Jun 02 08:55:37 108 PA - Strange Night at the Nightingale

From Chronicles

Jun 02 08:55:37 108 PA.

NIGHTINGALE

Early evening is a fantastic time to be at the Nightingale, particularly on the weekend, when more people than simply the dating crowd is available to relax. More of a properly cosmopolitan cross-section of Kingsdale society than you might normally see. A packed dance floor, DJ working the theremin to its fullest extent, if perhaps a little too loud. It's creating that positive feedback loop where he's too loud for people to talk, so they talk louder, so he plays louder. Up at the bar, Gabriel is seated on a stool, leaning in a relaxed manner against the counter, chatting up a guy who seems to have landed the official job of holding his lady's purse. A bottle of something is in his hand, resting against an open thigh.

Erica walks into the nightclub dressed to fit the style of the more affluent club. Her heels make her sway in a graceful manner with every step. She makes her way through the crowd, briefly greeting those she knows with a smile and a word. Her goal is the bar which she comes to after a time. She smiles at the gentleman that offers up his barstool for her and she accepts the seat graciously.

Rubidia is on the floor dancing the night away. Her moves rabid and professional as would be expected for a performer she weaves her way about the floor. Various people recognize her and relish the opportunity for a momentary jive with the artist.

There's dressed up. Then there's sorta dressed up. Bella's the sorta one. She comes in made up for clubbing. Not real fancy. Just enough for most places.

As crowded as it is, Gabriel hasn't yet really noticed anyone, save for Erica as she walks in and seats herself. It looks as if he says something polite to the purse-man, then calls to the barkeep, receives a bottle, and makes his way down the counter. When near enough that he doesn't have to shout, a bottle is held out. "Evening! Here, something carbonated. Good to see you."

Erica turns her head as Gabriel greets her. Her painted lips curl into a little smile of greeting as she nods her head towards Gabriel. "Hello Gabriel. How are you doing this evening?" She says as she takes the bottle offered by Gabriel. "What is this?" She asks as she examines the bottle.

As the current song ends Rubidia quickly excuses herself from the floor and makes her way to the bar. Traversing the club in seconds, she slips in to order a dry cider before turning to glance at the other folks present.

Bella heads over to the bar. It's popular. Prolly cause that's where the booze comes from. She slips up on a stool and orders up a beer. Looks down the bar while she's waiting. Spots a few people. And some bubbly drinks. "It ain' bad." That's a warning to Erica. "Course it ain' real good neither."

A wink at Erica, followed quickly by, "What is it? Go ahead, guess." Gabriel then tilts his own and identical bottle up and takes a long drink. Then a funny look on his face, eyes squint a little. "I got fizz up my nose." Indeed, his left nostril twitches involuntarily for a moment. But it passes. Little Bella receives as wave of the offensive bottle. "Hey, Bella. You still up for those lessons, or can I just buy you a few drinks, try to get you loaded and send you home with... what was it? Three nice men?" It may sound funny, but Gabriel probably doesn't look like he's kidding. Rubidia is obviously seen, but for the moment, receives nothing more than a small tilt of his head. Too far to bother shouting.

Erica looks at the bottle skeptically and then rolls her eyes. "You do know I actually like booze. I am not going to be satisfied with a soda at a bar." She says while nodding her head towards Bella. "I don't know why he tries to push this stuff on us. I would think he was pushing psi-cola or something." She says with a little chuckle as she smiles at Bella. Opening the bottle she takes a brief sip from it before shaking her head. "When I am at a bar I want a real drink." She puts the bottle to the side and moves to get the attention of the bartender so she can order herself a drink.

Rubidia may be closer than you think. Or rather she may move closer faster than one would expect. Regardless she moves in amongst the other three as soon as her cider is in hand. "Hi guys. Jiving it up?" She asks, still slightly moving to the beat of the dance floor behind her.

"Drinkin." Bella answers that. Waggles her bottle too. Then takes a sip. Almost coughs on it with what Gabriel says. "Fack no." She shakes her head. "Yer 'nuff nice guy all by yerself. Other two gotta be all naughty 'r whatever. Ta make up fer ya." Bella's smirking after that. "Course I guess yer teachin stuff'd work too."

Eyes shift to Bella. "Oh? Well maybe I'll take you to the Ivory Lady. Guarantee we can find you some horny, trashy guys there. But you know, I got you some of those nice threads, maybe you should try weaving your spell on your own before you need to call in a wingman." He winks, then sighs, looking between Erica and little Bella. "May I buy the two of you a genuine adult beverage? Something perhaps with a proof so high that if you get an open flame within three feet of it, it detonates and takes your face off?" Then a bigger smile than what was already worn, and a raised bottle. "Rubidia! Hey, get up and play, could you? I'm sick of this sci-fi music. As to what I'm doing? I'm being beaten around for not drinking alcohol like a real man, or trying to get two nice women sloshed. You?" Gabriel sips.

Erica rolls her eyes again as she shakes her head slightly. "Jeez Gabriel. There is an in between you know. We can be adults, and drink actual adult beverages." She says with a little amusement in her voice before she orders herself a pint of beer and a shot of whiskey. After finishing her order she turns toward Bella. "Still looking for a hook up?" She turns to look at Rubidia and offers the other woman a warm smile. "Trying to live the high life or as close as it gets in Kingsdale."

"Getting sloshed of course!" Rubidia exclaims the obvious with a slight jab at Gabriel. "You need to loosen up soldier boy, then you might be able to enjoy the trance techno playing behind us." She advises with a shake of her head. It would appear she has no intention of making a stage performance tonight. Though that doesn’t mean she can't still be a spectacle. "Speaking of high life, big concert coming up. Not even officially announced yet. Who's coming?" She asks boldly.

Bella nods at Erica. "Always am. Mostly." Her bottle points at Gabriel. She grins. "Can't wait ta see what he's thinkin up. He was talkin bout some wild stuff th'other night." She perks up at Rubidia. " Concert? Maybe go. If it's gonna be good."

"Concert?" Gabriel's attention is fully on Rubidia at this point. "I love your music, Ruby. It's good stuff. Even know my requests! Well... so far..." It's a mock challenge. He'd then reach to pat Erica's arm in camaraderie. "I know, I know. Regular beer. I'm just yankin' you. Like you said, trying to live it up as much as possible in this city." Bella receives a set of humorously narrowed eyelids before he returns to the performer. "Please, what're the details? Concert in the Park? Simon and Garfunkle did that in Central Park, it was fantastic."

Erica picks up her beer from where it sits on the bar and she takes a long sip from it before setting down the glass and picking up her glass of whiskey. "Concert? Sure sounds like a good time." She says with a smile towards Rubidia. "Should be interesting. Your music is pretty good from what I have heard." She turns back to Bella before taking a sip from her glass of whiskey. "What wild stuff? That sounds like good gossip." She giggles a bit while she crosses her legs.

"Good? Of course it's going to be good. just listen to these two. It's gonna be epic. Will blow you away, I guarantee it." Rubidia exclaims excitedly with active gestures and all. She manages to not spill he drink just yet, taking another sip for precaution. "I've got half the arena booked for the first weekend in July. Ten thousand seats available so don’t be shy. Its going to be a mega party."

"Wow." Bella blinks at all that. "Big big. Sounds good ta me. Figger I can show up. Mega parties're fun." More beer. Then more grins. With some smirk. Her bottle points at Gabe again. "Maybe oughtta let 'im tell ya bout 'em. He's a one't thinks I oughtta be hookin' up witha whole party't one time."

"Whoa, whoa! Easy cowgirl. You're gonna put someone's eye out talking with your hands like that," Gabriel says to Rubidia with a grin. "Ten thousand seats? That's one big concert. Man, that's going to bring in some nice coin. I guess I should be envious of the Bugle Boy from Company B, huh? I didn't know the Arena did anything more than sit there for people to settle fights without smashing others into little pieces. Who knew?" He then confirms to Erica, "Her music is very good. Hearing her play is like being in the company of a thousand stars... perhaps a little loud sometimes." Wink, then sigh and eyeroll. "I owe little miss Bella for a job well done, and despite some far better material reward that I've offered, including a significant bite of my time and effort, she's continually implying, at the very least, that she wants to go home and make *really* good friends with a classy guy, a trashy guy, and perhaps one in between. In more ways than one." The phrase is ticked off on an appropriate three fingers.

"That does sound like a big show. You think you can book all those seats?" Erica says Rubidia with a questioning look. "That seems like a lot." She shrugs her shoulders then and downs her shot of whiskey. Her pale skin flushes a little as the hard liquor goes down. She takes her pint of beer and takes a long sip from it. "Yah I have heard her play before." She says with a shrug towards Gabriel. At Gabriel's comments about Bella she giggles a little bit. "Nothing wrong with having a good hook up."

Rubidia shakes her head to Erica, unfaltering. "Probably not. But the smaller sections would have limited the seating which I didn’t want to do. This way there should be lots of freedom to move around. Gives me a huge stagefront dancefloor. And I've got room for some extra special effects for the special show." She explains, her gestures calming down with an innocent smirk directed at Gabriel before she takes another sip of cider.

Bella smirks more. Shrugs some. "Ev'rybody likesa good time. Like 'er show." Now Bella points her bottle at Rubidia. "Jus didn' figger ya'd be comin up with shit too." That's for Gabe. "Since yer always talkin bout how old 'n nice 'n whatever ya are. Guess there's still some naughty in there too."

"Ten thousand seats. You get those people together, hand 'em bayonets and you have yourself an entire US infantry division. That's ah... that is ambitious," Gabriel says, tilting his head sideways and sipping at his soda. "Where's the music coming from? What era, that is." As an afterthought, a barely audible, "Stay off *that* dancefloor." Bella gets a wink, and he touches the small cross on his neck. In a very amused tone, "I worship a perfect being - never said I was one. Just hope that I'm a good person is all." A wink at Erica and a mock-whisper, "I think she's a little on edge because, well.. you know what they say about going too long without. EEE-EEE." Little bit of a horizontal fist-pump accompanies the squeaky noise.

Erica's painted lips curl into a smile as she nods at Rubidia. "I am sure that you will have a great show. I'll be sure to come. When were you planning on it being?" She asks before taking another sip from her beer. "Oh indeed I like a good time as much as the next gal. That is what life is for." She says while raising her glass up a bit as a sort of toast. She looks at Gabriel and giggles while shaking her head. "I am sure she'll find someone to do that with quickly enough."

"Gotta start somewhere." Rubidia says in agreement with Gabriel before looking to Erica. "July 1st, think its a Sunday. Yeah Sunday." She confirms with Erica and then turns a wide grin to Bella. "Great to hear. I'll see you there." She welcomes before taking a full swallow of the cider and waiting to see if ther are more questions.

Gabe gets eyed. Peered at maybe. Bella cocks a brow too. "Watch it. Teasin ain' gonna getcha no points 't bein good." It softens up at Erica. Back to a grin. "I can find somebody. Jus' findin the good somebodies't's harder." A swig of beer. A nod to Rubidia. "I'll be there. Lotsa music. Lotsa people. Ain' gonna miss that."

Gabriel closes one eye, allowing him to stare down into his bottle and confirm that yes, it is now empty. The offending empty bottle is then set on the counter, abandoned like a pet albino Burmese python that you didn't expect to grow as large as a VW bug. "You going to be doing the whole routine, Ruby? Natural visual effect to go with the pyrotechnics?" Bella is then spoken to. Sure, the words may be a little snide, but their delivery isn't. "A thousand apologies, Bella. Just trying to get a rise out of you for my own amusement. No pun intended." With a big grin now riding his lips, a hand is slowly waved around the room and toward the dancing area in particular. "As the term goes from my time, there have to be a lot of free sheiks in there if you just talk and wiggle the right way."

Erica chuckles at Bella as she nods her head. "I know what you mean. I have been having the same problems." She says with a little grin before she takes a long drink from her beer. "Yes Gabriel but a lot of those sheiks aren't worth much in the bedroom or in conversation."

Rubidia nods to Gabriel without hesitation. "Of course, that’s part of any show I do. Wouldn’t be me if it wasn’t bright and sparkly." She replies before finishing her cider and turning back to the dance floor. "For now though I'm going to take another round on the floor. Catch you folks later." She bids and is soon off to return to the lively throng dancing to the techno beat.

"Mostly just wigglin." Bella waves her bottle at Rubidia too. Since it sounds like she's off ta do some of that. "Like she says. Lots ain' worth nothin. Ones't're good know it. Makes 'em more picky. Take more work. Gotta fight off ev'rybody else." A little shrug. "Then maybe they ain' worth alla that when ya do get 'em."

Gabriel sits quietly as things are said in his direction, nodding in affirmation of varying strengths. A thoughtful look crosses his face, as if he's truly never thought of this before. "I wonder if the mages and psychics have a better time of it, being able to get a feeling of someone without even needing to make eye contact. Huh." He then goes to drink, but discovers as he is temporarily not entirely there, that much to his surprise and chagrin there is no bottle in his hand. Indeed, he is in his own world so much that Rubidia's departure really isn't noticed much save for some politely reflexive words and gestures.

"Perhaps. Although I wouldn't want to be able to read the mind of a person I was in a relationship with. Can't get mad at someone for some stray thought that enters their mind." Erica says with a shake of her head before taking a long pull from her beer. "I think I am off to dance as well." She says while she looks at the dance floor. "It was nice chatting with you both."

Bella waggles her beer at Erica. "Yeah. Knowin ev'ry li'l thing they's thinkin alla time'd be weird. Be bad 'nuff hearin' shit from people jus' walkin by 'r whatever."

The older fellow shakes himself out of his reverie. Or perhaps momentary Alzheimer's. "Yeah, yeah. You too, Erica. Careful with those heels. Not that you'll fall, but if you step wrong, you could crucify someone through the boot and thick bony part of the foot!" Gabriel's wide grin is quite obvious. He speaks to Bella as his much taller friend moves off. "I agree. No matter how much you love someone, or even just think you love someone, there will be times when you think to yourself some variation on, 'Damnit, I could just strangle her right now!' Or in your case, 'him.' It's like a white lie - honesty that it doesn't hurt to keep secret." After a moment, he calls for another manly soda, then moves down a stool or two to sit next to his tiny friend. "Still lookin' good in the new stuff, Bella. Seriously though, thanks for all you've done for me. Probably means more than you know."

"Yeah. Ya say so." Bella shrugs. Sucks down the last of her beer. Maybe she don't agree all the way. Course she don't say what part she's talking about neither.

With an odd look at Bella - clearly he doesn't know which part she's talking about either - Gabriel continues, "I know that I'm supposed to be New Testament, turn the other cheek and all that. But despite the nuns' best efforts, I stuck with the Old Testament. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. Of course, I'm not knee-jerk black and white like that. But I do try to set things right. Even if it's my own view of how something needs to be set right. No one has to agree with me, y'know." He sighs. "So what has suddenly gotten you down?"

Bella waves for a new beer. Then cocks her head at Gabe. "Whatcha mean? Ain' down. Jus' wonderin." She grabs up the new beer and points it. "Ya gotta whole sort mob 'n torches 'n shovels kinda thing goin. Know what that's like."

Nod nod. "Yes, I'm sorry that you know what it's like, Bella." Gabriel hoists the new soda in his hand, a brief salute. "I just wish that things would start to move faster. The longer it goes, the harder it gets. Still... you're looking good in those clothes, Bella. I guess psychic tailoring will do that for a person." He smirks at himself as he pokes his own clothing. If someone were to think them a deliberate throwback style, that would be generous. "I suppose I blend, but I'm happy with that. Not out looking for any... EEE-EEE." Similar gestures accompany the 'words' but this time he also sticks his tongue out in mirth. At himself, or at Bella? Not very clear.

"Too bad." Bella smirks. "Ya oughtta. Since not gettin any makes ya all cranky 'n shit." She eyes herself and shrugs more. "Yeah. They're good. 'N why ain' 't movin faster? Jus' go 'n do 't if yer gonna. If waitin's bad don' wait."

"One man against him? Nah, good way to kill yourself. Need two at the absolute minimum so that in theory he'll need to divide his priorities." Gabriel shrugs, appears as if he's going to say something... then just smiles warmly and sips at his bottle instead. After a short while, he turns toward Bella again. "I know this is a public place, so I'm not going to ask, but I'll say that sometime in the future, I'd be very interested in knowing... how it happened. It's something that I can barely accept actually happens." He'd lifted his head just enough to expose a tiny bit of neck that would be usually hidden behind a collar.

Bella smirks still. Around her bottle. "What? How ya getta hickie? That's easy ta figger out. Jus let somebody suck on ya." Then she points the bottle at him. "'N thought ya hadda buncha people ta go after 'im. Jus' take alla 'em.

"Right now, all I have is one. The others have vanished." Gabriel shakes his head, clearly frustrated at the point. "I need to either wait, and make things worse, or I could act with this one other person who is definitely no one resembling a soldier, or I need to manage to drum up interest, but in a quiet way that doesn't disturb the bastard. I'm none too keen on any of those options. Erica, she'd help, and be a large assistant, I know that. Military background like me, just a lot shorter. Different of course, but close enough. I might even be able to get Rubidia in on it." Gabriel shrugs. "For the moment, I just need to process what you've given me, feel out who I can talk to. I have a man to go to with some of the intelligence you handed over who might be able to clarify some points." He smiles, very thinly. "Don't suppose you've changed your mind?"

"Better I ain' inna middle'a it." Bella shrugs. "Ya ain' the only one askin me bout help in alla this ya know." There's a little smirk with that. "'N he's way better't dealin 'n ya are."

Gabriel nods, perhaps not looking entirely surprised. Then confirming it. "No, I'm aware of that. Sure that he has many more good things to offer you, though honestly I don’t know if he's aware of your particular peculiarities. Good guy, just differences of opinion on something that I find very congenial, but I think that he took as an insult. Something for which I'm very disappointed; I was quite polite and explained myself." Gabriel shakes his head, probably wanting to continue, but not.

Bella quirks a brow. Curious. "So. Ya think he's a good guy but yer wantin 'im dead? Thatta good guy thing 'r somethin? Don' make no sense ta me." Her turn to shake her head. Smirk. Drink a li'l more beer. "He figgers yer gonna be after me next. 'R maybe not ya but yer friends."

"Oh. Well, I'm the one in the wrong. Thought it was a different guy." He eyes Bella and says, "I suppose I can't believe one damn thing that you told me, now can I? He's not a good person. Not the kind you should be having company with. But I'm not coming after you." Gabriel shrugs and states very flatly, in a way that just about anyone would recognize as truth, "If I were, it'd would be done already. But like I said, no one else knows, so they have no reason to come after you." He shakes his head and sighs. "Sad, though. I have to start all of this information gathering over from the beginning. I also have to assume that you told him that I'm coming after him. Playing both sides of the candle, Bella, and he is not a nice man. Someday, you'll just be in his way, and he'll find a way to deal with you so that you can't talk to anyone again." The older man's bottle is set down and he sighs once more, a long one. "This is unfortunate. If you're feeding me information about him, who's to say you're not doing the same for him? I'll be seeing you, Bella. From now on, please knock so that I can answer the door." The slides off of his stool.

"Never said he made a good 'nuff trade." Bella eyes Gabe when he slides off the stool. "Never told 'im nothin. Don't think ya'd be 'ere drinkin not beer if I did. He knows people're after 'im. Always did. Dunno who." She ends up shrugging. "But go 'n think whatever ya wanna."

Gabriel returns to his stool. "Doesn't feel real good, does it?" His bottle is raised again, and he drinks. "Bella, you're a nice person, as far as I know. I like you a lot. But this military stuff, this life and death stuff, this shit is *real*. People can live or die on the word of one person. When you and I are sitting and talking, shooting the breeze, needle me all you want, it's fun! Makes me smile, grin, feel good." A finger unwraps itself from his bottle just barely enough to execute a gentle point. "When it comes down to these military, life and death things, you need to just be straight with me. It's not fun, and no matter what it is that someone's trying to do - it's not a good thing." Somehow, Gabriel manages to nod at himself. "I don't want to scold you like a child, but you need to be even and straight when we're discussing this stuff. Not just you, everyone. I'm sorry if I seem a bit harsh, but I have seen people die because someone was flippant, and information was poorly communicated."

Bella sucks down s'more beer. "What don' feel good? Watchin ya get all pissy cause ya weren' listenin 'n took it how ya wanted ta? Maybe." She hardens up again. "I don' fack 'round with shit like that. If it's gonna get me dead I ain' gonna be jokin. Don' gotta worry bout that. Don' gotta act like I'm some kid neither."

"Fine, we're both on the same page." Gabriel is somewhat gruff himself, but clearly moving on. "How much does he know? How much of it's real?" His eyes turn to his tiny friend. "I'm not going to ask you to fight, and I know that I've already asked you to ask questions and listen. But would you be willing to *tell*? Counter-intelligence is an art in its own right."

"Tell? Ain' I told ya lotsa already?" Bella quirks a brow. Still eyeing him. "Whatcha want me ta do? Take 'is hand 'n walk 'im right up ta yer gun 'r somethin?" She shrugs. "He knows people've been after 'im ever since he killed somebody. Even some before when he got 'is li'l helper. Think he figgers Sage's the one after 'im the most. Course she's got lotsa friends. I think. Dunno what he knows after that. Bet he can do lotsa guessin though."

Gabriel holds up his hand. "No no no, I'm sorry, I misspoke, you misunderstand. You've done plenty of listening, passing on to me, and I thank you for that. When I say *tell* I mean would you walk up to him and tell *him* what I want him to know?" The man's eyebrow does then quirk upward. "Still, anything that you can find out about his 'little helper' might be of great importance. She could be a housekeeper, she could be a walking source of magical energy, who knows." He looks away, then back. "But... why does he trust you? What does *he* want of you... and what is he offering you?"

Bella sets the bottle on the bar. "He wants ta buddy up. He ain' human. Figgers I ain' neither. There's lotsa ya. Ya guys're real good 't goin after anythin diff'rent 'r scary 'r whatever." She smirks. "Big dogs watchin th'others' backs ta keep 'way alla li'l ones 'r somethin like that." Now a shrug. "Thought about it. But he's got all kindsa shit after 'im already. Sure's shit ain' gonna help me none ta bring 't my way. Turned 'im down so he got kinda pissy."

A hand snakes out, and if available... would pet Bella's nearest shoulder in a friendly way. "I understand. I'm sorry. Still, I've lived long enough to see enemies become friends, enemies be liquidated, and people who have little in common sit down at a table and drink to each other's health. Johnson isn't one of these people. You, Bella?" He smiles at the tiny girl. "I'll protect you as best I can, treat you like a genuine person - which is what you are. That's my best offer of everything, because it's one of the rare things that I have to give, no matter what may be taken away." Gabriel pauses briefly. "So. He's too hot to approach again? Yeah, I can understand that, if he's starting to move."

Bella smirks at the first part. She does that lots. Shrugs at the other. Does that alot too. "Don' think he's got nothin more ta say ta me. Maybe means he's gonna be leavin. Dunno."

An odd question escapes Gabriel's lips. "When you.. ah.. enter my home the way that you do, everything that you... have on you apparently does as well. If I give you a radio, could you follow him, and use it?"

"Could follow 'im." Bella nods. "Could talk inna thing. Can' really do both atta same time real good." A little shrug. "Don' really work that way."

Gabriel nods. "Just popping up now and then to let us know where he is, or where he looks like he's going, that would be a great help." He smiles ironically. "Hard to set snare if you don't know where your prey is going." He then sighs and changes the subject. "So what's been going on with you, Bella? I know that you have a life outside of talking to an old man."

Bella gives that a nod. "Can maybe do that. If I see 'im. Dunno if I will." She slips off her stool. Remembers to tug her skirt back down after. "Same old same old. Course I gots other stuff ta do." A smirk. "Like I'm gonna go grab somethin ta eat."

"You can do that without telling me, unless you want a burger. Otherwise.. I'd rather not know," Gabriel winks oddly at Bella. "Taking off now?"

"Yep." Bella snickers some. "But I'll be 'round. Don' trip 'n die. Lemme know when yer gonna jump 'im 'n maybe I'll come 'n watch. Sounds like it's gonna be a good show." She winks back and heads off for the door.

Gabriel smiles and bobs his head once or twice. "Take care." He then moves sideways a few stools to begin chatting with an attractive woman who yes, is still younger than he is. Tough not to find it that way.