Mar 13 22:48:05 108 PA - Cholesterol and Possibilities

From Chronicles

Mar 13 22:48:05 108 PA.

HAPPY BURGER

"Sounds happy. 'N burgery." Bella's mostly nonchalant, but she follows his lead. She's mostly coat, too. A few burgers probably wouldn't hurt her. It's also better than just standing or wandering around.

Erica walks in from the cold and into the fast food restaurant. She is all bundled up in a big cold weather coat. Walking up to the counter she purses her lips in thought while looking at the menu. After a moment she shrugs her shoulders and orders herself a salad and a diet soda. Once she has gotten her food and drink she turns around to look at the rest of the place to see where she wants to sit.

Gabriel is dressed today in what he'd been wearing when he arrived at Kingsdale, but with a new sword and a pistol that would hurt one of his strike team's attached armored unit's tanks. It may not be exactly warm to others, but anything above freezing, particularly this far, is practically balmy. He'd actually followed the little coat into the greasy establishment, being assaulted by the sounds and smells. He comments to Bella, "Well, it is big and burgery - and apparently happy." He then dances around what might be a touchy subject, stating the obvious, "You can order by the pictures." The large coat up at the counter is fairly unusual to him, plus he'd come in with the smaller coat, so he doesn't recognize Erica right off the bat.

Bella is in the lead? That's dangerous. "Ain' that why they's there? Gotta see what they got to know what to ask for." She knows that. Those other squiggly marks are just to show how much it costs and Bella's never had to worry much about that part. Her looking is quick. So's her pointing finger. "That one." She doesn't know what it's called, but it probably took half a cow to make it. But the picture is big and colorful.

Erica spots Gabriel after a moment and smiles warmly at him as she takes her tray over to where he is. "Hey Gabriel." She says while giving the woman with him a nod of her head in greeting. "Hi there." After greeting Gabriel and Bella she moves down to take a seat at one of the tables. Opening up her salad she starts mixing it with a fork while taking a quick sip of her diet soda.

The older man nods at the coat's choice. "Double three-quarter pounder with cheese and bacon." Gabriel says more quietly as if to himself, "That's a four-day meal right there." His Kentucky accent is unusually thick today. It does that, kind of comes and goes. it's always there, just some days more than others. Erica's well-know voice immediately gets his attention, and a bright smile. "Erica! Hey! I didn't really figure you one for a slop house like this after all, it was you who said the other day that a girl has to keep her figure, right? Keep those chairs open, would you? Well be right over." After stepping up to the counter, he orders for himself first - those chicken nugget things and an order of fries to go with a large soda. Ah, soda. As for Bella's request, he is put on the spot, but answers quickly, "Uh... yeah, just leave everything on it." He pays a few more credits for the privilege of accessing the "Infinite Drink Fountain," not knowing what the coat wants. Food is delivered with the absurd Happy Burger efficiency. After handing off the burger, he simply points - perhaps unnecessarily - and says, “Drinks are over there, help yourself to whatever you want. I'll be over here." He zips his chin toward the two open chairs at Erica's table, then heads that way to seat himself.

"Been awhile." It's not really an answer. Wasn't really a question asked, either. Bella takes the double cow with extra pig and the cup full of air. A shuffle gets her to the fountain to fill her drink with a little bit of everything. Except diet and plain water. She doesn't have any figure left to keep. Her hood's back up when she wanders to the table and sits down. "Hi." For Erica, just a little late.

"That is why I am just having a salad. I didn't have time to cook today so just picking up a quick meal." Erica says with a shrug of her shoulders. She impales a few leafs of lettuce on her fork and takes a bite. "My name is Erica." She says to Bella after swallowing her her mouthful of salad. "So what have you two been up to?"

After squeezing his own small male frame into the stationary, fixed fiberglass chairs provided by Happy Burger, and situating his "food" on the table, he rests an elbow and turns so that he can see both woman and girl. Of course, Erica then goes and blows the proper introduction, which is something that makes him grin in a good humor of friendship. "Yes, well, Miss Bella, this is my very good friend Erica. Erica, this is Miss Bella. Apparently, she's new around here by way of having been here forever." But Gabriel then rolls his eyes a little - just a touch - and says, "Big group of people suddenly gathered like vultures, swarmed like angry bees, and then dissipated like someone had set off a bomb. Though personally?" He looks to Bella for possible confirmation. "I'm fairly certain that we were told to go - but politely." To Erica - "Honestly, I'm happy to be back where it's quiet." An ironic statement, considering the noise of shrieking children and parents who frequent the establishment.

Bella's burger is unwrapped and stuck into her hood. It comes out with a small bite missing. "They didn' want people watchin' 'em. Ain' no s'prise." A good thing about mumbling is she can talk with her mouth full and it doesn't change anything. Her coat shrugs at Erica. "Just walkin'. Tryin'a stay dry. Not get stomped on by giant guys." A normal night.

Erica chuckles softly as she nods her head. "Sometimes crowds appear and disappear pretty quickly. I have noticed that around town." She smiles briefly at Bella. "Yes have to keep dry. With the weather about need to keep warm and dry. Hopefully it will start to warm up soon." She takes a quick sip of her diet soda and then another bite of salad. "So anything else interesting happen, or did the crazy power people just talk about how cool they are?"

The older man takes a bite of "chicken" then leans back in his chair, sucking on the straw of his cola-like drink, thinking. After releasing the straw, "Well, there was one giant of a man whom I'm told is a 'titan juicer' jumping from puddle to puddle like a three-year-old. Terrance is a nice guy, but he seems to, ah, let's say, 'announce himself' a lot, he tried to goad the big guy into a fight, I think. Then yeah, Jason, the fellow with the gas mask, he did happen to mention a few times that he has power." Gabriel shrugs and smiles. "I guess I'm the strange one. I'm happy to live on the periphery and show up when I'm needed because people know about me quietly." With a wave of his hand toward the windows of the building, he says to Erica and Bella alike, "It really seems to me like spring has sprung. We have to be ten above freezing, the rain and snow isn't coming down - I'm calling it good, packing up the snow gear for the year. Maybe we can find some swimsuits for the lake in the Park," He says to Erica with a grin. But he then turns his attention to Bella. "Are you... homeless, Bella? You said that home is where you fall over, so that could go either way. How have you been around forever, and yet be new at the same time?"

"Kinda dumb when they do that. Show off." Bella mumbles first, then makes more food vanish. "Makes 'em stick out. Ya stick out ya get broke off. Seen it lots before." There's a smirk under there if anyone's peeking. "I'm great. I' strong. I'm gonna live forever. Yeah, right. Those're the dumb shits that ain't around no more." Her hood turns to Gabriel. "Born here. Never really left. That's ferever fer me. Just ain' been in the fancy parts like this place much." She speaks clearer with a mouthful? "Not homeless. Got lots of 'em in case one gets found. Or stole. Or falls down."

"Yes you have to watch out for all the show offs. They can annoy at times." Erica says with a little chuckle in her voice. "I have managed to do alright without any powers or what not. Just have to do your thing." She quickly finishes her salad and then pushes the plate to the side. "Well that was alright. I just am not big on fast food. Oh well." She sips on her diet soda while listening to Bella and Gabriel.

Gabriel nods to the girl in the coat. "The Japanese had a saying: the nail that sticks out gets hammered. Actually, I guess maybe they still have that saying. Haven't been there in a while." He shrugs, smirking at himself in an obvious admission of ignorance.

Bella sets the food down to try the soda with the straw. "Better ta not have everybody lookin' at ya all the time. Works fer me most times." She still gets ignored sometimes and that's fine by her. "Just do yer thing and not get nailed, yeah."

"Sorry you two but I have to get running." Erica says as she gets up from the table. "Why I had to have fast food. I have to run quite a few errands." She smiles warmly at Bella. "It was nice to meet you Bella." She waves as she moves for the exit.

The older man remains back in his seat, occasionally sipping from his cola, even less occasionally popping a piece of "chicken" into his mouth. "Y'know, I've made a life out of being ignored. It's surprising though, isn't it, how sometimes it takes effort to do it?" He stands politely as Erica gets up and leaves, offering her a polite closing goodbye. After re-seating himself, and a few more bites of chicken down his throat, Gabriel says, "Erica's a great person. If you see her around, you should try to get to know her. Very sweet, looks out for people and all. So... you are not homeless, you just have... many different homes. Out of the 'Dregs? I have to admit, I'm not really familiar with them."

Bella pulls the straw out. It's a little gnawed on. "Yeah. Nice place. Long as ya don' get dead. That's the hard part." She points the cup and straw at him. "But it's easy ta figure out. If ya have somethin, somebody's gonna try 'n take it cause they don'."

Gabriel does seem genuinely interested as he asks, "How did you get out? My girls, Natasha and I got them out of those horrible places. I'm not sure that they ever could have on their own. Not because they weren't able, just because, well... it was really bad. How'd you make it out?"

"Easy. Just walked a li'l ways." A little laugh comes out of Bella's hood. "Ya don' -really- get out. Ever. That's bullshit. Always gonna be somethin' follwin' ya. Ya go somewhere else, it goes with ya."

"Ha!" The older man laughs loudly and slaps his hand against the table. "The only thing that's followed me is in my head. It's not how I'd want it, but that's what happened." Gabriel then shrugs a single shoulder and says, "If you really work at it, though, and you have people to support you, and you're experienced at it, you can disappear pretty well. But here?" He smirks at himself and waves a hand. "Here? I am truly no one. Just a guy who shows up here and there to do good things - or at least, I try. Never, *ever* claim to be perfect or even close."

Bella waggles the cup. "All the time? Ferever? Hidin' that long's borin'. If ya can even do it." She gives up the cup and sucks her hand back up her sleeve. "I can disappear most times. Don't mean I always wanna."

"There's hiding, and then there's hiding. One of them means that you prefer your own peace and quiet with family, without society intruding. The other means that you don't get killed, or tortured, or any number of very unpleasant things that ultimately end in failure," Gabriel offers. It's not that we walked around Richmond hiding in the shadows. But neither did we make a fuss over what we had. He adds in a quick observation that he seems fairly certain about making. "You can't read or do math, can you, Bella?"

"Ha!" She doesn't slap the table, but it's not a real laugh. "Family, right. Last one I had fucked me over but good. Weren' nothin but a bitch on a leash." Contempt and some spit comes out with that. "One before that was better, I guess. But it's dead 'n gone." It takes a little bit before she really hears his question. "It matter if I can?"

Gabriel is serious when he says, "Learning to read and write, knowing simple numbers, those could help you get out of... having to have many homes. You can get a job - a good job. Make a little money. Nothing fancy, but a place that you know will always be there, won't be stolen. Even able to buy food more often than a four-day burger." He then waves it off. "I don't want to sound like I'm pushing, just something to think about. If you ever decide that you want to learn, I can help." That done, he provides the young girl with two alternative, additional subjects. "You look so young, how old are you? I know, 'old enough.'" Then, leaning at an awkward angle, "Why do you hide in that coat? I'm pretty sure that it isn't for the weather."

Bella laughs again. Another little one, but it's more like a real laugh. "Ya wantin to teach me or somethin? Had a couple jobs once. Didn' work. Ain' tried since. How old? What time is it?" A wait and she laughs again. "Oh, yeah, I can't do numbers." It's the last question that does it. The laugh suffers sudden death and she's quiet. A big pause. "Protection. Don' see ya walkin' round naked."

"True enough. But if today was an indicator, it's going to be getting warm soon, which means that it's going to be uncomfortable in a coat." Gabriel sips from his straw. Not empty yet. "So what are your plans, then? What are you going to do? Just surviving isn't such a great thing for a sentient being to do. They say that to truly live, you need something to do, something to look forward to, and something to love. Depending on the situation, sometime people substitute 'want' for 'love.' Whatever is more appropriate." He takes a bite of "chicken" and repeats, "Do you have plans?"

"Course I do." Bella nods. Or her coat does. "Everybody does. What're yours that gots ya playin' nice? Nobody does somethin' fer nothin." If there's a bright side to people, she's probably never seen it. "Always a catch. Always something. Maybe teacher wants the li'l girl ta sit on his lap when he's teachin? Maybe got somethin ya need done nobody'll else's nice 'n stupid ta do? Always somethin."

Gabriel says very levelly, "I do my best to help people because it's my personal belief that we are all here to help each other. I do it because it makes me feel good, and I never ask anything to do it. I do the little jobs like I told you about. Lots of little things become a big thing - it's called integration." After another short drink, and another single shrug, he adds on, "The bigger jobs? I don't get hired out as a mercenary. I don't take cash, run out and do what someone wants just because they'll give me money. I do the jobs that need to be done to help good people. Probably won't believe me when I say this, but if there's something that doesn't benefit a good person who needs it, or at least something that brings harm a decent person? You could throw money at me until the cows come home, and I'll offer a polite, 'thank you but no.' Everyone *does* have an ulterior motive behind what they do. But sometimes the ulterior motive is to simply do good things because it makes them happy and gives them a sense of accomplishment." He's then very serious for a moment. "I raised children, I saved children from horrible situations. Despite my normal good nature, I would never hesitate to kill someone who was abusing them in that way, were I confronted with it. There are times to make others' business your business."

Bella picks up her cup and sticks the straw to her face. There's a noisy slurp. "So the catch is yer a nice guy? That's yer angle? Ain' never heard -that- before." It's not sarcastic. She hasn't. It's too ridiculous for anyone to try and shovel. "Fine. Ya wanna be nice, share, jump in front of shit for me, ain' gonna stop ya." Her hands pop out. They pull her hood back again and show off a tight-lipped smile. "Don' mean I trust ya. I think ya got a knife for my back somewheres, I stab first." She smiles wider but still no teeth show. Bella quickly slides over on the bench. Into his lap if he's not quick. "Now what, daddy warbucks?"

Yes, significant surprise. Gabriel actually reels back a little bit - part of being a genuinely nice person means not touching people whom you really don't know this intimately. "Um... why don't you just sit over there again." He justifies it with, "So it's easier for me to see you." If anything should have been expected to get a rise out of him as per her appearance, it doesn't. Not so much as a twitch of his nose. He doesn't comment on it either way. "Interesting that 'Daddy Warbucks' has managed to survive the destruction of civilization." He sniffs a bit, amused, then looks to Bella's eyes - wherever she may be sitting - "What do you want to learn? Or whatever I can help with at the moment."

"Just checkin." Maybe it was a test on that teacher thing. Bella moves back to where she was. Almost. Most of her goes back on the bench but her feet stay on his lap. She's facing him so it's easy to look at each other. "Course he did. Always be guys like that. What I want?" Bella thinks on that a bit. "I want ta hide, but not. Don' wanna have ta watch my ass all the time, everywhere. Guess I want... friends?" It might be the right word. She doesn't sound sure. "You've got lots, right? Maybe you can share. I guess the words 'n numbers're worth somethin, too."

The older man smiles. "Yes, I'm familiar with the concept of friends. I've had them long time past, and I have them now. Even watched little girls grow up and make their own friends, and so I became friends with *those* friends. I'm not going to sit and tell you that I'm the best friend in the world, that's not for me to say. But I'll be happy to be a friend. You seem like a nice person. Maybe a little scared, maybe a little bitter - but a nice person." Gabriel grins again and takes the opportunity to just give Bella's feet two simple - and completely platonic - pats. "I won't force you to learn anything, but if you want, I'm happy to help. I wish that I could give you some place better to live, and I might. Just without any other information, would you consider sharing a living area - a real one - with someone? Another girl, not a man, not me, another girl."

Bella's face now looks like he just puked on her feet. "No. Don' sleep 'round nobody I don' trust. That's everybody." She's more mumbly now. Her lips barely move. "What if I ain' nice's ya think? What'd ya gimme? Shot inna head? Stab inna back?" No, she's not very trusting.

"If you're not as nice as I think, then the person I'm thinking of who might be able to help you with a home will be able to tell me that, and I'll just send you on your way as far as a roof over your head." Gabriel is clearly being plainly honest in answering the question. "If you're not a nice person like I think you are, but you still want to learn things, I'll still help you learn things. I just won't put one of my friends in danger sharing a roof. Y'know, most people are nice, whether they know it or not. It takes a certain type to actually be bad people."

"Really?" He's got her curious. "Guess I better be extra nice. 'Sides..." Bella waves her hand a little. "Nice 'r not, I ain' stupid. Not gonna ask for somethin justa try 'n fack it up." Mumble goes to mutter. "Happens all it's own plenty." She said that a little too loud and notices. "How'd I know yer friend ain gonna try somethin? Ya want me ta bet all I got 'n trust ya. What're you riskin?" She points a bony finger at him.

Gabriel holds a hand up slowly. "Well, don't get ahead of me. I'm pretty sure that she'll be more than happy to help, but I can't promise without talking with her. As far as trusting her? Well. I guess you'll have to put a little trust in me. Put some trust in her. Would be kind of weird for the two of us to go to the trouble if we're just planning on doing something bad. She has another good friend though, as well, and I know that he'll be a reference. You can ask people about me and about him to see if *we* check out as references." He does offer a large shrug though. "Still... eventually, there will have to be an element of trust involved. And if you don't trust us?" He pops a hand up. "Then stay where you feel safe, and come to me if you still want to be taught a few things." The man with the silvering hair smiles, a smile that most people, at least in his time, would recognize as a good, honest, genuine, not-put-on fatherly smile.

Bella nods. No smile. Just a look that she's thinking hard on it. "Ok. Yer friend says Ok, maybe I'll come. Still ain' lookin fer more places ta sleep. Not with somebody else. Not now. Maybe never. Ain' safe." Suspicion and paranoia keep a girl in one piece. "Got anythin't don' sound like walkin into somethin bad?" Now she smiles. A little one like always.

The older man considers for a while and his mouth turns up on one side, down on the other. "Well, I thought having a real roof over your head would be a good thing. But we can certainly take time to all get to know each other better, then if you trust her more, or me more, maybe think about it again. Or you never trust us, and you stay where you want. I can only offer options, I'm not here to press." Gabriel smiles his own small smile. "If you want to learn things, I can help, if you trust me. Won't try to get you into a classroom alone or anything. But you know what, honestly? Maybe you and she could get to know each other in lessons. She doesn't know her numbers either."

"But she's yer friend 'n a whatever." Bella doesn't know what she is. But she has a fancy home, sounds like. "See? Numbers ain' all important. Maybe just more stuff ta make ya think yer better." She shrugs. He can even see her body move. Not just her coat. "Roofs're good. Ain' everythin'. Can find one big 'nuff fer me lotsa places. But it's a good try." Bella gives him that much. He's aiming smart on the lures.

It's evening, a comfortable hour, around nine, and it seems that winter has finally broken. The air isn't exactly warm, but it's well above freezing, and nothing is falling from the sky. That being said, Gabriel has happily donned the same clothing that he arrived with, probably stowing his snow gear for good this year, Mother Nature be damned if she tries again. Happy Burger is a busy place, as always. It would appear that both individuals and families with young kids have taken the opportunity for cheap, fast, greasy, and occasionally disgusting food. Gabriel is sitting off at a bench-type table, a half-eaten box of "chicken" nuggets before him, a soda of some type in his hand, complete with straw. Sitting next to him is a coat, with legs sticking out, feet resting on his lap. The man appears to be discussing something with the coat.

The coat has a head, too. Not a hood for once. On the table near Bella is a burger that took a couple cows and a pig to make. It has four bites out of it. She picks up her drink and squeezes the straw in her lips for a drink. Her eyes are on Gabriel. Watching. Thinking. Slurping soda. "Still don' see how ya can be walkin' if yer always stickin yer neck out fer everybody. Y'always just jump in? Say somebody's gettin'a shit knocked outta 'em. Ya see it. Ya go 'n take a beatin ta stop it? Maybe ya both end up dead." Nice friendly dinner talk.

Above freezing. That's enough to nearly make the small Inuit woman pout for the loss of the snow. She takes a moment to look around at the slushifying world, and then she continues on a careful path towards the door of the Happy Burger. Trying to avoid getting wet feet. The melting snow has rather reminded her that she needs to treat her boots to prevent the water from getting through the seams. She looks over her shoulder to the great white bear who accompanies her, and then she speaks in her native language to him. The great white bear rumbles softly, lowering his head to lightly touch her on the shoulder and give her a soft nudge. She lifts her left hand, rubbing at his black nose and giving a small nod. The bear retreats and takes up a sitting pose somewhat near to the door, but not too close as to interfere with those who would want to enter. Monique continues to the door, stepping in a slush-puddle along the way, and once inside, she gives her left foot a little shake, her nose wrinkling a bit. A wet foot was not really part of what she wanted. Step, squish, step, squish. Sigh. Monique wanders into the Happy Burger, not really paying attention, but she drifts kind of in the direction of where the pictures of the offerings are. Not that she knows what to order or can read any of it.

Gabriel says the words, even as he's fairly certain that Bella won't believe them. "Yes. If I saw a man, or a woman, or anyone being beaten out of cruelty alone - not as a harsh punishment, but as a simple, cruel beating - then yes, I would put myself into the fray to protect that man as best I could, even if it meant that I took a beating myself, or even ended up dead in the process. Turning my back would be no better that kicking him myself. I'd prefer to die doing good than to live ignoring evil." His words are tinged with emotion, a force of honesty behind them. His face then brightens up and he nods over Bella's head toward the little Eskimo. "Speak of the devil, Miss Bella, a higher power has delivered a friend at a fortuitous time."

That's what the pictures are for. Pointing at. Bella can't be the only one that knows that. "Wow. That's kinda... brave. Really stupid, but brave." She doesn't know if she should be impressed or laughing at him. Bella sticks with mostly confused. "Yer friend is a devil?" That gets her to look over at the lady. Maybe rethink about meeting Gabriel's friends, too.

The small Inuit woman looks at the pictures of the food shown on the menu, though she doesn't approach where to place an order. Shifting her weight a little, she lowers her dark-eyed gaze to her left foot, stepping the toe of it a little bit and eyeing the squishiness of it. Sigh. Definitely something that needs tending to. She lifts her hands, undoing the bone buttons of her parka, simply because she's too warm now that she's inside. Monique then lifts a hand to lightly brush a bit of hair from her face and tucking it away behind one of her ears. She's tired, and it likely shows. And she's hungry, too, which is what drew her here in the first place.

"No, no, Miss Bella, it's just an old expression where I come from. Don't know when it originated, but it just means that someone happened to show up when they were being discussed, even if they didn't know they were being discussed," Gabriel explains. "No devil. Just an expression." He holds a hand up, then very delicately moves Bella's feet off of his lap. "I'll be right back." With that, he up to meet the Eskimo. Of course, he's likely approaching her from behind, so the little hand that he lays on her back may be a bit of a surprise - but between friends, getting a little rise out of someone is in good humor. For the moment, he just plows forward. "Miss Monique! You look a little out-of-sorts. Here." He orders up a reasonably sized patty of pseudo-fish, fries, and a large cola, balancing it all on a tray, and doing it without even bothering to listen to see if she wants it or not. Finally, smiling at her and facing her, "C'mon over, I have someone I'd like you to meet, and maybe we can fix up your boot." He'll start off back to his table, but slowly enough to make sure that she's following.

Bella lost her footrest. Darn. She's plenty busy watching the other woman Gabriel walks up to, though. Except for them both being short, Bella can't think of too many more ways they could be opposite, she and her. That's just in looks. The rest'll just have to wait for a bit. Not even that long, maybe. The touch of his hand against her back does make her startle, and with dark eyes wide, she turns her head to look to him. She settles after a moment, and a smile touches her lips, a blush coming to her cheeks. "Good evening, Gabriel," she says softly, a smile returning to touch her features. She blinks a little when he orders for her, then blushes a bit more and gives a small nod. "Thank you," she adds, giving a little nod. She doesn't argue to the food that was bought for her. She takes a look to the food on the tray, then brings her attention back to him and starts to follow him over towards the table.

As Gabriel resumes his seat - being very careful to not in any way encroach on the coat-with-a-head's space any more than necessary. A slow movement of his hand across the table to the other bench seat. "Please, Miss Monique, sit. Food isn't very good, but it's entertaining. Particularly for those who like to eat with their hands." The older fellow offers the Eskimo girl a solid wink. As people get settled, introductions are made, hand gestures and all. "Miss Bella, this is my friend whom I was speaking of, Miss Monique from the North. Miss Monique, a new... acquaintance, possibly to be a new friend, Miss Bella from the 'Dregs. It's a bit fortuitous that you came by, Miss Monique, I was talking about you." He quirks an eyebrow. "Maybe your ears were burning?"

"Hey." Bella even waves a little bony hand that's not swallowed by her coat cuff. "North? Where's that? Ain' pretty much everythin' north?" She mumbles and barely moves her lips when she talks. When Gabriels sits back down she slips her feet back on him. Or tries to.

The dark-haired woman looks to Gabriel for a moment, and then she gives a small nod before settling into a seat at the table, tucking one of her feet beneath her. Making herself comfortable. Her dark-eyed gaze turns to Bella, and one of her eyebrows quirks slightly before she gives a small nod. "Nice to meet, Miss Bella," she says softly, a smile touching at the corners of her lips. She blinks a little and looks to Gabriel, tilting her head a bit to one side. "Ears burning?" she asks, confused, then lifting a hand to touch one of her ears before lightly shaking her head. "Ears okay," hse says, giving a small nod. Looking to Bella, she gives a small nod. "Very North, where all is ice and snow, most of year," she explains, a smile touching her lips.

If Bella's comfortable with her feet in his lap, then Gabriel's comfortable with it, and smiles at Monique's literal interpretation of his question. He nods with a smile. "Yes, I'm glad that your ears are okay." He looks over to Bella once more. "The two of you have some things in common, although I'm pretty sure that you both might disagree. Neither one of you know your letters or your numbers. But Monique has the benefit of a roof over her head, and a constant protective companion. She and her protector - who I'll let her introduce you to, if you both want - are good people." Interesting use of 'people.' "But you asked me how I could tell if you were actually a nice person, or if it was *you* waiting to stab *me* in the back." Another glance across the table. "Monique, remember last night, that little thing you did with the armored guy for me? Could you do it again for me? For Miss Bella? Please?"

Bella quirks a brow, too. Now they have something else in common. "Armored guy? Ya mean the one with the speaker ta talk for 'im? Whatcha do ta him? Ass made me all glowy..." She hopes it's something that wasn't nice. No. Wait. Gabriel wants the woman to do the same thing to her.

Monique often tends to take a literal interpretation to things. She's still figuring out that things aren't always meant as they're said. She takes a moment to look between the two of them, and a smile touches her lips before she gives a nod. "Have Tornaq. He wait outside. Most not like when he come inside," she says, her tone holding a matter-of-factness to it. She looks to Gabriel, then tilts her head slightly to one side before giving a small nod. "Yes. Remember. Can do for you, yes. I not mind," she says softly, a smile touching her lips. She moves the fingers of her left hand, slightly, then reaches to her drink to take a sip of it. "I not do anything bad. I just try tell if he bad or good. Others make difficult, there... others in place not good, make hard get read. She looks to Bella, studying the other woman for a lingering moment, and then she gives a small nod before looking to Gabriel. "She not evil," she says, a smile touching her lips. She reaches to one of the fries, claiming it and munching on it.

Gabriel nods pleasantly. "Yes, the armored guy who made you all glowy. His name is Johnson, or so he says. I wasn't trying to intrude on your privacy, but I couldn't help but notice that you didn't look terribly pleased about it. I'm pretty sure that everyone who was at Moe's last night would say the same thing. I can happily say that I really don't know the man, and while I won't pass judgment on him, I'm not in such a haste to meet him, either." A glance at Monique shows that he really doesn't understand what it is that he's asking - but quite pleased that she can provide him with an answer. He smiles widely at Bella. "I trust Miss Monique implicitly in things like this, so I guess that I don't have to worry about you stabbing me in the back for no reason after all. But I suppose it will take time - if you spend it - to trust me, and her, and her protector, as much as I believe in you. You may not be a perfect specimen of an angel, but good comes in many forms." Gabriel, Monique and Bella are all seated at a bench-type table off to the side, Bella's feet in Gabriel's lap, Monique on the other side of the table. There are a couple of food items on the table, partially eaten. It's a pleasant evening outdoors.

Having studied the exterior of the place earlier, it is natural Jason would return here. He comes in smoothly, his hand brushing the door open with a casual push. He strides inward smoothly, looking about with a curious air. His nose twitches and that expression shifts to one more ambiguous. Though before the counter and it's menu can catch his attention, he notes the familiar faces. A casual smile comes to him as he approaches the table they're at quietly.

"Never stab anybody in the back." Bella waves a hand in a sort of shrug and to grab her drink. "Not with no reason. Course I didn' like it. Didn't know what't was. What't'd do. 'N I was glowin!" She slurps some soda and looks at Monique. "So now what?" Good guy Gabriel's smiling. So is his friend that's not really a devil. Nobody's trying to kill Bella. She takes all that as a good thing. When someone else comes their way, she looks. Now she's smiling, too. Her lips are still together, but that's about as big as she smiles.

"I not know armored man, from last night. I not meet before," Monique says, a smile touching her lips. She looks to Bella for a moment, considering the other woman, and then she contents herself with eating some of the fries. It's food, and it's not horrible, even though it's different than what she would eat if her hunting had been successful. "Take time earn trust from others," she says, raising an eyebrow slightly and giving a small nod. She falls quiet, though, in favour of eating her food.

Gabriel notes Jason only with a polite nod, as he has some rather important business with the two women seated with him. "Miss Monique, I'm sorry to ask this of you just coming out and smacking you in the face with it, but just out of curiosity, considering that Tornaq is always with you, and what you just told me about Miss Bella, here, *if* she wanted to stay under a real roof, indoors for some real heat for a day or two, or even only a night, would that be okay? Again, I'm sorry to just hit you bluntly like this." Turning to Bella, "Don't worry, I'm not forcing, just asking to see if I was even thinking correctly, or if I've been out of line this whole time to begin with."

Jason nods his head once to Gabriel and comes up beside where Bella sits. To one side or the other as needed. "I didn't know you'd still be in the area. A good thing. And making friends." He grins casually, then look to Monique with another nod of his head. "Good evening," he offers in a general sense. Though after that he falls to a casual inspection of the food on the table. More out of curiosity than any notable hunger.

Bella points to Gabriel. "More like he's helpin' make 'em fer me. But I'm still 'round, yeah." That's for Jason. Gabriel gets a scowl. "Already said I weren' lookin fer somewhere ta sleep. Couple times. 'N who's Tornaq?" She looks to Monique, too. He? Didn't Gabriel say it was a girls' only thing? See? She knew he was trying to pull something.

Monique tilts her head slightly to one side as she looks from Gabriel to Bella and back again. Considering the idea that's been proposed to her, and her brow furrows a little bit. "I not have much furniture, but... if not mind that, then I not mind if stay a night or two. Tornaq is bear -- big white bear, he wait outside, now," she says, a smile touching her lips. "Is no need say sorry for ask, Gabriel. I not mind," she adds, giving a small nod to him, her dark eyes showing a sparkle.

The older man smiles. He always feels good helping people, and because of his history, particularly young girls hold a special place in his heart, though it often takes a while for someone to learn why. "Well, Miss Bella, it looks like you may have a room, if you want it. Like Miss Monique says, Tornaq - her protector - is a bear. I don't understand him, but he's just a really big, intelligent white bear that can come and go as he pleases, but as far as I can tell, mostly just sits around and watches Miss Monique. Yes, he's a 'he' but unless you're worried about magical protector animals being lecherous, there's nothing to worry about. I can definitely think of a lot worse." With the situation slowly and possibly resolving itself, Gabriel now takes the time to more politely address Jason. "Hello. You can sit if you like. Looks like they left room for four at these tables. Damn uncomfortable, though."

"Thank you, but I would not wish to crowd," Jason answers Gabriel, his eyes lifting towards the man. An easy smile rests on his lips and he looks down to Bella a moment before he observes to Gabriel, "She seems content with whatever accommodations she already has. Though I'm sure there will be others who will accept such a generous offer. A tour through the Dregs has shown there are many who would benefit from it. Far too many."

"Bet they'd turn ya down, too. Or try 'n walk off with everythin. Maybe even the bear." That's Bella's thought on things. Oh, the bear. "Less he's really big." She turns to try and look out the window by the booth. The angle's bad. Damn. Light in here and dark out there makes it even harder. Most've what she sees are doubles of Monique and Gabriel and Jason. Double damn. Bella turns back around and slides her back against the glass. "Guess I'll see 'im later."

The small Inuit woman gives a nod to Gabriel. "Tornaq larger. Larger than other polar bears. Smart, yes. He always go with me. Tornaq protect, is duty," she says softly, her tone thoughtful. She munches a few more of the fries before claiming the pseudo-fish sandwich, taking a bite of it. She eyes it for a moment after the bite, but eats it. If she looks close enough to the glass, she would see a leathery black nose press to it, peering inside. A black nose framed with a white bear face.

Gabriel shifts the subject, allowing the other to move back and simmer between the two young women. "You know, Miss Monique, I was speaking to Miss Bella about teaching her numbers. I know from the other day, trying to explain twenty-four daughters with fingers and a piece of sausage, that you don't know your numbers. If you want, I could teach you, or both of you, and happy to do it." It's now up to Bella to be interested in a dry, warm place to stay, and Monique's place to accept.

Jason considers the three for a few moments before he says to Bella, "I will speak with you later." He gives her a nod, then one towards the other two at the table. "Good evening." with that, he turns and starts to leave the fast food eatery, with the same pace at which he entered.

Bella blinks. "Holy fack." If it takes more than fingers to count, that's way too damn many. She stops freaking to watch Jason go. "Later. Speak. Yeah." When he goes, it's Monique's turn. "A big smart protector bear. I need ta get me one. Maybe three. Got any extras?"

Monique raises an eyebrow slightly as she looks to Gabriel, and a blush of colour rises into her cheeks. She gives a small nod to his offer, though. "Yes. Would like learn numbers. And letters. And other things, too," she admits, her chin ducking a little. She munches a little more on her sandwich, though, and looks to Jason for a moment before turning her attention to Bella. "I not have extras, of bear. Tornaq come find, up North, many winters ago. Stay with ever since," she says softly, her tone holding a thoughtful cast to it.

Gabriel delicately removes Bella's feet from his lap once again and maneuvers his way carefully out of the bench seat. Once free of that fiberglass prison, he stands and stretches, his head reaching the towering 5'4" allowed when his pseudo-military-cut hair is standing on end. "Ladies, sorry, but I need to be off. I hope that you two can work something out about a dry room. If nothing else - hey, new friends. Miss Monique, your grammar is a little off, Miss Bella, your vocabulary is unique... I wish that I could stay." Of course, everything is said in fun and good cheer. He nods as he turns to depart. "I'll teach you numbers, Miss Monique, and Miss Bella, if you want. Lots of experience doing it. Sleep well. I'll say hello to Tornaq on my way out." As he passes Jason, he allows for a simple, culturally correct man-to-man exit-salutation: "Jason." Then out into the warming night.

"Unique? Guess I can feel all special." Bella waves a hand to Gabriel. "Don't get dead." That's important. Now it's just her and Monique. "So. No more bears. 'S too bad. Nice ta have somethin ta watch out fer ya. Guys ain' really the best at that."

"Some men better than others at protect people. Some not good," Monique says softly, a smile touching her lips. She shifts her position slightly, tucking one of her feet beneath her, and she munches more of her sandwich. "Is good have something give protect, but something to protect, too," she says thoughtfully. Tornaq is both of these, to her.

Bella smirks. "Most ain't any good. Got 'nuff ta watch out fer just protectin' me. Don' need more." The rest of her sandwich just sits now. "Can't watch nothin' else if I can't be safe. If I was safe, wouldn' need nothin ta watch me."

Monique lifts one of her shoulders in a small shrug. "Is matter of finding right one to have protect," she says, giving a little nod. "Protect is give, is take. Not always one or other," she muses, her tone holding a thoughtful cast to it.

"I'll figger out somethin." Bella turns and drops her feet off the bench. "See takin' alla time. Givin... not really. If somebody's givin' one way they're takin another. They're gonna end up on top if ya let 'im." She's got most of her thoughts all made or figured out.

The small Inuit woman gives a little nod and a smile. "Is important find what works for you. To each person have own way," she says softly, finishing the last of her sandwich. The drink is finished, and the remainder of her fries are left. "It not always end with one on another. I need go, but... if need roof, come find at Raleigh's," she offers, a smile touching her lips. She gets to her feet and stretches briefly. "Farewell," she says softly, then heads towards the door.