Jul 08 22:12:45 109 PA - Welcoming Narys
From Chronicles
Jul 08 22:12:45 109 PA.
MAIN STREET
Narys is wandering around on the main street looking around. The tall German shepherd dog boy, pauses now and again to look at things.
It's shortly after closing, and Gabriel emerges from his building dressed somewhat more casually than someone might see him during the day. The martial uniform is gone, replaced by something that a person could walk around in without being pointed out as obvious. With the continuing vehicular and pedestrian traffic at this hour however, it's always a good idea to stop and look around before going much further, and that's exactly what he does. Stands on the low steps, his salt-and-pepper hair wafting slightly in the breeze as he takes in the sights.
A German Shepard sized reptilian creature becomes the most interesting thing to come around the corner of a building. Resembling a small Dragon, its mainly green scales are a radiant blend of many iridescent colors that stand out when the night lights of the city hit them just right. Its nose is busy curiously sniffing the ground as it comes into view.
Narys stretches a little and shakes his head. He sniffs a little and turns to glance around.
The reptilian keeps clear of any pedestrian traffic for the most part, keeping to the edges of things, nose always working, always curious. Pedestrians seem to keep away if only out of the initial reaction of seeing the unknown creature, most unsure if it will bite. Its long neck stretching upward or outward from time to time to catch the scents on the wind or maybe taking that look at what caused that curious sound. It seems to be heading toward the old man past the Dog boy, at least that general direction.
Up on the steps, Gabriel puts two fingers in his mouth and lets out a harsh whistle. Soon thereafter, a medium-sized mutt sneaks her way out the door to join him at his side. With tongue lolling and a smile on her face, she's perhaps the first one to point out the canine-human hybrid sniffing its way around Main Street. At least, the first one answering to Gabriel. The man turns his head in that direction as he scratches the dog's ears. "Good Friday, nice job, girl."
Narys dips his head in greeting to the reptilian though his attention is drawn by the whistle.
The nod of the Dogboy's head doesn't get an acknowledgment but the whistle gets the attention of the reptilian creature, stopping it dead in its tracks to look that way. The sound of a sharp voice is heard in answer to the attention getting whistle, in Dragonese, << Come! >> causing the reptile to turn back to face an approaching man adorned in tattoos coming through a group of night going pedestrians going the opposite direction.
The dog is apparently the dessert to top off the end of a work day, as Gabriel steps down off the veranda and into the street. His companion is happy and controlled enough to stay at his side, obviously not more than a friend. Still, the man can't help but steer his interest in the direction of a sniffing human-canine hybrid. He's probably seen them before, but perhaps not up this close - and sniffing around the building.
Narys turns back to the reptile and then the man approaching. He raises a brow for a moment and then looks over at Gabriel, "Hello to you," he says, words slurred just a little.
The dragon-like lizard bounds over to the tattooed individual who is heading towards the old man, only to turn and follow along side it's apparent master up to the duo. He gives a glance to the mutant dog, but is more interested in the older gentleman. With a slight bow of his head in greeting, "Gabriel. I have come to settle things."
"Evening," Gabriel says to the bipedal dog by way of pleasant greeting. However, Sithik's more direct addressing demands a response in kind. A smile, a nod of his head. "Hey, Sithik. What can I do for you? I'm just about to get on that search for you. Sorry to have put it off, but I've been too busy to do anything else." His own dog pulls up alongside and sits neatly, her tongue sticking out as she inspects the dog-lizard. Lots of strange non-dogs around tonight.
Narys turns and looks around for a moment and then back and forth between the two, "If I am interrupting something I can depart to leave you two to converse," he says softly.
The reptile is quite curious of the dog next to Gabriel, but a slight nudge of Sithik's foot keeps the curious nose from getting too close. The tattooed hunter looks to the Dog boy, "You are not interrupting." Turning his attention back to the old man, "I've just come to give you this," offering a small fur pouch to Gabriel. "I believe this will complete my end, I look forward to hearing from you soon." Then introduces himself to the Dog boy with a slight bow of his head, "I am Sithik."
Narys dips his head as well, "I am Narys, mechanic, operator, if it deals with machines I can do it." he says and chuckles a bit.
Gabriel accepts the pouch, gives it a little squeeze, and files it away inside one of his jacket pockets. "Thanks, Sithik. Like I said, I'll get right on it. Even better actually, it's really a discount, as I've got the whole business behind it now rather than just me all by my lonesome. Hi, lizard," he comments in his standard greeting to the reptilian thing. With the impromptu transaction complete, his attention turns back to the walking dog. The bipedal one. "Hello Narys," he reaffirms in greeting. "Mechanic and operator? I'm Gabriel, just a quiet person. How're you?" For now, he forgoes the discussion of occupation, his own choice of conversation.
Sithik gives another bow of his head to the mutant dog's introduction of himself. "Good to meet you Narys. I'm a simple hunter. Are you from the city?"
Narys shakes his head a bit, "No am new to this city, have traveled around a lot, not really sticking around anywhere too long." He nods to Gabriel, "Yep, looking for work. And I am good."
"There're a lot of shops for mechanics, good opportunities up on the landing strip area," Gabriel says, pointing north-by-northeast. His own dog's tail is wagging at the interesting visual and olfactory stimulation. "Up out of anywhere interesting? Or down, I suppose?" A police hovercar goes blaring past, lights flashing at some distant trouble to the south. Not a big surprise, there's always trouble there. As the noise recedes, he continues with a follow-up question. "How long have you been in the city, Narys?"
Sithik responds to the comment of looking for work, "Have you gone to visit Uncommon Mechanics? Tek is always looking for help, a very busy shop."
Narys nods his head, "I am sure I will be talking to Tek again soon," he says and then shakes his head, "I was more out west recently." he says and shakes his head. He freezes as the police car goes by, reflexively turning and hiding just a little.
Gabriel nods, listening. "So you've already spoken to him? I know the guy who actually owns the place, and I'm a little concerned that it might be rolled under soon. The shop, that is. But at least for now, it's a good spot." He looks on to examine paws. "Good with your hands, then, or is there more to it?" Almost as an afterthought, his brow bounces upwards to ask Sithik, "How'd the big northern hunt go?"
Sithik tilts his head to the side with the reaction Narys has with the police siren. The lizard getting another corrective nudge for getting a little too close to the actual puppy next to Gabriel. The question from Gabriel brings his attention back to the old man, "The hunt went well. All the prey was slain except for the birds, they were not as easily caught. However, the gift was not received well."
Narys nods, "Yeah good with my hands, and good with technical stuff," he says and taps his head a bit. He looks back and forth as the two talk about a hunt.
With only a grunt at the rundown given by Sithik, Gabriel returns to Narys. "Tapping the head? Implants, or psionics?" It's only fair that he needs to take a guess rather than zeroing in on the important factor.
Sithik gives a bow of his head to both individuals, "I will leave you to your getting to know each other. I have things to do in the Dregs. Gabriel. You know how to find me. Give me a call when you are ready."
Narys shakes his head a bit, "I do have some psionics, most my kind to, but I meant a good head on my shoulder, book smarts."
The older man gives the hunter a mild frown, but nods politely as he and his weird pet move off. Returning to the upright dog, his frown becomes a pleasant smile. "Good head on your shoulders, much better than anything else you can find. What brings you in from the west?" Gabriel looks out in the direction of the River Walk, one of the more pleasant areas of the city, but clearly looking past it and beyond the walls. "I haven't really heard that there's much left out there."
Narys shrugs, "Small cities, I was running afoul of the Coalition again and it was time to move elsewhere. Here seemed to be a good place, a large city and no love for the Coalition." he chuckles a little.
Gabriel can't help but narrow one eyes in question, and raise the opposite brow. "Forgive me, but... I thought the Coalition, ah... made... you guys?" He opens his hands and chuckles off a somewhat typical, "Sorry, I'm not entirely up on current events."
Narys nods, "They did and those that are loyal to the Coalition have no worries. Those that leave the Coalition are left alone for the most part, but I was...freeborn. My parents were not part of the Coalition. The Coalition sees me as a dangerous animal to be destroyed." He shakes his head a bit, "Sad thing is they have my brother and sister and conditioned them to be loyal. They were taken when my parents were killed, we were like six months old. I thought they were dead until recently."
"Oh. That is terrible, I'm very sorry for your loss," Gabriel says with a nod. His Kentucky drawl - if anyone would recognize a dead bit of language - rolls out the sympathy. Then, perhaps incongruously, he points north up Main and asks, "You like coffee?" His dog's tail starts to wag at the sound. Or maybe it's something else, who knows. "Nice place out of the crowd and the elements, if you'd like a place to talk other than on the street."
Narys nods, "Sure, coffee isn't bad." he chuckles a bit, "Oh I have dealt with it, it was ten years ago after all." Did he just say he was 10 years old? He nods and turns and gestures, "Lead on."
Ten years is a good age for a dog to live to, and though a walking, talking dog may be weird, Gabriel takes it in stride. After all, this probably isn't the first similar creature that he's seen. Then, with a much quieter and briefer whistle to get his dog's attention, he and Friday move off north toward the Tradewinds Coffee Shop in the Merchant's Plaza. Not even looking back to see if Narys is following, perhaps worried about the Orpheus effect and sending the creature to hell through lack of confident trust.
TRADEWINDS COFFEE SHOP
Gabriel's timetable is often up in the air. Whether he's at home sleeping at one in the morning, on a job or relaxing over some coffee changes on a daily basis. Today, having just come up from outside of his business, he's chatting up Tiffany, the blue-skinned four-armed D-Bee barista with a heart of gold and a brain of lead. "Yeah, gimme a coffee with something creamy in it, and one of those brownies," he asks. "How's your sister? No, Stefanie, not Gracie. I work with her, remember?" His pet is patiently waiting outside, offering mild "ruuff" greetings to most people who enter and exit.
Narys follows after Gabriel stretching as he comes in. He glances towards the various non humans, but seems to not have a problem with it.
The short fellow smiles as his order is served up. Wrong... again. Still, Gabriel offers Tiffany a smile and a chance to get it right on the second pass. "Oh, and whatever Mr. Narys would like. Unless he wants the gold-dusted mocha," he adds with a friendly wink. A few steps take him out of the middle of the counter and out of the way for the bipedal dog to order.
