#harleysforharlots

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Earl can see that Ice works here, the signs are all there. Like the several new security cameras pointing at him like staring eyes as he approaches the door, and the loud dinging as soon as the door opens. Bars on the windows*

A nocker yells in the back room. The room behind where Ice is more than likely set up. "Ya damn halfwit dragon! I all ready have keeblers breathing down my nickers! Ya ain't helping!" A spout of bubbles filter in the front room. A hairless kitten in a orange sweater follows them, trying to bat them out of the air.

Ice is in the back, working at a worktable, with latex gloves on, grimly focused on an exhaust system he is assembling for a motorcycle. Grunt work, mostly; he is in jeans and a black tee. Occasionally, so intent is he on his work, he seems not to notice when a sleek black snake slicks up from under the collar of his shirt to flick a tongue out, perhaps curious to see what he's doing. Also, he rasps on occasion, knowing damn well she can't hear him, but unable to resist all the same* "You want to scare the furkin' thing away, try being nice to it for once."

"Would scare the hell out of ME."

Sounds of approach, and the dinging..."Hello?"

He looks up, starts to pull off his gloves, and then is stopped by a cat underfoot* "Godda....Gremlin!" He looks up, eyes narrowed, to the workbench, and grabs for the tape. He pulls off a few inches of length, and bends to slap it onto the cat's hairless back* "Go chase that a while."

Then he heads out towards the front, pulling his gloves off* "Earl." Dark-eyed, intent* "Nice to see you a again."

The kitten is suddenly involved in a game of chase the tape, moving in circles trying to catch its own hind end.

He watches the kitten with amusement, then looks back to ICE, "I hope you're well, ICE.. And your mom?"

Zara waves from behind Earl, smiling.

"Setting up her own place over at Ardent Harbor. Boring nocker crap. You..." He spots Zara, and lifts a chin, actually smiling a twisted smile. It doesn't seem pleasant, but there's no malice in it* "Hey." *His eyes move back* "You guys want something to drink? Coffee sludge, Red Bull, water with miminally acceptable lead standards?"

The cat starts to roll and twist on the floor when the tape can't be caught, wiggling, trying to fight the defcon 10 invader off its skin.

"I've heard. She's terrorizing the Instruments guild..."

"Yeah? Sounds like her. Glad she's feeling better."

"Glad she's busy, nu?"

A bit of a smile, "Still safer than firnost water. eh? Thank you, but I'm good. I.. ah.." *He looks embarrassed * "i've got news for you... an event is coming up to honor me, but I'm not sure you want to go...but at the same time you're afriend and I don't want to not at least invite...." hems and haws a bit

"Depends. That's like asking what's better, dying by Napalm or drowning." He heads towards the mini-fridge. The snake slithers from under his collar again, staring at them with black eyes all-too-similar to his. Its tongue flicks out. He finds two cans of something least likely to resemble gasoline -- in this case, Cokes -- to bring over and offer* "Spit it out. It's a nocker shop. Rude not to say something straight out."

The kitten mews and drags its self rump down across the floor, into Tams shop for a rescue from the tape monster. More soap bubbles float out the door. A soft rumble can be heard, and muttered cussing. Something to the likes of "god-damn pisher piece of crap, should a' jus' shoved it up their behind so far it came out of their mouth....."

"Long story short. While I will not be joining any House nor swearing to any lord, I am getting Knighted so I can help my family."

He rolls his eyes at her cussing; it seems a familiar ritual*

"Yeah?" *His eyes fix on him, then. Watching up, sharp*

"Is that what you want, though?"

Zara wavers her hand. "The omens were positive, but... not the most detailed augury."

"I want my family safe," He says "And you know how some nobles think... a knight in the family will have them give the DeBukes more space than 'just' commoners would. I'll do what I must to help them. And trust me, my elders are going to furkin... is it furking? Furking scream bloody murder when they learn this after the fact."

"Guess you're saying they aren't getting invited, then?" He is examining him carefully, after flicking eyes to Zara and nodding incrementally an acknowledgement of the Omen*

"Maybe that's a worse idea."

The kitten, the hairless thing in the neon orange sweater trots out, tape free. It sits in the door way, tail twitching, more than likely trying to figure out the best way to get under foot.

"Clem will be there"

"Furkin'," He agrees, absently*

"All right. Now the other question." *His eyes narrow at him, and....no, two pairs of eyes; the snake is back, coiling around his throat. It flicks a tongue at Zara while Ice's attention is on the troll. Blunt, as always*

"You WANT me there, or is this a politeness thing?"

Zara drops to a crouch, extending a pale hand towards Gremlin for examination at his leisure.

He shifts on his boots, ready to balance should the cat come shooting between his legs again*

Then suddenly a dragon is peering over Ice. A metal one? With long eyes lashes. She is a silver and gold chrome in the light. It opens its mouth as though to swallow up the unsuspecting sluagh; but then blows bubbles affectionately at Ice.

"Fair question. Frankly, I was worried you'd call me a sell out and so on.." he admits "And .. you know things were tense that night for other reasons.. so I didn't know how you felt about me right now. But... you are my friend. So yes, you get a 'politeness' invite, and if you think you'd actually like it...even better. Do I worry you might try to mess with it a little? SOME part of me does...but my wussy insecurities aside, you're my friend. I want my friends there. But not if it will make my friends too bored or miserable. It's honestly your choice."

He smiles at the dragon

The kitten pads up to Zara like a little queen, already purring before it gets there. Attention. The one thing all cats know. No matter the age.

"The Count tends to be formal." And the little queen receives her due, with chin rubs and ear scritches and whispered praise.

He hisses and narrows eyes, shoulders hunching up as the bubbles strike his back, pop....and slime* "Ga...Bubbles!" He leans and slaps at his hair to get the wetness off*

*He's hissing irritably, glaring back at the dragon -- but despite himself, can't help but reach up to rub her nose* "Damn dragon." *Not without some fondness mixed with the annoyance. He looks back to Earl

Tries VERY hard not to laugh, or even smile too much

The kitten seems happy for the attention though it does pause to hiss at the dragon. The dragon happily blows more bubbles, doing all she can to show her affection for the sluagh. Complete with fluttering lashes. Then she looks over to Earl and Zara, sniffing the air around them.

"Hello, Bubbles."

"Think it's selling out, but you think you have good reasons." Bluntly, eyes narrowed* "Hope it doesn't bite your ass. Won't mess with it. It's what you want, nu?"

Earl smells of paints, not an unusual smell in this place. Though the paints he uses are different.

This time he endures the sliming with a sigh and a scowl worthy of his mother's son*

The dragon nuzzles the troll then Zara, though with the sluagh lass, she is a bit more careful. Then finally she drags her head back in the back room, rumbling happily as she goes. Clearly she has done her job in keeping Ice safe.

"Actually, 'but you think youhave good reasons' and 'hope it doesn't bite your ass'... are kind of blessing in ICE-ese. Thank you," he does allow a slight smile at that, "Does that mean you'll come?"

Pats it lightly as he gets nuzzled