13787/Maria decides she doesn't need a tire change

Maria decides she doesn't need a tire change
Date of Scene:	09 January 2023
Location:	Canelo's Auto and Body
Synopsis:	No description
Cast of Characters:	Robbie Reyes, Maria King

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Robbie Reyes has posed:
It's a cool, crisp night in Brooklyn, and the weather looks to be debating between rain, snow and sleet. Charcoal sky tinged faintly pink, through which the jagged skyline can only barely be made out.

Canelo's is technically closed, but Robbie likes to take his time closing up. Partly because he likes to do a good job for his boss, and partly because he wants to get a headstart on the morning's work.

And, well, partly because this time of evening's when shit's more likely to go sideways. And he seems to have, in some fashion he doesn't understand, this little neighbourhood's eyes in the night.

The young man is cleaning tools with a buffing cloth and putting them away, *clack clack clack*. The radio's on, and can likely even be made out from nearby, through the open bay door. He's in his dark blue coveralls and work boots, and no small amount of grease that's smeared across his clothing, hands, and even his cheek.

Maria King has posed:
Just two doors down is the New Lots Animal Hospital. A veterinary clinic that caters to the working class people of New Lots, it is a small L-shaped building with a half dozen parking spaces in front. The back is a yard enclosed by a concrete wall that has some dog runs and a pet recreation area in it. They handle regular veterinary needs, emergency care, and boarding.

The back door opens, a mix of barking from more than one dog can be heard. A teenaged girl steps out, holding the leash of a Swiss mountain dog. The dog has a splint on its leg and is walking with a limp. The girl is patient, not rushing the dog at all, letting him go at his own pace.

"You're doing wonderful," she says in a cheery voice, reaching down to ruffle the dog's neck. His tail wags a few times, and he looks like he wants to trot, but can only manage that limp as putting weight on the leg isn't easy for him yet, apparently.

The pair pass the store in between the vet clinic and the garage, moving at about a fourth the speed of most pedestrians. They finally start to draw even with the garage, visible out the door. Maria glances over as she hears the music.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
The music's some kind of angry dubstep with lots of synth and bass. Metal or metal leaning, maybe. He's also got it on quite loud.

Sensing someone approaching, he turns and glances over his shoulder on impulse. Not even thinking about the quick assessment he makes of the girl: has he seen her around here before? This is his home turf, or as close as it gets. And he's not familiar with her. Never mind the dog-- which starts growling or trying to lunge at him, and he eases a step back while cleaning out the grease between his fingers and under his nails with the cloth.

He doesn't say a word; just watches her steadily with those odd, mismatched eyes.

Maria King has posed:
Those who live in the area might indeed be familiar with Maria. Or they might not. She does try to keep a hood up to not draw attention. But she's been living in this part of town for two years now, so there are opportunities for people to have seen her.

Before Maria has had much chance to get a view of the mechanic, the dog - and it is a pretty big dog at that! - lets out a bit of a growl. He's not really able to lunge with that leg that he's only starting to support his weight on. But he takes a bit of an aggressive or at least defensive posture, tail tucking between his legs.

"What's wrong, Otto?" she says, looking down at the dog. "Don't care for the music? We can look for a garage playing Ace of Bass instead," she says in a lighthearted tone, trying to help sooth the dog. She reaches down to gently brush his neck.

It only helps a little. The dog staring over at Robbie if no longer growling. Maria looks up from the big dog to Robbie. "Sorry about that. Just taking him out for a little slow-paced exercise. Can't let him loose with the other dogs or he'd try to do too much with them running around him," the girl says, motioning back towards the Animal Hospital.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
Now that he thinks about it, she *does* look a little familiar. Robbie frowns in thought as he watches the girl pause to settle her canine. But he makes absolutely no move to approach the animal, or make it feel more threatened. Instead a step backward and into the open bay and his body turned so he's no longer facing off with Maria. Hands held slightly up, with the rag dangling loose from one, to show he's no threat. Or at least, this is how Otto's hopefully perceiving it.

"Nah, don't gotta apologise. I tend to get that reaction. He hurt or something?" The mechanic nods toward her dog.

Maria King has posed:
Between the stroking of his fur and Robbie giving Otto a little more space, the dog seems to feel not quite as threatened. Though he keeps an eye on the mechanic, his tail lifts and begins to swing a little bit. Maria encourages the animal's emotional change. "That's a good boy, you're a big protective boy aren't you!?" she says, crouching down to give Otto a double ear scruffle which he seems to like.

The dog is probably not far from outweighing her. Good thing he's not able to run off, he'd probably be dragging Maria behind him down the street.

"Yeah, he had surgery on his leg," she says, motioning back down the street in the direction of the vet clinic. "It's structurally ok now just he needs to get through some scar tissue and build up strength on it again. Or something like that," she says.

She glances over at the vehicle that Robbie was working on, then back to the Latino. "He's not mine. The vet needed some help. Has people out with the flu. So I volunteered to help exercise some of the animals. Just can't let him out in the enclosed space they have," she says of Otto.