Mar 24 07:30:00 PA 107 - Tradewinds Coffee Shop

From Chronicles

Kingsdale - Tradewinds Coffee Shop

Stepping into the coffee house and takes a look around with a curious expression. Sniffing the air once he tilts his head to the side and then heads towards the counter table to begin having a brief discourse on what might be ordered in the coffee shop.

Vargus is seated on one of the communal benches, on the end nearest the counter. He sits with his arms against the tabletop, a pretty large mug of something steaming in front of him and a book braced in his hand. A small stack of a few more paperbound books sit at his right elbow.

It takes a bit, but Zyvis eventually places an order for some sort of coffee or another, whichever the person behind the counter thinks is good. He settles up and then waits for his cup to arrive, glancing around and looking at a few people. His gaze focusses on Vargus for a few but then his coffee arrives and he takes it to settle at an empty seat nearby. "Is it supposed to be black like this?" He asks, but the vendor is now dealing with someone new. The Psi-Stalker frowns a bit, dips a fingertip into the hot coffee but removes it, "Hot." He says with a wince, trying to cool his fingertip off by blowing on it.

Vargus chuckles and looks up from the book he's reading, something on villages in the area around Kingsdale, judging by the cover. "It's supposed to be black, yeah... a lot of people find it a bit bitter, straight like that though.. and put cream, or milk, and sugar in the stuff."

"I've never had it before." Zyvis says, "Figured I was in a new city, might as well try new things." He looks around for any of the aforementioned things, milk, cream, sugar, suchlike that. He hmmms and then takes a taste of the coffee with a little sip. He wrinkles his nose, "Bitter is putting it mildly." He says with a chuckle and then moves to try and sweeten up the bitter stuff. "Thank you for the advice." He says looking over towards Vargus, "I'm Zyvis." He introduces himself.

Vargus inclines his head, "I'm Blake." he smirks at Zyvis' mug. "I've never been a fan of that stuff myself. A lot of people swear by it, but I think they just like the caffee buzz, and endure the taste." He shrugs his shoulders a little bit. "Eh.. I more drink stuff for taste, and in winter go for hot chocolate or tea of some sort. There's a LOT of those varieties. Bound to find something you like."

Zyvis chuckles, "I normally just drink water, and even then not that much." He looks at the coffee as it slowly starts to change colors and he goes to stir it a bit as he adds more stuff. "Someone told me I needed to try new things and, hopefully this won't dull my senses like alcohol or drugs will." He shrugs, "If I can ever like the taste."

Vargus's eyes skate over Zyvis, he pauses a moment, then shrugs again. "Well, it is a stimulant. Not as bad as stuff you can get on the street, but, enough of it will give you the shakes and crank you up pretty tight. Dunno how it'd effect someone.. ahh, with your metabolism. I'd take it easy if that's your first taste, though."

"That is exactly what I keep telling people who tell me I need to get stoned or drunk." Zyvis says with a chuckle, "But they all seem to think that it won't hurt me... dunno if I am willing to accept that. I mean... it's not like we can really become juicers, or borgs... Drugs are nasty stuff."

"Eh.." Is Vargus' bit of wisdom. "If you're around a lot of people who keep telling you that, they're either dealers who sell the stuff, or people that don't have a whole lot of happiness in their life, if they have to suppliment it with chemicles. Sounds like you need to hang around a better class of people."

Zyvis smirks, "Sure, I'll get right on that, I have so many options you know. So many people wish to be friends or even know a psi-stalker." He sounds amused though and he shrugs, "Can't blame some people, life isn't exactly easy in many ways... I just don't think it's a good idea if I go about experimenting with hard drugs."

Vargus grins and nods his head. "Yeah, probably best for everyone if you keep the experimentation to a minimum. No telling what it'll do to you.. or, you know... what you might end up doing to others." He shifts a bit in his chair and eyes Zyvis again. "So... you a freelancer? I guess you're not working for the skulls, humm?"

"Strange place to be if I were working for the coalition." Zyvis says with a frown, "No, if it weren't for them I'd still be at home." He shrugs, "Not trying to make my way in a new city." He takes a very small sip of his coffee and then pushes it away from him. "I am not sure how people can enjoy drinking this stuff." He says with a wrinkle of his nose. "Even sweetened, it is not very good. I think I prefer water." He then looks over towards Vargus, "I've actually signed on with the KDPD officially. I still do freelance work on the side though."

Vargus's eyebrows quirk up and he nods, a small smile playing over his lips. "That's good to hear. They're a pretty cosmopolitin group, all things considered. I haven't inderacted with them too often.. just trying to get access to the nexus outside of town a few times. They usually just drop the no-bomb and leave it at that."

"Given how many are near that could use that Nexus at serious risk to the city, I can understand why they would deny access." Zyvis says with a shrug, "I haven't ever been out there, I mostly just patrol the city itself, occasionally head into the Dregs on a hunt every now and a gain." He looks over at the other man, "Why do you want access to it anyways? For what purpose?" He asks curiously in conversational tones.

Vargus nods his head, then shrugs. "Yeah, but there's one right IN the city and they don't have the defenses around that one that they do the one that's two miles away. It's a little strange. But, I guess they're looking for the guy they /don't/ see as the major threat. I just wanted to scoup up the extra energy to make a few dimensional pockets. Heck, I even offered to give them a few if they'd let me close during a solstice.. but, orders are orders they said. Next time I'll hit higher up their chain of command and see if I can tempt anyone."

Zyvis considers, "Well, inside the city it's easier to monitor what's going on at it and respond to it. Out in the wild, it's a whole other issue." He shrugs again, "I'd prefer there were none in the city at all." He chuckles, "Makes the air smell bad." He smiles wryly.

Vargus grins, "Oh, I love living here. Just have to hang out in the street out that way to reap in the benefits. Daaaamn, it's nice not having to stake out a spot in the wilderness and keep looking over your back to make sure something isn't sneaking up to behind you to sink its fangs into your ass."

Zyvis smiles, "To each their own." He shrugs, "I like the wilderness, but, I also enjoy having people around to talk to. Guess I'm something of a socialite for my kind." He chuckles. "I grew up in the 'Burbs though, so was used to always having a lot of people around."

Vargus nods his head in agreement. "I'm the same way.. don't mind being out on my own, but, prefer to have others around to talk to. Most of those of my kind tend to like to lurk in dark corners and are pretty anti social. Shifters, I mean. But, I don't really consider myself to be one of them.. I don't traffic in demons at all."

Zyvis tilts his head to the side, "Really? I didn't want to say anything, but you're the first mage I've met in this city who didn't treat me like the anathema. I might just have to hire you sometime to summon up something tasty for me when I want something special to eat." He -sounds- like he's joking, and he's smiling and all, but it's so hard to tell considering what he is.

Vargus gives a half-hearted chuckle, as if he isn't sure that you're kidding or not. "Ahh yeah...well.." He clears his throat and takes a sip from his mug. "Well.. I've dealt with some pretty strange things in my travels, and I usually try to give the benefit of the doubt with someone. You may be a 'Stalker, but... right now you just seem like any other bald dude with strange eyes who doesn't like coffee." He shrugs again, "You seem like a nice guy, as far as large militant types go.. so.. I see no need to get personal." He gives a lopsided grin.

"It's a welcome change." Zyvis says, "I'm glad that at least -someone- here has the good sense to appear to be enlightened." He chuckles wryly, "It's not quite as bad as it could be, I admit, but it was still distressing and depressing." He then offers his free hand to the other man, "I'm Zyvis." He introduces himself.

Vargus bows his head in a more formal-like greeting, and shakes the offered hand. "Blake Vargus., nice to meet you. To be honest, I haven't really spent a whole lot of time around your people." he chuckles a bit, "Well, I guess that isn't really too hard to believe, huh? The stories I've always heard always refered to drooling, sputtering animals that went for the mages, or anyone with decent energy levels..."

With a shrug Zyvis says simply, "Mages and psychics are tasty." He admits but he smiles wryly, "I tend to try and limit myself to other predators though. Those who have nothing good about them, or make themselves a target by being right bastards or simply magical nasties that prey on others." He chuckles, "Oh right, Blake, yeah you said that earlier. Sorry slipped my mind."

Vargus shakes his head. "No worries, we'd moved pretty far since then. I figured you were just making a bit more of an official introduction or something. And that's pretty noble of you to choose your meals like that. As a particularly tasty morsel, I thank you, anyway." Another grin.

"Well don't think it makes me some cyber knight or anything, because it's not all that." Zyvis says with a chuckle, "To be truthful, a lot of it is also merely survival. I rather enjoy being able to walk the streets freely. If I started hunting down every mage I ran across..." He winks but then shrugs, "Seriously though, I may be a predator, but I am still intelligent. I can choose what I kill." He smiles, "But, a few hundred thousand bad apples..." He seems to take it all pretty good naturedly.

Vargus grins and nods. "Yeah, those bastards make it hard for the rest of us. A couple hundred freaks start summoning demons in the middle of town council meetings, and I start to worry about who I mention I'm a Shifter, just start getting dirty looks, like by just sitting here some critter will crawl out of my pants and start to eat babies or something."

Zyvis laughs, "Lets just keep it in your pants shall we?" He shakes his head and then tilts his head to the side, "So were you at the arena when that creature escaped after killing that juicer?" He asks curiously, "I am kind of curious what you as a Shifter would make of something like that."

"Damn." Zyvis says with a shrug, "Not quite sure what it is. Some Juicer was saying he was unbeatable, the Arena brought in some invisible beasty. It killed the Juicer in an instant and then somehow escaped." He says with a gesture as he speaks. "Thought something that could turn invisible naturally would be a unique... umm... opportunity for me."

Vargus laughs. "Something that was naturally invisible and they were surprised when it escaped? Sounds like their security was just not prepared at all to deal with that thing." he shakes his head. "Sounds like they were just stupid.. or the money involved got the better of them."

Zyvis chuckles, "I know right? I wasn't here yet when it happened. Would have loved to have gotten a look at it so I knew what I am hunting." He shrugs, "Ah well, no big deal. I'll find it eventually, figure out what's the bigger predator. Me or it." He smiles. "Not saying I'm better than a juicer, I just have advantages a juicer doesn't."

Vargus smirks. "Get a look at it, huh? Can you guys see invisible creatures? Or track it down? Or is that a subtle bit of ironic humor there?"

Vargus thinks a moment. "Yeah, I'd say quite an advantage. Those jacked up fellows only really pay attention to what their bodies can do. You also have your mind going for you."

"Some of us can, yes, and all of us can track down anything supernatural or psychic or magic. It's why the Coalition tries so hard to recruit as many of us as they can." Zyvis says and he chuckles, "Trust me, I wish I could move like a Juicer does, I'm fast, but not that fast. Even if I were a normal human though I don't think I'd give up my life for that... the death rate on it is just insane."

Vargus nods emphatically, "Yeah, I agree. But, I think I"m a little biased, being a mage. I just don't use my bodies as they do. But, still... five years of life for that speed and strength? I don't think it's worth it. I know some temporal magic that can accelerate my movements quite a bit, and it's nice.. but. No, not worth the lion's share of my existance."

Zyvis nods, "I'm not sure about magic myself. I figure it's like any other tool." He shrugs a bit and turns to look at various people about the coffee shop. "Still, I've never heard of a psi-stalker whom is a sorcerer. Maybe it's not even possible so it will forever be out of reach."

Vargus pauses a moment, then shakes his head. "Nope, I can't say that I've heard about one, either. Some that go the psionic route, but haven't heard of any finger-wigglers." he sits at one of the communal benches, just in front of the main counter, with Zyvis across the table from him. A mug sits in front of each of them, and a small pile of books are stacked at Vargus' side.

It's worth mentioning that Zyvis' coffee hasn't really been touched. It has however been sweetened by sugar, milk, creme all that stuff but to no avail apparently. "Well, we all have individual strengths and weaknesses." He says with a shrug, "It would be remarkably odd if we could become mages though, considering our necessary diet... We'd likely turn on each other more than we already do."

Nemain drags herself in looking like she's not the best of morning people. Or perhaps and more likely, she's yet to make it home to her bunk. She glances over the menu board as she fingersout a small number of credits. Her other hand lifting to brush back several thick locks from her eyes as she looks over the board again and ponders how much sugar she needs to keep going.

"Hummmm..." Vargus considers. "Yeah, I think you're right about that. Probably some kind of survival mechanism more then anything else, huh?" He glances over at Nemain, and then down at a small display on his left wristguard. "Damn, it's pretty early.. when did that happen? Must be some kind of temporal flux..." He sighs melodramtically.

Zyvis chuckles, "Or likely just so we don't get confused." He says with amusement then is distracted by the neo-zombie of Nemain. He looked like he was about to wave or whatever, greet her, but on a second look decides against it until she gets a caffeine fix. Looking back towards Vargus he asks, "What brought you to Kingsdale? The way you talk of the nexus outside it sounds like you're an immigrant as well."

Nemain blinks as she waves to Zyvis. "Morning. Guess that I'm not the only one who goes around the clock." A grin is spared for Vargus whom she's not met, then it's time for hte blesings of the java bean.

Vargus grins and shakes his head. "Not an immigrant, no." he pauses a moment. "Well. Maybe something of one. I've been something of a dimentional nomad for a number of years. Wandered around South America for a bit, somewhere, a few other dimensions similar to ours, lots of fighting and wars going on out there, and eventually rifted back home, and wound up near that nexus outside of town. Figured it was time I stuck around the home turf for a while, and decided to get a place here. That was... huhh, maybe a year or so ago."

Zyvis chuckles, "I must be the only person I know who has no desire to go off galavanting around to other dimensions. More than enough excitement right around here." He then pauses, "Though, depending on how things turn out up north I might consider it.." He then gives a wave and a smile to Nemain, "Good morning Nemain. Just woke up or resisting bed?" He asks her conversationally. He then looks back and forth between Vargus and Nemain, "Have you two met?" Then just to make sure, "Nemain, this is Blake Vargus, Shifter. Blake this is Nemain, Techno-Wizard."

Nemain waves to Vargus. "A shifter, hmm? And no, I don't think we've met." She drops her creds for her thickened and sweatened mocha something ot other. Zyvis gets a wink, "Resisting. Pulled an all nighter trying to settle on how to boost the output of a field generator."

Vargus nods, then shakes his head, then thinks about his gestures and chuckles. "Correct, we have not yet met.." He gives Nemian a finger-wave, "Nice to meet you." then looks back to Zyvis, and shrugs. "I just like to explore, I just don't limit my exploration to this one single planet. This place is pretty torn up, on the ID standard. Although, pretty much everyone has heard of us Elsewhere." He seems to give the word a special meaning, "...everyone has heard of our little ball of rock. Quite the dimensional crossroads, are we."

"That's interesting." Zyvis says to Vargus, "I never would have imagined that enough people would have left through an unknown rift to make us well known." He clucks his tongue against the roof of his mouth and shrugs, "Always hear about things coming here, not much leaving." He looks over towards Nemain and smiles, "Why don't you just get some sleep then Nemain? Or is there some pressing need to be awake?" He asks her, "Course... could be the sunlight. I know lots of people don't have as easy a time of it as I do in sleeping through the day."

Vargus checks the display on his wrist and shakes his head, "Eh.. looks like I have to get moving." He stands up and looks over to Zyvis, "Actually, not many of them were from here. Ran into one or two out there, but most have just heard about the little planet that has become the focus or the multiverse. I guess word-of-mouth spreads well through the rifts." He smriks a little and gives a wave. "Anyway, see you guys around, humm?" Another wave and he heads for the door.

Nemain waves after Vargus as he leaves. Then answers softly to the psystalker. "More of a fact that I have to put in hours at the shop to get my rent made." She grins and lifts her cup for a long, long sip. A white foam mustache in place as she lowers the cup. "Besides, I had a meeting this morning about getting pied for one of the projects."

Zyvis winces, "Sounds like you're in for a rough day." He says comfortingly. "Well I hope the meeting went well and you got paid for the project at least." He smiles, "Which shop do you work for exactly?" He asks curiously, then asks further, "Is it your own shop or are you working for someone else?"

Nemain chuckles softly as she shakes her head. "I got a small delivery of supplies. The person is going to use the items I'm going to make to fund the bigger project they want done. And I work for Draconic Secrets as the low-man on the totem pole."

Zyvis asks, "Why haven't you gone and opened your own shop up? Wouldn't you make better profits doing that?"

Nemain wrinkles her nose at that thought. "Perhaps in a few more years I will have the funds and backing to do such. Being as I'm still fairly much a new grad in the ranks."

Zyvis considers, "Maybe you could start small, make a few things that aren't so expensive and start selling them... of course I don't know if there is anything like that." He chuckles, "I just keep thinking that it might be a good business sense to start small rather than try to knuckle in against established businesses, but it seems like you're exhausting yourself for someone elses benefit."

Nemain sighs, "It's more that I get a cut of hte profits with the shop. And there really wasn't much option to start my own shop. Rent and supplies are prohibitive to starting up a shop until you are established."

Zyvis notes the sigh and simply nods, deciding to change the course of the conversation if he can. "So, what is it about this 'coffee' that people find so delicious?" He asks, looking to his own now cold cup that has had maybe two sips taken out of it. "It is far to bitter, and even sugar cannot remove it." He wrinkles his nose even thinking about it.

Nemain chuckles softly as she shakes her head. Slowly she pads over to drop into the seat that Vargus abandoned. "It is the caffiene, I think. Plus it's usually pretty cheap. Aquired taste someone claimed a while ago. Me? I need a crap-load of chocolate in mine to make it presentable."

"Maybe I am just to much of a carnivore. A glass of water every few weeks, a pound of meat... and I am good." Zyvis says with a chuckle and a shrug. "I never muched like sweets either, like that Psi-Cola that was so popular in the Burbs. It was to sweet for me." He hmmms and shrugs, "I wonder if it's just me or something with my physiology. People like different things though."

Nemain nods to that, "It would probably your physiology. Though I only crave sweets at certain times." HEr nose wrinkling playfully, "Never quite got into Psi-Cola."

Zyvis smiles, "Me neither," His smile fades and he shrugs, "Knew quite a few who really got addicted to the stuff though but that's neither here nor there." He gestures with one hand off to the side as if to wave that topic off. "So, besides coffee with a heavy dose of chocolate, what is it you like to do in your spare time Nemain?" He asks conversationally.

Nemain glances away and down as she groans. "This is hte second time I've been asked that today. I tinker when I'm bored. Vehicles, armor, weapons. I like to see how they are put together and how I might be able to help enhance them. There is also a motorcyclle I ride occationally or the boarding over the ley lines."

Zyvis raises an eyebrow at the groan, "Well, then you come up with something to talk about since all I can't ever come up with anything good." He says with a wry grin, "I do however think it's funny that you tinker in your free time, when you're paid to tinker, aren't you?"

Nemain shrugs and offers a small almost harmless grin. "It's a passion. And so far I haven't made much of a job of the matter. So it's still a passion." She winks, "Besides, I don't have a love life to get in the way at the moment."

"Not for lack of people trying I am sure." Zyvis says in response to that last statement with an amused grin. "So, may I ask you what the difference is between a techno-wizard and a normal sorcerer? Beyond the combination of magic and technology of course. You're the first I've ever been on speaking terms with." He admits, "So I am somewhat curious."

Nemain snorts softly, "If they have bene trying I've missed it. And really that is the heart of it. TWs are tied to technology to cast. Not that we can't without it, it's just harder. MAgic for me flows easiest along the circuts I lay down."

Zyvis tilts his head to the side, "I was pretty sure I'd indicated my own interest in pretty straight forwards terms, and not just as a meal I hope." He notes with a playful grin but then he listens intently to the rest of it. "Ahh so you can cast spells then. I was wondering since it seemed everything 'TW' was all machines and suchlike. I didn't know if it was absolutely necessary to do that or not." He then changes the subject again, "You're lucky by the way, to have a motorcycle of any sort. I've had to walk it everywhere. I used to ride a hovercycle, loved that thing, but it didn't make it with me out of the Burbs."

Nemain reaches across to lightly pat your hand in conforting. "She's my baby. She was my ride all the way out here from Lazlo." Her cheeks flushing softly, "I think I made quite the sight with all my worldly posessions strapped onto the back of a single motorcycle."

"Lazlo? Why'd you come all the way down here from Lazlo? I would have thought a Techno-Wizard would have been in great comfort up there." Zyvis notes, not apparently upset about the pat to his hand since he smiled afterwards. He then hmmms and grows more grim, "Or was it because of the war with Tolkeen? If the Coalition wins... will be bad for them, and us."

Nemain shrugs slightly, "More of family issues. I have an uncle there what I can't stand. I think he had a thing for my mother and thought I'd be a good replacement."

Zyvis wrinkles his nose, "Sorry to hear that? At least you made it safely here, that's a hell of a trip on a motorcycle without travelling via rift or teleportation. I know that if I weren't a psi-stalker I wouldn't have been able to survive my trip here. I didn't exactly know a lot about the wilderness when I started, but certain advantages were... advantages."

Nemain nods slightly, "Ohh, I stayed with the lines. You'd be suprised how fast a booster can move when fueled with raw ley line energies. Good thing the lines tend to clear a path, else I'd have wrapped a tree or two."

"See for me it was the opposite, I'd sense a line and stay as far away as I could." Zyvis says with a chuckle, reaching up to tap the side of his head. "They make everything go all fuzzy, air smells bad, can't really focus on things. To much interference." He pauses, "I suppose if I didn't have armor then it might have been different, but, ley lines seem to attract trouble and I didn't really want any."

Nemain nods to that. "Ohh, they do to a certain extent. Mostly the nexus points are hte main draws, so if you avoid those you're fine." The last of her drink vanishing as she sighs satisfiedly. "It doesn't hurt that the line boost my magics as well.

"Yes. I have discovered that in the past, several other creatures are stronger on ley lines and near a nexus as well." Zyvis says with a nod. "Another reason why we, well, my people like to avoid them. Why hunt where the prey is strongest? Where we can't really sense them." He then notes, "That's a secret, so don't go telling everyone. If you end up with a wild psi-stalker or coalition psi-stalker after you, head to the nearest line... it'll make them lose your scent."

Zyvis nods, "Well, all it would take is a nick and one of us could drain you of all your magic energy in a few seconds, so it's not the safest but... it's better than being where you're not strong." He leans forwards and whispers, "Now you know I am giving you trade secrets, I could be hunted and killed for telling a mage this. So, my life is in your hands."

Nemain winces at that. "On a line that would be a whole lot as most magic users are tied into the lines when they are on them. So they would be sucking on the power of hte lines itself. Might even be enough to overload them."

Zyvis shakes his head, "It can't. We can't overdose. Just means more food for all of us." He explains, "It's how we feed our young since they can't hunt for themselves."

Nemain ahhs softly, "So your mother cut herself for you to feed on while you were growing? That semes odd. I just tripped over that I was a TW canidate by accident. I was understanding machinery that I shouldn't have bene able to."

Zyvis shakes his head, "Nope. Not cut is even necessary." He considers, "Ok, you know how when a person dies, their mystic energy doubles right?" He keeps his voice down though so as to not be overheard beyond them. "If there is a LOT of energy, more than we can normally eat... which is a lot. I've never yet found that without killing something strong, anyways when that happens it is released in a form that all of us nearby can 'eat'. So the more energy, the better. If our old or young are there then they can feed on ambient energy." He then shrugs, "That's not to say we don't feed our young that way sometimes, we can recover our own energy very quickly but... it's instinct to hunt and kill."

Nemain ohhs and shudders. "That sounds like an interesting way to grow up. The whole cycle of life revisited." She cants her head slightly as she watches you. "You should proabaly keep some secrets, els you might be the next for lunch."

Zyvis smiles wryly, "They're not exactly -secrets- and definatly not our best ones." He winks at her with that and leans back comfortably relaxed. "But, I guess it's just the main way in which we are different from normal humans... beyond the superficial things." He gestures with one white hand towards his hairless head and face for another example. "Besides, everyone knows that we feed off supernatural energy... well, not everyone, but most people anyways."

Nemain sits across from Zyvis with an empty cup to his full one. If it's a drinking contest she's probably loosing. "So they are teh worst kept secrets in the world, hmm?"

A chuckle escapes him, "I don't know that they were ever meant to be secrets." Zyvis says with amusement, "We are predators, and as good as we are we are not unbeatable. I am sure others have survived attacks by wild or insane psi-stalkers and could readily report the loss of their energy... well, maybe, we as a species tend to like to kill if possible, but I suppose if the creature were exceptionally tough it might be worth it just to cripple their magic or psionics."

Sliding through the front door, Celaeno does something that may have at one time passed for a high-speed electric slide up to the counter. With a wide smile she bats her eyelashes at Roy, demanding in no uncertain terms a hazelnut coffee, black, with one a little room for "cream," before simply taking whatever the hell he happens to hand over without complaint. Sidling sideways - with an added little spin, she pulls up a spot near enough the other two without encroaching, promptly producing her flask to spice up her coffee.

Nemain makes a face at Zyvis. "Cripling is not always as good thing." She quirks a brow upwards as she crosses her arms. "Some need their magics to live." She glances towards Cel as she strols in and waves.

"We're talking about survival in the first place." Zyvis says with a shrug, "Chances are, if Psi-Stalkers are after something, they're looking to kill it first anyways just for the better meal it will provide for all of those in the hunt. We're not exactly known for being... gentle." He wrinkles his nose then but shrugs and at the wave he looks over towards Celaeno and nods to her politely, "So you do come out of the rough and tumble sometimes." He notes with good natured amusement to the woman.

The wave is duly noted and responded to with a jingling of Celaeno's flask as she slides fully over, taking an extended sip on her coffee as she lets most of the conversation slide by. "You mean you don't think this place is rough?" she asks, glancing about before sliding down into a conspiratorial whisper, "Why, I once saw that guy over there rip the arms off a Crazy to throw at a Juicer." She nods her head toward a very old man who seems to be having issues standing up before brightening up and shifting gears toward Nemain. "Sorry I've not gotten back about the swords. I need to - ahh, my money's kind've jammed up in some salvage."

Nemain turns her attention to Cel as she speaks. "I see. Well, I can't start on them until they are paid for as I have to purchase the supplies to make them yet." Then shooting a glance back to Zyvis. "Rough and tumble can be fun. Though I think if that man was seen doing such, Cel is much older than she looks."

Zyvis can't help but laugh at Celaeno's comment and he shakes his head before he looks towards Nemain, "She must like telling very tall tales." He shrugs a bit and then notes, "At least you two have met before so I don't have to try and do introductions again. I am not nearly so good at it as I might like." He then says to Nemain, "There's absolutely nothing wrong with rough and tumble. Then again, there's nothing wrong with soft touches now and again too. After all, if it's always one or the other where would the variety be?"

Celaeno winks, giving an added clicking sound at the mention of her age, "Trust me, any second he'll go off. He's a loose cannon, that guy. Interest either of you in a nip?" The flask is slid in front of her to sit as she leans back for a brief stretch, enjoying the smoke and the ambience. "I'll get you the money - at least for cost. And the variety," she says, leaning forward with a Cheshire grin, "Is in the mixture of rough to tumble. Self-apparent, really."

Nemain nods to that. "Some people like to be tied to the headboard, others a tnderest embrace." She nods towards Cel. "You can guess for her." Then glancing back to the old man. "Loose cannon with even looser teeth, I fear." Then back to business. "If you want to purchase just one at a time that's fine too. Or as another person was hinting at earlier if a depository of gems could be found it would help as well as they are hte costly part of hte process."

Zyvis chuckles at the back and forth between the two women, "I'd rather not guess at this juncture for either of you." He then shakes his head at the offer of a 'nip', "No thank you Cel. It's a bit to early in the day for me." He uses as an excuse. "That and I'm not even sure alcohol could make this... coffee... taste good."

Celaeno's eyebrows go up at the talk of headboards and embraces. If her grin were any wider her head might crack clean in two, though she does move her mug to fill the void. She simply shakes her head, silent for a moment. "It is what it is. And if you want to piece together a band of merry adventurers to try and find us some gems, well, I'm sure there are plenty of mercs up for treasure hunting. Though, speaking of hunting..." she just turns to Zyvis, one eyebrow raising.

Nemain blinks as she glances between you both. Her hands curling around her mug before she remembers it's empty. "No thanks for the nip. Not sure it would go well with my lack of sleep. Though what hunting are you eyeing him for? And what mercs do you know in town that might be willing to work for a reasonable price?"

"It is ongoing. I still haven't caught trace of it, unless it manages to hide or disguise it's presence." Zyvis says with a smile, "It's only a matter of time though, I am sure I will find it before long now that I have found another Psi-Stalker to join me in the hunt. Together it will be easier to track it down." He looks over towards Nemain, "I am hunting the invisible Hunter that escaped from the Arena. I thought I mentioned that to you when we spoke previously but it might have not come up."

Celaeno does a brief double-take at Nemain before her eyes settle back on Zyvis, smile lingering. "And as for mercenaries, well, who in this town isn't one's what I want to know. 'Reasonable,' well, that's a rather... loose term. You find a target that's got money in it, put out the call, and you'll be turning 'em away. Now, you want to outsource the organizing to me, we-ell, I could probably piece together a decent team. Getting something to hit though, that's the issue."

Nemain chuckles softly as she shakes her head slightly, "Need to locate some gems first. Then I can think about working on getting a team together." She glances back to Zyvis and quirks a brow up. "You are hunting something? Is that why you were seeking a better weapon?"

"I am always on the lookout for weapons that don't cost me money to upkeep or even use. The price of an e-clip recharge alone..." Zyvis shudders and then he smiles, "I am always hunting something, but this thing from the arena, this beast that escaped after killing that Juicer. I've never heard of anything like it. It is a singular opportunity. Not only to see if I am the predator I think I am in truth, but should I succeed it should have quite a unique... flavor."

Celaeno just shakes her head, spinning in her chair as she sips at her drink, eyes sliding back and forth between the two. "Just making conversation," she says brightly to Nemain before taking in Zyvis's money problems.

Nemain hmms softly at that. "I do like a weapon that doesn't need the e-clips as well. A crystal works so much nicer. And sometimes patch a better punch." She grins to Celaeno, "Ohh, the cost very effort can be interesting."

Zyvis chuckles, "In a way I am almost envious of sorcerer's and master psychics... the ability to protect yourself and defend yourself without being tied to credits... that would be something." He sighs and shrugs, "Ah well, fate placed me as far from that as you can possibly get at the moment of my birth."

Celaeno stifles a laugh at Zyvis's statement of envy, "So, you envy the power of the people you regularly hunt down and eat, do you?" The question is bright, practically mischievous, obviously amused by the sentiment. "Well, it's nice to know that the hunter admires his prey, in a way, I suppose."

Nemain laughs lightly at that. "What of those of us that are neither? I'm neither a sorceror nor a master psychic. Though I can see Celaeno's point that you are what you eat, per say."

Zyvis grins wide enough to show his sharpened canines, "A man's gotta eat." He says simply with a shrug and a laugh. Looking towards Nemain afterwards, "Well that can't be true. I make it a matter of pride to only hunt those that deserve to be hunted due to their actions, not just because of who or what they are. If you are what you eat, I'd be, well, downright evil."

"And I'm sure there are plenty who'd take you up on that statement, hey?" Celaeno says quickly, pushing off her stool as she finishes her cup. "Not that I'm one of them, mind. But you know how people who go on and on about evil can be." With a superfluous spin she slides behind Nemain, resting one hand on her shoulder, "If ever you need that muscle, you know how to reach me. Otherwise, well, I'm sure I'll be in touch."

Zyvis levels a look at Celaeno, "I am no angel." He says simply, "But I am not evil either. If I were, I wouldn't be such a picky eater." He says that bit with a note of finality.

Nemain rolls her shoulder under the hand as she glances to Zyvis. "I'm happy that you are eager to eat. Just not me. I'm a bit stringy and far from tasty under canines like those."

Celaeno grins at Zyvis, "Never said you were. Seem like a mighty fine bastard to me - but all the same, I'm sure there are plenty who'd string me up and give me just enough footing to make it last and last. Just make sure you don't let the wrong type get their hands on you." And with that last bit she ducks toward the door, practically crashing through it as she bursts back into the world.

Zyvis turns his attention back to Nemain, "Some day she will come to realize she doesn't know everything about anything and stop behaving so superior. It gets... insulting when she acts like I do not know the ways of the world." He shrugs a bit and then says with a small smile, "No Nemain, I have no intention of 'eating' you, not in the psi-stalker way at least."

Nemain blushes darkly at that. "How else would you eat a person? Though I am happy that I don't see a knife and fork around." Her tone lightly teasing as she grins. "Last time I had someone propose that I had to turn him down as we were family."

"Well then it's a good thing I am not family, else it would be quite the disturbing trend." Zyvis says with a smile but he reaches up with one white hand to lightly brush his knuckles across her darkly blushing cheek if she lets him. "As for the answer to that question, I think you already know the answer, or at least can hazard quite the guess." He smiles playfully.

Nemain's cheeks flush even darker at that. Deep red against the near albino white. "It is a disturbing trend already. What if I'm..." She trails off and shakes her head. "No, I don't like the whole lone wolf thing. But I'm not certain this is a path that should be taken."

Zyvis follows up the brush of knuckles with a brush of his thumb since you don't pull away. "No one can ever truly know where a path leads until they walk it. Sometimes even though a destination might be visible the twists and turns along the way can hide that or alter your course. Sometimes you run across other travelers that make you change paths, for one reason or another." He shrugs a little, "Are you so certain you wish to walk your path always alone never without the comforts or company of another person?" He asks curiously.

Nemain slowly does pull away as she nibbles at her lower lip. "I never claimed that I wanted to walk the worlds alone. Just that I was uncertain of where my path was leading. I once read that it is better to warm yourself at all the small fires of friendships than to always be seeking the great fires of love."

Zyvis lowers his hand away when you pull away and doesn't seem offended, "I do not seek out any fire, using your analogy." He says with a small smile, "I simply live my life and find the fires I will find on the way. If those are small fires of friendship, or even possibly the great bonfire of love then who am I to turn away from it?" He shrugs, "But then again, I can understand why such a thing might be unappealing to you. Especially with one such as myself. Maybe that old saying about opposites is false."

Nemain chuckles softly, "The old adage about opposites attracting has certain facts. But does not always rule the day." She wrinkles her nose playfully, "I feel that to go farther than friendship without having the friendship is wrong in many ways."

Zyvis smiles, "Well, that's good because I wasn't meaning right -now- Nemain." He says with a shake of his head, "I just wanted to see if there was any attraction there. I have no problem with waiting, and seeing where things go if anywhere at all. I am not hunting you in any fashion but... you are a beautiful woman and perhaps that has befuddled my mind, making me wish to see if there was even the possibility of something down the line."

Nemain ohhs and blanches, "I didn't mean it that way. But I could use more friends. And friends are ever so much more likely to get cuddles anyway."

"Cuddles?" Zyvis asks, a smile curling his lips even as his eyebrows raise up in an expression of bemusement, "Well, that could either be an infinite type of torture, or a cute nick name for something far more intimate." He notes with a playful tone of voice. "As for friends, well, I would like to think we are on the way to becoming such."

Nemain laughs softly, "Cuddles is hugs and time spent in close contact usually. Sometimes petting. Some could call it torture as well, but I'm not sure."

Zyvis mmms, "Sounds like torture to me." He says with an honest smile, "After all it would bring to the fore so many other desires all the time." He notes, "So close, and yet so far away." It's hard to tell if he's joking or not. "There is also the danger of accidentally copping a feel."

Nemain chuckles softly as she shakes her head, "Copping a feel could end up in a smack down. Though the first and second might only get a light swat."

Zyvis tilts his head to the side and leans forwards, "So, why all the worry about emotional entanglements anyways?" He asks curiously, planting his chin in the palm of one hand. "Because of what happened before? Are you worried that people are only going to be drawn to you because of your beauty and not because of who you are?"

Nemain taps the tip of her nose and winks at that. Then rises to take her cup up to the counter for a refill. "It has happened before, I'm afraid."

Zyvis leans back when she gets up and he stretches his legs out, relaxing and folding his hands together over his armor plated stomach. "I don't think you should worry so much about what other people see or think. What they think isn't that important on a personal level, what's important is how you feel." He considers, "But then, that might be my nature showing. We aren't really known for our subtlety."

Nemain chuckles softly as she leans back against the counter as she waits. "And I think I should be heading back to my place to crash out. The night is catching up with me and I'm thinking this second cup will barely see me there."

Zyvis nods, "Get some sleep, then you can chastise me later for making you blush so much when you were tired and not wholly awake." He smiles at her and lifts a hand in a wave. "Take care Nemain."

Nemain waves back as she gets a travel cup from the counter and starts dor the doors. "Take care yourself. And good luck in your white tail hunting."