Jul 20 17:04:52 107 PA
From Chronicles
Jul 20 17:04:52 107 PA
Kingsdale - Plaza Park
It's would be a beautiful July evening - warm with the sun still high in the sky - were it not for the wind bringing gusts of hitherto unseen rain. There are several people wandering about the park, from those simply passing through to the occasional person simply out for the weather. Celaeno is seated against a crack in a tree on a hill overlooking the graveyard, almost out of the wind and spattering rain, but not quite.
Whether merely en route or at the park for the greenery, Leonard is prudent enough to hold an umbrella in hand. This portable shield against the precipitation is nearly as vital as armor for those who wish not to become drenched. Against the wind, however, it does not do so well, and Leonard is forced to grip the umbrella tightly and close to himself as he walks along.
Celaeno doesn't seem to mind the wet so much, or the mud that's sure to be caking itself into her pants - her eyes gliding intently from graveyard to fence to street to tree, as she idly runs her fingers up and down a rather absurdly long tooth.
Leonard is mildly averse to mud, so when he chooses to take a seat, it is upon a bench. A wet bench, of course, although he does attempt to sweep some of the water off with a hand before sitting. He pays little mind to the graveyard nearby. Should the inhabitants decide to suddenly rise up and walk away, he is fairly certain that he'd notice even without watching for it.
Several minutes pass before Celaeno rises to her feet, ineffectually brushing off whatever might be clinging to her before she begins trudging her way back toward the path. Her eyes slide idly over Leonard once, twice, three times before she seems to notice, a slight frown crossing her face as she hesitates.
Sitting in the wind and rain proves little better than walking in it, and Leonard finds that the drops blown horizontal and under the canopy are the most annoying. The wind attempting to tear said protection out of his hands is a close second. With a sigh, he lifts a hand in gesture to solve both issues. A translucent and nearly-transparent hemisphere coalesces about him, the bench, and several additional feet. Wind, rain, and much of the heat are now kept at bay, allowing Leonard to set aside the umbrella and lounge more comfortably.
Continuing her walk with only a minor change of direction, Celaeno approaches Leonard, giving an amicable, "Run off and do anything else blinding stupid, lately?" Moving to stand in front of the bench, her hands find her pockets as she rocks back on her heels, grinning at the man.
Leonard lifts his attention to the arriving Celaeno and smirks. "No. I've not done anything of the sort for quie some time. Perhaps I am long overdue? What of yourself? You seem as smiling as ever, despite the uncooperative weather."
"Going and getting yourself brainwashed might just count," Celaeno says, chipper, "And what's so uncooperative about the weather? Not like it's keeping me from doing anything that I want to do, hey? Whether those things are stupid or not, well, that's always up for debate."
"It was not my intention for that to have happened, of course." Leonard shakes his head and exchanges smirk for sigh. "I'm glad that it is public knowledge, also. I'd hate to think that Tirzah and Vixen would be the only ones to berate me for doing precisely what we had decided to do."
"Wouldn't say it's public, since I hardly know what happened - but since you got grabbed, well, that means you didn't do it, hey? How's the bird?" Celaeno asks, spinning into the room next to him. "You're just lucky we're all so damn good at what we do - things got a little tricky there, toward the end."
Leonard nods in acknowledgement. "It did not go as planned, unfortunately. Edgar and I are both well, thank you. I regret that I was not able to assist as I'd hoped to, but all ended well enough. The Mindolar is gone and everyone survived, to my knowledge."
"All of ours, sure. Think we lost a couple of collaterals, but that's the price of doing business," Celaeno says with a dismissive shrug. "What exactly you remember from your little mind-melt, hey? I'm a little curious."
"Very little," Leonard shrugs, "although from what was implied, that is a good thing. Apparently, I was somewhat more raucous than I might have been, otherwise." That line of thought and Celaeno's query cause him to become curious and a brow arches. "Were you involved in some fashion?"
"Not in the least," Celaeno says, grinning, "Sorry to kill your little fantasies, but that's all right. Any word on payment for services rendered, or - hell, anything else? Haven't heard a whole lot of reaction from around town, though I'm not quite sure what I was expecting."
Leonard looses a chuckle at the amusing reply that answers his question well enough. "Worry not, as you've killed nothing. If it was your clothing I'd found in my pocket, I'm sure you would not hesitate to ask for its return." His head shakes in answer to her own query. "I believe that Vixen submitted some sort of request, but I don't know of any response. Unfortunately, the city is may just ignore to avoid any public acknowledgement. There were likely wealthy or important persons involved in this, even if merely as puppets."
Celaeno gives a merry nod, "Should've ransacked the mansion when we had the chance," she says wistfully, shaking her head with a chuckle of her own. "But that's all right, that's all right. I'm no worse for the wear - though Bridget might take exception to my saying that."
"It might have been more profitable if you had," Leonard rolls his shoulders, "although profit was not the general intent for most involved, or so I thought. The city already has enough individuals pulling strings from the shadows as it is, I'd expect. I'm glad that you and Vixen weathered the assault well. I have not spoken with the others, but I'm sure that it could've been much worse."
Celaeno shrugs, "Being able to pay the bills for next time's important, otherwise you quickly run out of people and armour, not to mention bullets. But that's all right, that's all right. Everything worked itself out, I'm sure."
Leonard is seated upon a bench, his umbrella set beside him. He converses with the standing Celaeno, both (I presume) shielded from wind, rain, and the worst of the heat and humidity by a semi-transparent, hemispherical conjured construct. "Of course. No one can afford, or even wants, to work for free. I'm sure that some other profit will turn up soon enough, if not from that. There is no shortage of problems in need to correcting."
"Maybe, maybe," Celaeno says, grinning, "Another chance to try and earn some cash, which will hopefully turn out a bit better. Have to say, though, that slug was a bit tougher than I was initially thinking. It took a hell of a beating," she clicks her tongue.
"There are far worse creatures to combat, I assure you." Leonard does not deny her comment fully, however. "Not that it wasn't a challenge, I'm sure. I would have preferred an imp or some other minor inconvenience, instead, myself. It's gone, and that is the most important fact. The end is often more important than the means."
Celaeno gives a shrug, "There's always something worse. Nature of the universe, really. The trick is not having too many bastards who keep bringing them around all the time," she gives Leonard a lopsided look, grinning. "But I guess if that happened, I'd be out of a job."
Leonard smirks anew at Celaeno's allusion. "Contrary to popular belief, there are many more beings here than us, and certainly more than anyone could bring here. I hardly make a habit of collecting preternatural associates." His smirk grows notably larger. "Where would I keep them? There's not much space for them in my living room, and they can make an awful mess of the place."
"Good to hear, just make sure you lose 'em before you come running home," Celaeno says, rising back to her feet, "Hate to have something follow you back and start wrecking up the place - because those tend to be the times when I don't get paid. Everybody gets horrified that somebody might want a spot of cash to stop a giant alien from killing half the town," she clicks her tongue against her teeth. "In any case, glad to hear the bird's all right," she pushes herself off the bench.
"I would think people should be used to mercenaries over heroes, by now." Leonard notes. "Mercenaries get paid and hope to retire. Heroes have a tendency to die. I forwarded your concerns to Edgar, although I'm curious as to them. Other than myself, most aren't terribly concerned with his well-being."
Celaeno just gives a shrug, "You'd think that, but everybody always starts yelling about 'common decency' and all the 'innocent lives lost' whenever it comes up. What's a girl to do?" She gives a sigh, "And these things happen, take it easy, hey?" A final wave and she moves disdainfully through the opaque shelter, shivering slightly as she goes.
Leonard lifts his hand in a parting wave and chuckles. "I'm sure that you'll find something to do. Try not to exhaust yourself in the process, though."
Erica is walking through the park in her basic fatigues enjoying the summer weather. Her hands are in her pockets and she is humming along to the music that is playing in her head thanks to the Pocket Digital Disc player that is jacked into the base of her skull. She stops by the lake and takes a moment to admire the water.
Leonard remains upon the bench and within his temporary shelther from the weather for the moment. Despite the fact that the late sunlight shall soon fade, he produces a book from his person. A means to enjoy to out of doors, yet without all the negatives of the outdoors.
Erica looks over at Leonard in his make shift shelter and she squints at him for a moment. She walks a few steps closer to the shelter and calls out to him. "Hey do I know you? Cause you look familiar for some reason." She says before shrugging her shoulders quickly. "I'm Erica. That is a bit of an odd outfit to be wearing in the summer." She comments as she reaches down and adjusts her utility belt.
Leonard looks up from the book he only just opened, and to the voice. He notices several things in the process. First, it appears the precitation and wind blowing it have both ceased, and the woman seems likewise familiar. Leonard studies her a moment, lifting a hand in the course of this to dismiss the bubble around himself and clear the view. "Hello, Erica. My name is Leonard, although I also have the odd sense that this is not our first meeting." He subsequently offers a grin as he adds, "Although I hope our prior meeting was not to critique fashion. How are you?"
Erica giggles happily to herself as she walks up to where the shelter was, but doesn't enter it. "Yah well I had a pretty big chunk of missing time. Last thing I remember is having a giant slug in a head lock and shooting it with my pistol. Then I wake up in my house with a few new outfits. Oh well the nature of the world we live in I guess." She laughs softly to herself as she shrugs her shoulders again. "So I take it you are some sort of magic user?" She asks while gesturing to where the shelter was. "You looking for Merc work by any chance?" (repose)
"Ah..." Leonard nods in realization. "Perhaps that is the reason for the familiarity. Regretably, I fell prey to the Mindolar, myself. I discovered a new item of clothing, as well," he now smirks, "and does not belong to me, unfortunately." He then promptly moves on from that mystery to nod more firmly. "Yes, I can wield various magics and knowledge, and do enjoy credits to pay my expenses, both."
Erica giggles again as she rocks back and forth on the heels of her boots. "Well I have a job coming up, and I am looking for people that can handle themselves. There is a town that is looking to hire some mercs to protect them and warn off some Splugorth slavers that have been bothering the area around the town. The town's militia will be helping us out as well." She shrugs her shoulders as she looks at Leonard. "You interested?"
Leonard quirks a brow, belying both curiosity and interest. "Certainly. I am not so much one to toss large laser or other blasts about, but I can certainly assist. Have you spoken to Tirzah or Vixen about the opportunity?" He pauses to consider. "Well, perhaps Vixen would not be so interested, unless there was software involved."
Erica shakes her head. "No I haven't had a chance to talk to either of them. I am pretty sure the Splugorth minions don't use software. I'll try to run into Tirzah at some point and see if she wants in. It won't be easy. I don't know if you have ever fought Splugorth slavers, but they have some pretty powerful magic that they use."
"I have not," Leonard shakes his head, "but I can see what I might learn of them prior. Forewarned is forearmed, afterall. If nothing else, I can determine what I might do to countermand their magic."
"The biggest thing is being able to counter their magical means of capturing. Like the net guns and what not. I'm not sure how you could do that, or even if you could do that." Erica says with another shrug of her shoulders before continuing. "Anyways I'll count you in on it. The pay should be pretty good."
"Who knows you might get one of the cool staves that the slavers have."
"I shall keep that in mind." Leonard looses a light chuckle. "Obviously, /we/ do not want to wind up as slaves, ourselves. There's been far too much of that, recently, and I'd rather not go through it again."
Erica laughs softly as she shakes her head. "You are telling me. That is the third time I have had an entity mess with me like that. I must make an attractive victim or something. Oh well. Things have turned out alright so far."
Leonard rolls his shoulders. "Perhaps? You certainly are not unattractive, yet I don't know how important that is to slavers or anyone else who would wish to control you. Well, some would value that, I suppose. I'm glad that you endured it all well."
Erica shakes her head. "For what they would get for a magic user, even a very weak magic user, they could get 10 of me. So watch out they will target you first just to take you. Bag high value targets and run. The Splugorth do this as a buisness you understand? We are trying to make this area to costly to work. Well I have seen a lot of crap in my time. I used to be a soldier in the Lazlo Defense force. Now I try to help out the southern populations."
Leonard frowns as she makes a valid point. "I shall certainly keep that well in mind. As I said, I'd rather not become a slave. That I can remember almost nothing of the last time time could be a blessing in disguise..." His words and train of thought dwindle elsewhere as he looks to her. "Do you happen to own a red dress, by chance?"
Erica nods her head as Leonard takes what she has to say seriously. "Try to throw them off. Maybe use a regular laser pistol or rifle. I can loan you one if you want. Then use what forces you can bring to bear once you know what to throw at them. That way they won't know what you are. Although I don't know, maybe all those floating and flying eyeballs can pick you out of a crowd. Try to find out. I would be interested in knowing more of course."
"Flying eyeballs?" That causes Leonard to open his own more widely. "I'll definitely research these Slugorth. As for conventional weapons, I do have a Wilks rifle, and can occassionally hit what I'm aiming for." His lips return to a mild grin with that. "Rest assured that I will do most everything in my power to avoid capture and keep any other volunteers safe, as well."
Erica smiles at Leonard and gives him a quick nod of her head. "Well now that work is done with. Yes I do own a red dress. I also own a black dress now apparently. Came to my senses at had a new pair of shoes and a new dress. I guess that is something at least."
Leonard dips his head in a nod. "I will share what I learn, and..." He pauses a moment before explaining, "I'm sorry for the odd question of the dress, but I had a sudden impression of you in red. On the bright side, perhaps you spent someone else's credits when you purchased your other clothing? That would be a benefit."
Erica laughs softly in her little voice. "Yep can't beat that. I like the dress, and the shoes are awesome. Yes I dress a lot in red when I go out to the clubs. I work hard and play hard. You had a new outfit as well? Do you like it?"
"I found a blouse, or what was left of one, in my pocket." Leonard echoes her laugh and shakes his head. "It wasn't mine, so I can only imagine how I came to have it. I'd like to think that I simply found it and was attempting to return it, but..." He leaves any other hypotheses unsaid with a shrug.
Erica laughs again and then rocks back and forth on her heels. "Well that is a little odd, but I guess you had a good time. I hope no one was angry with you, when you came out of it."
Leonard gives a deeper shrug, this time. "If I did, I don't recall it, so anything that did occur may as well have not. Fortunately for me, I'm not the only one who decided to just assume that nothing ...inappropriate happened." He chuckles and tucks the book in his lap away. "That most everyone survived the ordeal fairly well is a minor miracle that shouldn't be spoiled. Now, it's back to life as usual, or to the next catastrophe, at the least."
"Yep I'll just have to wait and see what crazy thing happens to me next. Glad you are onboard for this Operation. Should be interesting." Erica says with a smile. "IS there anything else you want to know about it?" She asks idly as she sits down in the crass, her legs crossed. "Or perhaps we can talk about something else."
"I expect that I'll have more specific questions on whatever we might encounter once I begin to research it, myself." Leonard notes this, then considers other aspects of the operation. "How has this village fared against the slavers so far? I'd guess poorly, or they would not have asked for help. How far will we need to travel?"
"Well the head of the town is a Shifter, so she'll be opening us a portal. I understand the town to be in the north east some where. The town its self is doing fine. It is all the surronding area that is a problem." Erica says before biting down on her lower lip and gnawing on it for a moment. "The militia is fairly strong and well equipped at least to my understanding. I mean we won't know anything for sure until we are there of course."
Leonard nods absently as he listens. "Well-equipped is good, both for themselves and for us. I have no problem in helping those who can't help themselves, but it's rarely profitable." He pauses to digest the rest of the information. "I can't think of much else to ask until I have a better idea of what to expect. Some of that we won't know until we are there, as you said."
Erica leans back on her hands and lets her head fall back slightly as she enjoys the sun falling on her. "Well we don't just have to talk about work. It is a nice day after all. So what else do you do besides go out to defeat slavers?" She asks as she tilts her head forward and tilts it slightly to the side.
"Well..." Leonard laughs at the wording of the question. "I don't generally make a business of attacking slavers, or most anything else, if I can help it. I'm more of an explorer and historian, in many ways. The library is far safer than the wilderness, and I don't envy those who make most of their living by putting themselves in harm's way. Some need to, of course, or none of us would be around, so I do respect them. Most of my interests include a great deal of reading, so can be boring to most."
Erica shrugs her shoulders and gives a little laugh. "Sure but there are few things better then a good book. I like to read as well and the library is great. But I am also a soldier first and foremost I guess. I make sure that others don't have to fight I guess." She giggles and gives Leonard a quick smile.
Leonard returns her smile. "Those of us who enjoy not fighting are very grateful. I prefer a book to being blown into pieces any day." He winks with the attempt at humor. "Other than encountering the occassional mind-controlling slug or invasion of undead, I generally read or explore. The travel is far more dangerous than the reading, but it can be more rewarding, also. Vixen and I are also establishing a local security business here. With any luck, that will provide decent income with less risks than raw mercenary work."
"Oh yah you working with Vixen? I know some stuff about security. What kind of buisness are you thinking of?" Erica says as she tilts her head again. "Yah I have been on a few different missions. It is crazy some of the things that you see when you are out and about, doing operations."
"I am." Leonard nods. "It is oriented towards consultation and implementation. Everyone has things they wish to protect, and we can help arm them with the wisdom and tools to do so. Vixen is quite skilled with the technological aspects, and I can help with the remainder." He chuckles anew. "Of course, there may be more physical, mercenary types of work in there, as well. We are still trying to get established and that could take some time."
Erica nods as she listens and keeps smiling. "I know a lot about security systems and have set up surveillance and counter surveillance in the past. It is pretty interesting stuff. Well I hope the business is successful."
Leonard grins. "Thank you. So do we. Everyone has bills to pay, and neither of our hobbies our inexpensive, unfortunately." An unseen stimulus causes him too look upwards and behind him a moment before a darf, feathed form dives and glides into view. With a flutter of wings, the raven alights upon Leonard's shoulder.
Erica giggles softly as she watches the raven land on Leonard's shoulder. "So does your bird ever shit on your clothes when he is like that?" She asks with a bemused smile. "Yah I owe some money. So hopefully I turn a good profit on this Op."
"Not unless I upset him..." Leonard manages to deadpan the response before breaking into brief laughter and shaking his head. "No, Edgar is generally more polite than that, although he does tend to stare." As a case in point, the raven's head is turned so that one black eye can peer at Erica in evalutation and study. "Everyone owes something to someone, in some way." Leonard notes. "Economics never stop and nothing is without a price."
Erica laughs herself as she shakes her head. "Well he seems like a nice bird. I have always liked ravens. Thought they were smart birds." She places her hands on her legs and stands up from where she was sitting. "Well I need to head out. I'll get back to you about the operation. It was nice meeting you Leonard."
Leonard nods and rises, himself. "He is ...interesting. It was good to meet you, too, Erica, and I'll keep you appraised of anything I might learn of our potential adversaries. Enjoy the rest of your evening," he grins a touch further, "and your new clothes."
