Oct 27 23:29:10 106 PA - Brady fires, Celaeno throws, and Alistair greets

From Chronicles

Oct 27 23:29:10 106 PA - Brady fires, Celaeno throws, and Alistair greets

Kingsdale - Dregtown Market

There wasn't anyone about when Alistair returned the other day, but then again, it didn't look like there were body parts strewn about either. Still concerned about the fate of those present for last night's adventure, he travels the dregs in search of a familiar face, ending up here.

If one's going to spend their time wandering around the dregs alone and aimless, well... this is certainly one of a few places they wind up - be it under their own power, or in the company of a few entrepreneurial pimps and dealers. With the strip of broken street having broken into a series of burning barrels, drifters, and pushers, it has taken on more of an edge than it might have had a few hours ago. Several paces off the main floor, Celaeno's perched on the remnants of an old gate, puffing idly on a cigar as she keeps her attention to herself and down.

Some have tents, some have blankets, and some just have BANG! Standing behind a rotting crate serving duty as an ammunition table, Brady also holds the literal smoking gun in hand. It is then panned across a few nearby souls who gasp in surprise, before the cordite fumes are blown away and the automatic reholstered. The man then grins and gestures to the holed piece of scrap plate to the side. "There ya have it, folks. Powder still means power, and even that military armor don't stand a chance. Who wants to carry an overblown flashlight 'round when ya can get the recoil and smell of victory? Easier on your credits, and gets overlooked by the law. Come on up and pick up a box o' Billy's Specials..."

Alistair turns his head to the source of commotion, but resumes his search shortly thereafter. Finding Celaeno, he looks up to where she's sat and waves a hand. "Hello Miss Cel! You made it out okay! Is Mr. Sebastien also alright?" he inquires, brows hiking up a touch. "Those tentacle things can be disturbing."

The bang lifts her expression as briefly to the loud noise, giving a slight grunt and putting up her own cloud of smoke to try to overwhelm the gunpowder stench. "Ruining the mood, ruining the mood," she mutters to herself before dropping her eyes again - unnoticing of the approaching Alistair. As he says his bright hellos, her expression remains chilly and ultimately flat. "Disturbing I can deal with. It was more the sticking that annoyed me. And yes, he managed to make his way out."

Brady conducts transactions, now that his brief, and effective, demonstration is completed. There was not a massive amount of ammunition available, but much of it is gone by the time the buyers are done. Compared to costly energy weapons, a mere forty credits a shot is a bargain.

"I understand. It caught me a few nights before" Alistair replies, nodding his head - he's apparently undeterred by the woman's chilly behavior. "Would you like some scotch?" he offers, "These things might be keeping away much, much worse things though, I heard. Things that take over your body and make you take actions you wouldn't - even killing your own friends" he informs, punctuating this with another nod. "Also, I'm still looking for people to come to Madhaven with Cali and myself. Want to come?"

The gaze lingers for a few more brief moments before it drops back to the ground, another two puffs taken on the cigar - that stench can really linger. "Still think it'd be worth putting a group together to deal with them. If it comes to brain-suckers, we can deal with those whenever they show up." Another puff, "I don't take kindly to something spending a few minutes holding me down. And I know nothing about the place. What'd the take?"

"I don't know who can deal with those ... they are not physical, I think" Alistair replies, looking curious for a moment, then he continues, "I think Cali is prepared to pay a reasonable price. I am not familiar with the going rates for such work unfortunately. It might be a matter worth discussing." "You ruined a decent cigar," Celaeno calls with a final puff, flicking the stub at the now-finished salesman. "And it depends on how long the trip is, and just how dangerous she wants to play it. And corporeal or not, well, there's always some way to deal with something. Hell, I might be able to try and figure that out later for a reasonable fee," she says with another glance off to the side. "But who knows. One beastie at a time"

Brady's ear and attention are caught somewhere between 'prepared to pay' and 'reasonable price.' His head turns towards Alistair, then lifts to Celaeno, just in time to greet the stub with his chest. "Well now, I'm sure I'd remember shooting a cigar out of those lips, and snice I didn't, how do you figure I ruined it?" He's apparently not too incensed aboout the ash on his coat, and grins whilst stepping the stub thoroughly dead. "Also sounds like you have a problem 't needs solvin."

"Certainly" Alistair replies, looking from Tirzah to Brady now, making a bit of a face at the pass, though for the moment he remains silent, perhaps contemplating this or that. "Well..." he looks back towards Celaeno, "I understand the place and the trek itself are dangerous, but the idea is to avoid trouble, not get into it if at all possible."

Celaeno's eyes settle bemusedly on Brady for a few moments before shifting back to Alistair, "You don't travel all the way to bumfuck nowhere without there being some kind of trouble at the end of the road." The statement is simple, "The only reason you'd do that, would be if you were running away from it, and that's not a whole lot better in this situation," she finishes with a shrug, turning back to Brady after making him wait, "And a cigar's an experience. It's not just something you sit down and crank through - it's not something you force yourself through. You sit down, you light it, you enjoy the taste and the smell. And now all I've got is the stink of your little firecrackers over there."

"Pardon me, ma'am," Brady pinches the brim of his Stetson, but doesn't go so far as to dip or tip, "but there's a whole lot of space for you to be enjoyin' yerself in. Can't blame me that you chose wrong." He now acknowledges Alistair, finding amusement in the contortion of the blonde's features. "Quite the friendly one ya got there."

"Did I say otherwise?" Alistair inquires, frowning faintly. His train of thought is interrupted by the man and the looks over, blinking his eyes. "What? Oh - hello ... " he trails off for a moment, then, "I'm sorry. I'm Alistair" comes the polite greeting.

Celaeno fixes her gaze on the man for a few moments, deciding to simply ignore him for the moment, "Well, you did say you were looking to avoid trouble, which means there's no trouble to be had at the end - though maybe I misinterpreted," she says, beginning to grin lopsidedly, "But as you say, maybe I'll track her down and ask about it. I've a few things I'm going to have to take care of here, but you know how it goes."

Brady keeps his baby blues on Alistair for the moment, and twists a wider grin. "Howdy, Alistair. Name's Brady. Blindin' Billy Brady, in fact. What kind of predicament ya get yerself into?" Now he thumbs to the elevated Celaeno. "'Sides the missus, that is."

"It is my desire to keep Cali away from danger - but given the trip" Alistair shrugs his shoulders faintly, and nods to Celaeno, "I'll let her know to expect you then" he smiles, and looks to Brady then, "I'm going on a trip to Madhaven with Cali, and I think we'll need help ... we'll be bringing a piece of equipment back here I think."

Celaeno watches the two for the moment, content to sit and listen. Her attention goes back to the ground, taking in the night of the dregs.

"Sounds like a helluva trip," Brady chuckles, "and if you're dealin with hardware, I can help ya out even more. I'll bet I can even come up with a nice, reasonable price, too." He pauses to retrieve a cigarette from his vest pocket, followed by one of the Wilks pistols holstered under his arms. "Let me know if yer interested?" Brady then sees to lighting his smoke in a slightly exhorbitant and excessive fashion one might have inferred.

"Um ... well" Alistair pauses a moment to think that over, "I'll ask Cali ... do you know anything about Madhaven?" he inquires, looking curious now. "I asked Miss Cel first though, so if she is interested she has dibs, depending on how many people Cali wants to bring."

Celaeno's gaze remains down for a few moments before lifting to the conversation, with a, "We'll see, we'll see." There seems little else to be forthcoming, though at least her eyes stay up and fixed at the two talking.

Brady considers the question and rolls his shoulders. "Little east o' here, to my recollection. Not been there, myself, but heard a bit about it. Might be useful when the time comes." He swivels his head to offer Celaeno a grin and a dip of his brim, but his words remains for Alistair. "Should the lady turn it down, or want company, that is."

"Okay ... " Alistair looks from one to the other, nodding. Then he smiles, "I'll be going now, have a good day Miss Cel and Mr. Brady!" he waves a hand, and turns around to head out the way he came.

Celaeno gives a wave as Alistair takes his leave, giving a surprisingly warm, "Have a good one, Al. Maybe next time you'll stick around long enough to cut off a few tentacles of your own, hmm?" But as he leaves she's left with little outside of a still night and a dusty used-car salesman - oh well, what're you going to do. "So, you pawn off ammunition to every ganger who can afford it, or just the ones you like?"

Brady nods to Alistair and looks back to Cel, still with a grin. "Both, since I like anyone who can afford what I'm sellin'. Makes it a touch easier for them to buy, and that makes everyone happy. Anythin yer lookin for? I can find it if I don't already got it."

Celaeno responds with a shrug, "Nah, if I'd been in the market for something, I might've wandered over when you were shilling it over there." One brief yawn later and she continues, "I prefer something with a little less flash and bang and 'hey everybody come over here and shoot back.'"

"It's good fer sellin," the salesman chuckles, "bad fer sneakin. Don't let all that fool ya, I can get just about anythin. Big, small, loud, quiet, leaves big pieces, leaves none.." Brady rolls his shoulders beneath his duster. "Only limit's yer imagination and yer cred count."

Celaeno's bemusement knows few bounds, and her expression conveys this, "No," she says, moving to pull out a flask. "I'm not on the market," as she unscrews the cap and takes a long draw on it. "Want a nip?"

Brady steps towards and reaches up for the flask. "Don't mind if I do. Too bad yer not, but there was no harm in askin. Bad thing about movin on is not knowin who wants what, how badly, and how many. Yet." He tosses her a wink as he takes the flask and the offered nip.

"If you're looking to hawk guns, well, you're in the right place. Might want to find a nice shady lean-to and a few burly men to stand nearby, though. It'd be a hell of a shame for somebody to take out their frustrations about you edging in on their turf," she says with a shrug. "But with that nip, I think I'm going to be shifting. Try not to get mugged," she finishes without conviction, moving to take the flask back.

Brady's first response to her segue towards leaving is to take a second slug before resealing the flask and handing it back. "I'll remember that, but don't worry yer pretty little head 'bout me. If folks get too greedy, I'll set them straight right quick."

"Who said anything about worrying?" Celaeno asks, pocketing the flask before taking her exit with a single wave. "Just figured I'd mention it," and off she goes.