Dukes Diner

Dukes Diner
Date of Scene:	05 May 2013
Location:	Duke's Diner- New Orleans
Synopsis:	Awkward Conversation Card.
Cast of Characters:	Riku, Gabranth

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Gabranth has posed:

The Judge Magister /had/ no idea where they would end up. He wasn't even sure where they would go. So when he found himself in a little place called New Orleans he felt very out of place, not only that but his /cloths/ changed the only part of him that remained the same was the very weapons at his side, but even they took more of a European flare that would be common in this time.

So what did Gabranth find himself in?

A pair of black slack trousers, a black vest, over a buttoned black shirt that had become long sleeved, and a pair of black gloves. Ton of black, not in the way of much color, but that seems to be how things translated over.

Also may disney-isk? Who knows!

He peers over at Riku with those blue eyes of his before he raises an eye brow. Yet the British accent of Archades stays, "So-- where are we?" And then he takes the edge of his Vest before letting it go back to his chest. "..and what happened to my normal cloths?"

Riku has posed:
Riku looks around at the buildings, twisting from side to side and looking down at himself with curiosity. A white and slightly careworn shirt with long rolled up sleeves lay underneath a dark bronze vest with tan slacks and shoes.

Riku reached up to take a brown cap off his head, examining it curiously but without any real confusion. "I.. have no idea." he reaches into the hat and pulls out the black journal, tucking the cap under his arm as he quickly flips through the pages. What it says confirms what he already knows. "I have not been here before. Uh.. the--" he gestures to himself and the clothes as he puts the cap back on his head.

"Wait. You've never used a portal outside of the World of Ruin?" he blinks hard at that and then laughs a little sheepishly. "Uh. This is what happens. You.. adapt to whatever is supposed to be common for the area. Um. Some are more extreme than others." He looks Gabranth over with a grin and then reads a sign that says 'Duke's' from nearby.

"But uh.. well. It's not suspended over a lava lake so.. that's to the good and there's some food. I think. Let's go get some, 'Ren'." he then starts walking across the street towards the diner.

Gabranth has posed:

Gabranth grunts, "You can stop with the 'Ren' now. It was just a good cover over in front of Avira." He remarks with a sigh. "I rather not start anything or cause any trouble while out of my armor. None have ever seen me out of it beyond the other Judge Magisters, the Senate, The House, a few Judges, and yourself." He states. "..Mostly for political reasons."

He really doesn't want to get into details on that one.

He glances over to 'Duke's' and nods, he reaches into his pocket and finds his pouch has been turned into a wallet and opens it to find the 'bills' within the divider. "..Hm." He then closes the wallet and places it back in his pocket.

"..and No. I do not travel beyond the.. World of Ruin." He admits, "Though I have been to Traverse Town a time or two.. Off record."

He then follows Riku to this restaurant and glances around as he watches people walk and noticing getting some odd looks for his very noticeable accent. You would think people here have heard someone talk like him before. Seriously.

Riku has posed:
Riku just gives Gabranth that smile that probably means he will do no such thing and that 'Ren' is one of those things that he's just going to continue to get mileage out of for some reason or other for quite some time.

He nods though, the smile dimming a little as he appears to let this sink in and understand. "Well. Maybe I should drag you to some of the other worlds I've seen on this endless errand of mine. Possibly without stampeding beetles this time." he snorts.

"I still can't figure that out. I can't figure THIS out either." he makes a sweeping gesture at all and sundry around them, some jazzy music from some street performers enlivens the already cheerful and bustling atmosphere of the city. "This.." he puts a hand to his face and shakes it back and forth. "If it's small, and pretty much inconsequential. It works. But other than that? ..My ..abilities have gone haywire." he huffs out a breath of annoyance.

"Which is really hard to cover up, you understand." he grins. "Otherwise I'd never admit to it." he enters the small diner which is busy as the city outside. A low chatter of noise and conversation and a bubbling feeling of energy persists inside the diner. Riku takes a seat, looking around but trying not to gawk too obviously.

Gabranth has posed:

Gabranth furrows his brows as Riku explains his recent problem, one Gabranth didn't even know the youth was having. "..What do you mean?" He says, obvious he doesn't fully understand. Though he would not press right now, unless Riku decides to explain freely.

Inside the diner, the Judge Magister glances around with some interest. It was very homey little place. Not at all very fancy. The smell was nice and the atmosphere was indeed lively. He could maybe get use to this for a time.

He joins Riku at the table and then glances over at what was on the table with a curious look before glancing over at what was a menu. It was /not/ Ivalicine, yet he oddly understood it. Curious places these worlds were and how they effected one.

"So, who wants to pay for this meal?" He smirks. "You or I?" It seems to be already implied with a smirk that he was going to pay, as if the bills were right, he had the cash to burn. Yet what things cost around here was another matter entirely.

Riku has posed:
Riku looks like he might launch into a tirade like one originally targeted at Judge Yuves but stops himself and sighs, resting his head back and looking up at the ceiling as his mask of flippancy cracks and the doubt and frustration darkens his face for a moment.

The teenager leans an elbow on the table, propping up his head with one hand and just taking the cap and burying his face in it for a few moments before putting it beside him with a grunt.

"Observe the word 'want' in that sentence." he says with grumbling good humor. He picked up the menu and it seemed now he was actually sort of embarrassed so his face twitched slightly as he groused. "I mean we could have ended up anywhere. This is a pleasant surprise." he grinned at Gabranth, biting sardonic humor turning black around the edges.

"I've.. essentially.. lost them. When I needed them.." he trails off, shrugging and his expression confused. "They weren't there." He doesn't want to continue on with the rest of that sentence. The part where something else showed up in their place at the last moment. That-- was too confusing even for him.

Gabranth has posed:

Gabranth listens to Riku and nods softly. He doesn't push further nor does he stay on the subject of his altering powers. Instead he picks up the menu as well, almost rests his cheek against the knuckles of his hand in some semblance of boredom.

He was not even sure what to get, it all sounded good and it was a very interesting menu. Though he wasn't really sure /what/ coffee was. They didn't have any tea-- beyond whatever this.. ice tea was. Culture differences were always so amusing to him.

"So.. any idea what you may want as a reward from the Viera?" He asks just as idle chatter as he still debates over his order. "I.. probably will not ask for anything... and I wont let the Senate know either." He snorts softly. "..after all, we all know what the last reward got us all.."

He raises an eye brow at something on the menu and hrms softly. "The music is also nice here."

Riku has posed:
Riku opens his mouth to say something else and then takes in a breath and lets it out softly. He wants to scream along the lines of 'Will someone tell me what the hell if going on here?!' but he was enough self control to bite down on the words before he makes a scene. He chews on the side of his cheek almost hard enough to draw blood and then laughs quietly.

"What do I need anything for?" he waits until the waitress comes over to their table (and then promptly forgets his order and looks down at the menu as if it was written in a foreign language. Which.. on examination.. it probably was) He orders a few things that look good. Nothing too extravagant, just a few things that sounded good some of them involving syrup.

When she has left he continues. "They were scared. We helped them and.. I got the shard." he shrugs. "That's good enough."

Gabranth has posed:

"Aye, that they were." Gabranth agrees, then he places down his own order. Mostly some toast, with some fried eggs, and sausage. Nothing really fancy at all. A rather basic breakfast-- even if it probably should be more like dinner -- but whatever.

He waits for the Waitress to leave before he continues. "I do not understand the reactions of the others to them. Viera have always been to themselves, even in the cities-- yet I should not be surprised by how they acted either." He shrugs his shoulders. "..whom am I to judge with blood on my hands of how others would treat another."

He rubs his forehead gently, almost a sneer on his lips from his own aggravation of the thought, a hint of amber glow in his eyes. Though he closes his eyes and inhales deeply as if trying to reel in his own emotions. "..also Riku," He looks at the youth, the amber still hinted at the corner of his blue eyes, "Don't forget that if you ever need to talk about something. Zargabaath and I are both here. I be a horrible 'brother' if I wasn't willing to listen, hm?" He says with a friendly grin.

He then leans back in the chair and looks out the window, almost seeming to allow the atmosphere aid in cooling his hidden bubbling temper behind the surface. "We should have ourselves an adventure for a few days. Just.. bumble around." He can't believe he is suggesting this! "..I know I am under surveillance, but," He looks over at Riku with a mischievous grin. "I am not alone and there is a very capable individual here who can knock me in my sense if I cross the line."

Riku has posed:
"Your functioning well enough there, I guess. I have this overwhelming urge to knock your block off." Riku grumbles good naturedly. "I don't know.." he shakes his head, shifting to another topic.

"Everybody handles things different. I.." he sighs and murmurs. "It's easy to find something to blame when you do things people don't like." he looks out the window, listening to the music for awhile. When Gabranth suggests the adventure he looks momentarily surprised and his shoulders shake with suppressed chuckling. "Yeah. If I ever get things sorted out again, maybe. Yeah.." he smirks, teasing.

"Then it'll work out just fine. Just stick behind the seasoned adventurer. I'll look out for you." His eyes drift to the window again and he just closes his eyes and breathes in and out a few times, turning back around again when their order has arrived.

He smiles at the waitress, thanking her while she seems too busy by half to notice but who smiles back as she races back across the floor. Riku tucks into his last refuge in a potentially awkward conversation. Food. He sets into it, not really realizing how hungry he was until he started eating. "But.. I'm curious. What would you have asked ADAM for if it wasn't for the senate? What would you have asked for yourself?"

Gabranth has posed:

Gabranth chuckles softly and seems to be enjoying himself. "Aye, you the seasoned one alright. I am sure some bloody dragon would indeed find you to be a crunch snack." He amuses with a playful smile on his face.

He then watches Riku dive right into his meal and about the time he starts to slowly eat his own. Though when the question is asked Gabranth comes to a dead pause on the very piece of toast he was cutting up. Yes he was cutting up his toast to mix with his egg.

He happens to like eating egg and toast together!

He just stares really at nothing before he looks out the window. Whatever joy was on his face was wiped right off. His eyes looking longing, lost, as if not even there suddenly. Before he blinks his eyes slowly and his face continues its look of sadness as he continues to force himself to now eat.

No answer comes from Gabranth it would seem.

Riku has posed:
Riku doesn't wait for an answer. He just continues to eat and stares down at the plate with a singular monofocus. If he's internally berating himself for asking a stupid question, it doesn't show on his face with is set in an expression of abstracted frustration.

The folk clatters across the plate repeatedly as he focuses on the food and any semblance of wanting to somehow find something to hit must surely be an illusion. Once he has completed this task he drums his fingers on the table and politely waves over the waitress again, asking with some chagrin and a bit of the strain of calm leaking into his voice as he asks for something else. Several somethings else in fact, the sandwiches stuffed with shrimp and oyster sounding too good to pass up and unable to get away from the fact that he would rather be ANYWHERE but here right now. 'Easy enough to accomplish' his mind snaps at himself. 'Just try to use your powers. That's a great ticket to nowhere, smart guy.'

Riku wanted to lay his head down on the table but doesn't give in to that impulse. He settles down in the chair instead and waits.

Gabranth has posed:

Gabranth continues to eat nice and slowly and just watches at last as Riku orders /more/ food. The boy was hungry. Then again, at his age-- so was he. He then smirks faintly, trying to snap his emotions back from that dark place of despair. "Enjoy it while you can," Gabranth says with a slightly brighter grin. "..get a few more years older and eating a horse may cost you." He says with a soft chuckle.

Yes, he was trying to break the air. He was trying to shrug off the big question.

"..and to answer your question Riku," Gabranth picks up some egg with some bread on his fork. "I would only maybe ask for one thing now, but due to events in my life, he would see me dead..." He can't blame him now he looks back on it. Such-- a foolish thing-- vengeance.

"Yet, right now in my life. I am starting to see the mistakes of many things I have done. I did out of ambition. I did out of anger. I did-- many things, that if I had the wisdom then, I would not have done." Gabranth smirks, "That is the funny thing about life. You do foolish things to only realize later that there could have been better ways, but tis to late. You can't change the past."

Gabranth then eats the food on his fork chewing on it for a bit, he tries to smile. He really does and he tries to change the subject. "The food here is rather delicious. Nice and homely."

Riku has posed:
Riku snorts, trying to force himself to some semblance of good humor again. When the sandwiches come and he digs into them is when he finally replies. "As long as I can sell off the hooves and tail so I can buy another of these sandwiches."

He makes an honest effort to change the conversation again. There is a long pause though, and a weight of things he doesn't want to think about and some things he doesn't want to ask. "I am going to have to introduce you to that movie. The one concerning the name you discarded for your disguise. Manhattanites have a lot of them. They also tend to spontaniously break out into song at some holidays of their year, so watch out for that."

Gabranth has posed:

Gabranth raises an eye brow. "There is a-- something that contains the name of Ren?" He says with an amused grin as he continues to eat, almost done with his plate now really. "Also breaking out into musicals seems rather entertaining. Do they chase you around as well?" He asks with a soft chuckle.

"Be warned," He then twirls his fork. "The musical monsters may get you."

Riku has posed:
"Let's just say. Never ask a Manhattanite about the meaning of any of their holidays. It's usually more trouble than it's worth." Riku looks down at the sandwich "You know.." he says softly. "I thought I'd be happy. To have it done and.. gone.. and I could forget it. I don't need it. I've never needed it but--" he trails off.

"No. The name is Dredd. Judge Dredd." he chuckles, taking another bite of the sandwich. "We'll have to see that. So. You already know his honor cleans MY clock. How are /your/ lessons going?"

Gabranth has posed:

Gabranth sits back in the chair, since he was done and just seems rather content to just chill back and drink his glass of water. "Noted."

"..and oh. Yes. The Dredd bit. I thought I heard one of our men named it once, but he was sadly killed in one of the missions before the fall of our world." He grunts softly. "I believe he was part of the second."

"I keep hearing that eventually dear Zargabaath is going to pull me in for a personal lever pulling to see how hard he can push me before I snap, yet he has not done so." Gabranth says with some relief in his voice. "The man is probably one of the few who knows how to get me quickly spun up with only a few words spoken when he desires too.. though most of the time-- he is the Judge Magister that keeps the level heads."

"Funny that. I am the one in charge due to my position, yet Zargabaath has far more wisdom and it better suited for the job to lead." Gabranth admits before he smirks. "Not that I ever tell that to him." He then chuckles.

"Beyond Zargabaath's threats... mostly learning to.. keep my newly spark anger in check. Though this crystal that Cid created keep the negative effects of the remains of the Eclipse Shard at pay." He frowns a little. "..it has changed some things on how I observe and sense the world around me. Very minor changes too, but still notable."

Riku has posed:
Riku listens with interest and finishes off one sandwich. Having one more to go he looks at it inquisitively as if just realizing for the first time the small assemblage of plates in front of him. "You know if I'm turning into Will I'm going to be really torqued." he says to himself very quietly. He then snorts at the ridiculousness of the idea and the universe in general and takes a bite of the last sandwich.

Riku nods. "Sounds.. familiar, I guess. Although, he'll get around to it eventually I guess. He's done the same to me." he snorts faintly. "Although. Maybe we can get him arguing with his Honor Ghis about their airships and then sneak away during the discussion?"

Gabranth has posed:

"Ghis and Zargabaath fusses over their children is rather amusing topic to listen too honestly." Gabranth admits with a grin. "They love their fleets, though Zargabaath hails mostly for the House, while Ghis flies under Lord Vayne. Yet-- either way, it does not matter whom they answer too, we all answer to the Senate at the end."

Gabranth gives a minor snort in displeasure at this. "The Senate does mean well but I-- have to agree with Lord Vayne at times.. it does feel under current circumstances they are holding us back. We have no allies, and thankfully, no enemies either.. but eventually Archades will have to make some move." He narrows his eyes. "..we can not continue to be a sleeping dragon."

He then laughs softly, before shaking his head. "..yet I worry to much perhaps. No nation has shown interest in us and the only ones we must concern ourselves with is the one-- perhaps-- slight ally we have made which is Fluogris and they are a trading town."

He blinks. "..and I do not even know /why/ I am discussing such things." He stares at the glass of water. "..how easy it is to fall into old shoes." He then picks up the glass once more and drinks from it before resting it back down on the table.

"Right then.. where were we..Right-- Zargabaath and Ghis.. and their flocks."

Riku has posed:
"Only if I don't steal them and run a mile in them." Riku remarks dryly. "Let.. us continue to sleep awhile." he has trouble with 'us' for a moment, then clears his throat and continues.

"Fluorgis is a nice enough place and no kingdom really HAS paid attention. Everybody is busy tending their own affairs. Everybody is still afraid to reach out and make those connections, for good or ill. Maybe in time, they won't be. And I guess the character of the empire I signed up for and the ideal I saw in the people I.. believe in will be tested then."

There is a pause as he gathers himself before continuing. "Yeah. We were discussing escape plans."

Gabranth has posed:

Gabranth smirks faintly as Riku says his thoughts on the matter. By the creator, who ever that may be, the boy was indeed starting to sound like one of them. Give him another couple of months to a year and he would talk like a Judge exactly.

Gabranth then froze his thoughts on that, pondering if that was honestly something to be happy on-- or-- sad about. He-- could tell Riku the dark side of Archades. That /side/ that Gabranth tried to halt, only to be swept into it and became the very thing he...

Gabranth gritted his teeth noticeably for a moment before he gave a few nods. "Aye. Escape plans." He chuckles. "We could always hit the alarm and just run the other way as the crews run to handle the area of the alarm. Then hop into an Ifrit, I think it is, and just zoom off before Zargabaath realizes we took of his ships."

Then he glances up at the ceiling in thought. "..though... if we touch one of his ships, he may cause us both to do clean up detail." He then breaks into a bit of a laugh. "Then we will be trying to come up with a means to /escape/ from that as well."

Riku has posed:
Riku chuckles. "So then we'll need an escape plan from the escape plan. Suddenly, this sounds eerily like something Sora would do. Maybe it's better to just take our medicine collectively instead of separately."

he shrugs innocently. "It also gives me a convenient opportunity to heckle you. I can take that. Especially since we've both been biting down on pieces of this conversation." he raises the sandwich.

"I must be hungry." he says pointedly to that and finished off his sandwich, his voice laced with satire and chagrin.

Gabranth has posed:

"Riku," Gabranth says staring as the youth starts to eat another sandwich. "...get your desert while you at it." He then chuckles before shaking his head. "..trust me.. you will thank me for it later." The Judge Magister then pulls out his wallet and starts to absent mindlessly counts the cash. This was going to be an expensive venture, but whatever.

It was a fun expensive venture.

"Don't heckle to hard or it may be more then this conversation I end up biting down on." He says with an amused grin. "You don't want to anger the Behemoth, now do you?"

Riku has posed:
"And gain the opportunity to kick your sorry ass again? Sign me up, your honor." Riku says with a pleasant smile, the expression looking troubled for a moment before he pushed it away.

He took in a breath and flagged down the waitress again, looking at the powdered honey cakes of some variety on the plate of another diner some distance away. "And.. about dessert? I believe I will take you up on that."