OPEN :: A golden bird was singing

[baedalites]

Who: Everyone!
What: St Kelley's evening
Where: The Apache and surrounding environs.
When: Veerdi evening.
Notes:
(1) The topic threads are just suggestions; if you've got somewhere else that your characters simply must be, make your own thread.
(2) All mementos will appear overnight in some part of your character's apartment.
(3) Dance!

St Kelley's is one of the more sedate occasions in Baedal, at least as holidays go. It passes more or less unnoticed by the majority of the population as many of them feel it doesn't concern them. It's not their holiday; it's for the others. Those with severed ties and broken hearts. The temple and church preach that it's a time for reflection or for glorifying the generosity of the gods. It's one of the few days on which no one looks askance at first generation Citizens mourning their missing loved ones publicly.

As night rolls around and floating lanterns are set to sea, the Apache in Mog Hill prepares to accept guests from the newer cohorts. It's something that happens every year, making it a practical tradition. The alcohol will be cheaper for first timers, and the music will be kept at a reasonable level.

Comments

[betterthansubpoenas]

"Almost," Kalinda agrees with the same sort of bitter undercurrent. Nothing about this place is ideal, but sometimes it's tolerable and not entirely unpleasant. "I like your boots." Well, she does.

[controlledvariable]

"Thanks, they were a good find," She'd spent her first paycheck on them, after having spent an entire weekend tracking down the perfect pair of purple combat boots and then spending another day making sure they were waterproof. She may have sacrificed some of her batgadgets to do so.

Steph looks back out at the ocean, wondering what exactly is on the other side, "How long have you been here?"

[betterthansubpoenas]

She can appreciate that. Good boots are a treasure, and Kalinda is conscious of hers resting where it's dry, and she starts walking back toward them. Not that they'll walk off on their own or anything if she lets them out of her sight, but they might walk off with someone else.

"Not long. Long enough that I've stopped completely resenting it." Which is not at all the same as being grateful for it. "You?"

[controlledvariable]

Steph wonders if she's supposed to go with Kalinda, but the question is answered when the woman keeps talking to her. It seems kind of silly to have to raise their voices to talk, so she turns her back on the paper boat and walks up the shore a little.

"About a month. I don't know if I'll ever stop completely resenting it." She might like the friends she's made here, but the fact is she's been taken away from her home and she doesn't plan to forget that.

[betterthansubpoenas]

"You may not." It's reasonably, anyway, even if Kalinda doesn't find it terribly productive. But that's Kalinda. "Have you been settling in anyway?" That much is productive. "It's hard to dig your heels in out of spite when the people you want to see you do it aren't looking." Which isn't a commentary on what she suspects Steph has been doing by any means. The fact that she's here, instead of sulking at a bar somewhere says something.

[controlledvariable]

"I've got a house and a job, if that counts as settling in," She's pretty sure it does, the only way she could settle in more is if she started attending school here. Or having kids or something.

She quirks an eyebrow though, at the latter part of what Kalinda says, assuming she means the people Steph would want to spite are the people running Baedal, "You think they aren't always watching?"

[betterthansubpoenas]

"It counts." The alternative is likely couch surfing or stubbornly continuing to rent a room at the Inn.

At the mention of always being watched, Kalinda lifts her chin just a little bit as the corner of her mouth quirks up. Then she inclines her head to one side gently, granting the validity of Steph's point. "They're watching, but not to see whether or not anyone's sulking about being here." There are pettier things they'll persecute a person for.

[controlledvariable]

"It's what I'd watch for," if she was part of a horrible police state that terrorized it's citizens, "People who are unhappy are the most likely to cause trouble. Although I'll admit that people who sulk probably aren't very proactive."

That definitely applies to her; she's not gonna waste time sulking that could be spent investigating the militia.

[betterthansubpoenas]

"Exactly. Discontent, sure, but sulking?" Kalinda shakes her head. "No big deal to them. That's why you settle in. You find a home, you find a job, you keep your head down, and you act like it's maybe not so bad." And her brows lift then, as if to insinuate but what you're really doing is something else entirely.

[controlledvariable]

Steph smiles, a sharp sort of thing, "That'd be the way to do it." She won't admit anything, but she feels like she's found a bit of a kindred spirit, even if a lot of their cohort seems to fit that category. She offers her hand, "Stephanie Brown."

[betterthansubpoenas]

She shakes hands with a bit warmer smile. "Kalinda Sharma." She's always been fond of the type of people that don't have to have every bit of subtext spelt out for them, especially women. "What is it you do for a living here?"

[controlledvariable]

"I'm a librarian's assistant at TMU. It's pretty boring, but I get to borrow books whenever I want and it's a nice way to meet new people," Although some of the college students have their parents' bias towards new arrivals, a lot of them are friendlier, "What do you do?"

She's assuming Kalinda has a job here, based on their conversation and the fact Kalinda doesn't look like she's been roughing it.

[betterthansubpoenas]

Library, huh? All the more enticing for Kalinda to make a connection now. Friends with unrestricted library access are the best sort. "I'm an investigator," she admits easily. "I do some freelance. Especially if the case is interesting."

Nothing like making sure any prospective client, or anyone who might put you in touch with a prospective client, knows you're available.

[controlledvariable]

That gets a raised brow, because you don't come across many investigators. At least, not one's who don't dress up in spandex and go fight crime. Steph has a weird life.

"I'll have to keep you in mind if I ever need some investigating done," it's a bit teasing, but the friendly kind, Steph just probably won't ever risk bringing someone else into any of her own investigations, "Do you get much work in Baedal?"

That's genuine curiosity, she figures it might be a tricky line of business when you have to take the militia into account.

[betterthansubpoenas]

In another universe, Kalinda would probably rock a cowl and cape like a star. Sadly, costumed vigilante is not a viable occupation where she comes from, but that doesn't stop her from being a superhero in her own way. "I hope you do," keep her in mind. Though she knows it's teasing, and it doesn't at all look like that's lost on her, she still responds with the utmost sincerity.

But she sighs and shrugs. "I'm lucky enough to be working with a lawyer from the cohort, otherwise I wouldn't be working as much as I like. But I'm also told I'm a bit of a workaholic." What can ya do? "I think a lot of people are too frightened to ask too many questions about anything, or go poking around. Or even ask other people to do it on their behalf. I don't really blame them."

[controlledvariable]

She nods, that answers an unasked question she had about what exact type of investigating Kalinda does, "I'm surprised they let someone from our cohort work in law." Regardless of their expertise back home, it's difficult it is for new arrivals to get a good position in Baedal.

"I think you're right. It's risky for someone to stick their noses into things, in case the militia come crashing down on them. But I also think there are more people poking around than you might expect." That's probably saying more than she should, but it's a calculated risk -- Kalinda could be a good ally.

[betterthansubpoenas]

Kalinda's kind of surprised Alan Shore was allowed to practise law at all back home sometimes. That doesn't diminish any of the respect she has for her boss, however. Quite the contrary. "It's a minor miracle," she concedes.

She smirks at Steph's admission, inclined to minutely nod her chin in gratitude for the tipping of her hand. (Though she of course said nothing.) "Fortunately they're not advertising." Having a legitimate front for her work makes her less concerned about her own openness about her work. She covers her bases as best she can. "Means they're not my competition."

When it comes to what they're not saying, though, the Militia is the only competition.

[controlledvariable]

"I have a feeling they might regret that," being Kalinda's competition, "You remind me of one of my friends and I wouldn't wanna compete against her either."

She's referring to the militia too, in a roundabout way. Her and Babs are working against them, and she hopes Kalinda is too. She's already making a note to check out Kalinda the next time she has free time and can find the right sort of building to break into. She can be a little careless sometimes, but she's not willing to just trust someone right off the bat -- dropping hints will have to do.

[betterthansubpoenas]

"They might," Kalinda grants with a grin. "Glad I remind you of someone you like. You remind me a bit of someone I used to know back home ages ago."

She's planting the seeds in what she hopes are the right minds. This is what I do, this is who I am, associate me with things that you like and you're more inclined to call on me when you need something I can provide. Building a client base when your reputation no longer precedes you is frustrating, but doable.

"So, we've established what you do for a living. What do you do for fun?"

[controlledvariable]

"Did you like them?" It's never good to remind someone of a person they hate.

Steph might not so much be a potential client as a potential ally, but the seeds are definitely there.

"I'm a bit of an adrenalin junky," she answers with a smile -- it's the most accurate lie she can think of, "I used to travel when I could afford it and do all those adventure-y tours, but it's hard to do that here. I mostly stick to running and parkour these days."

Running around on rooftops and punching bad guys is not parkour, Steph.

[betterthansubpoenas]

Kalinda's eyes crinkle at the corners with amusement. "Oh yeah." She was also sleeping with the woman Steph reminds her of, but she doesn't need to tell her that.

"I've always thought parkour would come in handy in my line of work." She'd at least be able to come up with creative ways to slip out of a situation before the cops show up anyway. "Hard to do in heels, though." And those also come in handy in her line of work. Like one or two buttons undone. "I travelled a bit for work. Otherwise I guess I'm a bit of a barfly. Great for people watching."

[controlledvariable]

"Good to know." She'd probably take that as a compliment, if she knew.

"Hard, but not impossible, especially if you're wearing boots with a solid heel," She noticed Kalinda's boots, and she's thinking of the original Batgirl costume, which used to have those ridiculous heels and it never slowed Babs down, "Should I act surprised that you like people watching?" Someone who decided to be an investigator would have to.

"I do like bars, too, but they tend to look at you funny when you don't drink much." A bit of a wry face, mostly because she's been drinking so much more now that she's here in Baedal and she has Feelings about that.

[betterthansubpoenas]

Steph is endearing herself more and more to Kalinda already. "No." She shakes her head. "If you're surprised by that, then you aren't paying attention. And you strike me as someone who pays attention to detail."

Then she laughs softly. "That's why you have to get in good with the wait staff and bartenders. You tell them when you order a Collins, what you're really asking for is a Shirley Temple. Or when it's a screwdriver you say you're after, it's actually OJ and Sprite. It perpetuates the image without actually causing you to get too tipsy that you can't catch on to the info you're looking for." Business meets pleasure, you see.

[controlledvariable]

"Only when I'm not distracted by something shiny," It can't hurt to be a little self-deprecating, especially when it involves not openly admitting that she is a sneaky ninja.

"That's clever," Steph is impressed, "I gotta remember that. And probably get better at flirting. That's how you endear yourself to wait staff and bartenders, right?" Okay, maybe she's not that much of a sneaky ninja.

[betterthansubpoenas]

"That and tipping well. Money makes you friends faster than charm in dives - they don't get paid as much, so tips matter. In upscale establishments, it pays to seem genuine. They're used to disingenuous, overpaid pricks ordering them around all day." We can't all be perfectly sneaky ninjas. Everyone has their strong suit. "You're better off not leading anyone on too much," Kalinda adds. "Makes them mad when they think you're going to give them more than just a smile or extra cash. That doesn't work out well if it's a resource you intend to use long term."