in real life [semi-open]

[unwiseheart]

WHO: Nicolas & various people.
WHERE: Varied. Kitty's garage, Gregor's place, random restaurants, etc.
WHEN: Early February.
WHAT: Catch-all for the first part of February. PM or PP if you would like a thread.
WARNINGS: potential violence, mention of violence.

[ see comments for starters. ]

Comments

kitty's garage; OPEN

[unwiseheart]

[ This is hardly the first time Nicolas can be seen lurking just outside the garage.

He's been here a few times before, several to visit the resident shapeshifter, Saya, and at least once to help Kitty with her search for her previously missing friends. Still, every time he's never seemed particularly thrilled to be there and this time isn't any different.

This time, he's showed up towards the end of the day, when the garage would normally be expected to be wrapping up whatever regular schedule they keep. It doesn't look like he's inclined to go inside and wait, either. Rather, he lingers outside, looking as unkept as always. It's all for the best, anyhow. He's smoking his nerves away while he waits, which isn't something he's about to do in a garage full of cars and oil and Goddess knows what else that might catch fire. ]

[instars]

[Every time he's nearby, she smell him first.

Today is no different. She takes her time, she doesn't press or hurry or finish faster. If he's here to see her, she doesn't see any reason to rush her job. If he's not, then it's not as though her coming out will be welcome anyway.

She ends her day and makes her way out; she looks a bit more bundled than usual, with a scarf and heeled boots, and a bearing of someone who isn't at all surprised to see a displeased Russian werewolf chainsmoking cigarettes and reeking of nerves. She comes up to him, stopping just nearby.]

I almost thought you were avoiding me.

[unwiseheart]

There is an abomination here.

[ He says that in reply, bringing his cigarette away and holding it off to the side.

Nicolas apparently isn't bothering with the usual back and forth today, where he complains at her about whatever and then she insults him and so on and so on. The kidnappings had taken precedence over telling her earlier, but now, in this matter, he felt she had the right to know. ]

[instars]

[Well. Whatever she was expecting, it wasn't that. She looks at him for what must feel like a very long time. A wolf would not lie about that. A wolf would have no reason to lie about that.

She looks behind her, and then back at him.]

Well.

[She takes another moment.]

Did you take care of it?

[unwiseheart]

[ He shifts his weight uncomfortably, from one foot to the other. ]

I... w-well... [ Gaia, maybe this was a bad idea after all. The last thing he needs is her thinking he's weak. Of course, that would be him assuming she ever thought otherwise. He looks down, tapping ash off the end of his cigarette. ] No. She got away.

[ He lets out a small huff. ]

Not that it would matter. imPorts do not remain dead.

[instars]

[She doesn't say anything in response. Instead, she's thinking. Abominations are nightmares; they have too much power and are too strong for any one shifter to handle, even Saya will admit to that. She thinks of Daisy and Daisy's formidable temper, and Daisy's enormous dragon dream shape, and thinks even the Mokole might think about bringing backup.

So she does not judge.

But she does look down at her shoes.

Shit.

She did not want to deal with an Abomination. Ever, preferably.]

Did it fight back?

[Well, he's still alive, but he may be smarter than she thinks.]

We could preserve it.

[Not she. Even Saya, who is pretty blase about these things, will not call an Abomination anything other than it.]

[rathercommon]

Oh.

[ It is not Kitty's finest or most dignified moment. See, there's a little bakery down the street, one she's awfully fond of, that sells these gorgeous little orange sweet buns. Iced. Studded with plump raisins and cinnamon swirls. They're bloody delicious. And this bakery reduces their prices towards the end of the day, because they're so focused on quality and freshness that they just want to start fresh every single day. And so Kitty is coming into the garage to check on the books with a bag full of junk food and a mouth full of iced bun. And that's how she greets Nicolas.

She chews a few times, and then swallows a little awkwardly. ]

Er - hullo. Are you looking for someone?

[unwiseheart]

[ In all honesty, the first thing he even notices is, in fact, the iced bun. Does he smell cinnamon? Where did she get those? Maybe he could ask-- no, no, he has to stay here and wait. For Nicolas' own part, he's quick to put his cigarette out as soon as he realizes the garage's actual owner (he thinks?) has showed up.

He clears his throat, about just as awkwardly, and nods towards the garage itself. ]

Um, yes. Just... Is Saya working today?

[rathercommon]

[ Kitty shakes her head. ]

No, she's...

[ Oh, shit. She has icing on her chin. She hastily rubs it off with her thumb. ]

She's off today. Doing something else, I suppose. [ A slight hesitation. ] Is she expecting you?

[unwiseheart]

No, not exactly. [ If she were in, she would be. Nicolas isn't sure he can even sneak up on that thing. ] I thought she would--

[ Not have anything else to do, ever, apparently. That's so dumb. He puts a hand behind his neck, idly scratching it as he looks between the building and Kitty. ]

Huh. Maybe I should have called instead.

[rathercommon]

[ Okay, he sounds a little flummoxed. Good; Kitty's worry that Saya has some weird stalker eases somewhat, and her protective urges ebb. (Not that she has any idea whether Saya needs protection. Or...literally anything...about Saya at all.) ]

I suppose so. Want to come in for a cup of coffee and wait for her?

[ She shoots him a slightly hesitant smile and shakes her bag of pastries. ]

And a sweet roll, if you'd like.

[aberth]

[ Adam's working late.

That isn't unusual. But today he's doing his best to work late. His head is too full of thoughts to really head back to the Meadows and pretend otherwise, and so he finds the time to think here. He's half way through dumping the trash out at the dumpster for the truck to pick up in the morning when he notices the man. It's not the first time Adam's seen him, because he is a watchful person and honestly, Saya having visitors isn't strange but he likes to keep track anyway. He has done even before he realised what she was.

He sees the second ( third? ) cigarette get put out and he wipes his hands on his jeans and heads over. ] She's on a call out. [ Adam's voice is accentless. That's how he is with strangers. ] Busted tire. You can come inside and wait if you want. I think it's going to rain.

[unwiseheart]

[ This is awkward. Nicolas blinks at Adam, looking up from the freshly stomped out cigarette, and then immediately around as if assuming he means someone else. Surely not him. No one else is around, though, and it's about now that he realizes he's lingered too long.

It's made him stand out.

He looks back, instinctively shoving his hands deep into his coat pockets and offering Adam a puzzled look, albeit a clearly fake one. Like, yeah, it's obvious why he's here, but he doesn't want to admit it. That kind. ]

Uh, why do you even think...? I'm just standing out here.

[ And while Adam is lacking in the accent department, Nicolas can't really hide his Russian one. ]

[aberth]

[ Adam is smart enough to know that an accent means very little. He keeps his Henriettan under wraps because people judge him. He's not about to do it now. Still, his eyebrows end up near his hairline. ]

It's just that you're usually hanging around waiting for her.

[ He imagines that maybe they're dating? But Saya seems like a love them and leave them type. ]

And it's kind of cold out. So I figured you'd want to wait inside.

[unwiseheart]

O-oh.

[ It must be kind of obvious, now that he thinks back on how Saya kept using this place to meet. There's something sheepish about the way Nicolas reacts, scratching the back his head and looking away, but then he sighs. ]

Maybe I should start waiting across the street... uh... well. [ But no use now. He looks back towards the garage, then to Adam. ] Alright. I guess it can't hurt to wait out of the wind.

for gaby; closed

[unwiseheart]

But an American food restaurant? Really?

[ Nicolas questions her choice of restaurant for about the third time since they met there, this time after they've already been seated. It's your stereotypical 50's malt shop, only bigger, grander, somehow, complete with poodle skirts and soda jerks and the ridiculous pastel decor, even a jukebox. The worst part, in his opinion, is it isn't even a throwback themed restaurant. This America seems to have never quite grown out of the style, now has it? ]

What do they even serve? What is so American? [ A perusal of the menu answers his own question, of course, but he still finds some cause to complain. ] It looks like it is all burgers.

[ Which is a stupid thing to nitpick about, considering he likes burgers and fries, but what's an outing without some half-hearted whining? If nothing else, it will hopefully distract from the fact he's looking a bit more unkempt these days. Which may be a surprise, considering his natural state is unkempt. Clean, though. That much he manages to keep up with regularly, especially when Gaby's decided to drag him out somewhere once again. ]

[ringen]

It's unapologetically greasy. I like it.

[ Nicolas tends to question her choice of restaurant most nights, but she's also grown accustomed to his half-hearted whining -- he doesn't whine nearly as much as Illya would, at least, especially not about American food. If Gaby were to put a fine point to it, she'd chosen burgers and fries tonight because it's about as far removed as the mush she'd been forced to eat while in captivity as it gets, and that is a most welcome change. ]

If you aren't going to eat your fries, then I will.

[ And for her own part, Gaby looks about as put-together as she usually does, with next to no indication that she continues to suffer long, sleepless nights. She's had plenty of those even before the Russians took her--now they are worse, but she tries her hardest not to let it show. She does note Nicolas' appearance, however, although she will choose not to prod him about it. For now. ]

[unwiseheart]

[ The offense he takes at that threat is grand, brow furrowing to accompany the scowl he gives her at that. ]

What? No. Fry theft is very serious. [ Incredibly serious. ] Order double if you want so many.

[ Because he's probably going to do the same. Giving the menu another look, he can't help but unfurrow that brow of his, raising his eyebrows instead. ]

Chili fries? Cheese fries? Why would they do that to innocent fries?

[ They may just have to order those, too, to find out the reason. So, as serious as he may look and sound over something as little as fries, the subject alone gives way to how he can't possibly mean it. Still, he'll huff and puff over it all, muttering over the remaining menu items to himself before he looks up again, just enough peek at Gaby over the top of the pages. ]

Ah, so... are you really sure you want to be out and about so soon?

[ aka, are you okay? ]

[ringen]

[ She doesn't meet him eye for eye, although she can tell that he's looking at her. Instead, she keeps her gaze fixed down on her fries, which sadly lack any chili or cheese, as her lips draw into a thin line. ]

Why shouldn't I be, hm? I'd rather be out here than sitting around in the house.

[ There is not nearly enough for her to do in there, or enough alcohol for her to drink. ]

It's not the first time Russians have tried to kidnap me. It's just that this time, they actually succeeded.

[ Gaby is quite open about the things that bother her--that trouble seems to find her across dimensions is apparently one of them. The way the corner of her mouth turns upwards slightly is equal parts amused at her own misfortune, and bitter about it, and it betrays how perturbed she is at it all. ]

[unwiseheart]

[ That has him setting the menu down, eyebrows skyrocketing to his hairline. ]

Not the firs time? What does that mean?

for gregor; closed

[unwiseheart]

[ Sure, it took several world-wide trips and a few kidnappings, but now that those are over, Nicolas has finally dropped by with the long ago promised movies. For now, Nicolas has chosen those leaning more towards horses, seeing as all his preferred movies involving the word Star in the titles have apparently gone missing. Very mysterious, very annoying, but it wasn't as though he could lodge a complaint to the universe over it.

But the movie he did still manage to find was interesting enough.

An American cowboy and his horse, an Arabian race across the desert. There were enough points where Nicolas had to scoff, but that was all he would do, not feeling the need to ruin the movie by mentioning it may have gotten something wrong. Less so on the parts about horses, at least. He, admittedly, knew very little about the beasts.

When the credits finally roll, it's then he'll finally speak up in any complete way. ]

I think all those horses would have kicked me to death if I had ever tried something that insane...

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor is actually a bit sad to not get to see any of the sci fi movies he'd mentioned, but a Western is a very good substitute and he watches with a kid of morbid fascination reserved for anthropological studies.

It all looks and sounds so antique to him. Like watching an old black and white movie to a modern day Terran. But sure enough, once you get past the presentation, the story sucks you in regardless. He's a respectful audience -- no murmured asides or worse, loud discussions -- and by the time the credits roll he's stretched out much more casually, leaning on one elbow on the couch arm, a leg thrown up along the seat. ]

Is there some reason everyone here thinks horses are murderous beasts, or is it just you and Kitty?

[unwiseheart]

[ Nicolas will just have to find suitable substitutes, but that required a bit more research on his part. With all the iconic ones missing, what was even worth watching? But horses. Horses, like most herbivores, were never very happy to smell a predator strolling on into their stables.

The same could be said for most dogs, too, although they rarely ever lashed out at him. Barking, though. So much barking. ]

Eh. [ Not that he's going to share that reason, not with Greg. It leaves him shrugging instead, like it's some odd unknown. ] Most people are fine with them, I think. I tend to mark it down as me being unlucky with animals, is all.

[ And this time, at least, the topic shift is quite more natural, as he looks over at Gregor curiously. ]

You mean Miss Jones?

[vorbarra]

[ Greg is not going to press, though goodness, he is amassing some clues here. Unlucky with animals as well as technology. An injoke about hating the moon with his relatives who he ordinarily spends all of his time around, likely inbred. Old Russian Imperialists.

Gregor shoots him a sidelong glance. ]

Yes, Kitty Jones. Probably my closest friend here. I asked her to go riding and she was convinced the horse might eat her. I gave her the sweetest old mare I could find and that turned her around on it.

[unwiseheart]

[ It might be a little too easy to forget that, maybe, just maybe, some old Earth legends made it into space. That, or the internet here makes it all too convenient. ]

Really?

[ He returns that glance with one of his own, although he can't help but smile at that image alone. ]

Well, I would not suggest trying that with me. I imagine horses are naturally kinder to nice girls.