The Captain's Table <CT>
Through the door is a ten foot hallway with pictures of ships on either side in some of the most recognizable images of them. Even the USS Challenger's explosion is portrayed, with the words 'Your courage continues today.' beneath it.
Coming out of the hallway reveals the true homey feel of the tavern has, with a plethora of different people and reploids walking about in it's Victorian design. The tables and insides of the bar all appear to be of a fine oak carved and polished to perfection. At the main bar itself, a friendly white bearded reploid stands serving out virtually any drink you could imagine, from freshly squeezed Orange Juice to anything else you can think of. The only real prerequisite to being here, is that occassionally you might be called on to tell a story to those around.
(Page/@Mail Bastion if you think something cool can be added here.)
Zayin [Armored] [C] Flare Feline [RF]
Gemini Man [RM] Ballade [Normal] [RM]
Bastion [MH] Dark Static [C]
Kalinka [MH] Gauss Coyote [M]
Chess Board <Captain's Table> Card Table
Exits:
Leave <O> leads to Torontreal - Park District.
A figure wearing a golden helmet with a hat placed awkwardly ontop of the helmet walks in. Why describe just the helmet as golden? Cause Zayin is wearing a black trenchcoat that pretty much covers up his torso and legs. Zayin's hands are stuffed into pockets at the side of the trench coat. Green optics dart back and forth as the Android looks around... right before moving towards the tavern. The Android's optics look towards the pictures as he passes by them.
Zayin
A rather large reploid (size 5) stands before you. This reploid is mostly clad in golden armor. Only a few portions of his body aren't covered in said golden metal. Those respective body parts being his hands, part of his chests, and faceplate. The rest of the body is entirely gold ranging from his massive looking legs, up to his rotund upper torso. His arms and shoulders seem to be made from ancient armor, while his head is protected by a round helmet with protruding sections on each side. His green optics just stare back at you. Sizing you up to see if you are a worthy opponent. In his right hand he carries a massive sword. The blade itself seems to be a good 2 feet across and a good 5 feet from hilt to point.
Flare Feline nods at Dark, still not being given his name. So he just extends his own hand first "Hi, I'm Flare Feline, of Repliforce."
Slipping into silence as Dark Static arrives, Bastion leans back in his chair and crosses his arms across his chest. Looking toward the bar, specifically to the bartender Shotglass, he motions slightly to have her bring over a round of drinks for the table. Just as Kal semi-introduces them, he says simply with a short glance toward Dark, "Bastion." before looking back to the bar.
Kalinka finally makes introductions... "Flare, this is DS...DS is a radio broadcaster! And DS, this is Bastion. He is the owner of this place!"
Dark Static inclines his head politely, carefully extending his hand towards Flare's in a slow, steady manner, eventually meeting it and shaking once, firmly. "Dark Static, ex-UN comm specialist, now SRAV's late night talk show host." He nods amiably in Bastion's direction, "Pleasure to meet you both. Any friend of Miss Kali's is a friend worth knowing."
Bastion sends a radio transmission.
Ballade receives a radio transmission.
Kalinka peers over at Zayin in wonder and amazement...this place is attracting some unusual night life, this evening.
Bowie moseys down the short hallway leading from entrance to serving room. It's a nice evening, and he has no other pressing business. So, here he is. The Texan makes his way over to the bar, unless he's distracted by something or someone else.
Ballade sends a radio transmission.
Bastion receives a radio transmission from Ballade.
Even folks like Zayin need to have a night life. Wait. Zayin? Night Life? He's gotta be the most boring of folks around... how could he have a night life? In anycase he is here! Zayin walks out of the little hallway with all the pictures and into the main tavern area. He glances around as he stops in that one spot. What to do. Zayin's been told to go do stuff, he's out doing. So what's he doing? He's going strait for the bar. When someone greets him as he passes by, he allows the casual nod, but says nothing until he reaches teh main bar.
Flare Feline blinks "When'd Bastion start running this place?" Flare's never one to be up on news, new or old, about social gathering places. He doesn't really pay any attention to any others entering for now.
Kalinka giggles at Flare's question. "Since he opened it," she says with a grin. Spotting Bowie, she waves at him from across the room frantically. "Hey Bowie!"
Dark Static tilts his head towards Bowie and waves lightly, chuckling, "I even knew that. Then again, I get paid to know things like that, so it doesn't mean much."
Flare Feline blinks, and shrugs "Guess I need to catch up on a few things. I never really paid attention to who opens these places..." He nods to Bowie as he enters, seems to be a real Hunter hang out.
Bastion gives the slightest shrug as the conversation turns to his ownership of the tavern. "It was something that I did when I resigned from the 'force. Before I got offered the position in the Hunters." Bastion remains leaning back as Shotglass brings four mugs and asks each what they care for as their poison; though Shotglass sits down a mug out of the four that has Bastion's usual in it.
Bowie's attention is grabbed by his friend's call and waving. He returns the wave and heads in that direction. "Evenin, missy," he greets, "DS, Bastion..." He trails off when he reaches the feline at the table, unable to find a name for him. "Sir."
Kalinka grins at Flare cheerfully, then looks to Bowie. "Bowie, this is Flare Feline. He is in Repliforce."
Dark Static shakes his head wryly as he listens to his radio, still managing to somehow keep his attention in the here and now, "Repliforce: Making the world safer, as long as the UN doesn't cut their budget to fund their Rogaine needs." A sardonic grin on his face as he says that states he's not kidding, either.
The Golden Shadow Hunter hears the words Repliforce and Hunters and his optics just get a little wider. No matter, he probably thinks to himself as he reaches the bar. Don't make ascene, don't need to worry about much. Zayin looks towards the nearest server behind the bar and raises a gold and black gauntlet, "Something to drink." He states before the server asks for what exactly. Zayin grunts and waves, "Anything." He says. A few minutes later... a glass of OJ is slid in front of him. Zayin just looks at it, "Err..."
The Elite's attention drifts to the larger person nearby the bar. Idly, he finishes his second cup of tea, setting it down to be refilled. As the server does so, he looks again to his Saturday Evening Post, turning another few pages. He can read faster than this, but chooses not to.
Zayin, Gauss and Ballade may as well not be here, Flare didn't notice them yet, and he's having a grand old time with some of old Hunter collegues and newcomers. "Pleased to meet you Bowie." He says, and turns back to Kalinka "Seems like you're busy studying, what is it?"
Gauss is tailwagging. That is wonderful. He hasn't been noticed, and he's not really trying to hide what he is. He's just quietly listening in on conversations, ears twitching here and there. Although, one keeps flicking back towards the Cossack and Party table.
Bowie tips his hat. "Pleased t'meetcha, Flare." He pulls up a chair wherever there's a free space at the table. "So whut's the occasion?"
What happens now is something and is enough to turn anyone's head.
A deep, rumbling thrum begins, and that is the first sign of a new presence. Then, slowly, a massive shadow glides silently down the entry hall. The thrumming coming from the massive creature... Byte slowly hovers into The Captain's Table, hovering ominously a short distance above the ground. The hum also is accompanied by a... soft shift of metal against other substances; glass, ceramic, tile. Groans and shiftings as unheld metal bits and oddities are disturbed by the giant's 'magnetic' personality.
Byte, the Maverick Yoma, has arrived.
Kalinka giggles. "I am working on my thesis," she tells Flare. "It is just...um, thing for school. Big thing. Very big." As Bowie sits, she grins at him sheepishly. "There is no occasion, it is just...good night to get together, and...." Her jaw drops, chatter ending abruptly in surprise as Byte makes his way into the tavern.
The Golden Yakuza warrior raises his glass of... juice up and just stares at it, "I meant something... hard." He murmers to himself and glances up as the server before him just stares towards the entrence hallway. Zayin raises his hat up a bit to clear his field of vision, "Has a flare for entrences doesn't he..." The Shadow Hunter murmers to himself.
Flare Feline knows what a thesis is, give him SOME credit. "Ah, really? That's neat. I was made as a result of my creators thesis." And he looks to Bowie "No occasion, I don't think, just a lot of us happened to run into each other."
Dark Static continues to listen to the conversation then pauses. Large object, humanoid, gravitic disturbing and moving under hover power. And all that without turning his head. "Hmm. That would be either Byte of the CRF, or Guts Man of the Robot Masters. And judging by the fact that it's hovering and not singing bad karaoke, I'd wager on Byte." He hmms, "Glad this place is neutral ground, my last encounter with someone of the CRF was... rather painful." He rubs his shoulder absently.
"When in doubt, silence is always the better option."
The voice, soft, quiet, yet with each word being perfectly clear to Zayin and Byte, radiates from Ballade. It is a voice with a understated power and grace to it, not so deep as to shake the windows, not so high as to make crystal sing ... but properly modulated so that it may be heard through a variety of circumstances. It is the Voice that fuels Wily's Song.
The Elite, having said his peace, picks up his refreshed cup of tea and takes a measured sip from it, turning another page in the Post.
Havoc Grackle has arrived.
Bastion has left.
Havoc Grackle slips in quietly, pulling his courier jacket about his shoulders snugly as his large eyes dart towards the bar.
Dark Static has disconnected.
Byte pauses to gaze around the establishment for long moments. His eyes drifting over each entity in turn. Ballade is the first one acknowledged, and Byte studies him for a moment, before nodding slowly. Then, for a moment, a pair of golden eyes fall on Kalinka Cossack, studying her, then turn away... only to return to Dark Static as he speaks of his organization.
Byte then turns slowly, floating with only the deep thrumming to the Bar, and then shifts... his large legs rising slowly into the Lotus position as he hovers forward to 'sit' at the Bar. Those golden eyes turn to the white-bearded bartender, and speaks with a low rumble. "Sake."
Bowie, like practically all the other patrons, turns to peer at Byte as he makes his way inside. Perhaps it's no surprise he subconsciously shifts in his chair, making sure he's between the massive Maverick and Kalinka. However, this is neutral space, and so he doesn't do more than that.
Gauss Coyote quirks a lip in a smile, sipping his drink as he studies the table's reactions to the entrance of one of the 'yote's commanders. Heh. He loves that reaction. So amusing. Hmmmm. The sniper 'yote idly calculates trajectories and angles from the various windows, just for fun.
--
Gauss Coyote
a fairly short reploid who is still about 6 feet nine inches, tall, Gauss Coyote looks perfectly normal. just a coyote's features with a tail. no illegal weaponry, no sir. That's because it's all concealed in his armor, which is kept semi hidden by a trenchcoat/duster hybrid, that has openings in the back to accomadate Gauss Coyote's unusual booster configurations. What armor you see is a dark brown, and if you can find him when his stealth mode is up and running you would notice said armor is mottled brown with lighter colors in a camoflauge pattern that helps break up his outline. He has a full set of armor underneath the duster, although a glance shows he is built for speed and stealth rather than brawling. Also, said armor goes from head to toe, although a casual glance wouldn't mark him as out of the ordinary. He has a scar near one eye socket, and his fur is a dark black. Hidden underneath his duster are a pair of backmounted dashjets, and there is a set in his boot like feet as well. Finally, there is a radio antenna protruding from his back, although it's usually retracted, and his ears twitch and seem to scan the area with the aid of his eyes and nose. Finally, there is an odd symbol set on his chest, although it's usually behind the trenchcoat.
--
Havoc Grackle knifes his way up to the bar amid the crowd, his frame not drawing a fraction of the respect given the giant Maverick field commander. He quietly orders a 7UP before turning to rest his elbows on the bar, tucking his wings in tight behind him. He offers a thin smile to those making eye contact, but also affords a worrisome glance in Byte's direction.
The Golden Warrior, Zayin looks at his juice and resigns to sipping it. When Ballade's voice rings in Zayin's ears, he turns slightly to him. He just grunts and finally raises the juice to his faceplate. Hmm. Apparently the Android forgot something. Part of the face plate slides open to reveal Zayin's mouth and gulp. Down some of the fruit beverage goes.
--
Havoc Grackle
Before you is the ten feet tall Havoc Grackle. An obvious avian reploid, the lithe Grackle has a pair of sweeping midnight black wings in a typical angelic humanoid design, rising noticably above his head. His beak is scissor-like in nature, not the hooked barb of a predator.
While there is definitely a subdued presence of confidence and power, this appears to be a common service reploid, possibly a courier.
--
Kalinka smirks, as Byte seems to be in here for the same reason the other patrons are...just to have a drink. She can't fathom how someone like him can have a 'good time', but the urge must be in there -somewhere-. Turning back to Flare and Bowie, the grin returns to her face. "So, what has been going on? Do not make me talk about chemistry. I scared the last boy to visit this table away with it."
"Good evening, Field Commander," the Elite directs to Byte, the wave distorting into a smooth cone to keep it from drifting towards Kalinka's table; yet the sound is untouched, his voice just as clear as ever.
"It is a lovely day for tea."
The Elite sips some more of his tea, continuing to read the Post. His eyes are the least keen of his senses ... his concentration is palatable on various points in the room.
Flare Feline hmms "Well, work related stuff mostly... some 'family' issues..." He scratches the back of his head before continuing "But mainly just doing my usual job in Repliforce, stuff like that."
Bowie relaxes somewhat as the bar returns to what counts for normal. He orders a cream soda from the waitress as she comes by, then turns his attention back to Kalinka and Flare. "Jus the usual. Patrol, then checked on Comanche."
Byte rumbles softly, his mighty jaw working as the Bartender fetches his drink. And soon the clay bottle is placed before him, as well as a small dish. Byte nods slowly to the Bartender... and raises his hands slowly before himself. What follows next is an interesting show... both the bottle and dish rise... under the thrall of Byte's particular powers.
When spoken to, Byte doesn't turn his head, but merely nods in acknowledgement... rumbling softly. "...Indeed." Byte's fingers move in an odd dance... the bottle of hot Sake pouring into the dish untill full. The Dish then follows the motion of Byte's fingertips, supported by peculiar powers that Byte is the master of, the Dish rishing to Byte's mouth as he drinks... a low rumble of pleasure greeting the passage of the hot sake down into his inner workings.
As for the others in the Bar, Byte notices them each. The peculiar Zayin. Havoc Grackle. And whatever else of the crowd that stays well away from him... which is good.
Kalinka nods. "As for me...I got another letter from..." She pulls a letter out of her bookbag, then looks over at Flare and Bowie, blinking a few times. "Oh, you guys do not know about this whole...mess. I have...whole entire side of my family I never talk about." She rolls her eyes. "There is a very good reason for this. They are...-impossible-."
Havoc Grackle picks up his drink with a tremble as he stands near the enormous Byte. Almost abrubtly, as the massive Byte's gaze falls upon him he stumbles backward, his wings flaring out and tapping the table of Bowie, Flare Feline and Kalinka as he tries to regain his composure and not spill his beverage at the same time.
Gauss Coyote quietly facepalms in the background. Oy. Ah well. Might as well see what the reaction is. See if there's one group or another that's easy to taunt into a fight. Might be interesting.
Zayin's gotta be the peculiar one. The Shadow Hunter XO places his empty OJ glass on the bar top and rolls up his trenchcoat's sleeves, "Uh... now could you..." He pauses and grunts, "Give me something a bit stronger. Orange Juice... it just doesn't have the affect I am after." Zayin grunts and while he waits, casts a glance towards Byte then towards the elite. He says nothing, just looks at them.
Flare Feline blinks "Side?" He doesn't know much about how different sides of the family can be, he is just familiar with his own immediate family. Not saying he knows nothing about family structure, but it doesn't occur to him right away.
Sword Man has arrived.
Sword Man marches in, as regal as ever. The White Knight of Wily is here!
Bowie catches his drink before it tips over, some of the soda sloshing onto the table and his hand. Ah well. That's what napkins are for. "Oh?"
Havoc Grackle blinks several times as he tears his look of fear from Byte and realizes what he has done. The avian goes into a flurry of apologies. "Oh dear, oh dear." he rasps meekly. "Terribly sorry, terribly sorry indeed - this is not my day.." he frets as he goes down to one knee, grabbing a wad of napkins from the bar to deal with the slight mess. The bird is still shivering.
Napalm Man has arrived.
Kalinka bobs her head, and explains... "This can get to be just like a soap opera, so I will spare you guys with the crybaby details, and just tell you the, um...point of the matter. They are...my mother's relatives. I did not even know or hear from them, until -this year-. Some are very nice, but I...do not really like them. They are, all the time...you know, writing and sometimes calling. Their reason is I would be safer with them. And yes...they are right. But...my point is, where the hell have they been all of these years, you know? And they are so much with the -melodrama-! 'Oh, come home!' Blah-blah, and so on." She smirks.
Flare Feline headscratches for a minute "...does it matter? I mean, it's not like you have to. If you like to be with your father and the Hunters, it doesn't matter what they say, right? Maybe they really care for you... but they shouldn't push so hard, it's your life, ya know."
Byte simply lowers his head from sipping the Sake. The dish lowering to accept another refill. Byte rumbles softly, his gaze not turning to the table that the skitterish Maverick bumped into... Byte merely pauses, his gaze returning a moment the glance from the Monguloid Reploid also at the bar... then Byte motions... through the air drifting the small dish filled with Sake. "...Perhaps... some Sake... would suit you, Brother." The deep basso-prufundo rumble of Byte's voice resounds. "Warm... it is delicious."
And within... Byte directs a soft message towards another within the Bar. While his audios curiously filter the background noise and digest the various conversations.
Bowie waves the avain off, smiling. " 'Sall right. It happens." He turns back to Kalinka. "Ah dunno, Miss Kalinka. Ah'd say yer safer with the rest a us..." Flare's opinion receives a nods. "'xactly."
Byte sends a radio transmission.
Ballade receives a radio transmission.
Ballade sends a radio transmission.
Byte receives a radio transmission.
Napalm Man clanks in the door, looking around at all the other reploids. The combination of factions would cause one to think this place would be a powderkeg. But, for now, it's just a gathering place to sit and talk. Napalm does just this, walking up to the bar and sitting down at a stool, he orders up a beer and listens to the conversation.
Ballade is sitting at the bar, wearing a finely tailored suit. He is intermittently sipping from a cup of tea while reading the most recent Saturday Evening Post. Apparently he is taking little heed of what is going on around him -- but what is apparent is not always true.
Havoc Grackle straightens as he continues to fret, smiling thankfully to Bowie. "Allow me to pick up this round of drinks for your party." the Grackle insists, reaching into a credit port and dispatching several coins. At the same time he, nods to Kalinka and Flare Feline. "I deeply apologize for disrupting your conversation."
Gauss Coyote leans back against the wall, loitering, and staying nice and in the background. Sneaksneaksneak. Yay. Gauss is glad his practice at...Not being seen..is good.
As the various occupants of the restaurant chat idle chatter, drink it up, and have an otherwise good time, a rather shady individual, enshrouded in a large brown cloak, steps through the doors. The mysterious robot (for it's much to tall and wide to be a human being) looks around from within his hood. Eyeing the surroundings, he merely walk forward, toward the bar, taking a stool and looking toward the bartender. "I shall have a brandy." he says in a slightly muffled, but obviously accented voice. He waits for the drink to come, looking around as he does so, as if trying to find familiar faces.
The server serving the Golden Yakuza comes back with a cola. Zayin just stares at the server for a moment then looks down to his glass. He stares at it for a moment and those green optics cut up towards the server, "You know I did not mean this...." He mutters and pushes the glass aside, "Perhaps I should just leave then." Zayin stands up from his stool and straitens out his trenchcoat, "And I'm not paying for that juice!" Zayin exclaims before he turns back towards the little hallway that leads to the exit.
Byte sends a radio transmission.
Ballade receives a radio transmission.
Kalinka nods to her table companions, Bowie and Flare. "Yeah...I know. And Flare, I know it is my choice. They just...make me feel bad for choosing to stay with Daddy. They think his life is dangerous...and it does not help that they also think he is crazy..." As Havoc offers to buy drinks, Kali blinks and looks over at him, wondering offhandedly if he's a friend of Bowie's.
Ballade sends a radio transmission to Byte.
Byte receives a radio transmission.
Byte rumbles softly, drawing back his dish of Sake... and raising up to take another long, slow drink while he hovers in lotus style in mid-air. The almost sub-sonic rumble of his powers at work plainly audible... yet not irritating... more like ominous... having the sound of thunder in the distance or the feel of an approaching storm.
Byte simply contents himself with his internal conversations, taking pleasure in the hot Sake, and concerning himself with the matters at hand. Curiousity will wait a few moments more.
Flare Feline blinks "Crazy? Nah." Of course, Flare doesn't know the Doc as well as some people, and he's never really heard so much negative gossip of him around, he's only spoken to him a few times in passing, and he was always friendly from what he saw. "Well lots of things are dangerous in the world now, Kalinka. You could put yourself in more danger by leaving the Hunters. And the Hunters would lose a really good asset then, and that's just no good at all." He smiles "Anyway, I'm sure it'll work out, they're still family afterall right?"
Zayin has left.
If Bowie knows the grackle, the memories are still in a jumbled data sector. "No need fer that, sir...." Except he seems to already be too late. In which case, all he can say is "Thankee." He's still listening to the conversation at the table, but has nothing to contribute just yet.
Byte sends a radio transmission to Ballade.
Ballade receives a radio transmission.
Havoc Grackle seems to be comforted after putting some money up for his troubles. "Sorry, again - I don't usually come by on this route and I didn't expect to see so many....uh.....intimidating profiles here." he adds as he looks from Ballade to Byte. "I'm Panic Grackle - I run files for Khan Industries." he explains as he offers a thin hand out to Bowie.
Ballade sends a radio transmission.
Byte receives a radio transmission.
Kalinka nods to Flare. "That is something that cannot be denied. Or even changed, for that matter. So I must deal with them...ah, the holidays will be interesting." As 'Panic' introduces himself, she smiles at him graciously. "Well thank you very much, Panic...you are quite kind."
Bowie joins the grackle in a handshake, offering a smile as well. "Name's Bowie. Pleased t'meetcha. An it's all right."
Havoc Grackle seems to even tremble with the handshake, but does his earnest to be confident. "Just been one of those days, I guess - was trying to calm my nerves with a bit of nourishment." he adds, gesturing to his drink. "This city has some crazy one-way streets I wasn't aware of..." he comments as he frets, holding the back of his head.
Byte sends a radio transmission to Ballade.
Ballade receives a radio transmission from Byte.
The cloaked figure merely waits for his brandy, looking about at the crowd. He recognizes a few RFers and Hunters, though he does not make any motions to make that known. He merely waits until his drink finally comes. From within the cloak, a rather large white gloved hand reaches out toward the drink, picking it up and lifting it toward the hooded head. From within the folds of the cloak, a slight glint of metal can be seen...but not much. It's hard to tell WHAT it is, just that's it's nicely polished and hanging toward the cloaked figure's right side. THe hooded figure doesn't seem to notice, however, merely taking a sip of his drink.
Kalinka chuckles, grinning at 'Panic'. "It does, that is why I like skating up and down the streets...sometimes, you do not know where you will end up! Maybe downtown, maybe uptown. You almost have to follow the commuter trains to get anywhere!"
Bowie nods, his expression sympathetic. "Best ya kick back an relax, then. An don't wurry 'bout us. No harm done."
Flare Feline is the only RFer here. And he's never really dealt with Sword Man before. He nods to Kalinka though, and looks like he prepares to leave "Well, I have to run, it's getting late. It was good to talk to you again Kalinka, it's been awhile." He stands and nods to the other Hunter still present "Bowie..." He turns to leave and waves back once more "Goodbye." Odd choice of words, he could have just said bye or something, like he usually would. Oh well, slip of the tongue or something.
Kalinka says, "Keep practicing skating, Flare, and maybe I will recruit you to my hockey team I am putting together! Heh...you have a great night, Flare!"
Ballade sends a radio transmission to Byte.
Byte receives a radio transmission from Ballade.
Bowie nods to Flare as he prepares to leave. "Evenin, Flare. Nice meetin ya."
Flare Feline waves once more to Kalinka and Bowie, and heads on out.
Flare Feline has disconnected.
Byte lowers the Sake slowly, nodding slowly, his pleased, pleasured rumble resounding as his mighty jaw works. He then contents himself to simply finish his conversation... another soft rumble, this one less pleased, rising within him.
Now... it is time for other matters of curiousity to be settled.
And it is as if a gentle, if giant, invisible hand slowly enfolds Kalinka Cossack.
And gently that hand moves to lift the child slowly from her seat... the hold upon the articles of Metal she wears almost complete. Then with a gentle slowness... the Child is wafted through the air... towards the gigantic creature sitting at the bar.
During all this, Byte makes no motion toward the girl... but merely refills his Sake Dish with the gentle swaying of his fingertips... even as Kalinka Cossack is wafted gently and slowly towards him...
Havoc Grackle listens as he watches Flare leave, moving in a bit closer to the pair. "Skating, huh? I used to do a bit of that myself back when I was a non-form courier." He turns on of his flare boots up, showing retractable slots for wheels. "Got 'em taken out when I got the wings - I fall too much." he admits readily.
Kalinka rather suddenly exits her seat. Via...levitating lift. Her eyes widen, mouth open in surprise...and she just...peacefully floats toward Byte. From the look on her face, this is not a place she wants to go...floating, or otherwise.
Gauss Coyote cracks a smile, finishing off his drink. This should be inneresting.....the coyote watches. He's good at that. Cowardly, but good at that.
Havoc Grackle says, "Yeah, so I didn't skate much after...I..." Panic Grackle looks up as he watches Kalinka rise. "Wha...?" he gulps, looking to Bowie for an explanation. He's already starting to tremble again."
Bowie arches an eyebrow as Kalinka rises from her seat, it taking him a moment to realize that she isn't standing. This is not a good thing. As the girl is levitated away, Bowie moves to grab her hand in an attempt to keep her here. Or, more likely, he'll be dragged along.
"Put her down, Byte," directs the Elite to the Maverick Field Commander, not so much as looking up from his reading. He does, however, put aside his tea and only turns one page in the intervening time.
"This accomplishes nothing, aside from enraging the Madman and bringing his wrath on your own holdings. While the atomic holocaust would no doubt be a thing of terrible beauty, the radioactive dust would affect our crop yields."
At that, he turns his optics to Byte, flat, impassive gaze assessing the Maverick clinically.
"And that would offend us."
You paged Kalinka with 'We can't take you anywhere. ;)'.
Kalinka(Kali) pages: I know!!!! 8)
The figure only finishes his drink, placing his glass on the bar when he sees Kalinka's predicament. Turning toward the incident, the figure drops from the stool, walking toward Byte and Kalinka. As Ballade speaks up, the figure turns its head toward him, focusing his eyes on him from within the hood. Why, it's not quite known. However, soon enough, he returns toward watching the scene, his hand returning underneath the cloak.
Slowly, Byte brings up his Sake Dish a third and final time, draining slowly and with relish... seemingly oblivious to the alarm he just caused. The pleased rumble of his deep voice resounding... as slowly he motions with his fingertips, sending the now empty Sake Bottle and Dish down upon the Bar. And then, from some unseen compartment... Zenny enough to pay for the bottle is floated out to fall beside it. Metal coins, of course.
And then, Byte slowly moves, rotating in his seated, lotus position to face the approaching Kalinka. As for Bowie... he will likely be dragged along if he grasps Kalinka... the same force seeming to gently ensnare him to ease the flight of the child... and then releases him when Kalinka hovers in front of him.
And then when Ballade speaks, Byte doesn't look away from the Child, but replies softly in a deep rumble that carries. "Nonsense. I will not hurt the child." Byte then turns his full attention on Kalinka Cossack now... giving a seated, and courteous, bow towards her. She is free to move her body, but the hovering continues, making her level with Byte's large head. "...Greetings to you... ...do not fear. As I said. I will not hurt you. ...You... are Kalinka Cossack, yes?"
Kalinka clings to Bowie's hands tightly, looking up at Byte dubiously as she begins to quietly wish her name was Mary Anonymous Doe. "I am...what is it you want?" she asks.
Havoc Grackle shrinks back as he watches the scene unfold, wings folding up to make his form smaller. "Put......put her dow-" the words choke out of him barely a whisper as he is stricken with utter fear, unable to look away from Byte and his current amusement, Kalinka listing in the air.
Ballade says nothing further, gradually turning his gaze away to read an article about quilting. He takes back up his tea, taking a smooth sip before setting it back on the coaster with a barely audible clink.
Ballade has made his token statement. The Russian can now focus his rage on the Mavericks alone. He would not be the one to break the neutrality of the Captain's Table.
Bowie finds himself uncerimoniously dragged along by the same force that's levitating Kalinka. He refuses to let go, holding onto her hands tightly but not in a crushing grip. Byte earns a very irritated scowl. "Let her go. Now."
The cloaked figure merely shakes his head at the scene before him. He watches on and doesn't move. No action to help the two trapped in the gravity field. No movement to attack them, either. Nor does he make any motion to walk away in disgust, boredom, or whatever. He merely watches on, turning his head toward Byte, eyes piercing from under the shadowed hood.
Napalm Man edges along the wall of the tavern and creeps out the door. As much as he'd love to see a bit of chaos, he doesn't quite want to be inside when the building comes down.
Napalm Man has disconnected.
Wheel Gator has arrived.
Wheel Gator slithers in.
Byte cocks his disproportionate head slowly at Kalinka, regarding her with those golden eyes for long moments. The Yoma slowly brings his hands before himself, gently steepling his first fingers and placing the tips of his thumbs together, and resting the second part of the rest of his fingers against their opposing digits as he holds the point of his first fingers downward... in a meditative position.
And then, with a low rumble, he speaks. "...I have... heard much of you, your father, and your brother, Swing... from your other brother... Vile. Yet... I had never met you. A child... of Fifteen or Sixteen years... with hair of gold and eyes the color of ice. ...Just as your brother described you."
Byte then rumbles softly, his golden eyes shifting, if nothing else does, to Bowie. "I am not harming her. You are in needless fear, Hunter." Byte pauses, looking at Kalinka intently. "...Vile also told me that you, despite all he has done to your father and to you, have never truly been afraid of him. ...Are you afraid of me, Child?"
Havoc Grackle looks to Bowie for help out of the corner of his eye. "Oh man, what a day..." he laments with a howl as he watches on in anguish, totally spilling his 7UP and not even realizing it this time.
Bowie continues to both glare at Byte and hold Kalinka's hand. No move is made towards his pistols or his knife; as he's pointed out, he's not yet hurt Kalinka. Not to mention there are far too many civilians in here to even consider drawing his weapons. For now, he says nothing.
Kalinka shakes her head. "No, I am not," she says, answering Byte...putting on her bravest possible face. And there is some truth to it...she isn't paralyzed with fear, though she has a really nasty case of the butterflies that she isn't about to admit. "And I am not afraid of Vava, either. He has gone down a...tragic path. But he is still my brother."
Gauss Coyote yawns, settling back as his ears stop twitching. Ahhhhhh. finally. relax time. the 'yote orders a daiquiri of strawberries and sips, quietly content. He didn't get shot yet. Always a plus.
The sigh that comes from Byte is almost... gentle... after he listens to Kalinka speak. The glares, alarm, and terror he has generated within this place not seeming to affect him. The only part of him that moves is the disproportionate head of the Yoma. Then, after another deep rumble, Byte addresses Kalinka once more.
"...I am sorry you believe that, child. I know him now. Perhaps as well as you do. Vava is dead, child. Vile killed him. There is only one entity on this planet that truly embodies the world evil, Child... ...and that is your brother." Byte stares at her with those golden eyes for long moments. "You are brave, and intelligent. I see a Future in your eyes, Kalinka Cossack. When you grow... ...you shall inherit the world your father and other great men created. You are of the next generation. I see something in you, child... ...You are the hope of your Race." Byte rumbles softly.
"...One day... it will come down to you versus your brother. We shall see then which shall prevail in the Balance. Darkness... or Light." Byte's hands move, cupping in the air together, almost in the traditional symbol of the Yin and the Yang. "You are one hope of your Race, Kalinka Cossack. Pray you learn the truth and leave behind your thoughts that Evil can be turned to good. That is not the nature of the Universe. ...But, we shall see, shall we not?"
And then... the gentle hold seems to calm, and Kalinka is gently set down from the air... ...and all of it vanishes.
"...We shall see."
Wheel Gator slithers out.
Wheel Gator has left.
[OOC] Byte says, "Note: What vanished was just Byte's hold/powers/grasp on Kalinka. -grins- Just so you don't misinterpret."
Far from expecting this, Kalinka seems to not have a rejoinder for Byte's prophecy. She just stares at him...still clutching Bowie's hands, though her mind is already fast-forwarded to that time and place where she can see herself in some nightmarish Final Showdown again her turncoat brother. "........" As Byte sets her gently down on the ground, she comes out of this reverie. "...Yes. We -shall- see," she murmurs.
Bowie keeps his silence, having no retort worth sharing. It's not his style. Internally, he shudders at the would-be prophesy. If it were possible for him to prevent such a battle from ever taking place, he would. Kalinka should be spared from such an agonizing fate. He gently squeezes Kalinka's hands once she's released from Byte's magnetic grasp.
Byte inclines his head slowly to Kalinka Cossack, and then looks slowly to Bowie. "...A Pardon for interuppting your talk and drink." Byte turns his golden eyes slowly back to Kalinka, an almost meaningful, intense gaze, then slowly shifts his hands... half-curling his fingers as he places the base of his palms together, one hand held up, the other down.
Byte then raises his head, looking straight ahead. "...untill next we meet again, Ballade."
And with a sudden, deeper hum...
...Byte vanishes.
Byte blinks to another location.
Byte blinks into the area.
Havoc Grackle keels over and faints in response.
Ballade sips his tea.
(Bowie escorts Kalinka back to Hunter HQ.)