Mar 23 12:25:25 108 PA - Talks and Rocks

From Chronicles

Mar 23 12:25:25 108 PA

Kingsdale - Plaza Park

It's getting warmer. Compared to all the snow and wind before, it's almost cozy. The day would probably have piles of people in the park. Laughing kids. Yelling kids. Good thing it's not day anymore. That means most of the kids are gone, so there's no yelling or laughing. None of them to run over Bella, either. She shuffles through the grass under the rising full moon. Since nothing is falling out of the sky, she's even got her hood down.

With the weather improving and blades of grass becoming more of a comment sight, Sage has come out to the park herself. Unlike most, she can share moments with the nocturnal critters that come out once the people have left for the most part. A playful moment is spent with the little furry ones. Of course, others coming into the area would likely break the moment and cause the creatures to disappear in a scamper.

Gabriel is just getting off work. When you take odd jobs and help out people with home maintenance, your hours are never going to be very set. Still, despite the hour, he seems quite upbeat in his warm weather clothing; the same clothing that he wore when he arrived in the city months ago. He doesn't attract the interest of animals, neither does he seem to keep people away. He's just a man walking through the park whistling what sounds like a pseudo-martial tune, and looking up at the sky.

Bella is little and don't do much, but that don't make her a Doolittle. Cute bitty furry things ain't really her thing. They probably don't like her much neither. She comes off the green to one of the paths and looks over at the whistling. There's people that walk noisy but not that many that just give themselves away like that. That's why she spots the good guy before anybody else. No waving or anything. Just a smirk.

With another park wanderer passing by causing the furry creatures, Sage can't help but let a small smile come to her lips and a slight shake of her head before she turns to walk back towards a path. Easy come, easy go with skittish critters. She begins to wander herself as she considers what else she might do in the park. As she moves, she begins to notice other people and one or two seem familiar to her.

Whistle whistle, Gabriel comes to a stop near the lake, tapping his right foot gently with the rhythm of his music, sometimes pointing up slightly to the clear sky. It's big park, and fairly empty for sure, but it's also late at night, so there's no need to do much more than acknowledge a few people he knows with a wave. These people he knows are not always the most fantastic people in the city. There are normal people, too. Eventually his whistling fades away to be replace with softly spoken - or attempted to be sung - words: "...welcome home our darling boy, Hurrah! Hurrah! The village lads and lassies say, with roses they will strew the way, and we'll all feel gay, when Johnny comes marching home..." Unfortunately, he seems to be slightly tone-deaf.

"Think I liked the whistlin' better." There's a hello. Sort of. Bella doesn't shout it out, but it's loud enough. Everybody's a critic, right? It fits with the smirk anyways. She spots the kind of familiar lady that pops up on the path ahead of her, too. Still no waving. Not so much smirk though.

Once she's a little closer, its easier to be more sure about the people that are ahead of her. When her gaze falls on Bella, her hand raises to wave a little in greeting. Then her gaze shifts to the softly off-tune sound of the man singing. "Ah, that explains it..." She muses with a little teasing tone, but decides to leave the comment vague and up to the man's response.

After catching his attention as being addressed, Gabriel falls silent for just a short moment. "Ah, 'evening, Miss Sage, Miss Bella. What are you guys doing out here at this time of night," he says, his gaze falling slightly heavier on Bella for a moment. Then, "I'll torture the two of you, so you know how it ends. Skip some of the middle." His 'singing' picks up again. "Their choicest pleasures then display, Hurrah, hurrah! And let each one perform some part, to fill with joy the warrior's heart, and we'll all feel gay, when Johnny comes marching home!" The older man nods his head once. Strongly, but with a grin. "Those are the original lyrics from the Civil War. Later they came up with a new set called 'For Bales.' Even more ironically, it was originally an Irish anti-war protest song." He shrugs. "Strange things happen. Enjoying the night?"

Bella's smirk gets bigger and not just because a turn and shuffle gets it closer. "The hurrahs don't sound so bad. Maybe that's a good song fer ya." Since there's alot of them. Sage gets a little nod. Shows Bella knows she's there, mostly. "Course I'm likin' the night. Always do. Mostly. Not doin' much yet. What're ya doin. Sides tryin' ta sing?"

"There are some things that only happen at night." Sage comments, before offering a shrug to the man. Its unlikely that the man would understand her connection to nature since he's struggled enough with psychic and magic abilities. She glances towards Bella during the singing, "Does, he do this at camp often?" She asks with faint bemusement before looking back to the man. "Its nicer now that the weather is better, but the best is yet to come I'm sure."

Gabriel winks at the shuffling coat. "Just living, Miss Bella. Just living. You know, above surviving?" He gives she tiny woman a grin. He then clarifies, "There is no such thing as 'trying' to sing. There's trying to sing *well,* but everyone can sing. Just like everyone can draw." A gaze at Sage may seem to indicate that he's getting better at psychic and magic things. "I've been spending time at the Library, when I can, Miss Sage. You have... a certain affinity for animals. That's pretty damn cool! Though I'd keep them away from people who might like little bunny skins for... oh, maybe parkas?" Gabriel chuckles then, probably indicating that his last comment was primarily a joke. Is there truth to it at all?

"Dunno 'bout singin." Bella shrugs at Sage. "But he talks alot. Can' never get 'im ta shut up." Her smirk's now a grin and she's quick to point it at Gabriel. "Ain' bein friends witha critters kinda like playin' with yer food?"

Sage chuckles softly, "Yes, I've noticed that he can talk quite a bit." She agrees with good humour in her tone as a small smile takes her lips before glancing over to Gabriel. "That is one thing, yes." She agrees, suggesting that there might be more to her natural abilities. "But, there is only so much I can do... even against parka makers." She directs the man a faintly amused look, briefly raising her brow faintly. "As for playing with your food, that depends on whether you're the sort to eat everything that can be caught." She comments as she glances to Bella.

Gabriel gives Bella a glance at that last statement as well. But then, "Sorry, lots of kids, lots of talking. Come with me on a military op, I'm very quiet." He smiles, which turns into a grin. "In the meantime, anyone want to hear another song? I can try to make something up about chasing small woodland creatures. I think Bambi had music..."

Bella looks back at the looks. She quirks a brow up but doesn't ask the "What?" Gabriel threatening to sing s'more is way more important. She shakes her head and goes back to smirking. "Could jus' pretend like yer on one now? Sort of?" A shrug for Sage and a sort of answer. "Hadda catch 'n eat lotsa stuff 'efore. Better 'n starvin'."

"I'm not sure that's true, Gabriel." Sage comments with a teasing tone as the man says something about being very quiet on a military op, before shaking her head faintly, "No, I think you've done enough for now... if there's any singing to be done, I'm thinking I might be a better choice... since we don't seem to have more talented options around." She chuckles faintly at that before she looks over to Bella. She inclines her head with a faint smile, "It seems you've done well enough in that regard. Perhaps you have a brighter future ahead of yourself as well."

Gabriel dips his head and wanders over to where the women have collected. "Miss Sage, have you discovered anything about the problem we're having with Mr. Black?" Apparently discussing it in front of Bella doesn't seem to be a problem. "I'm afraid that at this point, I have come up against a complete wall. No freakin' idea where to go from here, but I hate to see it, well... die." He offers a shrug, not taking a moment to explain the problem to the girl in the coat. Also, avoiding the complete use of very foul language in the presence of ladies.

"Doin' Ok." Bella leaves that at that. The other talk is more interesting than talking about herself anyhow. Both brows pop up over her looking at Gabriel. "Problem? Can't ya just make it go 'way? Since it's gotta name, sounds like the easy pick. Ya know, talk ta 'im or whatever ya gotta do."

A thoughtful moment comes to Sage as she considers her own findings or lackthereof. She offers a faint sigh, "I was hoping you had found something, but there may be something that could be useful." She responds to the man before glancing towards Bela. "He was killed, that would be the heart of the problem." She explains simply before looking back to the man. "No, my attempt to meditate on it brought nothing but it is a fickle ability at best." She offers before shrugging, "There is one thing that draws a question, though. There is a hawk that has been visiting despite the weather... but it is not a natural one. I am not sure if it is connected to this issue or something else."

A quirked eyebrow. "Do hawks do anything? Like Leo's bird?" Gabriel asks rather blithely. "I guess... that helps? I mean, sure, it's something, but can we do anything with it? I want to track down this R'Mar, and get more information about Theo. But somehow the R'Mar keeps eluding me, and no one is coming forth with any information about Theo, even though he seems to me to be, at the moment, the most interesting person to talk to. Maybe he owns a hawk." Gabriel looks to Bella. "The problem is very frustrating, and it's not even as simple as a death, but for your sake -" another eyebrow is raised "- you don't need to know more." He turns his attention back to Sage. "I don't suppose you can think of anyone we might call in on this for another perspective?"

Bella nods a little. "If it ain' my problem, takes a good reason ta make it mine. Don' wanna get the dead guy's trouble comin' after me. Since it got 'im dead 'n all." A shrug. "Sides, ain' got no meditatin' or whatever. Dunno nothin' bout birds neither. If it were somethin inna Dregs, coulda heard somethin but don' ring no bells."

Sage shakes her head to the man's questions, "While Leo's bird can be considered unnatural, it is still very much a living creature with emotions that can be sensed." She comments, "I sense nothing at all from this bird. It is closer to one that Vargus' bird or Sebastien's horse, I think." She shrugs faintly, "I do not think it would be Vargus', though. If he wanted to speak with me, he could easily approach me. And I have not really see much of him around... probably off discovering other magical things." She pauses to consider things, glancing briefly to Bella to acknowledge her words with a simple nod before looking back to Gabriel. "Have you asked Leonard if he knows what a R'Mar might be?" She asks simply.

"No, I haven't. Haven't really seen him since our last outing," Gabriel says with a nod. "As far as I know... Sebastien's horse is robot. A robot bird?" He shakes his head uncomfortably, then, "Never met anyone named Vargus." But he does finally turn to the girl. "Miss Bella, can you ask around the 'Dregs, see if anyone has heard of a R'Mar alien, a scrap merchant in the area? I'm told he's the only one of his kind here in the city. Perhaps he works down in your neck of the woods."

"A robot bird? That's kinda weird. Course, lotsa weird shit 'round 'ere." Bella nods again. A little more this time. "Sure. I can poke 'round. See what people know. Why's this guy so important? I mean people drop dead all over the place. Alla time. Seen it lots."

"I would not think one could exist either, but Vargus' bird seems proof enough that they or something similar exists." Sage comments, before nodding to the man. "We can both try to get a hold of him, but it is possible that he would not know either. I've never quite asked him how far his lore extends." She glances towards Bella with a faint smile, "Anything you can do would be appreciated... and, as for Mr. Black, he was helping to right some atrocities... whether that caused him to be killed or something else, I am not sure."

Gabriel offers Bella one more safe piece of information. "It seems there may be a conspiracy beyond the atrocities themselves. Others have died, and we're not really keen on waiting for another body to show up continue looking into the problem." But then to Sage, "I'm sorry, Miss Sage, but I don't know the man, and I don't really even understand what this hawk-thing is. Your abilities are telling you what's strange - I just have five senses at my disposal. But if you can get a hold of him, I'll be happy to meet and share what little I've been able to find." With a smirk, he raises his index finger and thumb before his eyes, narrowing them until they just barely don't touch. "Very little."

Bella smirks. She's stil nodding. "Pokin inta other peoples' stuff's a good way to get dead. Sometimes quick. Can' always gett ridda everythin' though. Maybe ya found't all. Maybe not." She's not promising anything, but she'll try.

Sage glances towards the man with a raised brow, "If this hawk is related to this matter and is a robot, it would seem to be programmed to keep an eye on me." She comments, "I could meditate to see if I could divine anything about it... but if you haven't seen it watching you, it seems to me that you might be able to follow it since it would seem to have to return to its owner at some point. And, last I checked, that only took a pair of eyes and legs to accomplish." She comments, "I can approach Leonard if you wish, that wont be a problem." She comments before glancing to Bella. "Alright, anything you can do would be appreciated, but take care of yourself while doing it."

"You misunderstand, Miss Bella. We were hired to do a job, four of us. A good job for good people who needed our help. Now the client is dead, et cetera. We didn't poke our noses in, we were already there. Now there are two of us trying to solve a problem." Gabriel shrugs and says, "Like I told you, if something needs to be done for the common good, I'm going to put my life on the line to see that it gets done, as far as I can take it." Gabriel smiles at Sage. "Very true. But first you have to show me what it is, and where it is to start following. I imagine that a hawk looks like hawk, right?"

"I was talkin' bout the dead guy." Bella thinks she's not the misunderstanding one. She's the smirking one. "Sounds like he stuck 'is nose in somethin' sombeody didn' want it stuck in. Could be whatever good stuff ya guys did. Could be somethin' else. Sounds like he was a nice guy. Ain' no surprise he's dead. The nice one's 're the first ones ta go. Most times."

Sage purses her lips softly, considering the man's words. "Would it help that I mention it isn't the right season for hawks to be soaring overhead?" She asks softly, "I imagine that birds will be returning soon... but hawks are not common during colder weather. I can figure out a way to indicate the bird... it may be a good idea, however, not to be seen together when I do. If I know where you are, I can contact you."

Gabriel considers for a moment. To Bella, "He may have had a nice side, but from what I've uncovered, he had an ambitious business side, too, which in my experience isn't always the nicest personality. Not that I'm calling him a bad fellow, just making a note." He offers a nod and a glance to both women. "Yes, contact me. I'd figured that the birds were returning on time, only to find that Mother Nature was screwing with them. With all of us! Heh. Finally, winter's over. Not that I mind the cold, I just got tired of the black sludge on the sides of the roads." A slight pause. "Miss Bella, how good are you and getting around unseen? I'm talking about genuinely snooping and prowling around, not 'unseen' as in being a tiny, insignificant girl in a coat that no one even bother to pay attention to." The older man's interest is definitely piqued, and these may or may not seem strange questions for such a young and frail girl.

Bella eyes Gabriel a second "Pretty good at sneakin' 'round. Or gettin' somewhere people don' want people ta get. Why? What kinda stuff ya thinkin'?" She figures he's got something in mind. That was a pretty particular question. "If the guy was tryin ta run a buncha deals, bet one went bad on 'im."

Sage nods simply to Gabriel but doesn't seem to have any further comment to make regarding her end of things. She turns her attention towards Bella once the other woman becomes the focus of the conversation. "That could be it... what he was doing would probably have angered some... in which case the person that killed them may have been contracted and have already left."

"Except that there was a related death," Gabriel comments, though without offering further information. "Miss Bella, there's a place going in, down in the tech sector, called 'Titan Robotics.' They sell arms and armor. Rifles, robots, power armor, things like that. They're new - and they're associated with these deaths, I know it. I may not be psychic, but I've had twenty years of action, and twenty years of life experience to tell me so. If you could get in, look around to see a few things, that would be useful. I want to know where their factory is. I have three names that I can give you. If you could find a man called 'Theo' probably working in their shipping department, I want to know what he's up to. Vaguely human fellow, and I think he's connected." He shrugs, "And of course that R'Mar alien in the 'Dregs." Yeah, the man's just laying things on the table. Not everything, not detailed, but a lot of it. Either he's a fool, overly trusty, or he feels there's reason to trust. Sage receives a smile and a nod.

"Lotsa things ta look fer." Bella doesn't turn it down though. "Sounds like fun. Somethin' more ta do, anyways." More than just surviving, right? "Figger I can find somethin. If I find one-a those guys, maybe they can tell me somethin." She grins. "If I ask really really nice."

Sage purses her lips, "I, for one, hope that it is only one person and not a significant bit of the company..." She notes, "If it is, then we're out of our league."

Winter is subsiding, and people are coming out to enjoy the night, though the Plaza Park at the moment is fairly sparse. Probably because of the extreme evening, starting to hover near midnight. The warming weather is certainly nice, and over the central path, but across from the finally not-frozen-over lake stands Gabriel, in his warm weather gear, a woman of approximately the same height, and a very short girl clad in a dusky, rather ratty coat. They seem to be in deep discussion of something. Not entirely hiding it from the outside world, but neither projecting it, either. In his Kentucky drawl, Gabriel says, "Well, the whole company, or at least those who own it. I think they're dirty, and I just can't get close enough. Someone on the inside would be good. Tough thing is they're locked up tighter than the Pope's asshole, really only bringing in their own people from somewhere to the west."

Terrance enters from the west, uncharacteristically wearing a full length black trench coat, only his hands and face visible, his feet wrapped in some kind of black linen. He see's Gabriel and Sage as well, and smiles, approaching them casually, no hint of his more than human abilities.

Bella smirks. Not going to ask who Pope is. Or how Gabriel knows so much about them. "Yeah. If it's a whole comp'ny, dunno what ya can do 'bout it. Buncha creds 'n buncha people ain' somethin' ya wanna mess with. Gettin a mob mad't me is on my don' do list. Mobs with guns 'n shit're worse."

Sage's gaze shifts to the man once more with a considering look, "You don't really know that, Gabriel. And, your instincts aren't always right." She comments, deciding not to list them off. "People kill each other all the time..."

"No, my instincts are only human, but it never hurts to investigate every avenue." A short pause, then, "If you can do anything that you feel comfortable with, Miss Bella, it would be appreciated." Gabriel turns, hearing footsteps, and discovering that it's Terrance. "Evening, Terrance. Still... sore?" An eyebrow is quirked in the other man's direction. Seems like there's more he wants to say, but for now, that's all. Focusing on the more immediate problem at hand.

Terrance waves, and only nods to Gabriels question. "Yep. Hence the jacket, yours is being cleaned still. Apparently some stains are harder to get out than others." Then he goes silent, apparently having said enough on the subject. He turns to Sage however and smiles. A hand reaches carefully inside his trenchcoat, his other hand keeping the folds closed. Maybe he's naked under there. He pulls out a small device and holds it out to Sage. "As promised.. just uh.. don't use it for a bit yet. I'm not myself." He says, waiting for Sage to take it.

Stains? Bella peers at the new guy in the big coat. She's curious, but doesn't have anything against big coats. "Guess ya broke yer last one, huh?" The doothingymabob that Sage gets is looked at, too. After that she nods to Gabriel. "Like I said, I'll look 'round." Bella isn't a heavy talker. Even when she does it's more a mumble.

Sage's gaze shifts between the two before a brow raises faintly, before she focuses on Terrance. "Bite off more than you could chew?" She asks, before lowering her gaze to consider how focused the man is about hiding himself within a coat. She reaches out to take the small device gently, "And, how am I supposed to know when its okay to use it?"

Gabriel chuckles a little. "Yeah, broke his last one, that's for sure. I was dumb enough to give him mine after he'd... broken his." He offers Terrance a wink and, "Good to see you up and about. If you're up later, maybe we can talk s'more. C'mon in, we're playing Sherlock Holmes. Or I am. Also, Sherlock Holmes with a death wish, which makes it not such a fun game to play." Stepping aside briefly, he states, "You know Miss Sage, obviously. In case you don't know, this is my recently-made friend Miss Bella, of the 'Dregs, who has been here forever and is also just new. Miss Bella, my friend Terrance, also in a way been here forever and also just new." The appropriate hand motions are made.

Terrance frowns at Gabriel's 'humor' "Suffice to say I ran into someone that didn't move as easily as I thought. He left a mark." He says simply, and shrugs. He smiles at Sage. "I'll let you know.. shouldn't bee too long. I need to see about a few repairs first." He says shifting uneasily. His gaze goes to Bella and he offers a hand to shake hers. "Pleasure to meet you." As he said, I'm Terrance."

"Better not be wantin ta borrow mine. Ain' gonna happen." Bella pulls her coat a little tighter. It ain't new. It ain't real pretty. She still ain't sharing. "Sounds like ya got yer ass tore off 'n handed back. Happens ta lotsa people. Most lose lots more 'n a coat too."

Sage considers the comments being offered by the three, as her gaze drifts between each. Her lips purse as she tucks it away the small device into one of her pockets. "Don't suppose this person was especially tall?" She asks as she considers Terrance with another faintly raised brow. She nods gently to the comment about the man letting her know. "Let us hope that your judgement is more sound in the future, though."

Gabriel clears his throat quietly and offers up sage wisdom from his time. "Strategy and tactics, right Terrance? I've made my life out of readin' people's faces, and knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes. If you're gonna play the game, ya gotta learn to play it right. You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away and know when to run." Sage receives a very shallow smirk. "Large and misguided men on drugs are usually best avoided, for everyone."

"He very friendly," comes a distinctive monotone voice. Johnson wanders from the direction of the woods, closer than one might like to notice an armored figure approaching in the dark. "If he hit is either because he angry or because he happy. Since you not dead, likely happy." The box and armor don't reveal much in the way of emotion, but he does seem dead set on butting into the conversation.

Terrance smirks, and folds his coat tighter. "My judgement is fine, other than not recognizing a psycho when I see one. I wasn't anticipating him to pull a chain sword on me.. then use it. Only reason I'm alive is my... constitution." He says shrugging. He turns slightly away from Bella, and opens his coat to Sage. Rather than a beaten up and torn body, he's naked, not a stitch of clothing on. And his flesh is missing from the sternum down, no flesh whatsoever. Rather there is a mettalic skeleton, showing his spine, pelvic area and his legs, all steel, sleek and powerful. If she's quick enough she might see the damage to the spinal cord. He closes his coat again, and hugs it tightly as he hears the other man approaching.

Bella can take a hint. Or three. "Picked a fight with a mountain? Yeah. Nothin wrong with yer thinkin'. Not't all." She doesn't sound real convinced. Bella's head comes around sharp to the metal music box guy. Smirk included. "Ain' no dif'rence. Get stomped inna ground by somebody happy or not. Ya still ain' gonna be smilin."

At first Gabriel's comment seem to be vague comments designed to confuse the matter until Sage hears that last part which seems to confirm a small seed of insight. The arrival of Johnson does draw her attention, "Interesting way of putting it." She comments before looking to Terrance. The brief glimpse of the man's state bringing a conflicted expression to her face, shaking her head as if to shake off whatever she had been thinking about. Then, Bella's comments register and draws her gaze with a faint smile, "I think I'm going to like you." She mentions before looking back to the man. She takes a breath and lets it out as she looks back to Terrance. "I'm not sure I even want to know what brought this ..." She gestures to the man's lower body, "about... guessing its some male thing."

"Well, that's old news, then," Gabriel comments to the group. "It's partially my fault. I needed to test Terrance and Taz. Don't ask why, it needed to be done. The most important part was a personality test, that started with me asking Taz some very reasonable questions about his claimed combat experience as a quoted 'special operative.' He got unusually angry, and I immediately failed him." He then nods to Terrance. "Unfortunately, our steel friend was not so forgiving. Without further details, this happened. Some tweaking needs to be done, but Terrance is a good guy. He passed." The old soldier is equally dead set on politely ignoring Johnson as part of the conversation, though he clearly keeps an eye on him. Bella receives, "The most dangerous people are the ones so crazy that they walk into battle 'happy' and with a smile." Okay, so some of that was probably directed at Johnson, too. "My professional opinion, as a soldier, that I'll just share with everyone who hasn't already guessed it - Taz, who intentionally turned himself into a giant of a man with enhancing drugs running through his brains, started off fucked in the head, and is now even more dangerous. Unless he makes maiming or killing people a habit, he's probably best simply avoided." He shrugs. "Just saying what I hope you all guessed already."

Johnson walks towards the group, his helmet fixed on the wounded metal man. He tilts his head, chin ducking, slowly, as he sweeps those dark goggles down Terrance's jacketed form, and then up, and he speaks a pair of words muffled by the helmet as he continues his appraisal. Presently, his translator pipes up again, wondering, "You speak Dragonese?"

Terrance turns his attentions from the group to Johnson at his question. "I understand it, yes. Can't speak it though." He says, then turns back to Gabriel. "Honestly it was probably best that I was the one take the hit. Even in full armor you might not have survived.. most people couldn't have. I'm nothing if not durable. Only downside it, repairs are expensive as hell. Which eliminates the savings I had for getting more armor plating. Oh well." He says and shrugs.

"Gotta be a guy thing. Think he said he useda be a li'l guy." Bella shrugs and waves a cuff. Then her hand pops out of it. Thumb and finger are just a little apart. Mostly for Sage. Just like her smirk. Then Terrances gets some. "Ain' so tough if yer broke 'n costs ya creds ta be tough. I'd be facked if I had ta pay out fer every li'l scratch. Way better when ya can sleep't off or whatever."

Sage's gaze shifts to Gabriel when he begins to explain the situation, briefly glancing to Terrance when the man is mentioned within this little episode. In the end, she doesn't look too impressed. "So, you arranged the situation that this happened... there was probably some misunderstanding... and this is the result..." She gestures to Terrance, before letting out a sigh. She glances towards the only other woman in the group. Faint amusement comes to her features, "Don't thing there's any doubt about it." She comments, before looking back to the men before focusing on Gabriel. "Anything else to add or is that about sum it up?"

Gabriel shrugs. "As much as I'm going to add." The time is hovering near midnight, and though it's not cold out, it's not exactly warm, either. Still, much better than only a week ago. The band of four is gathered near the path, on the other side from the lake. The only other thing that he has to say is to the short coat. "Miss Bella, it's tough on everyone who has to do more than just sleep it off. You know that." There's something of a sly tone to those last three words.

Johnson points away from the group, a gauntleted hand aimed off into the trees. Thumb up, one oversized finger extended, like a child pointing a finger-gun. "Please." An odd word. Perhaps mistranslated. He nods at Terrance, and then aside at the small group -- and mostly at Gabriel -- before the translator comes up with, "Small word. For you. Not for them." He raises a hand then, palm up, saying, "Promise, no hurt." And then begins walking away, towards where he indicated. Stride easy, relaxed.

The temperature doesn't bother Taz much, but then he's usually in that heavy armor which likely has it's own air conditioning systems or some such. With stogie clamped between his teeth the giant sized juicer heads into the park and starts to search around. What exactly he's looking for remains unknown for the most part until he finds a good sized rock about the size of a person's head. With a grin he tosses it back and forth between his hands and heads towards the lake while searching for more rocks along the way.

Terrance scratches his head, looking at Johnson. "I understand a lot of languages.. but I have no clue what he's talking about." He mutters aloud. "he says before turning toward Bella. "I'd love to lay down and let nature take it's course. Only problem is.. I'm not entirely natural anymore. I'm more of a machine overdue for a tune up.. And heavy duty armor plating repairs." He adds with a shrug.

Bella shrugs at Gabriel. "Even better 'n sleepin 't off is not gettin pounded inna first place." Johnson points and she eyes him. Back to Gabriel. "Don' let 'im make ya glowy." A little warning and she turns back to Terrance. "Ain' much really natural no more. Just gotta be a pain havin ta get somebody else ta fix ya up. Maybe ya oughtta carry some glue 'r somethin." Bella smirks again. "Or just don' get hit. That helps alot."

Considering the direction of Taz's direction, his height and weight, it doesn't take much for Sage to notice the giant of a man. "In that case, you guys will have to let me know if you're going to be doing more typical male stuff..." She comments, before looking back to the group. "And, I'll make sure to get as far out of the way as I can..."

Gabriel nods as Sage speaks, then gives Johnson a hooking finger. "You want to talk? Over here." He'll walk no more than fifteen feet away from the crowd, and in the most distant direction from Taz as possible. With his hands crossed over his chest, he'll tell the man, "You may need to whisper, if it's a secret, and keep in mind that I only speak good ol' fashioned English, not even American, and only a little Russian that I remember. So?" He attempts to lighten the situation. "Do I have to spin your arm around the shoulder to make the tines chime, or do you have a battery?"

"No," Johnson replies, further away yet from the group than Gabriel will stray. He turns to face Gabriel, shaking a hand at the man, and pointing back at Terrance, "Not you. Him. Tell him come here. Tell him; is free. No trade."

Taz finds another rock, this one a bit larger than the first one he had and he juggles them back and forth as he heads to the edge of the lake. If he notices the group on the other side of the lake he doesn't call out to them or anything of the sort. Switching the bigger rock to his left hand and the head sized rock to his right, Taz bounces the rock up and down in his hand while studying the water. Fingers grip stone with a bit of a grating sound as dust comes off the rock to filter to the ground before his arm comes back and he side arms the rock out into the lake, making sure to put a hell of a spin on the rock. ZING! The rock goes flying and it skips across the surface of the water a few times before it takes a bad skip and then plunges into the water with a loud splash. Fortunately, he wasn't aiming at the group or the like, and so nobody gets wet or even much risk of such a thing happening.

Terrance raises an eyebrow, then follows Johnson away from the group. "Ok.. you wanna talk... let's talk. I got this Gabriel, he can't hurt me even if he tried. I can still run at full speed." He says, peeling away from the group, and following Johnson.

Skip. Skip. Splash. Cringe. That last one is Bella. She eyes the mountain making landslides and takes a step to Sage. Farther away from the lake, too. Then she's watching the boys walk off. "Can't hurt 'im. Bet he said that 'bout Taz too. He's gonna tough 'is way right inta the junkyard."

Sage considers the men as they seem to be splitting up, even if Gabriel had been mistaken about who was desired. Then she hears the skipping of a boulder, and glances towards the lake. She glances back to Bella. "Seems to be the way with some..." She agrees, "...too much confidence, I suppose." She purses her lips as she looks back to the lake. "Thinking we're either on the wrong side of the lake or in the wrong place right about now..."

Gabriel nods to his friend. "You got it, Terrance. Be sure to take notes so you can tell me later, okay?" As he returns to the group - which is now the two women - his wide grin should indicate that is only joking, though at who's expense, if any, is in question. When closer to Sage and Bella, he will opine, "It's better to underestimate yourself, and then be pleasantly surprised, than it is to overestimate yourself, and be... well, there's probably a poetic way to put it, but 'not pleasantly surprised.'" The splash of the rock can't help but draw his interest. "Yes, possibly."

Johnson conspicuously lowers the volume on his speaker, turning away from the group so as to conceal his pep talk. His hands are animated, kept low, but they wave expressively to punctuate whatever it is he's saying. And when he's finished, the armored one extends a hand towards Terrance, fingers together and palm open. As if to seal the secret with a handshake.

Taz watches the skipping of the rock, it's performance, and the splash it makes as he takes a couple puffs from his cigar and blows smoke up into the air. He rolls his head from left to right shoulder as if stretching or just getting a feel for things as he bounces the larger rock up and down in his left hand. Since he is on the other side of the lake to the now semi-splitting up group he can't hear their conversations, or their concerns. Instead Taz simply switches the bigger boulder to his right hand and hefts it a few more times, getting a feel for it's weight as he studies the lake. Skipping Rocks iz srius bizniz apparently, judging by the thought he puts into it. For the moment however, there seems to be some reprieve from the threat of skipping boulders flying all the way across the lake as Taz finds another rock and goes to check it out.

Well, at least the boulders are sinking to the bottom of the lake. She takes a moment to consider the situation, "Well, it is on the late side anyway... might be just another excuse to move on." She comments, "Either of you are welcome to walk with me a ways." She offers before she begins to pick out the path she'll take.

"Thinkin I like yer thinkin. Somewheres else is good." Bella is expecting to see a bigger rock fly. She relaxes a little when it don't. "Got any ideas where?" Bella puts that question to Gabriel, too. If it was an invite, she's taking it. Maybe even if it wasn't.

Gabriel looks more than happy to go and escort the women away from the crazy Juicer. Whether they actually need escorting from a forty-one year old man with no special powers whatosever, or not. Neither does he phrase it that way, because these days, it would be impolite. With a smile on his face, he says, "I'm certainly ready to move on. As long as the two of you don't want to hear more whistling, or sit while I point out constellations, maybe we could go indoors. Somewhere bright." A glance at Bella with an arched brow. "Maybe with something to drink?"

The new rock must easily weigh several hundred pounds and be a full sized boulder. Taz grins with delight at finding such a thing even if he has to dig it out of the ground with his hands. When he finally gets a good grip he pulls it up out of the earth with a nice tearing sound of roots and earth as it comes away. He shakes off the rock, smacking it a few times and then turns it around, looking for the best side of the rock that might make skipping possible. Apparently finding the side he wants to try Taz hefts the rock, half spins back and then like a whirlwind he launches it forwards, doing a full three sixty after letting the rock fly. The rock hits the water and tries to skip, it really does, but, water tension is just not -that- good and so it sinks with a loud splash. "Piss." Taz rumbles and chews on the butt of his cigar before he dusts his hands off and gives up on the rocks.

Bella winces at the splash. She wasn't watching the rock so it's a startle. "Drink sounds good ta me." Her feet are already shuffling. An eye or two peeks at Gabriel and Sage. "Any special bright spots ya want? Or somethin special ta drink?" She can still move first and aim after.

"Depends on how far you want to walk, I suppose." Sage offers, before glancing back towards the lake. She has a feeling that the rocks wont actually do anyone harm, but there is something to be said for peace of mind. No sense in getting bent out of sorts for something like this. "If you don't want to wander far, there's the Bolt." She comments, "Could always have a drink back at my place... the dining room should have a pleasant enough atmosphere." She adds before shrugging as she turns to start taking a path that will be safely away from the lake. "Guess those specially placed boulders will need to be replaced... or dragged up from the bottom." She tries to make light of that particular situation.

Gabriel's face quirks up a little, and then he raises his hand. "I'm sorry to vote against ladies, but I'm going to. Nut and Bolt is always too dam loud. I think there's coffee nearby, maybe Happy Burger if you want slop. Hit a club, or... your place sounds lovely, Miss Sage. I haven't actually seen that room yet." He is moving off very slowly, following Bella, but hanging back enough that Sage isn't left behind. "Everyone throws errant rocks sometimes. Doesn't matter the size. Saw a great pitcher nail a batter in the head once." He remains.. lagging, for Sage.

Taz is creating job security for the Kingsdale Landscapers Union it seems. Still no more rocks go flying and Taz doesn't even have a rock on him anymore as he walks around the lake towards the other side. He spots the other group then and smiles, aiming his steps over in their direction. Well, Gabriel, Sage, and Bella's direction. Not in Terrance and Johnson's direction. "Hey." He rumbles out towards them with a wave, "How goes?" He asks as he approaches, voice cheerful and genial all the same. Yes. Scary dangerous.

"That way." Bella waves to Taz and points. Maybe that's not how she goes, but it's where. She thinks. Then she makes a face at Gabriel. "No more Happy Burger. It's too damn bright. Too... happy. Yeah." Sage gets a look that's not all sour. Maybe even sweet. "Yer place sounds better 'n I don' even know what it's got."

The cease of splashing from the rocks doesn't strike her as something until Sage notices the giant man coming towards them. She doesn't seem to be inclined to flee in terror, though. She waves to the man as well, "Hey... its going fairly well and for you?" She asks, before glancing towards Gabriel with a faint warning look.

Johnson falls in behind Taz, like an ill-formed shadow cast in his wake, back from the meeting with Terrance. The latter having left quietly after their little talk. The armored one says nothing as he walks towards the group, helmet unreadable. Silent as the grave.

Gabriel watches Taz approach then does his best to catch Sage's attention. Attempting, once again to understand the slight bond that they have agreed upon, he thinks in his own mind << Large crazy men are not the kind of thing you stay around, even if you have to be impolite to avoid them. I have a small job to get to. Stay safe. >> Then he offers Bella a, "Goodbye, Miss Bella, stay dry and dark. He has very little to say to either Johnson or Taz. In fact, he has not verbal message for them whatsoever. Just a bob of his head in acknowledgement, then he slowly walks out of the Park toward Main Street, whistling quietly what in times long past was known as the "Battle Hymn of the Republic."

"Mmm could be worse... couldn't get the bigger rock ta skip." Taz rumbles with a sound of disappointment, "I tried little ones, but they jus' sorta... bounced all over the place." Which would probably be far far more dangerous to bystanders than his chucking of the boulders into the water. He takes a few puffs off his cigar, grabbing it between middle and forefinger of his left hand. "Good ta hear, been slow 'nuff lately don' 'magine much opportunities fer things ta head inta the pisser though." He rumbles a chuckle as he continues to approach, raising an eyebrow at Gabriel's reaction and quick retreat, "Wierd." He says simply then looks towards Bella, "Howdy Coat, how ya holdin' up?"

Bella waves a cuff at Gabriel. "Yeah. Tryin ta." Stay dry and dark with the puddle jumper and glow rod headin over. Could be tough to do. "Still standin up." That's for Taz. She isn't running away, either. She just doesn't stop walking. "So. Where's this place at again?" Bella thinks she came almost near it before, but she checks with Sage to make sure.

When the other woman doesn't stop, Sage seems content to follow suit for the time being. Bella does seem to be friendly enough with Taz, after all. She nods faintly to Gabriel as the man heads off. She glances towards the giant man with a nod, "You did well enough with them, though." She comments, likely more content that they ended up at the bottom of the lake instead of somewhere else. Then she looks over to Bella. "Its near Jelani's." She comments simply, "A bit of a walk, but not as bad as other places."

Taz's shadow says softly, in Dragonese, "You're scaring them." Johnson slows then, head cocked to the right as he watches the girls. "They're treating you like a bear. Don't run, but escape. They're worried that if they run, you'll chase and strike them down." His armored chin lifts, and Johnson peers up at the giant. "The one you harmed has poisoned them against you. And now when they look at you, it's not one man of two in a fight. It's the monster." He reaches down to his translator, clicking it back to American, to say in a language all can understand, "Let go. Some too near-sighted see truth."

Taz pauses as the two women keep walking and he stops with a frown, "Right." Looking confused more than anything else at the, well, lack of desire to chat with him. "Have fun then." He rumbles as he comes to a stop just as Johnson starts trying to explain, "What." He asks, seriously, looking at Johnson now, not as in clarification as he understood the man just fine but more in flat surprise. "That idiot picks a fight with me, and when he loses I'm the dangerous one?"

"Ya poundin' some idiot inna dirt don't bug me none." Bella slows a little. Turns. "Just don' need a big rock rollin me over. Can throw alla rocks ya wanna at 'im though." Her sleeve points at Johnson. The rest of her smirks.

Sage pauses when the person speaks about their supposed fright before she sighs faintly and seems to match Bella's slowing. "I'm considering that incident to be a giant male thing... that's generally ends up being foolish and better off forgotten." She comments, "So, don't start putting words in my mouth." She comments looking towards the man follow in Taz's shadow. "Besides, Taz, you could come along to prove one thing that has nothing to do about rocks or pounding someone into the dirt."

"Yes," Johnson replies, changing back to Dragonese. "To a human, there is 'us' and 'them.' And in self-love, they cherish beautiful people. And especially those most like themselves. You are an 'other.' Worse, they believe you chose it. That you are a traitor to their kind, that your very nature says you cast aspersion on them. That makes them angry, quick to judge, because they feel judged. So you will forever be wrong until proven right, and maybe not even then." He doesn't move as the women continue on, urging, "Go. See for yourself. Perhaps with these two it is not too late, but I fear someone never explained what it is to be who you are."

Taz frowns again, "Don't got 'at much problem wit' people dislikin' me iff'n I deserve it." He rumbles, "I'm a dead man walkin', jus' think it's foolish ta be..." He shakes his head however at whatever he was going to say and then looks towards Sage and Bella, "Soun's fun. Leas' hope it'll be fun. Else might have ta find more rocks." He is clearly teasing however, tone of voice, sly playful smile on the giant's handsome face and he looks over at Johnson', "What do ya mean? Who wouldn't know what it means ta be a juicer?" He asks curiously, walking over towards Sage and Bella and shooting them with the same curious look as if asking them wether or not they need it explained to them.

Bella quirks a brow at Sage. She didn't expect that. Doesn't really bug her though. "If he's drinkin, yer buyin." Her grin is kind of like Taz's smile. Just way smaller. "Hey, ya wanteda be a mountain fer awhile. Ain' my thing, but lotsa people do. Ya said somethin' 'bout bein a li'l guy 'before." She shrugs. "Figgered ya was jus' tryn'a make yer dick bigger 'n said fack it 'n went fer broke."

While she may not understand the words that the strange man, it strikes Sage to be a little off. She slows further before looking at Johnson, "If your point is too weak to make that you can't bear us to understand it, I suggest you keep it to yourself." She replies with a frown, before looking to the giant man. "Look, people may be nervous around you because you're so big... but that shouldn't change who you are. Some people don't like psychics either, but I'm not going to pretend that I'm not one. People trust me for who I am as a person, even if they might not be comfortable with my abilities." She guesses based on Taz's own comments. "Although, I'm not sure if it'll be too fun unless I think of something on the way..." She comments, "I need to figure out if you'll fit into my place since a guy named Bart wants to hold a meeting at my place. But, I can offer a drink or something if that'll be an incentive..."

Johnson seems to have said his piece, as he remains behind the fleeing women and their new, large friend. He watches them leaving, their reflections in those dark goggles of his helmet, before turning to walk back through the park, out into the night.

Taz ahhhs, "Yeah, Bart wants me ta come ta that one." He rumbles, "An' shouldn' be a prollem, can jus' duck an' twist an' go in sideways scootchin' on m'ass." He rumbles a chuckle at that with a roll of his shoulders in a shrug. To Bella he grins, "Nah, wasn' m'dick was tryin' ta make bigger... maybe sometime I tell ya 'bout it, though my talkin' 'bout it is what made the robot get smashed." He jerks a thumb over towards where Terrance was at before all of his mysterious disappearing tricks. He is robot ninja or something. "Decided ta mock m'pain, an' stood all confident an cocky right up until I tagged 'im once, then he was all tears an' moans an' soundin' like a lamb at got it's nuts clipped." He shakes his head, "Na decorum at all." He chuckles, looking back towards Johnson, then back towards Sage and Bella, "'E was jus' sayin' at normal people tend ta get scared o' people like me cuz it's like I betrayed my humanity or somethin'." He rolls his shoulders in a shrug and walks with Sage and Bella, assuming that they continue walking. Taz however is all cheer and smiles.

"Yeah." Bella watches the metal man walk away. But it's the bigger guy she's talking to. "Yeah. Lotsa people don' like dif'rent. Cause it's dif'rent." Then she looks at Taz. Smirk's back. "'N the robot guy sounds like he was jus' stupid. So." Sage's turn. "We followin' you? Guessin ya hear thoughts 'r somethin, but I don't."

Sage hms softly to the giant man's response as she begins to walk more normally. "Well, hopefully there wont be too much contorting needed." She comments, "But... speaking about your ass, should I be looking for a chair sturdy enough to hold you or do you just want an empty spot on the floor?" She asks, "Just trying to figure out if my place will be suitable enough for this." She explains before quieting down when the giant replies to Bella. "Ah... that does explain a little more about what happened." She comments before shrugging, deciding not to get entangled in an event that she has no real stake in. She looks back towards Bella afterward. "Yeah, make it easier to find the place." She comments with faint humour, before nodding faintly. "Not everyone does..."

Taz chuckles, "Floor is fine, 'm used ta it. Not many places got chair's at can support better'n half a ton." He lets the conversation drop as to what occurred between himself and Terrance, instead following the two woman, much smaller women, but then if they were his size, that'd be scary as hell. "Should be fine Sage." He rumbles, "I got inta the deli, just takes a bit o' squeeze, an' I'm more flexible'n I look." He winks towards her but chuckles, "Wish I was psychic, then mebbie wouldn'a needed ta do alla this." He gestures over his large form with one wave of a hand.

Bella goes back to full shuffling. She's following Sage now. Sort of grinning at her, too. More after Taz winking. "Think he's tryin'a hit on ya. Least it's way softer 'n 'is fist. Maybe just in case he breaks somethin?" That's about all she has to say for now.

Sage lets out a breath and gets a small amused smile. "Ah, good... I wasn't having much luck finding one to begin with... just need to make sure I have something you can drink from and ... do you prefer to eat with your hands or do you like having a knife and fork?" She asks, trying to figure out what she can ahead of time. She nods faintly, before considering the comment about the deli and chuckles at the wink. "Well, that's good." She comments before shrugging faintly to the man's desire to be psychic. "Everything has its good and bad points." She comments, before glancing over towards Bella. "Well, I think Bart already knows that I'll be talking to him about any damages... at least for the meeting."

Taz rumbles a chuckle, "I'm not a savage, knife'n fork is fine..." He shakes his head a bit as he follows along. He looks at Bella, "Seems like the old man' be havin' 'is eye on ya Coat." He says playfully. "'Ow's that workin' out?" His rumble light and good natured as the trio presumably make their way out of the park and towards Sage's place, wherever it may be.