12947/Afterparty assemblage

Afterparty assemblage
Date of Scene:	02 October 2022
Location:	Robbie's Apartment
Synopsis:	Gabby and Robbie discuss love interests and coming back to the JLD.
Cast of Characters:	Robbie Reyes, Gabby Kinney

---

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Reyes's apartment has gotten an upgrade. After that very sketchy few weeks of living in that cockroach-infested hellhole, he's either cleaned or chucked out everything they own, and moved them into a modest little railroad unit in Gotham. Nothing terribly spacious or fancy; but it's clean, free of vermin, and doesn't have drug dealers hanging out on the front doorstep.

Gabe's out with his friends this evening, and Robbie -- judging by the sleek and slightly menacing profile of his ride out front -- has just gotten home. The front door's been left half open, and he's sifting through some mail. Bills, mostly, because that's how life be.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
That little souped up motorcycle that Robbie had worked on not too long ago pulls up just behind the Hellcharger as Gabby cruises on up. She parks, and heads in, pausing to glance at her phone just a moment to make sure she's got the address right. I mean clearly she does--The charger was there. But she hesitates seeing the door open.

At least until she heads inside cautious in case some criminal element was... what? Stupidly trying to rob, Robbie? A grin creeps over her. "Junk mail? Nice digs," she adds with a glance around. "Much better than that last place. Probably easier on Gabe, too."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Robbing him? Yeah, that's going to end well.

Robbie looks over right as the younger girl strolls up on him, his usual dour expression melting into a smile that erases a few years from his face. Some days he looks twenty-two going on eighty. "Hey, chica." The stack of letters is tossed aside with a snort. "Worse. People want me to pay 'em money. Go fuckin' figure." This apartment is ground floor, with access to a very small -- but decently maintained -- garden out back. "Yeah, we moved.. last weekend?"

He sheds his boots and slings his jacket off with a hitch of his chin toward the door. "You wanna shut that and make yourself comfortable?" The ratty couch is gone, replaced by what looks like a second hand store find: blue-grey suede, recently reupholstered, and a handmade coffee table with a stack of what looks like Gabe's engineering textbooks.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Coming up in the world, Mr. Reyes." Gabby teases lightly as she turns to shut the door behind her. Sure it might be a nicer place, but it's still Gotham and this is still the ground floor. The locks are flipped just to be safe. She worked this city enough to not trust an unlocked door.

"You're practically in my backyard now. Well. Would have been, I kind of moved into a friend's pool house in Happy Harbor but my sister's taken that over." She shrugs a bit over the situation while she pauses to kick off her own boots leaving her in socks. Satisfied this will suffice she heads for that comfier looking couch to flop down. "Don't mind if I do."

"So you talked to Gabe yet? Considering things?"

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Robbie makes a little moue with his mouth as he thinks on whether he knew about the pool house. "Does that make you a cabana girl or something, then?" he teases, watching her claim a spot at his couch with an amused expression.

"Also, you want somethin' to drink? I got beer, beer and.. I'm pretty sure beer. Might be some horchata left that Gabe made." He runs his fingers through his hair as he pads into the kitchen to double-check the fridge. "Yeah. We talked a little. I mean, things are gonna have to be different this time around. I promised him no more secrets. You know?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"I mean I *guess* I can take a beer," Gabby responds with a little grin of amusement as she shifts to pillow her arms behind her neck. It props her head up just enough to peer toward the kitchen as he heads that direction to watch what he's up to.

"That's a much better idea than before. I'm gonna have to apologize to him, too, for keeping secrets. Though I tried not to where I could," she adds with a little sigh of frustration. "I get wanting to keep family safe but in stuff like this, knowing is kinda better I think."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
The rhetorical question's left unanswered, which just makes Robbie grin more. He doesn't bother continuing to needle her, though. Instead, he withdraws a couple of Mexican beers from the fridge and passes one to Gabby. The other, he pops the tab with his thumb and takes a long drink from.

"Well, it's worked for the last six years or so," he mumbles. "But I guess things change. Now he knows what I am, what I do. It's.." He shrugs a broad shoulder. "Anyway, the JLD. Looks like you got a lot of the old guard coming back. Some real heavy hitters in that room, think they're gonna play nice with each other?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney reaches out to take the offered beer as she shifts in her seat, lifting herself to sit properly. And to stretch her legs out over his lap. Hah. That was revenge for the cabana girl remark. Grinning in amusement all she can do is shake her head while lifting the beer to knock the cap off, and take a sip.

"Be a miracle. I honestly don't know how this'll work out, but I intend to fake it the best I can. Most people seem to get along with me pretty well to begin with. I mean not everyone," she hastens to add, "But as Sara pointed out I'm 'disgustingly easy to get along with'. I've been running around meeting folks who want to be recruited, folks who left, folks that were listed as heavy hitters with no interest... and I've gotten quite a few on board. Which is good I guess."

A hand runs back through her hair with a sigh. "But I feel like I don't have any time to myself now. I haven't even ahd proper time to catch up with..." She trails off a moment. "A friend."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
The beer's decent, but nothing to write home about. At least it isn't 'American pisswater', as Robbie would call it. "Well, you're gonna find out real soon," he rumbles, gesturing to her with his bottle. "Don't envy you, I gotta say, chica."

Of course, no sooner has he sat down, flopped back into the cushions and gotten comfortable.. than there's a pair of shapely legs lifted into his lap. Nope, he's too tired to make a fuss about it. "You sure you ain't putting too much into this? You keep it up, you're gonna burn the fuck out."

He hesitates, then rests his free hand loosely across her feet. "A friend, huh?" Yes, he caught that pause. "C'mon, spill it."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney lets out a low groan while rolling her head back to stare at the ceiling. This was a groan of someone anticipating the worst to come. Her head snaps back up when he calls her on that remark though, causing her to blink rapidly. "Oh. Just a friend. I mean. So far. I guess."

Busying herself with taking a few quick gulps off the beer she considers if she should say more or not. "I mean we haven't discussed what else we are, or if we are..." She puffs out a breath only to lift her chin indignantly. "We spent a night together. And a morning. ... Sometime close to afternoon. He's uh, the brother of someone I know. Tall guy. Big... appetite."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Uh huh. Just a friend. Robbie's clearly not buying it; he gives the underside of her foot a tickle. "So, he got a name? Or should I just call him 'the guy you're sort of but not really seeing who has a big dick'?

Yes, he's grinning like the shit he is.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"I didn't say that!" Gabby squeaks out, giving a little kick at the tickle. It was more due to the phrasing though that has her clap a hand over her face trying to hide. It doesn't work well given she still has the beer bottle in hand so she just ends up pressing it to her cheek. Maybe that would get her to stop blushing.

"Ugh it's a code name thing, I'm not supposed to share around his real name. I know it," she hastens to add. "Just." A little frustrated breath is puffed out. "Never got the secret identity thing but I try to respect it, you know?" Another drink is taken from her beer, and she mumbles, "Also didn't say dick. Said appetite." A pause. "Strong jaw maybe."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Robbie gives a theatrical shrug to the denial, and attempts at beating around the bush about the guy's identity. He chuckles at all the awkwardness and blushing, but relents at least on trying to extract a name from her.

"Okay, okay. No names, then. But sounds like the sex is good, and you seem to really like him. Why you ain't makin' time for guys you like?" He knocks back another swig of his beer, ceases tickling her foot, and instead digs his fingers into the arch to give it a little massage. Hey, he's got strong hands, and has clearly done this before.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
For someone who healed any injury she got it would make sense that she wouldn't be tense often. It would, but that isn't really the case. With all the new responsibilities, and running around she'd been doing, Gabby was stressed more than she'd like to admit. Possibly why she was finding it hard to find time for other things. As it is? The alcohol does nothing to help. The little impromptu foot massage was another question entirely.

A deep breath is drawn, and let out slowly while she feels her shoulders sag just a bit. "I don't know. I mean. I know I've been busy. And stressed. And running around between different cities a lot. One of my other sisters is in town. Been having meetings and just..." A long sigh comes out. "I guess it was just bad timing in general. It's not like we live together or near each other. I have to go out of my way every time. Which," she has to add, "Is a pretty lame excuse huh?"

Robbie Reyes has posed:
This time, it's his turn not to answer a rhetorical question. Just a little flick of mismatched eyes to her green ones, and a slight furrowing of his brows as he considers what she's said. "Mmm," he murmurs as he thinks. And sips his beer. And lets his hand rove a little, easing out tension along the ligament that runs to her big toe, then massaging the whole foot up to her ankle.

"You sure there ain't something else goin' on?" The beer bottle's set down on the coffee table in front of him, and his other hand joins in the massage. "I know you can protect yourself, but.."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Like what else?" Gabby looks just a little confused at the suggestion that she can protect herself. It does make her think though, frowning just a tad. It doesn't last long as she lets her eyes slide shut to indulge in that foot rub a few moments while she can.

"Mm. I don't know. I got into a fight the other night. I didn't start it. I told someone off and they started the fight. They deserved to be told off though," she adds with a wry grin. "But that's definitely part of why I've been busy. The JLD, I had to do the whole thing to do the magic on my claws again." She goes quiet before asking again. "What are you thinking?"

Robbie Reyes has posed:
"I don't know." He means that; there's no attempt to be evasive, and Robbie's about as sneaky as a brick to the face. He turns his head against the couch cushions to watch the expression on her face, while a calloused thumb strokes up and down her ankle bone slowly, absently.

"If you're busy, you're busy. Just, you know, sometimes we lie to ourselves about these things. Figured I wouldn't be a real good friend if I didn't ask."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney mms softly in thought before her eyes crack open again to grin his direction. "Thanks then. I'll have to think on that a bit. I haven't dated anyone in years, and I was just a student back then. I've definitely got a lot more going on these days." Her toes wiggle just a bit before going still again.

"... You mind if I crash here tonight? Feeling kind of tired. And this couch is pretty cozy," she has to admit only to pause and think with eyes narrowing skeptically. "Wait, is this a one bedroom again? You sleeping on the couch and giving Gabe the bedroom?"

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Maybe a small part of him considers messing with her. But, no. "Two," he corrects, with a slight gesture of his head over yonder, down the hall that connects the living room to the sleeping quarters. "Two bedrooms."

He gives her leg a squeeze, then withdraws his hand and winks. "Welcome to the couch, if you want it. But you gotta let me up." He flashes her a roguish grin, complete with tonguetip poised at the sharp edge of a canine.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney looks a little relieved at the knowledge there's multiple bedrooms. No feeling guilty of stealing his bed that way or at least of stealing the couch. He does point out she needs to actually get up to let him leave though for that to work.

A little sly grin creeps over her as she sits up in one smooth movement. Her legs are still over his lap, at least for now, as she meets his gaze innocently. "Having problems getting up, Robbie?"

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Her eyes are met easily, steadily, unblinkingly, like the dyed-in-the-wool predator he is. Someone else might be fooled by the seemingly relaxed ease in his tall frame; but Gabby knows better. Much, much better. She's seen him at his very worst, after all, and knows the truth of him: there's no clean line where he ends, and Eli begins.

"Way I see it, my 'problem'--" No, he doesn't actually make the airquotes. But she can hear them in the way he says the word. "--has a few possible solutions. One, you get up and I let you get your sleep, since you been running yourself ragged this past while. Two, I pick you up. But I ain't promising you'll wind up on the couch, or get much sleep. Three.. no, I fuckin' lied. There ain't no three."

He tips his elbow against the couch cushions, and props his cheek up against his fist. "So, what's it gonna be, querida?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney draws in a quick, deep breath as she feels that little predatory sense of him, and Eli, and that blurring of their intentions. It was his eyes right now though. She knew that well enough. So she doesn't look away in spite of that feeling, even when he starts to list the options.

Her mouth opens... and then closes again when she finds herself starting to blush at the second option. And then it's cinched with that lack of a third. A moment longer she sits after he asks her to decide, her gaze clearly starting to drop down toward his chest before she catches herself.

A little whining noise comes from the back of her throat in frustration. Leaning in she gives his cheek a quick peck, then swings her legs off to let him go. "Tired," she states simply with a nod. "Very tired. Even. If it's. Um. Go on," she mumbles flapping her hand at him.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
His breathing remains slow and even; he's in control, inasmuch as he ever has control over a demonic serial killer.

The blush, though, makes him dimple a grin. Score. "Nah, you don't get to tease me like that. Even if.. what? Finish the fuckin' sentence." Tired or not, he isn't moving.. yet.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney makes a grab for one of the couch pillows to pull over her face. "Nope," she states stubbornly, from behind her shield. After a moment she peeks over the top and mutters, "Even if it was kind of hot for you to say that now go to bed by yourself I need to sleep." Yes.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Sleep it is. And maybe the tiniest flicker of disappointment. But Robbie being Robbie, he's sure as hell not going to argue it. "Buenas noches," he murmurs instead, offering her a smile when she peeks at him over the top of the cushion. Her gaze is held for a moment or two, and then he pushes off the couch, collects the empties to take to the kitchen, and pauses at the mouth of the hallway a moment to turn back to her. "I'll grab you a blanket. You need anything else.." Well, she knows where to find him. Then he disappears.