Difference between revisions of "Log:Wally's First Delivery"

14 March, 2017

Wally gets his first delivery!

Desrochers

• • • IC Time: Tue Mar 14 11:41:03 2017 ***
    • OOC Time: Tue Mar 14 11:41:03 2017 ***

Wally bops in. Bops is a pretty accurate word, as he's seemingly dancing, at least slightly; luckily (this time) at least, it's to a song in the earbuds he's wearing. It's loud enough to be heard in snippets by those present; sounds a bit like Daft Punk or some other electronica. As he moves across the room, he's smiling as he glides. Coming up to the bar, wearing a bright red hoodie that's got the Flash symbol on the chest, he sits down on the bar and takes out an earbud, turning the music down and saying, "Hey, AJ! Hi, big guy, I'm Wally!"

Cobalt inhales deeply, smirking when AJ calls him irresistible. "That's right, babe." That's /not/ really what she meant, and he knows it, but he doesn't care. Vanity is good that way. Then the smirk starts to fade as he thinks of something, and he leans in a little closer. "Hey. I need to ask you something. Have you -- " Bonk. He hears the sound of Wally's music before he sees him, and turns his head to give him a blazing, piercing stare of utter annoyance. He doesn't say hi back, but he does give a sort of grunt in greeting. Then he tries to reach the bottle that AJ put out of reach. He paid for it fair and square, right?

AJ sees that lean, she hears 'ask you'. It's all that's needed to get her ears to twitch and a look to cross her face. That mischief, it's so obvious. It's the look a cat gives right before it bites you, just for the fun of it. She leans forward, too. But before her curiosity can be sated, there's a Wally! She turns to look at the man. "Welcome to Desrochers! Thank you for not fucking up my door!" she calls, happily. AJ steps away from Cobalt, towards Wally. As she does, she lifts a hand, a single nail ticks against the bottle of Makers - Cobalt's bottle? - and she very casually edges it a few inches further away from the demon. He'll have to actually stand up on the stool to reach it, now. "What can I get for you... uh... Sorry, I know we met, but what was your name again?" she asks, with a sweet smile and bright eyes. Yes, he did just give his name.

Wally smiles. "I'm Wally, AJ. And I'll have some more of that honey dark stout." He peers at Cobalt and asks, "Hey, I'm sorry if the music bugged you?" he ventures. "I know what it's like to have a hangover, I'll try to be quieter." He does in fact lower his voice, but he's probably guessing wrong at the source of the annoyance.

"You fucking..." Cobalt mutters under his breath, and seems all too ready to get up on that stool. But now Wally's talking to him, and he gets the full brunt of his glowing green glower. "Good. Be quieter. Your cheerfulness might be fucking contagious." Jesus. /Someone's/ in a bad mood. Then he clomps right up on that stool, big boots and all. Good thing he's pretty graceful, because so far, he manages not to wobble as he reaches for the bottle. If he has to get /on/ the bar to get it then he will, damnit.

Wally shrinks back a bit from the imposing demonic winged and horned guy. He's in too good a mood to let the man bother him, and the man's got a sword. He has one question he asks though, and he does so both quietly and without much inflection: "Are you part of the Freehold?" he asks.

"Please," AJ says, to Wally. She lifts her brows, after saying it. That is, it's meant that he's supposed to be saying please. Still she does a little turn, going a full 360 plus 90 to actually turn back in the direction of the taps. She's got music in her, just the same as Wally, it would seem. "Grouchy, grouchy, grouchy," she says, to Cobalt. The tone is mildly scolding. She grabs a pint glass, she pushes it down on the little thingy that sprays water up, to ensure a nice fresh rinse of the glass. Then she puts it under the tap and pours. "Most girls love this stuff. So sweet and tasty," she says, idly. Then, talk of 'Freehold' comes, and AJ gives Wally a look. Are you fucking serious right now, it says.

Cobalt grabs the neck of the bottle in one big hand and lands heavily in his stool again. He sniffs at Wally as he pours his glass all the way to the top. "So what if I am? You gonna report me to the Crown?" This is said with a sneer, like maybe someone's threatened him with that before -- no one would be surprised, right? Then he looks over at AJ and frowns. "So what if I am grouchy. There a rule about that in here?" He points his finger at her and adds, "You are one lippy little girl." It's another compliment/insult.

Wally smiles lightly at AJ and says, "Apologies for the lack of manners, I was a bit distracted, AJ. Thank you kindly!" As for the preference of women for honey stout, he makes no comment; instead turning to Cobalt and saying, "I'm a Waykeeper. It's my job to either welcome you and teach you about the laws, or let the Watchers know that you're here so they can keep an eye on you. However, censuses aren't the Lost's strong point. So don't mind the polite question, mate. I'm trying to help if you're a newcomer. I apologize if you aren't."

"Christ." Cobalt rolls his eyes, which looks interesting with eyes as bright as his. "You people. Yeah, I'm pretty new, only been here six months." He takes another long drink, barely flinching. "There's your answer." Then he gives Wally a second look. Clawed finger tapping his lips, his eyes move over the wings on his head. "Waykeeper. Hmm. Nobody told you about me?" It's like he's warming up to ask the other guy something.

"Nope. In fact, I think it's a state law that all dives like this one have to be filled by at least half grumpy old men," AJ tells Cobalt, smiling all the while. And yes, she said 'old'. "At least, when there's no live music," she adds. Then she turns and steps to Wally, and sets the beer in front of him, on a cocktail napkin. "Please try to keep it, uh, obscure, guys?" She says, with a dip of her head towards the old men at the end of the bar. They're surely, surely not paying attention. Not with sports highlights on the TV. But still. AJ spins again, and starts off. "You like my lips," she declares, as she passes Cobalt again. "Going to grab your food!" she says, to explain her departure. She heads off to the kitchen.

Wally says, "No. No one told me about you; then again, I moved in six months ago myself, then have been running around delivering messages. Just got back. I presume you expected them to warn me about you. Which is fine and all, but you can't begrudge me asking, it being my job. I'll make you a deal: I'll be less cheery and more calm, you be less rude."

Cobalt pours himself more whiskey and shakes his horned head. "No deal. How about this: I ask you a question, you give me an answer. In return, I won't break your face." He looks into Wally's eyes. Maybe half-kidding. If he were /actually/ going to break Wally's face, he'd probably already be doing it. Cobalt then nods to Wally's drink. "I'll pay for your drink." That's as much as he's willing to acquiesce here.

Wally studies the man briefly, and says, "I'll answer your questions, so long as they aren't rude. I wouldn't want you to try to break my face here. It'd be pretty rude to the Desrochers. What can I satisfy your curiosity about?" He seems, perhaps, somewhat unfazed by the threat; though his fingers do run across the sash he wears. It's normally a symbol for safe-passage while actively delivering a package or message, and so even though it doesn't apply any particular protection *here and now*, he seems to draw some strength and courage from it even though Cobalt is pretty imposing. But he's paying for the drinks.

The kitchen door swings open, and out comes AJ, with a plate in her hand. She walks her way right back over, behind the bar, her narrow hips swinging as much as they can. Which isn't really much. It's not exactly a runway model stride, but more of that sort-of dancing as she goes. "No one is breaking any faces, unless it's me doing the breaking," she says, having caught that bit of the conversation, at least. There's a look fixed on Cobalt. Probably him doing the threatening. She slides the plate in front of him, a heap of corned beef, cabbage, potatos, carrots. "There you go, sweets," she says, with a smile. She provides a set of flatware, rolled in a napkin, to go with it. "I mean, unless you really want me to call Beau or Dobson in, on their night off...?" she offers, with an innocent sort of look. Beau and Dobson - two big ogres. The former, at least, a Lieutenant in the Harvestmen, and well known for his lack of humor.

Cobalt continues to stare at Wally, unblinking. He looks like he's about to respond when AJ returns, and then he actually does remember his manners. "Thank you, this looks good," he mutters. A snort is given at the mention of Beau and Dobson. Bigger than him? Fuck yeah they are. But Cobalt is definitely bigger on the inside, at least in his mind. He looks evenly at you both, then poses the question to both of you. "Either of you seen a girl? One of us. She's...I dunno. Water nymph type. Long, iridescent hair. Shy and sweet." He feels the need for a drink to hasten this delivery, interrupting himself briefly for that. "Answers to the name of Ting. Maybe Margo." Then he puts a big spoonful of corned beef in his mouth, talking around it. "Ring any bells?"

"Unfortunately, I haven't yet met someone by that description or name. Do you have any more information? Is there a message you would like delivered to her?" he replies. Wally then looks over at AJ curiously, arching an eyebrow as if to ask if she has.

"Welcome!" AJ chirps. She can surely appreciate that food might earn special consideration, manners-wise in this case. She then stares at the man for a long moment. "A beautiful watery sex Goddess? That's also sweet and shy?" AJ asks. Oh, there's attitude there. It'd be impossible to miss. She huffs. "Fucking typical. Should have figured that was your type," she says, to Cobalt, and then rolls her eyes. "Fucking men," she mutters. All that attitude, all that annoyance, all that disgust at who she's now learned Cobalt to be. It's an act, of course. She's BSing. But she's pretty darn good at it. "Mighta heard that name. Ting. Can't really remember," she says, now aloof, disinterested. She takes a step to the side, then reaches out and snatches Cobalt's bottle of whiskey. It's taken behind the bar before the poor guy gets a chance to protest, and she pour some into a glass. The bottle is then returned, and she raises that glass to her lips, as she stares at Cobalt.

"Yeah." Cobalt responds first to Wally, his full lips pursing. "She -- " Froooooowning now at AJ. Okay, it's an act. He doesn't seem blind to the fact. He raises an eyebrow and says, "First of all, she's not a sex goddess. So don't talk about her like that. Second of all..." He trails off, but the look he gives AJ next is absolutely filthy. Totally suggestive. Being hot helps him sell it. "You're cute." He turns to Wally again as he spears a potato. "I need to find her. Your people might have the wrong idea about me, but she needs to understand." Huh?

Wally looks at Cobalt and at this point, his mien changes. The golden wings above his ears take on a less ephemeral, more solid appearance; the blue and silver sash he wears becomes more evident. He says, his tone a great deal more serious than it was before, "If you have a message or package to deliver, I can get it to her, no matter where she is, unless she is dead, shielded somehow, or in Arcadia. I am unable to tell you exactly where she is, but I can get a message to her."

"Oh, defending her!" AJ says, into her glass. She sips his whiskey. Then comes the 'cute', and she rolls her eyes. Could she be less interested? Impossible. For a moment, at least, then her eyes are right back on him. "Why the fuck does she matter and I don't?" she asks, a touch of agitation still in her voice. Then, Wally is changing. AJ's eyebrows lift, her ears twitch, and she stares at the messenger. "Got to love a man that takes his job serious... I guess..."

Cobalt looks at AJ like she's grown about three heads. Never mind Wally's change in mien, that seems almost normal compared to the dizzying changes AJ has displayed. "Who said you don't matter? You're standing right in front of me." As opposed to Ting, apparently. Speaking of her, Cobalt then puts the full force of his gaze and manner upon Wally. Given the sheer amount of heat he gives off, this is no small thing. "Yes. I'll take you up on that, messenger. I want you tell her that it's me. The same Cobalt as before. Just..." He shakes his head. He hates saying the word. "Taken. Tell her I need to see her. Tell her not to be afraid. Tell her I'm..." This part is also hard. "Sorry. If I scared her."

Wally nods and asks, "Would you like to write that down, Cobalt, or would you prefer I deliver the message verbally only? If the latter, would you prefer I deliver the message in private or would normal conversation be acceptable if she is in a crowd?"

Wally adds, "There are a few things you need to know. First, if you write it down and tell me not to, I may not read it without punishment. Secondly, I normally charge for my services when I can but as I am not in particular need of anything at this moment, I will merely ask you if you'd cover my tab here for, say, a week. I don't drink much, but the girly drinks," he smirks at AJ, "can add up a bit, and a token payment seems appropriate."

AJ rolls her eyes at Cobalt. This time, she's not even sure why. What was she trying to be upset about again? Hardly matters. She listens to Cobalt, and as he gets to the end, she scrunches up her nose. Then she looks to Wally. She blows a breath out of that nose, then flashes the man a smile. She seems pleased with the offer. She turns, and she grabs a pen, and one of the little note pads that lesser bartenders use to write down orders. She turns back around, to Cobalt, and slips him the pen and note pad. "No, you're not," she tells him, her smile faint, almost neutral. Relaxed, for once, and not looking like she's intentionally trying to provoke.

Cobalt has still managed to make short work of his food, despite the very serious (to him, anyway) topic of conversation. He shakes his head vigorously at Wally. "Not writing it down. You tell her. Not in front of everyone. You find a way to make it private." He frowns at the terms of payment, waving it away. "Yeah, sure, whatever." Money is not a problem; he seems to toss it around liberally. Then he stares at the pad, looking at AJ like her third head has grown a fourth, and pushes it back to her. This time, though, he's smirking. "Yes, I am." Sorry, that is.

-> >> Wally to Here: Reflections 4 (Mirror Walk) << <-=============================================

Rolled 5 Successes for an exceptional success.
< 1 2 2 3 3 5 8 9 9 9 9 >

===============================-> >> Athletics + Wyrd No Flags << <-

Wally nods. "Done and done!" He touches the sash, and it now glows; he waves to AJ and says, "Thank you for the drinks." With that, he walks to the bathroom in the back. He doesn't return; and should someone go in after him, there's no one there.

---

After Wally engages in the Contract weaving with Arcadia, he is taken on a bit of a jaunt toward the lakeshore south of the Wayhouse proper. While it is not a far trek, it is a decidedly cold one. It is snowing, so any chance of tracking someone based on environmental clues are lessened. But as it stands, that is not the case on this expedition.

The Fairest is pulled to Lake Brunsett in as direct a path as impediments will allow. There are long lines of boats docked, separated by wood plank walkways that look like rungs of a ladder broken in half. There is very little movement out here save what the rippling of the wind-swept lake brings. A single light in a far off boat is like a beacon in the darkness. If one watches long enough a figure moves by the low windows from time to time. This would be Wally's target. The Waterborn is holed up on a boat that is more certainly not hers, but the awful weather keeps owners away, so she benefits from this seasonal anomaly.

Wally looks over the desolate lake with a studious eye. It's cold, and so he is rubbing his hands together to keep warm, in constant motion as usual. But as the magic of his sash guides him in its nudging manner towards the boat, he starts to head out on the treacherous docks in the winter weather towards the lone light. He moves fast--faster than a normal person would, so it's a good thing no one's around to see it. He steps from "rung" to "rung" very deftly, and when he reaches the vicinity of the boat, he calls out, as softly as reasonably possible as it seems a bit of a sin to disturb the quiet beauty of the peaceful night, "Excuse me! Delivery for you!"

There is the briefest sound of scrambling beneath the lower deck of the boat, then a silent ascent that brings first a crown of reflective iridescent hair into view. The Lost girl tucks her hair behind her ears as she comes further into view, step by step. Her skin is alabaster fair, build willowy like a creature built for slithering through water. Once she is topside the warmth of her Spring mantle can be felt, and though this lake is filled with fresh water, the Waterborn brings with her the scent of the sea. "A delivery for me?" she asks, her voice calm, even, holding traces of a faint accent that points randomly to the Baltic states. "From whom?" He might notice, if he looks upon the deck, that each of her foot falls leaves a wet print behind.

The form standing on the dock is all lightning and energy, with a blue and silver sash that's pretty solid-looking; small golden wings arc back from just above his ears. He says, "It

The form standing on the dock is all lightning and energy, with a blue and silver sash that's pretty solid-looking; small golden wings arc back from just above his ears. He says, "It's actually a message, Miss Ting? From a man named Cobalt. Will you hear it?" He basks a bit in the warmth she calls forth, enjoying it, as it mingles with his own mantle. It might even be homey, if there was a fire.

The Waterborn looks down at her feet as they shuffle in freshly fallen snow, melting it against the warm water her feet leave behind. Will she hear it? She certainly does not look like she wants to hear it. No. Her expression is a little too still, a little too even. No spark of curiosity to speak of. But after another moment of consideration her head lifts and she nods. "Yes. I am Ting. I will hear it." Wally is merely doing his job, so whatever emotions the message might bring won't be dumped at his feet. Ting is not the sort of Lost to kill the messenger.

Wally pauses, and in a mediocre imitation of Cobalt's voice--although the *inflection* is intact, as though he'd memorized it as well as the words, the voice is not perfect--he says, "I want you tell her that it's me. The same Cobalt as before. Just...", he pauses, the words sounding difficult, "Taken. Tell her I need to see her. Tell her not to be afraid. Tell her I'm..." and the voice sounds difficult, filled with regretful emotion, "Sorry. If I scared her."

Ting listens patiently, her dark blue gaze remaining on the Fairest's face as he most dutifully does his job of delivering the message. Then she looks out over the darkened lake and nods. "Thank you. What is your name?" she asks, returning her attention to Wally. Her slender arms wrap around her waist and a wave of warm Spring air drifts forward. It smells like a beach after a storm - clean, salty, misty.

The wings at his ears recede to bare shadows of themselves, translucent; the bold blue sash fades from its glamour-infused glow. He smiles, his voice returning to normal, and he says: "I'm Wally, Wally West. Guild of the Sacred Journey, if that wasn't obvious. You're quite beautiful, you know? Like a moving work of art." It's not a sexual judgement or a come-on; he's saying it exactly as if he were appreciating art, only in a more personal way. "I think the man was remorseful, this Cobalt."

The Waterborn smiles and cants her head to the side as she take a step closer, positioning herself so that she is at the edge of the boat's railing. The chilly wind whips through her hair, but her Mantle is doing a passable job of keeping the small conversation circle warm. As snow hits her pale skin it melts on contact. "Hello, Wally West. I know others like you. Couriers. It was obvious." Her left palm is held aloft so that it might catch snow. She watches with fascination as it melts into water right before her eyes. "Thank you. I am sure that he is remorseful. That Cobalt. You did a fine job, Wally West. May I give you something in return for your delivery?"

Wally says, "Cobalt's already paying me; he's got my bar tab at Desrochers for the next week. That'll cover a return message, if you have one. He didn't give me a phone number to give to you, or I'd take care of that." He hands you a business card (+bbread 17/2 has the info on it) and smiles. "Don't you get lonely out here by yourself?"

"Paying you in alcohol," the Waterborn murmurs, sounding so flat and unfeeling that this simply must be displeasing to her. "For a return message, tell him to..." Ting pauses a moment to choose her words carefully, slender white fingers tapping against her bottom lip like floating feathers. "Be good. Be kind. Be honest. Be magnanimous in the face of adversity. Most of all, listen to the angels of his better nature, wherever they might be hiding." The Lost girl smiles and nods once. That will be all for a return message. "Do I get lonely out here by myself? Yes. I do. I can manage to get lonely anywhere, though. It is a skill most of us possess."

Wally isn't the sort to get easily shamed, and so his reply is: "I'll spend much more on the food there than I will on the drink; Hell, AJ told me the honey stout I drank was a 'girly drink'. I don't get drunk." He sounds serious there, but then grins again. "Would you like to write that down? My oath prevents me from reading any such messages unless given permission. Also, would you like me to deliver that message privately, or is it unimportant if said in front of others?"

"Write it down? Oh. Alright." Ting turns and quickly heads down below deck to fetch a pen and paper. She is only gone a minute, then returns with a piece of paper torn from a notebook, and all that she said is written there in blue ink. "You are free to read this. It is all that I just said. No more, no less. You may deliver it in public or private." Once the paper is handed over she smiles and rocks back and forth on her feet, heel to toe, those warm little feet melting snow along the way. "Have a pleasant evening. You are a fine Sacred Courier. Safe travels, Wally West."

"Thanks for the compliment, Ting. Enjoy your night; I recommend hot tea with honey." As he takes the note from her, the wings on the side of his head solidify once more and the blue sash becomes more prominent. Then he turns around and, perhaps showing off a bit for the pretty lady, runs off with lightning traces filling his footsteps as he recedes into the distance at a high rate of speed!

---

• • • IC Time: Tue Mar 14 22:18:39 2017 ***
    • OOC Time: Tue Mar 14 22:18:39 2017 ***

Cobalt is 'still' at the bar, still drinking, and still talking to AJ. He's a bit more inebriated than he was when he came in. A bit. "Why not all of the above?" he says grandly to AJ, who's behind the bar, and then raises one wicked eyebrow. "But I mostly meant the latter."

Wally comes out of the bathroom. He's got some freshly-fallen snow on the hoodie he's wearing, and there are wings at his ears that are solidified; his sash is also prominent. He steps up towards Cobalt. "Message for you, Cobalt." He hands the man a piece of paper, and the wings go away as the sash fades.

AJ is, indeed, behind the bar. She's just finished washing a glass, and now has picked up a towel and is wiping her hands off. "Weelllll..." She answers him. There's a pause, and then she nods a few times. "Figure that's what you mean-..." She stops, as Wally exits the bathrom. She blinks. Then laughs. "Hey Wally!... Another beer?"

Cobalt definitely seems annoyed to see Wally there, his teeth, some of them sharp, grinding together. But he spears the piece of paper on one claw, grunting a sort of thank you. And he does not open it. He crushes it into his hand, staring at Wally as he says, "Beer's on me." He did promise that particular form of payment, after all.

Wally sits down, and says, "Sure, AJ, only this time, I think--Irish coffee? It's pretty damn cold out there." To Cobalt he says, "Thanks."