Jul 12 22:16:23 105 PA
From Chronicles
The current game time is: Sun Jul 12 22:16:23 105 PA.
The Kingsdale Plaza Park stretches out to the west approximately sixteen-hundred feet until it meets with a residential area. The ground is covered with sporadic grass and wild flowers. Deep craters from some long-ago weapons fire cover this area of the park making the ground uneven and in some places difficult to walk. Nonetheless, this area has seen extensive use by the people of Kingsdale. Bike trails criss-cross the area and one of the craters has been filled with water where duck and other water birds come. These waterfoul seem to have quite a good living too, with people almost always present to feed them. Here and there are stands of conifer trees that people often sit beneath to read and otherwise forget the trials and tribulations of city life. The exception to this is during the night though, and nobody comes to the park after dark unless they are either foolhardy in the extreme or looking for trouble. The wind blows through the area unhampered and on good days it carries with it the laughter of children feeding ducks and the sweet scent of pine and wild flowers. Benches and places to sit are also scattered through the park area, and to the south is a Pavillion of five statues -- all previous dictators and people of note to Kingsdale's past.
Kid will be waiting for Aimee nearby, though not in plain sight. The directions mentioned paths to take and a precise number of benches to pass before stopping at the bench near where she lurks. This area of the park is quiet and largely unoccupied, especially now. Occasional signs of distant activity can be heard, but none close enough to bother a discreet little meeting. Kid herself is leaning against the shadowy side of a tree, keeping a careful eye and ear on the environs.
Aimee arrives, dressed casually, in jeans and a t-shirt, with a jacket thrown over the top. Her hair is left to lie loosely around her shoulders, a curly halo that bounces slightly with every step. She pauses in the entrance, glancing around, a small smile on her lips, as if she is here purely to take in the view. Slowly, casually, she moves forward, into the area, hands in her pockets, a small frown appearing on her face.
Kid will wait for Aimee to enter into the area she described. Though a bit convoluted, the directions are clear enough in description. When Kid sights Aimee, she will wait for a few moments, scrutinizing the path behind her before slowly emerging. "Hey there, girl," Kid murmurs. She's in her ragamuffin disguise, with the blue contacts. "Weren't followed, were ya?"
Aimee glances at Kid, greeting her with a smile, as if she was a casual acquaintance. "What do you think I am, a flat?" The phrase sounds a little odd in Aimee's slight accent, but the arched eyebrow and quirk of the lip reveals the intended humour. "The eyes are just perfect, mon ami." The quirk becomes a full grin, mischief rising in the green eyes.
Kid gives her shoulders a casual roll at that. "Everyone can slip up," she husks lowly. Taking another moment to glance about before she focuses on Aimee. "Got a proposal for you. Kind of a decide quick thing, cause I gotta move on it pretty quick. If you're game, I can fill you in.. hell, I think it might be something that's right up your alley.. at least, in part. And the payout is worth it. Two hundred kay. Wanna hear more?"
Aimee's eyes widen at the figures and a spark of interest shows in her face, as she shifts her expression, the light-hearted girl leaving and the business woman that Kid met the other night showing in the slight changes. "Go on. Of course I want to hear more... it would cover the cost of the club." She turns, facing Kid and the way she came, a little of her attention on the pathway, to watch.
Kid lets her own eyes drift to an opposing side, complimenting Aimee's point of view as she continues, voice kept discreet. "Got a job from this guy. Got someone laid up in the KEC that he and his want dead. Running out of days to get it done and my prior partner.. not available anymore. Got a plan, all it needs is the right person to get it done. Way I see it, you're that person, girl." She glaces at Aimee and smiles widely. "Don't involve no shooing.. just getting into the guys room with a primed syringe. I've got a uniform and an ID.. should fit you fine. Two police outside the room, two in. All you have to do is bluff past the two on the outside, shoot the guy up like its your job once inside and then walk right out."
"Honey, you want me to kill someone?" Aimee's voice is soft, soft enough to just reach Kid's ear, and her green eyes narrowed, briefly flickering from the pathway to Kid and then back. "I do forgery, a little investigation perhaps but non, I do not kill people." She shakes her head quickly, firmly, a hint of regret in her face for the money offered. She and Kid are in an alcove, away from the main paths, with a good view of the pathways that lead there. "Non, Kid, my apologies but... Non."
Kid frowns faintly at that and shifts her attention in full to Aimee. The two are standing in a low pop section of the park, the evening only adding to the discreetness of their meeting place. Kid herself is in disguise, her usual bombastic clothing choices traded for a rough, 'ragamuffin' outfit, colored hair in a simple style and blue contacts. For most, she's not so obvious as herself at a glance. "And why not? Not like I'm asking you to do any bloodletting. Guy's already unconscious. He just won't wake up is all." She's annoyed, yes. "When else are you going to get the chance to make this much money this easy, doing something you're good at, which is dealing with people? I'd do it myself, but they'd probably make me easy.. I already got some attention while I was scoping out the place. You're the only one I'd trust with this."
Aimee's certainty isn't so certain, and she stares at Kid hard for a moment before gaze returns to the path. "Perhaps. But killing someone,... Kid, I have never done that, not even in self-defence." She shrugs, a gaelic movement, "Non, Kid. I can't. Unarmed? Unconscious?" She shakes her head, a definite no. "Perhaps though... you got some attention, but not perhaps someone else?" Her eyes turn back to Kid, examining her thoughtfully, "I could make you someone else?"
Janus is out for his daily run, speeding along the paths of the park in his usual workout gear. Form-fitting blue shirt with grey inserts beneath the arms, loose black fleece pants with wide cuffs. He carries a bottle with him, one hand curled loosely around it while he runs.
"I know how to disguise myself, but I'm not going to risk being shot or locked up for this," Kid states, frowning darkly. No, she is not at all pleased. She breathes out deeply and throws up her hands, turning. "Fuck!" Louder than she'd like to belt forth such an explicative. Such a thing slipping from her fingers.. its infuriating, quite obviously and she is quite pissed. Taking a few steps towards the nearby bench to give it a good kick. Catching her lower lip at the sting that results in the hard booting of the firmly anchored inanimate. For the moment letting her focus on her surroundings slip, not noting Janus might be near.
One eyebrow arches at the curse, and Aimee gives the woman with her a thoughtful stare, her gaze slipping from the pathway to study her. "And you think I will?" She asks softly, narrowing green eyes on Kid for a moment before glancing towards the paths, her gaze taking in Janus. "Kid, company, honey." She settles herself on the bench, tilting her head back to look up at Kid. Her voice returns to normal levels, audible from the pathways. "And so, I said non, I didn't want to do it." She shrugs lightly, giving Kid a smile, two girls chatting. Nothing to see.
Janus works himself down from a near sprint to a canter to a trot to a stop, his feet planted immobile on the path's surface but his chest rising and falling and his heart still galloping along. Kid's expletive cuts across the distance, drawing his attention over that way while he unscrews the cap of his bottle, and he frowns thinly at the sight of her kicking the bench. He has himself a long drink of water, studying the pair attentively around the bottles shape. A moment of indecision plays itself out, a glance turned off along the path and the promise of a full workout, but old habits win out and he starts walking towards the two.
"You wouldn't cause they wouldn't be suspicious of you like they would me," Kid states, lower now that she's vented her ire somewhat, toes still stinging. Then Aimee alerts her to Janus, the girl snapping a narrow eyed glance towards the man. But only for a moment. Aimee would see her schooling her expression, slowly stripping away the ire and simmering temper, pushing it away until her expression softens to something more natural, if still mildly annoyed. "Yeah, fine.." One last sour look for Aimee before she turns and plops herself down on the bench as well, arms crossing over her chest lightly. Her eyes lift towards Janus as he approaches.
Aimee shakes her head slightly, wrinkling her nose, for all the world as if they were discussing boyfriends. "Well, you can say that, Kid, but honey, it wasn't your body..." Her eyes are mischievous, dancing with it. "I think perhaps he would have to pay extra..." She turns her head, giving the runner a slow look over, green eyes moving over him piece by piece. Then, her gaze returns to his face, and one eyebrow arches.
"There a problem over here?" Janus asks as he moves into earshot, glancing from Aimee to Kid and then back to Aimee again. It's very close to a double take, recognition lighting his eyes up a second too late. The stern authoritative cast of his face melts into a faint smile and he gives Aimee a little nod of his head and a quick wink. "Need to be careful with these benches. They'll jump up and bite ya when you're not lookin'."
Kid arches a brow slightly as she glances towards Aimee, eyeing her idly. "Yeah, good luck finding anyone that'll pay more. Still think you're passing this up too easy." Her tone does get a bit petulant in tone, but damn it.. Nor does she seem to have a lot of friendly for Janus right off the bat. "Nothing you need to worry about," she returns, tone a bit sharp initially. Though it relaxes just slightly as she clarifies, "Girl talk, that's all." Her eyes dipping aside then, thoughtful.
A teasing grin appears on Aimee's lips, and she tilts her head slightly. "Just men, honey. You all are trouble..." She slants a look at Kid, her forehead troubled. "Sometimes, they can't pay you enough to do the things they want." She comments, apparently about the men, giving Kid a sidelong look. "A girl has got to have some standards..." Janus continues to turn his attention from Aimee to Kid and back again, his smile in turn giving way to consternation and a certain measure of resignation. He has another drink from his bottle, filling the time of his discomfort, then simply nods and turns around to walk back towards the path.
Kid rolls her eyes slightly at Aimee's words. "And some standards are too damn high," she mutters. Not looking up, a slow frown creeping onto her lips as she applies some brainpower to the issue. As Janus starts to walk away, she glances up, eyeing him a little. Without really waiting for him to get out of earshot, she looks towards Aimee. "What's his deal?" The tone casual enough, all said.
Aimee gives Kid a harder look, her eyes narrowing to a slit of green. "I said non. I mean it." She shrugs lightly, turning back to the man. "He has no deal, but I think, after telling me that mon chat will finish with me... he should at least talk to me." That, in a raised voice, is meant to be overheard, and the mischief re-enters her face, her eyes returning to normal.
Look at the conversation from his perspective. Two ladies of questionable character meeting in a darkened place in the park to discuss how much they will or won't charge a man. A man like Janus lives as long as he has by knowing how to avoid trouble before it even becomes trouble. "That ain't at all what I said to you," he calls over his shoulder at Aimee. Yeah, he heard. He twists the cap back onto his bottle, twists himself at the waist and looks back at her. His brow is lifted in a challenge, daring her to continue things. There's mischief on his face as well.
Kid lifts a hand in a casual, vaguely dismissive gesture at the flash of temper from Aimee. But she does drop it, finally. Though she does take note when some prior talk from them comes up. "What, the blender?" Yeah, she still calls him that. She gives Janus an eyeing as she opines, "What'd you mean, 'finished with you'? Like leave you or something? Wouldn't really surprise me, most guys I know are unreliable pricks." A casual, comfortable observation. "Not like I really know anything about the guy, though." Aimee's mischief doesn't pale, and she returns the challenging look with one of her own. "Non, perhaps the rest paled in comparison..." She returns, lifting her eyebrows, before she replies to Kid. "He thinks, perhaps that mon chat will want me to become someone else, and then my ring is to make me behave." She shrugs again, wrinkling her nose.
"Reckon that's closer to what was said," Janus intones, nodding a little bit at Aimee. It's not enough to alter his course though. He rolls forward into a steady trot and builds up speed once he merges with the main path. With legs as long as his, perhaps it's no surprise that he runs as swiftly as he does, and that loping gait carries him off out of earshot in a matter of seconds and out of sight not long after.
Kid shrugs her shoulders at the clarification, having listened idly to it with only mild interest. "I guess he doesn't' want to talk to you about it," she opines, however, as he decides to run on. She idly glances towards Aimee. "So you think the blender is playing you?" She and Aimee are sitting on a bench in a low population area of the park, the time already turned towards evening. Kid herself is calm now, focused on something other than her own ire for now.
She gives Janus' back a narrowed eyed look, before wrinkling her nose, dismissing him. "Non, I think mon chat loves me. He, he thinks that mon chat expects me to become the perfect wife as soon as we marry." She shrugs lightly, dismissively. "I think he is wrong." She raises her voice slightly, even thought the man is out of range. Cat? Did some one say cat? That's bound to summon one no doubt, you should know better! Granted it's not the feline spoken of in question that appears, but it's one relatively close to it. Oh sure he doesnt have the same size or strength as Desmond, but he's still connected to both Aimee and Desmond, so maybe that counts? And thus it is that Kesslan comes into view wandering along one of the park's pathways, lost in thought.
Kid smirks and gives her shoulders a casual roll. "I guess you'd know him, Aimee girl.. just don't let your guard down, yeah? That's when the changes come, usually." A casually given sort of warning as if no more than that were really needed. When they're mostly alone again for a moment, Kid can't help but prod lightly on the prior topic. "Any other caveats I should know about when it comes to working with you, girl? Cause fuck if I ain't pissed right now and in the future, I want to know where we stand. Not really your fault I guess.. just hope I can smooth this shit over with the money man. And hopefully get another chance." A little sulk lingering in her mood. Damn it. Aimee raises her eyebrows, giving Kid a hard look. "You make assumptions, honey, you make an arse out of yourself, because I never suggested I do that type of thing. I'm a back room girl, honey. Nothing else. So don't blame me that your first choice let you down." She shakes her head, uncurling from the bench as her gaze takes in the large but not largest feline, and her face softens. "Mon minet!" She calls softly, lifting a hand to attract his attention.
Feline ears perk at the name, it's still one the feline doesnt actually really understand, beyond it being some odd human term of endearment, but the voice is familar along with the tone used. And so Kesslan shifts his gaze and course to meet up with Aimee and Kid, though it will be a moment yet before he's within proper earshot.
Kid doesn't quail under the hard look, her pouty mood lingering. Even after Aimee fixes on Kesslan's approach. She lifts her eyes towards him, letting some of that agitation slip away again. "I'll let you know then.." She pauses and glances towards Aimee. "So how much would it take for you to do it? Four hundred? Six?" Her eyes narrowing slightly as she pops out a few numbers. Numbers beyond her level of rational comprehension. A low, casual tone that shouldn't clue in Kess.
"None, Kid. I don't do it." The message reads loud and clear in her eyes as she glances towards the other woman. She turns her face back to Kesslan, rising to meet him, her smile warming for him. "Did you and mon chat talk, Kesslan? Is there news?"
"Not of new, but talk yes. Need you not worry of not remaining to hear these things however Aimee. Speak with you as I would Desmond." Kesslan replies, a nod then given towards Kid "You are well?" He inquires politely, afterall he does consider her... a.. friend or something. He's actually still not quite sure. A pause is given for her reply before he continues "They leave soon, but one stays. Stay here am I to, for now. In time perhaps need will I to return for a time, but if way they can find usual, then think I return here easier would be, and return would I. For both there will need and desire both be."
Kid frowns faintly, popping up herself after Aimee has risen. She stuffs her hands into her coat pockets and toddles forward just a bit. Only casually does she listen to what is said between the two. She's in her ragamuffin disguise, though Kess would likely pick her out without too much difficulty. He's seen it before, after all. "No," Kid states, though the tone of that word suggests she might not want to elaborate further. Nor does she really focus much on what he says to Aimee. Though after some quiet during his words to her, she pipes up, eyes lifting to Kesslan. "Hey Kess, think you can teach me how to shoot those bullet guns? I've been trying but.. " She shrugs a little, with a mildly sour expression.
Aimee's expression holds a little concern for the feline and she moves closer, aiming to give him a hug. "What is the one that stays like? Will he understand?" She hesitates, a brief flash of insecurity in her eyes. "About you, and mon chat and me?" She glances back at Kid for a moment, the discussion, whatever it was about, forgotten in the moment of anxiety. "And you will leave... but you come back, oui?"
As usual a warm nuzzling accompanies his reply at times such as this. "Yes, return if must leave I. But think not clear I on this, am I to stay here as others return. Another too is to stay, if understand he... I do not know. He is of our people, but not." for now his main attention is to Aimee's question, yet Kid's is not forgotten, for even as one arm wraps about Aimee in a hug, his free hand smoothly pulls forth one of his pistols "Speak you of these Kid?" he asks seeking clarification.
Kid nods her head, a brow quirking at the talk that passes between Aimee and Kesslan. But she reserves comment on that for the moment. "I remember I was at the range once and you were just.." She motions towards him. "You're good with em. I'm not. I figure Id' learn better if someone actually showed me how to do it right." A pause, her eyes narrowing just a little. "Assuming you're hanging around.. right?"
Aimee's arms curl around Kesslan and she snuggles her cheek against his chest gently, a feline movement. "He is but he is not? I don't understand..." Her forehead wrinkles as she tilts her head back to look up at him. Kid is not forgotten, not when Kesslan speaks and she slants a look across to her, lifting an eyebrow slightly.
This time around Kid's questions are adressed first, at least in part. "Could such a thing do yes." he states reholstering the pistol before he looks down to Aimee, pausing then before answering "Not certain am I either. This is a thing not done before has in our history. Yet truth of it there is." he states simply. "He is not born of our kind, yet to our clans does he belong."
Kid nods once to Kesslan's words and looks to Aimee. "I gotta go, girl. I have some shit to clean up and get squared away. Also, I think I got someone tracking me. So be careful if you get someone asking around about me. Drop me a note on it if you see anything funky, yeah?" She then looks to Kess. "I'll let you know when I got time for it, yeah?" She glances around a moment, then turns to start off, though she doesn't rush.
Aimee's forehead draws into small lines, returning Kesslan's gaze thoughtfully. "Adopted to your clan but not..." She asks softly, before Kid's comment snags her attention. "Someone is following you? I haven't seen anyone at the flats..." She narrows her eyes slightly at Kid's back, "I'll drop you a note." She shrugs lightly, turning into Kesslan's embrace. "What does he want?"
Kesslan watches Kid depart before idly commenting "Allways in trouble that one is." softly before returning his full attention to Aimee, his free hand now slipping about her as well. "It is not a thing wishes he, but rather what the elder wishes of him. Certain am I not of what done this one has, but there are reasons for what the elder has decided, and as a elder and Spirit Touched of great power is, not my place to question is not."
The worry doesn't fade, but she nods slowly. "He is staying for what purpose? Did you tell the elder about us, you, Desmond and I?" She looks up at him, her eyes searching his face slowly. "You are staying though, for the moment, and that is good." She smiles up at him, wrinkling her nose a little before tiptoeing, dropping a kiss against his cheek.
Kesslan nods and nuzzles again, even slipping in a gentle nip at Aimee's neck. "Yes, staying am. Spoken of us no, not have I. Matters it not at this time. Speak there never was of going of me to Seriv this time. More important is they belive that stay I, for know I this place more than any of our kind, and return would they again. Better placed am I to aid, then better could I do so when return they do again. Fortune and the guidance of the spirits brought them this time, spirits then no doubt watch over them will to see safe they return to bring word. Better prepared next time shall they then come again. At that time would I need perhaps leave for a time to speak to the council of the things I have seen. To bear witness over what happen to my paw, for it is broken, and all that is left is I. Of the others and how this came to be they will wish know from my voice. But so dire this is not as having Kesslan here to prepare for their return." he says softly "Of you and Desmond, is not their place to judge. Is not our way to judge such thing, so long as all happy."
A small shiver at the nip, and she gives him a look that is inviting and teasing, green eyes darkening. "They don't judge? Even thought I look like an..." She hesitates, "Atorian?" She is uncertain of the word, "Your paw is broken?" Confusion shows on her face, and she glances down, towards his hands, his feet. "How would they know from your voice what happened to your paw?" She shakes her head slowly, lifting confused eyes to his face.
Kesslan tries to explain a little better "Look like Atorian do humans slightly yes, but still differences are there. Need would you to see Atorian to know what speak I of this, notice even more perhaps would you than one of my kind." he explains "Of my paw.. it is.. unit." he frowns "Squad think I right word in your language for this? We were five, now there is one. A paw has five claws, I am a claw, the other claws are gone, thus the paw is broken."
Aimee frowns as she listens to the explanation, her arms tightening around him. "Family? Do you mean family? I think paw is not the word, it means a hand but..." She shakes her head, "I think I understand, and they can tell from your voice what happened?" Her forehead wrinkling in thought, her mouth tightening briefly before she speaks. "So your new friend, he won't be worried by Desmond and I?"
Kesslan shakes his head at Aimee "No, paw is a thing of war most time. Five claws to a paw, two paws to a fang, four fangs to a skull, four skulls to a greater claw. Four greater claws to a greater paw. It is our way of counting things, and how it is said defines if it is a number, or a thing. I am a Spirit Warrior, and a claw of the land and sky, for I have fought from both. Others are claws of the land, sky, or stars."
She nods slowly, taking in the explanation again, her teeth nipping on her lower lip. "I think I see now..." She reaches up, to touch his cheek lightly with her fingertips, brushing them gently. "I am so glad they aren't taking you back with them. I would miss you..." She gives him a small smile, warm and teasing, "Do we meet your new friend?" "Not yet. Time they need to settle, to speak. Things there are that I may not know, things there are that I know now, that may I not tell you for oath I have had to swear on this Aimee. They know you not and dare not thus risk certain thing." Kesslan says softly "Of our questions, worried not they should be of our bond. It is not a thing for them to judge, but so too, is it not a thing that they must trust you or Desmond. Aimee and Desmond, not of our clans. Not part of our clans, without great council for me to swear to of your kind, or clan elder who may accept you and thus bond you to our kind, then dare they not do such a thing. It is our way, for the one who's honor would risk for another must of these things speak. So too why in time must I return to my people, to speak of what of the others become has. For in writing this they have will, but honor and tradition say must I speak of these things in person. So that they may know in full what happened has. At time this, of all many many of those paws sent. I am only one to have contact again. Must you see then this how important is?"
She nods slowly, biting her lower lip, her eyes thoughtful. "I understand that they can't trust us, not straight away..." She listens to the rest of his words, her eyes darkening before she drops her gaze downwards. "I don't understand, you have to speak of the fight where you lost the others in person, and because you are the only one left...you have to go?"
Kesslan nods "In time, this must be so. It would be a great dishonor not to. So too must I in person speak in time, of what I have seen, what I have done. To tell my people of this world, to warn them of the dangers of this place, but so too the hope they could find here. Of all these things, all these new dangers, must they be aware. The war has started in full Aimee. The Pantherans of Seriv are in open rebellion. IF they do not win, then my race will end."
Aimee listens in silence before she replies to his explanation with a tight hug, burying her face in his chest for a moment. She rises on tiptoe, kissing gently against his cheek before nipping at his neck, as he did to her earlier. "I understand. I don't like that you will leave but I understand. Mon minet." Her arms tighten.
Kesslan nods "Come then Aimee, hungry I am and perhaps you as well? Let us go find food and I shall more of this speak to you. Time it is think I that more of our ways I explain, for in time must you know these things for what is between us, you and I. And for what is between the three of us, you, Desmond and I. That you may better understand and know that you need worry not so."Tags:aimee, janus, kesslan, kid
