Mar 13 13:30:05 105 PA
From Chronicles
The current game time is: Fri Mar 13 13:30:05 105 PA. Kingsdale - Harry's Gym
By far, the most popular attraction of Harry's Gym is the pool. Fully olympic in size it ranges from three to eighteen feet deep and is kept extremely clean. The public is almost always present here, except in 'exclusive' swims. Sometimes, there are lots of children present -- especially during the day -- but morning and evening tends to have only adults here, most of which are interested in swimming for the sake of working out.
There are almost always lifeguards present and the water is quite warm.
It is early afternoon with an entirely school of kids practicing simming in the gym. Their voice fills the space, laughs and arguments could be heard.
Katsumi is in the pool, swimming through the pool in her black one-piece swimsuit. As she reaches the end of the pool, she turns over under the surface, pulls herself from the wall with her legs to start to the other end.
From the main gym area.. Kaomas enters, having been told that Kat was in here. The warrior walks up to and stops on the edge of the pool, looking across it, and into it, trying to find the woman. After a long moment, he spots her.. on the opposite side of the water, and he makes his way to that side as she reaches that side, crouching with a smile as she surfaces.
Katsumi pulls out herself from the water, sitting into the side of the pool, leaving a large puddle in the floor. She strokes back her wet hair, smiling from the exhaustion. And only after that brief moment of grooming she appears to be aware of the headhunter. "Hello Kaomas." she tries to overshout the teenagers around the place.
Kaomas looks over the dripping wet woman and he nods once. "Hello Katsumi.. Enjoying yourself are you?" He asks, glancing over her again, then back at the pool.
"Of course I am." The Asian woman laughs ligtly. "Why shouldn't I?" there is a sudden clasp of the water and a body as a teenager boy jumps into the pool at the near of the woman. Katsumi close her eyes defensively, still an army of water drops find her as well as Kaomas, leaving wet spots in his clothes.
Kaomas looks down at the water and frowns slightly, eyeing the kid who pulled the cannonball.. but let's it go. "I never said you shouldn't.. just.. Wondering if you were was all.." He says smiling, resting his hands on his belt as he watches Kat a moment longer.
Desmond enters the pool area quietly. He has his bag in hand and his lighter garb on. But he hasn't the sweaty look of one who has been through a workout. Pool first today, the dark feline preoccupied as he moves toward a bank of lounge chairs. No doubt the presence of the children add to the dour expression he wears, but he seeks to ignore the sounds as he settles down onto one of them, bag slid beneath. Considering the nearest expanse of the pool and the height of the population within, an obvious reluctance keeps him from immediately enjoying a dip.
Two of the kids whispering something about, on eof the fingering at Desmond. They are away to be heard, but Desmond could see them clearly. Soon their teacher, a middle aged man arrives, with an enormous stomack. He scold the kids down, arguing that they should go to swim instead to stare at the people. He intimidating them to give a bad mark or to give them away to the dinos.
In the meanwhile Katsumi keeps her almond eyes on the headhunter. "What are you staring Kao?" she asks with a smirk.
Kaomas blinks, realizing that he indeed WAS staring and he turns his gaze away, a blush on his face. "S.. Sorry.. I uh... Just admiring the view.." He says, looking pointedly up at the cieling, ignoring the screaming kids, the fat swimming instructor.. and trying to ignore the sleek one peice in front of him.
Desmond can hear the kids well enough, likely. But he choses to let their young rudeness roll off of him as most things tend to. However that does clench it with regards to swimming. Disdaining that, he chooses to relax for a spell. Turning and laying back on the lounge, letting his eyes wander upward along the ceiling rather than out across the pool proper for now. His hands fold atop his middle, his eyes glazing for a few moments as he lets his thoughts take him.
Katsumi glances back at the other side, noticing Desmond, offering him a wave. Then she turns back, smiling at the headhunter. "You are strange lately. You left the bar so early." she comments, before her glance is broken by a running teenager girl, crosses the space between the Asian woman and the headhunter. Her aim to jump into the water, which gives a new wave of drps to the conversating adults. "Hey!" katsumi turns there playfully. "Watch out yourself!"
Kaomas glances up at, and waves to the big feline as well, before turning his gaze back on Kat. "I left because I don't like crowds.. Never dealt real well with them.." He admits, smiling as he watches the Stalker, ignoring the children running around.
Desmond eventually turns his eyes from the ceiling, letting his attention drift lazily between moving this and moving that. The movements of Kat's wave catching his attention then. Spying her, his brow furrows deeply. Despite this, he lifts a hand to return the wave, though more casually. His eyes lingering, slipping toward Kaomas, then back toward her.
Katsumi waves inviting to Desmond, deciding that it would be a better than to shout over the teenagers. "Could you repaired your arm?" The Asian woman turns back to the headhunter with a curious look. She doesn't care more of that swimming girl.
Kaomas watches Kat wave to Desmond, inviting him over, and he speaks. "Yeah.. my arm is fine.. the damage was to the organic bit... my bone was broken.." He says raising the arm and flexing it. "I'm fine now.."
Desmond appears to consider the silent offer a bit longer than one might expect. There is a reluctance, but after a few moments he elects to meet the invitation. he goes about it slowly, rising up smoothly to turn and fish under the lounge for his bag. Lifting it, then rising to stand. He makes his way around the pool steadily, mindful of the young cavorting about. It'll take him a bit to round the pool.
The youngs seems to avoiding Desmond. He is too large and too freaky to confront him directly. So he has a clear path.
Katsumi examines the headhunter arm. "I see. I guess you would soon exchange that bone to metal then. If you did not done it already." she teases and orders her swimsuit brace in her shoulder.
Kaomas swallows, watching Kat adjust her suit and he shakes his head to clear it of certain unneeded thoughts. "Yeah.. i'm getting the Metal conversion as soon as I can afford it... it's hella expensive.."
Desmond is careful anyway. Children, he has observed, can surprise you at times. But he makes it over in due time, offering a dipping nod of his head as he draws closer to the two. "Good afternoon," he offers generally in his calm, deep voice, pausing with a few feet of distance so as not to loom.
Katsumi smirks as she notices the effect of her movement on Kaomas. But instead to tease him furter, she turns to the cat-man. "Kon-ni-chi wa Nekko-san!" she greets the feline playfully, closing her sight slightly. "I am glad to see you again. Have you met Kaomas before?" she asks, noding into the headhunter direction.
Kaomas smiles at the large feline man, extending his left hand.. just in case. "Call me Kao.. Good to meet you.." He says giving the larger being a wry smile.
Desmond understands the greeting well enough and shifts his gaze to Kaomas when the man is indicated. "I have seen him before," he acknowledges before taking the hand offered lightly. "I am Desmond," he replies. "A pleasure." Though one might wonder as his expression lingers in a vague state of neutral.
Kaomas shakes Des's hand ones, the hand squeezing his lightly. "So uh... " He starts, unsure of how to proceed. "You're a big one... you fight at all?" He asks, resorting to the one thing he knows better than all else.
Desmond cants his head slightly to his right at the comment on his size. It goes without saying and he says nothing in response to that. But the further questioning.. "Yes, I am trained as a hunter. Battle is something that I know well, in many forms, close and long range." Said without boast breaking the evenness of his deep tone.
Katsumi chooses to follow the teenagers example, straightening up to jump into the pool. She starts to swim to the other side. Some of the teenager guys tries to keep up with her, but she is much faster than they. One of the guy stops to say something nasty about her, showing his borned masculinity. That he would surely couple with her, even that she is not such a beauty. All of his words in the recent slang of the teenagers, hard to decrypt by an adult.
Kaomas flinches slightly, as Kat jumps back into the pool, sending a small wave of water up to splash at his feet. "Kat..." He mutters, watchiong her for a moment. Then he turn back to Desmond. "I see.. I'm a warrior of sorts as well.. Perhaps we can learn a thing or two from each other?" He asks, watching Des.
Desmond glances toward Katsumi as she enters the water, his brow furrowed again. There is a sense of confusion in the expression he wears. But he doesn't miss Kao's words, returning his attention to the man. "One is always learning. Thus it is likely." His ear flicks toward the nasty comments coming from someone in the pool, frowning as his glances back out toward the water.
Katsumi doesn't care of the young fellow, who tries to prove his masculinity to the others. As she reaches the other side, she dives down to turn back, pushing herself from the wall to receive speed. She aims her way back to the two conversating warrior.
Kaomas nods and considers the Cat's words. "Hmm... we could use another arm in the VCF.. you good with guns?" He asks Des suddenly, not seeing the incoming Katsumi.
Desmond nods his head once in reply to Kaomas' statement, stating, "If you refer to the group I believe you do, then I am already noted for future tasks. However I have some things to deal with before I can be sure. And I am aquatinted with firearms, though I prefer to battle in close quarters when possible."
Katsumi swims into the side, grabing at the near of the two. "Neko-san is really exceptional in close quarters. I think we would be an ideal unit together with him." she offers her comment with a wink. Her curves are somewhat visible if one would like to peek into there.
Kaomas grabs Kat's hand as she reaches up for one, and he pulls her up efortlessly, helping her up and out of the pool, leaving her dripping wet on the tile they stand on. "I see.. Well.. speaking from personal experience... you don't want to close to melee range with a sixteen foot talle robot.." He says, leaning down to grab a towel, and helping Kat to towel off, his gaze ineed catching the glimpse of curves.
Desmond is still a few feet back, so isn't in the right position to do any aiding. he meets Kat's compliment with a slight nod of acknowledgment, though counters with, "You can match me armed, however." Leaving the team idea up in the air. "One must pick their battles carefully, but that does sound to be a disadvantageous instance, yes," he adds to Kao.
"Why not?" Katsumi wonders, drying her hair with the towel. "I guess it had ranged weapons. If we could close enough we could make it harder to use them. We should just avoid the tramples." It seems she is aware of Kao's glance, smiling with a fake innocence. "Of course we should know the weak points in it's leg first, trying to immobilize it. Then we would have a clear way."
Kaomas shakes his head. "Because... we're not trying to simple take it apart.. we can it mostly intact... cuz NTI pays us more for the intact specimens.. we don't get anything for a load of scrap.. other than the trouble of hauling it back here..." He says still helping Katsumi dry off, having grabbed another towel.
"Then it would be a better idea to shear off the limbs. Presumably if it has no limbs, it will have limited means to cause harm and it could be deactivated with less trouble. That would cause the least amount of damage with the most effectiveness, I would think," Desmond opines. Not that he knows a great deal about robots, but. He observes the two of them quietly after his comment, holding to a closed expression.
Kaomas pages: his right hand slips somewhere.... private as he dries you off.. I can't pose that though.. his hand is concealed by the towel. Kaomas pages: behind you. Kaomas pages: well... he uh.. kinda gropes her butt a little.. as he dries her off back there..
Katsumi eyes narrow annoyedly from Kaomas comment. "I mean why couldn't we get close? I think the close quarter weapons would do less mess in the important parts. I guess that is what values for the company." she glances at Desmond briefly. "Exactly. That is my idea. I would gladly join you for a combat with a robot, if we do a plan." she smirks.
Kaomas grins as he shifts his position, still helping Katsumi dry herself off, his both hands working the towel gently over her as long as she allows it. "Well.. removing the limbs is possible.. but in all likely hood.. being that disabled.. the bot's could simply self destruct..."
Desmond arches a brow slightly as he watches Kaomas casually. But his response comes smoothly, without pause. "Then it would be more the work of those talented with the nature of robots and not those versed in the arts of war who should deal with the capture of them. I am of the latter, thus I would simply disable i as quickly as possible."
"I agree." Katsumi lets Kaomas helping her, keeping her eyes on the feline. "Kid would be a good help to us, she seems to able to deal with machines as well as Caliopa." she explains, still drying her hair, it seems someone else do the rest to her.
You paged Desmond with 'Now it is your turn to be scened by an Empathy.'
From afar, Desmond considers. "I suppose what Desmond is feeling most right now is a light sense of amusement. Mostly while currently watching Kao."
Kaomas stops drying Katsumi, catching sight of the raised eyebrow from the feline. He steps back, tossing the towel into a passing hamper and leaves Katsumi be. "Well... disabling is fine... no arguements there.. that's normally how I fight.. just.. these things are seriously large and nasty.. I don't think they'll just stand there and let us take them apart... they'll be trying to kill us.."
"No doubt, otherwise there would be no reason to disable them," Desmond states. Were he to have given it anything but the relative deadpan tone that he usually wields, he could have been trying to be funny. "But I would find it hard to make plans now for that which I have not experienced. Each event requires a new set of tactics, often improvised." He glances between the two. "The one you fought destroyed itself?"
Katsumi sits down to the tiles, also glancing between the two. "I heard the first one exploded, but I wasn't there. I didn't know about the second. Kao is the Mr. Hero." she explains playfully.
Kaomas rolls his eyes at the tile. "Yes.. the first detonated... bringing the factory it destroyed down on top of itself.. as well as me... The second did not though... Not sure why, normally they do... And I've fought them before these ones.." He says explaining it to Desmond.
Desmond glances at Katsumi with her comment, then toward Kaomas with his explanation. "If they are related, then one would look at how one was taken down as opposed to the other, perhaps. What was different about the end of each battle, as far as you can recall?" His tone more serious than before.
"Exactly. There must be some difference, or not at all, but then the robot itself was different." katsumi agrees, keeping her smoldering grey eyes at Kaomas curiously. "Tell us Mr. Hero."
Kaomas glares at Kat again, silently promising payback. "The first fight I don't remember.. I got pulled out of the ruble of the factory a couple hours afterward... cuz the bot dropped a section of ceiling on me.. The second.. I think.. was to full of wholes to trigger the self destruct.. or else it wasn't equipped with one.."
Desmond nods his head once, taking the explanations as they are given. "Not enough information to decide then. It would behoove you and those who took part to discuss this, unless you can find someone who can properly disable one unharmed or perhaps disable to ability to self destruct before it can go off. Other than that, one must do what they are able to."
"I think we need to meet the mercenary team then." Katsumi offers to Desmond. "We could collect much more information then. Raina, that beautiful cat-woman was there."
Kaomas shrugs, eyeing the still bathing suit clad woman by the side of the pool. "I can arrange a meeting if you like..." He offers, shifting his gaze to Desmond to onclude him as well.
Desmond arches a brow slightly at Kat on her talk of the team. "Perhaps, though I am not part of the team yet. Regardless, other than what few insights I have given already I would be of little use in matters such as these. I have had no contact with these enemies as of yet and the prior incidents were before I arrived." That opinion extended toward Kaomas' invite as well with a sweep of his eyes. "
Kaomas nods in aggreement. "I'm sure Kelley will be happy to meet with you.. and discuss these things in detail.. if he has not allready tried to." He tells you both, taking a seat on the nearby loung chair.
The Asian woman agrees. "The Doctor would be very helpful in this case." she hesitates. "Hey Kao." Katsumi turns to the headhunter. "Do you want something from me?" she asks in her deep voice.
Desmond decides to remain standing for the moment, replying, "I have met with him already. We have discussed and have come to an understanding for the moment." Then Katsumi queries Kao and Desmond shifts his attention to her with a slightly furrow to his brow.
Kaomas get's confronted by Katsumi and he blinks rapidly.. "No.. uhm... what do you mean??" He asks, not knowing what her question might be relating too, fighting a blush from springing to his cheeks.
Katsumi gives away a hearty laugh. "I see Kao." she comments, turning to Desmond. "See you Neko-san." The Asian woman starts to aim her way to the entrance, back to the dressing room. "If you have something in your mind Kao, try to find me."
Her meaning seems to be what Desmond is looking for as well, with that crease of his brow and subtle hint of confusion that slips from behind his customary mask, most prominently when she decides to leave. "Farewell," he replies to her, turning to watch as she goes on her way. The three were positioned on the other side of the pool, though now Kat is on her way out.
Wandering out of the men's dressing room is Kesslan, thogh the Pantheran hardly seems to be paying much attention to who else is here this day. More intent on simply taking a swim a the moment. This of course also presents the rare view of the alien feline when he's -not- wearing armor. Rather only a simple suit of bathing trunks, revealing that his entire body is the same jet black fur. The only noteable exceptions being of course his teeth, claws and seemingly blind eyes.
Kingsdale - Harry's Gym
Harry's Gym is, not surprisingly, owned by a retired athlete named Harry. 'Gym' in this case is actually a misnomer and 'Sports Facility' would be far more appropriate. Almost a whole block in size it features all sorts of different facilities for those who are interested in such things. They include a full size basket ball court and weight lifting room but the real showpieces of the facility are its huge pool and sparring rooms.
Inside, the construction is extremely spartan with blue-painted cinder-block walls and old, faded red carpets on the floor. Near to the entrance there are seperate men and women's changing rooms with MDC-reinforced lockers. These rooms lead deeper into the facility and are kept very clean despite the large amount of people coming and going.
Admission to Harry's is a surprisingly inexpensive twenty credits per month. On the other hand, there is no day pass.
Katsumi clearly heads into the women's dresser. She doesn't hurries, but seems to be very dedicated, not glancing around at all.
Kaomas emerges from the pool area just as you vanish into the dressing rooms.. He frowns, not seeing you, then he looks down. His eye twitches, and he smiles again, heading directly into the women's dressing rooms.. following the heated footprints you left on the chill floor.
The women's dresser is now almost empty except some hiding teenager girls, conversating each other. They are starting to blush and hide as the man enters, even that they are fully dressed. They doesn't sure that if it is good to shout now, or run away. Well Katsumi is in the shower, if the footsprints are right.
Kaomas doesn't even glance at the girls, ignoring them completely, clothed or not. His attentions are on the footprints, and soley on the footprints. He stops as they lead into the women's shower, hesitating slightly. But.. determined to find out what you meant.. knowing you felt his earlier grope.. he walks into the shower, looking around for you.
Katsumi is showing her naked back, without the swimsuit, showering... until the man's step closer. The Asian woman turns around her heel. "Hey! What are you thining!" she seems quite suprised about Kaomas appearance, yet she doesn't feel shame to show her nakedness. "It is the women's dresser." she scold the headhunter, keeping her smodering grey eyes on the man.
Footsteps could be heard from behind... they are leaving... and an opening of the door.
.
Kaomas doesn't pause in the slightest, only stopping just outside the range of the falling water. His eyes take in your nakedness, and he smiles. "It's a room.. that women happen to use.. So what?" He says disregarding your knowledge. "We need to talk.. I want to know why you've been teasing me.. taunting me with no course of action left to me... I want to know why." He says within arms reach of your naked body, a musky scent rising from him.. sweat from earlier..
Katsumi foldes her arms protectively around her, but not aiming to cover anything intentionally. "YOu want to know the truth? Because I was curious." She leaves the man's hand to touch her body, now "I felt something from you and I was curious that you are a man enough to show your feelings to me." her voice is hard and somehat distant.
Kaomas looks at you, his glare softening somewhat. "I see.. and that interests you? My ability to show what I'm feeling?" He asks, taking a step closer, the water from your shower wetting his boots up to his calves. He eyes your nakedness again, visible desire in his eyes.. though he makes no move to touch you.
Katsumi raises an eyebrow, showing some annoyance. "What do you thin Mr. Hero?" she asks coldly, much colder then the water comes from the shower. Her hair is wet again, sticking into her face, even some rogue tufts swinging into her eye. Yet that doesn't hinder her to stare intensily at the man.
Kaomas takes a step closer to your nude body, getting wet himself now too.. barelly a foot from you now. "I think you want to know me better... I think you like me.. but don't know how.. or don't want to... share it.. What do you think you'd do if I kisses you right now? Hmm? in this cold ass shower.."
"Perhaps I kill you?" Katsumi's other eyebrow raises along. She still stands there in the same position, letting the water flow on her body, it sems she doesn't mean that it is cold. Her eyes on the man.
Kaomas nods once, tapping the blades at his back gently. "I don't think so... I'm armed.. you're naked.. I'm stronger and faster... You'll not be killing anyone.. but.. that's what I wanted to know.. Enjoy your shower.." He says purposely turning his back on you and walking away, leaving you to shiver in the cold water.
Katsumi laughs as the man starts to depart. It is a hearty laugh, filling the now empty space of the dresser.
Kaomas turns as you start laughing, and he stops. "Laughter I didn't expect... why do you laugh?" He asks from about ten feet from you.
Katsumi slides down to the tiles, with a rounded eyes of her. She seems suprised by the question. "Why do I laugh?" she hesitates a bit before she starts to continue the laugh, tapping the wall of the shower's with one of her hands. She even closes her eyes. It is a hearty laugh as before, if a bit ore wild.
Kaomas watches you laughing and he narrows his eyes, wanting to know why you laugh, naked in a cold shower.. laughing at.. or because of.. him.'
If the man waits enough, Katsumi will stop the laugh, starightening up to continue the shower as if the man wouldn't be there. It seems that Kao is turned to be invisible to her.
Kaomas shakes his head and leaves the woman to her shower, more confuzed and bewildered than when he started...
