Mar 16 19:42:08 108 PA - Insomnia Near the Arena

From Chronicles

Mar 16 19:42:08 108 PA.

MAIN STREET SOUTH – NEAR THE ARENA

It's pretty early. As night's go. Getting colder though and there's probably going to be snow. A coat with legs and feet under it shuffles out of an alley. Walking helps keep warm. It moves you from one place to another, too. That's good when you want to be somewhere else.

Gabriel must be either coming or going from a late - or early - job, because he doesn't tend to roam around this part of the city much at all unless he's looking to make a purchase, something you don't do this early in the morning. Fortunately, there's no rain, and Mother Nature is cooperating with somewhat warmer temperatures. As there aren't overly many people out at all, the coat with legs which has come to know a little is easily spotted, and he angles toward it, calling softly, when in reasonable range, "Hello, Miss Bella."

Bella's hood was peeking back and forth when she came out. Now it snaps to the sound. Maybe she didn't know he was there. Until now. "Oh. Hi." She walks more out onto the street. "Not used ta seein' ya 'round here. Whatcha doin?"

The older man stops a good distance from the coat, probably assuming that being homeless makes you twitchy when it comes to near-complete strangers approaching you in the dark. "Miss Bella," Gabriel says once more. He jerks a thumb back toward the Arena. "They hired me to be the night guard for the place yesterday night and tonight. Honestly I don't know what I was supposed to do unless they wanted me to shoot and kill someone. In my time I was strong, but compared to enhanced people around?" He grins ironically. "I'm quite weak, so I try to keep my distance." With a slight nod toward her, "What are you doing? Didn't find a place to sleep tonight? Of all of your options?"

"Always gotta place ta sleep." Bella shrugs and shuffles to shrink the good distance. "Ain' been 'wake that long. Up late most times. Since mosta the worst ones are, too." Her coat shrugs. "Better bein 'wake with 'em 'n not sleepin' when they're runnin' 'round."

Gabriel's face falls a little. "That's too bad. Little girl like you should be somewhere warm, safe, and dry right now. Not scurrying around one of the more empty ends of the city's largest street. The kind of place that even regular men of my time would cause trouble. Shouldn't you at least be up by the Plaza Park? The Library and Museum? Happy Burger? Even the Merchant's Plaza. Places where there are more people. Maybe you don't sleep there, but when you're awake, there's safety in numbers."

A little laugh out of Bella's hood. "Ya think -this's- somethin ta worry 'bout? This ain' nothin. Just came from way worse. Ya ain't been in there, have ya? It'd eatcha up. Wouldn't even be nothin' ta spit out."

"Oh? The 'Dregs? Yes, I've been there in the day, and with others. Helping out the refugees, looking for the trouble that's flaring up. The pro-human groups, the thing preying on the refugees. But I know better than to go in alone, or at night." Gabriel offers a tight smile. "I'm sorry that you have to know them. It's sad that you do. Now that Miss Monique and Tornaq are gone, what do you think? Maybe in the future you might find a place with her now and then?" Then belatedly, "When was the last time you had a good meal? Last night?"

"Dunno." A new shrug. "'Bout the lady 'n her bear. Maybe go see the place. Ain' plannin' on a sleepover." Bella looks back the way she came. "Just ate. Li'l bit ago. Ain't hungry." She points the hood back at him. "Since ya don't like it here, wanna go somewheres else?"

The older man - but not too terribly much taller - smiles and holds his hands out at his sides. "Sure, where d'ya want to go? Somewhere that I'll feel safe enough that can keep my hands away from weapons, I hope." After tilting his head to the side, examining the coat for a moment, Gabriel offers, "The Library or Happy Burger would be warm. I'd invite you back to my place, save for two things. It wouldn't be appropriate, and it's not any warmer than it is right here." He seems to find that somewhat happy and amusing at the same time.

Bella tips her head. "Where's that? Why ain't it warmer? Dunno why't wouldnt be right. Yer place. Can invite who ya want." All that has her curious. "Don't mean I wanna go or nothing. Just wonderin. Different places are good, sometimes."

"My place is outside the walls. I feel more comfortable in the little glade that I found, staying with Natasha, than I ever would in here. I try not to stay in cities that I don't know unless I have to. But," Gabriel shrugs, "perhaps later, in the future I'll feel comfortable enough." He then immediately indicates that would never happen. "Of course, that'd never happen. I'd never leave Natasha alone like that. So yeah, I'm outdoors, just like right now, right here. But with more plants." A smile punctuates his statement.

"Oh, got it." Bella's hood nods. That makes sense of things. "Old lady don't like ya bringing some girl home. I can see that." She's smirking even if no one can see. "Outside ain't bad. Even outside the wall. Been there a time 'r two. Ain't nothin' ta see." The big coat with little one under it is in the street talking to Gabriel. There's an alley or two not far away. It's dry and early in the night, but some snow could be coming.

Standing somewhat near the Arena are Bella and Gabriel in some kind of midnight discussion. The weather is decent, at least for this winter, on this night. In his Kentucky drawl, Gabriel chuckles and says, "Actually, if Natasha were there, I'd invite you over right away. Thing is, Natasha's passed on. But she's with me, I sleep near her every night. First thing that I did, before I even moved into my glade, was to give her a proper burial. She wouldn't mind. But others might find it a little strange. Like maybe I was using you in exchange for somewhere to sleep. Not that it matters of course." He claps his hands together. "It's just as cold. Whaddya say, Happy Burger? It's warm, and no offense, but you'd probably fit in better there than at the Library."

Jason comes down the street smoothly from the north, the young man striding with casual purpose. Though the large majority of the people around him don't seem to notice. It's a subtle thing. Gazes that might otherwise linger on him for a passing moment slide across him as if he wasn't there. Yet even those who walk against the flow of his direction swerve or shift to avoid him without missing a beat. As if he weren't there, yet their subconscious minds react discreetly to his presence. Gabriel and Bella won't see him. A soft, silent voice will be whispering in their ears, 'not there, not there, not there'. And for them, the young man simply won't be there. But as he draws near, he does see them. And so he adjusts his path to step closer.

Bella has to stop and have her brain chew on that one. "Ok. So. Ya sleep with a dead lady. Guess that ain't too weird. 'N ya don't care if other people -know- ya sleep with her. But it's wrong fer ya ta ask me, cause somebody could think yer just trying ta get my pants off." The chewing does't help much. "Uh... thanks? Don't need no burgers. Ain't hungry. Don't need no books. Dunno if I'd wanna go see yer place after all that, neither."

Taz seems to have grown an affection for cigars, since he has one chomped between his teeth, puffing on it like a train engine almost as he heads down the street. The big guy is easily seen, hard to miss after all, even when he's -trying- to be stealthy, it's not hard to spot him usually. It's just hard to hide someone that size. Fortunately, he is not puddle splashing as he meanders as if he had no care in the world.

Not there, not there is good and all, and psychic things are very mysterious, but nevertheless, something drawls Gabriel's hands toward his weapons. Not that he knows why, or even realizes that he's doing it. But forty years of life experience, staying alive it just about every situation imaginable counts for something. The giant man who's name he still doesn't know is noted, the cigar specifically with an interested eyebrow. Possibly making connections between things. Of course just because you can draw a connection doesn't mean that it's right. He corrects, "Sorry. When I said 'with,' I meant 'within near vicinity of a properly buried loved one.'" Bella and Gabriel are standing off nearer the Arena and various small alleyways, with Taz coming down the street.

Jason walks right over to Gabriel and Bella, coming to a pause at a point beside, but between them. A proper vantage from which to observe. His mind continues to send out a quiet, 'not there, not there, not there' to those around him, most seeming to trust this unheard voice. He's not there. Though some do notice him. Yet since he's just standing there, few really pay him much attention in passing. Maybe they're actually looking at Bella and Gabriel.

-Thoo...- No no thoom'ing Taz, the giant simply wandering and making traffic swerve to not hit him. Nobody -wants- to run into a giant usually, never know what it'll do to the vehicle if it doesn't kill the giant! Still it's not like he's purposefully jumping in front of cars, hovercycles, or anything like that he's just walking and takes up a lot of room. Spotting some semi-familiar people, and not spotting one semi-familiar person, Taz smiles and heads over towards Bella and Gabriel, pulling the cigar from his teeth with one hand it almost looks like a cigarette, "What's shakin'?" He rumbles curiously. Fortunately, the 'not here' vibes still make Taz know that something is going 'not here' at least subconsciously, so Taz doesn't step on Jason or anything.

"Oh. That's a li'l different." Bella's coat shrugs. She spots Taz, too. He's really hard to ignore, but she keeps talking to Gabriel. "Still. Y'ain't gonna be usin' me fer nothin. I know it. You oughtta know it. Who gives a flyin' fack what anybody else's dreamin' about?" Now her hood looks at Taz. "Hey. What's shakin? Think it's called the ground." Yep. There's gotta be a grin in there if anybody's looking.

Rubidia makes her way out to the arena, notepad in hand an attention mostly on it. Really she's not paying much attention to the street around her other than the fact she manages to remain safely on the sidewalk. Still so distracted walking into some is certainly feasible.

With a mild shrug - his hands still not leaving his weapons, though he continues to not even notice that they're there - Gabriel says, "Well, if you really feel safe with me, I have plenty of extra blankets that came through. Big overcoat that I never use, too. You're more than welcome to come. I have enough food to feed myself; I suppose I could just set out some more snares, use a few extra bullets. Don't know how long you'd want to stay, though. In the meantime, you could take my hammock." Gabriel shrugs and smiles, "I've spent decades sleeping on worse than the ground outside the walls." Of course, Taz needs to be addressed. Not out of not looking smug, but just being polite. Raising his head distantly at the other man, he offers a smile. "Not much goin' on. Just talking about favorite ways to stay safe and warm. You?"

Despite the way of his quiet lack of presence, Jason does shift himself aside slightly as Taz comes. Who can truly know the lengths to which the influence will make a mind not notice deviations. It has yet to fail him once a mind is touched. But he's careful nonetheless. And he affects simply being a quiet member of the growing cluster. Because he knows not all minds will listen to that silent voice. Hiding in plain sight has many layers. He does seem lightly amused with something.

Taz puffs on his cigar, keeping the stogie nice and lit, exhaling a plume of thick smoke into the air, "Ground does 'at sometimes." He rumbles to Bella with a toothy grin and then looks at Gabriel as he overhears most of that last bit, if not all as he is standing right there. "Ain't you a little old ta be cruisin' fer a piece o' ass?" The big man rumbles curiously and not purposefully offensive just... well he can be abrasive at times on complete accident. He looks to Bella and then stage-whispers, or stage-rumbles, "Ya still got 'at gun I have ya right?"

Bella laughs out her hood up at Taz. "He ain't cruisin. He's scared somebody'll -think- he's cruisin." She looks to Gabriel. "Or somethin' like that. Don't figger he'd be talkin' ta me if he were lookin' fer a piece. Not 'less it was just a li'l one." Oh, Taz asked her a question too. "Yeah, I still got it."

He'd probably be talking to Rubidia. Though he'd have to get in line. After a few near collisions and a few actual she gives up on the notepad, letting it rest in her arm to allow her to see where she is going. This allows her to spot Gabriel, Jason, and two others she doesn’t yet know. One particularly huge and one shrouded. "Hey guys." She greets from a few paces away.

Purposeful strides carry Sage out and away from the Arena with a glance back at the arena itself before she shakes her head. A faint mutter coming as she moves along. She seems a bit too intent on getting away or thinking on something that's happened that she bumps against something. That's funny, that wasn't there when she came here originally. She looks up to figure out what it is. "Oh... hi. Sorry about that." She comments to the giant man with a rueful look.

Gabriel's gaze remains on Taz for a while, the cogs within his brain probably thinking of how, or if even needed, to reply to the trolling comment. Apparently he decides not to. "Just looking to help, friend." So many thing that people don't understand. Sage is greeted with a smile. "Morning, Miss Sage. What are you doing out at this hour?" He looks around at the gathering crowd down here near the Arena. "What's anyone doing out at this hour? I was on my way home, when I ran into Miss Bella here."

Jason glances towards Rubidia as she approaches. The general nature of her greeting gives him pause only for a flicker before he nods his head towards her in a polite manner. If nothing else, she won't notice it if she has fallen under his influence. And then Sage is approaching. He turns his attention towards her as she bumps Taz. A nod offered her as well, though he remains mute. And after a moment he glances to the south. His lips purse just a little, then he turns, starting to head that way quietly. Without saying goodbye. What a heel.

Taz is apparently the lousiest juicer in the world, or he didn't consider Sage to be a threat, or being walked into a threat since there was none of the usual 'omggetoutoftheway' that is usually associated with Juicers. "What's wrong wit' youse then man? Sheesh..." Taz rumbles at Gabriel before he looks over his shoulder, forgetting to look down until the voice is heard and he turns a bit so he can look under his arm at Sage and he grins, "No prob, ya didn' scuff m'armor 'r nuthin' didja?" He rumbles at her in teasing manner before he looks over towards Rubidia when she approaches. The disappearance of the already gone Jason is of little heed to Taz, since he didn't know he was there to begin with. A low whistle that turns into a cat call escapes Taz as he checks out Rubidia though, "Damn." He says that one word as if in compliment before the cigar is clamped between teeth again and he puffs it back to a glowing ember and he breathes smoke into the air. "Good." He says to Bella, "Keep it witcha at all times Coat. Nevah know when yah might be needin' it."

"If anyone's looking, oughtta look that way." That's how Bella greets Rubidia. By pointing a sleeve and the boys at her. The cat call means Taz got off to a quick start. Beat her to it. "Looks like somebody's lookin' fer a party." She now remembers Gabriel and what they were talking about before. "If yer goin back tonight sometime, maybe I can go with ya. See where it's at."

Well she is known as the beauty that cannot be seen. Whatever that means. Rubidia's performance posters still hang about town, informing folks of her regular performances at local venues. "Bye Jason." She calls to the departing fellow before looking back to the others. But could be calling to any Jason on the street. "Hey Sage." She also greets with a partly concealed smile before looking to Gabriel directly. "No introductions Gabe?"

With the embarrassment of bumping into something so big, Sage takes a moment to consider the response she gets from the giant. "I..." She begins before seeming to recover herself to take a moment to pretend to consider the armor. "Is smudge okay?" She responds with a faint bit of humour herself. "No, looks fine." She assures the giant before glancing over towards the cat call's inspiration. A small smile coming to her lips, "Hey..." She greets the other woman before glancing towards Gabriel before frowning faintly. "I'd rather not talk about it." She states simply.

As he walks to the south, Jason smiles casually. A hand lifts, giving a wave back towards Rubidia without his turning back towards her. Soon enough minds may get another chance to ignore the unheard voice that radiates from him. By the time they do, he'll be well out of sight range and on his way to whatever business lies next before him.

Bella is addressed first, as the youngest woman in the area. "Sure, if you're up for a little hike. It's not like I live right outside the gates. Takes me about twenty minutes, but I move fairly quickly, and I'm pretty good at keeping up a pace. You, maybe..." Gabriel takes a little time to size up the young girl. "Well, unless you've got something under there that you're hiding, maybe forty-five minutes, particularly in the dark." As Rubidia approaches, he does his best to recover and be polite, arm motions and all. "Miss Bella, my friend Miss Rubidia, the city's finest musician. Miss Rubidia, one of Kingsdale's tiniest residents, Miss Bella. We're trying to figure out some more permanent quarters." A little look on his face asks for help, but not some kind of horrible necessary desire to be saved.

Johnson strides up the street, armored form untouched by the cool night. There's a spring to his step, a vitality that carries him dancelike out of the dregs. The voicebox on his chest blares out in a monotone American voice, "Tiny! Hear back from job yet?" He aims at the gentle giant, casting only a sidelong glance at poor Bella.

Taz looks over towards Johnson, "Nah, ain't heard diddly." He says after pulling his cigar from his lips, he does look confusedly at Gabriel though, then makes a point to say to Rubidia, "Dunno nuthin' 'bout this 'Miss Bella' shit, 'at's Coat, an' I'm Taz." He says introducing himself and Bella properly, at least by his eyes. He also offers a wide smile to Sage, "Smudge is cool, scuff is bad, smudge makes look like somethin' sorta squished against the armor, scuff is like I'm a slob or somethin'." He rumbles a deep chuckle at that and sticks the cigar between his lips as he studies Sage, "Damn, you're hot too. Only place ta see wimminz like ya both in the Dregs be the Ivory Lady."

"Good to meet you both." Rubidia returns to the introductions with a small bow. Before showing some speculation at Bella and Taz. "So there is a person in there, a girl no less." She remarks to Bella before looking to Taz. "And you could be an ogre, though your dialect is more advanced and you lack the telltale club."

Bella waves a cuff at Rubidia. She nods to Gabriel. She maybe glares up at Taz, too. Hard to tell. Then she's pointing the other cuff back at Gabriel. "He's tryin' ta push me on anybody he knows. Real nice of 'im ain't it? 'N yeah, I'm in 'ere. Guess just not ta Taz."

Sage's gaze draws back to the giant as he speaks to her. A slightly raised brow at the explanation of the difference between smudging and scuffing. A faintly amused smile coming to her lips before gently shaking her head a little. "I guess that's one way to look at it." She concedes. The added comment about her attractiveness draws a chuckle, "Thanks..." She replies, "And, I suppose they do have some good looking people there..." She adds before giving a shrug, then glancing back towards the others. "What's going on?" She asks, as she drifts a little closer to Gabriel and the others.

Somewhat belatedly, Gabriel realizes that not everyone in the world wants his help, or help at all, and steps back from Bella. She seems to know this enormous 'Taz' fellow better anyway. Johnson receives a nod in greeting, and as for Taz? Well... the two other women can handle themselves as per the insinuation as they choose. "Ah, I'm trying to find a safe, dry, warm place for a little girl to stay, at least until the weather warms up more," is said to Sage with a little shrug. "I have to say, I'm a little confused at the moment, though. I suggested one avenue, which is likely something that needs to grow. Then I thought that perhaps I would be taking care of Miss Bella here for a while, but... actually what was said last, I'm not sure. But please," he makes the appropriate hand gestures. "Miss Bella, who is new here but who has been here forever, this is Miss Sage, a very nice lady who owns her own business and likes to pick on my grammar." Wink. "Miss Sage, my friend who constantly jibes me, this is Miss Bella, who often just goes by the mononym 'coat' though I prefer bolero, as it's more descriptive. Have you met?"

Johnson nods at the larger man, and gives Sage a glance. "That more damage than this guy get kills six, seven monster. What beast come do that? Was epic battle?" He peers between the two of them, carefully peering up when he looks at Taz to not be staring at the larger man's codpiece.

Taz nods solemnly to Johnson, "All it took was one blow, an accident, from this little lady." He rumbles, making sure to speak slowly and clearly, gesturing with his lit cigar while he does so. "She walked into me... and nearly knocked me flat. Was a terrible blow, the likes of which I have never felt." He shakes his head sadly, "I nearly did not recover, such is her might and speed, I had no chance to try and dodge it." He sighs and lowers his head in shame before he winks and then looks to Rubidia, "Ogre? Nah." He reaches up with his free hand to tug his harness collar up so Rubidia can see it, "Just a man, a big man... iff'n ya get m'drift." He winks at Rubidia then salaciously. Looking between Bella and Gabriel he cocks his head to the side, "Not everyone be needin' savin' man." He rumbles, puffing on his cigar again to get it going once more.

"I was just checking out the arena, noting some considerations should I decide to pursue performing there one day." Rubidia answers to Sage's open question before considering Gabriel's description of Bella's predicament. "What do you do Bella?" She asks directly, using the actual name with intent. Then she nods to Taz. "Well by the fellow in the armor's praise you'd be strong as one or even stronger. Always good to know where one can find a strong arm."

"Was just teasing, Mr. Good Guy. Damn. Don't get yer balls in a twist." Maybe Bella just wasn't good at sounding like it. Sarcasm, cynicism. They both end in -sm. She could've got them mixed up. Now she notices Johnson and her hood peers and tracks the music box guy. "Don't be even thinkin' 'bout no glowy shit..." Her pointing cuff at Gabriel gets closer because the whole coat moves towards him. "Maybe we oughtta go look't yer hammock 'r somethin'. 'N yeah, I met 'er."

Sage looks towards Johnson, pausing briefly in her answer to the man as she considers the comment about fighting monsters and she spares a glance towards the giant. This gives enough time for the giant to answer for her. She nods faintly, with a mild rueful look coming up. Then she blinks as the man goes on to embellish it. She chuckles as a mirthful smile takes her lips. "Right..." She muses, "Guess I don't know my own strength." She chuckles once more before looking over to the others once more after she manages to settle herself. She nods faintly to Rubidia. "That might be one of the few things I would attend there, if so." She comments before looking to Gabriel and Bella. "Now, now, I don't badger you all the time, Gabriel." She comments, her amusement carrying over to this tease. She purses her lips shortly there after to consider Bella. "A hammock?" She asks softly, glancing briefly to Gabriel. "I might be able to offer a little better than that myself. Although, I do wonder what might be around this hammock..."

Gabriel is rather blunt, far more so than his usual folksy directness. "Johnson. When you made Miss Bella's arm glow the other night at Moe's, what were you doing? Didn't look like permission had really been given. In any case, it wasn't appreciated without further explanation. So... what was up with that?" There's no commanding order there, but it is direct, and more than a polite question. Sage and Bella get pleasant looks, though. "I can offer her a warm place to sleep, a safe place to sleep. It'll just be a hike into the city every day. But... if you're really ready to head out, Miss Bella, we can."

Johnson looks between Bella and Gabriel, back and forth, that helmet swaying unnecessarily. "His hammock?" he asks, and reaches to smack Taz lightly in the gut with the back of a gauntlet. "All drug in world and old man has more balls. Land Coat faster than you. Must be getting ass kick by woman that did you in." He peers up at the giant, the monotone speaker conveying none of the emotion of the statement. The street lamps reflect dully from the curves of his matte armor, but never seem to touch his goggles as they devour the light. At the question, he just peers at Gabriel. Those dark goggles staring emotionlessly, and a chill runs through the night that has nothing to do with the temperature. A thrill of adrenaline, the hackles of the neck rising to life. The word that finally escapes his translator is simply, "Balance."

Taz rumbles simply, "Wasn' tryin'. Coat's ta squishy. Iff'n she wanted 'elp, woulda let her crash in m'pad. I sleep, maybe three hours a day." He rumbles, "Else, gone. She no ask, I gave her gun, defend self. Could easy get place at Cheapo. She born, raised in Dregs like me." He puffs on his cigar, "Not tryin' ta 'land' 'er. Me, respect person 'nuff ta let 'em decide when they need m'help 'r not, less payin' me. Then protect paycheck at all costs... up to cost of paycheck." The huge giant grins a wide and wicked smile at that. "She want ta go wit' old man, cool. He old, she prolly rob 'im blind inna heartbeat iff'n she wanted ta. More power t'er. Goody two shoes wanna gamble wit' stranger... his call. Shit in hotel room? Not mine, don't care 'bout it."

Rubidia shrugs at Bella's lack of response to her question her expression taking Gabriel's concern to be hype she is somewhat familiar with. Besides, the topic has gotten much more interesting as people are mentioned glowing or being made to glow. A brow is raised as she looks to Johnson. "You can make other people glow?"

Bella didn't get the answer she wanted, really. But she ain't glowing. She's late to answer Rubidia. It's just a shrug. "Whatever I wanna." The rest is more for everybody else. "'N he's just showin' me the place. If we were gonna go break 'is hammock I woulda said that." She doesn't worry about that talk. It's the glow stuff that gets her to put a bony hand on Gabriel. "C'mon. Now sounds good. Don' wanna be gone all damn night."

The topic of making people glow does draw Sage's attention away from the topic of having Bella stay some place warm for a moment. She glances first to Johnson then to Gabriel. A brow raises faintly, but she seems to hold her tongue on the matter. She pauses to consider the other comments before focusing on Rubidia. "Somehow I'm not surprised that would interest you, Rubidia." She teases lightly, before glancing back to Bella finally. "One of these days I hope we'll get the chance to talk, Bella. But, I know Gabriel will take good care of you."

Anyone growing up through the lawlessness of Kentucky Appalachia during the Great Depression, hearing stories of his own father in a World War, his own experiences in a World War, then a smaller but still large war, the beginning of yet another war, and countless actions in between when people pretended that there was peace... anyone who has lived through that is very unimpressed by any attempts at 'chills in the night.' Yes, indeed, the man can't help but simply smile and shake his head - not at Johnson, as he's been mentally dismissed - but to Bella. "Yeah, sure, let's take off. You don't like it, I'll bring you back, you like my spot, you're happy to stay." Gabriel smiles at Rubidia and Sage - and way up to Taz. "You guys take care." He'll then start moving north, to the distance city gates.

Johnson looks up at Taz briefly, lifting his left hand a touch to wag a finger back and forth, while listening to the story. Instead, he rocks forward a touch, stepping closer to Rubidia to peer down at her. One gauntleted hand extends, fingers together and palm up, as if offering an imaginary apple to the red-haired youth. "I can," the speaker relays. "But know. For all give, something take. Balance." He looks at her then, levelly. Waiting.

Taz falls silent looming and smoking his cigar as he listens and watches since he's no longer involved in the conversation.

Rubidia's look at Johnson is incredulous. "So that's a yes.. What do its take then? I mean I can glow bright as the sun myself no problem. But a cool addition of my act would be making a member of the audience glow..."

"Maybe sometime." That's all Sage gets. The coat shuffles thattaways with Gabriel. Maybe flutter some, too. If she has to walk fast to keep up. No glowing. Maybe no rolling old guys either. That's still be more fun than glowing, though.

Johnson doesn't answer, he just peers at Rubidia with that hand offered up freely for the woman to take. He's immobile there, under the street lamps. Statue like, and a little eerily, until one notices what's missing. His chest has stopped moving. As he watches her, he's not even breathing.

Sage considers the interaction between Johnson and Rubidia as her lips purse. A glance towards Bella results in a nod given to the response. As long as the young woman is being looked after, that's more important than anything else for the time being. She looks back to the scene. "Not sure its worth it if he won't answer..." She comments simply.

Taz adds, "Coat wasn't hurt from it, far as I could tell." He rumbles with a bit of a shrug, "Just glowed, looked pretty."

Rubidia looks at Johnson, waiting for some for of reply, and then still waiting. "I think a broke it." She states after a sufficient pause, starting to consider the armored man some sort of automaton. "Anyway I gotta jet, should I get side tracked in travel I'm almost late. Cover your eyes." She muses and warns before erupting in blinding light. Instantly it is gone and so is she.

Johnson lowers his hand as Rubidia is vaporized in a blaze of light, head turning towards Sage to give a small shrug. Turning on his heels, he continues to walk towards the magic district, offering nary a goodbye to those in attendance. Just a fellow on a stroll.

Sage needs little encouragement to protect her eyes around the other woman's ability, it's almost a reflex that she looks away from the other woman's departure with her eyes closing until the pulse of light is gone. The man that offered is glanced at, but she doesn't seem to have anything more to add than he does. She glances towards Taz, the only other remaining person at this point. "Well, I guess I'll see you later... but I'll try not to nearly knock you over again." She adds the last part with a bit of amusement.

Taz hmphs as people walk off and he chews on the end of his cigar, looking down at Sage as well when she speaks to him. The big man winks down at her, "You can knock me over anytime." He rumbles to her with a deep chuckle following the statement then he looks back over towards the walking away Johnson, "Huh." He says about nothing in particular, then elucidates, "An' he wonders why he's got no friends." It's clearly in jest however since he seemed fairly friendly with Johnson but... "Bored now." He rumbles with a sigh, looking at Sage again he asks, "Got anything needin' ta be killed?"

Sage can't help but offer a little grin at the giant man's response, before glancing off in the direction of Johnson. She shrugs faintly, "I don't really know him that well... but, I guess that might be the point." She comments, before she purses her lips as she glances back to Taz. "Hmm... not at the moment... but maybe they'll let you smack stuff around in the arena." She offers, before taking a breath and letting it out. "Any way, take care of yourself." She comments, before she begins to edge away slightly, waiting mainly for the man's response before heading off herself.

Taz grunts, "Not a gladiator. Guys who hooked me up, said 'Be gladiator!' I said, 'Nah, got other things ta kill an didn't become a God in order ta put on a fuckin' show fer people ta fraid ta fight fer themselves.' An' 'at was 'at." He puffs on his cigar, realizes it's dead and then looks at the stub of cigar like it offended him somehow. "Well, when ya got somethin' worth killin', look me up." He rumbles hopefully, "So long as price is right, good as dead, that's me motto." He hmms, "Think I'll keep 'at one." He rumbles to himself softly as he watches Sage walk off, leer, loom, leer, take your pick.

"I'll add you to the list." Sage calls back as she heads off. Whether she's joking or serious is hard to tell.