Jul 23 13:45:56 108 PA - Alibi Travels
From Chronicles
Jul 23 13:45:56 108 PA.
THE ALIBI
Erica is sitting at a table dressed up in her nicest outfit for clubbing. She is at a small table to the side of the dance floor. Soulful R&B music is playing as a bad is on stage doing a set. She has a bottle of wine on her table, and a glass idly dangling from her fingers, half full of red wine. Her eyes roam over the club watching the people.
Gabriel enters wearing his own throwback version of casual. Heavily throwback, but it works for him. After showing that he's essentially unarmed, his first destination is the bar itself, not really expecting to see anyone.
Bernard arrives some time after, dressed in his own version of casual gear, a dark tunic and pants, as well as his cape and a simple utility belt with a couple of pouches tucked onto it. His gaze drifts casually across the room as he makes his way into the room.
Erica watches the dance floor idly, as couples dance to the music. Her painted lips are curved into a little smile. She takes a small sip from her wine glass, careful not to smudge her lipstick. She glances around the room briefly taking note of those that come in and leave as she does her people watching.
What? Soda?! Okay, yeah. Gabriel walks away from the bar with two bottles of Kingsdale's own 'Donovan's Fizz' in his hands, now taking the time to scan the room. He even takes a short while to lean against a wall, talk to a pretty girl, share some laughs, listen to music, and watch the dance floor.
Bernard catches glimpse of Erica in her clubbing outfit sitting at her table and he makes his way over to join her, pulling out a seat, "That's an outfit I might've seen back home." He comments casually, as he settles down in the chair.
Erica looks up as Gabriel approaches her table. She offers him a warm smile and a nod of her head as she pours herself more wine into her glass. "Hello Gabriel." Her attention turns to Bernard and she smiles at him. "Hi Bernard. And where is your home?" She asks with a raised eyebrow before she finishes pouring herself more wine.
Having been met with a friend and an acquaintance, Gabriel pauses, looks between his still-closed bottles and shrugs. He then looks up with a smile and stretches his arms out, one bottle toward each person. "Good to see you guys. Enjoy, I can go get another one for myself." Yes, he really does look like he means it. Odd old man.
"A small little hamlet near New Camelot in England." Bernard replies, "But it was an awful long time since I've been there, I'm sure it's changed since then." He says, cracking a grin, his attention shifting over towards Gabriel as he approaches and offers a friendly nod, "Good to see you too, mate."
"Well with so many people from so many places fashion tends to be pretty variable here. I have seen some pretty strange outfits before. Like space clubbing clothes." Erica says with some amusement before she takes a small sip from her red wine. She reaches out and takes the bottle from Gabriel. "Is this more of that soda you drink?"
Gabriel puts on an innocent face, then holds up a bottle for his own further inspection. "This? Why..." he pulls it close to his eyes. "Oh no, this is that brain-blasting psi-cola that you thought I should try. They've just marketed it to taste like regular cola. Ingenious, of you ask me. Cheaper, too." He grins and laughs, then tucks both bottles to his chest, still standing. "Can I take that to mean that neither you fine lady or gentleman would indulge in a free drink?"
"If you're offering, I'll give it a try." Bernard says, then casts a glance towards Erica and nods his head, "I've traveled many different worlds over the years and seen some interesting outfits. Perhaps I'll track one down for you sometime." He says with a grin. He looks back to Gabriel, "So it's a brain-blasting psi-cola, hmn?"
"I didn't tell you to try psi-cola. I told you it was addictive." Erica says as she puts the bottle down far away from her. "I'll take a free drink, but I do prefer my drinks to be something with alcohol in them." She says with some laughter in her voice. "You don't have to do that Bernard. There are some pretty nice shops about here. I just need to get off my ass and do some shopping."
The older man hands a bottle to Bernard with a smile. "Yes, brain-blasting psi-cola, but in a manner so that it tastes like normal cola. Its powers are so huge that it's almost like you never experience them." Gabriel offers a very deep nod. "They say that condoms you can't feel are good? Well, consider a psi-cola that you can't feel to be a complete mindfuck. Apologies to the lady present," he says with a large and amused wink. He definitely sets both bottles on the table with a clunk, then, "I'll be back." He walks back to the bar.
"I've been meaning to go back to the City of Brass one of these days though, if I do perhaps you'll give me some ideas of what you'd like sometime?" Bernard offers with a grin, "And there's interesting shopping in the magic district as well."
Erica is sitting at a table near the dance floor. The band playing tonight is playing soulful R&B music that couples are dancing to. Bernard and Gabriel are at her table entertaining the woman. Gabriel left to go to the bar briefly. An open bottle of red wine is on the table as well as some bottles of cola. A wine glass dangles from her fingers as she talks with a bemused smile. "That is very kind of you Bernard. What is the City of Brass? I haven't really heard much about it. What kind of clothes might you find there?"
Gabriel is momentarily distracted as a young and slightly inebriated woman hangs onto his elbow and promises that she'll never cheat on him again, if he'll just take her back. As he's carrying more drinks now, it's a nifty thing to see him accomplish.
Two more patrons join the festivities, such as they are. Or, rather, one patron and a possible hanger-on. Leonard passes the security check with little fuss, as he bears no more weapons than the corvid companion perched upon his shoulder. He begins his approach to the bar for a drink while his feathered passenger surveys those around him.
Bernard casts a brief glance towards Leonard as he arrives, then his attention is back to Gabriel, and Erica, "Well, it's sort of like Splynn, in that it is an inter-dimensional market of sorts, but without the whole splugorth presence." He says, "So well.. things you couldn't imagine, and some that would be familiar I suspect." He says with a slight shrug of his shoulders.
"Well I haven't been to Splynn either. I don't know where that is. Though if there are Splugorth there I'm guess it is in Atlantis." Erica says after a brief shrug of her shoulders. "Sorry haven't been to a whole lot of places I guess. I am not the most well traveled person." She chuckles a bit at herself before she takes a small sip from her wine.
Gabriel finally arrives at the table, noting Leonard's entry with a nod, as his hands are full. "I haven't been any further than Minnesota since last September." Then six bottles are set down on the table. "There, choose. Three Samuel Adams Utopias, the world's highest-alcohol-content beer, weighing in at twenty-five point six percent. Go and get loaded. The other three," he sweeps his had as if displaying a prize, "are Sierra Nevada Bigfoots. You get a quarter of your daily required calorie intake in just one of these bad boys." He then lifts his own soda in a salute. "Enjoy your 'real' beverages."
"I've never been to Splynn, or Atlantis. They had an outpost in England that we raided a bit, well, precisely some of the groups traveling between some of the Nexus's and London of Splynn itself." Bernard says, "So I'm not terribly welcome there." He adds, "Though they probably don't know me personally. But, there's plenty of interesting places out there, some closer then others." He adds, his attention shifts back to Gabriel as he returns with the beers, "A good selection I suppose. Thanks for the drinks. So what's this brain-blasting psi-cola do for you?" he asks, "Can you float, or read minds when you drink it?"
"Is there something wrong with wine?" Leonard asks the colonel with a chuckle, just as he receives his glass at the bar. "Or is it simply not real?" His questions carry a chuckle that lingers until he tests the wine's existence with a sip.
"Well I have my glass of wine, but I'll be happy to have a beer or two after I finish this. Thank you Gabriel." Erica says as she picks one of the beers to examine it. "I've fought against some of those things from Atlantis before. I think he was joking about the cola Bernard." She says with a chuckle and a slight smile. She turns her head to Leonard. "I just think he is tired of being picked on for drinking cola all the time."
Gabriel's eyes go wide. "The psi-cola that I'm holding in my hand is *so* powerful... that even before I drink it, I can read your mind. You're thinking.. that I'm a very strange person. Wait... give me a few minutes to narrow down the thought. Let it kick in." The older fellow makes the 'ooooooo' warbling ghost noises that children enjoy before searching for an empty seat and sitting down. "Erica, we need to stop meeting like this. Pretty soon, if people keep seeing us like this, they'll decide that I really am your father and all the nice young men will be showing up on my doorstep asking for permission to take you on a date." Chuckle. Wink.
Bernard ahhs a bit, "He just sort of struck me as the kind of person who's got a sort of addictive personality and would get hooked on something like that." He says cracking a grin towards the woman. "They're tough fights, but if you take them out of their element, and hit them hard you can come away with some good rewards." He says, "And you can find them everywhere across the megaverse too."
Leonard approaches the table, nodding to Erica before he arches a brow at Gabriel. "I don't think you're her father. You're old enough to be her great great great grandfather's uncle, after all." He fails at complete deadpan when a grin emerges. Perhaps he should leave that to Edgard, as the raven does little else but stare silently.
Erica rolls her eyes slightly before smirking. "You never know Gabriel you could be my great, great, great something grandfather." She says with a laugh especially since Leonard says almost the same thing at the same time, a slight shake of her head before she takes a small sip from her wine, finishing of the glass. Setting the glass down she opens up the high alcohol content beer. "I've fought some of their slaving barges before. A little while back I saw a giant battle between to factions of them. It was pretty crazy to watch." She says to Bernard.
Using his open bottle as a pointer, Gabriel indicates Leonard and allows, "True, I am that, aren't it? I really should find a history expert to determine exactly how old I am, so that I can have my passport updated." He nods very seriously. "Oh, and my driver's license. What. There's no Department of Motor Vehicles any more?" Clearly, he's joking, but then directs his attention to Erica and Bernard. "I'm sure I'll sound the fool here, but before I departed, I'd seen just about every crack that Earth had to offer. Places, cultures, people. I'd like to see what it's like now, horrible evil demons or not. I just really have.. an urge.. desire.. to *know* where I am. Maybe help explain why I'm here." He tilts his soda back.
"If you have a wish to travel," Leonard offers Gabriel, after chuckling at Erica's simultaneous jibe, "I can aid you in that, but I would suggest against the Magic Zone and Atlantis." He dips his head towards Bernard in acknowledgment and reference to his prior comments.
"There's probably no reason you're here." Bernard replies, "At least in a grand scheme of things. You are what you make of yourself really. If you want to be a great crusader against demons, go start killing demons, for example." He says to Gabe. He nods to Erica, "That's interesting, I've never seen them fighting each other.. and yes.. Certain areas aren't really safe for all comers."
"I would like to go out to Arzno, and see the big canyon out there. It is supposed to be pretty awesome." Erica says with a slight smile. "I don't think there is a reason for any of us to be here, but that is just what I believe." She chuckles and takes a sip of the potent beer. "Wow this stuff is good."
"No need to be great. Just to be remembered as someone who protected those that couldn't do it for themselves, that would be grand," Gabriel says before looking to Leonard. "I'd like that, very much. I think that I would start by looking at my house in Virginia. Right on the edge of the Piedmont. Lotta good memories there." Then, "Erica, Bernard I'm sorry to interrupt, but just so that I can feel like I'm part of the event - brief detail of what a splugorth is, please?" Then to Erica, "I believe that I said, it's called the Grand Canyon. Just by your description of what it looks like and where it is. Good ol' Colorado River carved it right out of the Colorado Plateau."
Leonard smirks at Bernard over his glass. "Well, my understanding of Splynn was that humans were generally welcome only in chains or as food. Those are not my first choices in traveling activities. Not that anywhere is necessarily safe, of course." Erica is next, with nod. "I've not found much west, but maybe I've traveled too far west. The coast is not very pleasant."
"I think someone briefly mentioned Arzno to me once upon a time." Bernard comments, "But I've never been there, something about vampires maybe? I'm not sure." He shrugs lightly, "And the Splugorth? They're inter-dimensional conquerors, raiders, and slavers." He explains, nodding slightly towards Leonard, "And humans are generally looked on as property, or food, like he says." With a slight gesture.
"I don't really know what a splugorth is really. They are supposedly crazy rulers, and inter-dimensional slavers. They rule Atlantis apparently." Erica says trying to explain what little she knows. "Well it is supposed to be pretty great, but that is the name of it? Just grand? Hmmm why not the super awesome canyon?" She asks with some humor before she takes a long pull from her beer. "I guess a good amount of people have made a living out west, despite the vampire problems. The Colorado Baronies are supposed to be nice too."
"Maybe it's better now than it was? It could be super awesome." Leonard chuckles lightly. "It also sounds much more safe than most of the other destinations suggested so far."
"Interesting." Bernard says, listening to the talk of the Canyon, "Maybe I'll go out that direction at some point and see what it's all about." He says with a slight shrug.
"They are supposed to have some awesome TW out there. They hire out, and use a lot of mercs too I guess." Erica says as she toys with the beer bottle before taking a long pull from it. "If you go out there tell me, I would like to come with."
"Techno Wizardy was quite a pleasant surprise coming to North America." Bernard says, "It's not terribly common across the world, or beyond really." He says, "That's even more incentive to go out west and see what is offered."
Leonard regards Bernard as he considers the latest topic. "That's one aspect of magic that seems to be fairly limited to humanoids, or so it seems. Are you an avid traveler?" He inquires this of the man he has only recently met.
Erica says, "Well glad to see that at least us Americans still have some surprises left in us." Erica says with a little laugh in her voice. She takes a long drink from her beer, finishing it off. "If you guys want I'm a good traveling companion. Anytime you guys want to go some place I am open to new experiences.""
"I apprenticed under a Shifter for some years and accompanied him to many places. I haven't done as much traveling since getting out on my own, however, but I'll resume it again, I'm certain." Bernard explains to Leonard, then pauses to listen to Erica and cracks a grin, "I'd love to bring you along, if I ever head out someplace new."
"Ah. That certainly implies that you are well-traveled." Leonard dips his head and lifts his glass. "I happened to have one as my mentor, also." After a sip, he smiles to Erica. "When you wish to journey somewhere, let me know and we can arrange something."
"Well two men offering to take me on journeys. I am one lucky girl." Erica says with a warm smile to both Leonard and Bernard. "Perhaps the two of you might become traveling mates. Could try to make money going to places like NGR perhaps. Sell gear here. Just an idea, and I wouldn't mind seeing NGR."
"The outskirts of the NGR is quite dangerous, Gargoyles, demons, and worse." Bernard says, "But if you were to get into the interior I imagine it's fine. I never went though, not deep into the NGR territory anyway."
"Well we could do the same for Arzno maybe. It is pretty dangerous though. Vampires and what not. Maybe we could make some money that way." Erica offers with a bit of a shrug. She takes a pull from her beer before speaking again. "So what have you been up to since I saw you last Bernard? Anything interesting?"
Bernard laughs, "Absolutely nothing, really." He says to Erica, "But I've kept occupied I suppose, I've a couple scrolls I should study that I've put off, amongst other things."
"We will just have to find ways to keep you occupied Bernard. There are plenty of interesting things going on about town. However I am afraid that I must get going. It is as always nice to see you Bernard." Erica says with a brief smile as she stands up to leave.
Bernard laughs, "Well you can offer some suggestions on how to occupy me next time you're around." He says, offering a little wave as you depart.
