Oct 19 05:34:34 107 PA - Gathering and Curiosity
From Chronicles
Oct 19 05:34:34 107 PA.
PLAZA PARK: Gathering and Curiosity
As the park begins drifting into twilight and darkness, Celaeno begins a walk through the area, though it takes her quite a while to realize that there's something going on. Eventually, as things start to register in her brain she begins skirting the edges of the area, slowly spiraling inwards until she comes into contact with the table of food. With a furtive glance back and forth she begins loading up on the fare before going to inquire about the drink situation.
Whether drawn by her normal proclivities or the smell of food, Daeni enters the open grounds of the park through the treeline at the periphery. If she is dressed for any manner of festivities, her formal and casual wear are remarkably identical. The additions of people and furnishings are also noted, to include Celaeno, and the elven huntress approaches.
Gabriel has changed out of his usual clothing for today, instead wearing his normal cargo pants but with a dark green T-shirt with a globe, eagle, and anchor across the chest, with "Semper Fi!" in bold gold letters emblazoned below. He has just emerged from behind a small stand of very leafy bushes where he was apparently for some reason eating something resembling potato salad in total silence, and all alone. A crushed soda can is balanced on his perfectly empty plate. Yeah. That's what you learn growing up that way.
Celaeno appears to be haggling with the bartender, despite the fact that it's all free. "Well, I'm just saying, you shouldn't be so stingy. Come onnn, you've got to have something especially special back there," she's in the process of saying when Daeni catches her eye. "Hold that thought," she says before suddenly moving away, "Why hello, hello there. What brings you to this wonderful party? Got a craving for some ..." she hesitates as her eyes are dragged to her plate, and she pops a small crab-puff in her mouth, "Salty-onion-cakes?"
"Salty onion cakes?" Daeni appears uncertain as to the term, therefor defaults her response to "No." Her eyes lower to Celaeno's plate before returning to the other woman. "Come here many times. Feet, legs bring me."
With an easy gate, Gabriel is momentarily silhouetted by one of the lamps set up for the gathering. He stops to ruffle the hair of a little girl who earlier had been tearing around the park at inhuman speeds, then he moves on. He passes a waste bin, dumping his trash into the appropriate recycling containers, and finally ends up near the elf and the younger woman who's often seen with a something rolled-up and ignited in her face. He bows politely at the neck, and asks, "Good evening, ladies. Enjoying yourselves?" Then, "Daeni, can I get you anything? Maybe just something to drink? There's no 6-foot lizard being served tonight." The last sentence is spoken with clear good humor and irony.
"'strue," Celaeno says in response to Daeni's literal response, her head bobbing up and down earnestly. "But why'd they bring you hear, hey? You could've gone anywhere at all!" She's suddenly distracted by another puff - this time creme. Her eyebrows quickly furrow, as she boggles at it. "What about a sweet-gooey-ball? I'm not sure what the difference is." At Gabriel's approach her face scrunches up into a peculiar smile as she waves, "Hallo hallo enjoying myself quite fine, quite fine. What about you, hey?" The talk of lizards just cases her to toss back another small puff, and though she's immediately perplexed she doesn't name it.
Daeni rolls her shoulders to Celaeno. "Walk through park when go anywhere in city." It is located rather near the gates, and is far less cluttered than the streets. Her attention pans to Gabriel while the shrug yet lingers. "Not eat only lizard. Eat deer, cow, many other meat." A smirk tugs the corners of her mouth upwards unevenly. "Is any human?" She may well be returning the humor.
Gabriel answers the tall elf in equal stoicism. "No, no human. But there's some of that furry beetle shit. Or is it fuzzy beetle?" He shrugs. "I don't know. But I do know that it isn't beef, chicken, fish, or pork." The flat-delivery is punctuated with a wink. After looking around the park, taking it in again even though he's been here practically all day, he offers a slight shrug and, "Nice party. Needs balloons and a petting corral."
Celaeno begins slowly sliding away, apparently fixated on her plate. Once at the table, she begins heaping anything and everything she can find on it, though doesn't get a fork to help with the eventual eating.
Erica walks into the park wearing her regular military fatigues. She is humming to herself as she enjoys the nice weather. Spotting the table and chairs a slight smile curves her lips. Walking over to the table she picks up a cup and fills it with some punch before walking over to the food, and looking the food over. She notices Daeni, Gabriel, and Cel and gives each a quick nod in greeting as she starts to prepare herself a plate of food.
"Is much food," Daeni notes, including an absent gesture to Gabriel's plate. "All find something like." When she glances back towards Celaeno, the woman has already stepped off for more food, so Daeni gestures to her, now, as example. "Some like all."
Gabriel's nose is raised slightly, and sniffs at the odors wafting past on a curious breeze. "Should've brought my mess kit," He opines to no one in particular. "Fed myself for two, maybe three days without having to set snares." His gaze moves to Daeni, and he makes it very clear, "Not that setting snares and hunting boar isn't easy." There's a nod returned to the passing Erica, a short, brief, and very sketchy two-fingered salute tossed off in her direction. After that, his head turns to the table, where Celaeno has moved off.
As she finishes up serving herself, Celaeno smiles brightly to Erica, "I suggest the assorted ball-things filled with a variety of other things." The statement is said without any self-consciousness, and she gestures expansively at the crab-puffs, cream-puffs, and all sorts of other small pastries before popping a few in her mouth, "Dhr prpy gub," she says around the mouthful before slowly beginning to back away before spinning and bounding towards the other two, losing a few tidbits on the way. "N'b'd w'n s'm?" she asks, eyes wide.
Erica takes her plate of food and moves over to a chair. Sitting down on the chair she starts picking at the food on her plate. At Celaeno's suggestion she picks up one of the crab puds and eats it. "Yes it is good." She offers after swallowing the crab-puff. She busies herself with her food and punch while idly listening to any conversation.
Daeni has issues enough in deciphering American, much less when accented with ball-things. She blinks twice and regards Celaeno with a complete and utter lack of comprehension. "Maybe find food will like." Perhaps there will be boar puffs as well. It is now her turn to move to the table in order to acquire a plate and fill it with many little, round, generally identical pieces of food.
"Hey, buddy! Toss me one of those, will ya?" Gabriel calls out toward the area where the drinks are set out. Shortly, a brilliant green cylindrical can shoots out across the 30 yards, deftly caught in mid-air by the Slavic fellow's left hand. It is quickly popped open, at which point it fizzes out the top and somewhat onto the ground. Thankfully, it was just a fizzer, not a shooter. The can is raised to his lips and tilted... then... "AHhhhh." Apparently it's good. Gabriel's right hand comes up and cups around his mouth, "Thanks, pal! You're a real darb!" Darb? Yeah. Okay. As Celaeno approaches again, he asks with raised brow, "Haven't eaten in a while, Cel, or getting ready to hibernate?"
Celaeno shoots Gabriel an odd look as she takes a moment finishing the food she's already begun chewing, "It's good stuff. Don't often get ritzy stuff like this, so why not make the most of it?" Whether it's all that fancy of food is likely a matter of opinion, but she continues, "Plus, a girl's got to keep her energy up, right?" She tosses a small chunk of pasta salad at Gabriel.
Erica finishes off the various bits of food on her plate. She sets her plate aside before leaning back in her seat. She stretches her legs out in front of her head and crosses her booted feet. Taking the occasional sip of her punch she stares up at the darkening sky to see if she can spot any stares.
Via a combination of sight, smell, and taste, Daeni determines which of the spherical finger-foods she prefers. Those she dislikes are spat out upon the ground before her plate is loaded with handfuls of those deemed palatable. When the first is filled, a second is used, so that when she moves towards her prior location, twin towers of meatballs and cream puffs accompany her. The former immediately begins to lose stature as she plucks off individual morsels with her teeth. She either intends to hibernate for a significant amount of time, or has a high level of energy to maintain.
With another sip out of the can of something fizzy, Gabriel allows the bit of food to smack him in the chest, taking it all in good cheer. Putting on a rather stern expression and waggling a finger, he begins, "You're lucky missy, that I don't jus.." he quickly cuts himself off, and his expression chances to one of 'forget that' and he closes with, "Never mind, that kind of humor probably wouldn't be appreciated." He then looks down at his chest and wipes away a little grease spot with a ragged.. rag.. that appears out of nowhere. "What was that?" Erica's approach is noted, again with a friendly nod.
Celaeno's eyebrows raise, amused. "Oh? What sort of humour's that, hey? Can't just go being a tease, y'know." She continues eating at a much slower pace as Daeni approaches, answering Gabe's question with a, "What was what? The twirly-noodle?"
Erica returns Gabriel's nod with a nod of her own and a quick smile. "How is it going Colonel?" She asks before taking another sip of her punch. She takes a small standing lamp out of on of the many pockets on her fatigues and sets it up on the table to provide a little more light as night deepens. Daeni does not eat slowly, nor does she speak further due to her mouth being occupied with the food. Said food disappears at a rather alarming rate, and she returns to the tables once the second plate is half empty in order to acquire more.
Gabriel offers a chuckle and a surreptitiously quick inclination of his head toward the tall huntress. "Really knows how to put it down, doesn't she?" His expression glides over to Erica with a wide smile. "Oh, good thanks. Feeling a little more casual today." He snaps his T-shirt against his chest, but the fact that he still wears the strange pistol on his thigh is an odd counterpoint. There's a shrug and, "I don't get out much," followed by another wide grin. Then briefly to Celaeno, "I was going to say that if you were one of my daughters eating and throwing food like that, I'd take you over my knee and give you a little swat to put you back in line. But I figured that you probably wouldn't like to hear that." Crossed-eyes and a stuck-out tongue follow.
"Never know unless you try," Celaeno beams back, this time lobbing a creampuff. "Though I don't think you'd really be all that capable," she tacks on as an afterthought, a slight clicking of her tongue added to the end. "Anybody want a drink?" she asks before moving to haggle more with the tender.
Erica giggles softly to herself as she watches Celaeno throw food at Gabriel. She keeps chuckling as she takes a drink from her punch, finishing off the cup. Standing up she walks over to the cold beer and takes a can out of the ice. Opening up the can she takes a long pull from the can. "Yep I am a little more casual myself today." She says to Gabriel as she pulls at her grey camo fatigues.
To Celaeno's cheerily invitory threat, Gabriel simply offers, "Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance." Another nugget of wisdom flows from his mouth, but with a smile. Another green can comes flying through the air, this time unbidden. Whether it was actually directed at him or not, the man from ancient times past deftly catches it again, with his now only free hand. If people only had four hands. He then chuckles and says, "Wow, convenient. I didn't think they had drive-ups anymore. Food still good?" His chin juts toward Celaeno.
Celaeno returns with a mixed drink in one hand, and the plate in the other. His initial comment doesn't receive any notice, but after scooping up some pasta salad sans hands or utensils, she replies with a simple, "Pretty good, pretty good. No complaints. She shifts over to a tree, putting the plate on the ground before settling in herself, her skirt gathered 'round her.
Gabriel swats a big away from his face. A big bug. One of those bugs the size of an Oreo that do occasionally flit around this part of Kingsdale when the Sun goes down. After shaking his head a tad, "What've you been up to lately, Cel? Fixing, shooting, looting?" he ends with a chuckle.
Erica takes a pull from her beer and sits back down on her chair. She crosses her feet and leans back in her seat, relaxing in the cool night air. Her little mini lamp provides enough light for her and she takes a book out of her pocket and starts to read by the light of the lamp.
"Need a riot or a big distraction to loot," Celaeno says with a wave of the hand that quickly dips into picking up another cream-puff. "And I try not to shoot too much when I'm not getting paid, hey?" Chomp. "And what'd there be to fix, hey? Most of my stuff's in working order. Nah, nah, mainly I've been drinking and wandering around - what else could a girl want?"
Earlier, Rubidia was playing music. Her speakers could have easily been glossed over as the provided random background hits to the occasion. Rubidia can't sing for hours on end after all. So a few hours break to wander and enjoy the food and drinks get some notions on what else people want to hear. Now she returns to her setup eyeing the crowd she's here to encourage.
The coming night deepens along the path, shadows chasing one another to bathe a strolling suit-clad figure in darkness. Just behind him is a helmetless armored figure carrying a child. Ahriman carries a spiked helmet in his hands, eyeing the revelry from the path, and he leans to his cohort, saying something quietly, and waves at an individual in the crowd.
Having been called aside for conversations, Sage ends up making her way back towards the main area of the gathering. Her gaze drifting over the darkened area, and makes her way back in to see if any new people have joined at this point.
Erica looks up as Rubidia takes the stage. She puts away her book, back in a pocket, and sits up. She claps her hands together and lets out a whistle as she watches the stage and waits for Rubidia to play. Sipping on her beer she looks around at the crowd briefly before turning her gaze back to the stage.
Gabriel notes the newcomer and the musician. No, people can't sing forever. But damn, don't they have 8-tracks? He looks back to Celaeono. "Really. So, what exactly *is* a girl to do when she has nothing to do? Particularly when she has money to throw around?" As Sage approaches, he waves with a big smile to the hostess, mouthing, "Great party!" a phrase which is quickly whipped around toward the stage. Though his two cans of fizzy something make the motion awkward, he cups his mouth for amplification: "PLAY GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY!!!"
"Just what I just said," Celaeno responds to Gabriel, cringing as he turns to shout at the stage. "Get drunk and wander around, hey? Maybe go riding, who knows, who knows?" She turns back to her meal, happy to sit huddled against the base of a tree without paying too much attention to the surroundings, though she does give an occasional glance toward the stage.
The armored figure nods to the angelic creature, listening to his words. The small infant is wrapped heavily into some cloths and she has a leather bag on her chest to carry her. Then she slowly departs and walks straightly to Sage. She seems a bit dizzy as she stops at the front of the woman. Then Katsumi simply removes the bag from her shoulder with her child and hands the infant to her, still holding her though.
Rubidia smirks at Gabriel's forwardness, drawing much attention from the others. "One at a time fella." She advises, reminding that she hasn't gotten to playing his first request yet. With that she gets started, opening with a fast guitar lead to the alto range with her nimble fingers. "Deep down Louisiana close to New Orleans, way back up in the woods among the evergreens, there stood a log cabin made of earth and wood, where lived a country girl named Jenny B. Goode Who never ever learned to read or write so well. But she could play the guitar just like a ringing a bell."
As Sage spots some familiar people within the crowd, she begins to make her way over before she notices a figure approaching her. Her pace slowing as she considers the figure and the item being carried. She frowns a little in confusion at being offered a small child. "What's this?" She asks with a faint frown, her hands raising but not moving to take hold of the child yet - unless the person seems likely to be able to let go of the child regardless.
Erica nods her head in time to the music as Rubidia starts playing. She sips on her beer and smiles while she gets into the music. She looks over and spots Sage in the crowd, raising a hand up she offers Sage a quick wave in greeting. She raises an eyebrow at the sight of a child, which makes her chuckle to herself.
The older guy's face lights up like a light at some of the best music in history is played. Not exactly, but close enough. Having been a husband and father, Gabriel can't help but note the youngest member of the gathering arrive in such a solemn manner. He says in a quiet tone to those around him, "Do any of you know who the child is? I wasn't expecting a birthday party or an open-air baptism." His takes a pull from the emptier of the two bright green cans of fizz.
The Asian woman releases her own hold on the child. "Your brother-in-law ask you to take care of my child for a couple of hours." she talks somewhat distantly, like a child would recite a poem she had to learn, without any true passion in the words.
The black being steps closer, shadowing Katsumi as the lights dim around him. He watches from a distance, the sway of leafless trees sending clawing shadows chasing after him to stretch across the grass. The flicker of a halo might be seen about his head, faint in the distance, though he simply watches. "Little wolf!" comes a voice, rumbling and low. "Deliver your package and return to me, little wolf!" There's a smile on that voice. He sounds ... playful.
The song clearly emphasizes guitar skill and Rubidia doesn’t hold back on its desire. She lets her focus on the song be complete in that regard until the time comes to belt another verse. "She used to carry her guitar in a gunny sack, go sit beneath the tree by the railroad track. Oh, the engineers would see her sitting in the shade, strumming with the rhythm that the drivers made. People passing by they would stop and say Oh my that little country girl could play!"
"Brother-in-law?" Sage asks curiously, as she instinctively takes the child from the other woman. She purses her lips, and glances about before considering the child in her arm. She shifts the child to carry it more easily. She isn't quite sure what to make of this development.
Erica has little to do but sip on her beer and watch Rubidia. Her foot taps on the ground as she listens to the music. Her beer is quickly drained and she gets up to grab another bottle of beer, before returning to her seat.
Gabriel grins toward the stage at the swap of the sexes. "Maybe it's 'Jenny B. Goode?'" Of course, it's fairly possible that this is the first time anyone else in company has ever heard the song. The child, man, woman, and shadowy being have not been forgotten, however. With salt-and-pepper hair rustling slightly in a quick breeze, yet a third green can comes flying through the air. This time it's caught with a shoulder, bouncing in his full hands. "Thanks, buddy, that's enough!" He manages to juggle them around and empties one can, then tosses it toward recycling. "So, you guys been keeping your ears to the ground? Things going on. Money things."
The Asian woman nods and stares hesitantly at the small child perhaps not older than a year. After a long silent moment she turns back to her dark companion and heads towards him slowly.
Celaeno takes in the song with moderate amounts of enjoyment - though it's eclipsed by Gabriel's giddiness. She promptly finishes the rest of her drink, leaving the cup where it lay, but taking her plate toward the snack table to re-load it before slinking off into the night was only a single wave to the group at large.
Ahriman waits for Katsumi, eyeing her as she approaches, not watching the group at large. Instead, just as she draws near, he says something unheard elsewhere before turning to walk away, out towards Main Street. Never turning back.
With no problems playing the song Rubidia feels free to dance around a bit as it progresses into another guitar lead. She bathes the part in daylight for good measure as it starts to close. "Her mother told her 'Someday you will be a star, and you will be the leader of a big old band. Many people coming from miles around to hear you play your music when the sun go down. Maybe someday your name will be in lights saying Jenny B. Goode tonight.'"
Unsure of whether the music will agree with the child, Sage keeps her distance from the speaker. She murmurs to the child and teases it lightly with one of her fingers. She keeps a light smile on her lips and her tone pleasant, but she can't help but look around for someone that might be its mother or father.
Erica gets up from her chair and walks over to Sage with her beer in one hand. "Hey Sage. Nice party. But what is with the baby?" She asks before taking a sip of her beer. She leans forward to look at the child, offering it a quick smile.
Gabriel lets out one long, loud congratulatory two-fingered whistle toward the stage, but then remembers where he is, and look to Sage. As she seems to look confused, or at least possibly uncomfortable to his eyes, the man nods briefly to those around him, and slowly approaches the hostess turned... parent? Aunt? Nanny? As had pads closer he offers softly, "Sage, can I help you with anything?" Some shoulder motions are used to indicate the subject of the sentence that has gone unspoken.
Katsumi follows Ahriman without any glance at the group or her child.
Being used to caring for communities and their children, Sage seems to take her unexpected guest in stride. "Hey..." She greets the approach of her friends. "I'm not sure... the person that delivered them wasn't exactly communicative besides saying some 'brother-in-law' of mine wants me to take care of the child for a couple of hours." She offers with a shrug. She glances towards Gabriel, "Well, not sure that I have anything to feed or change the child with.."
Erica laughs softly and shakes her head. "You just accept babies now Sage?" She says in a teasing manner as she looks at the child. "Well can run to the store and get some diapers and formula if you want. Hopefully his parents will come looking for him soon." She offers to Sage as she digs out some keys from her utility belt.
Gabriel tugs at the cotton front of his T-shirt. Softly, "If the little guy or girl need a changing, well, I can sacrifice this shirt." He shrugs very sincerely. "I've many little ones of my own like this to take care of in my life. I don't want to meddle in your affairs, but if you need any help. With anything, I'm here." After that statement, he just waggles his fingers at the baby, but takes a respectful step backwards.
The song done Rubidia cuts the light so she may consider the crowd and the crowd may consider her back. "Well that was a great warm up. But so I'm not to selective let me ask you folks if anyone else wants to here anything in particular tonight." She calls out, looking between the folks to see what may be of interest. The host's new dependent is noted, her speakers turn down a bit.
"Well, I'd rather accept a baby than let someone who doesn't seem to be entirely ... with it, drop it right in front of me." Sage comments, before adjusting the baby and murmuring sweet nothings to it. Then she glances between the two, before giving a faint sigh and a nod. "I suppose I should head off to the store." She comments, before she glances over towards the stage. "Your love is my drug?" She suggests, before she begins to make her way towards the path leading to the marketplace.
Erica shrugs her shoulders and nods. "Very true. I can come with if you need." She offers to Sage as she turns to clap as the song ends. She looks at Rubidia and gives the musician a cheer, all the while waiting to see if Sage wants her to go to the store. Turning to look at Gabriel she smirks a bit. "I think diapers are common enough that your shirt won't be needed."
"Erica, we didn't *have* disposable diapers," Gabriel says with a wink. "Cloth was it." He then just allows the others to disappear silently, offering only a, "Good luck, Sage. You know how to find me."
Techno beat comes for at the call, signaling a much more modern song. Rubidia smirks, becoming a bit more disjointed to suit the song. "Maybe I need some rehab, or maybe just need some sleep I've got a sick obsession, I'm seeing it in my dreams. I'm looking down every alley, I'm making those desperate calls I'm staying up all night hoping, Hit my head against the walls." She preludes, the song testing her voice as she goes through its oddly matching off tones. "What you've got boy is hard to find, think about it all about it all the time. I'm all strung up my heart is fried. I just cant get you off my mind.. Because your love, your love, your love, is my drug. Your love your love your love.. I said your love, your love, your love, is my drug. Your love your love your love.."
Despite there being a slightly off sound to the music, Sage has other things on her mind to really notice. "Might be quicker to have two people than one." She comments to Erica, before she turns her attention to the child to see if its interested in a trip to the store... even if there's no choice in the matter.
Erica giggles softly at Gabriel. "I know about cloth diapers silly. I have changed my siblings diapers. I am just saying there are plenty of diapers around." At Sage's suggestion she nods her head. "I have my hovercycle parked close and there is plenty of passenger room, or we can walk it is up to you." She says with a slight shrug of her shoulders.
Off in the distance, clear on the other side of the park comes a loud popping sound, followed by a shrill laughter, "Eeeeheeeheeheeheeeee!" and then more pops. Oh, evening in the park, how wonderful.
Gabriel nods at Erica with a soft smile and simply says, "Well, then." He raises his voice just enough that, hopefully nothing will disturb the baby. Then, "Sage, if you want me to come with you, or stay here to clean things... " he abruptly halts his statement and quickly turns toward the offending noise, hand dropping to his side, all of the cans of fizz clattering to the ground.
At the sounds of ... merriment elsewhere in the park, Sage glances over to Erica from the child, "I think the hovercycle sounds good about now." Then she glances towards the man. "You stay here... if two women can't figure out how to take care of a child, I'd rather not have a man around to witness it... besides, you haven't relieved you of your role yet." She comments.
"Won't listen to any advice, mamma's telling me to think twice. But left to my own devices I'm addicted it's a crisis! My friends think I've gone crazy, my judgment is getting kinda hazy. My status is gonna be affected if I keep it up like a love sick crackhead." Rubidia continues, not quite managing the jumping minor key vocals, but professionally keeping with it.
Erica nods her head to Sage. "I'll bring the cycle around." She says as she breaks off into a jog over to where she parked her hovercycle. She returns quickly on her well cared for hovercycle to take Sage and the baby to the store.
Gabriel asks to whomever is still left around, because at this point the party has become rather confusing... "Anyone know what that screech was?" There's a silence and he ads, "Not the stage, that is." Ouch?
When the hovercycle is brought along, Sage will move off with Erica upon it. She'll likely try not to stay away long as there's a chance the mother or father will come to the gathering instead of searching elsewhere.
Such trying vocals will teach Rubidia the downside of requests.. At least it is drawing to a close now. No light show in this rendition, she doesn’t feel it warranted. "I don't care what people say. The rush is worth the price I pay. I get so high when you're with me. But crash and crave you when you are away. So I got a question; Do you want to have a summer party in my basement? Do I make your heart beat like a native drum? Is my love, your drug?"
Gabriel seems to be somewhat torn between more food and drink, a new musical request, or looking for the source of the screech. With the two women and everyone else he knows having suddenly just dissolved away... he apparently decides to be the prying type, and goes off toward the source of the noise.
