Sep 14 00:30:19 107 PA - Work Interrupted in the Rain
From Chronicles
Sep 14 00:30:19 107 PA.
MAIN STREET: Work Interrupted in the Rain
It's very, very early in the morning. Barely past midnight, and it's rather miserable out. The temperature somehow managed to drop more than 20 degrees since the previous day, and a low pressure zone must be fading through, because not only is it cold, but there's also ample precipitation. The wind doesn't help, but people have to get around as best they can. Even this absurd hour, Kingsdale's Main Street is busy with the delivery-boys of various merchants bringing their wares into the city, and a few people, the obviously nefarious ones, slipping out of the walls. Gabriel has found a small nook along a wall, near an overhead lamp, but he's hanging on just the edge of the light. His floppy hat which usually is simply curled at the small of his back is tonight doing an excellent job of keeping his face dry. The collar is tucked up, his personal pouch closed. If he's doing anything, it seems very obvious that he's counting something about the crowd.
It seems that the weather is of no consequence to Daeni, or so little that her other priorities take precedence. She enters the section of street from the generally slumbering plaza to the north, her person and clothing bearing additional weight from the rainwater that drenches her.
Gabriel's method of counting seems to entail drumming his right fingers on his left bicep, and possibly bouncing his head ever-so-slightly side to side. If he's counting at all. However, even with the activity, the tall elf woman, the one whom his is gradually calling perhaps an actual friend in this place, is not easily missed. His right arm is raised in greeting, though he certainly doesn't do anything that give her an inviting wave, then goes back to doing whatever it is that he's doing.
Daeni lifts her own hand in response. The waveless greeting is her norm, so the lack of motion in Gabriel's own does not detract from the intent. Her pace continues, and a word is added as she nears. "Hunting?" A simple query that could readily explain the man's presence.
The man turns his head and tips his hat - an actual hat in this case. "Hunting? Well, I guess you could call it that." His eyes slip back to the crowd. "This skinny little merchant guy up in the Plaza's paying me to keep an eye on these guys -" he makes a subtle motion toward the passing crowd "-the ones with the red wagons. Apparently he has some kind of dispute going on with them. I don't know, maybe the other guy's wife pissed him off." He looks up at the elf and says, "Right now, I don't know why, and frankly, I don't care." Once again, eyes back to the crowd. "I don't mind living in the wilderness. In fact, I enjoy it. But now and then it's nice to have food for a genuine, waiter-served, sit down meal." A glance, "That's already twenty-seven wagons." As he turns his eyes back to the elf he asks, "What brings you out at this hour, Miss Daeni? Hunting again?"
"Maybe hunt," Daeni partially confirms as her gaze rotates towards the indicated surveillance subjects, "maybe train hunt. Have food, not need more hide. Maybe bathe, if park empty." It is a general purpose or, perhaps, casual visit this morning.
"Out for a hunt here on Main Street, or on you way to the 'Dregs, for those extra squishy lizards you were telling me about yesterday?" He looks at the street, obviously counts two more (even if you don't know how to count, it would be obvious) of whatever is passing, and asks, "What is it with the lizards? You really have that much of an appetite, or the squirrels, rabbits, and boar just too easy?"
Daeni's lips lift at the corners. "Go to Dregs. Lizard stronger prey, more meat. Rabbit quick, meat good, but little meat." After a momentary delay, she adds, "Hunt for meat, hide, bone. Also hunt for challenge."
Gabriel nods quickly. "Certainly keeps you sharp. I prefer not to wrestle with my game, though. At least, not unless absolutely necessary, like slicing the neck of a boar who's only half-stuck in a trap." Seems to be little childhood dropping into his mind with those words, as that Kentucky accent slides in slightly more. There's a chuckle as he ads, "But you're right about the rabbits. Not much meat. Not much fat. You know, you can live on rabbits in emergencies, but if that's all you have to eat, you'll die. You won't get enough fat." As he looks away again, his gaze is once more drawn up to the tall Daeni, and with a shrug, he tacks on, "Well, at least not enough fat for your basic human."
"Need eat many rabbits if only rabbit." Daeni rolls her shoulders, remaining out of his necessary line of observation during the conversation. "Have time hunt, eat, not both. Trap good only if not care what catch or only one prey live where trap."
"Aww, you grab some of the little critters, maybe a fox every day or two, you're doing fine. At least, I am. In fact, a lot less than that if I need to." His face is very normal as he gives the woman a very honest shrug. "Combination of being raised that way and trained to be that way, I guess. Not to say that I don't enjoy a full belly." Wink. Then a rather out-of-left-field question: "You ever had snake or iguana?"
The mild smirk grows larger, yet remains mild. "Eat snake when is all find. Little meat, quick prey. Not like much. Deer best." Her gaze sweeps across their surroundings and passes from carts to Gabriel. "Stay, watch all night?"
"Ewhet." It's kind of a squishy-slurry-sound, probably non-committal. "Technically, I'm supposed to stay here all night, that was the deal. But I'm already four-times past what the poor bastard was worried about. Might be time for him to throw in the towel and partner-up." He turns back to the elf and offers up a nugget of wisdom, "You know what they say - You gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to 'fold em, know when to walk away, and know when to run.'"
"Not hear say," Daeni admits with growing curiosity. "Not run away. What would fold?" Following the question, she returns to the more concrete topic, with which she is more familiar. "If count enough, count more not change.
Gabriel is somewhat amused, and it's written just briefly on his face as he asks, "You know, you'd count your money when you're sitting at the table? They'll be time to count your money when the dealing's done?" But this time, he doesn't allow the obvious cultural emptiness to hang. "Just a little bit of good old American life lessons based on gambling." After a serious look at the passing crowd, he sighs and acknowledges the woman. "You're, right. I've counted enough, the count isn't any longer important. Unfortunately, a contract is a contract, and even if you've given what was asked... if you don't do everything exactly as asked, people will try to screw you over." A roll of his eyes indicates that he doesn't agree with the practice. "It's not how we did it back home, or my world. Not among polite society. But here?" A wave of his hand takes in Kingsdale as a whole. "Hear people keep trying to screw me over, and I don't like being screwed with."
Daeni rolls her shoulders in nonchalance or acceptance of both the uncertain reference and that others might wish to defraud him. "If do what agree, get what agree. Only cheat if you allow. If try, I talk to man, you get coin."
Gabriel smiles widely at the elf woman, and holds up a semi-humorous, semi-serious hand. "That's very kind of you. But while things remain a bit odd, I've yet to encounter a situation - a normal situation - in which I can't handle myself. I'll get my coin, but I appreciate your offer." It's only a few minutes after midnight, and Kingsdale's Main Street is surprisingly full, with errand boys and merchants bringing goods into town and distributing them throughout the streets. It's raining like a bitch, and it's cold. Only those prepared for such weather aren't miserable. Gabriel and Daeni are hanging out along the side of the road, right on the edge of lamp light, in conversation. Occasionally, the Slavic fellow seems to make a note of something along the road. But whatever's going on with the street... it clearly isn't deep and meaningful.
Letting out a soft sigh, Sage comes out of the museum after spending time within the garden toiling away. The weather doesn't seem to have been a surprise as her has a jacket treated against rain as it beads off and activates a push-button umbrella to keep the worst of it from her person. She moves slowly at first as she takes in the surprisingly busy activity. Her gaze drifting around as if trying to decide if there's any particular reason for this, other than it being a city of - at times - unpredictable changes.
Daeni is a possible exception, as she appears neither especially prepared for the rain, nor miserable due to any lack of preparation. She is suitably drenched, yet otherwise unhindered. "If want stay, watch in rain, is choice." Sodden shoulders shrug before she lifts her eyes to look upwards, into the falling water. "Maybe not hunt. Prey hide from wet, cold. Maybe bathe is better." At present, she could receive both bath and shower easily enough.
The water sluicing off of Gabriel's clothes is just that.. sluicing water. But he too seems unaffected by it. A floppy hat is doing an excellent job at keeping it off of his head. He speaks to Daeni, "So, there IS an animal that you'd shy away from? The Greater Green Greased Lizard of Kingsdale's 'Dregstown?" The man's eyes don't miss the other woman coming out of the museum, and an arm is raised, waved a little, and even, perhaps rather rudely, some finger-clicks made. To be fair, though, the look on his face is not one of expectancy, just hope.
Whether Sage notices Gabriel's waving at first amongst the other activity is hard to say, but she does glance over there around the time he starts making the clicking noises. Her gaze considering the pair with a raised brow before she offers a brief wave. She begins to wander over. "Hey..." She calls softly as she gets closer, as her gaze dwells on Daeni for a moment before shifting back to Gabriel.
Daeni is made aware of Sage's approach by Gabriel's greeting prior to her own turn towards the other woman. Sage receives a lifted hand and "Hello," as well. "Also walk in dark?" The casually curious is likely not as redundant or inane as it may sound. Afterwords, she shakes her head in the negative to answer Gabriel. "No. Hunt dragon, demon if want."
A strange figure appears nearby, walking down the street. He moves as if always there, yet moments ago he simply wasn't. Ancient clothes of hand-made origin, designed in a millennium by and left behind, with ... no head? A golden half circle crescents from shoulder to shoulder, like a halo from a medieval portrait, and only as he comes up do Ahriman's dark features become at all visible beneath. He seems awfully dry, protected by divine intervention. "And whatever did this dragon do to you?" he wonders aloud, low voice amused in its bass rumble easily cutting into the conversation.
Gabriel isn't surprised by the sudden influx that doubles the little crowd. There's a final dismissive wave of his hand in the direction of the passing masses at these few minutes after midnight. However, whether or not this strange gathering strikes him as odd, his face doesn't show it. There's a nod and a short, "Hello" to the strange living-night thing, but he turns back to the two women, particularly the newcomer. "Pardon me, Daeni, but I really need to speak with Miss Sage for a moment, if you two ladies would be kind enough to indulge me."
"Late night at work." Sage replies to Daeni simply, "And I didn't plan on staying inside the museum all night." A faint curl of her lips coming to her mild attempt at humour. Then, the approach of the strange being draws her attention away from the pair. She nods her head faintly as an acknowledgment, but makes no effort to interrupt the shift in the conversation. Instead she looks to Gabriel with a raised brow, "Oh?" She asks softly, "I imagine that could be arranged." She glances towards Daeni to check the other woman's reaction.
"Prey only need live to be hunted." Daeni answers Ahriman simply before dipping her head to Sage and Gabriel. "Talk. Will learn if park, lake empty." She turns and steps from the pair, although she also spares Ahriman a mixed glance in the process. Experience holds that a remark of some kind is likely incoming.
"Young man," Ahriman rumbles softly at Gabriel, black gaze inscrutable as he squares on the pair. A leather strap wraps over his shoulder, an oil-soaked leather tote tucked neatly beneath his left arm bound tight with hemp twine. "Be careful that you do not mark yourself as too exceptional, Daeni. Killing a dragon is a messy business. They are older, stronger, smarter, better than you in every way. To kill one confers prestige amongst this rabble, yes. The cat-slayer is hero amongst the mice. But then, what will people make their names in killing afterward? You?"
It's clearly written on Gabriel's still passively pleasant face that he wants to inject whatever small bit of wisdom that he might have to add the conversation between elf and thing. But other, more pressing matters keep him on track as he turns to the approaching woman who has so recently popped from the building. He tips the brim of his hat - an existing hat this time - and says, "Miss Sage, I apologize for stopping you like this, this time of day, this weather, probably trying to get home, but I've been looking for you for a week now. Word in the street, and word straight from your mouth to my ears, is that you're pretty well hooked up here in the city. Well, I need something, and I have no idea where to find the proper place. A few more weeks, sure. But not yet."
With the other conversation being slightly odd, Sage is content to remain outside of it. She instead turns her attention to Gabriel as the man seems intent on speaking with her. She considers the man and waits to hear what's on his mind. Her brow beginning to raise faintly once more at the mention of trying to seek her for a week. An ever so faint curl coming to her lips as she keeps a quip to herself. "In a manner of speaking, I suppose." She replies before pursing her lips. "And, what might you consider a proper place?"
Daeni rolls her shoulders in response to Ahriman. "Hunt for self, not others. Are others stupid, try hunt me if kill dragon or not kill dragon. End same. If not train, challenge to be best, is waste, lazy." Daeni does not consider herself a waste or lazy, of course. Her eyes return to the fore as she continues her steps towards the park.
"I wonder," Ahriman speaks softly, "Which of us will be killed first? You're not that good yet." He makes no move to follow the woman, head turning to watch her go with a black smirk touching his lips. Finally he turns, his back to Daeni, and he walks opposite her -- south, along Main.
Gabriel chuckles and waves a somewhat dismissive hand. "I'm sorry, Miss Sage, I'm afraid that I'm being far to 'Casablanca' on you. I only need directions. See, I have this armor that I, ah, came into when I got to the city, and I had an idiot shoot it up a couple of weeks ago. So now I'm walking around with weak spots on my chest." He shrugs good-naturedly. "I'd rather not do that. If it were a flak jacket, I'd have fixed it by now. But, well... I don't know much about this stuff." He hesitates, as if in thought for a time, then offers, "I have the steel plate, or whatever it is, that's needed to fix it. I just need someone to weld it on, or whatever it is that they do with it." His hands are then raised both palms up before his chest. "Any chance that you could point me in the right direction, miss?"
Amusement begins to leak into Sage's features before she nods gently, "Yes, I was beginning to think that you were looking for a proper place to live." She comments, "But, I would think that you might be looking to repair those weak spots as well?" She inquires before moving on without really waiting for a response on that topic. "In any case, I think there are at least a couple options. There's a mechanic that has a way with technology by the name of Galvin... seen him hang out in the Nut and Bolt and out by the landing strip where a number of the mechanic shops are. Although, he seems to be finding some employment with my partner, Tirzah... who might be a good person to see if you want see about getting repairs done in a way you've probably never seen before... and your other option is probably Erica, lives over in the Raleigh Apartment complex. She sometimes goes clubbing but I can probably make any introductions necessary."
"Galvin. Erica. One noisy bar, one homey apartment." Gabriel nods thoughtfully. "Thank you. Now, if I can only get it done *soon*! I'm not happy walking around getting shot at in body-armor that looks like it came out of the Dark Ages, which oh yes, is half shot-up." There's a very dramatic - obviously over-dramatic - roll of his eyes. He then gazes on the woman for a time, and says, "I'm quite happy with where I'm staying. In fact, for a very unique reason that I don't know if you'd understand, I'll never leave. But... I've been standing here all night counting wagons for some idiot merchant who couldn't count them himself." His face isn't exactly distressed, but still perhaps annoyed at the world. "If you happen to have any decent jobs coming available that you hear of, I certainly would appreciate it." But then, Gabriel does look rather embarrassed. "I'm afraid that I don't have much to pay for such a service, though."
"Well, if you're looking for some mending... that might be doable by Tirzah's magic device she had constructed. She would know better than I if it could work." Sage comments, "But, I'm not sure if she would also see potential in you to put you to work... I imagine you're a what you see is what you get sort..." She comments, "Unless you've been holding back any special abilities, of course." She purses her lips before nodding faintly as if to herself. "As for pay... well, that just depends on whether you mind owing someone a favour or credits." She gives a faint shrug, "Either way, it doesn't look like much will be accomplished at the moment..." She glances to the dark, rainy night.
Gabriel looks down at the ground, and cups his forehead in his right hand for a long while, the heavy rain drops bouncing off the waterproof floppy-hat and down the equally waterproof poncho that has apparently come out of nowhere to cover his dull-black many-pocketed suit. He then takes a deep breath and looks at Sage, his face one of absolute, totally open honesty. "Miss Sage, I am a good man. I love family, and I do what I can for my fellow man, to defend them when can't necessarily defend themselves. I'm a good man. But to be the good man that I am, I sometimes do very evil things, things that I am not proud of. My father told me of the Crusaders, and I'd like to think that I follow in their footsteps." He looks away. Then he returns. "I'm complicated, because I am not complicated, and I am very complicated. Unless we're at war, my best option would be working for a PI, or something along those lines. I'm not asking you to go out and find me a job, but if you happen to hear anything, I'd appreciate it." He then offers a warm smile. "I don't suppose that I could buy you a Happy Burger for entertaining my ramblings tonight?"
"And that is not entirely what I meant, but it does give me insight into you without needing to sense impressions from you." Sage comments, "And were you earlier in arriving, I could have introduced you to a PI... but he has moved on since. He was a bit too married to his work for my liking... but, I was never a client of his." She adds, before considering the man. "I think, perhaps, you should make that a fancy drink at the Tradewinds... if it isn't going to be good for me either way, I think I'd rather have something sweet." She chuckles faintly, "But, that may be better saved until the light of day after this breaks up."
The man gives a small chuckle at that and looks up high enough that some rain falls on his chin, before his gaze turns back to the woman before him. He offers a short bow, and says, "Forgive me, Miss Sage. I suppose I'm just still a bit out-of-sorts. It's far too early for a burger. Why, it's far to early for any of us to be out and about." A long wave of his hand takes in everyone on Main Street. A very ironic smile is offered, and he says, "We both know that I don't really belong in this place, and so I mean absolutely no offense, because this may simply be absolutely no way that things are done here in Kingsdale in.. what is this, 107 PA, whatever that means? Where I'm from, it was rude not to escort a lady to her next destination, and incomprehensible to not even ask. So please, if you'd like, I'd be honored to escort you to wherever you're going." He then waves a hand that makes it very obvious that he only means a polite escort, adding, "Just an escort. But I know that it's not the early half of the 20th century anymore."
The man gives a small chuckle at that and looks up high enough that some rain falls on his chin, before his gaze turns back to the woman before him. He offers a short bow, and says, "Forgive me, Miss Sage. I suppose I'm just still a bit out-of-sorts. It's far too early for a burger. Why, it's far to early for any of us to be out and about." A long wave of his hand takes in everyone on Main Street. A very ironic smile is offered, and he says, "We both know that I don't really belong in this place, and so I mean absolutely no offense, because this may simply be absolutely no way that things are done here in Kingsdale in.. what is this, 107 PA, whatever that means? Where I'm from, it was rude not to escort a lady to her next destination, and incomprehensible to not even ask. So please, if you'd like, I'd be honored to escort you to wherever you're going." He then waves a hand that makes it very obvious that he only means a polite escort, adding, "Just an escort. But I know that it's not the early half of the 20th century anymore."
"Out-of-sorts?" Sage muses with a teasing look on her features. "I imagine you may find that you're not alone in the 'don't really belong' category." She comments, "Whether they would all be friendly to talk and relate to... probably not." She gives a faint shrug as she begins to head off towards her next destination. "As for 107 PA... I'm sure there was a deciding moment to put a short acronym after your own dates. In this case, it would be 107 years post apocalypse. And, yet, there is still life... and a variety of it as well. If you're asking about the finer points of history, there are plenty of people within the library..." She gestures back towards the building she came out of, "that would be more than happy to talk your ear off about what they know or think they know." She pauses as she glances over towards the man, "And, yes, it would be safer for you to be just an escort..." She chuckles softly, "I don't suppose you've had a chance to wander through the magic district yet?"
Another friendly chuckle comes out, but barely audible over the surprising noise of Main Street. "Wandered through the Magic District? Oh yes. Understood half of what I saw? Oh no." His eyes look upward he purses his lips. "It's still the same sky. Same constellations." A wink is offered to the woman. "If the stars are aligned, I'll be able to align myself. Don't worry, it's my job to fit in. This is just a little different than passing myself off as an SS officer." He smiles again and offers an arm to the woman, "Which way may I take you, Miss Sage?"
