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We find Central Park relatively empty on a rainy Friday at noon. It's barely over 40 degrees which means the rain isn't quite frozen, but it is pretty unpleasant for the average human. Fortunately for her, Gamora isn't average or any other kind of human. It's wet and chilly, but the cold never bothered her anyway. This just means she has the park pretty much all to herself. No joggers or strollers today. Just Gamora and the trees, but the trees here have never been great conversationalists. Just the way she likes it.
Gamora is moving through the park with some kind of purpose however. She has an alien device in hand and is studying the small screen as fat drops of cold rain spatter all around her on the concrete walking path. She pauses for a moment, holding the device at different angles, higher, lower, shaking it, holding it super still, but still she frowns. It is apparently not doing what she wants. With an annoyed grunt, she steps off the path and leans against a nearby tree, switching the device off and waiting for it to powercycle. Tech support 101.
*
There is precisely and exactly one place in New York City currently that Groot feels fairly comfortable. Where its a choice on how many people wish to stare, where he can enjoy a chat with a sleepy maple, or an irritable juniper shrub. He doesn't really notice the cold much, and the rain is refreshing really, washing away some of the dust and grime of the city.
Today, there's one tree not far from where Gamora is leaning who is a conversationalist. Groot looks over, watching her fight with the device and offers his two cents worth. "I am Groot."
*
Not easily startled or flustered, Gamora is suddenly both, so caught off guard she is by the sudden but familiar phrase. She nearly drops the rebooting device and her hand is on her sword hilt before she fully processes who spoke to her. Letting go of the sword, and pocketing the device, Gamora goes through a visible struggle.
Her body language says she's about to hug Groot, thinks twice about it, glances over her shoulder, and the hugs him anyway. She throws her arms around him and squeezes, saying, "It's so good to see you." Stepping back she says, "Have you been on Earth long? Did Rocket come with you?"
*
It's an art to recognize expressions on Groot's face. While his face is extremely expressive for a tree, he is still a tree. This expression is delighted as he is hugged by Gamora, taking the few steps closer to her and gently hugging her back. "I am groot." He explains quietly, although there's a shake of his head to both questions, and a bit of a sigh about Rocket. "I am groot."
*
Gamora was never a Groot translator, and that hasn't changed, but she follows the expressions as best she can and studies the tree-man's face closely. "I've only been here a few months. Quill crashed us here, of course," she says. She doesn't mean it as harsh as it sounds, but there is definitely some annoyance there. "We should figure out a meeting place for the five of us. I've been able to make inroads with the local mercenaries, so we have some funds to work with while we're here at least. Supposedly Quill is doing something similar, but I haven't seen him in a while." She takes the device out of her pocket and shakes it, irritated. "And I haven't been able to get my comm working again yet. Figures that Rocket wouldn't be around just when I need him." She grins and shakes her head at the irony.
*
Star-Lord has arrived.
*
"Actually," Comes a voice which is probably either welcome or annoying, or most likely a mix of the two (the proportions of that mix being up to individual determination) "I didn't /crash/ us. It was a controlled landing under difficult circumstances." Here comes Quill himself, meandering down the path towards where Groot and Gamora stand. His mask is off, and his trademark coat is similar-enough to standard Earth-wear that there's no real reason for him to not wear it. So he is.
"What I /have/ been doing is getting my birth certificate from Colorado, because apparently sometime since we were last here, Earth decided it doesn't like aliens, so I was told it would probably be wise of me to go and get documentation to prove I was a bona-fide Earthling." He comes to a halt before the pair and glances back and forth. "You haven't had any trouble in that regard, have you?"
*
Julie arrives from Midtown.
*
Julie has arrived.
*
Schwarzsteng has arrived.
*
Groot eyes the comm and holds out his hand in offer to look at it. Generally this results in Groot applying percussive maintainance to electronic devices. Sometimes it even works. "I am Groot." He replies with a nod and then a little frown. "I .. am groot? I am groot." The delight at having a familiar face who isn't asking if he's a puppet with levers clearly makes him chatty. One of his branches gestures to the park as a whole on the notion of him having trouble for being an alien. "I am Groot."
*
Julie has picked a fairly arbitrary spot in Central Park to get the merchandise… Unusually, perhaps, for this thing, she's brought a Thermos of coffee and a bag of donuts. But that's all right, really, since she's actually just picking up some special machined parts on her lunch break, though she is, in fact, waiting for a tall, dark man in a trenchcoat and fedora. Real tall.
*
Gamora snorts and folds her arms across her chest, making her black leather jacket creak, but it's also clear, for all her glare, she's actually reasonably happy to see him. Even if she'll never admit it. "Well that's good," she says to his pronouncement. "Maybe we can use that to get somewhere to stay while we're here. At least until we can get a ship again-" She stops herself when she sees Julie out in the rainy park. Sure, it's a big park, but a guy in a red leather jacket, a green woman, and a talking tree are pretty likely to grab someone's attention. Gamora's end of the conversation trails off as she watches the woman.
*
Speaking of attention grabbing. It's about this time that a man dressed in all black comes walking into the park, standing at 9 feet tall, his face completely hidden in shadow save for a pure white smile looking out from the darkness. The white glow of teeth overtly unnatural in their purity as their curved into a complete joyous grin.
The man in question, Hans quietly sings to himself with hands deep down inside of his pockets as he makes his way along down the paths. His massive trench-coat does wonders to hide his form as those polished boots clack out against the trail leading right by the small group. Rain falls off of his hat and shoulders bounding down to the ground but seemingly not dampening his mood in the slightest.
*
"I have a ship!" Quill protests. "Y'know, Ship. She just uh.." A hand comes up to rub at the back of his neck. "Won't fly, at the moment. At least not orbital. Something about a.. thrust capacitor.. or something." Quill is a good pilot, but has never been much of an engineer, at least when it comes to space-tech. "Maybe. I mean, I can always say you're my cousins who uh.." He looks at Gamora, then at Groot. "Well maybe that won't work. I'll think of something. And yes, Groot, the other trees at least aren't likely to get offended."
He turns to glance in the direction Gamora is looking as she falls silent, his eyes narrowing just slightly, although he doesn't do anything else- it's not illegal to stand in the park, after all. At least, he's pretty sure.
*
Julie actually takes a while to notice much of anyone, cause winter rain is the pits, and not the kind where you change tires. She huddles under a rather large umbrella: it's alternating panels of light red, blue, and white, with a stencilled oval logo with the letters NHRA on all the blue panels. She's wearing a warm work jacket, though, and doesn't seem too miserable, for all that. Waves when she sees Schwartz, well, with the hand holding a Thermos, and it's upon looking around for any handy sheltered spot and notices a couple of people standing by a tree. One of them's green, as it happens.
"Sorry about the weather, who coulda seen *this* coming," she says, accent all of Brooklyn and Italian. "Brought some cawffee, and stuff, though." Certain items, moneys, and coffee and donuts are exchanged, before Diz glances back. She waves in that direction with a 'what can you do' sort of shrug, doubtless regarding the sloppy weather. It's New York, after all.
*
Gamora has partially disconnected.
*
Gamora has partially disconnected.
*
The lady standing in the park waiting for someone, even with a thermos of coffee looks to Groot, very much like the people he watches every day, who stand in the park and wait for people. Sometimes it's interesting, often it's humans being all mushy, usually its boring and his attention slides off Julie and towards Hans. Who is a proper height. So refreshing.
His attention settles back to Gamora and Quill a moment. "I am Groot?" He asks and then gestures towards a shrub at the comment about offense and there's a bit of a huff. "I. Am. Groot."
*
"Alright," Gamora says with a raised eyebrow. "A 'ship that flies' then. I've been doing ok in the freelance market. Can you get a place in town for this much? Your money system here is nonsense." Gamora holds out two small, finger-sized ingots of platinum to put in Quill's hand. She eyes the big colorful umbrella and then the huge man in black who comes to meet the woman. "Wow, that is someone who could be handy to have around in a pinch." She apparently isn't able to follow the comments about the shrub.
*
"Groot!" Quill sounds vaugely scandalized. "Make nice with the locals, huh?" Then he glances down at the platinum ingots that Gamora places in his hand. They clink together faintly as he eyes them. "Um.. probably? I think this stuff is worth quite a bit." He says, making the ingots disappear into ne of the pockets of his coat. He doesn't happen to know how much Platinum is worth per ounce off the top of his head, but he's certainly going to find out at the first opportunity. "At the very least it's a start. Might not buy a house on 5th Ave. but it'll probably get a hotel room for a while." He eyes Groot. "Although I think the big guy is probably happier out here."
He blinks a bit at the inordinately tall man who seems to be meeting that woman Gamora was staring at but- well, he is talking to a 7-foot animate tree, he's pretty hard to startle. He does keep an eye in that direction though. Better safe than sorry.
*
Julie gives another little wave over there. Seems some other private transaction may be going on over there, which is usually best to look away from, but, when she looks back, OK, there's a talking tree-guy involved, too. Wow.
*
Groot harumphs at Quill's amonishment to play nice with the locals. There's a glance over at the shrub and then back to Quill. "I am Groot." He notes, almost icily really before he considers the ingots of platinum. "I am Groot? I am groot."
That tree is absolutely talking. Opinionated too, it would seem. At least he's 'short' currently.
*
Julie does pause to eye her seeming purchases right there. It's …hardly platinum. Rather, some short lengths of threaded rod and some wingnuts. Looks to her tall acquaintance and says, "Thanks a lot, I gotta get this project on a train for upholstery tonight, new customer and all," she says to the big black man, pours herself a Thermos lid full of coffee. Cleverly, several are nested together, and she glances back to the other people in the rain. "Hey! You guys want some cawfee? Real mess out here."
*
"Yeah, I dunno. Like I said, it's a start." Quill comments to Groot, before glancing over towards Julie when she calls over to them and offers some of her coffee. Well, it is raining and pretty cold out, but on the other hand taking coffee from strangers is a bit too trusting for his liking. Still, no sense being rude. A polite, if lopsided smile is offered. "Hey, no thanks lady, but appreciate the offer. I'm good and ah," A gesture at Groot. "He's not much of a coffee drinker, you understand."
*
Julie ahs, with another glance around, and steps a bit closer, maybe just to keep her feet from getting too chilled by the winter rain. She's got one of those clear plastic kerchiefs over the checker-patterned scarf she's using to keep her ears warm. Says, after a bit of a slurp of the coffee, herself. "I suppose not. That's like a tree-guy or something," she observes, helpfully.
*
Groot considers the lady offering coffee and there's a little nudge of one of his branches to Quill as he turns her down. Now who isn't playing nice with the locals. "I am Groot." He replies to her politely and then gestures to his companions. "I am groot." He nods at the query about 'like a tree-guy'. He is, indeed, rather exactly 'like a tree guy', no somethign about it.
*
"When I say I'll get something done I deliver, every time." The giant responds with a smile, before hands go right back into his pocket. His voice is deep and booming, with the kind of gravitas one would expect from a man his size. Yet he speaks with a slight British accent. "You need any help loading her I'm always looking for work."
*
"Coffee is good Quill," Gamora smirks. "You don't need to be afraid. I'll protect you." She makes pronouncements about coffee as if she's some kind of expert on a strange, exotic substance she's discovered. She crosses the distance to Julie and Schwarzsteng, not smiling exactly, but pleasantly stern. She also nods at the huge man with Julie, and asks, "Do you work on weapons of any kind? My usual armorer is unreachable at the moment."
*
"That's what you said on Hemblis IV and we all remember how that turned out." Quill says, somewhat archly, as he finds himself perhaps for the first time ever being the most cautious member of the group. He shrugs his shoulders slightly, heaving a soft sigh which suggests that he's not one to stand in the way of coffee if coffee is to be had, and glances at Groot. "Yep, that's a tree-guy." He confirms to Jule, with an absent shrug.
*
Julie ahs. "Well, hi, Mr. Groot. I'm Dizzy. This is, Mr. Walther." She smiles a bit to the giant. "Ah, thanks, but it's just the one seat going, you see, not the whole car. We're trying to work something out for a customer's back problems, you see." She glances up to Gamora, there. Well, she's green, but so far everyone green she's met has been pretty nice. "Ah, not generally, no. Armor, I guess is just panel-beating, though, really."
*
"Mostly stick with vehicles." Walther comments giving a slight shake of his head before eating an entire foot-long sand which in seemingly only a few bites. The sort of woofing it down that might seem unnatural to most. Though he does wipe his mouth off when he's finished. "Airplanes, cars, trucks, boats, Helicopters that sort of thing. Guns aren't really my thing"
*
Groot nods politely to Julite and Mr. Walther in turn as they're introduced. He takes a step back from the conversation, shaking a little to dislodge puddled water on his head before coming closer again. "I am groot." He explains as he returns.
He might, just possibly, be a smidge taller too. Not a whole lot, but he isn't about to be too short next to Walther.
*
Gamora accepts one of the offered thermos cups, fills it with black coffee and holds it in both hands. Sure, she can handle cold weather in just a jacket, but warmer is better! Also, she almost smiled - RIGHT THERE! Nope, you missed it. "Oh, well that's helpful too. Do either of you know anything about cyclemotors?" she asks with confidence. "They seem like a convenient way to get around this city. But people seem unwilling to sell them to someone green."
*
"Vehicles, huh?" Quill asks consideringly, seeming for a moment to be on the verge of inquiring after whether this Mr. Walther has any knowledge of starships and, in particular, thrust capacitors. At the last moment he seems to recall what he's been told about keeping the whole 'from outer space' thing on the down-lo, so he doesn't actually say anything beyond that first considering sentance. "I'm Quill. Peter Quill." He offers, with an inclination of his head and a faint grin. "People call me Quill."
*
Gamora has partially disconnected.
*
Julie nods to Gamora. "Sure, they're easy. Probably the time of year to buy one, too, around here. I could ask around." She adds, "Actually, Mr. Walther ain't a bad start for foreign jobs, I bet. Got a price or preference in mind?" Nods again to Quill. The question is in mind whether or not anyone's from outer space, actually, since there's a lot of that going around at the moment. But she doesn't mention that. Does offer Quill a handhske once done juggling under the umbrella.
*
"You need it, I can get it, if it's got an engine." Walther comments cleaning off his mouth as he comes back to a full stand, offering hand shakes all around. His focus going down onto the ground as he talks. "All a matter of money."
*
Groot leans in a touch, his tone curious, although that's hardly much help to anyone but the juniper bush. "I am Groot?" He asks of the group before settling back and considering. "I am groot."
*
Gamora has partially disconnected.
*
Gamora nods at Julie and Walther's explanations, essentially ignoring Quill and Groot. Family, am I right? She produces another tiny platinum ingot, certainly worth at least several thousand dollars. "Will this be enough? I want something fast, reliable, and with a simple enough control system for me to learn. I've… never driven… in New York." She clears her throat, and then sticks her chin out, proud of her cover story.
*
"Hey, if you had more, why did you only give me two?" Quill asks of Gamora, sounding vaugely insulted, as she pulls out another ingot and offers it in trade for a vehicle. Then he sighs. "Alright, well look, it's been rad but I'm gonna go see about finding a roof to put over our heads, as previously discussed." He glances at Groot. "For those of us who want a roof, anyway." He pats the pocket where the ingot is. "You kids play safe, alright? I'll catch up with you a bit later." ANd with that he turns and starts making his way back along the path from the park towards the city proper.
*
Julie pauses to look at the ingot, …she may not even know what it is unless it's marked. If so, she even knows the periodic table of elements, though, surprisingly. Otherwise, she's never even seen platinum, any more than swords. "Guess it depends how much you want to learn to do it right." Seems to look to Schartz as someone with a common expertise. "What you think, maybe one of those German jobs with a shaft drive?"
*
Star-Lord has left.
*
Gamora nods as Quill heads off to find them a flat. He only got two ingots because she only gave him two. That's why. "I will say speed, and reliability, are the most important in what I need," she says to Julie, tracking the conversation as best she can. "I am willing to learn what's needed to operate it." Turning the other ingot over in her hand reveals the periodic symbol for platinum, in a very official-looking seal of some kind. "I don't like carrying cash, so I'm hoping this should be sufficient." She's not just handing it over for good, but she is holding it out for inspection.
*
Julie hrms. Peers at it a bit and then looks around. "Platinum, they're making this in Canada now?" Well, that sounds literate-ish about these things. Does glance up a bit. "So, you guys from outer space or something? I got something in mind for you to look at, you see, just don't tell no one that rides a Harley it's better. I could probably pick one out for you but it's got to be cash …and a name to register it with if you want plates. I know someone I can ask what this is worth, but I think it's a whole lot."
*
Groot watches. Groot looms. Groot listens even. Groot ignores the snark from the shrubs. At the question about 'outer space', the 8 foot (yes, he grew) talking tree replies very helpfully. "I am Groot."
*
"No," Gamora says automatically, and with a glare at Groot. "We're not from outer space. We're mutants." Gamora clears her throat, and just sticks with the story. "We can register it to Peter Quill, if that's required." Gamora studies the woman's face for a moment, and finally nods, almost to herself as much as to Julie. "I'm Gamora. And if you help me convert this to cash, and select a good vehicle, I will give you five percent of what this ingot is worth. Does that seem fair?"
*
Julie nods. "Sounds like that could be pretty fair. I'll ask Mr. Cohen about…" She looks at the numbers again… "What something like this is and a couple people know what they're looking at. I won't got to mentioning it's actually around, I'll just ask a dumb question and he'll go on about the subject. Nice guy, just loves to hear himself talk. As bikes go, I have something from BMW in mind. A little funny looking, but they're reliable and they really go if you get the right engine." So, that's a yes.
*
Groot settles quiet at Gamora's correction, letting the ladies haggle out bikes and metals and things that he really has no current interest in. He's very good at looming silently.
*
Groot has left.
*
Gamora nods, following along with Julie's explanation. "That sounds fine. I'm not concerned with the aesthetic of the vehicle," she says pointedly, glancing over her shoulder in the direction Quill went. "Do you have time today to help me with this? This city is large when you have to walk everywhere."
*
Julie ahs, thinks, glances at the inside of her wrist where there's a too-big watch such as a pilot might wear. "Actually we ain't far from the gem district, maybe Mr. Cohen's at work, and, we won't have to walk. I'm freezin' here. What was wrong with snow all of a sudden, I dunno. "
*
Gamora is pretty familiar with English at this point, but some of Julie's patter just gets a raised eyebrow. Then Gamora nods and says, "Excellent, thank you." She sips at the coffee, and shifts her shoulders, rolling them like a cat, but she doesn't seem particularly cold, even though her jacket isn't even zipped up, with just a tank top on underneath. "This is good as well," she says, indicating the cup of joe. She sips at it and follows along without much fuss or needing much attention.
*
Julie nods, thinking. "Yeah, I got a truck nearby, I guess we can work out what you can buy with your stuff, then I guess see about what bikes we can find. Maybe something easy to start off with. It's just harder to learn what you're doing on a real powerful bike, no matter what kind. No sense spending big bucks yet when you might just scratch it up learning."
*
Walking alongside, Gamora nods and says, "Having a unit to learn on makes sense, I understand." She may not be much of a conversationalist, but she waves goodbye to Groot, and seems comfortable going along quietly, open to the fact that she has much to learn.
*
Julie nods, there. "I think I can find something good for that. Meanwhile you can look at some brochures." Adds, "I guess we ought to throw in some riding lessons, regardless, I guess we can make time for that." She does seem less interested in the money than vehicles, but does remember eventually. "Guess a few bills extra over the finder's fee and all." Or something." Pauses. "Oh, hey, Mr. Groot, nice to meetcha, sorry if we talked your ear off." Well, she doesn't expect tree guys to be very interested in motorcycles and the like."