* Klork comes in behind the bar, muttering about getting talked into work when he came to get his paycheck
* Suddenly, there's a flash of light outside of the door*
* Klork sighs & ties off his apron, pulling his hair back and starting to immediately serve drinks
* Klork blinkblinks, looking up
<Klork> hnh...?
* A moment later, two nasty looking guys walk in
<Guy1> Hey, buddy...you see a girl come in here in the last minute or so?
* Klork sighs, arching a brow
<Guy2> Little over 5' tall, red hair?
<Klork> I see a lot of girls come in here, Sir *mixes a drink*
<Klork> Nope, 'fraid not..
<Guy1> Damn...where'd that freak get to?
* Klork arches a brow, leaning on the counter
<Guy2> I don't know, let's keep looking
* They leave
* Klork shakes his head, pouring an ale for another customer
* Emerald_Isle suddenly appears on the other side of the bar
<Emerald_Isle> *whew* It worked...
* Klork glances up, brow arched
<Klork> Hn, they your friends I assume?
<Emerald_Isle> Friends?
<Emerald_Isle> No, I don't think so
* Klork smirks, kinda limpin over and pouring scotch on the rocks for someone else
<Emerald_Isle> I don't make friends with rapists...
<Klork> heh, it was sarcasm..
* Klork tenses, jaw clenching
<Klork> I see..
* Klork pours a lager for another customer, going over and leaning against the bar
<Klork> you need any help..??
<Emerald_Isle> Nah, I can handle jerks like them.
<Emerald_Isle> They're just ticked off 'cause I stopped 'em from attacking some 15 year old, a few streets over
* Klork shudders, shaking his head
<Klork> Hate ppl' like that..
* Klork pauses, wiping down the bar
<Klork> so, what are you?? If ya' don't mind me askin'
<Emerald_Isle> What am I?
* Klork nods
<Klork> you aren't human fully, that's plain t' see..
<Emerald_Isle> How is it plain to see?
* Klork chuckles
<Klork> you never came in any of the doors yet somehow you got in, didn't ya?
<Emerald_Isle> Oh, shoot.
<Emerald_Isle> Forgot about that.
* Klork chuckles
<Klork> s'alright, it's a mutant friendly place..to generalize it
<Emerald_Isle> How do you feel about aliens?
* Klork hrms
<Klork> Hm, haven't met any of those yet *smirks, winking as he washes a few glasses*
<Emerald_Isle> You have now.
<Klork> Have met walkin' talkin' turtles, vamps, my adoptive sister can teleport, my fiancee has black wings, fangs claws and multicolored hair..
<Klork> Ah, well, there's a first for everything *leans over, holding his hand out to her* M'names Klork, and you are?
* Emerald_Isle looks at his hand for a moment before taking it
* Klork shakes it
<Emerald_Isle> Emerald Isle..call me Emer
<Klork> Good t' meet ya....
* Klork mulls that over
<Emerald_Isle> Likewise
<Klork> Em' sounds easier, mind if I call ya that?
* Emerald_Isle shrugs
<Emerald_Isle> Guess it's ok
<Emerald_Isle> I've heard worse...
* Emerald_Isle 's stomach growls a bit
* Emerald_Isle blushes
<Emerald_Isle> Sorry...it's Friday
* Klork arches a brow
<Klork> what's Friday got to do with your stomach growlin'??
<Emerald_Isle> Monday, Wednesday & Friday are rent days. All my money goes to paying the rent on those days.
<Emerald_Isle> I eat on Tuesdays, Thursdays and the weekend
<Klork> Ah..geeze...
<Emerald_Isle> Unless, I've had a good week...then I might eat more.
* Klork shakes his head, going over to a touch pad computer and starts putting a few things in
<Klork> That's not such a great way t' live ya know? Scrapin' by isn't healthy..
<Emerald_Isle> Anyway...sorry, you don't need to hear my life history
* Emerald_Isle shrugs
* Klork shrugs
<Emerald_Isle> Not much of a choice. Busking only brings in so much money, and haven't had any 'other' jobs in a while
<Klork> Nah, I'm a bartender, have a seat *smirks* It's m' job.
* Emerald_Isle sits down, instinctively trusting Klork
* Klork nods, pouring a few ales and handing them to the waitress on duty
<Klork> Heh, this place is pretty mutant friendly for reasons *smirks* Heh, I'm not your average human either..*chuckles, handing her a glassof water*
* Emerald_Isle raises an eyebrow
* Emerald_Isle guzzles the water, it being the first thing she's had all day
* Klork chuckles, pouring her s'more
<Klork> heh, thirsty?
* Emerald_Isle shrugs
<Emerald_Isle> It fills the tummy. Water goes a long way
* Klork nods
<Klork> that's fact..but *looks up as a waiter slides two slices of pizza in front of her* Ah, thanks Chino...*looks back to her with a smirk* Food goes further.
* Emerald_Isle blinkblinks, then looks at Klork warily
<Emerald_Isle> What's this for?
* Klork shrugs
<Klork> on me, you looked hungry.
<Emerald_Isle> What do you want?
* Klork chuckles, pouring a few more beers
* Klork shakes his head, holding up his hands when they're free again
<Emerald_Isle> C'mon, nobody just gives away food.
<Klork> Nothing nothing, I know it seems pretty rare that a guy in NY is generous, but there are a few *chuckles, going back to work*
* Klork shakes his head
<Klork> So call me nobody *smirks* My fiancee was in the same position as you once, as were a lot of my friends..
* Emerald_Isle looks at the pizza, obviously torn between hunger and suspicion
<Klork> I don't like seein' ppl starvin' just cuz they can't afford th' food..
<Klork> 'sides, the food I get daily is..well, pretty close to free so long as I pay rent monthly.
* Emerald_Isle finally lets her stomach guide her and starts eating like she hasn't eaten since, well, yesterday...
* Klork oomphs, patting his stomach
<Klork> Man..speaking of which...just before I came in a fed the whole dang' buildin' with a japanese meal..
<Klork> still stuffed...so much food..
<Emerald_Isle> Been a long time since I've heard that expression...
* Klork smirks, faintly
<Klork> shouldn't hafta be that way, ya know..
<Emerald_Isle> No...but I refuse to do more than just escort!
* Emerald_Isle realizes that's probably not what he was talking about
* Klork arches a brow
<Klork> Not quite what I meant...
<Emerald_Isle> Sorry...forget I said that.
<Klork> Eh *shrugs* if you say so..
<Klork> So how much do you pay for rent currently?
* Klork cleans some glasses, business slowing a little
<Emerald_Isle> My other job...I work for an escort service. When guys want someone to 'show off', I go with them. *pause* I know what you're thinking and it's not true! I'm no prostitute!
* Klork sighs
<Klork> I didn't think that and I didn't say that, did I?
<Emerald_Isle> No...but everyone that's the usual assumption with regard to Escort services.
* Klork chuckles
<Klork> Not here, if you were a prostitute before you probably would have said something more like "I used to sell myself"
* Klork shrugs
<Klork> That's how a few have described it to me..
<Emerald_Isle> *sigh* That's part of the problem. If I was willing to sell myself, I'd be rich
* Klork grimaces
<Klork> get a lot of offers I take it?
<Emerald_Isle> Too many
* Klork nods
<Klork> I have a fan club that's due here in..*looks at his watch* Heh! forty minutes after I get off work.
<Emerald_Isle> Fan club? You a rock star or something?
<Klork> About seven college girls come in here and blatently hit on me..
* Klork chuckles
<Klork> No, but that's what my co-workers have begun to call them..
<Emerald_Isle> Um...what time is it??
* Klork looks at his watch
<Klork> ten to nine...I'm not on tonight, but I got talked into working an hour til' one of the other 'tenders could get here.
<Emerald_Isle> Damn!
<Emerald_Isle> Can I borrow a quarter? I promise to pay it back tomorrow!!
<Emerald_Isle> Please??
* Klork pulls one out of his tip jar, shrugging and flipping it to her
<Klork> sures..25 cents won't hurt me..
<Emerald_Isle> Thank you!
* Klork nods
* Emerald_Isle rushes to a pay phone and frantically dials a number. As she's talking, it's obvious something's going wrong
* Klork watches, then nods as the other tender comes on shift, pulling his apron off and his coat on
* Emerald_Isle slams the phone down, wipes her eyes and comes back
* Klork walks over, his casted leg now visable, going about pulling the band out of his hair
<Klork> Whas'rong??
<Emerald_Isle> Stupid s o b...
<Emerald_Isle> I'll be right back...
<Klork> A..ok..
* Emerald_Isle shapes down and returns a moment later, carrying a guitar case and a back pack
* Klork furrows his brow
<Klork> what happened?
<Emerald_Isle> I was supposed to get my rent to him by 8:00...he threw my stuff out
<Klork> egh......need a place to stay? th' buildin' my finacee runs has plenty of free rooms...
<Emerald_Isle> If someone had stolen this, I woulda....
<Emerald_Isle> Free?
<Emerald_Isle> Why?
<Klork> well, there is rent..but food is free...so's the recreation.
<Klork> but the rent's probably is cheaper than anywhere else
* Klork shrugs
<Klork> it's priced low because it's open for mutants and "the odd" if you wanna put it that way....who usually can't find the highest paying jobs..
* Emerald_Isle sighs
<Emerald_Isle> No...I don't want to be a bother. It's still warm enough out, I'll be ok.
<Klork> Nah ah..really, that's what the place is for..
<Emerald_Isle> I haven't made much money lately...as the tourist season dwindles, so does my income. I don't think I can afford it
* Klork shrugs
<Klork> they're flexable and the food is free.
<Klork> It's warm and you get your own room and bathroom.
<Emerald_Isle> But why?
* Klork shrugs
<Emerald_Isle> People don't just help others, for no reason
<Klork> Like I said, my fiancee and her friend built it they're not human, and they decided to help those that were in their shoes at one time
<Emerald_Isle> That just doesn't make sense...everyone wants something
* Klork shrugs
<Klork> They get to meet people that won't shun em in return..
<Klork> everybody in turn gets a social aspect that is..well, similar to one and another's in a way..
* Emerald_Isle gives Klork a look that says "yeah right"
* Klork shrugs
<Klork> I'm tellin' truth...I only pay about 150 a month for rent..
<Emerald_Isle> $150??
<Klork> and my adopted mother just donated a crap load of money to the place so they don't really need it
<Klork> they just care that ya get it to em'..no due dates
* Klork nods
<Klork> yup
* Emerald_Isle probably pays more than that, but pays nightly...
* Klork pockets his hands in his jacket
<Klork> so whaddaya say?
* Emerald_Isle hesitates...debating
<Klork> There's nno deposit..
<Emerald_Isle> How many people are there?
<Klork> Well..lemme see *counts on his fingers*
<Klork> Mondo, Red, Ladon, Mo', Diana, Jae, Zoi, Neph n' Mal, me, Iye, TN...and a few others that visit includin' Kame, Vert', that irritatin
<Klork> Billy guy and that other dude that nobody knows his name..and Candy
<Klork> 12 perminant stay'rs...about five that come n' go
<Emerald_Isle> That many??
<Klork> yup..
<Emerald_Isle> Wow...
<Klork> Mondo's a mutant lizard...Red's a snappin' turtle..Ladon's a dragon lookin' guy...
<Emerald_Isle> They don't look like humans?
<Klork> Mo's my fiancee, she's an ex-government experiment..Diana is a dimension traveller
<Klork> oh, Mo', Diana, Zoi, Neph, Mal, Jae n' Candy, me Iye n' my sister do..
<Klork> Zoi, Neph, Mal & Jae are generals of some sort...Candy's Mondo's blonde girlfriend...
<Klork> Iye is a pyromaniac of some sort *shrugs* he's new...kinda keeps to himself..
<Klork> TN's a mutant turtle ..
* Klork shrugs
<Klork> we just have a wide variety..
* Klork snaps his fingers
<Klork> Ah! I forgot Shiva!
<Klork> She's a mutant Iguana.
<Emerald_Isle> Oh
<Klork> just mutated too..used to be Ladon's pet Iguana..
<Klork> she kinda grew.
* Klork rubs at the back of his neck, getting a disturbed look on his face
<Emerald_Isle> Do people have a tendency to mutate in this building?
<Klork> Ah, no, not really..
<Klork> just Shiva ...
<Klork> So? At least give it a try?
* Emerald_Isle looks at Klork, wondering what the aforementioned disturbed look was for
* Klork glances at her, shaking his head
<Klork> Shiva's just unique is all..and her mutating from a pet Iguana kinda gave me the creeps since I knew what she lookedlike before she..well, got big
* Klork shrugs, befuddled at that
<Emerald_Isle> Oh
<Emerald_Isle> How high profile is this place?
<Emerald_Isle> Do cops or media people or anything come by often?
<Klork> not very...Mo's got a ward on it that makes it look like any other friendly place
<Klork> Aw heck no, we get little to no publicity
* Emerald_Isle whews, obviously relieved
* Klork glances to the door
<Klork> I got two ways of gettin' there..
<Emerald_Isle> Two ways?
<Klork> we could walk the five miles..which isn't easy in this *points to his cast* Or we can just take a portal.
<Emerald_Isle> A portal?
<Emerald_Isle> You're not Deryni...you must be talking about a different type of portal...
* Klork splays his fingers out towards the wall, an electrical portal sparkling open and going clear once it's fully there, just seeming to be a circled ripple in the wall
<Klork> Deryni? Ah, no actually, you're right, I'mnot...
* Emerald_Isle steps back, eyes wide
* Klork puts his hand through it
<Klork> see? harmless..
* Emerald_Isle walks up to it and slowly pokes it
* the portal ripples, but is barely felt..*
<Emerald_Isle> Weird....
* Klork smirks
<Klork> It leads right to the front door...you're welcome to go on in..
<Emerald_Isle> By myself?
* Klork walks halfway through, looking like he's standing halfway through the wall
<Klork> Nah, I can go with as well, th' portal's big enough.
<Klork> 'sides, I'm off work now, I need t' get home anyway *smirks*
* Emerald_Isle takes a deep breath and follows
* Klork steps through
