Sep 15 03:50:47 109 PA - Secret Planning in the Open Coffee Shop
From Chronicles
Sep 15 03:50:47 109 PA.
TRADEWINDS COFFEE SHOP
Bright and early Sunday morning.. Don’t people sleep any more? Valeriya is definitely questionable for that answer. For the moment she is at a table with a large cup of caffeine concentrate in front of her. At her side is an average looking man, unshaven, bit of grey, sunglasses. He seems to be reiterating something to her, and she is reluctantly accepting.
Gabriel enters, dressed not in uniform, but in some more comfortable clothes. It is Sunday, after all. A big brown dog tries to come in with him, but after a few words, she sits down, then lays down and makes herself comfortable outside, waiting for her master. Her master, not a physically imposing person by any stretch of the imagination, doesn't seem to be much in the mood for coffee right now. He's wide awake, but a glass of orange juice does him just fine. His feet take him toward Valeriya and the unassuming man - though someone like that certainly sticks out. "Valeriya, good to see you. I got something on the comm?"
A robed and veiled man enters the coffee shop, his deep hood adding to the concealment of the veil. Those who actually know the man may recognize him, but the casual onlooker should just assume a peasant by the drab raggedy garb worn. Stepping up to the counter he orders a fancy coffee. While his order is prepared he idly looks over those inside, avoiding any small talk offered by the barista.
Bernard steps into the coffee house as well, cape giving a little flutter in the rustle of air from the opening of the door. He makes his way inside, bypassing the counter and making his way over towards Valeriya himself, offering a polite nod towards Gabe.
"It's just I put in some extra effort based on four team members. Five means someone will be uncovered. but yes I'm sure we can handle it," Valeriya confirms to the man beside her before looking up to find both Gabriel and Bernard on approach. "Ah, you're both up. Gabriel I understand Jon here was a regular customer before. He's recommended you to help with his travel to Arzno to broaden our expertise." She greets, nodding to Gabriel. "Bernard this is our client Jon. We will be riding in his Rolling Thunder to Arzno." She explains gesturing between Jon and Bernard. Jon offers his hand.
Gabriel extends a hand to shake Jon's in good male greeting, though his face may belie a moment's apprehension of not immediately recognizing him. "Good to see you. You too, Bernard," he adds, turning to nod at the man. "If it's escort you need, I should be able to handle it. That's... about two-thousand miles, yes?" For now, he keeps it short.
The robed figure takes his coffee and finds a seat at a nearby table facing the window to the outside as well as those he is familiar with, the veil being lifted to sip from his beverage, his hood remaining. He keeps to himself for the time being as his presence was not an invited one, he just happens to have swung by so to speak.
"Hmmn, Arzno huh? I've been wanting to go visit. Shame I spent some of my cred on that scroll a few months back." Bernard says with a grin, "A pleasure, Gabriel." He says, adding "So to Arzno in a Rolling thunder, hmmn? I suppose that could be fine. A pleasure to meet you as well, Jon." He says, offering a nod to the man.
"Give or take." Valeriya confirms with Gabriel. "Jon was telling me he'll have a whole backpack full of eclips to keep the vehicle charged for the trip. And speaking of which since you are both here if you have any questions now's the time. We depart in two days at the crack of dawn."
Gabriel nods, "Okay, I'll have to ask, what is a Rolling Thunder? Obviously a vehicle of some kind, but I'm not familiar with it. Also, so I know how to pack... what is the cargo, exactly, and who are we hiding it from?" He looks back to Valeriya, "Unless there's something exotic needed, I can be ready long before two days go by." He asks Jon a further question, "How many, ah.. civilians.. will we be protecting?"
Sithik sips his coffee content with watching the morning traffic out the window as he listens to the interesting conversation at the table not too far off from his. Any talk of a place he has not been to gets his interest if just to hear the tale.
"2 days? Plenty of time to pack up." Bernard says, "I'm mostly already packed anyway." he chuckles, "Just need to check my big guns out of the lockers. Sounds fine so far though." He adds, looking over towards Gabriel a little at his questions.
"Just Jon." Valeriya answers to Gabriel before gesturing to the combat vehicle parked outside. "Go ahead and look it over. Three of us will fit inside comfortably. Tek's Range Rover will take the excess."
Gabriel's eyebrow perks and he asks in a gentle but official tone, "Okay, what's the excess? Excess us, the escort for a place to sit, or excess cargo? I'm not looking to pass judgment, but I'd like to know what we're defending, so I might try to guess who'd be interested in taking it. Makes the job of keeping them away a little easier." His eyes look out the window and he nods, ready to check out the vehicle later.
Sithik even takes note of the vehicle mentioned parked outside as he sips off of his beverage, quietly listening being it is more interesting than what the locals talk of. Farming and factory work not being the hunter's favorite interests.
"We protect Jon, the vehicle has limited space, so the excess escorts will sit in the second vehicle." Bernard takes the liberty of saying, "Since we're going to have, it sounds, more people then fit in the primary vehicle."
Valeriya nods to Bernard before looking to Gabriel. "Tek and one other, plus any excess gear we bring along." She says clearly before gesturing between Gabriel and Jon. "Jon told me you are familiar with his flavorful acquaintances. He's decided he could do to make some new ones in a new town. Likely they wont appreciate the sentiment and will send a group to try and retrieve him."
"I see," Gabriel nods to both Bernard and Valeriya. "Parting can be such sweet sorrow. Perhaps we should finish the discussions somewhere more private? This is a rather touchy subject, and I'm sure that Jon can appreciate that. Coffeehouses have ears."
Sithik has ears, not sure about coffee houses having them though, but they do contain many, most just listening to their own uninteresting gossip most likely. Casually sipping from his cup like its just another day in paradise.
"We can go wherever you'd like, I suppose." Bernard says with a little shrug, "What sort of acquaintances might we have to have a chat with on the road?" he asks curiously. as he settles back just a bit.
Valeriya shrugs indifferently. "Jon called us here, I assume he's bought the ears present." Jon nods in confirmation. "Besides, don’t see there being much more to discuss. I imagine the group sent will be much like our own. Handful of people out to make some easy money."
Gabriel looks dubious at Valeriya's sense of security, but doesn't bother to state it out loud as it clearly wouldn't change anything. His face says it for him. "I would be surprised if it were so easy. His previous employment put him near some unusual kind of folk. Why would they hunt down another unusual kind of folk with a bunch of people like us, if it's really that important to retrieve him and send a message?" He looks to Jon, asking softly, "What are they, and how do you put 'em down should someone get that interested and pissed off?"
Sithik has an unseen smile at Gabriel's frustration, a small bit of amusement for the hunter as he enjoys his coffee peacefully. More questions hopefully means more to the discussion.
"You probably put them down like anything else. By being flexible, and smarter then them, as well as using excessive amounts of Force." Bernard suggests with a little grin, and a bit of a shrug of his shoulders.
Jon looks up over his sunglasses to glare at Gabriel. "Like they're going to tell me who they're going to send. Whoever takes the job, thinks the price is right and can follow me out that way. So like she said, a handful of people like yourselves." He states in a gravely voice that belies why he doesn’t speak aloud much. Valeriya just nods.
Gabriel can't help but offer a minor roll of his eyes at Bernard's mage-bluntness, but doesn't bother to comment. "Okay. I'll assume we have a driver who can get us there without getting lost. Two days from now it is." He looks around to see if the conversation is wrapping up, adding, "Val, if there isn't anything else to be said, if you have a few minutes I have some other important matters to talk to you about - in real privacy."
Sithik keeps his grin under his veil, finding more amusement as the obvious is stated for the old time traveler, but still he keeps to himself and his drink like most of the patrons of the coffee shop, happy just to watch and listen to the groups gossip.
"Two days then. I'll see you bright and early then, Val, if I don't run into you beforehand." Bernard says, offering a bit of a grin, "Any special preparations I ought to make in the meantime?"
Valeriya shrugs to Bernard. "Come as you are should be fine." She says before nodding to Gabriel. "Go on ahead to your office. I should catch up fairly quickly." She says, taking a moment to finish her coffee.
Gabriel nods his head to Valeriya and reaches to shake Jon's hand. "Good to meet you, I'll see you in two days. You can contact me earlier, if you need be." He turns and exits, giving the two mages a simple, "Bernard. Valeriya. See you in a few." As his boots pass a newly opened door, he gives a little whistle, and the dog jumps up to keep pace. Looking down, the Kentuckian asks, "See any friends out here, Friday?" Then the door closes.
