Brothel Slaves to Our Emotions (RP log 1/27/2007)

Scene: The Bar

Xiao Li is planted in the corner of the bar as usual, a drink in one hand and a Cortex datapad in the other.
Rae Overholt dozes fitfully on the couch.
Kevin Cliffe: hey 'brina.
Sabrina McGee: Hey Kevin
Kevin Cliffe: how's Raven holding up?
Sabrina McGee: Bout like always.. not much from the last job to worry about
Kevin Cliffe: Well, she's not near her crit age, thank Buddha...
Sabrina McGee: Shen!!
Sabrina McGee smiles widely
Kevin Cliffe: Hey Shen. Hey Gabe.
Gabriel Keats: "Evenin'"
Shen grins, "hi honey!"
Kevin Cliffe: Montanio. Hello.
Kevin Cliffe: You know, I've been meaning to ask...where the hell are you from?
Sabrina McGee: So anyways.. last week's job was completed successfully..
Lexi Vargas: So we noticed....
Rio Starr pads up to the bar. "That's a good thing," he adds in.
Lexi Vargas: And..we blew a few things up.
Rio Starr grins, looking over to Lexi.
Sabrina McGee: I think I heard that..
Sabrina McGee: 'course, explosions are loud like that
Rae Overholt stands behind brina and leans on the bar, listening.
Rio Starr: "Well...it could have been worse. At least we were away from the ship."
Xiao Li is typing furiously on her Cortex datapad
Gabriel Keats grins at the memory. "That was great..."
Lexi Vargas: chuckles. "It was fun."
Shen rolls her eyes, "Boys"
Rio Starr looks down at himself. "Yes, last I checked."
Sabrina McGee: Still need to find time for Lexi and Shen to teach me to shoot..
Rae Overholt: Range downstairs brina. Do it there.
Shen: yeah, anytime...
Rio Starr nods to Rae, then moves to the bar to try to order some tea.
Xiao Li pulls off her goggles and stands up
Shen: let's go down to the range...
Rae Overholt returns his nod. "Xiao Li..whatcha doing over there?"
Sabrina McGee: Dunno if we're gonna have time, Shen..
Sabrina McGee: I mean.. I dunno if we've got work or not..
Sabrina McGee: but.. *shrug*
Kevin Cliffe: The thing is, while your manner is good for some things, we're all kinda on the same boat.
Rio Starr lifts his brows. "Do we have another job lined up already?" he asks Sabrina.
Gabriel Keats: "I hope we get another job. Need the coin."
Xiao Li shrugs. "Nothin' much... I'm goin' back to the ship for a bit."
Montanio Andalso tilts his head. "Are we? I'm not so sure about that."
Gabriel Keats looks at Mont. "You don't wanna go?"
Kevin Cliffe: You're out here on this moon, right?
Rio Starr glances over to Xiao Li curiously as he manages to get a cup of tea from the bartender. A cup, and one of those 'friendly' looks that would probably make a less-uptight man immediately order a whiskey to assuage the tender's hurt feelings.
Rae Overholt listens carefully as she watches Xiao Li wander out, wondering what trouble this means.
Rio Starr sighs. "Kevin...quit harassing him, please."
Kevin Cliffe: Just offering the man some advice.
Kevin Cliffe: And trying to bury the hatchet.
Rio Starr: "Granted, it's not easy to work with all of this tension going on between some of us..."
Rae Overholt: True.
Lexi Vargas: Very damn not easy. I am getting fast tired of every mission ending in hurt feelings, sulks and angst.
Montanio Andalso blinks. "Offering me advice about what? I told you all I am done with it. I'll get some passage of my own back to where I belong. I'm not upset about it...I just don't think this is the place for me."
Lexi Vargas: I am going to run out of grenades at this rate.
Sabrina McGee blinks
Sabrina McGee: I thought this was settled last week, Mont?
Gabriel Keats sips a glass of water, grins. "Can't run outta those, can ya?"
Sabrina McGee: I thought you were staying with us?
Rio Starr looks over to Montanio, brows rising again as he sets his cup down on the saucer. He glances over and gives Lexi a small smile, then focuses back on "Face".
Montanio Andalso blinks. "Oh...well throwing the grenades was fun but it doesn't really solve anything. I'm not upset...don't take this the wrong way."
Lexi Vargas: hmms "Well if you want to go Faceman, I say you should. No point staying where you don't want to be."
Kevin Cliffe: Guess I can't stop you either.
Rio Starr nods his agreement. "I'm sorry it didn't work out. Where will you go?"
Rae Overholt watches curiously. "Thought everyone wanted him to stay."
Gabriel Keats sighs. "Ain't our choice."
Rio Starr looks over to Rae. "We can't keep someone who doesn't want to stay. It's not fair to them."
Sabrina McGee: I wanted him to stay
Montanio Andalso smiles a little. "Oh...probably off to some core world where someone is waiting to adore me. They just don't know it yet."
Sabrina McGee: but I guess.. *sigh*
Sabrina McGee puts an arm around She
Rae Overholt looks at Rio. "Did he ever want to stay? Or was everyone always trying to convince him?"
Sabrina McGee: shen
Kevin Cliffe: Hey, even I did, and he and I didn't exactly get along. I mean I didn't get on well with him but...
Kevin Cliffe: Ah hell...
Rio Starr blinks a bit at Montanio's answer, then blushes slightly and chuckles.
Rae Overholt looks at Mont expectantly.
Gabriel Keats just looks at his water and doesn't say anything.
Shen moves closer to Sabrina... "s'OK hon, you'll see the core soon enough"
Kevin Cliffe pulls a gun from his waistband and hands it to Montanio grip-first...it looks almost new
Rio Starr shakes his head at Rae. "I really don't know. I mean...I'm sure a bunch of us were /hoping/ he'd stay. And hoping he wanted to...but it's just not something you can force someone to do."
Rae Overholt: Don't suppose it is.
Kevin Cliffe: In case you run into trouble on the way back. Seven shots in the clip, one in the chamber. Enough power to blow a reaver in half.
Kevin Cliffe: I might have called you "reaver bait" but nobody deserves to fall to those bastards.
Sabrina McGee sighs in exasperation..
Montanio Andalso holds the gun in a fashion that suggests he's never much used one. "Oh...well thank you for that. It does look rather intimidating, doesn't it?"
Lexi Vargas: wanders away to go terrorise the fish for a bit.
Sabrina McGee: Okay.. everyone's being silly..
Rio Starr folds his arms across the bar and glances to Sabrina. "Silly?"
Rae Overholt: Especially Mont. wanting to leave with Jadi still on the loose.
Sabrina McGee: Yeah.. everyone's so mad.. and I didn't want to say 'stupid.'
Rio Starr: "You have a point, Cap'n... but is it enough to get him to stay?"
Rae Overholt: Dunno.
Kevin Cliffe: Yeah, be sure to fire with both hands. It's got a helluva kick.
Rae Overholt: I'd think having a crew to keep you safe would mean a bit. Some folks dont know bout things like that till they lose it though.
Gabriel Keats: “I ain't mad.”
Gabriel Keats's body language says otherwise as he heads over to join Lexi by the fish.
Lexi Vargas: Kepp talking like the person you are talking is invisable....that will make him really want to stay.
Montanio Andalso exhales. "I appreciate you all speaking about me as if I were not standing right here...look...I have endured enough I think. And if treating me like a verbal punching bag and degrading me and making me feel worthless was your way of showing you wanted me to stay...I didn't get it."
Rio Starr blinks, watching everyone either wander off or sit or stand quiet in various bad tempers. He looks seriously back at Montanio. "I'm sorry, Montanio."
Kevin Cliffe: Look, man, I came to bury the hatchet of my own free will. Nobody suggested to me, prompted to me, or otherwise indicated that I should. Frankly you handled yourself well.
Rae Overholt notices Xiao Li with the hinky stranger and goes to check on them.
Kevin Cliffe: You fenced back pretty well verbally too.
Lexi Vargas: chats softly with Gabe and taps the glass...making fish twtch.
Lexi Vargas: huffs in slight exasperation then turns away from the ffish to amble over to Montanio.
Rio Starr shakes his head slightly, then drains his cup and sets it in its saucer, then places it on the bar, his movements very quiet.
Rae Overholt wanders back in, getting a drink for Xiao Li. "Xiao Li, that man asks too many questions..You know something?"
Lexi Vargas: trys to drape a arm over the facemans shoulders. "Well for what its worth....If I were you I would want to go too. I will miss you around tho and I was honored to have flow with you for this brief time"
Xiao Li saunters back into the bar behind Rae. "Now, I believe I was promised a drink?"
Gabriel Keats stares at the fish for a moment, then walks back to the bar. He gets a drink, downs it before anyone can stop him.
Kevin Cliffe: I almost hate to say it...but you'd have made a damn good roughneck.
Gabriel Keats's face is hurt, but he then tries to hide it by smiling
Rio Starr pads over to a chair and settles down. He watches the rest of you quietly, his head tipped down slightly so his face is mostly hidden by his hair.
Montanio Andalso smiles softly at Lexi and then nods. "Thank you. I appreciate that. Excuse me...I have to do one thing before I go." He wanders over towards Gabriel and then leans in to kiss his cheek. "Good luck with the Captain, Darling. I will miss you, but I know what you want most."
Xiao Li looks at Rae curiously. "Never seen 'im before tonight, Cap'n. You seen him around before?"
Rae Overholt puts out coin, "Drinks for everyone.”
Rae Overholt: Yeah I have Xiao Li.
Rae Overholt: Mont. I dont know why you're so insistent on going. Lexi seems to have taken a shine to you. So has brina and Rio and Gabe.
Gabriel Keats looks up, eyes blazing, and doesn't answer.
Xiao Li: When was that, Cap'n?
Rae Overholt: few Days ago Xiao Li. Before we hauled that moonshine.
Xiao Li: Huh. What was he askin' about?
Rae Overholt: The ship.
Rae Overholt: The crew.
Rae Overholt watches mont.
Xiao Li: You didn't tell 'im nothin', I hope.
Rae Overholt: Not a thing. Did you?
Xiao Li: Nope.
Rio Starr folds his fingers across his knee, still just listening and thinking.
Xiao Li: I ain't *stupid.*
Rae Overholt: Good.
Sabrina McGee: Well, in the meantime.. unless anyone else has any other ideas or we get a sudden job offer.. I'm gonna go bang my head against the engines.
Rae Overholt: Brina..don't go.
Sabrina McGee: Why not? Everyone else is, apparently.
Rae Overholt: Gorramit everyone this is rediculous.
Sabrina McGee: Exactly.
Xiao Li blinks. "Who's goin' where? What'd I miss?"
Rae Overholt: You're all going to sit here and shine your asses like this? Knowing if Mont leaves jadi might skin him alive?
Rio Starr taps his fingers a few times against his knee, shifting his gaze back to Rae and Sabrina. "What do you recommend? Mont, would you stand still while we tied you up?"
Sabrina McGee: Might skin us all alive..
Lexi Vargas: It's his choice and I am not about to force him to stay.
Montanio Andalso folds his arms over his chest. "I'll stay but I have some conditions. "
Rae Overholt: And Mont is going to sulk because He hasn't been pampered because I dont trust any of them? Well you can get over it, stay and earn your trust like everyone else is doing or you can give up, wander off and hope jadi dont catch you. I've already put my skin on the line for you three. Guess that dont count though.
Sabrina McGee: I recommend that we all stop acting like horse's asses.
Gabriel Keats bites back a sarcastic comment.
Xiao Li: Will somebody tell me what the tian xiao de is going on?!
Lexi Vargas: "I am getting tired of being told I am an ass.”
Rio Starr looks over to Montanio. "What conditions?"
Rae Overholt: SO AM I.
Montanio Andalso frowns at Merasu's comment. "Fine...just for that...I can guarantee I'll be getting a wealthy passage back to the core. You think I don't know valuable things about all of you?"
Gabriel Keats looks at Montanio patiently. The drink's setting in.
Rae Overholt: Exactly, thats my POINT.
Rio Starr goes pale and stands up. "Montanio...that's stepping on dangerous ground."
Rae Overholt: And here is my main concern.
Xiao Li raises an eyebrow. "Two can play at that game, hun dan."
Rae Overholt: THE GORRAM ISSUE IS. I dont want that game played at all!
Rio Starr frowns. "It's not a game. This is /serious/."
Sabrina McGee: I didn't say anyone was an ass, I said we're actling like them. And that was all-inclusive.
Gabriel Keats covers his ears. "EVERYONE SHUT THE RUTTIN HELL UP!"
Gabriel Keats glares at everyone.
Rae Overholt looks to gabe with concern. forgetting the rest for a moment.
Gabriel Keats: "Quit insulting each other."
Gabriel Keats: "Quit sniping."
Xiao Li shakes her head. "Ta ma de, I leave for *five minutes*..."
Montanio Andalso arches his brows. "What are you going to do...shoot me? Like members of your own crew haven't tries to kill you in the first place. "
Gabriel Keats: "Everyone."
Gabriel Keats puts a hand on his hip, near his gun. "Now." His voice is quiet, crisp, and low.
Rio Starr shakes his head, and walks out.
Gabriel Keats: "We are going to discuss this like rational people."
Rae Overholt grins despite herself.
Kevin Cliffe: Montanio...let me tell you something...if you do think you have any info on me you'd better think long and hard because the first thing the Alliance is going to do when they get that is put a bullet in your head. that's the fact.
Lexi Vargas: grins...."Give heck Gabe."
Gabriel Keats: "We aren't going to threaten anyone. We aren't going to insult anyone. We are going to act like adults."
Xiao Li: *muttering* Those ain't exactly mutually exclusive, y'know.
Sabrina McGee: Okay.. Soon as I can get back home.. everyone gets as much of my pa's best.. on me, okay!
Elsbeth McConachie: WOO HOO
Xiao Li raises her glass. Ah, alcohol cures all ills.
Gabriel Keats still has his stern face on. It looks very weird on him. "I could go for some of that."
Sabrina McGee: I wonder if pa has any of his old whiskey stock left?
Elsbeth McConachie: woo ee this is fine stuff
Lexi Vargas: "Well.....I better go see where the Doc went"
Elsbeth McConachie Billie stits at the bar with a glass and looks worn and drawn as she contemplate her life
Xiao Li sips her drink contemplatively
Rae Overholt eyes Gabe.
Kevin Cliffe: Hey, Montanio...you still sure you want out?
Kevin Cliffe: I used to live in the core too.
Gabriel Keats looks at Rae. "Yeah?"
Rae Overholt: You okay?
Elsbeth McConachie Petey flys over to Sabrina and rubs his head against her arm
Gabriel Keats: "Shiny."
Xiao Li: So Cap'n...
Rae Overholt: Yeah xiao li? *continues to watch gabe*
Xiao Li: That Andresen fella... did he tell *you* anything? About himself, or what he's doin' here?
Rae Overholt: Nope. Said he was looking for a job on a ship. I said ours was full up.
Montanio Andalso blinks. "No I would love to stay."
Xiao Li: Huh.
Rae Overholt: Course I figured in on three extra then. *glances to Mont.*
Rae Overholt: What'd he tell you Xiao li?
Kevin Cliffe: Say what?
Xiao Li: ...he was lookin' to hire, as it happens.
Rae Overholt: Huh.
Montanio Andalso smiles amiably to everyone, apparently everything forgotten.
Kevin Cliffe: Well, then...Montanio, I think you ought to learn how to shoot that thing.
Xiao Li: Weren't too clear on the details, so I wasn't terribly inclined to believe him.
Rae Overholt isnt sure if she should be relieved or worried at Mont's sudden change of heart but tries to take it in stride.
Gabriel Keats sits down, finally, and runs his finger over the rim of his empty glass
Montanio Andalso walks over to Fionn. "Will you show me then?"
Kevin Cliffe also wonders...if it's a genuine change in heart, then that's all good, and if it's not, better to have him close
Kevin Cliffe: We'd better go to the junkyard then. If anyone else wants to come shoot, please come with.
Rae Overholt whispers to brina, "Maybe you should give him some moonshine before he can change his mind."
Kevin Cliffe: might want your grubbies on, it can get muddy out therre.
Rae Overholt: There's a range downstairs.
Rae Overholt: Might as well practice there.
Rae Overholt: *calls out to them*.
Rae Overholt: C'mon I'll show you guys. Brina..wanna practice?
Rae Overholt: Gabe?
Sabrina McGee: Sure..
Kevin Cliffe: Okay..
Gabriel Keats: "What?"
Kevin Cliffe: Okay. gorram, you've got a strong arm.
Rae Overholt: Practice?
Gabriel Keats: "I'll watch."

The remainder of the crew heads downstairs to the basement and the range.

Kevin Cliffe: All right, now drop the clip, switch is by your thumb.
Kevin Cliffe passes Montanio the spare
Rae Overholt: Ok brina..got a gun?
Kevin Cliffe: Put the fresh one in, reach a little higher up for the slide release, and push.
Montanio Andalso takes a few practice shots and discovers...hey he's not bad at all! His right arm is strong for...well...reasons you probably don't want to know. He obeys Fionn and flips out the clip to get another one. "This is easy..."
Kevin Cliffe: It gets harder when you're being shot at.
Kevin Cliffe: But it's better when you can shoot back.
Sabrina McGee: Umm.. I have one that I borrowed from my pa..
Sabrina McGee: but I should probably have my own..
Rae Overholt: well take it out and try it out here.
Kevin Cliffe: Just wait until you have to clean it. Gotta be willing to get your hands dirty. Fortunately solvent washes off.
Rae Overholt: well, you'll certainly scare a man off if you hit him there Brina.
Kevin Cliffe: Nice grouping...you could probably adjust your sight on that...
Kevin Cliffe: Not bad...you might just make it out here after all.
Xiao Li leans against the wall and watches, impassively
Kevin Cliffe: Want to try something bigger?
Rae Overholt wanders over to Xiao li. "Good idea not listening. You need to learn to shoot too."
Xiao Li shakes her head. "You don't want me in combat, Cap'n. Trust me."
Montanio Andalso looks down at the gun then over to Fionn. "So...where is a good place to keep it?"
Rae Overholt: Why's that? I want you to be able to defend yourself if you have to. Can you do that?
Kevin Cliffe: We'll get you a holster. Otherwise, in your bunk or in the ship's weapons locker. here. try this. Another one I made myself.
Xiao Li: I can. If they get close, they'll regret it.
Rae Overholt: You sure?
Kevin Cliffe: Heavier, also got a pretty hefty cyclic rate.
Rae Overholt: I'd prefer they didnt get close.
Xiao Li: Me too.
Scott Darling: Excuse me, is there anyone here I could see about hiring a crew?
Rae Overholt blinks at the stranger. "Might be, what do you need?"
Scott Darling: Well, I'm looking for a crew that can do a job for me.. I need someone to retrieve something of mine..
Rae Overholt: Well then..step into my office Mr...
Scott Darling: McCoy.. my name's McCoy
Kevin Cliffe: Sweet, huh?
Scott Darling: Maybe somewhere a little less.. noisy?
Rae Overholt: Alright then Mr. McCoy. What might you be wanting us to retrieve. This way. We'll go upstairs.
Montanio Andalso hmmmms. "Little harder to control, but I suppose that's not the point, huh?"
Kevin Cliffe: Actually control is the point. You need to fire in bursts. Aim, squeeze. Aim, squeeze. The control's just different from the pistol.
Rae Overholt: Well?
Kevin Cliffe: This...is just made for hosing bullets. It evens the odds in a firefight really fast.
Rae Overholt looks to McCoy.
Kevin Cliffe: Problem is it eats ammo gorram fast.
Scott Darling: I have need of a crew with many talents.. I need to retrieve something of mine that's very precious to me, and it may take all the skills, talents and the like you may have.
Kevin Cliffe: Though if you face a reaver boarding party...
Xiao Li runs her hand over the wall, lost in thought...
Xiao Li: *muttering* Gotta be here someplace...
Kevin Cliffe: Here. Try a few hundred rounds.
Kevin Cliffe: Hypervelocity tungsten slivers on independently cooled superconducting induction barrels.
Montanio Andalso blinks at the new weapon he has. "Oh...boy...welll you do have big guns hmmm? Compensating?" He winks and then gives it a try.
Kevin Cliffe: Hold the grip down a bit, it kicks!
Kevin Cliffe: Nah, I build them.
Rae Overholt: What skills are you hoping to find here Mr. McCoy? What exactly do you want us to retrieve? Is it vegetable or mineral
Gabriel Keats sits in a chair downstairs, looking exceedingly cranky
Xiao Li paces back and forth in front of a stretch of blank wall...
Gabriel Keats: What're you up to?
Gabriel Keats just sounds tired
Kevin Cliffe: Remember what I said? That stuff about me in the core could get people shot?
Xiao Li: Tryin' to figure out how to open this gorram thing.
Scott Darling: My daughter has been taken. She's been taken to serve in a brothel on Santo.. by a crime lord known as Lo Pan.. I want you to get her back for me.
Lexi Vargas: is gone....he and the doc have not come back.
Rae Overholt: Do you have proof of this?
Xiao Li: This is where Jadi took Blaze. When I came down here the wall was open, but I dunno how she got it that way.
Montanio Andalso goes back to the desert eagle. "I like this one the best."
Gabriel Keats tries to look at the wall, thankful for the distraction from the shooting
Gabriel Keats: "This is just gorram ridiculous. . ."
Kevin Cliffe: This...is a prototype. Didn't have much use to try to fix the bugs.
Xiao Li: Maybe in the plant...?
Scott Darling: You can check the cortex. The details may have been changed to state that my daughter has disappeared and thought as a runaway.. but I know better. I have a photo of her. The daughter of an alliance senator does not just "run away."
Scott Darling: However, I cannot get support through the usual means. The Alliance refuses to go to Santo, refuses to acknowledge Lo Pan or his ilk.
Rae Overholt: I think maybe we can help you. Give me time to discuss with my crew, make sure we have the resources we need.
Gabriel Keats: "If I could get close to Jadi, I betcha I could figure it out."
Xiao Li: You sure you wanna do that?
Kevin Cliffe: whoops.
Scott Darling: Very good. I'll pay any price to get her back. And I may be able to help supply you with any resources you may need as well. Although, from the sound of it, you may not need my assistance for that.
Gabriel Keats: "Why wouldn't I? Ain't like I've got anything else useful to offer."
Kevin Cliffe: Let's see...what else...ah.
Kevin Cliffe: Shotguns fire differently.
Kevin Cliffe: Power breaks down with range, and it's more of "point" than "aim."
Xiao Li shudders. "You couldn't pay me enough to get in her head."
Rae Overholt: We'll see about that Mr. McCoy.
Montanio Andalso tests the heft of the gun for a moment and then nods, imitating how Fionn shows him to hold it. "Ok...let me see about this one."
Scott Darling: Here's an address that I can be contacted at. If your crew decides to accept, I can forward you the coordinates on Santo where she's being held.. it's a fairly large compound.
Xiao Li kicks the wall in frustration. This fails to accomplish anything but make her toes hurt.
Kevin Cliffe: Not bad...
Rae Overholt: Okay. Thank you. *takes the address from him*
Rae Overholt: I'll go speak to my crew now.
Gabriel Keats: "Ain't a matter of being paid. It's a matter of doing what's right so that maybe I do somethin'other than get someone hurt."
Scott Darling: Very good.. and you never saw me here.
Gabriel Keats contemplates shooting the wall.
Kevin Cliffe thumps Montanio good naturedly on the shoulder..."damn, you're not just a pretty face after all. You've got talent!"
Rae Overholt: I can handle that.
Scott Darling shakes Rae's hand
Rae Overholt returns his shake firmly.
Scott Darling bows and walks out of the bar..
Xiao Li pulls her goggles down over her eyes and turns them on
Montanio Andalso seems to like the shotgun also. "Wow you almost don't have to aim..."
Rae Overholt goes up to Xiao Li. "xiao, need a cortex search on a senator McCoy and his daughter, and a Lo Pan."
Kevin Cliffe: Well you do, remember, those things spread.
Xiao Li: "Will do, Cap'n," says Xiao Li without looking away from the wall
Rae Overholt: Fast like Xiao Li.
Xiao Li huffs a sigh. "Fine."
Kevin Cliffe: Damn...
Rae Overholt: Gabe...we got a job.
Kevin Cliffe: Easy there...
Rae Overholt turns to see brina, "Brina, we got a job."
Montanio Andalso turns to Fionn. "Sorry...just...I needed to get some things out of my system. I don't suppose I could convince you to give me a hug. I need one."
Gabriel Keats turns around--he'd been contemplating the wall.
Kevin Cliffe: Um...that I dunno about, but hey, you have some real skills.
Gabriel Keats: "Huh? Oh. It pay well?" He grins.
Rae Overholt: Reckon it should.
Rae Overholt: Dangerous though.
Montanio Andalso sighs a little and then nods. "It was worth a try. Ok."
Kevin Cliffe: And just remember,
Kevin Cliffe: verbal barbs are kinda part of the job.
Rae Overholt: Senators daughter, kidnapped and sent to a brothel on Santo. Wants us to get her out.
Rae Overholt: Large compound he said. Fugitive name of Lo Pan. Says he's a right nasty fellow and the alliance wont help him out. Refuses to acknowledge the existance of the guy.
Gabriel Keats grins even more widely. "Dangerous?"
Rae Overholt: I'm okay with putting a dent in a slaver.
Xiao Li 's eyes go wide behind her goggles.
Rae Overholt: You guys ok with it?
Xiao Li: HELL yes.
Kevin Cliffe: hey cap, we got a job?
Gabriel Keats: "Excitement?"
Rae Overholt looks at xiao li unexpectedly. "Huh?"
Gabriel Keats: "Finally!"
Rae Overholt: Seem so. YOu'll like it Kevin.
Xiao Li looks back at Rae. "What?"
Rae Overholt: Might call for undercover work though.
Rae Overholt: Why are you so excited Xiao li?
Kevin Cliffe: Okay, lay it out...
Rae Overholt: Brina, you still got those silks?
Xiao Li tries to look nonchalant. "We got payin' work, and it ain't for Jadi. I need another reason?"
Kevin Cliffe: What are we doing?
Sabrina McGee: *starts and blushes*
Sabrina McGee: Umm.. yes? ::embarassed::
Rae Overholt: Well, we might get to wear them again.
Kevin Cliffe: Rae? What's the op?
Rae Overholt: Rescuing a senators daughter from a brothel on Santo.
Xiao Li types furiously, her fingers flying over the virtual keyboard
Kevin Cliffe: Senator. Like...Parliament?
Rae Overholt: Yeah.
Kevin Cliffe: Like...ALLIANCE Parliament?!
Kevin Cliffe: Gorram it...
Gabriel Keats: "What?"
Xiao Li: You know of another Parliament?
Gabriel Keats: "You got a problem with the Alliance?" He says this in a tone of mock disbelief.
Kevin Cliffe facepalms...then sighs..."Captain, you know what kind of stuff I did for the Alliance and what it could mean to the crew, right?"
Kevin Cliffe: If you're still willing to take the risk, though...I'm all on board.
Rae Overholt: Yes. But you know. Does that mean some innocent girl gets sent to a brothel to slave away when we could be paid to save her?
Kevin Cliffe: I said I'm all on board.
Rae Overholt: Ok.
Kevin Cliffe: Got a plan?
Rae Overholt: So..game plan.. sneak in..undercover...
Rae Overholt: find her...you get my ship..and then come and rescue us.
Gabriel Keats: Sneaking?
Lexi Vargas: is still not there
Kevin Cliffe: I can run Raven dark.
Gabriel Keats: "Want me to go get everyone else?"
Rae Overholt: Might be good.
Rae Overholt: If you can find them.
Kevin Cliffe: Matter oWho's on the undercover?
Gabriel Keats walks outside to the ship
Kevin Cliffe: Who's sneaking in?
Rae Overholt: Figure brina and I would.
Rae Overholt: we got the outfits...
Rae Overholt: course..someone's gotta sell us to them.
Rae Overholt: Mont would probably enjoy that.
Kevin Cliffe: I'd say he'd be able to handle himself.
Kevin Cliffe: I've seen him on the range. Damn, he's got talent. I've new respect for him, he might just survive out here after all.
Sabrina McGee: Well, I think he knows how those types of places work, too..
Kevin Cliffe: I think he might also be able to help us out by keeping some kind of watch on the place.
Sabrina McGee: Mont was telling me some of what he can do.. and he can definitely talk our way in to anything..
Rae Overholt: thats what I figure.
Kevin Cliffe: If he can hang around and use a phone or something he can keep an eye on the situation.
Sabrina McGee: and I bet Gabe could get in there to recon and get us some info
Rae Overholt: I'm betting he could.
Xiao Li: What can I do?
Gabriel Keats walks in, distracted. "I could what now?"
Rae Overholt: Search out layouts of hte place..security...find a payroll
Rae Overholt: get us headcounts..
Kevin Cliffe: Terrain maps.
Rae Overholt: find out the ships flying in and out..and their payroll and headcounts
Kevin Cliffe: We'll want a place to park Raven and keep the thermoptics up if possible.
Xiao Li: Can do, Cap'n.
Kevin Cliffe: Unless we're expecting alliance trouble?
Gabriel Keats: I'll do whatever I can, I guess.
Kevin Cliffe: Ooh...if we can get the innocents out, can we use the guns to raze the joint?
Rae Overholt: We'll never get all those innocents out.
Rio Starr pads in. "Innocents? What kind of job is this?"
Kevin Cliffe: Rescue.
Montanio Andalso follows along also to see what's going on.
Gabriel Keats: "Some senator's daughter got kidnapped."
Gabriel Keats: "They're gonna pay us to get her back
Rio Starr lifts his brows, then blinks several times at Gabe. "...some...senator's? Which one?" he asks, trying to not seem like he's suddenly rather tense. He /mostly/ succeeds.
Xiao Li glances sidelong at Rio through her goggles.
Gabriel Keats shrugs. "Dunno. I wasn't there."
Rae Overholt: Senator McCoy
Rio Starr moves his gaze from person to person, his eyes dark. Then he stares at Rae.
Rae Overholt looks at Rio.
Rae Overholt: Private word rio?
Rio Starr: "...McCoy?"
Lexi Vargas: This has a little scent of a trap to it
Kevin Cliffe: Anything that involves alliance has that scent to me.
Rae Overholt: yes
Rio Starr sucks in a deep breath then releases it. "Ah. Yes... private word. Now. Please."
Montanio Andalso tilts his head. "Oh I don't know...if it were a trap...they know where we are right now so....it doesn't make sense for us to go to a lot of trouble to fall into a trap."
Gabriel Keats gives the doc a quick glance, then turns back to the conversatin. "Yeah, pretty much."
Kevin Cliffe: If this is a trap, remember we have a few tricks up our sleeve as well.
Xiao Li pulls off her goggles. "Well, the story checks out, I can tell ya that much."
Rae Overholt: Ok rio
Rio Starr: "Who's got his daughter??"
Gabriel Keats: "Personally, I don't really ruttin' care if it is a trap."
Sabrina McGee: Mont, isn't that the kind of thing you could talk us into the place?
Gabriel Keats grins. "I'd be more liable to trap them anyway. Way I work."
Kevin Cliffe wonders just what 6000 rounds per minute of hypervelocity plasma would do to a brothel...
Rae Overholt: Lo Pan rio.
Montanio Andalso eyes Gabe a moment, then he looks to Sabrina. "What sort of place is it?"
Rae Overholt: a brothel..
Rae Overholt: of some sort
Kevin Cliffe: Wait...Lo Pan...
Rae Overholt: Xiao Li should be able to find it.
Lexi Vargas: grins a bit at Gabe. "I care a bit." The he brightens...."A brothal.....this might be fun trap at least."
Kevin Cliffe: Doesn't he have a connection to the Dragons?
Rio Starr nods and turns quickly away, heading for a separate corner and trying to keep his usually calm demeanor.
Xiao Li: Cap'n? If you got a minute, I'd like to speak with you. Somewhere private.
Rae Overholt: In a sec Xiao li..just one second
Montanio Andalso blinks a few times. "Reaaaally?" Suddenly he looks very perky about this. "Its not like you need a special appointment to get into a brothel, you know, but if you are looking for someone to do the hard job of having sex in one...I think I might be able to help you." He beams.
Kevin Cliffe: Well we need you to sell two of our crew into it.
Kevin Cliffe: And maybe act as a client.
Lexi Vargas: laughs...."Yeah. We will let you have some I&I there Face"
Xiao Li wheels around and gives Mont a death glare
Gabriel Keats perches on the edge of the planter, swinging his legs and looking very pleased, mind running a mile a minute
Xiao Li: You want to pay to rut with SLAVE GIRLS?!
Montanio Andalso ohhhhs. "Sure...I could do that. Two ladies who don't suit my tastes anymore. Who wants to be my used up pretties?"
Sabrina McGee: Well.. ::to Mont:: Wouldn't you also know how we'd need to act to pull off the part? Train us, so to speak?
Kevin Cliffe: what I want him to do is to be your comm connection to the outside.
Sabrina McGee puts her hands on her hips and sticks her tongue out at Mont
Kevin Cliffe: I mean, would it seem suspicious for a well-to-do client to have a phone or something?
Xiao Li shakes her head in disgust. She seems unusually rattled...
Gabriel Keats puts a hand on his head, distracted.
Rio Starr keeps talking softly with the captain, seeming a little worried. Something hte captain says seems to ease some of the worry, but he's still not thoroughly relaxed.
Kevin Cliffe: Xiao, whoever goes in there as the "slave girls" will have to be able to handle themselves unarmed and yet play the part long enough to get to inside.
Rae Overholt calls back "THOUGHT THAT WAS DECIDED ALREADY"
Rio Starr blushes brightly at Rae, and rubs the back of his neck as he mutters a few words.
Xiao Li: ...yeah.
Rae Overholt blinks at rio.
Kevin Cliffe: And I'd like to raze that place to the ground if we have the chance. But the first thing is we need to get the slaves out, right? One in particular.
Rio Starr staaaaaares at Rae at something she says, and his eyes go wide. He glances to Xiao Li, then back at the captain.
Montanio Andalso chuckles. "One, yes. It seems to me though that the easiest way would be to send in several groups. Me with some girls to get them on the inside, but then a few guys to 'hire' some slaves to get them on the inside also. In the privacy of a room you can ask questions."
Rio Starr suddenly laughs and grins at Rae, though he's still blushing.
Xiao Li rubs the inside of her right arm, staring down at the floor....
Kevin Cliffe: What kind of crowd would be hiring?
Kevin Cliffe: High society or the general salt of the earth? What kind of brothel is this?
Sabrina McGee: Umm.. I guess I should work on making sure Raven's in tip-top, right?
Rio Starr nods to the captain, then looks over to Xiao Li again. He relaxes. "Thank you, Cap'n..." he says.
Rae Overholt: Xiao?
Xiao Li: Yeah, Cap'n. Can we go somewhere private an' talk?
Xiao Li looks nervous, and won't stop rubbing her arm
Rae Overholt: Sure Xiao li.
Kevin Cliffe: Captain, I'll get to work trying to plot out the terrain...get us some options. Anything we can work with, and any evasions we might have if this is a trap.
Kevin Cliffe: Say Gabriel...you think you might be willing to go undercover?
Rio Starr pads over to join the group, rubbing his hand over the back of his neck again. He gives everyone a small, somewhat discomfited smile.
[20:38] Sabrina McGee: Kevin, why don't you take Xiao Li with you when we get there, set up surveillance?.
Gabriel Keats: Huh-wha?
Gabriel Keats looks up.
Gabriel Keats: Sure.
Montanio Andalso smiles. "Does this mean I get to dress the girls up?"
Kevin Cliffe: Apparently so.
Rio Starr winces slightly, then shakes his head. "Oh...that...should be interesting."
Gabriel Keats looks at Kevin. "Why you want me undercover?"
Kevin Cliffe: We'll need someone to play a client, right?
Gabriel Keats: "Oh. . .I can do that." He grins.
Lexi Vargas: grins as he listens
Rio Starr smiles a little bit. "And...I think i'll just stay on the ship."
Gabriel Keats: "Alone?"
Rio Starr nods to Lexi. "I will be. But...everyone...I'm avoiding any contact with this client or his daughter. Just to let you know why I might suddenly run for cover."
Rio Starr looks to Gabe. "And yes, if I have to be. I'm hoping I'll get some training on a gun just in case, though."
Gabriel Keats: "You better."
Rio Starr grins a little wryly.
Montanio Andalso looks to Rio. "Kevin was really good about showing me earlier."
Lexi Vargas: I can help you out too.
Rae Overholt: Well, what have we got worked out?
Gabriel Keats: "Many hands make light work."
Rio Starr nods. "I was counting on that, Lexi. Just...mm. Don't give me grenades."
Rae Overholt: Gabe is a client, Mont is a seller...
Rae Overholt: Brina and I are merchandise.
Rio Starr: "And I'll have bandages ready."
Gabriel Keats: "You know, we could just buy her."
Sabrina McGee: hey.. get it right.. -expensive- merchandise. :P
Rae Overholt: Very expensive.
Xiao Li: An' I'm goin' back to th' ship to do a little digging on our friend Lo Pan.
Rio Starr frowns. "No. We won't buy her. Nobody should be bought." His eyes flash fiecely.
Rio Starr: fiercely too
Montanio Andalso wets his lips. "About how much time do you think we'll have there?"
Sabrina McGee: Xiao Li: do you think you can set up surveillance cameras or something once we're there?
Gabriel Keats: "Just had to say it. Gives me 'I told you so' rights later."
Xiao Li: Set 'em up or hack into what they've already got. Not a problem.
Rae Overholt: Not enough time to get comfortable hopefully.
Rio Starr frowns at Gabe, then sighs.
Gabriel Keats: "What? Just saying, I ain't ever been part of a plan that's gone smooth. Figured this time I'd at least get to say it." He grins. "Not like I wanna buy her."
Montanio Andalso: Ok, just another question...but what are we going to /do/ with all these slaves we rescue?"
Rae Overholt: Let them go home.
Gabriel Keats: "We'd have to make sure they could get back all right."
Gabriel Keats: "Ain't like you can make it from here to Sihnon with a smile and a sari."
Rae Overholt: Yeah. Of course.
Rio Starr rubs his hand over the back of his neck again. "Some of them might not want to go home."
Rae Overholt: They we take them and drop them where they can get work?
Montanio Andalso tilts his head. "Yeah, but they could be from other planets. It could cost us money to take care of them all. We do have to have a plan of where to take them."
Xiao Li: *softly* Some of them might not have homes to go back to.
Rio Starr nods. "Well... if there's a place on this moon or a nearby one that's looking for helpers...maybe they can stay there for a bit until something better comes along."
Rio Starr: "At least they'll be /free/."
Gabriel Keats: "Free is good."
Xiao Li: Free is *very* good.
Lexi Vargas: You could leave them there and just take out the bosses
Sabrina McGee: What about the Senator? Maybe he could help them?
Rae Overholt: Senator says the alliance won’t go in. Says they dont reccognize the problem exists.
Rio Starr shakes his head. "Those people are like the hydra of myth. You cut off one head...seven more grow in its place."
Rio Starr blinkblinks at Rae. "He did?"
Gabriel Keats: "Yeah. Because he's really gonna care once his daughter's safe."
Rae Overholt goes to stand by Gabe.
Rae Overholt: yeah He did.
Sabrina McGee: Yeah, but what if we bring it to the Alliance's attention?
Sabrina McGee smiles mischeviously
Gabriel Keats: "Then they ignore it even harder."
Sabrina McGee: Not if Senator what's-his-name wants to keep himself unsullied..
Montanio Andalso suggests, "Maybe he was a naughty senator and they did it on purpose."
Rae Overholt: Never know.
Gabriel Keats chokes. "Blackmail. Why, Sabrina!"
Sabrina McGee: he'd have to take up the cause, then.. make it look like it was all his idea.. that's the way those politicians think..
Rio Starr frowns very slightly, his brows knitting as he considers the problem. "If we make that one of the conditions... and you never know. She might decide that Daddy better start standing up against the people who hurt her."
Rio Starr: "...she was always good at that."
Montanio Andalso studies Rio a moment. "So you know this girl."
Lexi Vargas: glances at Rio too. "Oh...now it makes sence"
Rio Starr clears his throat and nods. "Mm. Yes. I...ah. Do."
Gabriel Keats watches, face blank
Rio Starr: "Which is why I don't want her or her father to see me."
Lexi Vargas: 9night
Rio Starr looks around to everyone, his brows lifting. "If I have to, I could talk to her, but i don't know how she'll react when she sees me..." he says a little sheepishly.
Rae Overholt: I say we hold off on that unless absolutely necessary.
Rio Starr smiles to Rae. "Mmm. Yeah. I /like/ my skin."
Rae Overholt: I do to.
Lexi Vargas: And I am paid to protest it so I vote no too.
Rio Starr laughs. "For that, you get a raise."
Gabriel Keats just grins, watching.
Montanio Andalso goes to curl up in the hotel around here, letting Gabe have his bunk back.

((Sabrina Rocks, 'cause she logged!))

Guys Just Wanna Have Fun (Log of 1/21/2007)

**This is a continuation of "It ain't all moonshine and sunbeams, Darlin'", post 1/21/2007...

Male bonding at it's... most explosive?

****

Rio Starr follows Lexi back to his bunk, chuckling.

Lexi Vargas: steps into his bunk and tosses things around, clothing and bedding fliped and draping where ever it lands. He burrows down to a big wood box under his cot. Yes.....it reads DANGER...Explosives.

Rio Starr blinks, his eyes going wide. "Holy Maynard...you weren't joking!"

Lexi Vargas: hefts the box up onto his shoulder. "I hardly ever do. Come on..we have landed. I am taking you men out to have some fun"

**In the cargo bay**

Lexi Vargas: comes out lugging a box on his shoulder. Its made of wood and has DANGER - Explosives on its side in bright red. "We have landed...and I am strongly suggesting that you two come out and join us in having fun"

Rio Starr hurries after Lexi, his eyes wide and his expression worried. And curious. And just a bit excited, but he tries to hide that part of his emotions.

Gabriel Keats: . . .with explosives?

Montanio Andalso looks at Lexi for a long moment, then at the excited Rio behind him. He wets his lips, considering. "Ok....but on one condition."

Lexi Vargas: Yep. Best fun to be had. Come on..live dangerous.

You: "Mm. Well, hopefully it's better than wrestling in the mud?"

Lexi Vargas: Whats the condition Face?

Lexi Vargas: Way Better Doc.

Gabriel Keats: I get an invite?

You: "Both of you do."

Rio Starr looks to Montanio curiously.

Lexi Vargas: Yes Gabe.....you are invited. You really look like a man that needs to blow shit up.

Rio Starr chuckles faintly, shaking his head.

Gabriel Keats: "Yes. Yes, I am." He buttons up his shirt.

Montanio Andalso looks to Rio. "That you come clean with your feelings for your bodyguard." Then he arches his brows, and helps carry the explosives storage crate.

Rio Starr blinkblinks at Montanio and blushes, his mouth falling open slightly. "....what?"

Gabriel Keats: "Uh zwha?"

Lexi Vargas: waits on that condition of Montanio's...then briefly looks baffled. "I don"t have a body guard." he says in true..the world centers on Lexi fashion. "Come on...lets make thing go boom"

Montanio Andalso grins. "There's nothing like that, then? Good to know."

Rio Starr snaps his mouth shut, then follows silently, his jaw clenched.

Rio Starr staaaaares at Montanio's back as he follows .

Lexi Vargas: steals the mule and loads the box in the back, then ppiles you all in and heads out of town. The red head dives the thing like he has no fear, low and fast, letting everyone get a good dose of wind in their hair

Rio Starr clings to the mule, all distress at Montanio's words completely blasted away by that wind tearing through hair and every sinus cavity within his skull. Then again, all /thought/ is pretty well blasted away too.

Montanio Andalso laughs as his hair gets whipped around, smiling with a carefreeness.

Lexi Vargas: heads out of town...and drops down into what passes as the junkyard. Old wrecks, rocks, and trash heaped everywhere. A target heavy enviroment. He pops out already lloking happier. "Okay gabe....ever used a grenade before?"

Gabriel Keats: "Yeah. Not something I ever thought I'd do again."

Lexi Vargas: :opens the box lid and tosses one Gabes way. "You have ad the longest face today so you get first blow. Tell these two how to do it"

Lexi Vargas: :points at a old wagon a fair thow away...."There is the target."

Montanio Andalso says encouragingly to Gabe so that he doesn't think too much of war, "These are...totally inanimate targets..you won't hurt anyone."

Rio Starr lifts his brows curiously. "And you might help get rid of some eyesores?"

Gabriel Keats catches it. "Take. . ." He pulls the pin. "Pull.' He throws it. "Throw!"

You: "Er...duck?

Lexi Vargas: does duck....but he also has a wide, manic grin on.

Gabriel Keats just turns away, face expressionless.

Rio Starr ducks, but tries to keep watching from under his arm. "Is it...supposed to take time to blow up?"

Gabriel Keats: "Yes. In case the throwing part goes wrong."

Montanio Andalso elbows Gabe. "You have to blow up your frustrations...release the tension..."

There is a very ground shaking and satifying BOOOOM that echos over the area and then there are wagon fragments flying everywhere. Bits pelt you all...small for the most part as the diplaced air and sound goes past you.

Rio Starr falls over, mostly in surprise.

Gabriel Keats can't help it, goes into a case of the severe giggles just before the explosion goes off

Montanio Andalso smiles and holds out his hand. "My turn."

Gabriel Keats: "You ain't supposed to fall over, Doc. That's the wagon's job."

Lexi Vargas grins at Gabe... "That is way better" He red head shakes wood bits out of his hair...then tosses a granade at Montanio. "You had the second longest face. Your turn"

Rio Starr blinkblinkblinks at the sky, then peers down through the toes of his boots at the last bits of debris falling down. He pulls himself to his feet, and laughs a little nervously. "Wow..."

Rio Starr is, one would note immediately, no longer clean and pristine or even well-pressed. And his hair is a mess from the mule-ride.

Lexi Vargas: reaches over to help Rio up. laughing at him good naturedly.

Rio Starr grins. "Wow."

Lexi Vargas: laughs..."Damn right wow. Wait till we blow something metal"

Gabriel Keats raises his eyebrows behind his sunglasses

Rio Starr says it again, just in case anyone missed his other times. "....Wow."

Montanio Andalso tries to remember what Gabe did, the whole...pull out the pin first then throw. His arm isn't very good and it doesn't go all that far. "Ummmm...maybe we should back up."

Rio Starr blinks at the grenade, there just a little too close for comfort, and shows just how fast someone can run backwards.

Lexi Vargas turns around and sprints away from the granade....running for your life is half the fun

Gabriel Keats runs; is surprisingly good at it

Gabriel Keats grabs Mont by the wrist while. "Good idea."

Montanio Andalso runs away also, and juuuust when the group is out of range, there comes the boom, blowing up part of an old transport. The heat can be felt even out here but thankfully no shrapnel comes flying.

Rio Starr covers his head with his arms, ducking instinctively. "What was /that/??"

Gabriel Keats: "A grenade."

Lexi Vargas: rolls on the ground whrnt he explosion goes off....part duck..part just having to much fun. "Nice wing ya got there faceman"

Gabriel Keats brushes off his knees. "I should've said, throw *hard.*"

Rio Starr chuckles at Lexi and Gabe's comments. "He had to show how to ensure you have plenty of distance in case of emergency."

Lexi Vargas: laughs...."The running is half the fun. If there was not a little danger...what would be the joy?'

Montanio Andalso trembles a little and then laughs nervously. "Frightening. You thrust something with that much power into my unskilled hands. I think you are a madman." He laughs again.

Lexi Vargas: :widens his eyes...."Now it gets really scarey..." and he hands one to the Doc. "Be destructive"

Gabriel Keats supresses a deep laugh. "Seconded. But a helluva way to go."

Gabriel Keats: "Should I start runnin' now?"

Montanio Andalso claims, "I am just going to go ahead and stay back here."

Lexi Vargas: shakes his head at Gabe....."Wait till we know what way it goes"

Lexi Vargas: then pokes gabe in the side. "Go on..laugh. I won;t tell"

Rio Starr laughs. "Might be a good idea..." he mutters, his brows levered high and knitting together. Then he tosses the grenade, pin still firmly in place, a few times to get the feel of the weight, as he picks out a target to...hopefully...aim for.

Gabriel Keats: "Oof. . ." Me doubles over a little, starts laughing.

Rio Starr grins as Gabe finally starts laughing. "Should I hold off on this, or do we want to make him run and laugh at the same time?"

Gabriel Keats: "I can do both!"

"It's on your head!" Rio Starr quickly pulls the pin and throws the grenade towards a pile of scrap--wood and metal. Amazingly, he's got a good arm and good aim. But he ducks and runs anyway.

Gabriel Keats doesn't run but does duck. "Damn. . .that wasn't bad, doc!"

Lexi Vargas: grins at the laughing Gabe...then lopops and arm around him and lopes away with him..away from the boom to come

Gabriel Keats continues laughing while running, face lit up, looking a lot lighter than before.

Rio Starr laughs. "They're heavier than knives!" he replies, though the last word is swallowed up by a very loud, screeching sound of metal protesting against metal. A rusted barrel suddenly shoots high into the sky, trailing bits of debris and flame.

Lexi Vargas: calls out a "Heads up" over the din...then stops running to watch. "Awsome!"

Montanio Andalso seems surprised by the Doc's good arm, but ducks down anyway so that he doesn't get blown up! "Wow...I do feel better though, to be honest."

Gabriel Keats quietly. "Very shiny."

Rio Starr blinks in shock and awe. "...was...that a fuel barrel?" he says.

Gabriel Keats: "Y'know, I do believe it might've been."

Lexi Vargas: says happily..."Sometimes..Guys just have to blow things up. It's required."

Rio Starr shouts, "INCOMING!!!

Rio Starr runs as the barrel starts to descend, breaking apart on its fall.

Gabriel Keats actually jumps at the word "incoming."

Gabriel Keats moves instinctively

Montanio Andalso chuckles. "I think its too late now to call incoming."

Lexi Vargas jumps too...eyeing the sky for a clue on what way to sprint

Rio Starr laughs a little raggedly, heading a few more meters away. The barrel disintegrates in a pretty show of fire and black smoke and the thump-thwack-thwack of small pieces of metal striking earth, far enough away from everyone for some comfort.

Gabriel Keats seems to be fighting the urge to hit the ground as it descends. . .but he doesn't. He watches, mesmerized, flames reflecting off the lenses of his sunglasses

You: "Shiny."

Lexi Vargas: waits tillt eh barrel lands then collects a grenade for himself....."That was great Doc.. Now this is my faverite thing out here. Have to cover your ears for this one." He puls the pin and draws back to throw....holding the thing for a beat or two just to highten the thrill...then he tosses it hard and far....sending it to bounce and room into the hollowed out shell of a small junked ship.

Rio Starr claps his hands over his ears, cringing down. "Oh no..." he says.

Gabriel Keats crouches. "What?"

Lexi Vargas: covers his ears and waits...when the explosion comes it is contained and echoed by the ship shell and its makes a huge, deep Boom that vibrates the ground underfoot

You: "It's in a /ship/...big noise?" he starts to say, but the boom swallows up his words.

Rio Starr squints and cringes more, then blinks one eye open and laughs. "Oh...wow..."

Gabriel Keats: "Wo de ma. . .ow!"

Gabriel Keats shakes his head as though to clear it. "That what you were goin' for?"

Rio Starr straightens up, lowering his hands and making a face as he shakes his head. Then he sticks a finger in one ear, wiggling it around a bit. "What?"

Lexi Vargas: shakes his head to rattle hearing back on..."Oh yeah"

Gabriel Keats's face is actually lit up now. "What else you got?"

Rio Starr grins widely. "That was ...fun. Very fun." His clothes are mussed, there's a streak of dirt on his face, his hair is now a dismal failure at being decently coiffed...but he looks very very happy and amused.

Lexi Vargas: offers another to Gabe. "A dozen more of these and a hole junk yard of targets."

Rio Starr laughs. "Who needs a drink when you have explosions?"

Gabriel Keats looks around over the tops of his glasses, jiggling the grenade slightly in his hand, as though trying to make a decision. "Yes, give the man on sedatives high explosives. . .ruttin' great idea."

Lexi Vargas: If I get mad....this is what I do. If I am real mad..i name the target before I blwo it up.

You: "If you drop it, we'll grab you and run."

You: "Just don't go near the mule, or you're dead meat."

You: "All of us would be."

Lexi Vargas: Or I will be since I stold it

Gabriel Keats pulls the pin with his teeth, aims for a pile of engine parts in the corner of the yard, and lets loose.

Lexi Vargas: nearly purrs..."Oh thats going to be nice"

Rio Starr blinks at Lexi. "That's remarkably...blood thirsty," he comments, then grins at Gabe's choice of target. "Uhoh...those might fly pretty high, won't they?"

Gabriel Keats ducks down, covers his head, looks sidelong at the Doc. "Might could."

Lexi Vargas: grins crazily and crouches...ready to run. "Oh yeah"

Gabriel Keats takes a sharp intake of breath as it blows. The doc is right--the parts fly everywhich way, some of them going pretty ruttin' high. Additionally, a small fire starts towards the center of where the remains of the pile sit

Rio Starr nods to Gabriel, then grins and prepares himself for some serious skedaddling out-of-harms-way.

Rio Starr: "Wow...pretty!"

Gabriel Keats: "Must've been some oil or somethin' left on it. . .okay. . .it's rainin'!" Me steps to the side as a number of small fragments rain down

Rio Starr runs and shakes his head at the same time. Pretty? What the hell was he thinking? Too much testosterone...oh well. It's all /shiny/.

Lexi Vargas: laughs and ducks when some bit of metal bounces off his shoulder. "Ow....Nice one Gabe!"

Gabriel Keats picks up a small piece of still smoking shrapnel, making sure to keep it on his glove. "Hell. . .you ok?"

Rio Starr stops running, looking back at Lexi's 'ow'. "You hurt?" he asks immediately, his face still flushed with energy and exertion and just plain damn fun.

Lexi Vargas: rubs the spot, looking very pleased wiuth himself. "Hardly ever better. Want another throw Rio?"

Rio Starr grins. "Of course I do. Am I insane?"

Gabriel Keats raises his hand. "Yes."

Gabriel Keats: "Yes, you are."

Lexi Vargas: Not at all Rio....you are just....A GUY"

Lexi Vargas: :jogs tot he Mule and tosses the next one to Rio. "Make it count Doc:"

Rio Starr laughs and catches the grenade. "Yes, well...this kind of insanity is rather fun..." he replies, his eyes gleaming in his dusty face.

Gabriel Keats: "It's all fun." He grins. "Trust me. I'm the reigning expert."

Rio Starr eyes the possible targets, and settles for a beaten-up pile of wooden skids with metal sheets stacked against them. He chuckles. "Ah. Then it's good to know that the expert approves." He pulls the pin and tosses--another good throw.

Gabriel Keats watches, laughing

Rio Starr steps back a few steps, watching the target uncertainly. It's not as impressive as the pile of engine parts, though a couple of the metal sheets make acrobatic flips through the burst and shower of wooden splinters, rather like a wood-and-metal fireworks.

Lexi Vargas: applauds,,,,then just flops back on the dirt and grass to eye the skys. "Ahhh....now this is liveing"

Gabriel Keats laughs

Gabriel Keats: "It's a change."

Rio Starr laughs, making a victory pump with one arm before turning to the two of you as the sheets clang loudly to the ground. "Very...very different."

Gabriel Keats: "Okay. . .I *needed* that." He takes off his sunglasses, wipes the dust off of them, eyes shining. "Thank you."

Lexi Vargas: tosses a bit of bracken at Gabe. "You are welcome. "

Lexi Vargas: "I think we get to much time around women and we get like them....moody and wierd. Need to do something like this sometimes

Rio Starr chuckles softly. "Ah...so this is our therapy?"

Gabriel Keats: "I like it better than the drugs. No offense, doc"

Lexi Vargas: You bet Doc.....and look. You are even dirty. I am proud of you.

Rio Starr settles on the ground, not even caring now about dirt on his clothes.

Rio Starr: "None taken. I like it better than drugs, too." He laughs. "Yes... I feel so.../strange/."

Rio Starr: "I don't even have an overwhelming urge to wash my hands. Yet."

The unlikely companions blow things up for a good time into the night, the explosions loud enough at times to be heard even in town and in the Raven...

It ain't all moonshine and sunbeams, darlin'. (Log of 1/21/2007 rp)

Sabrina McGee: Hey Captain, that job for my pa still holds, if we want it..

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): I think it'd be a good idea brina, take peoples minds off things.

Sabrina McGee: if we want..

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Drop off a few jugs, hit the local bar, meet some folks. Might be fun.

Rio Starr pads into the bar, looking as clean and polished and dust-free as he possibly could without being hermetically sealed in a vacuum. He smiles and nods his head. "Hello, everyone..."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Hey doc. *notices his strict demeanor back*

Xiao Li (Alycia Unknown) sulks in a corner, looking rather greener around the gills than usual.

Gabriel Keats: "Evenin', Doc." He turns towards Sabrina and the Cap. "Ain't going to complain. Could use the coin."

Lexi Vargas: is leaning on the bar, looking bored about of of his mind. There is no milk of course so he is drinking water.

Rio Starr lifts his brows. "Coin? Did I hear mention of coin?" he inquires curiously.

Lexi Vargas: Do we have any of that...or did we have to give it all up to buy the ex-pirates?

Shen (Shay Jiutai): kinda quiet here too

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Hi shen

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): We had some Lexi, you had your hands on it.

Gabriel Keats: "Ain't sure what she's gonna want."

Lexi Vargas: Had being the word in that I was most interested in.

Rio Starr sighs and shakes his head. "I don't think coin is the problem with her. But...getting away from here would be nice. For a short bit."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Hey kevin.

Rio Starr nods his head in greeting to Kevin.

Sabrina McGee: Evenin' Kevin..

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Hey captain.

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Hi Sabrina.

Xiao Li (Alycia Unknown) heads over to the bar, finally. She's looking ill... a little more so than one would expect from just a hangover.

Sabrina McGee: Hey Xiao.. you okay to pilot?

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) eyes Xiao li and says. "You need the doc to see to you Xiao?"

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Xiao?

Gabriel Keats: "Hey, Xiao Li, what's up?"

Xiao Li (Alycia Unknown): Wha? Yeah, yeah, 'm fine. Just need some coffee.

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): So Rae, we got a job?

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): I say we do.

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): What is it?

Lexi Vargas: looks less bored suddenly. "Oh now that sounds good. Whats on?"

Sabrina McGee: booze!

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) grins

Xiao Li (Alycia Unknown): Where we goin'?

Montanio Andalso prances up tot he group. "Oh good we have a job." Like he's joined the crew by force without ever having been asked.

Sabrina McGee: Next moon over.. quick trip and back.. simple delivery

Rio Starr: "What does the job entail?" He blinks at Montanio, one brow just peaking up slightly--not at the question, but at the prancing.

Gabriel Keats suppresses a grin

Rio Starr: "You mean...something /legal/?"

Sabrina McGee: Mont's job is to make sure no one drinks the cargo

Sabrina McGee: well, as 'legal' as running shine can be..

Gabriel Keats: "Not even me? Dammit."

Rio Starr: "Ah. I see."

Montanio Andalso perks, "Not even Gabe? We all know how he is when he's drunk. So much more...pliable."

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Cool, a run that won't need Raven's special hardware.

Sabrina McGee: Although to be fair, it's pretty safe of a run.. our normal guy is out sick.. and pa needs to get this delivery made to a saloon

Gabriel Keats: "Yes. Unfortunately, the cap'n here will test that by plyin' me with fists.

Lexi Vargas: We may need more then one guard on the cargo with this bunch.

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): I'd better lock down the heavy hardware, then.

Montanio Andalso looks over to Lexi. "How about you and me, hot stuff?"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): HI shen! *Waves*

Shen (Shay Jiutai): Hi Cap'n!, everyone...

Sabrina McGee: Hey sweetie!

Gabriel Keats sighs. "You lot're no fun."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): We're plenty fun Gabe.

Gabriel Keats: "And, again, ain't anyone gonna let me have it."

Rio Starr smiles wryly. "Not unless you really need it..."

Lexi Vargas: chuckles at Montanio. "Are you sure you don't drink?"

Sabrina McGee cuddles up to Shen..

Shen (Shay Jiutai) grins at Sabrina, "so, What's going on?"

Montanio Andalso grins. "Oh I drink, but not the lousy stuff we're likely hauling."

Rio Starr smiles over to Shay. "A job."

Sabrina McGee: My pa needs a crew to deliver a load of moonshine to the next moon over..

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) looks at sabrina, with the first thought going through his head being..."the hell?"

Sabrina McGee: Hold the phone..

Shen (Shay Jiutai) looks suprised, "Moonshine?"

Rio Starr chuckles at Montanio's words.

Lexi Vargas: laughs too. "You have a deal then. Double guard duty."

Sabrina McGee puts her hands on her hips.. "Excuse, me??"

Sabrina McGee: Mont, I'll have you know my dad's been distillin' since before I was born.. you best take those words back.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) grins

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Sabrina, I'm sure he makes excellent 'shine.

Montanio Andalso shakes his head. "I won't take it back, but...still...if its highly flammable, one shouldn't injest it."

Shen (Shay Jiutai) looks at the Cap'n,"sounds like a cakewalk..."

Gabriel Keats: "I've had his 'shine. It ain't bad."

Montanio Andalso goes on to say in a sagelike voice... "My body is a temple..."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): dont it just?

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Let's not get complacent, though.

Gabriel Keats tries not to comment

Rio Starr mutters something about a playground.

Shen (Shay Jiutai): Is the pay good hon?

Lexi Vargas: sips his water and grins.

Sabrina McGee: pa pays pretty well.. I mean, it's a pretty simple run.. but the other saloon relies on my pa's shine.. and they get mighty cranky if they don't get it

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): The coin's always good.

Shen (Shay Jiutai): Well, I'll be glad to get the stuff off this moon, I'm not needing a flooded market here...

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): How much are we talking about moving?

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Shall we go pick up the cargo then?

Gabriel Keats: "Looks like y'need a strong arm."

Lexi Vargas: asks of Pa's moonshine pushing girl. "Are you planning to ride along with us?"

Gabriel Keats gets ready to help

Sabrina McGee: of course I'm going

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Reckon we will Gabe. How strong is yours? *eyes him*

Lexi Vargas: seems pleased at that answer. "Good." He then gets up to join Gabe. "Okay. Time to do heavy lifting"

Gabriel Keats: "Strong enough to lift boxes. Quicker we do it, quicker we get paid."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) jumps up to go help as well

Sabrina McGee: Yeah.. the goods are over at the general store.. we've got about 10 crates or so

Shen (Shay Jiutai): Let's go...

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) goes to start hauling crates

Rio Starr: 'me shakes his head, muttering just a bit. He turns to follow the group.

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Capt'n you shouldnt be lift'n heavey things with yer hurts ans all

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): I will do it fer ya

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): I gotta get back up sometime billie.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): but you're welcome to help anyhow.

Lexi Vargas: Gabe and I can handle it.

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Best let me do it and let yerself knit up

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): More hands makes faster work.

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) starts a crate pile on deck, at least before it can get squared away...

Montanio Andalso hops off the stool. "So...what can I do?"

Sabrina McGee: All righty.. y'all know where the store is, right?

Sabrina McGee: let's go grab some boxes!

Gabriel Keats: "Yep."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): lift a crait..without breaking a nail.

Lexi Vargas: Move some crates Faceman,

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie) picks up a crate easily and hauls it to the cargo bay

Montanio Andalso claims with a serious air. "I'm actually allergic to boxes, as it turns out."

Gabriel Keats: "Sure y'are."

Gabriel Keats picks up a box

Lexi Vargas: hands Mont a napkin. "Use this on your nose...and heft boxes."

Sabrina McGee: Mont don't wanna lift boxes.. fine.. he can stay here and not get paid either

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie) Billie quickly returns from loading the cargo and takes a crate from the Capitan

Montanio Andalso knits his brows a little. "I am not a lifter...really, when you look atme...do you think...manual labor?"

Gabriel Keats: "Mont, get over here and help me lift, willya?"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) picks up a box and hands it to mont, then turns and grabs another one for herself.

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) looks at Mont and thinks..."Reaver bait"

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie) Billie snorts at Mont, and says I am twice yer age and Iff'n I can do it you can

Rio Starr eyes Montanio. "I'm not built for it either... but if you want to be a part of the crew, you have to be a /part/ of the /crew/.

Rio Starr does his best to help carry crates

Shen (Shay Jiutai) grunts a little as she drops a crate in the cargo bay

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) drops her crate and goes back for another one.

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): *Clunk...yet another box*

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Billie is a crate moving machine and goes for her third one

Montanio Andalso takes the box but looks particularly grumpy about it. "Going to have to take a shower..."

Lexi Vargas: stays in the cargo and stacks and bands the crates as people bring them in, making a nice solid packing job out of them.

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Keep hauling, monty.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Last one. *comes dragging another one in*

Gabriel Keats goes to help Mont lift.

Montanio Andalso snaps at Fion. "No one...calls me Monty."

Sabrina McGee: door number 1, door number 2, or door number 3?

Shen (Shay Jiutai) sits down and rests her shoulder...

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) picks up the crate...and decides to let Monty slide for that...

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) puts another crate on deck...

Sabrina McGee: Take it easy, hun.. don't hurt yourself anymore..

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie) after Billie gets back with her 3rd crate, she goes over to check Shens shoulder

Sabrina McGee: Hey Lexi, if we got time after we drop these off, you wanna show me some guns?

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Huh?

Shen (Shay Jiutai): if you insist, like I was gonna get another crate anyways

Sabrina McGee gives Shen a mock glare.. and then breaks a smile and hugs her

Shen (Shay Jiutai): yeah, we need to do some practice shootin', wouldn't hurt to do some simple gruop drills...

Rio Starr glances over to Lexi, lifting his brows slightly with curiosity.

Montanio Andalso continues to help,but he puts on gloves so that he doesn't get splinters.

Shen (Shay Jiutai): Is he gonna break into the cargo before we get airborne?

Lexi Vargas: shoulders a box into place then gives Sabrina a rakish grin. "I would be glad to....so long as I don't end up shot"

Lexi Vargas: nods at Shay. "Good plan darling. Captain...shall you examine the cargo..be sure its not severed heads or something less savory. Or are we working on trust?"

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) refrains from saying anything on that score...*whistles innocently*

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): We all set? *gives Lexi a look* Figure we can trust brina.

Sabrina McGee: Yeah, looks like we're pretty much all loaded

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Severed heads? That's gotta be some awesome shine...

Sabrina McGee: let's get her up in the air..

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Let's do.

Lexi Vargas: Yeah.....okay. Your call.

Sabrina McGee: cleans engines too ;)

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Stations.

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): ((I am in the ship, just not *in* the ship

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): on it. Want me to spell Xiao at the helm?

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): ((lol ok))

Montanio Andalso quips to Fionn. "I'd have to drink a whole bottle of stuff that strong to be able to tolerate looking directly at you."

Rio Starr: "If you're offering some lessons, Lexi...I would appreciate some too."

Gabriel Keats stretches. "So, by 'stations' you mean 'get the ruttin'hell out of the way."

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): You're not my type anyway, Monty.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) looks at mont oddly.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) continues to drink her cola.

Gabriel Keats sits on the catwalk. "I'd be willin' to chip in with the helpin', Lexi, if'n you need some time."

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): 'Brina, let's get Raven soaring.

Sabrina McGee: All right.. back to my other mistress.. make sure Raven's smilin'

Gabriel Keats stretches

Lexi Vargas: I won';t turn you down Gabe.

Shen (Shay Jiutai) heads to the galley, does a final check that her pots and pans are secured, then heads to her bunk to lie down...

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) runs the checklist, for the helm and the tac board

Sabrina McGee: comm: Raven's purring as usual..

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) nods and settles in, hoping for a smooth ride.

Second Life: Shen (Shay Jiutai) has left this session.

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Good. Stations locked down for liftoff?

Rio Starr settles in himself, remaining quiet and rather lost in his own thoughts.

Gabriel Keats stretches, thinking while letting his legs dangle, looking at the box of moonshine

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) says facetiously "Boy, I sure hope I remember how to drive a starship..."

Lexi Vargas: Straps himself in with the cargo for take off. The red head looks utterly pleased to be doing something other then leaning on the bar....he is evening humming to himself.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) blinks, wondering what in pergutory has gotten into everyone tonight.

Gabriel Keats isn't particularly concerned with strapping in

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Billie straps in, as petey holds on tight

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Bridge here, we're rock and roll on this end. Say the words, and we're off.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Everyone secure?? *coms*

Sabrina McGee: Magic Carpet Ride!

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) puts Steppenwolf on over the comm

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Okay then, *Not hearing any negativs* Xiao Li, take us up. *sits as xiao li takes the firefly up and through atmo into space*

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Petey Sqwaks abit as they break atmo

Rio Starr: "So...Sabrina... tell me about this moonshine. Just /how/ flammable is it?" His voice is a bit concerned.

Gabriel Keats closes his eyes as the music starts.

Sabrina McGee: you ever heard of.. umm.. white lightning? everclear?

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): I don't have anything by those bands...

Lexi Vargas: has heard of it. He takes a moment to recheck the strapping. That crate stack is in tight.'

Rio Starr blinks, his brows shooting up high. "No. But they sound interesting. What is it made of? "

Sabrina McGee: Okay.. corn, grains..

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) checks the nav display to set up the burn...

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Moonshine's made of corn and such

Gabriel Keats: "Pure ruttin' alcohol."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Corn mash. S'why the cows like it so much.

Gabriel Keats shouts, still with his eyes closed

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) stands up and unstraps once they hit space, going to find Rio.

Sabrina McGee: over 100 proof.. ore han 0% alcool content by volume

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): comm: Captain, we're go for burn.

Sabrina McGee: (wow, laggy)

Sabrina McGee: more than 50% alcohol content by volume

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Will that stuff explode if we move too fast?

Sabrina McGee: nope

Gabriel Keats: "If you light it on fire. It ain't nitro."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Doc? You got a moment?

Sabrina McGee: If you put it on somethin' hot... err.. yeah, what Gabe said

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Nope. Nitro just gives you a headache.

Gabriel Keats laughs harshly, speaking with a rum accent.

Gabriel Keats: *rim

Rio Starr makes an interested noise, looking like he'd have more questions, but he looks to the captain and nods. "Certainly, Cap'n..."

Gabriel Keats: "You gonna tell me you don't know what nitro is. Give you a hell of a lot more than a headache."

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Low dose nitro is what you use to treat chest pains.

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Heh, 'shine is the most powerful stuff in the 'verse

Sabrina McGee: it'll burn.. and we could probably fuel Raven with it.. but it's stable enough.. my pa's usual delivery guy is down with kidney stones.. he made the run for the last 10 years or so.. never had a lick of trouble

Rio Starr: "Nitroglycerine used to be used... yes. What Kevin said."

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): In fact it was developed as a medicine...with one unfortunate side effect.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Was wonderin if you could take out my stitches?

Gabriel Keats: "Hnuh. Didn't know that."

Rio Starr: "Let's take a look at them. Come into the bay."

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) goes to work on the nav material they picked up from the slave vessel...

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) tries to see if maybe there's something that could motivate this crew to go to Greenleaf and (that other place)...

Lexi Vargas: Cargo bay needs a window I think

Gabriel Keats swings his legs back and forth rapidly from the catwalk

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) follows the doc to the med bay

***In the medbay***

Rio Starr looks at his dwindling supply of alcohol, and smiles. Well. One problem solved, perhaps. "Turn around Cap'n..." he suggests.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) turns around and waits hopefully

Rio Starr hums a soft tune. "You're healing nicely. You probably won't have much of a scar either. Especially if you keep it covered with bandages for a while longer." He pulls out his snips and carefully starts trimming the stitches, trying to not tug too hard.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) whispers to the doc, "What do you think? He okay now?" looking hopefully over her shoulder

Rio Starr nods. "I think he's going to be...steady for a while. I'm trying to find something else to help him, but in the meantime, he's staying on a low dose of that sedative... and when he's done with Jadi, he can go a little higher if he wants."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): I don't like this jadi bit. She makes me nervous.

Rio Starr nods. "Me too. She reminds me of a snake."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): she's not even as stable as Gabe, though its a different sort of unstable.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): moods....changing...

Rio Starr nods. "Definitely a woman with issues the size of a moon."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): yeah. You reckon them people she killed...you reckon they deserved it somehow?

Rio Starr winces slightly. "I don't know. I really don't know, Cap'n. Part of me hopes so...I would hate to think of innocent people being hurt..."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): A whole family though.

Rio Starr tugs at a last stitch, trying to keep his movements small but precise and quick to keep the sting down.

Rio Starr: "A whole family?"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Seems its a cover up of some sort..why not kill her..put her in prison. Why just slave her out. Give her a chance to escape. She's the LAW on this moon.

lRio Starr blinks. "I am lost here...what exactly happened?"

lCaptain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Xiao li's got the information. She slaughtered a family in the core. High ranking ..officials...said it would have made the Reavers proud.

Rio Starr goes pale and lowers his hands to the edge of the table.

Rio Starr: "Ah. "

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): I havent run up against many ..so...cruel out here. Not many. Niska maybe.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Rest just kill ya, get it over with.

Rio Starr nods to the Cap'n, then drops his snips into a bowl with a faint clatter. "Yes. Yes, I've noticed that."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) gives Rio a look. Her worry and concern clear.

Rio Starr wipes Rae's back down, then covers her scar with a bandage. "There you go..."

Rio Starr: "So...who's next?"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): could ya also check the stitches in my head? *raises a selfconcious hand to her temple*

Rio Starr blushes

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) glances down.

Gabriel Keats mumbles in his bunk

Rio Starr: "Mmm. Yes." He carefully lifts locks of Rae's hair out of the way to see the spot he shaved. "I can take them out, but some of them are already starting to absorb into your skin. Your hair will grow back, and nobody will be able to tell," he assures her as he picks up the snips.

Rio Starr doesn't take quite as long to get those few stitches out.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) sighs in relief when he is done. "Should I go check on him?"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Should *we* go check on him?

Rio Starr laughs softly. "Go check on him. I've already hounded him about medication today...I'll give the man a break."

Rio Starr: "I need to see Shay's and Lexi's stitches, as well. And Montanio's."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Okay..I"ll send them in

Sabrina McGee: Hey Mont..

Montanio Andalso glances over towards Sabrina as he pulls out a little PDA-looking thing. "Yes?"

Sabrina McGee: What exactly is it that you -do-?

Sabrina McGee: I mean, what did you do before? On that other ship?

Gabriel Keats calls down. "Now that the cap's gone, can I buy some of that offa you?"

Sabrina McGee shoots Gabe a glare..

Gabriel Keats grins. "Can't blame me for tryin'"

Gabriel Keats jumps off the catwalk carefully

Montanio Andalso grins at Sabrina. "Want me to show you? And no...I never slept with any of /them/. I'm glad to show you though."

Sabrina McGee arches a brow

Sabrina McGee: As long as showing me don't require takin' off clothes..

Montanio Andalso shakes his head. "Nope...lets see here..." he fiddles around his in pockets and then pulls out a hair pin, asian, with some nice decorations on one end. "Do you want this at the moment?"

Sabrina McGee looks confused..

Sabrina McGee: I'm not sure what you mean?

Sabrina McGee: It's a pretty enough hairpin, sure.. but are you offering it to me?

Lexi Vargas: wanders over to sit on the steaps Near Face and Sabrina. He looks very amused.

Montanio Andalso tilts his head. "I mean...does your heart /desire/ it?"

Gabriel Keats now also starts watching the show.

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) wonders if he could find anything that could be a percentage for taking out the slave traders. Salvage, maybe...he periodically checks the tac display to be sure they are clear, not really followed...

Sabrina McGee: Well, it's certainly very pretty.. but I couldn't accept it..

Rio Starr keeps removing the stitches, his voice very soft and quiet in the medbay.

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Petey looks at the shiny thing and swoops down and snatches it from Mont

Montanio Andalso wets his lips. "Lets say...that I said you could buy it. In your hair...the red tones...you know...I think it would look very pretty. Its such a rugged world...WHOA..." he jerks his hand back as the bird swoops by and he glares at it for interrupting him. "I can't do this demonstration with wild animals..."

Gabriel Keats bursts out laughing just before the bird swoops in.

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Petey wheels about for another pass

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) 's ears perk up, wondering what is going on in the cargo bay

Lexi Vargas: And yet you try to do it with this crew. Face you might be to suble.

Lexi Vargas: seems to know subtle and Montanio in the same sentance is ironic...but he keeps a straight face.

Rio Starr pauses in his snipping in the medbay, glancing over his shoulder towards the noise in the cargo bay.

Sabrina McGee looks at Petey.. "Hey!"

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Petey, flaps over and lands near Sabrina

Montanio Andalso hmphs and stuffs the pin away. "Some other time, perhaps. I guess it will remain a mystery for now...what I do."

Sabrina McGee sighs.. and looks more confused

Gabriel Keats crosses his arms, fidgits, looks at the parrot. "Here, Petey. Good parrot..."

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) also works on the thermoptic system...if it could project a holo of empty space...maybe they could make Raven look like something else...

Lexi Vargas: So you are a jewerly dealer?

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Petey makes parrot noises and rubs his head against 'brina

Gabriel Keats speaks up. "You sweet talk. You tell them what they wanna hear."

Sabrina McGee pats the parrot on the head

Montanio Andalso groans. "I'm not in a very good mood. I don't want to talk about it."

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Petey fluffs his feathers and croons

Montanio Andalso pulls out his PDA again and pushes a few buttons, grumpy.

Gabriel Keats uncrosses his arms suddenly. "I need to read my plays." Sulks off to his bunk.

Gabriel Keats goes to his bunk, pulls out a worn copy of "Hedda Gabler" and starts reading

Lexi Vargas: goes back to lean on the cargo.

Montanio Andalso seems absorbed in doing something on his PDA.

Montanio Andalso finally finishes whatever it was and bleeps off the PDA and tucks it away in his robes. He looks around then to see if the bird is still here.

Lexi Vargas: looks bored again. Never a good thing. Since Mont is the only one in sight the red head wads up some paper and zings it with deadly (if a paperball could be deadly) aim at the back of his head.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Lexi..Doc wants to take the stitches out.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) eyes mont and lexi.

Gabriel Keats is now reading quite loudly

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): You too Mont. Get checked out with the doc as soon as Lexi comes back okay?

Montanio Andalso is bapped. "Who!" He looks about to see Lexi. "The red-head, I should have known. Don't worry, I notice you." He winks and then heads for the infirmary.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): or now...*sighs*

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Yes Kevin?

Lexi Vargas: laughs as Mont quips at him...then takes cuts on the line to visit the doc. "Oh well" he say and leans on the crates again

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): We're clear on the tac board. We can get to our destination in thirty minutes, fifteen if we open 'er up.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Okay. Open her up then Xiao Li, *said on com*

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): you can almost hear the tires squealing...

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) goes to check on Gabe.

Gabriel Keats is reading aloud. "Thanks. But I am tired this evening. I will go in and lie down a little on the sofa."

Gabriel Keats looks up. "Hey, Rae."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): why are...are you okay? *said quietly*

Gabriel Keats: "Was gettin' kinda jumpy in there. Don't know why."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) feels the ship begin to break atmo "NICE WARNING XIAO LI. Buckle everyone!" said on comm

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): you need to see the doc gabe?

Gabriel Keats: "I just did."

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Gorram it Xiao, give her more throttle!

Gabriel Keats: "Earlier today."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): You let me know something specific sets you off okay?

Rio Starr grabs for his tools before the rough ride sends them flying, and quickly stashes them away in the autoclave.

Gabriel Keats: "Yeah, I will"

Gabriel Keats smiles apologetically.

Gabriel Keats: "I just didn't want to worry you..."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) nods at Gabe, giving his hand a squease . "It's okay. I gotta know."

Lexi Vargas: hangs on to something...."Dang...nice warning"

Gabriel Keats drops his book. "Ta ma de, what is WRONG with this gorram ship? I know it ain't the pilot!"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) waits for the ship to touch down and says on the comm "Okay people, we're here. Lets everyone grab a crate."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): She didn't look so well today Gabe.

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): This is your first officer speaking, in the event of a sudden change in cabin presssure, please turn blue and bleed out your ears.

Montanio Andalso calls in the direction of wherever the first officer is. "So look like you just asked us out? Got it!"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) grabs at the crates and begins stacking them on the mule. "Pile her up boys."

Gabriel Keats starts pilin'. "Don't like bein' called a boy, Cap."

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Billie grabs the crate from the capt'n and stacks it

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Why in the verse would i do that? Or any humanoid life form, for that matter...

Lexi Vargas: moves heavy things...."Better she call you Girl?"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) then hops in the passenger seat and waits for someone else to drive. She gives Gabe a startled look. "Fellows then."

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) helps piling crates

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Thanks Billie.

Gabriel Keats rolls his eyes. "Or a man."

Sabrina McGee picks up a crate and tries to help

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie) Billie nods in the Capt'ns direction

Gabriel Keats: "I just find it belittlin'" He grins.

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Billie stacks crates faster

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): We'll discus it later Gabe. *smirks at him*

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Doc?

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Oh, I know that smell...

Gabriel Keats grins. "This ain't exactly my idea of gettin' out."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) steps off the mule and looks around, "Well, least it's new dirt."

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): That's ceramocarbide base!

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Billie grabs a crate

Lexi Vargas: rests a crate on hius shoulder. "Feels like home"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Glad you like it. *grabs another crate and starts hauling it down into the bar*

Gabriel Keats grins. "Says you, Lexi."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): well..looks like a farm to me.

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Wonder what the going rate is for thiss mud...

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): C'mon you MEN, these boxes are heavy.

Lexi Vargas: heh..."So I have common origins"

Rio Starr disembarks from the mule, looking around with a thinly-disguised sense of...dismay. He glances down at the dusty ground and sighs, then almost palpably kisses his nice polish on his boots goodbye, before he moves to help with the crates.

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie) billie takes a deep breath and smiles

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) is haulin, already...

Gabriel Keats starts hauling

Gabriel Keats: "Better than where I grew up."

Montanio Andalso is carrying a crate and when he steps out and is pelted with that smell....and the dust blowing around, he coughs a little and forms a rather disgusted look on his face.

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Hey, don't worry doc, this stuff comes off without staining.

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): leaste ways theres no pigs

Lexi Vargas: grins at the Doc. "Someone needs to roll you in the dirt."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Hi folks, we got a shipment for you.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Where do you want it?

Rio Starr: "Pigs?" He blinks. "You mean...pigs, wandering around? /Loose?/"

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Heh...Lex, I'm sure he rolls around in enough blood as it is.

Abby Dawson in the store room

Red Rogers: we usually stack up the boxes inside the shuttle

Sabrina McGee: Hey there Red! Sorry we're late..

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie) Bille chuckles at Rio

Rio Starr narrows his eyes at Lexi, fighting a blush. "I don't usually roll around."

Lexi Vargas: laughs. amused by the fancy males and really at home on the dirt.

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): And yes, pigs. RUnning around. Loose.

Red Rogers: hey Sab

Montanio Andalso looks over at Rio. "I am with the Doc on this one. No rolling either of us in the dirt."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): It's a mite heavy...storeroom or shuttle, which is it?

Sirk Sumbula: Stack them all in the stores room.. up the stairs to my right.

Montanio Andalso quips to teh first officer. "I didn't know your parents were here..."

Sabrina McGee: I know we were supposed to be here a week ago.. but poor Nicolai came down with kidney stones.. so we had to charter another ship..

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) heads to the storeroom and drops off her crate before heading out for another one

Lexi Vargas: quips contentely..."Nice place"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Rather large too.

Sabrina McGee: You just want us to unload the crates in the shuttle then? Or is it okay to just bring them in here?

Gabriel Keats continues hauling crates

Rio Starr looks to Lexi as if wondering if the man might need medication for that condition.

Sirk Sumbula: "Oh that's mighty fine.", turns and whispers to Abby and Red, "But I hope they aren't expecting full price for a late shipment."

Abby Dawson bring them in here

Rio Starr looks about. "...I suppose it has a certain...charm..."

Sirk Sumbula: Down here. Store room.

Abby Dawson yeah just get half the price this time

Lexi Vargas: crate crate crate...lug lug lug....

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) watches as the last crate is brought down. "Guess that's your shipment." looks to brina expectantly.

Sabrina McGee: All right.. I hope you guys haven't started to run out.. pa's really sorry about about being late

Rio Starr looks over to the 'natives', lifting a brow at the talk of cut prices, but he keeps helping with the lugging.

Abby Dawson no excuse

Red Rogers: it's never too late for business

Gabriel Keats sets down a box, stretches.

Lexi Vargas: grins at the Doc...."Nice not having to do the haggle part eh?"

Sabrina McGee: Okay.. Red, you know pa's shine is what makes this business.. I can cut off 10% for being late, but that's it..

Abby Dawson hmmmm

Red Rogers: sounds good lets let Sirk handle all the cash

Sirk Sumbula glances at Petey, "Do I know that bird?"

Petey the parrot: Squak!

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Hey...um...red, was it?

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Petey flaps over to Sirk and croons at him

Petey the parrot: Squak!

Montanio Andalso approaches the bar when he hears talk about price. "Half price? I can tell...by looking at the two of you that you are quite saavy hagglers. " He eyes Sirk's hat. "Is that a vintage Stetson? You know...that bird...do you know what it said about this place as it came in here?"

Sirk Sumbula: No, do tell. What did the bird say?

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): What's the going rate for ceramocarbide mud around here?

Rio Starr looks to Lexi and chuckles softly. "Very nice..."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Mont, how about we get our pay, then you speak for the bird?

Abby Dawson whos the pretty boys ?

Red Rogers: help yourselve with cookies and milk everyone

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): They're my little sinful indulgence.

Abby Dawson I see

Lexi Vargas: smirks.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) leans on the bar, "About that pay..Sirk was it?"

Lexi Vargas: Yeah...she likes ugly women and lovely men

Rio Starr blinks at the captain, his brows shooting up high for a moment. Then he blushes, but he stays quiet.

Montanio Andalso looks over at Petey. "Well...its not really a part of the crew. I don't see how it would reflect badly on /us/, per se."

Petey the parrot: Squak!

Sirk Sumbula: "So.. 10% discount on the lateness, eh?", reaches behidn the bar, and grabs an amount of money, exactly 50% of the agreed price ((whatever that was)), and hands it over.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): It's a bird..who can it reflect badly on.

Abby Dawson looks like alliance to me

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Petey rubs his head agains Sirk

Petey the parrot: Squak!

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) looks at Brina, "Is that all the money?"

Abby Dawson I said half price

Sabrina McGee: Sirk, c'mon.. we been doin' business for years.. you know how to count better'n that.

Gabriel Keats raises his eyebrows at the mention of the Alliance, grins.

Sabrina McGee: I mean, you're trying to stiff my pa and all.. and if you don't have his shine.. what else are you gonna serve to the crews around here? Milk?

Abby Dawson: yeah I thought so

Red Rogers: hey now makin' fun of our best mudders?

Sirk Sumbula: I can count perfectly fine. late shipment, half the price. Try being on time with the next shipment.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Your pa got a rude client here Brina. *eyes sirk* What say, you learn to count right now and give us the rest. So's I don't get grumpy."

Abby Dawson them fightening words

Montanio Andalso suggests to Sabrina. "Maybe they forgot how excellent the shine is? You could...remind them with a glass..."

Sabrina McGee: Nope.. just that I thought this bar had a higher standard in it's beverages.. you guys know this is the best quality there is..

Sirk Sumbula gives a small piece of mudders cookie to petey, "I like this bird"

Petey the parrot: Squak!

Rio Starr sighs softly. "Well, we could always take it back?"

Lexi Vargas: It's not a problem.. we can always lkug 50%% back to the sahip too

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Boys, ah..men. what say you go back and get half that shine and take her back to the ship?

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Petey flys up to sirks shoulder

Petey the parrot: Squak!

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) looks at lexi.

Gabriel Keats: "Shir ah, cap." (Okay)

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): You got it, cap.

Rio Starr nods to Rae, and heads for the crates.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) looks at Gabe. "Yeah?"

Gabriel Keats goes to the crates

Sirk Sumbula: "Leave those crates where they are."

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Hey Monty, let's get this stuff moved...

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Pay us and we will.

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): billie follows Gabe, watching is back

Lexi Vargas: cheerfully ignores any orders that are not from his captain.

Sirk Sumbula jumps up, and stands blocking the store room door

Gabriel Keats smiles at Sirk. "Move."

Red Rogers: just a reminder the only person allowed to carry guns here is Abby

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) comes up from behind with a crate in his arms

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): billie eyes sirk

Sirk Sumbula returns the smile, "I think not"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): I think so.

Montanio Andalso slooowly pulls one of his chopsticks out of his hair.

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Petey flys up to a nice safe corner

Petey the parrot: Squak!

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Um...mind moving? This box is kinda heavy.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) blinks at Mont.

Sabrina McGee: Okay.. look, guys.. I can make it 20% off.. that's my final offer. Take it or leave it.. but if you leave it.. you've also lost your supplier.. and I know there's gonna be quite a few angry folks... if that happens

Lexi Vargas: looks at the fellow bloocking the door. "Way I see it you have three choices here."

Sirk Sumbula grabs the box from Fionn, and slide sit back into the store room

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): No, that goes back out of here. Until the captain says otherwise.

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Billie looks over at Sirk, and picks him up around the middle and lifts him rathere nicely off the stairs

Lexi Vargas: "One...pay the lady....or Two....move your narrow ass...or three.....live with some broken bones.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): I think he's voting for broken bones. Have fun Lexi.

Lexi Vargas: I am real partial to one or three

Montanio Andalso walks slooowly over to where Petey is perched with a cracker from the bar.

Petey the parrot: Squak!

Abby Dawson we cant let you take it back 40% off

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): This is gonna hurt, ain't it?

Sabrina McGee: 25%. No more.

Rio Starr winces slightly. "It's going to hurt a lot, I'm afraid. And it'll hurt even worse when I have to set the breaks."

Abby Dawson: 30%

Sirk Sumbula gives Red, and Abby a "Get over here!" sort of look.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) steps up to block red.

Lexi Vargas: waits patiently for the final haggle.

Sabrina McGee: Nope. 25%. Final.

Red Rogers: Abby it's time ya do somethin' 'bout this

Gabriel Keats stretches carelessly, still smiling.

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Petey eyes Mont

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): and starts to bob his head

Rio Starr moves in as well, trying to use his skinny but tall body to get in one of the locals' way.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) tilts backward a second as Red hits her, then comes up with fists flying, aiming at his pressure points.

Red Rogers: out of my bar space

Abby Dawson: SHO RYU KEN!!

Sirk Sumbula: "Tell ya what, I'll let it slide at 45%, if I can keep that bird"

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Look, we can either d this the easy way or the fun way...

Montanio Andalso lifts up his hand and waves the cracker a little bit, chopstick held in his other one.

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Petey starts ruffling his feathers

Sabrina McGee: Bird 'taint mine.. otherwise I'd say 30% and the bird and it's yours

Red Rogers: Kill's Devil ...muahahaha

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Sir, you are in my way.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) leans back and throws a boot in the direction of Red's face.

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) aims another boot in the direction of REd's ass

Montanio Andalso tries to remove the bird from the negotiating table by stabbing at it repeatedly with the chopstick.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Well..guess he's got a glass jaw. *blinks at the man*

Sabrina McGee tries to stay out of the way of the ensuing punching..

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): MONT!

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Petey skawks an ear peircing sound and flys to another corner

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Well...

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) picks up a crate...

Sirk Sumbula realises the others are down, "Well, how's about 35?"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): You gonna go beat him Lexi, or am I?

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): You guys actually drink this?

Rio Starr looks sternly at Sirk. "You have to be kidding. Right?"

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) chucks a bottle over the railing

Gabriel Keats eyes the bottle.

Lexi Vargas: Well they are still trying to work out the price captain.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Probably why i was able to take out the tender so quickly. He'd already been drinking it.

Sabrina McGee: 30%. And pa's gonna hear about this.. next batch'll be so watered down..

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Alright.

Montanio Andalso looks at the miraculous impervious bird and then turns to offer, "And the bird is yours!"

Red Rogers gorgles

Abby Dawson is recovering from the thought waves

Sabrina McGee: Or do I gotta pull out my wrench?

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) tosses another bottle over...crash

Abby Dawson ya best leave it where it is boysss

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) goes over and gives Abby another good "thought" in the kisser

Montanio Andalso reminds everyone. "She said...30% and the bird...remember. Its theirs."

Abby Dawson oooooooo that hurts

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Said if the bird was hers she would

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Then stay down. Or I'll lock you in a room with Mont and the bird.

Sirk Sumbula hands over the last 20%, grumbling.

Petey the parrot: He attacked everything in life with a mix of extrordinary genius and naive incompetence, and it was often difficult to tell which was which.

Gabriel Keats: "How's about you don't call us boys?"

Abby Dawson well in that case

You: "Cap'n...you're so.../forceful/. "

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) nods at Rio, "When I gotta be."

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Locking him in a room with monty alone would be cruel enough...

Abby Dawson throws a pundh at the capt

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Billie Garbs a bottle and calls out first round on me!

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein) throws a full bottle of Milk at Abby

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) stumbles back again and glares at her, throwing her own punch.

Abby Dawson: punch

Abby Dawson: loo

Sabrina McGee: Okay.. good.. So I don't have to start smashing bottles with my wrench then?

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) shakes her head.

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Petey goes over and lands on Sirks Hat

Rio Starr ducks, like most /intelligent/ non-fighting folks would, /away/ from the fistfighting females.

Lexi Vargas: blinks as the two women start o duke it out. "What the Hell....is that how they say "Done deal" on this world?"

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Oh, it's okay 'Brina, gravity is doing the job nicely.

You: "It must be a local custom?

Abby Dawson so its the bird and 30%?

Gabriel Keats immediately heads over to where the fight is, but doesn't intervene. Looks like he really, really wants to, though

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Lex, on some worlds it is, but there's usually chocolate sauce involved.

Sabrina McGee: Already got the 30%.. You'll have to ask Billie 'bout the bird..

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) stays in a fighters crouch and watches abby, fists raised.

Petey the parrot: In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move.

Petey the parrot: He hoped and prayed that there wasn't an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction involved here and merely hoped that there wasn't an afterlife.

Lexi Vargas: blinks at Sirk a moment...then shrugs. Custome is custome. He reaches over to yank that hat down over the guys eyes. "Done Deal

Sirk Sumbula: "So the bird is mine too, right?"

Sabrina McGee: But either way.. pleasure doing business with you.. delivery paid in full..

You: "Well, you know...since we had to bargain our way so hard /and/ nearly break our fists on your hard heads... we should get more."

Montanio Andalso nods to Abby and Sirk. "Absolutely its yours."

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Petey begins to quote really bad latin

Red Rogers: how 'bout we give ya the shuttle and ya get out of here but not before ya clean up this mess?

Sirk Sumbula notices the bird has crapped on his hat.. "On second thought...", glances at Mont, "You guys can keep it."

Gabriel Keats starts correcting Petey's Latin without thinking

Abby Dawson back down since we getting what we want

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): Aw man, and I wanted to see whether i could bean that woman again with another bottle...

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): it sounds like a prayer for forgivness of sins with nuns

Sabrina McGee: Kevin!

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) straightens, putting a hand to her face and cursing to herself.

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): I wasn't using the shine, I swear!

Sabrina McGee: Captain, you okay?

Rio Starr just shakes his head and sighs, pinching his fingers at the bridge of his nose.

Abby Dawson I wouldnt try that if I were you

Montanio Andalso turns this all around. "We don't want it. We want /you/ to have it. But...I tell you what...we'll take the bird back for another 5%."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Fine.

Gabriel Keats quietly, to Rae. "Want me to hit her again?"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) grins and shakes her head at Gabe.

Lexi Vargas: wanders over to have a quiet word with whatever mug is tending the bar

Gabriel Keats grins.

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Petey leaves another *peresnt* on sirks hat and jacket and flys over to Billie

Sabrina McGee: All right, guys.. I think that pretty much settles it.. unless we want to haggle another 5% for Mont..

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): I think, an hour with that bird, we wont have to haggle.

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): I think we have a bird in the hand here.

Sirk Sumbula noticing this is the most to ever be in the bar at once, "Well.. minor misunderstanding aside.. you are all welcome to haev a few drinks before heading off."

Abby Dawson Red is

Sabrina McGee smirks at Mont..

Montanio Andalso grumbles. "Go ahead and sell me if you want."

Gabriel Keats immediately grins. "I could go for one of those."

Gabriel Keats: "No one's going to sell you!"

Sirk Sumbula sighs, and wanders into the store room to change his coat/hat, unpon returning frowns at the bird

Sabrina McGee sticks her tongue out at Mont

Lexi Vargas: You are not for Sale Face.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): No Gabe.

Sabrina McGee grins

Abby Dawson how much ya want for em?

Rio Starr lifts his head slightly, looking down his nose imperiously at Sirk. "You would not happen to have 18-year-old single malt, would you?" he says coldly.

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): We couldn't get enough to make it worth it anyway.

Sabrina McGee: Nah.. we'll just rent you out for parties.. ;)

Gabriel Keats: "Rae. . .please?"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): That you'd have to discuss with him, and though he is pretty. He might not quite be your type.

Sabrina McGee: How about balloon animals?

Sirk Sumbula shrugs at Rio, "Ask the bar keep."

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Billie goes over and pours shots all around for everyone and puts her money down for the round

Kevin (Fionn Wolfstein): can he do card tricks?

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Drinks on me!

Lexi Vargas: makes a deal with the bar keep to get a small bottle of the 'shine" they just delivered

Sabrina McGee perks..

Red Rogers hands out mudder's milk

Sabrina McGee: bellybutton shots, Billie?

Montanio Andalso looks around expectantly.

Abby Dawson on second thought balloon or saloon animals?

Gabriel Keats tries to give Rae puppy-eyes.

Rio Starr sighs, then wanders over to the bar to also buy a bottle or two of the moonshine.

Sabrina McGee grins lopsidedly at Billie

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): No Gabe.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Thanks billie, *takes the drink and downs it swiftly, eyes watering*

Lexi Vargas: Hey...we fixing to be here for awile?

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Petey takes a sip of the 'shine and begins to quote Keats

Sabrina McGee: Cap'n?

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Only if everyone wants to.

Sabrina McGee: R&R?

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): might be nice.

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie) Billie grins and rises her glass to Sabrina

Montanio Andalso looks over to Abby. "Are you propositioniing me, because I honestly really would like to get laid."

Rio Starr glances dubiously at the three erstwhile opponents, then to the rest of the crew.

Gabriel Keats purses his lips. "Fine."

Abby Dawson well I will just take the balloon

Gabriel Keats's voice is chilly, assumed accent gone.

Montanio Andalso looks the girl up and down. "I don't really blow...balloons."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) sighs and looks at the doctor questioningly.

Red Rogers: the train is here if ya need your boxes shipped to the next town

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): Billie hands everyone a shot

Gabriel Keats takes out a worn book from his pocket and sits on the floor.

Rio Starr looks to the Captain, then to Gabe, then back to the captain. "One...He could handle one."

Sirk Sumbula drinks it back

Sabrina McGee spits into her drink, laughing at Mont's comment..

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Fine Gabe. One. JUST one.

Montanio Andalso pulls out his PDA again.

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): To the the Best Damn Capt'n and Crew in the 'verse

Gabriel Keats: "No. It's fine. I don't need any."

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie) knocks her dink back

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Does that mean I get it, and you get to deal with me being a drunken lush later?

Gabriel Keats: "That's entirely up to you."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) nods in response to Billie's toast, raising her empty glass.

Gabriel Keats isn't looking up

Sirk Sumbula spots Abby dancing, and decides, for the sake of the universe, he too, must dance.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Well then...somebody want to dance with me?

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) looks hopefully at Gabe.

You: "I don't know how strong this stuff is...but one probably wouldn't be so bad. And it might help, Gabe." Great. The doc turning into a pusher now. A pusher of /moonshine/ no less.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Well he's sulking now doc, he wont.

Gabriel Keats: "Sure. I'll dance."

Montanio Andalso wasn't even going to drink this shit, but when he sees Gabe dancing with the Captain, he slides a mug over to himself and takes a deep swig.

Gabriel Keats dances, face still icy

Lexi Vargas: I think I am going to go have a look around.

Rio Starr nods to Lexi. "I'll join you." He glances at the others. "Er. Watch out for each other."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Sure thing Doc.

Rio Starr and Lexi Vargas head outside.

Sabrina McGee: Hey Lexi.. how 'bout those guns?

Petey the parrot: He attacked everything in life with a mix of extrordinary genius and naive incompetence, and it was often difficult to tell which was which.

Gabriel Keats moves away after one dance, face still unchanged.

Gabriel Keats: "Thank you."

Montanio Andalso walks over to Sabrina. "Would you like to come outside with me, for a walk, for fresh air...away from all this?"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) watches gabe with concern.

Sirk Sumbula overhearing, "if yer going top side, be sure to check out our mud. Just dive on in.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Gabe...let's go look out the window. It's a nice view.

Gabriel Keats: "You think I can't tell when someone's trying to get me to do something for other reasons?"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) slips behind him and leans close. "maybe..but I like spending time with you to."

Gabriel Keats swallows. "Outside might--might be good."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Okay.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Come see the view first though/

Gabriel Keats: "Fine."

Sabrina McGee: Not much to look at, huh?

Red Rogers: I dont' think they liked our drink or music

Abby Dawson like we care

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) places a hand on the window, "Isn't it shiny?"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) leans her forehead against it, looking down.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): We'll be flying home soon. *looks at him questioningly*

Montanio Andalso waits until they are a bit away from the hustle and bustle of the crowd. "I thought...you might want to continue our conversation."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Yeah, it is. Told you.

Billie(Elsbeth McConachie): abby

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): lol

Red Rogers: traffic lol

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Gabe. You're..you're slipping. You know they're all going to know. Where you're from. *looks at his clothes* You even sound it tonight.

Abby Dawson "Oh, thanks again.. see you next month?"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Do *you* care?

Sirk Sumbula: Sounds good!

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Okay.

Sirk Sumbula: Next time try not to rough up our bartender so much, yeah?

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) reaches out and takes Gabe's hand again, squeasing it. "I'm ok with either actually."

Red Rogers: the train or the shuttle.. which shall it be?

Red Rogers: train will save more money

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): It's okay Gabe.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): WE'll do it some other time.

**Outside**

Lexi Vargas: Drinking and dancing and mopeing ....just not my idea of fun. Though we were going to have a good fight there.

Rio Starr tucks his couple of bottles of moonshine under his arms, and nods. "I keep having a feeling that it may still end up a fight."

Lexi Vargas: Well not for me.

Lexi Vargas: is hanging out....looking the place over.

Lexi Vargas: So...you not into all that either Doc?"

Rio Starr looks over to Lexi. "Not really... not much for drinking... I bought the 'moonshine' only to see if it makes a good disinfectant.' He says the word in such a precise, stilted way it almost sounds like an exotic drink from a tropical paradise.

You: "So...you seem pretty comfortable here, Lexi."

Lexi Vargas: chuckles at you. "I bought one because I am sick of Gabe's long face. What is the story there?"

Lexi Vargas: gestures around...."Looks like home"

Rio Starr shakes his head slightly. "Gabe's got a lot on his mind. A /lot/...and it's hard to get out from under it," he says quietly. Then he smiles a bit. "Home? Really?"

Lexi Vargas: nods..."Yeah. Mud and things sticking out of it. Little saloon with an attitude. Not quite the fancy place you come from....but once you get used to it sticking to your boots it ain't all bad"

Lexi Vargas: "So....figure giving poor gabe a nightcap will do more harm then good?"

Rio Starr shakes his head. "No...he can have a little. He's not on such a high dose of sedative now... The big thing is, will he want it." He lifts one of his bottles. "This stuff looks like it could kill all the intestinal flora within a nanosecond."

Lexi Vargas: blinks...."Not sure what you are talking about but it sounds nasty doc"

Rio Starr blinkblinks beyond Lexi. "Holy...wow. Is that two women...wrestling in the mud???" (Billie and Abby are in the mudpit now, wrestling and laughing.)

Sabrina McGee (as she and Montanio come outside): I just wish I could see the sights of the core worlds.. they sound so beaufiul.. and all I've ever known is dirtfarming and machinery and.. ::trails off::

Lexi Vargas: turns around to look....studies the vision for a long quiet moment then declairs..."Yep."

Gabriel Keats and Captain Rae join the others outside.

Gabriel Keats grins. "That's what I was hopin' you'd say."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): You want that one drink?

Sirk Sumbula waits for his moment to hop into the mud

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie) billie whoops it up

Red Rogers: Ahh! Ready my escape pod!

Gabriel Keats: "One isn't going to do anything."

Rio Starr: "Oh. Dear. Doesn't the mud get in places....it would be uncomfortable to have it?"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): I"m sorry.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): wanna go look around?

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): its good for the skin

Abby Dawson come on Sirk we do a 3some lol

Gabriel Keats: "I think that could be nice, yeah."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): okay.

Sirk Sumbula: I love the sound of that.

Lexi Vargas: smirks...."Not rightly sure. Suspect you would have to ask or examine thme to find out."

Abby Dawson Els get on the other

Rio Starr blushes furiously.

Sabrina McGee: I'm thinking we might want to head back for home soon..

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Wrestling huh?

Abby Dawson: at my feet

You: "Mm. Yes. In the mud. Is that also a local custom?"

Gabriel Keats: ". . .the hell?"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Must be. Wonder if its hard. Looks kinda fun. Wanna wrestle doc?

Lexi Vargas: scratchesd his head. "New one to me"

Gabriel Keats: "Why. . .the. . ."

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): come on in the mud is all warm and squishy

Red Rogers: mud is good for ya

Gabriel Keats: "You couldn't *pay* me enough."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): I couldn't pay you enough to mud wrestle with me?

Sabrina McGee: Don't I get dirty enough working on the ship?

Lexi Vargas: backs out of splash range.

Rio Starr blinkblinks at Rae and blushes again. "I've heard that some of the ladies in the Core do mudbaths for their skin... but..." He looks both embarassed and vaguely disturbed at the idea of rolling in the mud. Add in the lack of clothing, and he'd be a goner for sure.

Gabriel Keats gives her an exasperated look.

Red Rogers: ya can wrestle free here if ya want

Lexi Vargas: Suddenly the ship seems like a great idea.

Montanio Andalso nods a little. "Yes...probably should head back. But...I wanted to show you what it is that I do, because I think most of the crew doesn't really respect me. So this is what I do...I play off desires that I see in someone by observing and listening, and that's when I present what it is that they want, which is precisely what I was trying to sell in the first place. Do you see what I mean? I'm a people person. The 'face'."

Sabrina McGee: Well, Mont.. I doubt anyone else could do it better..

Sabrina McGee: I know nobody else on the ship could..

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) sighs. "OK, load up everyone.'

Red Rogers: mud is good for your skin :d

Sabrina McGee calls over.. "So's engine grease!"

Gabriel Keats stalks off

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie): come on! its a hell of a time

Red Rogers: spoken as a true mechanic Sab

Montanio Andalso looks down at the mud wrestlers. "There are two reasons why I won't mud wrestle today with you all."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) looks after Gabe, puzzled as to what she did wrong this time.

Sabrina McGee: No Shen, no wrestling.. although I might think about it with a certain other couple of folks..

Lexi Vargas: shakes his head and turns to head back to the ship.

Gabriel Keats turns around, looks at Rae. "Ain't nothing you did."

Red Rogers: take your dogtags off and get it goin' ppl

Billie (Elsbeth McConachie) looks a happy as a pig

Montanio Andalso continues, "And one of them is that if I took off my shirt, I'd make you all look bad."

Rio Starr blinks again at the wrestlers... then heads off to the ship with his 'booty'.

Rio Starr chuckles at Montanio's words as he wanders to the mule.

Red Rogers: Rae looks like ya wanna jump in..

Red Rogers: maybe Sab too

Sabrina McGee: Same time next month, Red?

Sirk Sumbula: There's plenty more room in here!

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Might be fun, but..my crew calls. Seems everyone wants to go home.

Red Rogers: yup

Red Rogers: ok

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Night all.

Sabrina McGee: C'mon Doc.. ride's a waitin'

Red Rogers: we'll feed ya mud next time

Lexi Vargas: wanders back in, shaking his head. "Mudwrestling......hoo boy"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): ((oops sorry))

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): I thought it looked fun.

Sabrina McGee: Home again, Home again, jiggity jigg..

Sabrina McGee: I'd rassle ya, Cap'n.. ;)

Lexi Vargas: I don't mind dirt....but wow.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Next time then Brina. *grins at her*

Rio Starr shakes his head, his eyes still a little wide and a blush still touching his face.

Montanio Andalso seems definitely out of sorts. He finishes putting a non-dusty shirt on, glad no one saw him with his pants off.

Sabrina McGee: Okay, but I get to be on top! ::grins evilly::

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) laughs

Gabriel Keats burrows his head in more as everyone enters.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) spots gabe, "Everyone at your stations. Gabe and I got the cargo."

Lexi Vargas: Then what is my station?

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Um..upstairs...galley or the bridge.

Gabriel Keats: "Me and Lexi got it, Cap."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Bunk..I don't care.

Sabrina McGee: Why don't we have Lexi man the tactical station?

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Sure thing.

Sabrina McGee: Give Kevin a shift off?

Lexi Vargas: salutes the captain...."Bunk it is. Sorry Gabe"

Gabriel Keats stands, shaky. "Traitor."

Sabrina McGee looks back and forth..

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) looks at Gabe.

Sabrina McGee: Did I miss something?

Rio Starr looks over to Gabriel, his brows knit. He pads over to him and whispers something.

Gabriel Keats mutters. "So much for male solidarity."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) watches, hoping the doc can help him out.

Sabrina McGee calls out.. "Lexi? It doesn't take a genius or a companion to know something's wrong.. what's up?"

Rio Starr nods to Gabriel. "We'll be out of here right away."

Gabriel Keats: "Shiny."

Rio Starr gives Gabe a reassuring squeeze of the shoulder, then heads up to his station.

Montanio Andalso sits over where Gabe was curled up, claiming the pouting corner after the other guy leaves it.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Mont..please

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Upstairs to the galley.

Gabriel Keats: "I don't think the cargo's going anywhere, Captain."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): I dont think it is either.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): You want to watch it alone...

Gabriel Keats: "Doesn't matter."

Gabriel Keats half-smiles

Montanio Andalso arches his brows. "What the hell for? So that the rest of the crew can use me as a target for amusement and ridicule?"

Gabriel Keats looks at Mont. "They're just being. . .crew."Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) watches gabe wondering what to do with him.

Montanio Andalso replies, "Well I am sick of it. This ship can drop me off at the next civilized world and be done with it."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Not planning on any core trips Mont. Go relax in the galley.Gabriel Keats perches up on the catwalk again

Montanio Andalso defends himself. "Why doesn't everyone just say what they think of me and be done with it."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): alright keats. I'll leave you be.Gabriel Keats: "You don't have to." ::he winces at his last name::

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) debates.

Gabriel Keats: "Do we really need to watch the cargo?"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): No..but..I thought you needed alone time. Its the largest space away from everyone.

Gabriel Keats: "Yeah. . .but. . .I can. . .I can't avoid crew." He stands. "They're family."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): You can till we get you straightened up. Maybe you need more sedative.

Gabriel Keats: "Think I'm gonna change first. And re-up my dose."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Ok..

**In the common room**

Lexi Vargas: Heya gal.

Sabrina McGee: You okay, Lexi?

Sabrina McGee shrugs..

Sabrina McGee: Gabe's got internal demons.. Xiao Li's a drunken souse.. or just wants to boil her brain away.. who knows? Cap'n thinks she's bad luck..

Sabrina McGee: Doc seems okay, though.. haven't noticed him being all depressed-ey.. right, Doc?

Lexi Vargas: I can't make it out....but I think Montanio and the captain all like Gabe. The Doc likes the Captain....and gabe wishes he could get left alone.

Rio Starr wanders up and smiles wryly. "Gabe's got things he's working through...and I like everyone. Except that damn parrot."

Sabrina McGee: maybe he's afraid of hurting someone again..

Sabrina McGee: and me, well.. I just ain't seen enough of the world yet to have my heart turned to stone, I guess..

Lexi Vargas: I hear you on the parrot. I would like to have roast bird for supper one noght

Sabrina McGee: Shen's already been eyeing it..

Rio Starr laughs softly. "It would probably be too stringy

Sabrina McGee: I'm not so sure how squab would taste..

Montanio Andalso steps into the common room.

You: "And why do you think we're always picking on you, Montanio?"

Lexi Vargas: looks over at Montanio and considers him a moment. "Okay. I think you are lazy as hell when it comes to physical labor. Asife from that you are funny as heck and good to have around and I think you get treated pretty raw. "

Lexi Vargas: Then again....I get treated pretty raw fairly often. Its just tehy way they are here.

Sabrina McGee: I dunno.. -I- think he's okay..

Sabrina McGee: he was gonna give me a pretty.. before the damn bird tried to steal it..

Lexi Vargas: stupid bird.

Rio Starr nods in agreement with Lexi and Sabrina. "Right. This...really isn't an easy place. But you keep your sense of humor. And you seem to have a good head on your shoulders."

Montanio Andalso replies with glossy eyes. "I guess because I'm not 'one of the guys' like Billie. I'm 'different', so that makes me a target.

Sabrina McGee: Look.. I told Cap'n I think Mont would be useful to have around..

Rio Starr blinks at Montanio. "Hm. I'm not one of the guys either." He looks around. "Maybe we're the wrong gender."

Lexi Vargas: Billie is way more part of the "guys" then I am.

Montanio Andalso makes a gesture at the Doc. "But you operate on them so of course they need to be nice to you..."

Sabrina McGee: I think having folk like Doc and Mont around who know their way with the alliance core customs is good to have.. there's too many different kinds of folk in this 'verse to write off a whole half of 'em..

Rio Starr hehs. "They make fun of my stiff Core manners, too."

Sabrina McGee ponders.. "Am I one of the'boys'?"

Sabrina McGee: and I'm just 'an 'ol country bumpkin..

Sabrina McGee: :)

Lexi Vargas: "I think Billie is about the only one of theis crew I have a seriosu issue with.

Lexi Vargas grins at Sabrina. "You are not bad at all. Kinda like you all considered"

Rio Starr sighs, then laughs softly at Lexi's words. "Considering?"

Rio Starr: "Considering that you're stuck on a ship with us at the moment?"

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) walks in wondering what's going on.

You: "Hey, Cap'n. Gabe still okay?"

Sabrina McGee: well, I suppose we're all different in some way, right? I mean.. I left home 'cos they didn't like me liking girls..

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): might need to see you when he changes Doc.

Montanio Andalso is in a nice bad mood. "I appreciate not going to jail, but I think I'll refrain from further socialization. I will never have respect as a friend. Consider me a business partner only. Then my feelings aren't hurt.

Sabrina McGee: I was supposed to get married and make babies and be a farmers' wife.. and I didn't want that..

Sabrina McGee: Not even me, Mont?

Rio Starr nods to Rae. "Thank you," he says, then blinks at Montanio. "Well. That's nice."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Well, obviously I missed something.

Montanio Andalso starts making himself something to eat, his manner stiff, and now, quite silent.

Lexi Vargas: shakes his head at Mont. "Wow...he is starting to act like crew. You are nice to him and he bites'

Gabriel Keats's changed out of his more formal clothes, hair wet.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): What's going on Brina?

Sabrina McGee: feh.. everybody's being poopy-headed..

Rio Starr: "Cap'n said you might need me, Gabe?"

Rio Starr: "I'm not!"

Lexi Vargas: nods in agreement.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Poopy headed? I"m not bein poopy headed.

Sabrina McGee: I wonder what happened to that tree we used to have?

Gabriel Keats: "Nah. I just. . .upped my dose back to what you said it should be."

Sabrina McGee: ::ducks and grins::

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) sighs, getting paranoid.

Gabriel Keats furrows his eyebrows. "What's going on?"

Sabrina McGee: Now don't you start being poopy-headed too, Cap'n!

Sabrina McGee: I don't wanna have to start weldng everybody into the galley together...

Rio Starr nods to Gabriel. "Okay." He smiles wryly, looking back at the group. "I'm not sure. Montanio said everyone was treating him badly and making fun of him. We tried to be nice and tell him we actually like him, but he doesn't want to hear it."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): why?

You: "I'm not sure what else is going on."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) looks at Mont.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Is he mad cause he got dirty today?

Gabriel Keats winces quickly

Sabrina McGee: He thinks we don't respect him.. or what he can do..

Montanio Andalso is making a sandwich and looking pointedly at it, until Merasu makes a crack at him. He whips around and then shouts, "Just drop me off at the next rock I don't care what it is!"

Lexi Vargas: offers helpfully, "Maybe he needs to go out and blow something up. Always makes me feel better"

You: "Cap'n. He's /not/ a cat..."

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): Who said he was a cat?

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) looks utterly confused.

Gabriel Keats's eyes go wide behind his sunglasses

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): He was complaining about the dirt earlier...

Sabrina McGee: Y'know.. I wouldn't use a c-31 spanner to adjust the grav-field compensator.. it's just not the right tool for the job.. y'know?

Gabriel Keats is shaking slightly as he speaks. "We need you on the crew...."

Rio Starr sighs, and shakes his head, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck.

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) turns to look at brina, "I'll have to take your word for it." Turns to look back at gabe, then back to Brina. "we discussed this already didnt we?"

Sabrina McGee: Well, I told 'em I told you I thought he'd be handy to have on the crew..

Sabrina McGee shrugs..

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) sighs

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): at which point he threw a fit?

Montanio Andalso quivers a little, and then grabs his sandwich and heads out of the galley before they see him cry.

Lexi Vargas: Hmmm....somehow...High explosives might not fix that."

Rio Starr: "First off...'he' is standing right here."

Rio Starr: "Or...was."

Sabrina McGee: Okay.. I'm gonna go back to engineering.. if anyone.. say.. wants to come back there.. and I don't know.. talk to the walls.. or the engines.. they can

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): I give up

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis): I just give up. *throws her hands in the air*

Lexi Vargas: shakes his head at Rio.

Lexi Vargas: I tell ya....its she thinks we males have no feelings. Not that I do of couse...but still.

Gabriel Keats slips out

Captain Rae (Merasu Acropolis) sits in the chair and leans back to stare at the ceiling, ignoring their conversation as best she can.

Rio Starr frowns, and looks at the galley for a long moment, then back at the hallway down which several of the crew disappeared.

Lexi Vargas: Well once again I feel basicly useless. I think I am going to go get some sleep.

You: "Let me look at your stitches first, Lexi?"

Lexi Vargas: Sure....they feel fine. I heal up like a horse.

Rio Starr looks over to the Captain, then follows Lexi quietly.

**In the cargo bay**

Gabriel Keats: "I know this is a. . .redundant question, but are you all right?"

Gabriel Keats walks up behind Mont unsteadily

Montanio Andalso has one hand resting against the door, facing it, as it if were a window that was just really really hard to see through. "No. I can't help how I was raised or where I come from. I have been pushed to the breaking point with all the degrading teasing and I can't take it anymore. I was trying to weather it, thinking that one of these days I would be useful and prove myself, but that opportunity is clearly never going to come, and even if it did, I'm not sure it would help. I might act impervious but I am far from invincible." He sniffs.

Gabriel Keats: "You're unfamiliar. Lot of people. . .struggle against what they can't undestand." A pause. "I'm sorry if I've ever teased you."

Montanio Andalso turns his head a little, but is still hiding his face from Gabe. "It is no one person, it is the combination." he swallows and then draws his hand up to his face, facing the door again. "You shouldn't feel guilty for anything, Gabe. You really should feel confident and secure in following what's inside you."

Gabriel Keats: "They're rougher than you are, mostly."

Gabriel Keats: "I feel guilty for everyone." He half smiles. "It's kind of my job."

Montanio Andalso wipes his eyes. He turns to look more at Gabe. "That's not what I was talking about. Honestly, I just wanted you to be happy. So don't be sad because of me."

Gabriel Keats: "That wasn't what I was talking about *either.*"

Gabriel Keats: "I respect what you do. I--I'm kind of the opposite myself. I blend in well. But you. . .you stand out. And that makes you a target. Also makes you you." Me half-smiles. "I don't want you to go."

Montanio Andalso takes a few steps and then just up and hugs Gabe nice and tight.

Gabriel Keats looks very taken aback and startled at first, but then returns the hug

Montanio Andalso pulls back and then wipes his eyes again. "I miss him...he treated me like a Prince." he murmurs which likely doesn't make a lotof sense to Gabe, or anyone.

Gabriel Keats tilts his head. "Who?"

Montanio Andalso shrugs a little. "My last lover...he was....rich...adoring...and he loved me almost as much as his position."

Gabriel Keats has a sympathetic face. "Almost?"

Montanio Andalso nods faintly. "Almost. "Gabriel Keats's mouth twitches, and he looks as though he's remembering something himself.

Montanio Andalso arches his brows. "What is it, Gabe?"

Gabriel Keats: "Had a partner back on Persephone. We worked together. She. . .well, it was slow going. But she up and left for the military."Gabriel Keats: "Better money." He chuckles. "I think that's what rules everyone."Gabriel Keats slips back into the assumed accent. "Ain't like it would've worked anyway."Montanio Andalso exhales. "Maybe. I mean, of course not everything being the same...but if things were different. I just know I can't suddenly become someone different, and I'm not willing to. I know you talk different to try to fit in, but doesn't that make it a lie?"Gabriel Keats shrugs. "I've been in so many roles that truth doesn't matter."

Montanio Andalso nods a little. "It matters to me. I don't mind acting to get a job done, but with friends...I would want to be myself."

Gabriel Keats: "I left myself behind when I entered the war." He gives a wide smile. "This is. . .close enough."Montanio Andalso arches his brows. "Yes you were clearly overwhelmed with stress, but its not your problem. You just do what is right for you and people will deal with it."

Gabriel Keats: "I have people to worry about."

***In the medbay***

Lexi Vargas: Thanks for trying to be decent up there. Not sure quite what is the deal with people here lately.

Sabrina McGee: I dunno either.. I just wish I knew what we had to do to get people to start trusting each other.. we're never gonna be a crew if we're all looking over our shoulders alla time..

Rio Starr comes quietly into the medbay, and nods his agreement.

Lexi Vargas: I think just some basic respect would do wonders. The teasing here borders on mean all the time.

Sabrina McGee: Well, I'd like to think that maybe if people can see him having a job.. then maybe he'll get some respect.. I mean.. by rights.. Xiao Li's probably earned more than Mont ever has.. and yet..

Sabrina McGee: but she's our pilot..

Lexi Vargas: Yeah...and Xiao is a mean..sneaky wench.

Rio Starr pulls his snips and bandages from the autoclave and cabinets. "We've also been under stress lately...that's been making it hard for anyone to deal with anything." He looks to Sabrina. "Is that why he was trying to explain what he does? It sounds like he's in public affairs."

Sabrina McGee: I think the first time Mont talks our way out of being bound by Alliance.. they'll change their tune..

Sabrina McGee: Something like that, I think..

Lexi Vargas: If he does. He might turn us all over. Way he has been hassled...I would.

Sabrina McGee: let's just say that he could probably sell mud to a mudder in canton.. and get the mudder to buy another 10 years on his contract to boot..

Lexi Vargas: pulls his shirt off to and tosses it over the counter so Doc can tend to his side.

Rio Starr frowns faintly, his brows knitting as he gets lost in thought. His hands are gentle, efficient though, as he removes Lexi's bandage and examines the wound.

Sabrina McGee: it may just take time is all.. I mean.. no offense, but I wasn't so sure about you two at first, either.. but then you guys were there.. and there was that thing with those.. umm.. attackers.. Reavers.. whatever in town.. and then the job with Johnny..

Sabrina McGee: and now.. I'd rather have you guys watching my back.. than probably anyone.. well, maybe.. nevermind..

Rio Starr nods to Sabrina. "It's strange...I have not really trusted many people in my life. I've been...learning about it lately, though."

Sabrina McGee: I think some of it is also knowing who you.. can trust to do their job...

Sabrina McGee: Doc's showed that he can patch up almost anything.. and Lexi.. well, I'm fair certain I'm safe with lexi around..

Sabrina McGee: others, though.. I can't get a peg on Kevin.. for example..

Lexi Vargas: offers Sabrina a grin. "Aww...thanks"

Sabrina McGee: Xiao Li I'm always wondering if she's gonna be sober enough to fly.. and I don't think she trusts anyone.. ever.

Rio Starr works quickly, deftly snipping and tugging the stitches free, occasionally dabbing at the spots until the itchy bits are /finally/ gone.

Lexi Vargas: "You know...thing is I do like face. He seems to fit in here better then some of the long time people and way better then Billie. Hell...Billie shot me. Why she is treated well and he gets the shitty end of the stick annys me.

Sabrina McGee: and the captain.. well, she just doesn't trust -herself-...

Lexi Vargas: Thats the problem...right there.

Sabrina McGee: I dunno.. I guess with me I just wanna give everyone a fair shake..

Sabrina McGee: 'cept if'n I ever found out who shot Shen..

Gabriel Keats: "I respect what you do. I--I'm kind of the opposite myself. I blend in well. But you. . .you stand out. And that makes you a target. Also makes you you." Me half-smiles. "I don't want you to go."

Rio Starr sighs and nods to both of you. "I know. I definitely don't trust Billie... Montanio, I have seen working to help. He complains about it if it's dirty work...but he helps. Billie...I don't know. I really don't know, and I don't know why."

You: "And he really did help with Gabe."

Sabrina McGee: Anyways, guys.. I'm gonna do whatever I gotta do to hold this crew together.. don't you guys bail on me..

Rio Starr runs his fingers over the fading scar. "Does it feel tender anywhere?" he asks, then looks to Sabrina and grins. "Bail? No way."

Lexi Vargas: I am not going to bail....but I think I may have to take the Captain under wing. She needs some good...blunt help.

Sabrina McGee: Then maybe you can help me.. we gotta figure out a way to make these gorram folk trust each other..

Rio Starr: "I'm /thinking/ that I need to talk to Montanio and offer him an apology...in case I did any of that disturbance. And we all need to help the Captain."

Lexi Vargas: closes one eye and peers at Rio with the other. "Dang...no...less tickle counts."

Lexi Vargas: Who do you figure don't trust who Sabrina?

Sabrina McGee: Well, at least I think Kevin finally got the message tonight.. there's one less thing off my mind..

Rio Starr smiles and chuckles. "Well, it doesn't...but it's good to know that your nerves aren't damaged," he tells Lexi. Then he glances to Sabrina. "What? Kevin got what message?"

Sabrina McGee: Xiao Li don't trust anyone.. and that worries me.. I'm afraid she'd sell any of us out for enough coin.. I mean.. it's not like she hasn't already tried, right?

Rio Starr grumbles at that. "Yes."

Sabrina McGee: and it's not like I want her to, either.. I don't want to have my fears become founded.. I want to be proven wrong.

Lexi Vargas: Yeah....and that has not inspired me to trust her any.

Sabrina McGee: I want -her- to be proven wrong..

You: "Though...I think she's at least coming to realize I might be more useful on the crew than as money in her pocket."

Sabrina McGee: that somewhere in this 'verse are people who won't hurt her or turn on her.. that she can, finally, let down her guard.

Sabrina McGee: Well, first time she's shot she'll be thinking that one, Doc..

You: "No. She's starting to already. Christmas trees."

Lexi Vargas: chuckles.

You: "She's allergic...and she couldn't handle the ship until I helped.

Sabrina McGee: Kevin.. I'm not so worried about trusting him.. just that he's a loose cannon..

Sabrina McGee: and unless Captain can reign him in, that's gonna make me -real- nervous..

Lexi Vargas: shakes his head, "He is an utter stranger to me"

Rio Starr sighs. "Well. Sometimes...we have to go on a little faith, too, to start some trust?"

Sabrina McGee: well, that's almost too easy for me..

Montanio Andalso nods faintly. "Almost. "

Lexi Vargas: I try to treat people how they treat me.

Rio Starr finishes taping a bandage on Lexi's lower back. "There you go. Just go easy on lifting anything really heavy for a day or so...some of the stitches bled and had to rescab."

Lexi Vargas: :grins and teases Rio. "Said nicely after the day spoend hauling wiskey"

Sabrina McGee: Well, I'll say this much.. at least Lexi'll appreciate my pa's skills.. I think :)

Sabrina McGee: Makes a great antiseptic too, Doc.. ::wink::

Lexi Vargas: I doubt I will. I am not much of a drinker"

Rio Starr chuckles. "Those weren't /that/ heavy... and you didn't have the scabs then." He laughs. "I thought it would, Sabrina. That's why I bought two bottles of it...since alcohol's becoming so dear."

Sabrina McGee: Well, Lexi.. let's just say you have the good sense to understand the work that goes into it and not look down on it..

Sabrina McGee: and I respect that..

Rio Starr: "I'd like to find out more about how it's made."

Lexi Vargas: Well yeah....a craft is a craft.

Sabrina McGee: You'd probably be surprised, Rio.. it's a lot more sophisticated these days than what people think of it..

Rio Starr smiles. "I don't have any preconceptions. It's magic to me right now... I only see the end product."

Rio Starr gets a musing look. "In fact...I only recently saw my first field of wheat."

You: "I think there was corn nearby."

Lexi Vargas: shakes his head at Rio. "That is flat out strange"

Rio Starr shrugs. "On Ariel, if you're the 'right' people...food just is there. You never have to see where it comes from or how it's prepared if you don't want to... Though we had an apple orchard."

Rio Starr: "It's actually rather pitiful."

Lexi Vargas: grins at the Doc. "You really do need to see some of the dirty side of the worlds,,, mudwrestling not included."

Rio Starr hehs softly. "Put your shirt back on, Lexi," he suggests. Is that a blush? No. It can't be. No...wait. Maybe.

Lexi Vargas: Maybe I should take you and Face both out to blow things up.

Rio Starr laughs. "Blow things up? I don't know if I would do that well. I'm always trying to fix things."

Lexi Vargas: That is the problem....with both of you in fact. Always trying to fix stuff...and make people like you.

Rio Starr: "It's self preservation... that protective instinct."

Lexi Vargas: shrugs his shirt on over his head...then winks playfully. "All better and mud free"

Rio Starr laughs and rolls his eyes slightly as he cleans up. "What is this obsession with dirt and mud?"

Lexi Vargas: "Don't know. I spend very little time thinking of the why and just focus on the Do.

Lexi Vargas: Come on