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Seminars
| When: | 8 March 2005 |
| Who: | Butch, Kacela, Ravid, Uzal |
| What: | Butch tries to be sociable with Kacela, while Uzal, posing as an innocent Mercurian, continues his 'helpful' contribution to Ravid's inquest. |
Fado Irish Pub and Restaurant
Fado's has become a hotspot for many of the locals. The place is split between three different sections, the bar and tavern in one room, another room for the restaurant, and an outside patio area as an extension of the restaurant; all of which are no smoking. The owner, Tyrr Ceallaghan, opened Fado's two years ago and has advertised and made enough deals to watch it grow.
The bar and tavern room has a counter top bar where any of the patrons can sit and talk with the bartenders or their fellow patrons. Near the bar there are a few tables where anyone can sit with friends, share a drink, and just have a good time.
The restaurant and patio area is your classic walk in dine-in restaurant, with different celtic elements on the walls and in the way the rooms are built. The waitresses and waiters are dressed in all black, and always very courteous, as the owners insist on top quality customer service.
"Oh, you sick..." The words carry a faint croon of admiration to them.
Emanating from one of the booths in the establishment, the words are uttered by a black woman who's leaned over a book, raptly reading its contents. Judging from the images, it's some kind of pathology textbook. Despite her exotic clubwear, it seems she's opted to just take in a dinner at a sit down place. A mostly finished plate of shepard's pie sits beside her, while keen umber eyes pour over the pages.
Uzal strolls into the room, looking about him with a faint smirk. He seems perfectly comfortable and relaxed; no sign of his recent torture afflicts his demeanour. His bright violet eyes happen to fall upon Kacela, and his lips curve into a warm, pleasant smile. Heading toward her, he bows graciously before her table, trying to peer at her book as he does so. "Well, if it is not the radiant beauty I had the pleasure to see twice before..." he murmurs, eyes sparkling.
Strolling casually through the entrance, Ray Vaughn pauses to cast a brief glance across the gathered patrons... and stops. He's either spotted a familiar face, or just randomly happened to become deeply thoughtful upon glancing in Uzal's direction. Uncharacteristically enough, Ray even produces something closer resembling a facial expression; He narrows his eyes a bit and -almost- frowns. After a moment or two of contemplation, he moves in that direction.
Kacela then sighs out towards the pages. "Huh. Shiga. Gonna have to remember that one," she remarks to herself, before pausing at the voice. She blinks, and then splays slender hands wide to cover the majority of the text. "Oh, why fancy seeing you so soon. Did you have a nice weekend?" She outright ignores the flattery for now, and pointedly doesn't offer a seat. A cool glance is sent towards Ray's approaching figure. "Business before pleasure," she points to out Uzal, as if seeking to return to her extracurricular reading. Her free hand slides out to bring her whiskey sour up to sip at the amber fluid.
Butch tosses open the front door with a flourish of energy and strides right through the entrance and heads straight for the bar not pausing for a moment. He's whistling loudly and rather poorly the tune to the Andy Griffith show. He stops abruptly at the bar and slaps down a twenty with a loud "Same thing as last night big guy!"
Uzal's eyes narrow a moment as Kacela covers the book. "This weekend? Ah, it went fine, I would imagine," he nods, looking innocent of any other belief. "How was yours?" He smiles, tilting his head as he tries to glance at the text again, "A manual of business, is it?" then turns slightly to regard Ray's approach. He starts to look even more innocent as the other catches his eye.
Kacela snaps her gaze back towards the words of Butch, motion much like that of a cornered animal. However, her behavior cools considerably. "No, I'm saying that you should tend to business first, in regards to the gentleman staring at you." She inclines her head overpolitely towards Ray. "You're not a rude person," she asserts, before raising the book to primly read through the etiology and the modes of transmission section of the microbiology textbook.
Butch takes one of the several beers that Kurgan sets out for him, and chugs it. Tossing his head way back and drinking until every drop is gone, then slaming it back donw on the counter. "Ahhh! Great." Then, he eyes the little glass with flowers, tilts his head to one side, then the other, and shrugs. Butch scoops up the rest of his beers minus one which he takes in his spare hand, and only then does he finally take the time to look about the bar and its customers. "well...I'll be damn'd....." escapes his lips as Butch eyes the man whos practically come back from the grave.
"Ulysses..." Offers Vaughn, cocking his head to one side. He clasps his hands lightly behind his back, opening his mouth to continue... he glances over his shoulder. More people filing into the room, doesn't exactly make for conveniently discrete conversation. Ray gives about a quarter of a smirk, glancing back, "Am I interrupting?" Probably not what he was about to say, but... it's a good stalling tactic, if nothing else. His eyes flick to Kacela, and he offers a nod, "Ma'am."
"A rude person? Far be it from me," Uzal shakes his head softly, then turns to dip his head politely to Ray. "Interrupting? Ah, no, the lady seems to be busy, herself, at the moment." He smiles affably. "If you wish to have a further word with me, I am available." His gaze flicks for a moment to the boisterous drinker at the bar, taking in another familiar face.
Butch smirks as he sees the 'scowling one' shoot him a glance, and then he recognizes the lady hes chatting with. With a quick swig of his beer Butch strutts right on over, and stands just to the side of the seated black woman and the 'scowler'. "Hey, one hell of a family reunion tonight eh?!" Butch gives Uzal a friendly punch in the arm with his hand thats holding his half drunk beer. "And allways a pleasure to be in the company of such a fiery lady!" Noding to the ebony beauty still seated. Then he turns to the face he doesn't quite recognize and just smiles broadly while gesturing with his craddled arm full of beers. "Drinks anyone?"
Kacela savors the interactions, and laces fingers under her chin, eyes half-lidded as she diverts Uzal's attention. She doesn't interject herself further in the conversation between Ravid and Uzal, although her gaze does flick towards Butch, one eyebrow raised. A faint 'oh!' comes from her. "Yes, Friday night... seems there were a lot of faces to remember then..." She catches her verbal slipup, and then looks at the gathered males with a gaze that is positive venom. "Don't take that out of context," she warns, before batting eyes at Butch's affability. "Yes, yes indeed," she says, shifting weight some to rest her chin on one palm, before snapping the book shut. She seems rather particular about her personal space. "I suppose, if you're offering, a bottled cider would be fine. I do not like to take more than two servings in mixed company. You understand, one can never be too careful." She smiles thinly.
Butch shrugs and then shouts out "Sure, whatever floats your boat. Mind if I take a seat then?" He asks his question over his shoulder as he grabs a waitress and barks the drink order at her.
Vaughn's eyebrow quirks upward slightly, "As good a time as any... possibly better." He glances over his shoulder, likely scanning for a decent out-of-earshot table, as Butch approaches and catches his attention. He blinks at the man, though his stoic expression doesn't go so far to register familiarity (Or amiable inclinations). "You're... -all-..." He pauses, groping about for a decent word, "Acquainted?"
"Acquainted?" Uzal glances over the others, and shrugs lightly. "Only in passing." An eyebrow lifts as he watches Butch trying to edge in at Kacela's table. "We happened to pass by on the street the other day." He turns his face to Vaughn, smiling. "Where would you like to sit? Over there seems good," pointing to a secluded table that stands like an island amid the evening's crowd.
Kacela opts to be difficult. "No," she responds to Ray. "It's just something you get used to, though." After a moment, she mulls over the question from Butch, and despite the recoiling within, says, "That's right friendly of you. Please take one of the opposite seats." She considers the Hornsby's for a moment, before giving a faint shiver and pulling her light overcoat over her shoulders, as she shoots Uzal a look that some might consider a silent cry for help.
Butch strides back over after ordering the ladys drink. "Hey thanks. Oh, sorry, but I don't think I caught your name the other night miss?" He leaves the question open as he pulls up a chair and sits not quite directly across from her, more at an angle.
Without further comment, Vaughn inclines his head in agreement. He glances to Kacela, then to Butch.... and just turns to make his way toward the indicated table. Ray is possibly not famous for his congeniality. He detours a pass by the bar, just long enough to procure a scotch ("Functional."), before moving to a seat.
Uzal watches poor Kacela's expression, lifting his eyebrow still more. He's /almost/ Mercurian enough to feel sorry for her. But, the Balseraph in him wins. "I must be polite, dear lady, as you have said; it would not be fitting to postpone my business while it is waiting. Do enjoy your evening." With that, he bows to her, barely suppressing a smirk, and turns to follow Vaughn. He procures a drink as well, and seats himself opposite the man, regarding him with quiet attentiveness.
Kacela leans back in her seat, and says, "Kacela Howard. I work on the East Side as a social worker. This," she gestures towards the books, "Is a bit of a side project one of the regional directors put me up to, relating public health with proper foster home maintenance. Most of these diseases are things you'd find in third world countries, but when people are malnourished..." She just shakes her head, "It makes them terribly vunerable to any number of maladies. And thank you," she raises the bottle to him after twisting off the top of the draft cider.
Butch finishes off his current beer and sets it down still smiling. "Bah, no problem. Well nice to meet you finally somwhere that we can talk. I'm Butch Valentine by the way. And if you can't tell by the shirt..." he points to the fire department logo "then just walk 10 minutes south of here and you'll see where I work."
oO( Valentine? You've /got/ to be kidding me.) Kacela smiles in return, warmly, "Oh, why you must be a veritable cupid about the firehouse, with a name like that. Or at least a guardian angel to swoop in and rescue those poor trapped souls in those infernos." Her next words are sincere, "I hear it takes a lot of physical strength and endurance for that line of work..." A faintly feral expression crosses her features.
Butch sticks out his ripped chest and flexes his arms as he reaches out for another one of his beers. "Ya, well nothing in this world comes easy. Know what I mean?" He leans in closer and says rather sofly but still not caring if hes over heard. "Soo, whats up with the two lovebirds in the corner?" Pointing over to Uzal and the other fellow as they take their seat in the corner.
Kacela arches eyebrows in wry amusement, allowing herself to stall on that hasty retreat that she's been thinking of for the past few minutes. "You know, they could be saying the same about us. Nothing worthwhile? Well it depends on just what that worthwhile thing is. I though Friday night was easy enough." She gloats momentarily, before actually pouring out some of the Hornsby's into the empty glass from her earlier whiskey sour, watching the liquid effervesce about the ice cubes. "But even the easiest of gifts can have their price," she alludes before knocking back most of the glass.
Butch says, "Indeed. I take it you'd rather not go into details then."
Vaughn leans in a bit, lowering his voice to a whisper as he rests his elbows upon the table, "I'm at a bit of an impasse. Not so much in a lack of options, but so many reasonable courses of action." He quirks an eyebrow upward, "Now. You do possibly still have useful information regarding our last discussion regarding... Ah, your friend." He cocks his head to one side, "Yet I have no particular reason to think trusting you would be entirely prudent." He gives a bit of a shrug with his eyebrows, taking a sip from his glass. "In any case, there are loops of various contingencies of thought I could prattle on and bore you for the rest of the evening."
Kacela's outfit glitters like a wayward splash of the Mediterranean itself as she mmmphs, closing eyes shut. "Every time I tried to take the damned things out they'd show back up. And you'd have to buy a LOT more drinks before I gave you any MORE details than that!" She plunks the glass down, and scoops up the book. "But thank you, it was nice of you. You should try to see if you can make it a threesome," she says as she rises to her feet with ease, like an eagle mounting to the skies, her now bared back briefly flashing the tattoo. She begins to pace towards the way out.
Uzal's eyes turn a bit sad at the mention of his 'friend'. He listens, nodding thoughtfully. "Ah, I do understand, matters are rather -- cluttered." He pauses, then speaks sincerely, "I do think that sometimes, rather than trying to work out all the varied contingencies, one should cut to the heart of things, as it were. What does your 'intuition' tell you?" He tilts his head, with a look of sincere interest.
Roll by Ravid: (4) (1) (2)
The man's eyes narrow a bit, these subtle shifts can actually begin to resemble real live facial expressions, given time and familiarity. "My intuition? Nothing relevant at the moment." He cocks his head slightly to one side, eyeballing his glass, "Though, in many circumstances, I do agree." He glances back upward, "Though more in the sense of being -direct- and cutting through the various motions of... well, bullshit. Failing to reason through contingencies, though, don't think I'm the one to run with -that- advice." Ray does give almost a half-smile, though it doesn't look particularly "friendly" on him. Possibly lack of use.
Roll by Ravid: (5) (2) (4)
Butch kicks up his feet onto the table, and reclines in his chair while he watches the door for a moment after Kacela has left, then he adjusts himself in his seat, tips back another beer, and watches the news.
Uzal nods slowly to Ravid's words. "Yes, I can understand why you would think so, Ray. Your job must be an exceedingly difficult one," he says sympathetically. "It is far more than I could imagine doing myself," he admits. Leaning back, he takes a sip of his drink, and tilts his head again. "What else would you like me to tell you?" he inquires.
"Not so difficult. We all do what we're made to do..." He takes a sip from his drink, "Unless we're not, -then- I get to do my job." The eyebrow quirk seems to have a mischevous glance, but it's generally difficult to tell when he's being glib. Ray sets his glass back down, settling into his elbow-cross rest again, "You're not entirely what I would expect, Ulysses. I didn't anticipate... well, actual interest in being helpful." He casts a glance ceilingward, pondering, "Let's start general and work back toward specific. What would be a mutually beneficial arrangement? On my end, I require information. Details. Names. Even so far as hypotheses -- Provided they can be falsified with a little legwork."
"Ah, I, too, simply do what my nature requires of me," Uzal nods. "It must make your occupation still more difficult, to find so many who would obstruct your findings. I have no desire to make it harder than it is," he reassures. No, he just wants Ravid to quit the job entirely; that's not harder, is it? He listens thoughtfully. "I do have some information, I believe -- but are you saying you would offer something in exchange? Pardon my saying so, but your Word is not one known for bargaining." He takes a drink, looking a little nonplussed.
Butch takes his feet off the table to look through the various bottles hes had scattered around the table, after he realizes that his current beer is empty. He finds one he left half empty and goes back to drinking and watching the tube, but nothing interesting at all is on. He frowns.
"Chances of what you might deem an 'equal exchange' are slim," Vaughn concedes readily enough, "Though I prefer to first hear what some might deny out-of-hand." He pauses for a moment, idly rubbing at his chin, "Certain matters are obviously not open for negotiation, but without knowing what might prolong your desire to provide information...." He trails off, giving a half-shrug.
"What might prolong my desire?" Uzal tilts his head musingly. "Mmm... my wants are few in this world." Promote his Word, stay alive, survive the next session in the Lower Hells... He looks down, peering into his drink pensively. "Perhaps you could also share with me some of your findings, some of the reasons... why," he says softly and meaningfully. "If it be not presumptuous of me to ask this of a Servitor. There are many, like myself, who do not understand well the actions of your Holy Archangel. He is often beyond our comprehension." He bites his lip, a little. "It would help, I believe, if I could understand more, to appreciate the logic, the reason..."
"It's easy to be misunderstood when one is entrusted to make difficult decisions for a greater purpose." He glances absently away for a moment, pondering, "Regarding investigations, though, the decision is much more easily made -- I have what you yourself have already conveyed to me." He peers back at his glass, giving it a tap with a fingertip, "Regarding intention... easy enough, but probably nothing that isn't immediately assumed the moment I walk into a room. I'm here to observe. To watch. Everything and everyone." He leans forward again, "You're angling for 'why', though." He glances up toward Uzal to angle a question, "Why would you know? Knowing motive wouldn't change fact, and facts are all I seek."
Butch sets his last beer down, guzzled to the last drop. He looks around sees the slightly thinner crowd, and the two gents still in their corner booth. Hmmm all of a sudden he gets a brilliant idea to pass the time. A pyramid of beer bottles! Yeah great idea!
"I witnessed the fact..." Uzal looks away, "the fact of Christian's death at Dominic's hands." He shudders visibly, then looks back at Ravid a bit nervously. "I do not wish to offend you; yet I seek to comprehend /why/," he says with quiet urgency. "You are closer to the mind of Judgement than I could ever be. If I could comprehend that mind better..." he looks into Ravid's eyes earnestly, "it would all make more sense."
Butch begins setting up the base of the pyramid, then realizes that the way bottles are shaped they don't really make a pyramid very well. But never the less, might as well try. So, butch sets trys to set just one glass but, clunk! It falls swiftly to the table knockin over the bottle it was set on top of and three others. A couple falling to the floor with a loung clanging and rolling away. "DAMN IT!" Buch sits up quickly and snarls at the bottles as they roll off before sitting back down and trying to act like nothing happened.
"Presently, I've not had the opportunity to speak of the matter with someone who knows more. I shall be doing so, shortly." He takes a sip from his glass, staring at it for a beat, "I'll be better able to make some sort of determination after that point." Vaughn's eyes look back to Uzal's, "I understand the... feelings surrounding the death of a friend. I've had to facilitate the process a time or two myself." Not exactly the most reassuring of 'sympathy comments'. "At the moment, however, I'm ignorant of the details behind the matter."
Uzal never actually said Christian was his friend, but he lets Vaughn retain the delusion. It can be useful. He nods slowly, "The demise of a human soul is never pleasant for one of my kind to contemplate. If I could know that there was reason behind it, not just... mindless vengeance --" With that, comes the loud crashing and clattering of a pile of beer bottles toppling down. Uzal jerks a little and turns to look, blinking.
Butch finally decides that hes not gonna get a chance to rub some salt in Uzal's wounds tonight. So he stands up and sneers in the general direction of the corner booth. And heads for the door.
"I would... certainly consider the notion that Judgement unlikely to use the 'mindless' route." Ravid leans back in his seat, drumming his fingers lightly upon the table. Mindless, indeed. A discussion of mindless humanity might fall on more open ears for this one, but... well, it's best just not to voice some things. "We'll speak again, one way or another."
"I am sure we shall," Uzal nods. He sighs as he slowly stretches, standing to his full height. "May your contemplations be fruitful," he adds as he departs.
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