May 02 10:07:08 107 PA - Jonesing for Java

From Chronicles

Kingsdale - Tradewinds Coffee Shop

The coffee shop is the coffee shop, about the only thing going for it is the atmosphere and the smell of coffee of course. There is quite a few people scattered about, some in pairs, some in trio's but rarely more than that. There is also quite a few people sitting and enjoying coffee on their lonesome. Seated at the counter is Ash, a large cup of coffee in front of him that he sips from occasionally. The other hand is tapping out a beat that sounds a lot like the latest club music coming from the tap of fingertips and palm on the bartop.

Bridget pushes into the shop in search of a morning cup of coffee. Since the weather is mild, her jeans and sweatshirt are enough to keep warm. They're easy to just throw on, too, which is what her style looks like right now. Mornings before coffee are not much fun.

As is the nature of the paranoid, or those whom are easily distracted, Ash turns to look towards the door when a new arrival, well, arrives. His gaze flicks over the woman and he tilts his head to the side as he hmmms in apparent appraisal. Which apparently meets well enough since the quick-flex smiles and offers a mockery of a military salute to the tall woman before lifting his cup of coffee in greetings before he turns his attention -mostly- back to the others in the coffee shop. He still steals the occasional glance at the tall blonde however.

Bridget winks back to the salute. Or maybe that was just a tired blink? She is glad it only takes her a few steps to cross to the counter, so that she can order up a cup. Only after she gets her request in and credits offered up, does she seem to notice Ash. She gives him a brief look and then a half smile. "Morning."

"Mornin'." Ash says in a slow drawl and a smile follows, then he picks up the speed of his words, "I know that feeling very well. It's not that I need the caffeine, but man, the headaches without it... makes me irritable as all get out you know?" He takes a drink from his cup and then sets it down, making sure to wipe his hand off on his pants so it's not moist from the cup before he offers it in a handshake, "I'm Ash." He introduces himself, "You new to the city or just one of the thousands I've not had a chance to meet yet?" He asks with a good natured smile.

"I probably don't need it, either," Bridget's smile grows a little more, "but it sure helps." She doesn't say anything more until her coffee arrives and she can take a sip of it. Then she's comfortable enough to nod to Ash. "Ash? Like burnt?" Now she gives a more real smile. "Bridget, and I've been here a while. Guess I'm just one of the lucky ones."

"Owww." Ash says with mock hurt, "Lucky to have not met me? That stings." His voice is however not seemingly hurt at all. He takes his hand back as the offer to shake is not accepted. "And yes, like burnt, but more like, the fine soft stuff left behind." He reaches for his coffee and takes another drink. "It's not that unusual, I mean there's almost a hundred thousand people in Kingsdale now. Can't expect to know everyone." He chuckles and shrugs, "But," He looks back over towards her, "It is a pleasure to meet you Bridget, and it will be a greater pleasure once you've had your coffee IV I am sure."

Bridget's smile mellows to a grin, through which she begins to pour her coffee. Thirsty girl, or she really does need that caffeine, since she doesn't stop until it's half gone. "Ah... You're right, and I'm much better after coffee." She shrugs her shoulders a little. "Sorry. Late nights are murder."

Ash nods, "They certainly can be... especially when you have to get up early the next morning." Ash notes with a half-shrug and another drink of his coffee. "Could be worse though... could be no coffee." He smiles wryly. "So was is it you do that made burning the midnight oil of such importance?" He asks conversationally curious.

"Little of this, little of that." Bridget nurses her java, now that the initial IV is in. "As needed, whatever's available and pays the bills. Just makes for crazy hours."

Ash nods, "I know that feeling as well." He takes another drink from his coffee then sighs, "Just wish there was more paying work. I don't think I could handle a regular 'job' like most people get. I like to have freedom on how to spend my days you know?" He gestures around with his free hand. "Would think in a city like Kingsdale, people would have more... interesting work available for anyone good with a gun and armor enough to not get misted in one shot."

Bridget nods and breathes out a sigh. "You and me, both. Freedom isn't always freedom if you're broke. And there's plenty of work like that," her grin now becomes a smirk, "there's just alot of people with guns and armor taking all of it."

"Well, obviously not plentiful enough if people like you and I are still hungry for work." Ash says with a small smile, "I've been thinking though, about a possibly lucrative enterprise." He looks her over up and down in a different sort of appraisal, "What kind of armor and weaponry you use? If you're up to it... I was thinking that it might be worth risking the squid monsters in the junkyard. I imagine materials for repairs are at a premium in such a merc heavy town right? The Clash should let us in for a nominal fee... might be worth going salvaging."

"Well," a nearly invisible brow is arched as Bridget considers, "I don't think I'd get eaten by a couple of squid monsters..." Not that she's all that sure how dangerous a squid monster is. "If it's worth it, it's worth it. I'm not a bot jockey, but some Ronanotium is good at keeping things away. Pulse rifle's good at keeping them farther away." Now it's an honest wink.

Ash sits at the counter, chatting with Bridget who is rapidly going through cups of coffee it seems. Ash grins, "Well, problem with a rifle is getting it into the Dregs. The Po-Leece don't much care for people carrying rifles down the street." He doesn't seem to have much liking for the police it seems. "Could always smuggle it back though. If you've got the means. I don't know how nasty the squid beasties are either, never ran into one." He shrugs, "I figure it can't be that bad if the Clash haven't wiped 'em out yet."

Galvin walks into the coffee shop after parking his large ATV out in front of the shop. He takes out a few credits and grabs a diet soda from the man at the counter. Turning he offers a quick nod in greeting to Ash before sitting down at the counter and taking out his handheld computer. He starts working on the computer as he opens up his diet soda and takes a sip from it.

Bridget is only drinking one cup of coffee. It just happens to be a hyper-maxi-venti supreme. "Yeah, there is that..." She shrugs a little at the reminder about The Rules. "Pistols work fairly well, too, but then the cops don't go anywhere near the Dregs, either."

Ash looks over towards Galvin and lifts his coffee in a wave of greetings before he turns his attention back to Bridget, "Cops don't go in there much no, but they're pretty stiff about what's walking down the street to get into the Dregs though. That's why you've got to be... flexible on how to get a rifle back there. And why most of the gangers use weapons that are barely capable of shooting. Not even worth scavenging them off of 'em unfortunately."

Galvin takes a long sip of his soda as he taps out a couple of equations on his computer. He frown at the computer before shaking his head deleting what he has down there and putting up some new and fresh equations. Catching some of the conversation he turns his head slightly to Ash before asking a question. "You plan on assualting the Dregs or something? The best way to get heavy weapons or rifles in there is taking them apart and moving them piece by piece then reassembling them. Although that takes some work. And you sure as hell don't want to be caught."

"And hope you can get it back together if you don't get caught." Bridget looks over at the other comment and smirks to Galvin. "Just looking for work. Maybe not a rifle, then, but I can find something that'll work." That's more to Ash, since her head turns back to him.

"Nobody in their right mind assaults the dregs." Ash says with a shrug towards Galvin, "Just talking about what might be helpful if I can swing a scavenging trip into the junk yard. I told you about that I thought." He then gestures with his free hand, "Galvin, this is Bridget." He introduces the pair, saying to the latter, "Galvin's a top notch mechanic, I originally came up with the idea so he didn't have to fork out credits for repair materials."

"Heck you give me an eclip some wire and some ferrous metals and I'll make you a weapon." Galvin says with all seriousness. "I have been thinking about that scavenging trip and I might be able to make it. If nothing else I should be about to get some good materials. And if I was only a mechanic I wouldn't be able to do half of what I can do. I am a technician thank you very much." He says with a slight grin as he picks up his soda and takes another swig of it.

Bridget nods to Galvin as they're introduced, then sucks in more hot liquid stimulants. "A technician? Sounds like a mechanic to me." She's smiling again, though."Spare parts and scrap are worth credits to somebody, so I'm in if you get the paycheck worked out."

"Paycheck will be dependant on what we bring out of there." Ash says with a shrug, "This isn't funded by anyone, just sort of a project that could be quite profitable if we do it right." He takes another drink of his coffee. "As for rifles, I don't know how useful they'll be anyways. Likely to be tight close quarters in the yard so a pistol should work fine. Swords be good too, especially vibro-swords I figure." He pauses, "Need to get me a couple of them NTI chainswords..." He muses thoughtful for a second then he shrugs, "But.. I can salvage stuff, I'm sure Galvin can, between the two of us and as much as we can get out..." He shrugs, "Might be worth the risk. Then again it might be a complete bust."

Galvin eyes Bridget for a moment before smiling nervously as he adjusts his glasses pushing them up higher on his nose. Sipping on his soda he tilts his head to listen to Ash. "Hmmm well you find me something and I can strip it of any good parts or plating. I should get myself a neuro mace or something, but I took a killing on some of those repairs that I need to make. The market is damm expensive right now." He says with a shrug of his shoulders while leaning back in the stool at the counter. He sips on his diet soda before gesturing to the man behind the counter for another soda.

"Everything is always expensive..." Bridget sighs and her smile droops into a scowl, eyes dropping to her cup. After studying the java for a minute, she looks Ash over. "Those chainswords are awful heavy for somebody who's just the soft stuff left over." At least her smile starts to creep back in, even if it gets hidden by her draining down the last of the cup.

Ash winks at Bridget, "I'm a lot stronger than I look. Should be easy as pie." He finishes his cup of coffee then gestures to the guy behind the counter for a refill. He looks over towards Galvin, "Well, if you're interested, I'll see if I can get in touch with the Clash. See how much creds it will take for them to let us have a day pass or two. I should be able to cover that hopefully."

The door opens slowly, and a slightly funny looking young man shuffles in, bright green eyes shifting all around the room, his nose twitching a little as if he's smelling more than just the coffee in the air. There seems to be something wrong with him, he moves clumsily, as if he cannot move and look at the same time.

Galvin shrugs his shoulders while he opens up his new can of diet soda and takes a sip of it. "Well most good stuff gets recycled, but I bet we can find something worth while. Although might not be worth the credits if that gang charges too much." He turns his head as the door opens and looks at the man shuffling in. He raises an eyebrow and then adjusts his glasses again. He offers the odd man a quick smile before turning back to Ash and Bridget.

Bridget nods to the two she's talking with. "Pie's good for me. Goes with the coffee." Her empty is lifted up and jiggled a little before she decides to get it refilled. "Just let me know when. You can send me a message, if you can get a radio packet out." Since her cup is off getting filled again, she digs in a back pocket and pulls out a crumpled business card to hand to Ash. The shuffling man isn't noticed, at first, because of the digging into pockets.

"Well I was thinking," Ash says to Galvin before he looks over towards the door as someone else comes in. He frowns and shakes his head at Jackson's appearance before he looks back to Galvin, "That at first we could go in, scout it out. Look for any likely prospects and see how hard it will be to secure the area so that we can work peacefully. -If- we find something worth doing, then I can work out a deal with them hopefully to be able to pull out what we need and want." He looks over to Bridget, "But, like I said, it's not really a paying gig unless we can find something worth salvaging in the first place. I am betting that people don't really know what they're throwing away though. Vehicles especially usually always have stuff that a good salvager can find and use." He reaches to take the card though and reads it before he slips it into his coat. "I'll definately let you know. Might take a few days to get things worked out with the gang in control of the place."

Jackson see's Galvin's smile, and he smiles in return, but it's slow, halting and lopsided. He moves past the talking people to the counter, trying to watch everyone watching him, because he's turning more than a couple heads. There is obviously something wrong with him. Maybe he is drunk or high on stims or something.

Galvin taps a finger to his lips as he thinks about it. "Can take my ATV and just pull out stuff and then do the salvaging work later. That way wouldn't have to stay if it gets too dangerous. I would have to pull out my welder and tools out of there first though to make more room." He shrugs his shoulders again as he sips on his soda. He turns his head slightly to keep an eye on Jackson as he smiles softly again. "Are you leaving Bridget? It was nice to meet you if you are. Always good to meet more people."

"Not until I get the refill..." When Bridget notes this, it happens to show up and she grabs it after tossing out the credits for it. Everybody gets a little nod, invluding the one that seems a little off, and a waggle of her cup... just not enough to spill anything. "I'd better get going. Still need to get ready for my other, other sometimes job. Good to meet you, too, and let me know what's up?"

Ash smiles at Bridget and murmurs something softly to her there at the counter before he finishes his coffee and rises to his feet, stretching allllll the way up and back in ways that would indicate his joints were beyond flexible... or every joint in his body must be double jointed. Settling back down onto his booted feet he looks at Galvin, "I'll be in touch, I'm not sure they'll let us just wander out with everything we want. That's why I've got to work it out with them before hand. See what sort of deal can be made." He then glances once more at Jackson and his rags with another look of barely veiled disgust as he too heads for the door.

Ash whispers "Pie, Ice Cream, and Coffee. It'll be a date, I'll give a shout on the radio."

Jackson gets turned away from the counter as he's not sure how to order anything, and the man behind the counter get's irritated and walks away. Jackson is left without his drink and he doesn't know why. It's plain on his face, and as he see's Ash leave, and give him that nasty look. Seeing the look plain as day, and he scowls because of it, his face twisting oddly.