10711/Missed Connections

Missed Connections
Date of Scene:	09 April 2022
Location:	Central Park Zoo
Synopsis:	A new potential friendship was struck up!
Cast of Characters:	Thomas Blake, Rien D'Arqueness

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Thomas Blake has posed:
The tiger sits in his pen absolutely still in the cold night air. It's a clear spring night, a little cold for him. Not that he would show it. Tigers do not bow, not to beasts, men or even the elements. The tiger regards the man in the enclosure. He descended on a line and waits. He lets the beast come to him. Six hundred pounds of death pads towards him silently. Ten sniffs at a hand held for him. The tiger sniffs again. Slowly recognition dawns.

"I have been gone for a while. I am sorry."

The big cat sniffs again, somehow smelling something of the wild in this nominal human. then it wraps it paws around him and nuzzles. The man follows suit, burying his face in the feline's ruff, chuckling a bit before opening the package of meat he brought and only then stepping away. Only an idiot tries to feed a tiger by hand. An idiot named 'Stubby'. Thomas Blake is a great many things, but was never an idiot.

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
Rien approaches the cage at a lope that could easily be seen on the tiger stalking it's prey. Leather pants and jacket are paired with a vibrant blue halter top, the usual boots on her feet. That thick mane of blonde hair loose and freed to the middle of her back, those blue eyes scanning the area almost constantly. There are traits she absolutely picked up from her paternal side that seem to have come with the powers. Speaking of, she sniffs at the air and prowls closer, looking into the enclosure to see Catman in the enclosure with the tiger. One brow lifts, watching man and cat together.

She's good with stealth, but the tiger will almost certainly pick up on her presence even if Thomas doesn't. But she doesn't approach or try to pop into the cage or anything. She's not an idiot. Sure she could heal but it would still hurt! Instead, she takes the time to watch Thomas himself, taking him in and taking his measure as she waits. When her phone buzzes, she pulls it out and looks at the text, frowning. A quick text is setn back to Gabby, who is apparently having one of those 'episodes' and has been told she's being kept under observation, so won't make it to the meetup. Tucking the phone away, she looks back to Thomas to see if he gets the same message.

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake left his phone outside the enclosure. He could tell someone was coming. The tiger pausing in scarfing the antelope. He grabs the line and quickly climbs out. The phone buzzing annoys him. Technology intrudes into everything. That and demons.

A certain kitsune too, but he likes her. He gets a faint scent of her that seems familiar. It reminds him of Gabrielle, or Bellona. Another sister perhaps. He crouches, balancing on the railing to retrieve his throwing iron and line, watching her. then he goes to his phone, still watching. Not so much cautious as appreciative. He reads the message, keeping one eye on her. Probably a Kinney or Kinney adjacent. Probably never heard of him because dear Gabrielle keeps her mouth shut abut him despite her nick name. He walks over to her giving every indication it gravity rotated 90 degrees, he would land on his feet, and extending a hand. Kinneys and Logans were pretty cool from what he saw of Gabrielle and Bellona.

"A little chilly for that outfit. I respect your dedication to looking good. I'm Thomas."

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
Rien watches his ascent and clamber out of the enclosure, curving a smile in his direction as she waits for him to decide to come closer or noth. Reaching out, she takes his hand and gives a firm shake, "I presume you're the friend Gabby said she was going to introduce me to. I'm Rien. We're... sisters. Same father." There's strength in her grip, but she's not trying to strong-hand him. Releasing that grip, she glances down at herself, then chuckles, "I don't really feel the cold, or, well, I guess it's more accurate to say I just ignore it. So.. thank you."

"Good to meet you, Thomas. Sorry that Gabby can't be here but... did you want to wander around a little? Or... honestly, I don't know what she had planned. Food maybe? Or a drink? I'd like to think I'm pretty easygoing for the most part." She lifts a small shrug and tucks her hands into her pockets, flicking a glance towards the enclosure. "Friend of yours?" She looks back to him with a quick smile.

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake indicates his four limbs and says, "I'm intact, so yes, he is a friend. They feed him beef, not gazelle or antelope, and don't give hm enough calcium carbonate to him. Idiots. bad enough he is thrown his food. Is Gabrielle all right? I've been out of touch for a while. I had business out of town." The smile is gone. There is a promise in those green eyes to hurt someone responsible for any of Gabrielle's woes.

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
"Admittedly, I know nothing about animals, really. Just how to avoid them." Rien lifts a small shrug and looks back towards the enclosure, "Though it seems a shame they don't give him enough of what he needs." Looking back towards Thomas, her expression turns a touch more somber, though she gives a nod. "She's okay. There's... nanobots inside her, and the company that's responsible for her and her sisters has been trying to reactivate the programming. It's been causing her some issues while everyone works to fix the issue." Frowning briefly, she sighs, "But it does mean that she occasionally gets knocked out by the nanobots."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake shakes his head. "I know that company. There've been a couple of Catman. I've muddied the issue of my identity. They think the man who was tearing them up is dead thanks to a she demon's favor. I'd like to help her but the grapevine says she's going full on hero. I don't think she wants my help." He gives a small smile, "I'm a bad man. In as much as I chose sides. I'm not big on choosing sides though. there's me an everybody else. When I make friends, I'm a good friend. When I make enemies, they don't stick around long. Gabrielle probably doesn't want to arrest me. Pity. I enjoyed her company. I was looking forward to killing that miserable Colonel, who marked her, if she couldn't -and no one else would step up. Obviously you or another family member comes first." As he speaks he stays in arm's reach of Rien. "You want to chill somewhere and talk?"

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
"I don't know the company, I came about through... other means. But I've been trying to stay out of it since I'm not particularly tech-savvy. Gabby swears up and down that she's got a great crew helping her, so I left it at offering to portal people out if shit hits the fan and they need an emergency exit." Rien smiles faintly and lifts a small shrug, "So instead I just do other things with her." She lifts both brows at him, then chuckles, "I'm not really on either side. I'm just on my side. Which is usually against like... super evil end the world kind of things. But I don't know, I also have a pretty big 'survival of the fittest' instinct, so..." Glancing back over her shoulder, she looks back to Thomas with a smile, "Can I raincheck? I'd like to go sit with Gabby for a bit but..." She reaches up and snaps her fingers and he'll find himself holding a business card with a handwritten name and number, "That's me. Feel free to call me sometime and we'll have that talk." Rien takes two steps back and just seems to sort of.. disappear.