S1:Ep2 - Blasting Off Again

Started by Lomari, March 05, 2019, 11:34:34 AM

Riot

April 29, 2019, 06:07:31 PM #40 Last Edit: May 01, 2019, 09:34:20 AM by Lomari
Location: Market

After being in the black for a while, the markets were a refreshing bombardment of color, life, and culture. Her enjoyment was tempered somewhat by the unusually strong Alliance presence making itself seen. She saw plenty of patrols cutting their way through the crowds. They were looking for something, or maybe someone. It made her scalp itch. However outwardly she maintained a cheerful demeanor.

They continued on through the markets, the three of them arm in arm, with Bandit padding along behind Riot like the loyal companion she was.

Several times Riot felt eyes on her, but whenever she looked around she couldn't pick out any observers. Paranoid. You're just being paranoid. No way they could be looking for us.

Viktor was quite personable as they went, waving, giving greetings to passersby, shaking hands. Riot saw a few people give him a look and then move off to avoid him, but not many.

A mother brought her son up to Viktor, and at the same moment Tabitha unlinked arms and rushed off towards a "good dog" vendor.

The woman was asking for a prayer. Viktor turned to look at Riot. "Could you make sure she doesn't get into any trouble? I'll only be a minute here and then I'll catch right up with you." He said, indicating Tabitha. "Sure thing. We'll stay within eye sight." She said, and headed over towards Tabitha.

She felt eyes on her again. This time the feeling was stronger. She looked around again, and again she didn't catch anyone ogling her, but something in her brain finally put some pieces together. She hadn't been imagining it, they were being followed. Just not by one person. She let her eyes unfocus a little bit as she casually glanced around again, this time seeing the pattern. The colors, the uniforms. A group had been following them, no, surrounding them for... Gods, how long? Since they got off the ship? No way to tell.

She caught up to Tabitha and relinked arms with her, her other hand casually landing on her belt near her holstered firearm, and gently pulled Tabitha a few steps back towards Viktor. "Tabby, lets not get to far from Viktor, he's doing his preacher thing. Don't want to lose him in the crowd now do we?" Riot said, doing her best to keep the tension from her voice and off of her expression. Bandit of course had keener senses than any of them, and was already picking up on her mistresses distress. The big dog butted up against Riots leg and gave a huff, looking up at her with the dog equivalent of concern.

Thackery Arlington III

April 30, 2019, 01:17:11 PM #41 Last Edit: May 01, 2019, 09:35:08 AM by Lomari
Location: Cythera Casino and Resort

"Ah, there you are!" Arlo declared, striding up to the baron at his arrival. "You ought to have told me there was an evening prepared, Tate; I'd have changed into a jacket." He picked at his bare sleeve with the reprimand, thinking despondently of an emerald green pocket square still in his room that would have coordinated most elegantly with the felt of the gaming table.

Completely ignoring the Darjeeling lot as though he hadn't even registered their presence -- which, indeed, he hadn't, except as a sort of mildly distasteful oddity, like a stain on an otherwise clean shirt -- Arlo took his newly-filled glass to the table and slid into a place there, as far from Abernathy as he could manage. The man made him positively jumpy, although he couldn't quite be surprised that Baron Tate associated himself with that sort. Just look at his decorating taste, bàituō! And bringing tradesmen up to mingle with the guests? It really was a different 'Verse out here on this little moons, wasn't it?
Dialogue Color: darkseagreen | 8FBC8F

"I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle."

Tabitha Haemish

May 01, 2019, 09:33:59 AM #42 Last Edit: May 01, 2019, 07:40:25 PM by Lomari
Location: Market

Tabitha was in the middle of negotiating for “one good dog” when Riot approached. She’d been hoping to get Bandit a friend to play with on the ship when they were busy with missions and this seemed like as good a place as any, although she didn’t understand why the woman seemed so confused when Tabby had asked what breeds they had. The doctor look first down at their linked arms, then beamed brilliantly up at the other woman. She absolutely adored when someone took the initiative with the snuggling and affection-showing. With a cheerful laugh, Tabby set her cheek on Riot’s arm and gazed adoringly up at her, possibly having forgotten entirely about attempting to purchase a “good dog”. And of course, Riot was right. They didn’t want to lose their Man of God in the crowd. Why, she knew he was an absolute gem and just about any crew would be so happy to have him on board. Her brows furrowed thoughtfully, “You’re right! Someone might steal him!” she agreed wholeheartedly.

Reaching down, the blonde ran her hand gently over Bandit’s head before pausing for just a moment to give her some gentle scratching beneath the chin and behind the ear. Maybe she’d get her a friend later, right now, she had to look out for their Preacher. Falling in with the mechanic, Tabby moved to where Viktor seemed to be intercepting them, her head tilted curiously in response. “Hi!” she greeted happily, reaching out to set her hand on his forearm. He seemed concerned, or perhaps distracted. Her head tilted the other way, much like a curious pup. Blue eyes slipped past him and she spotted the mother and child standing and staring at them expectantly. “Oh! Poor boy has rickets,” she told her companion, nodding sadly, not having been asked what was wrong with the boy but finding his plight startlingly obvious.

“I should tell his mother to change his diet,” she frowned and looked the pair over, realizing they might not have that option. “Oh…” she murmured. “I wonder if we have any extra supplements on the Darling. Oh, but then there might not be enough for the crew…” her hands settled on her own hips as she fell into her own mind, as she often did when actually doctoring. “If she could get her hands on some fish, maybe milk and eggs, and let him out to play more… It might be easier for them to acquire liver. People throw it away a lot of the time…” Tabitha was no longer paying attention to Viktor or Riot or Bandit or the net creeping in and in and in on them from all around, she was in her own mental med bay trying to work things out.
Dialogue Color: Pink

Lomari

Planet time: 1220

Team 1:
Location: Cytheria Casino and Resort

The Baron sat back in his seat, like a great beast lounging easily over its territory, and though he was trim and slender, he seemed to take up the whole room. He curled the first inch of his cards back to peer curiously at his hand before setting them back down and picking up his drink, seeming to purposefully ignore the uncultured guests darkening his doorway. When the Captain spoke, Tate acted mildly surprised, perhaps that he'd interrupted their game or that he was still there. A skeptically arched brow and disapproving look leveled upon the Captain and his crew and the Baron took a long, languid sip of his cocktail. Darkness crept into his eyes at the polite correcting of the ship's name, but for now, nothing was said on the matter. Darling, Darjeeling, Dumpheap, really it was of little consequence to a man as important as he was.

"Cargo?" he asked slowly, one corner of his lips turning up in cruel humor. A free hand rose to wave away the idea that there was any such 'cargo', "I don't know what you've brought me, Captain BerryWeather, but I assure you, I do not want it. Thank you for your time, you may leave now," he informed Barnaby, dismissing him with another wave of his hand. Turning to scoff in Abernathy's direction, the Baron returned to his card game. "In all your years, have you ever heard something so utterly ridiculous?" he asked the table, tapping the surface to request another card from the dealer.

Team 2:
Location: The Market

During the crew's huddle about the boy and his mother, a woman stepped free of the surrounding crowd and made her way purposefully toward the three Darling crewmembers. She was slender, tall, athletic, her dark hair in a no-nonsense bun at the base of her neck. The woman wore standard issue Alliance pants and a dark navy long sleeved shirt tucked into the waistband. There was a gun at her hip, one that she hadn't drawn just yet, and her hands were crossed over her chest, a chiding but patient look on her stern face.

"Crew of the Darling, I'd like a word," she informed them. It was clear from her confidence that she was not alone but might have been attempting to approach some form of diplomacy by entering their personal space on her own. Still, it was obvious from the pattern Riot had noticed that they were, in fact, surrounded.
CHARACTERS
Charity ~ Melody ~ Tabitha


NARRATION
Darling ~ Iscariot

Rian Carpenter

May 06, 2019, 04:44:43 PM #44 Last Edit: May 09, 2019, 06:33:03 AM by Lomari
Location: Cythera Casino and Resort

This was the point he'd normally start beating the crap out of the goon nearest to him. Probably break a couple bones to make a show of it, or maybe pop a kneecap. Even hinting at a refusal to pay for services rendered could get you killed in some parts of the verse. But here they were and this silver spoon niáng had just decided their little life and limb adventure in zero g was no longer interesting to him. The privileged it took to wave away everything he'd put them through over the course of this job boggled Rian's mind. He felt his arm almost twitch. The inclination to draw a weapon passed quickly but only after he intentionally buried it.

But on the other hand, those chips in the clocks looked to be pretty fancy... maybe this was great? If the Duke of Earl here didn't want the chips, maybe they were theirs to hock? But then again, who'd they hock it to? Most of the people Rian could call would be on the line with his Dad the second they disconnected. But they didn't know that. Maybe lay some cards on the table. Play along, make a show of leaving with the product in tow.

The part time cook and full time gunhand clapped his captain on the shoulder casually.

"Well I guess the chips are ours, Barn. I'll start checking in with some of our other usual fences."

He motioned towards the elevator like they should leave. Just like that. No fuss. Carpenter had a feeling this was all an act or part of the game. Kick them out just as they get there. Probably "confiscate the stolen goods" they have with them and leave them in the lurch. They also had all their shooters boxed in on enemy territory with the preacher, the doc, and the mechanic wandering around unprotected. Trying to act casually, Rian started stepping backwards toward the elevator they'd come in on.

"Maybe we should go check on the kids..."

The reformed crook had layed enough traps in his time to smell one. He was addressing Barnaby but looked over to Mona, who he expected to be getting equally wary. Rian's hand now starting to rest on top of his sidearm he spoke loudly and calmly.

"Y'all have yourselves a nice night..."

Barnaby Goodweather

May 07, 2019, 09:37:43 AM #45 Last Edit: May 09, 2019, 06:33:17 AM by Lomari
Location: Cythera Casino and Resort

"Your Baroness, it's actually Merryweather- I mean, Good. It's Good. Goodweather. Merraby- gorrammit." Flustered, Barnaby paused and started again. "Now, maybe you don't remember, but our mutual friend the Major set this up. He said you wanted us to go pick up them-" Barnaby was cut off by Rian, who ushered the three of them to the door when they were excused by the Baron. "Other fences, what-" The Captain started, not understanding at first, but once he saw the look on the cook's face, he understood everything clear as crystal. And not that cheap, cloudy stuff. The see-through kind. "Ooooh!"

With a wink the opposite of subtle, Barnaby strutted forward. "Alright, you rich sonsabitches. I'll take my business elsewhere. Ain't nobody send Captain Barnaby Mer-" He caught himself. "Goodweather on a wild dog hunt!" Time to turn it up a bit. "Workin' class folk give ya'll everything you got. Build your ivory towers on the backs of hard working people and then you just de-fault on the guarantee of payment? Have you no shame, sir?" The theatrics, which probably should have been at about a middling keel, had been taken all the way up and beyond what might be considered good taste. In fact, Barnaby was sort of beginning to lose sight of his original goal, time to reel it in, take them home. "Come on, Rian. Come on, Mona. We're gettin' outta this place. Stinks in here. Stinks like money!"

His back straight and his upper-lip stiff, Barnaby began to march out of the room, leading Rian and Mona away from the table. At a low whisper, Barnaby had to stop a giggle, satisfied his bluff would pay off. "Now, for the cherry." And then, much louder for the room to hear. "Hey, Rian. What's the name of your CLOCK guy? I bet he'd want some of them BEAGLE CLOCKS that the Baron don't want. We'll sell 'em to him at a MUCH higher price, don't you think? Them's valuable little puppies. Cute too! Get a pretty penny for them pups, no doubt."
Dialogue Color - LightBlue

Viktor Söderberg

May 07, 2019, 03:55:48 PM #46 Last Edit: May 09, 2019, 06:33:34 AM by Lomari
Location: Market


Before he could even reach the stand that Tabitha and Riot had been approaching, let alone explain the situation, they had intercepted him. Tabby must have seen the mother and child from around Viktor's approach.

"Oh! Poor boy has rickets," she explained, unprompted.

The group came to a pause, just away from James and his mother as the doctor listed a few possibilities for the boy. She appeared to sink into her own thoughts and there was a far-away look on her face as she considered options for the pair. Viktor smiled as her mind raced from one possibility to another. They say God works in mysterious ways but it was not so mysterious to Viktor why James had been put across his path. He was the conduit to Tabitha. She was the path to improved health for the boy. All because God had put them all here at the same time.

They didn't get the opportunity to discuss any of the doctor's options with the mother. A stern-faced, no-nonsense-looking woman approached them with purpose. Only then did Viktor see what he had missed. He saw what he would have seen if he had taken Captain Goodweather's orders to heart; if he'd been acting the serviceman and not the preacher man. He kicked himself internally as the Alliance colors poked out from the crowd here and there. He didn't turn fully around but judging from his peripheries, the officers were surrounding them.

"Crew of the Darling, I'd like a word."

Their best bet would most likely be to go along and not cause a fuss. That grated the preacher's nerves though. He was none too fond of the Alliance, but this lot weren't shooting at him at this particular moment. He gave a side-eyed look to Riot as if asking for the plan. Then he plastered his most wholesome and warm smile onto his face and stood square on with the Alliance woman.

"Ma'am," he addressed her in a rich benevolent voice, "If you could give me one more moment with this woman behind me. Maintaining the flock. I'm sure you understand."

He didn't wait for her answer. He didn't need any Alliance permission to do his job. He turned and took the step and half to the waiting family, keeping most of his attention on Riot and the Alliance woman. In a very quick, low voice he explained, "My blonde friend there is a doctor and she believes your young James has something called Rickets. You must try adding try fish, milk eggs or liver to his diet - whatever you can get - and more time in the sun. I'm sorry but we are being called away to other business. Go now and do what you can. God be with you." He shook her hand, pressing his counselling business card into her palm as he did.

She thanked him with a small nod and smile. Viktor hoped they would be out of the area quickly if things with the Alliance went sideways.

Tabitha Haemish

May 09, 2019, 06:46:26 AM #47 Last Edit: May 09, 2019, 06:48:24 AM by Lomari
Location: Market

Tabitha visibly flinched at the sudden and unfamiliar voice that penetrated her thoughts and pulled her out of her mental med bay. Her chin turned toward the sound and she peeked out from around Viktor to stare curiously at the woman, a hand lifting to settle momentarily on the Preacher’s back. It was an idle and innocent gesture, perhaps to let him know she was there in support of something or for her own comfort. She wanted a word with them. Why? There wasn’t anything they could tell them that would be better than what Barnaby could, he was the Captain after all. Her hand slipped away as Viktor turned to attend to his flock and the blonde moved her attention between the mother and son and the strange woman, her head ping ponging back and forth so much she started to feel dizzy.

The doctor pressed the ball of her palm against her forehead to stop the feeling of vertigo before she turned to face the lady, who seemed mighty official and very clean. “Would you prefer to speak with our Captain?” she asked kindly, innocent to any ill will the lady might have for them. “He’s busy on work right now but I’m sure he’d love to help you with whatever you’re needing answered. He’s a lovely man, our Captain. Kind, thoughtful, very fatherly toward his crew,” she babbled on, fiddling with her hands and spacing out a little as she spoke, “Sometimes he doesn’t take his vitamins as often as he’s supposed to, but it’s alright to have some flaws, we all do! I sometimes forget about personal space, but my crew is very forgiving, and they help me to work on that. Our mechanic is a little too hard on herself and doesn’t really see all the amazing qualities she has and how important she is to us. My preacher is the same, I think he needs to believe in himself as much as I believe in him and as much as his God believes in him,” she set the pad of her fingertip on a new extended finger with every member she listed off, “The XO has ghosts that follow her around and sometimes she forgets where she is, or when she is, I try to help her, but I’m not a counselor. I do think that the combination of counseling from our Preacher and some help from me as well will do her wonders as time goes along, though, I’m hopeful. And our cook is such a sweetie but I think he doesn’t trust himself, or us, just yet. I’d love to be able to reassure him that it’s okay to be himself around us, because we’re family, you see, and we’d never abandon him or think less of him. The past is the past, as I always say! Well, actually I’m not sure I do say that. But someone’s said it, I’m sure!”

The doctor paused, took a breath, and returned her gaze to the woman. “How about you?” she asked, eyes alight with genuine warmth.
Dialogue Color: Pink

Thackery Arlington III

Location: Cythera Casino and Resort

Baroness? Fencing? Ivory? Beagle clocks? This sweaty Merraby fellow was clearly stark raving mad. Tate wasn't even married, for the Verse's sake! Or was he? Arlo didn't think the young lady on his arm was his wife, and he was quite certain she'd never been introduced to him as the Baroness, but then he never could keep track. He certainly wasn't going to get involved in this increasingly nonsensical tirade; Tate had men for that.

It was making it awfully difficult to play cards, though. Continually distracted by the rising volume of Goodweather's voice, Arlo found it impossible to concentrate on his hand. Truthfully, he wouldn't have put it past Tate to have orchestrated the entire scene for that express purpose. Arlo wouldn't have thought he'd be that smart, but that Abernathy could have had a hand in it as well...

Arlo was beginning to get offended now. Tate had arranged an entire card party without informing his guest, hadn't even given Arlo a chance to change for it, abandoned him to endure a most unsettling conversation with his seedy friend, invited tradesmen up to the penthouse, and now was creating an unnecessarily unpleasant scene merely for the purpose of cheating at cards. It wouldn't have been tolerated on Bellerophon, and Arlo had no intention of tolerating it now.

"What's ridiculous is why they're here at all," he answered abruptly. "What exactly are you playing at, Tate? Why drag them all the way up here if you didn't have business with them to begin with? For that matter, why bring them up if you did? Are we playing cards, or are we just here to watch your little show?"
Dialogue Color: darkseagreen | 8FBC8F

"I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle."

Riot

May 11, 2019, 07:18:49 PM #49 Last Edit: May 12, 2019, 10:22:39 AM by Lomari
Location: Market

A woman walked purposefully out of the crowd towards them. She was tall, slender, and athletic. Her expression and the way she walked screamed Alliance. Riot dropped her arm from Tabitha's to casually grab a handful of Bandits fur, and took a half step forward and at an angle as to put herself slightly between Tabby and the newcomer. Riots other hand remained on her belt, not actually on her firearm, but close enough.

“Crew of the Darling, I’d like a word,”

Riot sized up the woman, and opened her mouth to speak, but Viktor beat her to it. "Ma'am, if you could give me one more moment with this woman behind me. Maintaining the flock. I'm sure you understand." Not waiting for an answer, he stepped back over to the woman and her kid and relayed what Tabitha has said might help the child's condition.

Riot again opened her mouth to address the Alliance woman, but this time it was Tabitha who spoke up, with an unstoppable tide of words.  The girl could really talk your ear off when she got going. In spite of their situation, Riot couldn't help but smile lovingly at Tabby when she mentioned how much Riot meant to the crew.

Finally Tabitha ended with a question, and Riot took the opportunity to speak before the woman could respond, trying to take some semblance of control of the situation.

"Like our adorable Doctor said, the Captain aint here, and we haven't done anything worthy of you and all your friends attention. If you aim to talk business, you best come back after The Cap is available. So, if you'll excuse us, we need to finish our grocery shopping." Riot said, though she didn't actually make a move to leave, nor did she think the purple bellies would allow it, but the longer they drew this out the more people would notice... not that it would probably help much. Bandit growled, so low that no one could probably hear it, but Riot felt it through her hand.

Lomari

Planet time: 1225

Team 1:
Location: Cytheria Casino and Resort

The Baron slowly set down his drink and folded his hands properly upon the pressed white linen at his lap. He watched the Darjeeling peasants stomp and gesticulate about like angry turkeys, his body relaxed and a slow smile pulling at his lips. The guard who seemed in charge threw the new recruit a look before nodding his chin toward the belligerent crew. When Barnaby and his ilk turned as though to leave, the Baron cleared his throat and chuckled a little to himself, "Escort them out, if you would," he spoke to the security team. He'd been about to go back to his card game and immediately forget he'd ever been sullied by their dirty presence, when MerryBerryWeather began loudly exclaiming about the contents of the crates. Tate's smile turned downward and he sneered down at his cards, eyeing his associate Abe out of the corner of his eye, his expression full of distrust and now anger at the Darjeeling crew.

"Be sure to treat them gently, on the way down," he added with a barely contained snarl, leaning back in his seat and staring at the backs of their heads. He'd just opened his mouth to add another tidbit to his order when his guest spoke up quite impolitely. Tate considered the boy, his expression once more calm and thoughtful. He didn't enjoy being questioned, it made his skin itch, and judging by the silence at the game table, the rest of his quests (perhaps excluding Abe) knew this was a faux paux of the highest caliber.

"Take him with you," Tate finally decided, waving a hand dismissively at Arlo, although the growl in his voice and the twitching of his nostril were evidence enough of the promised violence at the end of the elevator ride. Perhaps if he'd questioned the Baron privately, maybe if he hadn't had guests and strangers present. Or perhaps Baron Hugo Tate was just a fickle wang ba dan.

Team 2:
Location: The Market

The woman watched the Preacher turn to deal with the woman and her son, her jaw clenching visibly. She seemed to remain patient, giving him a chance to usher the unnecessary bystander away, and when he'd turned back to them, she parted her lips to begin offering up further orders. Of course, she was immediately interrupted before a single syllable could slip free, the doctor's endless yammering drowning out any attempt she might have made at speaking herself. Slowly, her brow arched upward in both irritated confusion as well as mild surprise. She wasn't sure how any of them were left breathing, what with all the oxygen the blonde was using up in one fell swoop.

A question was asked, although the woman wasn't exactly sure she knew what it was pertaining to. She'd ignored almost all of the girl's babbling and hadn't retained enough of it to know what she was wondering. But finally, someone spoke who seemed to make more sense. Well, more concise sense. Her eyes lowered to the beast of a dog at the woman's side and the Alliance official couldn't help but grimace. If something went down here, they'd need to get rid of that first, or it would be bloody chaos. 

"Ah, that won't be an issue," she informed the mechanic, smiling harshly and tilting her head to the side. "Captain or no Captain, if you'll just escort us to your ship, we can retrieve the illegal property you have on board and be out of your hair," she lied. Of course, once they  confiscated the goods, there would be the matter of charging these clumsy criminals with...well, a plethora of charges that she was still working up in her head. More, if they chose not to comply and run back to the safety of their ship without her and her team.

More of the shoppers had seemed to notice the tense conversation, but that only made them avoid it like the plague. They hadn't gotten to today by being nosy and interfering in whatever nefarious or official business went down around them. As the crowd thinned out around the crew of the Darling, it became apparent that they were indeed surrounded. Behind them, a cart pulled by a tired looking mule and a grizzled, half-blind merchant, wandered between the Crew and the Alliance soldiers behind them, creating a buffer just large enough to escape through if they had been so inclined. Or, they could attempt to reason with the woman, appeal to her better nature (if she had one.)
CHARACTERS
Charity ~ Melody ~ Tabitha


NARRATION
Darling ~ Iscariot

noseatbelts

May 13, 2019, 07:15:15 AM #51 Last Edit: June 12, 2019, 11:43:23 AM by Lomari
Location: Cythera Casino and Resort

Abernathy sipped his drink and stared at his cards and he listened. He'd always known that Tate was an ass, but the man had money and power and those things made most annoyances tolerable. Being rude to the help was basically expected in this class of people, so Warren wasn't surprised that Tate had sent this poor man and his crew on some fool's errand or another, but at the mention of the Beagle Clock cargo, he couldn't help but become intrigued. Rumors had circulated since the war about such a derelict, full of novelty time pieces worthless by themselves, but full of a different, hidden value. A treasure of sorts that Abernathy could not ignore. He finished his drink and folded his cards, and stood suddenly. "Captain, I'll walk out with you."

He nodded to those gathered at the table, ignoring the Baron's distasteful look at his abrupt departure, and walked a brisk pace to catch up to Goodweather and co. "If you still need a buyer for your cargo, I might be interested." As he spoke, Abernathy offered a brief look back at the Baron, a sly smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. "I would, of course, need to inspect it myself. I can meet you back at your ship or wherever the cargo might be, currently..." He let that linger, fishing for the location of the merchandise.


Mattie Rooney

May 13, 2019, 11:37:58 AM #52 Last Edit: May 13, 2019, 11:57:49 AM by Mattie Rooney
Location: Cythera Casino and Resort

Mattie played her part diligently. She escorted the trio to the lounge and stepped aside once they were in, keeping an eye on the situation from her spot next to the wall. She was fully prepared to zone out while the Baron and his guests talked shop, but she perked up when the conversation began going south before it had even had the chance to get off the ground properly.

She didn't know what Tate's business with these people was, nor did she much care about it; what she did know, however, was that Tate was being a complete jerk about it. Captain Merryberrygoodweather may have been rather oafish, but Mattie could tell he and his ragtag companions were honest folk just trying to do their job. What was it with all these rich wángbādàns who couldn't afford an ounce of basic manners for their wealth and flowery etiquette? Mattie wasn't exactly the paragon of politeness herself, but at least she was honest about being an uncivilized bastard.

One of the men at the table was starting to get huffy as well, though not because he shared her visceral repulsion at the host's behavior, but because he was upset about his card game being interrupted. Mattie stifled the urge to roll her eyes. Instead, she fixed her sharp gaze on Tate. He had the plotting demeanor of... someone plotting something, and she didn't like it one bit.

"Take him with you," Tate commanded, gesturing at the guest who had committed the crime of grumbling in front of His Highness. Mattie did as told, quickly walking over to the table and looming over the seated man. If there was one silver lining in this situation, it was getting to boss around some uppety fop.

Small victories.

"You heard the...man," she said, unable to bring herself to utter the grandiose and quite frankly embarrassing title her employer had seen fit to bestow upon himself. "Get up, buttercup."

To emphasize her point, she brushed her hand against the hem of her suit jacket, letting the man catch a glimpse of the revolver strapped to her waist. She prayed he'd play nice and they could be out of here as soon as possible; if she was reading the signs correctly, this handbasket was headed to hell and fast, and she wasn't going to sit by and let it happen.
Dialogue color: darkkhaki

Rian Carpenter

May 13, 2019, 05:12:37 PM #53 Last Edit: June 12, 2019, 11:43:36 AM by Lomari
Location: Cythera Casino and Resort

I smell a gorram rat.

Rian could practically hear his father advising him. This assembly of all his useful attributes and pearls of wisdom allowed to haunt him was always piping in at times like this. But, as psychological projections of problematic fathers go, he wasn't wrong. The whole job stank. The derelict. The Baron suddenly getting claiming ignorance of the job, the beagles, this new black clad stranger who just carried himself in the wrong way. The way he walked. Where his eyes went. No. No. No. He wasn't old money like their host or the guy being shown the door. This Greek bearing gifts was somebody more like ... himself.

The security specialist cleared his throat audibly to get his captain's and the prospective buyer's attention. When he caught Abernathy's gaze it would have been apparent on Carpenter's face that he could smell the fèihuà his suit was made out of.

"That's an awfully kind offer and just so convenient you happened to be here..."

He looked over at Mona and exclaimed in a sort of dead-pan sarcasm as they all crammed into the elevator once again:

"Our client suddenly gets amnesia about hiring us... and what do you know the man that was sittin' right next to him has a new offer for us?! I guess we should just ask... where should he kill us and steal the cargo? I mean, I could just tell you preferably where I'd ambush a crew of honest hard workin' spacers, hell, it is a veritable riches of options..."

The doors shut around them and he directed his gaze back to Abernathy, Rian's hands calmly folded right in front of him.

"If you want to do business with The Darling, how's about you be the first person not to lie to us since we took the job?"

Barnaby Goodweather

May 14, 2019, 09:30:44 AM #54 Last Edit: June 12, 2019, 11:43:47 AM by Lomari
Location: Cythera Casino and Resort

"Now now Rian. Mr. uh- Didn't catch your name there, bud." Barnaby waited a moment to be filled in on introductions. "Ain't no need to get all growly." He gripped Rian's shoulder in a comforting manner. "Mr. Abernathy here is just tryin' to do business. Ain't that right?" Now, there were plenty of things Barnaby wasn't good at. Talking to rich folks, closing up cabinets when he was done with them, playing cards, he tried making pottery once with Tabby, his bowl didn't hold water. The point is, while Barnaby had a lot of faults, he could reckon a double-cross from a mile away. At least, when it came to business. His love life was a whole 'nother story; lengthy and melancholic.

He gave Abernathy a kids-these-days look. "Cargo's back at our ship. The Darjeeling, as I said upstairs. Just love the stuff. Tea, that is. Named my ship after it. Champagne of teas, they say. We're at the docks, of course. Berth Twelve, if I recollect." Lying, unfortunately, would go on the Barnaby was ill-suited to list. He just hoped they could get to Berth Eleven quicker than the suited gentleman. The elevator chimed and the doors slid open, just as Barnaby remembered that the Baron's guys had unloaded their mule and likely had already stashed and stowed the loot. A curse rested behind his teeth for half-a-second as they stepped off of the lift and back into the cargo area to find it empty and their mule loaded and ready and waiting for them. The Baron's crew had even thrown a tarp on the back for good measure. "The hell?" He said, under his breath and unable to hide his surprise.

Abernathy didn't seem to notice. Off the elevator, he turned and regarded Barnaby face-to-face. "Listen. I'm not a bad guy. I'll pay you for the cargo, a fair price. But I want it. No sense dodging me on it." Abernathy turned to go. "I get what I want, Captain." A dark corridor awaited the mysterious Mr. Abernathy and, just as the shadows began to overtake him, he said. "Let me offer you some advice. It was smart of you not to bring the cargo to the meetup. No matter what he says, Tate wants those clocks. He just doesn't want to pay for them, nor does he want anyone else to know that he has them. Watch your back. I'll see you at Berth Twelve." Abernathy regarded Arlo. "What are you doing? Going with them?" He seemed to think that notion funny, his laughter echoing in the corridor as the gloom obscured him further and, soon, he was gone.

"Huh. That was damn mysterious, wasn't it?" Barnaby said after staring into the inky black for a moment. "Welp. We better get a move on back to the ship 'fore they get wise to us." He paused and looked at Arlo. "We ain't exactly taking passengers just now. But we can ferry you to the docks if it suits you." A quick glance at the mule. "We can likely make room. Might have to sit on a lap." Barnaby was glad to see that he didn't need to tell Mona to check the cargo once the Man In Black was gone. Her nod told him they were still carrying. "Load up if you're comin', we're leavin' now-like."
Dialogue Color - LightBlue

Thackery Arlington III

May 16, 2019, 06:47:53 PM #55 Last Edit: June 12, 2019, 11:43:57 AM by Lomari
Location: Cythera Casino and Resort

"Take him with you."

Arlo scoffed openly. "Don't be absurd, Baron," he said, with a bit of emphasis on the self-appointed title to remind the man who actually had some prestige and a family name, and who'd merely bought himself a backworld resort moon. "There's no need to be petulant just because you--"

"You heard the man."

This from one of Tate's hired goons, making herself uncomfortably close to Arlo. He ignored her utterly, reserving a withering gaze for Tate himself. "Really?" he asked flatly, hardly even bothering to make a question of it. "This is patently ridiculous, even from you, Hugo. I can't imagine what you think you'll --"

"Get up, buttercup."

Arlo finally rounded on her. "Will you desist interrup-- Buttercup?!" He interrupted himself that time, mouth falling open at the sheer audacity of it. The pointedly threatening implication of the revolver at her waist was even more audacious. Arlington Thackery III be intimidated by a two-bit bodyguard at a backwater ri shao gou shi bing of the nouveau riche? It was laughable.

So he laughed.

Neither Tate nor the goon seemed to appreciate that much, and Arlo rapidly found himself deposited into what turned out to be a remarkably awkward elevator ride with Creepy Abe and the ramshackle crew. He ignored the captain's babble for most of the way down, airily attending to a point in the middle distance above everyone else's heads, but couldn't help snorting aloud at Abernathy's insistence that he was "not a bad guy."

"Well shut of his sort," he muttered aloud as the unsavory gentleman disappeared, more to himself than to his lamentable companions.

"We ain't exactly taking passengers just now. But we can ferry you to the docks if it suits you. We can likely make room. Might have to sit on a lap."

Arlo reared back in mingled affront and disbelief at the very suggestion. "I'm hardly going to leave without getting my things!" Never mind the notion of sitting on one of their laps! That was so far beyond reason it didn't even bear considering. No, it was simply ludicrous that he'd obediently retreat with his tail between his legs without even so much as packing up his room. He'd leave when he was good and ready, and he'd do it through the front doors. Without realizing it, he was trotting along behind Merryberry just to continue speaking. "I simply must go pack my things!" He winced slightly as this came out a bit more whiny than he intended, but what was he worried about? That he might leave a poor impression on the help?  "All of my clothes, my souvenirs. My emerald green pocket square! My typewriter!"
Dialogue Color: darkseagreen | 8FBC8F

"I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle."

Riot

May 18, 2019, 08:42:46 PM #56 Last Edit: May 18, 2019, 08:43:07 PM by Riot
Location: Market

"Ah, that won't be an issue. Captain or no Captain, if you'll just escort us to your ship, we can retrieve the illegal property you have on board and be out of your hair,"

Riot didn't miss a beat, the words flowing smoothly, naturally, and effortlessly out of her mouth. This was far from her first time lying to Feds, and this time she wasn't even technically lying. "Illegal property? Nothing like that aboard our ship I'm afraid. And besides which, if you had any proof to that accusation you would have had us landlocked the second we set down, or been waiting for us back at the ship, or just overridden the door controls and rolled us up later. The fact that you didn't makes it sound an awful lot like you're on a fishing expedition. So unless you'd like to offer some evidence and officially charge us, I'm sorry to say we still cant help you. Though you're welcome to follow us back after we finish our shopping and talk to the Captain." Her voice was calm and even, and the way she spoke wasn't antagonistic, it was more like she was just stating facts. She even offered a slightly apologetic half smile to the officer as she waited for her to reply.

She was aware of the cart creating a small window to make a run for it, but Riot wasn't going to risk it with Tabby in the potential line of fire. Besides, nothing made you look more guilty than running.

Viktor Söderberg

May 19, 2019, 02:55:40 PM #57 Last Edit: June 12, 2019, 11:44:13 AM by Lomari
Location: The Market


Upon turning back to the gathered group, Tabitha had concluded her little speech. The Alliance woman looked none to impressed. Riot stepped in to control the situation. However, that wasn’t going well either. As much as Viktor wanted the woman and surrounding guards to allow them to “finish their grocery shopping” as Riot suggested, he knew that wasn’t going to happen. Diplomacy would have to be their guiding light here. There were no other options.

Until there were. A mule cart stopped behind them, giving them a way to slip away if they so chose. He desperately wanted distance between himself and the Alliance soldiers. It would have been as easy as turning a corner. But he couldn’t leave Tabitha or Riot – though he knew Riot could take care of herself.

Soon, the decision was out of his hands. Riot was speaking again in a calm, decided manner. “…Though you're welcome to follow us back after we finish our shopping and talk to the Captain."

Viktor stepped up, so he was standing a step to the right and two behind Riot’s right shoulder. A position of backup but one that didn’t override the authority she was exuding now. As subtly as he could, he tucked the doctor’s small form slightly behind himself. He kept his palm against the side of her arm; a warning not to move.

“I would have to agree Ma’am. Nothing untoward here, but we are certainly not the ones to be speaking with. Surely, our Captain will be able to assist you with whatever misunderstanding has occurred here, as soon as he returns.”

Rian Carpenter

May 20, 2019, 04:26:56 PM #58 Last Edit: June 12, 2019, 11:44:24 AM by Lomari
Location: Cythera Casino and Resort

Rian was just a bag full of nerves right now. Anxiety and aggravation given human form. Ever so lightly he tapped his toes up and down inside his shoe. A strange coping mechanism he'd developed ages ago. When he had a feeling things were about to go sideways, but he needed to solider on like everything was normal, that emotion was allowed to only so slightly manifest itself in a manageable way. He marched right past Captain Merryweather and the aristocrat having a nervous breakdown over a lost pocket square. In another situation watching someone as upper crust as him melt down would make his day, but alas today, Rian had a distinct feeling someone was going to try and kill him, or at best: steal from his crew. And as the newly minted security officer it would be pretty bad to blow it this early on.

The crates all piled right back onto the mule, Carpenter swiped a crow-bar out of the hands of one of the baron's employees.

"Sorry, I'm gonna need to borrow this for a second...."

And with no fanfare he marched up to the mule, pulled the tarp off, and jammed the crowbar into one of the crate's lid. Rian was just about sure the crates would be empty, and either a gang of killers or a bunch of feds waiting for them at the docks. With a loud crack the lid gave way and revealed... the beagle clocks, just as he'd left them. There was even the undisturbed layer of blue packing peanuts he added when they disabled the alarms.

"Oh...uhh... sorry."

He couldn't help but scratch his head as he handed the crowbar back to the very annoyed looking warehouse employee. Still nursing a profound suspicion that something was wrong, he pulled his communicator set to the Darling crew's frequency:

"Tabby, how's shopping going?"

Not wanting to worry her or give anything away to anyone who might be listening in, he played it like things were normal. He dropped a coin into one the worker's jacket pockets as he hammered the crate's top back on and waited for the doc's reply. Something was up and he wasn't sure if they should move until they knew the rest of the crew was okay.

Lomari

May 28, 2019, 09:14:30 AM #59 Last Edit: June 12, 2019, 11:45:36 AM by Lomari
Planet time: 1235

Team 1:
Location: Cytheria Casino and Resort

Once the crew, Abernathy, Arlington and the Guard had arrived down in the cargo hold, they found the mule and cargo seemingly unmolested and ready to go. Strange, that after being kicked out so completely, their exit would be so gentle. A service elevator deeper in the warehouse slid open, its gate lifted up to allow the elevator’s occupants out. With a click of his tongue to get Mattie’s attention, the Head of Security waved her back toward him and away from the man panicking about pocket squares and the crewmen converging on the mule. As she approached, a bulky item covered in shadow was tossed harshly toward's Mattie's chest for her to grab.

“Ey, you've got a job to do. Follow them. Cut ‘em off before they get to their ship, somewhere remote-like. Take the cargo and bring it back here,” with another wave of his hand, two guards stepped forward to stand before Mattie, “Take Serg and Bret with you. Make sure they,” he pointed at Barnaby and his crew, “aren’t able to come back for their stuff. This’s your test, recruit. Do well and you’ll get yer own shiny badge and a room of yer own,” he told her with a sly grin. Serg and Bret winked at their temporary commander before moving toward the casino’s transport vehicles, checking their weapons on the way. Serg kicked the cargo hook on the back before getting in, making sure it was stable.

As for the gate itself, it remained wide open, offering a blissful and deceptively easy exit for the crew and their cargo. It seemed, visually, like they were being shown mercy by the man who’d refused to give them money.

"Tabby, how's shopping going?"

Team 2:
Location: The Market

The blonde hopped in surprise at the sound of Rian’s voice coming over the comms that she’d absolutely forgotten she had on her. She’d been so busy watching Riot and Vincent dealing with the interestingly stern woman that she’d have been startled by just about anything. "Oh it's wonderful!" she called back through the system. "We made a new friend, she's awful pretty. A little stern but we all have our flaws. She wants to speak to the Captain, wants to take the boxes from us, but we told her we don't have any idea what she's talking about," she relayed back to the other team, giggling over the line.

The woman frowned and lifted her chin slightly, the noose closing in as members of her team formed a tight circle around the group. “Well, I can see you’re not idiots. Well," her eyes settled upon the doctor, "Not all of you..." she informed them, grinning dangerously. “So, why don’t we all just mosey back to your ship where I can wait for your Captain to return. I can be reasonable,” the woman added, lowering her hands to hook her thumbs in the belt of her pants. One hand extended back the way they’d come, brows raised and a smile on her lips. Alliance soldiers stepped out of their path back to the docking area but formed a steady and eager wall between them and the rest of the market. They seemed twitchy, fingers itching to squeeze triggers and deal with this the easy way. But, for now, the woman in charge had a firm hold on them and they’d apparently attempt to be polite and civil.
CHARACTERS
Charity ~ Melody ~ Tabitha


NARRATION
Darling ~ Iscariot

Powered by EzPortal