Episode 2 - Sectors/Shops

[Amorru Reyes]

Location: Valhalla

Of all the reactions he'd expected to get from the woman before him, agreement feel far from the list. Unsure how to react, the smirk he wore like a security blanket faded to confusion. "Well. Okay then. Right you are." His voice trailed off as she continued. "Truthin' ya now, love, but I don't give two tugs 'bout Mr. King and I imagine I'm the last person The Duchess would take a shine to seein' anyhow. Figure she won't be no worse for wear. Our lady Grace's personality aside, she certainly knows her way with knife and needle. Oh. And I'm sure you did your part too, like." Amorru drained his drink, his thoughts immediately going to his emotions in his inebriation.

"I'm gonna miss-" he started before Jesse interjected. He shot her a suspicious look at the mention of royalty, then pulled back his collar to feel at the stitches he still wore from getting sewn up on Newhall. "Sod's all..." Jesse offered the woman a drink, suggesting the gentleman chatting up Octavia might foot the bill for the lot of them. Attempting to focus through the daze of drink and glare of orange stained skin, as Jesse rattled off a list of names he finally thought he recognized Sean covered in bad make-up and sporting freshly dyed locks. "Cāo wǒ de yǎnjīng! What's that git aimin' t'get himself into now? Bugger all. 'Nother round then? Figure he owes us both a drink."

[Gwen Eiber]

Location: Valhalla

She frowned, catching sight of the edge of his stitches, giving her braid another tug.  She didn't have to say anything, she didn't.  She certainly wasn't under any obligation to treat him.  She couldn't stand his pompous, arrogant...but he was hurt and her oversized cornflower blue eyes softened towards him and her next words were offered tentatively. "If you need me to look at that, take the stitches out, you are welcome to come to the medbay."  She had released the edge of her dress, almost reached out, but managed to put her hand back down by her side.  "Only if you want."

She gave Jesse a warm smile at the invitation and for breaking some of the tension. "That's very kind of you, ma'am and you as well, Mist...I mean, Amorru, but I have other obligations this evening." Obligations wasn't exactly true, she was looking forward to spending time with her Uncle Jed and catching up, but she couldn't very well say that she'd rather shave her head bald than share a drink with Amorru. She smiled politely and gave a little finger waggle of a shy wave down towards the two at the end of the bar Jesse indicated. "I do appreciate you accepting my apology. If you'll excuse me." She made a little head bobbing half curtsey and didn't really wait for a reply.

Big blue eyes searched for Jedikiah and finding him seated at the other end of the bar she made her way over to him with that brisk no-nonsense walk.  She settled on the stool next to him, leaving the dark haired woman to sit by herself. "That was decidedly unpleasant, but worst done best begun daddy always said." She gave him a big smile as she made herself comfortable on the stool. "You know; I have no idea what I want to drink.  I do it so rarely."

[noseatbelts]

Location: The Tiangong 5 Karaoke Lounge

As Ajax crumpled to the floor, Paul casually followed his trajectory downwards. With a sigh, he took one last drag of his cigarette, stamped it out in a nearby ashtray, and slowly and purposefully stood up from the stool. "Ajax has been getting on my nerves all gorramm day. He's loud mouthed, cocky, and an asshole. And I apologize on his behalf and on behalf of our employer that he was rude to you." Now came the hard part. "But I can't let you do that." He said, pointing down at the mess that was now his partner's face. Paul's weary voice could have been reading a cortex manual for all the emotion he put into it. This was how things were, there was no changing it. Any life this man might have had, any joy he found in his work, had long since been stamped out like his cigarette on the bar.

"Li'l Sebastian runs this station. Just facts. He pays us to help him run it. And folks like Reggie here pay us so Li'l Sebastian keeps them safe. And when someone attacks us, well... people don't feel so safe. You see what I mean?" Paul reached into his pocket and produced a pair of brass knuckles, sliding them over his fingers as he spoke. "I don't expect you to know who Li'l Sebastian is or who we are or how any of this works. And I'm sorry to be the one to have to teach you." He shook out the stiffness in his joints that had come with age and took up a casual boxer's stance, like his heart wasn't really in it. "Let's get this over with."

[Devon McKinney]

Location: The Tiangong 5 Karaoke Lounge

As Ajax crumpled to the floor Devon was already sliding off the stool.  She plucked off his hat, plopping it on her own head and taking the gun from his waistband. She straightened, shaking her head as she looked at Paul. Her voice never raised, that same low gravelly sound. "I dun wanna  fight ya, yer nice."  With her free hand she reached for the brown packet, sliding it over towards Paul. "Can finish yer night an' I'll help ya carry him home. Can get a drink after."  She nodded amiably. "I'm keeping his hat though."

She glanced to Mr. Just Right, she didn't want him hurt in the tussle if that's what it turned into. She watched Paul slip on the brass knuckles but she still didn't move like a woman who felt threatened or alarmed.  "Feelin' safe is important.  I git tha. He dun make people feel safe. He's loud and rude. Dangerous." Her tongue darted out of its own volition, wetting her chapped lips. "Causes more prollems than he solves I reckon. Now, he's quiet, ya got yer money and I feel safe again. Ain't no need to scrap." She took a step back, getting clear of the bar stools.

She was still holding Ajax's gun by the barrel. She wasn't threatening Paul with it though. She wasn't even in stance that said she was going to fight him. She looked more tired than anything. The dark circles that always seem to surround her eyes more pronounced. "I'll go tell yer boss I'm sorry if ya want but I'm not apologizing ta him." She nudged Ajax with her boot. "He deserved it."

[Jedikiah Rembo]

Location: Valhalla

Gwendola searched for Jedikiah and finding him seated at the other end of the bar she made her way over to him with that brisk no-nonsense walk.  She settled on the stool next to him, leaving the dark haired woman to sit by herself. "That was decidedly unpleasant, but worst done best begun daddy always said." She gave him a big smile as she made herself comfortable on the stool. "You know; I have no idea what I want to drink.  I do it so rarely."

Jedikiah did not ask about her apology tour, she had settled that bit of personal business. It was concluded.

"Yes, myself as well, though I have been thinking about a glass of Port for some time. I'm not sure why, nostalgia perhaps." of course it was, his late/missing wife had deep Portuguese roots. He glanced at the woman a bar stool away and indicated her drink with a sideways nod of his head. "And I admit a couple of stays at a monastery or two that had some excellent porter and stouts. Very tasty. Why is it those monks can make such good beer?"

He gave her a moment. The bartender arrived with his glass, he waited for Gwendola to order and then asked for menus.

[Alese “Alice” Westergaard]

At the mention of monks making good beer Alice turned her head slightly giving a friendly enough smile to Jedikiah and the young woman sitting next to him, half lifting her glass in a pseudo-toast. She didn't speak though, not wanting to interrupt their date or whatever it was.  She wasn't one to intrude or to judge.  She took another swallow, savoring the taste. She shifted on the stool, half turned so she could watch the bartender work, but still comfortably look down the length of the bar.

It was funny that she had unknowingly had the same thought as Jed, hoping with a name like Valhalla she'd find some Vikings about. Great minds and what not, though they'd never know they'd shared it. It seemed unlikely to her, but with the name, well, a girl can dream.  After all, her place was called Alice's Restaurant and you could find an Alice there, or at least, you'd be able to once it opened.

Green eyes traveled over the others in the night club, not lingering anywhere too long. She wasn't looking to cause any trouble or find any tonight, just a quiet drink, maybe some casual conversation.

[noseatbelts]

Location: The Tiangong 5 Karaoke Lounge

Paul's shoulders fell, apparently tired of this conversation. He seemed to have a headache coming on. "No, you don't get it, lady. It ain't about apologizing." With a sigh, he replaced the brass knuckles back into his pockets. "Fine. Have it your way." He collected the little brown package, knocked back Ajax's drink and deposited a few credits from his own wallet on the bar, grumbling the whole time. "Sorry about this Reg." Was the only words that could be discerned.

Finally, after his pockets were full, he stopped and purposefully looked at Devon with righteous indignation. "You wanna talk to my boss. That's on you.  Sebastian ain't gonna like what you did to Ajaxthough." Paul laughed. "I mean. He knows Ajax. He won't blame you. But he won't like it. It's the principle of the thing, like I explained. But you know what, the way you handled ol' Ajax here, I bet you'd make quick work of my ass so I'm saving myself more headaches down the road." Paul bent down and put a hand under Ajax's arm to lift him up. "Help me up with him. He's deceptively heavy."

[Devon McKinney]

Location: The Tiangong 5 Karaoke Lounge

Devon smiled, a real genuine smile at Paul, and for a moment he could see she had once been a stunningly beautiful woman before whatever had happened to her happened.  She ejected the magazine from Ajax's gun with practiced ease, made sure there wasn't a round in the chamber and stuffed it all into the left pocket of her trench coat. It was clear that she knew her way around weapons and if it had come down to it could probably have just shot him if he'd pushed the issue. She was glad she didn't have to hurt him.

She gave Mr. Just Right a smile as well, lifting her whiskey glass in salute before tossing it back.  Her eyes closed as the whiskey burned its way down.  Usually she liked to sip at it but she didn't think Paul had much patience for that and she'd probably caused him enough trouble tonight. So much for a quiet night of booze and pills and whiskey keeping the voices in her head in the corner.

She bent down to help with Ajax, grunting with the effort of lifting the man up.  Once they got him up part way, she repositioned him slightly, then hucked him up in a fireman's carry. Figured it was the least she could do; no sense in Paul breaking his back since she was the one who laid Ajax out.  She just looked at Paul, waiting for him to lead the way. She didn't speak again until he started moving. "I dun really wanna talk ta yer boss, just said I would. I mostly just didn't wanna hurt ya."

She stumped along beside him, her old combat boots thumping solidly along. "Wish he wudda kept his yap shut. We cudda had a nice night." She shifted her shoulders a little, adjusting the deadweight that was Ajax.  "Yer boss should hire better crew 'en Ajax. I dun mind catchin a beatin if I gotta, but I'm gonna fight back, just sayin.  Rather it not be there if I can help it. I like dat place."

[Octavia Wynn]

Location: Valhalla

Octavia was going to have to make up her mind as to her feelings, and quick! She wanted to be enraged, but she wasn't sure that Sean hadn't been just as clueless about the wedding calamity as she was. Maybe she should just save all her fury for the incompetent captain. For some reason she couldn't quite explain, she was rather fond of the man. Maybe because he had been the first person on the ship who had been nice to her. Or it could have been because he was one of the few people who had noticed her distaste for being touched and respected it. A gentleman, in that respect at least.

He crossed the room toward her. In addition to his new look, he was walking differently as well. She wondered how many people this would fool. Surely, anyone who had seen him prior would see right through this disguise. Or maybe not. She wasn't really on the up and up about other people's perception skills. He touched his forehead, lips, and chest and said "Salaam, Miss. May I have the pleasure of your company?"

She nodded her head and smiled at him. "Absolutely, please do. Drinking with company is always preferable to drinking alone." She didn't really think this was true but it seemed like a good thing to say at the time.

Being unsure of the depth of his subterfuge she said. "Name's Octavia. My first time here in Valhalla. Seems nice. What brings you here?" She did not extend a hand in welcome but she did move her chair a little farther back to give him plenty of room to sit comfortably next to her.

[Gwen Eiber]

Gwen nodded sagely and gently rested her hand on Jedikiah's arm for a heartbeat or two.  Despite her limited number of years, she was an old soul and felt things very deeply.  She glanced towards the woman with the wild looking dark hair sitting a seat away from Jed when he indicated, her features naturally forming a friendly smile.  She admired the woman's sense of style and how free she seemed.  Gwen couldn't imagine wearing something so form-fitting and revealing. The scrubs she wore in the medbay were bad enough. 

When the bar tender came over to take her order she hesitated for a moment and ordered a grasshopper.  Not perhaps the most grown up of drinks, but she never did have much of a taste for alcohol.  This was more like mint chocolate ice cream.  She did have a taste for ice cream.  She had a taste for most sweets.  Her parents had been rather strict about such things, usually fruit for dessert, sweets were a rare treat.  Maybe that was why she had loved Auntie Marlena's boiled icing so well.  It was such rare treat.  Of course, so was the woman who made it.

She sipped at her drink through the little straw, smiling happily, once it arrived.  Her legs were crossed at the ankles, swinging childlike on the barstool.  She looked over the choices on the menu and took another sip.  "What sounds good to you?" Personally, she wasn't a picky eater.  And the whole point of being out in the Black was to have all the new experiences she wanted before she went home to settle down and do what was expected of her.  "I was thinking maybe the sushi platter."

[RUNE]

A well-dressed woman with raven hair, almond eyes, and light copper skin kissed by the Sun of Earth-That-Was stepped, heels clacking with purpose, toward the bar. She glared down her nose at Sean as he conversed with Octavia, then signaled for the bartender to meet her away from those propping up their stools for a private conversation. As she spoke in a hushed whisper, she glanced over at Amorru and Jesse. "And those two?" she was heard asking. The bartender shrugged as if to argue that they were racking up a tab before being dismissed with a wave of the woman's hand.

The bartender approached a Telephonix kiosk not far from the bar and had a short exchange with the security personnel that appeared on the screen. A short while later, during which the woman replied to the pilot's glassy bedroom eyes with a silent, deadpan stare, a unit of four Centurion Security agents arrived. The man in charge conversed with the woman in private. The security agent produced a recently printed bulletin, the scrolling text and animated capture moving across it depicting a curious man lifting a custodian's jumpsuit and seen later from the point of view of a potted plant wearing the same hat and a garish, orange skin tone.  The dark-haired woman motioned toward Sean before regarding Amorru and Jesse with a hard stare and pointing at the two of them as well.

Heels clacking once again toward the bar, this time with the thumping, uniform steps of the security agents accompanying her, the woman approached Sean with an attention-seeking "ahem". "You, sir, may continue this mummer's farce elsewhere. I find this stunt not only distasteful and decidedly low brow, but personally abhorrent. Seriously now. It's Versal Year 2519, and this manner of mockery is best forgotten as Earth-That-Was. These gentlemen will see you out. The young woman may stay. Miss, allow me to cover your next drink for the trouble." The security agents gathered around Sean, the lead tilting his head toward the exit.

After watching two of the agents escorting Sean out the double doors, the woman addressed the remaining gathered patrons. "Good evening, ladies and gentleman. My name is Zakiti Tatannu-Ishtar, and I manage this exclusive establishment on behalf of it's owner whenever he is... Indisposed. I would remind our patrons one and all that this club is for a specifically targeted clientele, and as such enforces a dress code which simply must be maintained. You two." She motioned toward Amorru and Jesse. "Your clothes are a mess, and the both of you are in desperate need of a bath. You, miss, came in here in some decidedly unfashionable apparel, and your man here with the wandering eyes has some bloody rag stuffed in his pants. I've no idea what the two of you are about, but I don't want it here. There's a bar down the way caters to the general riff raff this station tends to attract. I think you'll both fit in far better there. Please finish your drinks, pay your balance, and exit the premises in an orderly and hurried fashion. Otherwise Iscariot's finest security agents will have to remove you. There you are. Move along now. Yes. Thank you so much. Well then. With that bit of unfortunate business aside I would like to thank everyone abiding the club's standard of dress - no matter how... quaint - for their patronage and invite you all to enjoy the remainder of your evenings."