"Companions don't "bolt", anyway. Companions "retreat strategically"

Shen Jiutai relaxes into the leather chair upstairs at the dive bar that has become the hang-out on Paquin, "Ya know, visiting this place is kinda different than livin' here..."

Xiao Li Marshall shrugs. "I wouldn't know, never been to Paquin before this."

Shen Jiutai reaches for the semi-drinkable local brew, "It was a few years back, but while I was wanderin' after the war... not a bad place, overall..."

Xiao Li Marshall just grunts into her drink

Shen Jiutai stairs at the suds of her beer, "Met Jenna here..." she trails off.

Li Mei walks in and looks at Shen and Xioa Li, "You two look a bit glum."

Shen Jiutai grins briefly as Li Mie enters, "What about you, Paquin been good to you? any good sex?"

Li Mei rolls her eyes but smiles a little, "Paquin has been good ... and the sex is none of your business."

Li Mei: Oh I do enjoy my work ... most of the time.

Shen Jiutai nods to Rae, "Need a drink, Cap'n?" she frowns at Li Mei, "I was just askin', no shame in enjoying one's work..."

Rae Overholt: I could do with a drink, yeah.

Xiao Li Marshall: We got any good reason NOT to feel glum, Cap'n?

Rae Overholt: Can't think of nary a one Xiao Li.

Shen Jiutai wanders over to the railing and gestures to the waitress, "Got a few more up here!"

Rae Overholt looks over to everyone, "Where's Rol? Gabe?"

Shen Jiutai shurgs, "Ain't seen Gabe, not my day to watch Rol..."

Li Mei shrugs, "I just walked in here myself, I haven't seen anyone."

Rae Overholt: Who's that guy? ::she points to Niemack::

Li Mei looks around the room at each of the crew, "So, did anything interesting happen while I was at the ball?"

Rae Overholt: The usual, I got insulted and threatened. So, we got how many jobs lined up? One where we're finishin a run delivering some mysterious cargo. Two more right?

Shen: Well, I guess it's just that cargo to Beaumonde, and the passenger to Newhall..

Xiao Li Marshall: Two definite and one potential, if I heard right.

Rae Overholt: Thats what I was thinking Xiao Li, you ever find out what that thing in my pocket was?

Li Mei lifts her eyebrows, "You got jobs? That doesn't sound like the usual."

Rae Overholt: Hey, we get jobs!! They just dont ever go as planned.

Xiao Li Marshall: 'S a bug. Listening device. I junked it.

Rae Overholt: No tracing it?

Xiao Li Marshall: Set up to self destruct if it was tampered with.

Shen Jiutai gestures to the surly waitress who finally shows up, "Another for me, and a round for these folks, beer OK Cap? Xiao LI?" she glances at Li Mei.

Xiao Li Marshall: Fine by me.

Li Mei smiles, "Tea would be great."

Rae Overholt: Coffee. Ain't that just special.

Shen Jiutai nods at li Mei with a "Thought so" air about her, and the waitress saunters down the stairs. "A bug?"

Xiao Li Marshall: S'what I said, ain't it?

Rae Overholt: S' what she said, aint it? ::grins at Shen:: "What I'm wanting to know is, why are we so important lately that people have to listen in on us? What do we suddenly have?

Shen: Now how does that make sense? who planted it?

Xiao Li Marshall: That hun dan who was tryin' to get us to transport slaves, that's who. Slipped it inta Rae's pocket when they shook hands.

Shen: Ain't that just like someplace like Paquin, everybody's workin' an angle.

Xiao Li Marshall: What do we have, Cap'n? Well, *you*, for one thing, an' *me,* for another. Seems like half the crew is made up of ex-slaves on the run, now.

Rae Overholt: That may be Xiao Li, but in truth, we worth all that fuss?

Shen: I doubt Niska is lookin' for me too hard, after alla this time. 'Just don't wanna go announcing m'self...

Rae Overholt: Can't say I blame you there Shen. I'd prefer not to have one more thing to worry about either.

Shen Jiutai grins at Li Mei, didn't know you were shipping with so many wanted folks, didja?

Li Mei shrugs, "It doesn't matter. Everyone's running from something."

Xiao Li Marshall: "On that note...." Xiao Li turns to Li Mei. "I hear tell there was a certain mining magnate at that shindig..."

Li Mei looks at Xiao Li, "Yes, I believe there was."

Shen: Yeah, the guy said he was Ole' Rohan Wallace...

Li Mei nods, "indeed he was. I'm afraid my attentions were focussed on my client ... I don't know much else that went on there."

Shen Jiutai shakes her head, "Figures we catch up to him when the security is tighter than a..." she looks embarrased, "Well, tight."

Li Mei laughs.

Shen: Wallace and that Miss Small, both lookin' as smug as a cat with feathers stickin' outa their mouths.

Xiao Li Marshall curses under her breath.

Li Mei nods, "Smugness is often common at those affairs."

Shen: Seems like we made a real friend with Miss Small, but Wallace said he's have us blown out of the sky if we ever flew within 100 Km of his place again.

Xiao Li Marshall: Ta ma de...

Li Mei: Do any of you actually want to fly that close to his place?

Xiao Li Marshall: I shoulda been there. If I could get my hands on that bastard...

Shen Jiutai watches as the waitress finally returns with beers for Xiao Li and herself, as well as some tea and rather weak coffee for Rae, "Cream and sugar with that?" The waitress doesn't wait for an answer, but saunters back down the stairs.

Shen Jiutai nods as she picks up her beer, "Asshole had six body guards! Six!"

Xiao Li Marshall snorts a laugh as she opens the beer bottle. "Least he's smart enough to know he ain't well liked."

Shen Jiutai nods and takes a sip.

Li Mei takes a sip from her tea, "Hmm, this is surprisingly good for a place like this."

Rae Overholt takes her coffee and sips it, making a face.

Shen Jiutai sets her bottle down, "Come on Li Mei, at least you can tell us if'n the meals were good, if ya can't talk about the sex?"

Rae Overholt: There was sex? I missed the sex?

Xiao Li Marshall rolls her eyes. "*Companion,* Cap'n. You do recall what that means?"

Li Mei chuckles, "Well ... food was not exactly on the menu, so to speak."

Rae Overholt: What was? Were there strawberries? It was a ball! Was there time for sex?

Li Mei grins, "We left a bit early."

Rae Overholt: ohhhh

Shen Jiutai grins, "Knew it..."

Li Mei smiles, "My client was a bit inexperienced, I needed more time than with most, so we left early. I hate to rush my job."

Shen Jiutai chuckles.

Li Mei laughs, "I do have to say he was a bit of a 'momma's boy', though. I suspect he may be sly and not know it yet."

Rae Overholt lets out a heavy sigh and sets her coffee down, disgusted by it. She turns to poke the drunk guy next to her, "Anyone concerned this guy is out cold here? Especially after we got a bug planted on us?"

Xiao Li Marshall: You want me to search 'im?

Rae Overholt: Yeah. Do that. Was he handsome atleast Li?

Li Mei: Oh yes, very handsome.

Shen: Guess every client has his reasons for hiring a companion...

Li Mei looks at Shen, "Actually, his mother hired me."

Xiao Li Marshall stands and walks over to the drunk man, leans down to listen to his breathing (making sure he's actually asleep), then commences rifling through his pockets.

Shen Jiutai stands and works her way behind the 'passed out' patron, just to be safe.

Li Mei leans back and sips her tea in silence

Shen Jiutai murruers, "Yup, just like Paquin' 'cept now we're the ones riffeling pockets..."

Niemack Saarinen cocks his head back and stares as he grabs the hand.

Xiao Li Marshall yelps in surprise and tries to jump back

Shen Jiutai places a hand on one shoulder, and a blade on the other. "Sorry, 'bout that..."

Rae Overholt leans and smiles all friendly like at the stranger, "Hi there, meet my friends."

Niemack Saarinen turns his head to the side exposing his lone blue eye as his other hand grabs the item "zhat is not yours" pauses and stares to his right raising his eyebrow "some friends"

Li Mei looks over at the commotion, shakes her head and takes another sip of tea

Rae Overholt gives him a shrug, "I like them. What you doing all passed out up here alone?"

Shen Jiutai squeezes hes shoulder, "We ain't takin' nuthin', now just let go of her, and everything will..."

Xiao Li Marshall wriggles loose from the man's grip and rubs her wrist. "Yeah, 's a good way to get robbed."

Niemack Saarinen: "zhought it was apparently a quiet place to sleep off a hang over, apparently not" holds his hand still where it was before cracking his knuckle against his thigh and draping it accross his stomach the other on his knee, turning and seeing a hand on his shoulder not noticing the hand through his layers "mind?"

Shen Jiutai returns her blade to its sheath, "Hangover, eh? 'suppose we owe ya a bit of the hair of the dog."

Rae Overholt shrugs, "Alright then."

Xiao Li Marshall backs away, keeping her eye on the drunk man.

Shen Jiutai returns to her beer, waiting for a response.

Xiao Li Marshall: *muttering* No one breathes like that when they're awake... ain't natural...

Niemack Saarinen brings his leather wrapped hand up rubbing between his eyes biting the corner of his lip

Shen Jiutai places her bottle on the cocktail napkin and spins it, "Sorry, we just can't be too careful, eaves droppers an' such."

Niemack Saarinen turns his head surveying the room turning back towards Xiao Li before looking down at himself, then back up replying "Vell I'm not natural" turns around at the rest then nodding at Shen.

Rae Overholt continues to survey him, "Well he certainly looks drunk. So, where were we? Finding out about the Ball. Were there strawberries?"

Li Mei smiles as she takes another sip of her tea, "No ... but there may have been some cream involved."

Shen Jiutai can't figure out if Li Mei is refering to the banquet or the client, "Mmmm Hmmmm, " she sips her beer.

Rae Overholt coughs at Li's comment before bursting into laughter.

Shen Jiutai follows Rae, beer coming out her nose.

Xiao Li Marshall is too busy staring at the drunk man to respond to Li's comment. She's *that* rattled.

Rae Overholt ends her laughter with little chuckles, hands over her stomach as she watches Li, wondering what else will come out of her mouth. Turning back to Shen she asks, "Whats our finances like now?"

Shen Jiutai reaches for her cocktail napkin, which is woefully inadequite for the job of cleaning herself up, "Well, Cap'n, no body's paid us anything yet..."

Rae Overholt: So coffee is my dinner tonight then?

Shen: We got protien onboard, but yeah, other than that, we're on our own... which reminds me...

Rae Overholt: Well atleast we got a place to sleep.

Shen: If Miss Jadi wants me to keep the books, an' such, I gotta know what everybody gets paid... I mean who's salary, and who's percentage?

Niemack Saarinen stretches his neck to the left and right draping his right hand accross his stomach again near his pistol before leaning his head against the wall, falling back asleep within seconds, his eye still open

Rae Overholt: We're all percentage, or we were till now. I don't think she allots any for salary per say. She gives us a percentage and what we have left after supplies and maitenance is split. Rae Overholt glances over to Nie and shakes her head, "That's just ..."

Shen: I think she said she wants 50% after the expenses, don't leave that much for us, 'cept now that Locum is paying the monthly... I guess transporting the odd crate here and there will be worth it, course we're prolly gonna run into every Dragon in the 'Verse...

Rae Overholt: Yeah, which will be reported to the dragon back in Burnet. Well, what kind of expenses do we have?

Shen: Well, keepin' her flyin' ain't cheap, and the food, ammo, med supplies... the list goes on...

Xiao Li Marshall: Guess if it comes to that we c'n eat the cat...

Li Mei looks over at the Captain, "Speaking of finances, the Guild has been kind enough to provide me with a list of candidates. How much longer will we be here?"

Rae Overholt: Couple days I'm thinking to get things fixed up.

Shen Jiutai pickes up her beer, "At least someone's gettin' some" she mutters as she sips.

Rae Overholt: Ain't that the truth.

Li Mei frowns slightly, "I'm not sure I can make arrangements with any of them on such short notice. But I can try."

Rae Overholt: You wanted to stay here longer Li?

Shen: What did that guy say was the rendezvous date? the 30th? We got some time...

Li Mei shrugs her shoulders slightly, "I do need the business. I would appreciate it it Captain."

Xiao Li Marshall: Yeah, so we stay here drinkin' overpriced beer an' not bringin' in any cash...

Rae Overholt: How long would you like to stay Li?

Li Mei: I think 4 or 5 days would give me enough time to arrange something.

Rae Overholt: Alright then. Maybe we'll get some time to go down to Persephone.

Shen: You're from there, ain't ya Cap'n?

Rae Overholt: Was a time I was a dock rat there.

Shen Jiutai grins, "Who ain't been a dock-rat? some of the best times I had was... well working for my father..." She trails off, "Back before the war..."

Xiao Li Marshall: Hell, spent most of my childhood pickin' pockets at the port in New Baltimore...

Rae Overholt nods, swinging her foot against the couch.

Shen Jiutai grins, "It's a kick, ain't it?"

Rae Overholt: Yeah, it was. Learned a lot in that place.

Xiao Li Marshall: Yeah. 'Specially the food vendors. Ever try ta grab a kebab off a hot griddle without burnin' yourself or bein' spotted by the cook?

Shen Jiutai laughs and looks to Li Mie, "Would you have ever guessed this would be the company you'd keep?"

Li Mei looks down at her cup of tea, now empty, and stares at it in silence.

Ariel LiveOak, Raven's previous companion appears in the bar.

Shen Jiutai glances up, "Ariel!"

Ariel Liveoak smiles. Hello, old friends."

Shen: "Long time no see!!! this is our new companion... Li Mei! How have you been?"

Ariel Liveoak: I've been well, and you?

Rae Overholt: Hello Ariel.

Shen: things are lookin' up, if they ain't lookin to dark...

Li Mei looks up from her empty cup and smiles, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Shen Jiutai grins, "Guess Paquin is the happening spot for alla the companions!"

Ariel Liveoak smiles. "And you. Are you finding the arrangements beneficial?"

Li Mei: The arrangements have begun to be beneficial, yes.

Ariel Liveoak: Ah, good. These things can take time.

Shen: "She ain't talked about bolting yet."

Li Mei grins, "No, but if you guys keep making more enemies, I may have to."

Ariel Liveoak chuckles. "Companions don't "bolt", anyway. Companions "retreat strategically".

Li Mei laughs.

Ariel Liveoak: And gracefully.

Xiao Li Marshall: An' we ain't been *making* enemies. If anything, they've been making *us.*

Ariel Liveoak smiles.

Shen: "What have you been up to, Ariel? ain't seen you, well, since before my 'accident'."

Ariel Liveoak: Rebuilding a life, Shen. There was much from which to recover. Things are good, now.

Shen Jiutai plays with the lable on her beer bottle, "Rebuilding a life, I know that tune."

Li Mei raises an eyebrow at Ariel's comment about rebuilding a life, but says nothing

Rae Overholt glances back to the stranger, she lifts a hand and waves it in front of his eye.

Shen: Things are going well for you?

Niemack Saarinen eye rattles in REM sleep, unmoving.

Ariel Liveoak smiles gently. "There are still things that need to happen, but yes. Generally, things are good."

Shen Jiutai's eyes drift across Ariel's gown, "It looks like!"

Ariel Liveoak smiles.

Rae Overholt: Well, we do have an empty shuttle.

Shen Jiutai glances at the Captain.

Ariel Liveoak: Oh?

Rae Overholt: Yeah.

Ariel Liveoak looks at the captain for several moments with a thoughtful expression.

Xiao Li Marshall: We could definitely use the rent money these days...

Shen Jiutai nods

Rae Overholt: Yeah, we'll make due either way though.

Li Mei looks at Xioa Li with a blank expression, "Weren't you just complaining about the way I earn my rent interfering with your jobs?"

Xiao Li Marshall: I was complainin' about how *staying at this bar* is interferin' with jobs. I'm afraid to leave the gorram building.

Rae Overholt: Well then, head to ship maybe and the rest of us head out looking for more work?

Shen Jiutai looks to Xiao Li, "C'mon, if'n I'm with you, I'd like to see them try to mess with you! I don't care how many, but I bet Ole' Wallace is long gone by now!"

Ariel Liveoak: If that is ...an invitation, Captain... I'm afraid I'll have to decline. For one thing, you already have a Companion on your ship. Any more would be...awkward.

Rae Overholt: Alright then Ariel. Like I said though, other shuttle is empty.

Ariel Liveoak nods, smiling warmly. "I'll remember, Captain. Thank you."

Rae Overholt: "Maybe Li can answer that, Any word on when Wallace was headed out?" She nods her head at Ariel.

Shen Jiutai wonders what it would be like flying a cargo ship full of companions around the frontier would be like.

Li Mei shrugs, "I believe Wallace left right after the ball."

Shen Jiutai walks home a groggy Xiao Li, leaving the companions to go on about the Giuld.