Jul 31 17:59:13 108 PA - Sometimes Lines Need to be Drawn Even Among Friends

From Chronicles

Jul 31 17:59:13 108 PA.

MAIN STREET SOUTH

The Sun has just dipped below the horizon, and while some people are finally getting off of work and hitting the clubs and bars (or going home if they're more of the responsible type), just as many people are coming in to take the graveyard shift. Main Street, even this far south where it's degrading is still as bustling as ever. For reasons unknown, Gabriel is sitting off to the side, lounging in one of the public benches that the City of Kingsdale has supplied, his sidearm at his side, sword across his back, and his new yet ever-present briefcase tucked between his feet. He's whistling. Again. Some tune that no one knows.

Bella ain' real responsible. Maybe why she's just gettin her night started. She hits Main coming from the even more crumbly way. She ain' even dressed up much. Just the usual.

Whistle, whistle, whistle. Gabriel's eyes seem to follow the comings and goings of the various people, and as Bella is a various person coming (not going), she's noted with a smile and a wave. "I thought you'd found better quarters!"

Bella don't need to look to spot Gabe. She hears 'im first. "Hey. I did. Sorta. Ain' stayin there alla time. Just visitin right now." She perks up a brow and aims her walkin his way. "Whatcha doin?"

"I'm watching. For a guy. Apparently he's a bit of a philanderer, and his wife wants proof before she has him bumped off." Gabriel chuckles a bit, his eyes still on the street, glancing only momentarily to his shorter friend. In a Kentucky accent that seems to be thicker today than normal, he offers, "I think that killing the man is a little extreme; I'll talk her out of it. Assuming that he really is a bad guy, and she isn't just a paranoid type of woman. How about you? Just out on the town again? Headed up to Happy Burger? Maybe the Firing Range to work on that little pistol?"

"Guess she's jealous." Bella smirks. "Can just chop things off too. That'd do it." Then she shrugs. "Dunno yet. Ain' been 'wake long 'nuff ta know where I'm goin. Prolly just out 'round town."

Gabriel nods, though still not taking his eyes off the crowd. Then, "Oh, hey. That guy. The one that looks like he has a third leg. I guess that's him." He takes a moment to glance up at Bella to ask, "You wanna go over there and try to sex him up so that I can catch him in the act? You know. Entrapment." He grins, widely.

Bella blinks and looks over. She weren't thinkin he'd find him that quick. "Hmm. Can go trip 'im up with that extra leg. Sure. Kinda thing's always fun." Bella grins. Gabe gets a li'l of it then she's walkin thattaways.

There's a soft, "Geronimo!" as the girl walks off. "Don't tear it off," Gabriel calls out, "Just make him make you an offer that you can't refuse."

She ain' all dressed up. But she can make sure her coat's open. 'N her pants're tight anyways. Bella's grin grows up to a smile when she gets closer to the big guy. "Hey there. Whatcha doin?"

The man who yes, is an attractive enough guy gives Bella a smile that has obviously been artificially straightened and whitened. Perhaps those aren't even real teeth. "I'm looking for someone to take to the Nightingale. Show a nice little lady like you a good time. I have money. I have a condominium at Covetry Place." He waggles his brow, apparently being the kind of man to go right to the point. He does a little wiggle with his waist, causing his legs to swing. In a 'seductive' voice, a quieter tone, he says, "My name's Stan. But the women call me 'Big John.'" Meanwhile, Gabriel just keeps a small, rented holo-camera rolling.

Bella quirks up a brow. "They do huh? 'N why they call ya that?" Course she's gotta idea bout why. Keeps walkin to him till she's right up against him. So she can see if she's right. Bella grins more. Now up at him. "I'm li'l. I like good times. Was jus' out 'ere lookin fer some even." She traces a finger up his chest. Past his throat to his cheek.

Big John (or Stan, if he prefers; kind of like your name being Gordon and calling yourself Sting) grabs Bella's finger in his mouth and sucks on it. Whether that's cool or not is anyone's guess, but he gives his best 'come hither' expression. Indeed, there is something akin to a third leg, though without actually having the man remove his pants, no one can know for certain what it is. He reaches down to embrace the small girl with one arm. "Are you... legal? Because I *like it* when it's not legal." Oh, nice. A philanderer and a pervert to boot. Gabriel makes some vague motions of his arm: "Keep going."

"Ooh. Ya like naughty? Me too." Bella can't stop smilin now if she tried. Almost smilin too big. "Got somethin even better fer ya then. Ain' thirsty fer no drinks nowhere. 'N why walk so far?" She pulls out her finger and backs away a li'l from him. So she can trace it back down him. Her head nods a little to the side. To a nice shadowy alley just a few steps away. "How's bout we jus' go right 'ere? Can pay ya back 'n have a nice li'l talk with ya Big John." Her finger gets sucked on again. She's just the one doing it this time.

While Big John seems to be pleased by the idea - but also still trying to get Bella to go back to a swanky place with silk, ejaculate-stained sheets and a mirrored ceiling, Gabriel begins a coughing fit. Huge coughing fit. Like he's coughing up a lung, just when his friend suggested love in a dark alley. COUGH COUGH COUGH */COUGH/* RRRGHGHEHEH GNENEOEOO COUGH COUGH PROBABLY NOT COUGH COUGH

Bella frowns some at all the coughing. She's having fun. If Mr. BJ looks that way she helps him look back at 'er with a hand on his cheek. Back at her 'n her pretty eyes. Pretty 'n a li'l shiny. "C'mon. Ya wanna have a li'l fun. We're gonna get some." She starts backin up some. For the little hidey spot she picked out.

Well, this just won't do. Gabriel packs up his things quickly, and hurries over to Big John and Bella. He puts his hands firmly on the girl's shoulders and says, "I'm sorry, sir. She has her mother's libido. And her mother is going to be *very* mad when I tell her about it. Have a nice evening." Then without pause, the older man yanks the girl away and back toward the street, silent.

Well. Don't that just suck. Bella weren't thinkin he'd do that. She glares at Gabe a sec. Her eyes get brighter yellow. Then the glows gone. "Fack!" That's all she says when she gets yanked away. For now.

Gabriel maintains his grip, even though he clearly knows that his charge could pull away if she wanted to. He marches her in the manner of a little child north along Main Street. "Everything that I've promised will always be done. What you do on your own time is your business. But not on *my* time, got it?"

Bella could. But she don't. "What're ya blabbin bout? 'N why'd ya do that? He's an asshole. 'Member?" She ain' happy. But she's still more confused.

"I mean that while I never say anything when you're on your own, I'm not going to have anyone bled because of me. And don't try to fool me into thinking you were really going to give him a good screw." Gabriel releases her shoulders and continues to walk north. "I don't want to pull family rank or anything, but when you and I are together and it comes to things like that, it's *my* rules. Self defense, that's it."

Bella gets let go of, but she's still walkin with 'im. When they get to a corner, it's her turn ta be yankin. She grabs his arm to tug him around it. Then swings him a li'l more. Back into the wall. Not enough to break anything but he oughtta know she ain' just jokin around. She ain' grinnin. "Wrong. It ain't yer rules. He's an ass. Figgered ya'd be happy it was him. Was gonna leave 'im breathin even."

Gabriel... is unimpressed, by all outward appearances, despite the slinging. "You want to go ahead making your own rules, the kind that make people want to show up with squirt guns and silver bullets, that's your business, but it does *not* happen on my watch." He shakes himself free. "I don't like what you have to do to survive, but I don't ever call you on it. But it doesn't happen when I'm around. If *you* are so self-indulged, then I'll just stop hanging around. Fuck, *I* could have 'left 'im breathin even.'"

Bella doesn't keep hold of him. Now she just smirks. "So. It don't matter long's ya don't gotta know 'bout it. Guess ya ain' so weird. Just pretendin ta be a good guy. S'what I figgered." Now she shrugs. "Fine. Won't try nothin like that 'gain."

"Sometimes it's difficult to be a perfectly good, good guy when you've made a promise to someone. I can only do my best, and in this case, not actively participating in the harming or eliminating of a person is the best that I can do." Gabriel had lowered his voice appropriately for the last words. "Please keep this in mind, just to reference your own words. He's an ass. Fine. I know lots of people who I *know* are worthless excuses for human beings or D-Bees or what have you, but I don't just take justice into my own hands, walk up behind 'em and whack their head with a Louisville Slugger. Might does not make right. Just because you *can* do something doesn't mean that you should." He shrugs as he gathers his things once more. "As far as mocking me... what would you suggest? I break my word, turn you and try to kill you? Or I keep my word and go to your favorite restaurant?" He sighs and rubs his fingers through his hair. "Few things are as black and white as you see life, Bella. Almost everything is a shade of gray, and all that I can do is to lean as far toward the white side as I can."

"Wasn't goin after 'im cause he's an ass." Bella shrugs a li'l more. "Jus' figgered ya good guys'd miss 'im less. Insteada... I dunno... yer best buddy. 'R the kids't play inna park. 'R whoever. I ain' picky. Was jus' thinkin maybe ya'd want I should be. Guess not."

Gabriel purses his lips sadly as the last few sentence fragments fall out of his friend's mouth. "Bella, I've enjoyed all the time that we've spent together, but if that's really your outlook... if what you just thought you'd do seemed like a good idea?" He shrugs, slowly. "I'm not sure if what you just said is a veiled threat or an attempt at an explanation - but I think that this is where we shake hands and part ways as the kind of friends who make time to get together and chat." The look on his face is one of, 'how unfortunate,' but only a subconscious expression. He holds out his right hand, to shake. "Everything that I've said, will continue to be kept."

Bella blinks. Brows pop up. "What the fack ya talkin bout? Weren' threatenin nothin. Jus' sayin." She dunno what to think bout all this flip-floppin he's doin neither. "So. I say somethin ya don' like 'n that's it? I was wrong. Yer still weird."

"You said that it wasn't my rules, it was your rules, and you figured that I'd be happy that you'd.. left him breathing. Then you figured that I'd prefer him to my best friend, or to children. Was there truly no point in there, those were just random thoughts? You went from ass to friend to children? You can't 'just say' things, because people will hear what you say, and possibly really not take it very well." Gabriel links his fingers at his waist, holding onto his briefcase at the same time. "Let's say you'd spoken with Stan in the alley, and come out and I'd been furious beyond what I was, because I didn't even know - on *my* watch? Would you have laughed at me and thrown it off as nothing? Would you have felt bad and apologized to a friend? Or would you have just said something about me being weird because while I try to be perfect, I am in fact, not perfect, and attempted to make me just learn to deal with what had just happened. Be honest."

"Wouldn'a figgered ya get mad. Told ya that already." Bella shrugs. "Guess I coulda said sorry. Prolly woulda tolda ya ya jus' dunno how things are. Kinda did that already. Ain' a world o' pretty flowers 'n rainbows 'n shit ya know."

Gabriel starts to move back into the street, not quite yet having tossed his friend off. "It isn't, but it could be, and I'm doing my best to make it that way. I might not have any family left myself, but there are millions of people - beings - out there who do have their own families, and they deserve at least the same quality of life that my family was raised in." He pauses to look back. "Don't be so damn cynical. *Everyone* can do something to make it more pretty flowers and rainbows. Doesn't matter who they are, what they are, what their life has been like. You've come out of the 'Dregs - so Bella, come out of the 'Dregs! Slap a smile on your face. After a while, you know what? It'll actually turn into a happy smile." He sighs... thinks... then waves his arm in his direction. "C'mon, let's find somewhere else, and I'll go over the footage."

Bella goes back to a smirk. "Easy fer ya. Ain' the one's gotta worry bout alla flowery rainbow people comin' atcha with pointy sticks 'n stuff." But she's walking Gabewards anyway.

That makes Gabriel chuckle. "Oh, how do you figure? Just about anything can kill *me* unless I'm wearing armor."

"Guess ya better no piss lotsa people off." Bella grins at Gabe. They're walkin on the street. From 'round a corner. "Yer nice. Oughtta be easy fer ya."

It's around nine in the evening, and while this isn't the greatest part of Main Street, as it's getting in toward the 'Dregs direction, traffic is still very active. Gabriel and Bella are coming from around a short corner, the older man with his briefcase and some unusual gear. His face, which is normally bright and happy, is somewhat down at the moment. Not actually sad perhaps, but as if he's thinking of something unfortunate. He does manage to answer his short friend. "It's true, it's much easier to not have people try to kill you when you're nice to them no matter how they treat you. Good life lesson right there."

Bernard is on his way down the street, coming from the Northern direction as he walks casually along the street, he's in his leather armor, but doesn't appear to be overly armed. His gaze shifts towards the psi-cola Junkie and his becoated friend.

Bella goes from grinning to smirking. "Even better when they ain' tryin'a kill ya fer no reason. But. Yeah. Prolly helps some if yer nice to 'em too." She's only part coat. Not all. 'N way less coat than she used ta be. She didn't have feet or hands or a face then.

Continuing on his way north, he gives Bella and amused look, stops... taps the top of her head with a knuckle. "Remember what the blob said up on the firing range? Maybe I *am* bulletproof! OoooO!" Gabriel makes the silly ghost noises that little kids like to hear, even if Bella is clearly older than the little kids that like to hear it. It's still funny. He also might kind of seem like he means it. Nevertheless, he hands a small piece of machinery to her. "Hold this for a minute," the starts fishing around in his jacket.

Bernard offers a slight nod towards the two, "Evening." He says in passing in his strangely accented English to the couple, "Nice night out isn't it?" he says friendly enough.

"Maybe ya are. Can always find out." Bella grins. Even the tip of her tongue pokes out. Then she's handed stuff and somebody's sayin 'Hey.' Oh-kay. She's left holdin the bag. Sorta. Looks to the one that talks funny. "Yep. It's nice. Mosta 'em are. Mostly. Whatcha doin?"

Gabriel's English is strangely accented itself. A thick, rolling Kentucky accent, though very, very few people these days would recognize it as such, not just a weird speech impediment. As Bella holds his machine, he fishes around and finally pulls out a miniature palm computer and scowls at it. "You know, Bella, the woman made me use this damn thing. I much prefer pencil and paper. Can't find a goddamn thing here." After fussing with it some more, he takes back his machine and hefts his whole bundle. "Hey, Bernard. Out for an evening walk, too? You know, all that we need now is to grab one of those Russian guys and have a foursome of people with funny accents."

"Was just headed back home actually." Bernard replies to Bella and Gabriel, "And why not use a pencil and paper if you don't like that thing?" he suggests rather plainly. "You can find a small notebook and pencil quite easily in the magic district."

Bella shrugs. Still holding stuff. "Cause anybody can draw anythin? Harder ta make fake pictures 'n stuff." Just a guess. She eyes Bernard s'more. "Ain' the best place ta be livin. Round 'ere I mean."

Gabriel chuckles and pats one of his other pockets. "Thanks, got one right here, Bernard. But the woman wanted everything digital. I guess it holds up better in court or something." He nods to Bella, agreeing with her, then taking his stuff back and out of her arms. "What she said."

"They have courts here?" Bernard asks curiously, then shrugs, "I suppose they would, hmn. Well, whatever suits your work I suppose." He says with a slight nod of his head, "And I live in the Magic district, it's not so bad really."

"Oh." Bella shrugs. Easier since Gabriel took the stuff back. "Don' really know nothin bout magic. Ain' never been round there much neither. Course they got courts 'n stuff. Wouldn' need alla cops if they didn'. 'R wouldn' be nowheres ta put alla people they grab."

"Oh, so that's why," Gabriel says sagely at Bernard's words. "Yeah, I don't ever find myself in that part of town unless I've been hired for something. Not like anything exciting and trying to blow up buildings. Just my usual day-to-day, non-heavy labor stuff. Business is getting better, now that word is getting around that the short guy who talks funny and doesn't know what the date is, isn't crazy." He then grins widely, probably more at himself than anything else. "Of course they have courts. You can tell because the city's fucked. Go back to medieval times, the Wild West... vigilante justice really works best. Courts? Courts are for nobles who want to get off on technicalities. Look it up. You think a thatcher invented the court system?"

Bernard listens to Gabriel go on for a few moments, "Well, I think the status of your sanity is still arguable, but indeed, execution justice seems more the style of North Americans then a court system." He agrees.

Bella grins again. Points a finger at Gabe. "Yeah. He's weird. Been tellin 'im that fer awhile." Then she's gotta eye the one she's pointin at. "So. People just takin care o' stuff's how it oughtta be?" She looks like she's doubting him. For a bit. She ends up shrugging and looking at Bernard again. "So. What's so fancy bout the magicy place? Why ya wanna live there?"

Gabriel chuckles. "North America? The term 'medieval' generally references post-Roman Europe. post-Dark Ages. I didn't mention execution, either. Just vigilante justice where the people got together and figured out what was right, because they *knew* it was right, not because some slick dick used fancy words referencing a fancy book that in and of itself referenced fancy words a hundred and fifty years old that are often no longer appropriately applicable to the modern era." After turning his head sideways a bit, he says, "If I recall correctly from our few meetings, and your accent, you're from the British Isles. You know, they were still hanging people in 1959." But he's congenial enough, and in a true sense, not a fake one. "You were on the run to Boneridge."

"I'm perfectly ok with hangings really, and there's not much of Europe left anymore. Plus, what I've gathered of much of North America is that it's a fairly racist, maniacal continent, between the Coalition, and the near Coalition like policies here in Kingsdale, I think it's really just varying degrees of the same attitude. I'm just as likely to be shot for being on the Library Ley Line as I am to be arrested or left alone, for example. It's not as extreme as your Coalition States, but it's close." He says to Gabriel before turning his attention to Bella, "Well, the apartment's nice, rent's cheap, and easy access to a Ley Line for starters. Plus, it's isolated enough from the rest of Kingsdale."

"Never seen nobody hanged." Bella hmms. That's got her thinkin. "Bet it makes 'em taller." She don't know diddly about dark ages, Europe 'r even 1959. The stuff 'round here's diff'rent though. "Huh? Place ain' like the Coalies. Far's I know. Seen lotsa diff'rent people 'n weird shit 'ere. Thought the Coalies jus' blasted all those kindsa stuff."

The older fellow chuckles again. "Believe me, the world has *always* been in a state of constant shit, and it always will be. There never has been any place that was good, just and fair. But some of us try to take what we can and make it better as far as we can reach. You get enough good people together to do that? You can change things, in a good way, as far as your grasp goes. But rules and a government are always necessary. Without it, you only have anarchy, which leaves you living two centuries in the Dark Ages. Otherwise?" He waves his hand around to encompass the world, "Shit happens. It's never fair for everyone - anywhere." Gabriel's eyes say that he knows that he's being basically ignored at this point, but it makes him feel good. He gives Bella a pat on the shoulder. "The Coalition though, they're like Hitler's Third Reich. You might not like it here, but it's worse there. But... they'll wear themselves out in a decade or so." He ends on an up note, very sure of his words.

"I don't mind it here, at least they're honest about what they are and do." Bernard says with a bit of a shrug of his shoulders, "And I don't particularly care to lose my life on some righteous quest to bring justice and good to the world either. I just like to exist and benefit off of wherever I might be. And sure you may kill different things then the Coalition does, but it's all the same, Death Squads out hunting and murdering Coalition people because you don't like them or agree with their views, for example." He pauses, "But you're probably right, things will be different in a decade or two I'm sure."

Bella ain't ignoring Gabe. But Bernard sounds like he makes more sense in some things. "Least he ain't nosin' in on yer questin stuff." She grins at the old guy. Then shrugs at 'em both. "Guess maybe we can find out. If we're still standin in that long. Speakin'a that." Bella grins. "Anybody wanna drink?"

Allowing the conversation to smolder out, Gabriel just smiles and says, "Don't see much wrong with trying to make things better for people. But anyway, I've been defense my entire life. Just happens that defense requires a little offense to keep the defense from being necessary, is all." He then puts on a smile and asks, "Magic District, huh? What's that place called.. Golden Giraffe? Something like that?" A glance at Bella. "Eh, depends, where do you want to go?"

"I'm more interested in making things better for myself, but, to each their own, I don't really judge others like that, everyone does their own thing, some just do it more honestly then others." Bernard agrees with a nod, "And a drink would be charming." He agrees.

"Anywhere't's fun works fer me." Bella looks at the boys. "Where ya two wanna go?" She ain't picky. Tried that once. Didn't work.

With a slap on Bella's back, Gabriel nods to both and hikes his gear for an easy carry beneath his left arm, briefcase suddenly slung over his right shoulder. "Sorry to run off on you, Bernard, but I do have an appointment to keep with the woman who hired me. Cheating husband and all. Hope you guys enjoy your drink, though." As he starts to move off, he looks back to Bella, and somewhat more seriously says, "Remember what we talked about. I'll be seeing you." Then he's disappearing, heading north along Main Street.