise. He looks over Pavel, considering saying something and turns to Erica, "So you two have been around for awhile? What's it like here? My family just moved here, so I’m kind of looking around right now..if you know what I mean. Looking for work specifically. seems like everyone around here does something exciting!" He smiles and waits for his drink.
Erica chuckles softly to herself. "He'll have a beer. A lager should work, and I'll take another margarita. This time no salt please." She says to the bartender after she finishes translating for Pavel. "I've lived in Kingsdale for two or three years now. It is a pretty nice town. Not as nice as other towns, but a whole let better then others. Some weird stuff goes around here though. There is work about for sure. I'm a merc myself. Well when I can get a paying job." She says with another laugh.
The large man shakes the teen's hand a few times, pumping it politely - no crushing handshake that many people of his size might try. << I have only been in this city for a few weeks. Or, outside the city. Close enough. I've spent my last five years in the Federation of Magic, and before that, I was in Russia. I come from a small town called Krasny Kut. Near Saratov, if that helps. Only about five thousand people. >> He drinks and waits for the other man's beer to be delivered. << As for exciting, I prefer to be quiet. I'm a blacksmith, and I only do what other people would call exciting things when a situation warrants it. But you, Darlos? New to the city with your family? Not to be rude, but you seem quite young. Do you have a job? >>
Doing his best to control the movement of his body with the man's handshake Darlos grins then stops for a moment, looking down at his hand and then at Pavel. First at...then through...strange kind of glazed over look in his eyes. After a moment he shakes it off and looks to Erica for his beer and then waits for Erica to finish translating for Pavel then replies in kind. "Well, I suppose I am young but I’ve seen a lot. Kind of an old soul sort of thing, but yea I am here in the city with my family, I haven’t gotten a job yet..but this guy named Bart wanted to give me one. It seems so strange at first...now I guess I am almost more worried than confused.
Erica passes the beer to Darlos as it comes from the bartender. She then finishes off her margarita with one big gulp, and picks up the next one as it comes from the bartender. She chuckles at the name of Bart. "Watch out for him. He works with some pretty crazy people. Like psycho crazy. Might not be what you want to get mixed up with right off the bat. But it is up to you." She chuckles again as she shrugs her bare shoulders.
Pavel looks between his two drinking partners before pausing to think... then says, << I've never actually met the man, but I understand that Bart runs some kind of business with people going out to shoot and kill for money, for whomever pays the best. Yeah, there was something in the news about a strange woman a few days ago, and I heard on the street that she was associated with the group. >> He then shrugs and admits, << But like I said, I've never met him, or this woman - if she exists, so I can't give you any advice. Well, except for one thing. >> He holds up a staying hand as he drinks deeply once more, obviously asking, 'one moment.'
Darlos goes to speak up once more and then hears the squelch of his radio. He takes it from his belt listens to it squawk and nods slowly, "Unfortunately, I need to leave. Thank you for the sort of drink, I’ll have to take you up on it next time. Please, let me know if you have any work I might perhaps be able to help you with." He smiles and writes down his frequency and name and slides the napkin between the two. Smiling he stands a gives a little bow while walking out, grabbing his weapons and then heading entirely out the door
Erica shrugs her bare shoulders again. "Well I think it is a bad group, but I guess we'll see." She says with a smile. As Darlos leaves she waves at him. "It was nice to meet you." With that she takes a sip of her margarita. "Well let's talk about more pleasant things. How is business for you Pavel? Have you started selling some of these things you make?"
Pavel allows the young man to leave without further comment. << Bart is bad, huh? Business for me is nonexistent. I haven't sold anything yet beyond plows, pots and pans, that kind of thing that people need inside and outside the city. Mundane type stuff. Don't get me wrong, I *love* my work, no matter what it is. But the other things are more exciting, right? >> He winks, then adds, << I've made one blade for a girl, purely as advertising. Made myself a secure tool belt.. going to be fixing up my armor. Not much! >> With a glance at his watch, the wall clock, and the disappearing club-goers, he suggests, << Perhaps it's time for me to leave as well. Unlike you, *I* have been chasing tail for many hours now! >>
Erica chuckles to herself as she smiles up at Pavel. "Well if and when I get another paying job I will make sure I buy something from you." She reaches out and pats Pavel on the arm. "It was nice to see you, but next time don't pinch my bum. I'll see you later Pavel."
The man stands up and presents Erica with his bottle of vodka as if it were fine champagne. << No more punching of your butt. Next time I'll just take a swipe at your chest. >> Pavel grins broadly and humorously before turning to leave. << I like gifts! >> Then he's moving off.
