8498/Tigers and Farewells

Tigers and Farewells
Date of Scene:	31 October 2021
Location:	The Griffin
Synopsis:	Thomas prepares for a trip. Gabby is a big help.
Cast of Characters:	Gabby Kinney, Thomas Blake

---

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney had spent the night in Gotham at the Roost, home of the Outsiders, after helping to deal with the Scarecrow. After that she headed back to New York--but didn't quite feel like jumping back into going to the school immediately. The students and staff were all preparing for the Halloween party which just seemed like another world entirely to her right now. Cool, yes, but she needed some wind down time before switching mental tracks back to 'fun' stuff after serious. A nice in-between seemed to be stopping by the Griffin since it had been awhile. Knocking needlessly on the door she announces her entrance before using the key to step inside. "Just me!" she calls out to anyone who might be within hearing distance be it Thomas, Satana, someone else, or just Rasputin. No need to startle a tiger.

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake is sitting on his favorite chair clad in his shorts and the harness he typically uses to hold his knives and kit bag. He has a number of survival knives and similar tools on the carpet in front of him and he gives a guilty start as Gabby enters, apparently too engrossed to be paying attention. He regards Gabby with an appraising look which she should know means he has a job for her. Silently he crooks a finger at her and pats the arm of his chair with some urgency.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney narrows her eyes thoughtfully before letting out a small sigh. "What's up this time?" Even though she asks, she does make her way over to join him by perching on the armrest of the chair as she often did. A glance is cast over the arrangement of tools out considering. Then she cants her head toward him suspiciously. "Lot more gear than you usually need."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake nods. "I'm eliminating what I don't need. I have to talk to you before either of the girls pop in. I don't care if they see these gadgets on the floor. They pay no attention to my business. I want to ask you something before they show up, privately." He regards the young Mutant seriously for a moment then says, "You're almost too big for the armrest. I think you're going to be taller than your big sisters. Anyway... I'm going away. I need to. I... your dad would probably understand it from what I hear about him. I need you to make sure Rasputin is taken care of. I am not telling anyone else for now, except you and Bellona."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney grins faintly at the remark of getting bigger. "Maybe. Met one of my brothers once and he's way taller so maybe I lucked out in that department. Though I'm already almost full grown. Just got a few years left for any last minute growth spurts." It was just a bit of rambling, nothing like she could usually go through. She was paying attention instead to what's said. A single nod is given in response. "Yeah, I get it. Everyone needs to get away for awhile to deal with things. Bellona's like that, too, at times." Which is why she'd been gone so long to begin with. She shifts her weight just a bit finding it difficult to sit comfortably on the armrest anymore as she had grown a bit. "I can do that. Rasputin and I get along well enough. Just make sure he's fed and not bored, right?"

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake hands Gabby a thumb drive. "Full instructions are here. The imps do most of it. Just makes suere they follow the instructions. His vet's number is there. I'll leave the keys to the van and the mid town apartment for you and Bellona and there's money there for you."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney plucks the thumbdrive from his hand giving it a once over flip in her grasp before it's stuffed down into a pocket. "Gotcha. He'll be fine, we can take care of him without any problem." She pauses, considering, before saying, "I'm totally getting him a pumpkin to play with though."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake nods. "He has a bowlin' ball he loves. Thank you, Gabrielle. Practice your lock picking. Look after Bellona. She misses you sometimes." He starts scooping the various tools and knives up and depositing it in a rucksack. "Camping prep is a pain."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney smiles warmly at the commands to practice, and visit. "Yeah, I know. She stopped by the school the other week and met Logan. I feel bad for not being there at the time. They're both kind of rough to deal with at times." And boy could they have used a middle man. Nodding again she repeats, "Bowling ball got it. Bring some beef jerky. It makes trips better I'm told."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake chuckles. "I used to have a little rack I tried antelope and zebra on into jerky out in the Serengeti. The lions hated it." He fishes in his pocket and pulls out a small set of picks. He hands them to Gabby. He tries to be nonchalant about it but...

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney allows herself a small smile as she takes the set. This was the one he had when teaching her, not the quick throwaway ones. Without warning she leans in to press a kiss to the side of his cheek, complete with a melodramatic, "MWAH!" Kiss smacking noise to be silly. "Be safe, okay? I mean I know it's not safe whatever you're doing, but come back safe."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake grabs Gabby in a hug. He hangs on far longer than usual. "I need to do what I need to do. I... I'm not sure sometimes am I more cat or man. I know I tried being... legal if not honest. Those guys at AlcheMax... it was bad what I did. I had no choice but it woke something up in me. I need to figure out whether to feed it or kill it." He releases her after another moment.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney sucks in a quick breath when she's pulled in to hug unexpectedly. He wasn't as stand-offish as some she knew, though, so hugs weren't unusual. Just. This was a bit different she could tell. Leaning into it she wraps her arms around him giving him a few light pats on his back in the process. As long as he needs to hold on she lets him. "That's part of why I try not to kill. I don't know if I'd stop after. It seems to run in my family a lot." Pausing she adds, quietly, "I don't blame you for what happened at Alchemax. A lot of things went sideways."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake keeps an arm around Gabby. "I'm not the Bat or Captain America. They were just that bit faster than me or more skilled. I told myself this. But what it comes down to is I fight one way. I don't care. It bothers me a little after. You're right not to start. You're gentle for all your hardness. I'm... my father's son and he's probably laughing in Hell at me to hear this. Satanna could tell me I suppose." He smiles a little at his joke.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney gives just a little bit of a snort at mention of being his father's son, only to shake her head in response. "Hey, you learn from the people that influence your life, but that doesn't have to be just *one* person, right? And no one said you have to be those people. You can find your own way, whatever it is. Just, learn from things. Keep moving and trying to improve. Plus," she adds with a grin. "You have done some good you know. Alchemax is a hole for so many things. Throwing a wrench in their works slows them down and that's a good thing. We don't need anymore of me running around. I'm too cute as it is."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake looks away. "This AlcheMax thing isn't about good or evil. They wronged me. They tried to kill me. They leave me feeling dirty and I want to burn them to the ground. I didn't do much besides stir them up and prove they can know fear. We'll see if I want to do more... when I get back." Hesitation on the when.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney reaches up to poke his nose with her fingertip. "Just because your reasons aren't pure and honest doesn't mean it didn't do some good." Deciding to end that particular line of discussion she glances back to the pack he's been filling. "We'll wait for ya."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake gets a little cross-eyed as he is poked. He gives a little snap at her finger. "Sounds good. You want some eggs, coffee? Anything? I made some antelope jerky from Rasputin's daily order. Oh... keep him away from dairy products... and small children. Neither is good for him."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney stands from her perch to consider the offer. "I'll try some of that jerky. I've never had antelope before... oh, and coffee would be good. I got stabbed in the lung the other night and found out that makes me need to cough up blood which wasn't fun. I need more sleep at some point. Just didn't want to go home yet."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake gets up taking Gabby by the arm like an escort. "Yeah. I get that. Sometimes, it can be hard to go home... then again Satana is really the one entitled to complain about that."