The Festivities of Fortune

[Sebastion Longstreet]

Longstreet’s Estate
September 7, 2517 - Beaumonde
6:12 PM Local Time




Longstreet’s Manor was about a thirty minute flight away from the city of Bellforge. It sat in an fairly open area. There were other houses out in the area, but each had a lot of room. Their distance was far enough away from the city that the air was much cleaner, and it was a very pretty place. The house itself fit with architecture that was based on some older conservative models of the Central Planets that were popular in the early 25th century. The house was built on four floors, and was large. It had two fountains in front of it, and a lot of windows. The grass was well maintained, and there were only a few trees.

At the center of the house on the bottom floor there was an overhang style garage, which had a lot of a large number of vehicles inside of it. The center of the house above it had a wrap around set of windows, and inside one could see that it was where the real party was going on.

The light was fading outside, and soon it would be completely dark. So far away from the city, the only lights came from the fine and non-offensive lighting that came from the house, and the fading star. The air was nice, and it the wind blew gently. It was cool, but not so cold that one was shivering.

All around the grounds there were people, though outside there weren’t many. Most people had already gone inside to partake in the fine food, and company that was attending. Everyone was dressed in their finest, which drew from styles of many cultures. No one could mistake however the pairs of men that were walking the ground in somewhat matching attire of fine suits, that seemed slightly out of place on those wearing them. They were large men, some with beards, some with long hair. Though they weren’t carrying weapons openly, you’d be a fool to think that they weren’t. They were obviously Longstreet’s men, who were patrolling the ground to ensure everything was safe.

A large collection of vehicles of all kinds were parked just beside the manor itself. New flying cars which looked like they hadn’t even had advertisements put out about them sat there, as well as shuttles which weren’t quite so new. After a short walk by the fountains and up stairs to the front doors, people were checked in on the guest list. They were then run through a gun scanner to ensure they weren’t carrying anything that was potentially hazardous.

Inside there was a staircase that led to the second level of the house. There were some people just inside, but the food and majority were inside the main hall. A short walk up the stairs and down the hall and the guests eyes were met with a great collection of wealth and power on the rim.

The room was large, and went up three floors. It was reminiscent to those of a great starliner cruise vessel. A large stair case wrapped around in a spiral, which led to balconies on different levels. At the bottom level there was a dance floor, with many of the verse’s finest dancing in a very proper fashion. A quartet played music off at the side, and all along the walls of the bottom floor there was an array of the finest food money could buy.

On the balconies above there were many enjoying each others company, and speaking about business and politics. A large amount of servers traversed the grounds offering fine alcohol from all across the verse’ and finger food. There were other smaller tables with food on the upper levels, but the main collection was at the bottom.

[Ilana Logan]

Ilana walked into the beautiful and crowded room dressed in a soft gold, silk dress, that had a small amount of black at the top along with pale tan rose designs under the black, and a matching pair of soft gold heels. Her hair was down, and wavy, something she rarely let it do. She wore the barest tinge of makeup, and the only jewelry she owned. She'd been told this was a formal affair, and she'd dreaded it more and more every day.



She had spent the entire previous day looking for a formal dress that she could wear to Longstreet's party. She didn't own a single dress, not even a casual dress, because she didn't wear them often. The last time she'd worn a dress, she had been nineteen, and then it was for a job. In a way, this event was a job too, though not quite in the same sense. The last job she'd worn a dress to was so her boss could steal something, this time it was to perhaps get another job.

She had made it through security fine, as she had brought nothing with her, not even a handbag, not that she owned one to bring. She felt naked without her guns, but she knew the only people here that would be armed were Longstreet's guards. It was one of the safest places she could imagine, yet she was still uncomfortable without her own form of protection. She tried to keep the discomfort she felt at being unarmed and wearing a dress from showing, but she wasn't sure how well she succeeded.

She mentally shook herself and looked casually around the room, seeking members of her crew. She couldn't see any of them, so she started carefully making her way through the throng of well dressed socialites, feeling wildly out of place. The room was cool, but not cold, just the way Ilana liked it, but it did little to make her feel at home. She felt like a party crasher. As someone who spent most of her days covered in engine grease and oil, a party such as this was the farthest thing from normal she could imagine.

I really wish I knew where Ray was. He'd make me laugh and I'd feel better.

She laughed a little nervously at the thought, but it did nothing to make her feel better. Her stomach was in knots and, for the moment at least, she was here alone. She started to tuck her hair behind her ear, and stopped herself, but only just. It was such a habit, she knew she'd be fighting the urge all night. She didn't see anyone she knew, and as much as she hated events like this in the first place, being at one alone was not making the tightness she felt in her stomach any better. She scanned the crowd again, hoping she would find someone she knew soon.

[Ray Hudson]

"On her final day, the girl is on the same mountaintop from all those years ago. The same mountaintop where she guided the boy off the edge, giving him her wings. Now old and weathered, she shuffles her way towards the edge...and allows herself to fall off...fully believing that the boy would help her ascend like she did for him in his last moments. But the boy never came and she just kept falling, never getting her wings back but never reaching the bottom.

Ray was dressed at his finest and he was standing before a gorgeous painting. His suit was black and stylish but not exactly tailored by Londinium's Sison Cheung. His outfit was nice enough for him to blend in however and that was good enough for him. The painting in front of him took a little over seven years to complete and it's beauty could be appreciated by all who witnessed it. Despite his staring at the painting and the in depth discussion he was having about it, Ray didn't really care about the painting at all. All he was trying to do was impress the gorgeous woman who was standing next to him.

The woman was young and her beauty was almost violent, dazing and leaving you in a weakened state. Ray felt unworthy speaking to her and in some societies he would have his tongue removed for even thinking of speaking to a woman of such high status. She was sweet and her innocence made Ray want to back off but he decided to speak to her regardless, feeling particularly fearless as of late. The woman was very interested in art. Music, paintings, sculptures and the like all appealed to her and Ray decided to try to even come close to her level of sophistication. Ray put this stranger on a pedestal and that nearly crippled his efforts, continuing his cycle of self-destruction.

Ray was talking entirely out of his ass the entire time. The two were discussing the meaning of the painting in front of them and Ray was saying whatever came to mind. He had never seen the painting before or even knew how to pronounce the artists name. The story he told her about it was long and Ray hoped he sounded impressive but he didn't look at her enough to tell, nothing but a few quick glances.

The painting was large and used many vibrant colors. It featured a mountain with a path to jump off that resembled a diving board. The silhouette of a woman falling from the mountain was eerie and fairly unsettling to Ray and the area below didn't look very welcoming. Beneath the woman was an intricate collection of abstract figures and shapes and the further down you went the more you wanted to look up. The figures below were the chill that causes your hair to perk up and leaves you unsure of your safety.

Once Ray learned of the woman's interest in the painting he saw an entrance. He tried his best to sound like a deep thinker and he mimicked his father for most of the discussion. His father could talk for hours about the artistic value in a ripple in a pond or a single note in a song. Ray finally got a use out of it.

"Why do you think that is?" The woman asked, wondering why the woman would be left falling down an endless pit, forced to stare at the grotesque images before her, forever unsure if she'll ever be forced to meet them.

"I'm not really sure." Ray responded, completely tapped out after minutes of making up his own interpretation of a painting on the spot. Luckily the woman didn't sound bored which was a good sign and she even seemed interested in what Ray had to say which was shocking. The woman looked like she had something on her mind and she opened her mouth to say something but snapped it back shut and hid her lips for a moment. "Got an idea?" Ray asked, wondering if she had a thought about the painting.

The woman seemed surprised to hear Ray ask her if she had something on her mind. She didn't look like she was used to speaking her mind and from how she spoke she didn't seem all that used to speaking at all. Her voice was soft and she kept her volume low. "Well...what if...what if the boy was watching? What if that's him right there?" She asked, pointing at a spot, with her very fancy pen that she had been clinging too, in the upper right hand corner of the painting. Ray hadn't noticed it before but once he did, he couldn't stop seeing it. It contrasted the rest of the upper half of the painting. It was a very light shade of blue, small but had no business in that particular spot. It was strange since it didn't take anything away from the quality of the painting and as you looked at it the spot started to make more sense. "What if he had the option to give back everything that she gave him but he didn't? He wouldn't. But the choice will always be there because...she'll never stop falling." The woman looked stared at Ray instead of the painting, waiting for his response. This made Ray uneasy and he thought on the spot.

"I think you might be right." Ray said, sounding as kind as he could without letting his nerves show.

The young woman smiled brightly, having had her opinion heard. She was definitely not used to being listened to, let alone agreed with. Ray wondered what kind of home she came from and what culture she was apart of. "Do you think he'll ever save her?" She asked.

"I don't know." Ray responded. He tried to think of what to say next and he tried to sound intelligent. He stared at the picture and wondered. Why would the boy, the boy who died at age ten, the boy who was given the wings of an angel by the pure girl and was saved from an eternity of uncertainty, be so ungrateful as to leave his savior falling for an eternity? "Maybe it's the uncertainty that get's him most? He has no idea what'll happen to him once he saves her. Will he take her place falling down the pit, never knowing anything but descent or will he end up in an entirely new world and have to adjust all over again? He already had to give up one life, he probably can't stand to give up another." Once Ray was finished he was unsure if what he said even made sense.

"Not even for the girl he loves?" She asked.

I guess nothing makes sense when love is involved. Ray thought to himself. Ray had nothing. Why would the boy leave her? The two were in love when they were children until the boy became ill. The girl was an angel, pure of heart and incorruptible but the boy was just a boy, not free of temptation. The boy was flawed and felt undeserving of the girls love and in his final days he pushed her away. In his final day he was on the mountaintop and was fully prepared to jump alone. Before he did he felt a hand grasp his and he turned to see the angel. The boy jumped off, alone and his wings soared. Now it was the girls turn to jump but she had no one to save her. Was the boy so ungrateful? Would the boy really abandon his savior to save himself? This was the story that Ray and the woman had created but now it needed a meaning and Ray couldn't find one.

After a long pause Ray had an idea. "We haven't looked at it like this. What if she isn't falling? what if the boy's holding her up right now and he's making his decision. So when a good, selfless person looks at it, the girl is saved and the boy did the right thing but when a selfish person looks at it...the girl falls." Ray stated. Ray worried that it was a cop out and that she wouldn't fall for the hastily put together mess that Ray had just given her.

The young woman stared at the picture and her eyes shifted from the silhouette to the light blue spot in the corner. After a moment she smiled brightly and she turned to Ray. "I think I like that way better." She said and Ray felt his muscles go loose. He couldn't believe it worked and for a moment he questioned the woman's intelligence. When Ray looked at her smile he smiled right back. He would fly into the sun just to make her day a little brighter. With that smile she could've told him to stab the most important diplomat he could find and he would grab the nearest salad fork and go on the hunt. The young woman looked back at the painting and back at Ray. "So what do you see when you look at her?" She asked, wanting to know Ray's interpretation of her fate.

The young woman's interpretation was fairly obvious but Ray wanted her to speak her mind. "Well what do you think?" Ray asked. She looked like she needed to be a bit more open with herself and Ray decided to be helpful. A rare site.

Before the young woman could answer, a voice that held authority hit Ray's ears with a horrid news. "Mel! We searched high and low." Two men approached her. The man who spoke was stylish, tan and handsome with well groomed salt and pepper hair. The man next to him was tall, fit and his hair was thinning while his lips were plump and chapped. "Mr. Lowell this is my wife Mel, we've been trying to get you two in the same room for years." The handsome, powerful man said with a self complimentary chuckle.

Once Ray heard 'wife' he looked down at the young woman's hand and saw a diamond ring that would make you lean to the left. "God damnit." Ray muttered to himself. Rather than waiting for the embarrassing 'it was nice meeting you' bit, Ray just turned away and started walking. He sighed and shook his head. "How'd I notice that? Thing was the size of a doorknob." Ray said to himself. He felt like an idiot and added a new regret to the list.

Fifteen minutes went by after that and Ray was wandering the manor trying to forget his embarrassment. As he walked around he came back to the large crowded room and after a moment of scanning, saw a girl he thought he recognized. After giving her a second glance he saw that it was Ilana. Ray smiled when he noticed her and began to make his way to her from the crowd. She looked around and she looked out of her element.

Once Ray reached her he spoke. "Excuse me miss. If you're wondering were the other Wúxiàn Models are, they're right over there." Ray said, pointing to a group of beautiful woman talking and laughing with each other. They probably weren't with the Wúxiàn Modeling Agency but they definitely looked the part.

Ray gleamed at Ilana, hiding the fact that he wasn't in the greatest of moods. He had a look on his face the night was young and the fun would begin with Ilana. He looked like there was no telling what the night would bring but he knew that nothing could go wrong. He looked optimistic and ready for what's next. A stark contradiction to what he felt inside but none of it showed and Ray actually did feel a bit optimistic. He had yet to try the shrimp.

[Ilana Logan]

Ilana stopped walking at the edge of the crowd. She could see paintings displayed on the walls. Some of them were beautiful, and some were frightening to think about. It wasn't the painting itself that made it so frightening, it was thinking about the mind that created such a thing. She shuddered at the thought and turned to look over the crowd again, wondering how there could be so many people here, yet she didn't know a single one of them.

She was already tired of being here, and again she wished Ray were here. She'd be much more comfortable around someone from her crew, at the very least someone she'd met before. Ray would just be funnier. He had a way of making her laugh no matter what he said. He had a way of pissing her off too, but not nearly as often. She looked around again, feeling more out of place than a monk in a bordello. Maybe mores so.

"Excuse me miss. If you're wondering were the other Wúxiàn Models are, they're right over there," a voice said from beside her.

She hadn't even noticed him approach, and just moments earlier she'd been wishing he was here with her. She grinned in relief and genuine happiness, and said "You clean up nice yourself Hudson." The she followed his hand with her eyes as he pointed to a group of beautiful woman talking and laughing with each other. She laughed once she saw where he was pointing. No way could I be compared to those women, she thought. The gesture was very nice regardless though.

Ray was smiling brilliantly, and for the first time she noticed he was handsome in a rugged sort of way. He was dressed more elegantly than she'd ever seen him, and the clothes looked odd on him. Not in a bad way, it just wasn't the normal garb with him, and she had to admit, if only to herself, that the look suited his body, if not his personality. Also, she'd never seen Ray smile this way, and it looked good on him. At the same time, the smile made her wonder if it was real, or if he was just as nervous as she was. She didn't truly know Ray that well , despite the fact that they'd been on the same crew for a while now. They hadn't talked all that much since they'd been on Beaumonde in the market.

"Oh God no. They're way too boring for me. All they do is chatter incessantly about how much their shoes cost," Ilana said. With a laugh in her voice, she added, "Give me someone who will joke about stealing the crutches from a guy with a broken leg any day."

She grinned at him again, and hoped her grin let him know she was half joking. It had been funny when he said it, though she didn't actually want him to do it. She looked at him, smiling, and wondered why she'd never thanked him. His being there when she'd been hit over the head on that damned Mantis had probably been the only thing that saved her life. Yet, she hadn't thanked him.

Why? She wondered. Probably because it would have done nothing but make both of us uncomfortable. Then she wondered exactly what had made her think of that in the first place.

[Ray Hudson]

It was nice to see Ilana all dolled up and to see her smile was enough to lift Ray's spirits. She said that he cleaned up well and Ray scoffed. He was telling himself how great he looked all day and the compliment just fed into it. Ilana looked over to the 'models' that Ray was pointing at and she laughed which made Ray raise a brow without losing his smile. She looked like she'd rather spend five minutes in a cage making out with venomous cobras than go over to those 'models'. She claimed that they were too boring and only talked about shoes. She claimed that she'd prefer the company of people who want to rob the handicapped. Ray thought about it for a moment and realized that she was talking about him.

"Well, obviously, I mean who wouldn't wanna hang out with that guy?" Ray commented, feeling his head inflate, stretching his proud smile. "But you never know, those girls might be funnier than you'd think." Ray mentioned. He never thought he'd like Ilana but she seemed to have a good head on her shoulders. He was taught at a young age never to make assumptions and he was just now wondering if he should listen more than he should speak.

Getting an idea Ray turned back to Ilana. "Besides, I think you might make a great wingwoman." Ray suggested. He didn't really think Ilana could help him sleep with woman who looked like supermodels but it would be interesting to see how they would do.

Mostly, it would be an effort to recover from the embarrassment from earlier. If his advances would already be based on the idea of failure and humor than he wouldn't feel so defeated. He was back thinking about his mistake and he felt like he needed this more. He smiled at Ilana, trying to give off an aura of 'fun'. He also would like to see Ilana in a much less stressful environment. Less bullet wounds and death threats. Ilana's hair was already down so she might as well just try to make the most of it.

[Marcus O'Terra]

Marcus didn't like fancy parties. He liked going to the bar after a job with the other mercs he'd worked with. He liked heading to the pub after a salvage haul.

But he liked weddings too, and wakes. The right ones where people remembered the lives of people instead of their deaths.

But he looked alright, his hair had grown longer and he'd framed his face well. His suit was comfortable, Blacks and Brown fitters. Durable and something he'd wear again if the situation warranted. The neck bit was a bit fancy but he didn't mind.

Longstreet's estate had a practicality too it that Marcus respected. Just enough flaunting but substance to back it up. He recognized more than one of the items on display as things likely 'acquired' without the previous owners consent.

He bet a few of the guests knew it too, judging by the way they lingered around certain pieces.

He cased the estate. Security was strong but not overbearing. The guards held conversations, but they were terse and never kept their eyes off their cover.

Marcus's appearance was much the normal. The browns of his outfit, the storm of his hair, and the look in his eyes. But his step was different.

He walked with cane, to help ease the burden on his side where he'd been shot. The bruised had been healed and the unfortunate bleeding as well, but he still felt sort in his side.

But the cane had a nice padding on the bottom, so Marcus was quiet as he approached Ray and Ilana.

"I hope you wont still this man's crutch..." He stood leaning on the right angle handle of the cane, but still standing straight. He smiled at the two of them.

"What do you think? Should I have gotten a hat?"

[Ilana Logan]

The look on Ray's face when she said he cleaned up well made her smile. He looked as though he'd gotten one too many ego strokes that day. It was good to see him in such high spirits. He didn't smile nearly enough, in her opinion. Something made him that way, but before she could start brooding about what that something could be, he began talking to her again.

"Well, obviously, I mean who wouldn't wanna hang out with that guy?" Ray said, sounding egotistical, yet joking at the same time. "But you never know, those girls might be funnier than you'd think."

"Pfft," She scoffed, smiling broadly. "Fat chance of that. They're too pretty to be bothered with having anything intelligent to say. They rely on their looks for everything."

She was getting good vibes from Ray that night, and she was enjoying it more than she wanted to admit. She hoped his calm, happy manner didn't end when the party did. That would be a shame. Ray turned to her again and said, "Besides, I think you might make a great wingwoman."

"Hey I would love to help you get in the sack with one of those girls. I might even be able to do it. Hell, why not? Which one would you prefer?"

She didn't know anyone had joined them until Marcus spoke. "I hope you wont still this man's crutch..."


"What? You think I should have gotten a hat?"

Apparently he'd been there for a while. She turned to look at him. He was leaning on a cane and she guessed he was still sore from the shooting. Ilana feigned shock, touched her fingertips to her chest, and said, "I would never!" She put on an air of indignant offense and said, "I can't believe you would think such a thing of me."

She laughed at herself then, dropping the pretense, and forgetting the hat comment entirely, said to Marcus, "You know, I've been meaning to ask you something for a while now." She paused for a second and then continued, "When we were docked at Persephone, Rienna mentioned something about you having a scar that was quite a sight to behold. What scar was she talking about?"

[Marcus O'Terra]

Marcus smirked as Ilana responded to his jab. She arched her fingers in a c'est moi pose and said "I would never!" She put on an air of indignant offense and said, "I can't believe you would think such a thing of me."

Marcus smile widened. "I expect you think like that, Ilana. Who else is gonna cover my ass when we get swept into the fire?"

Ilana returned his jab, "When we were docked at Persephone, Rienna mentioned something about you having a scar that was quite a sight to behold. What scar was she talking about?"

"Oh that, just a parting gift from the Moil that delivered me." He smiled. "You're both looking well." He looked over the floor, a cluster of women in designer wear were looking in there direction. Marcus stepped back a pace, and given them a clear line to the well dressed Ray.

"Quite a spread here." He smiled; there was a lot of money on display. If he was a thief this would be a fine time to pocket a few purses.

[Ray Hudson]

Ray was happy to hear that Ilana was up for their little game. Ray still didn't hold much hope but the point wasn't to succeed, the point was to have fun. Ray wasn't sure why he picked the fancy party filled with highly influential people to try this but Ray never really had an appreciation of his environment. Like a true lady, Ilana said that she could probably get Ray 'in the sack' with one of the 'models' they were looking at and asked who he preferred.

Ray wondered that himself and as he was making his decision Marcus had made an entrance. He was walking with a cane and wore a suit that was fairly different from Ray's but Marcus wasn't alone in his manner of style. He was walking with a cane which made Ray wonder if it was to make him appear sophisticated or if he hit his leg on a dresser or something before he left for the party. Marcus said he hoped they wouldn't take his cane away and if he should have added a hat to his ensemble. Ilana put on a haughty little show for Marcus, pretending to be offended by his accusation. Ilana And Ray laughed and Marcus smiled cheerfully. Things seemed to be going well and Ray felt good about the day.

Ilana brought up docking on Persephone and a woman named Riena talking about a scar on Marcus that was a 'sight to behold'. Immediately Ray was disconnected from the conversation, not knowing who Riena was and not even aware of Marcus having some amazing scar. Ray listened to Marcus explain that it was given to him but someone named Moil. He then changed the subject immediately, complimenting Ray and Ilana on their appearance and mentioning the spread at the manor.

Picking up that Marcus didn't want to talk about the scar, Ray decided to bring the topic back around. "Look, the only spread I wanna hear about is the spreading of legs." Ray claimed, standing before both of them, reminding them of the task at hand. Thinking about what he just said, Ray looked at Ilana. "Is that what I should open with when I talk to them?" Ray asked, sounding serious but meaning none of it.

He looked back at the 'models' that they had been talking about. There were five girls, a smiley brunette in a red dress, a girl with frizzy brown hair and a pink dress, another brunette that looked the youngest in a white dress that was pink at the bottom, a girl with an asian style dress with red flowers all around it and another girl with a long black dress that looked like it had crows feathers from the waist down. Ray glanced at them all, thinking on the question Ilana had asked him.

[Jay Fuller]

Jay entered the room, beaming just a little. He enjoyed these fancy-type parties, even if it was just an excuse to get out of the usually dirty clothes he wore around the ship. He had kept to himself a little bit the past couple weeks. Not that he was in a bad mood or anything, he was just tired of people. Especially after getting shot in the leg, which still poked a little bit when he walked. That didn't stop him, though! He spent a lot of the day wandering around the city. He was able to find a decently cheap suit that didn't look terrible.

The suit he wore was a pale blue. The jacket was pin-striped with a bit of shine to it. The pants and vest were more gray than the rest of the outfit. The shirt was white, and the tie matched the jacket. He had gone to these sort of parties before back on Paquin. Nothing quite to this extravagance, of course, but fancy nonetheless. The room was almost dizzyingly large, and full of beautiful people. He wandered around a little bit and looked for the rest of his crew. He couldn't see them, but he wasn't exactly looking hard.

He made his way over to the food. There weren't many people over here -- most were socializing or even dancing. Jay picked up a small napkin and put a couple things on it. There were a few d'oeuvres and a lot of main course type dishes. Jay grabbed some of the more fancy things onto his napkin. One of the items was orange, which was either really frightening or something awesome. The last thing he grabbed was a small slice of ham. He began to nibble on it as he stared out at the crowd.

There were many ideas Jay had for what he could do tonight. Hell, even just being here was an event. He could sit and watch these people just be for hours. But he also wanted to experience it! Go out dancing, socialize, maybe even find a bit of romance. He looked around, most people here were with someone, so that probably wouldn't happen. Not that Jay even minded -- he had little experience with romance besides one girlfriend back when he was fifteen. And, well, now he liked men. So that didn't turn out so well. But it's not like he could legitimately desire a romance if he hadn't really had one yet. Therefore, Jay was fine without it. Though the prospect was tempting.

Which then he was reminded most people around here probably wouldn't be sly. He heard those who were sly were much easier to find in the Core, but this wasn't the Core. So chances of finding someone of his similar persuasion was highly unlikely.

His mind moved from that particular train of thought and he kept scanning the crowd. When he saw a tall man and woman together he recognized, he realized it was Ray and Ilana. He grinned and began making his way across the room. His step had a little strut to it, after all, he looked fantastic. He liked to think he could turn a few heads. Hell, he felt like he could. As Jay got close, he saw Marcus walked up to the group with a cane.

When Jay got to the group, he heard Ray say, "Look, the only spread I wanna hear about is the spreading of legs... Is that what I should open with when I talk to them?"

Jay snorted. "Classy as always, Ray," he said. Jay looked at the group they were staring at. A group of very attractive women. Jay tilted his head. "Hm," he added, "Dibs on the one in white."

[Ilana Logan]

As far as Ilana could tell, the night seemed to be getting off to a pretty good start. Ray was laughing and joking, Marcus was grinning and taking shots at people. In fact, this may we be the best mood she'd ever seen him in. Everyone was in high spirits tonight. After everything they'd been through together, she hadn't expected such good moods all around, but she welcomed it.

Marcus's smile widened at her display of faux insult, "I expect you think like that, Ilana. Who else is gonna cover my ass when we get swept into the fire?"

She laughed at that, thinking, who, indeed.

To her comment about the scar Rienna had mentioned, he said,
"Oh that, just a parting gift from the Moil that delivered me." He smiled. "You're both looking well."

At that, Ilana felt her cheeks warm slightly. She smiled and said, "You don't look half bad tonight either."

Marcus looked around the room, spotting the 'models' Ray had mentioned, and he stepped back a little. "Quite a spread here," he said, smiling.

Ray popped in with his usual grace and said, "Look, the only spread I wanna hear about is the spreading of legs."

Ilana laughed at this, wondering how he came back with shit like that. She laughed even more when Jay said, ""Classy as always, Ray."

Ray looked back at Ilana and asked very seriously, "Is that what I should open with when I talk to them?"

Ilana laughed again, secretly wondering if he was serious. She decided he wasn't and with a grin she said, "Only if you want to get a stiletto to the balls."

Ray looked away from her and back to the 'models'. There were five girls in all, within that group. A silken haired brunette, with a fake smile pasted on, wearing a red dress, another brunette, who looked like she'd touched a live wire, wearing a pink dress, yet another brunette,this one pink at the bottom, a black haired girl with an asian style dress with red flowers all around it, and another girl with blondish brown hair, wearing a long black dress that looked like itwas made of black feathers from the waist down.

They all had pretty faces, but their taste was pretty terrible. Ilana would have been caught dead in any of those dressess, except maybe the red one, and that's a slim maybe. As Ray scanned over the group of girls, Jay sounded thoughtful, "Hm. Dibs on the one in white."

Ilana looked at him like he'd grown a second head. Her shock at Jay calling dibs on one of them had caught her completely off guard. She had been certain he was sly. Her mind raced back over the time she'd spent with him. How he had looked horrified when Amelia had all but thrown herself at him. Comments he made. His posture.

After a moment's thought, she decided she had been right after all, but she wouldn't call him out on it. He hadn't told her, and she knew there was probably a reason for that. Instead, she said, "So, I'm helping all of you get laid tonight. What the hell do I get out of this?" She smiled, but she thought about how long it had been.

[Marcus O'Terra]

Marcus looked over the flock Ray was eying up. At first glance they seemed fair enough, but a bulb in his brain didn't' go off for any of them. They seemed to be there for the sake of being there. They might be hired girls or someone's entourage.

Jay called 'dibs' on one of the girls, Marcus saw the one he meant and shrugged; he felt no need to contest that. Still, he wondered if Jay remembered the drugged up ramblings from their recovery period.

He played the conversation out in his head.

"Jay, about what happened... when those paramedics found us. What I said." He looked Jay in the eye, and promptly lost his words. "It was probably the adrenaline and pain meds." He fumbled out.

Yeah, he wasn't doing that. Better to let it go unmarked. Movement caught his eye as the flock turned to great a woman who'd returned from aside.

She was taller than the younger 'models' by a margin, and carried herself with grace and poise. Her blue strapless dress kissed the ground, a smooth leg visible as she stood before the 'flock'.

She had an air about her, and he thought he caught her eye as he stood there. He was glad he left that hat behind.

Ilana spoke behind him. "So, I'm helping all of you get laid tonight. What the hell do I get out of this?" Marcus smiled.

"Depends on how things go, but I'm up for most anything tonight"

"Jay." He said the words without taking his eyes of the woman in blue. "Your leg's still a bit sore, I wager." He'd forgotten the hurt in his own gut. "I'll lend you my cane." He handed Jay the cane and progressed toward the woman in blue.

Though as he met her blue-green eyes, he wondered if he was advancing or being lured into a trap.

That all familiar feeling.

[Ray Hudson]

Ilana's laughter caused the energy amongst the group to buzz. Ray was beginning to become fond of her laugh and it wasn't the background noise to his comments any more. She claimed that Ray's opening would get his testicles impaled by expensive footwear and Ray decided to that it would be wise to avoid that.

When Jay brought up Ray's classy nature he smiled brightly. Jay joined him in looking at the girls and he picked his favorite out before Ray had decided on his own. Jay claimed possession on the girl in the white dress, the youngest in the group which made sense since Jay probably matched her age. Ilana looked at Jay as if he just said something shocking and Ray couldn't help but wonder. He considered that maybe they had a discussion of taste before and Jay's choice was a contradiction. The girl was attractive so that probably wasn't the issue. Perhaps Jay was in a relationship and Ilana didn't expect Jay to be such a player.

After a moment, Ilana claimed that she was lacking a reward for her efforts to help the boys. "Aw, looks like someone want's to get their hair pulled." Ray joked, flicking some of Ilanas's wavy strands with his index finger. "Relax 'hellcat', well find you a prince or something." He continued, having a bit of fun with Ilana.

As they joked Marcus watched a new woman approach the group of 'models' that they have been gawking at. If the girls were models, this new girl in the blue dress would be in a 'plus sized' catalogue. Marcus seemed interested and he handed Jay his cane, apparently finding a new source of vitality. Marcus then began to make his way towards the woman and the group.

"Looks like you two got it all figured out." Ray said to Jay's face and Marcus' back. "Now which one do I want?" Ray muttered to himself, looking over his options.

"I wouldn't bother with any of them, friend." Said a deep, powerful voice. Ray turned and saw a man with long hair, blue eyes and a beard that needed attention. His voice is what got Ray's attention most. He expected it to come from some large, muscle bound bouncer, or perhaps that was beneath this voice. The voice could blow Ilana's back if he so chose and Ray was curious to see it happen. He stared at the new comer but the man never made eye contact. He just monitored the crowd of women. "Just watch." He added.

Ray turned and looked at the group of woman. The woman were still talking to one another. "They all turn around..." The man said, twirling his finger and as he did all of the women turned to their left and faced a group of men approaching them. "In perfect unison, almost as if they've rehearsed." The man said, bringing his head closer to Ray but not looking away from the woman. "Julius puts his arms around her..." The man said, and on cue a thin man with blonde highlights in his hair put his arms around his wife, the young girl in white. "Lord white's with her..." Again, on cue, a man in disgustingly expensive attire stood next to the woman in the white and red floral dress. One by one the woman were matched with their husbands. "Oh, Francis is with the pink dress...at least that's a surprise." Said the deep voiced man, in an amused tone. 'Francis' was a short, skinny, redheaded man and Ray and the group could hear his horrid shriek of a laugh. The deep voiced man's cocky attitude and name dropping bothered Ray more though.

"God damnit." Ray said aloud, showing obvious frustration. That was twice today but this time he failed before he even started. Anger comes from some form of insecurity and Ray was filled with plenty that night. He didn't even care about how stupid Marcus might be feeling, having tried to walk up to them. Ray looked at the deep voiced man, fury burning him inside.

"Sorry friend, but what can you expect? The selection here is limited." The man said, with a friendly face. "A collection of trophy wives with anti-depressants in their bloodstream." The man said, referring to the group of 'models'. After a short pause, the deep voiced man put his hand out to Ray. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Auseon F-"

"You wanna ruin someone else's day...pal?" Ray interrupted the man, now out of patience. He couldn't stand this bearer of bad new and he needed him gone before he soured his mood any further. Ray's typical mood was back and he was back to his angry self.

The deep voiced man stared at Ray, shocked by his response. After a moment he responded. "I don't belie-"

"You're gonna get outta my face." Ray said, with hatred in his eyes, his face entirely serious.

The man looked towards the rest of the group and looked back at Ray. Ray hated this man, hated this messenger. Hated his smiling face, hated his bad news and he hated the air of arrogance that surrounded him.

[Marcus O'Terra]

Marcus saw the men approaching the clutch of women as he did, and could feel that all familiar dread. He saw the woman and blue smile and pull her left hand up to her hip. No gleam of gold caught his eye. Her ring finger was bare.

A man with silvered hair approached her and she turned to him with a smile. Marcus's stomach lurched. The man was old but a giant, and Marcus would stand eye level to the lady's neck, and she would stand the same to the larger man's.

He turned to pass her by, intent on retreating for the hall that led to the gardens, but he heard her words.

"I'm sorry Lord Telway, but I find myself a bit tired for the moment. I believe I need a touch of fresh air." Marcus step improved as he heard the man responded politely.

The fancy words rolled over his ears, but he knew the sound of defeat when he heard it. He knew the felling when he'd spoken it.

He wasn't feeling it now as he heard heels echo in the hall behind him. His hands we on his hips as he slowed his pace. She came from his left, linking her right arm under his and matching his pace.

He looked up to her and smiled; Her eyes were nothing like the sun.

[Ilana Logan]

"Aw, looks like someone want's to get their hair pulled," Ray joked, flicking some of Ilanas's wavy strands with his index finger.

Ilana felt heat rise in her cheeks even before Ray continued, "Relax 'hellcat', well find you a prince or something."

Her face turned even more red then. She smiled through the thoughts Ray had just caused her to think, and said, "I definitely wouldn't mind a little hair pulling."

She laughed at herself, and saw Marcus's eyes being drawn to another, more curvy woman joining the group of women. She'd caught his attention pretty easily. He handed his cane off to Jay and started walking toward her. Ilana was a little miffed by this, but she masked it easily. It wasn't damaging her calm that badly, and she was in a terribly good mood.

"Looks like you two got it all figured out," Ray said to Marcus and Jay. Looking over the women, Ray muttered, "Now which one do I want?"

A new addition to her own group startled her with a deep, powerful voice. "I wouldn't bother with any of them, friend."

Ray turned to face the man, and Ilana followed suit. The man had long hair, blue eyes and a beard. His voice was so commanding. So strong. Ilana felt her stomach knot up again, the smile wiped clean from her face. When neither Ray, nor Ilana said anything to the man, he said, "Just watch."

Ray turned to look at the women again, and Ilana followed his gaze. They were still standing grouped together and the man said, "They all turn around..." The man twirled his index finger and as he did all of the women turned to their left and faced a group of men approaching them. "In perfect unison, almost as if they've rehearsed."

The man leaned down, putting his head closer to Ray's, but still eyeing the women. "Julius puts his arms around her..." The man said, and, as if on cue, a thin man with blonde highlights in his hair put his arms around his wife, the young girl in white, the one Jay had laid claim to. "Lord White's with her..." Again, on cue, a man approached the woman in the white and red floral dress to stand beside her. One by one the woman were matched with their men. "Oh, Francis is with the pink dress...at least that's a surprise," The deep voiced man mused.

Marcus seemed to notice what was happening because he just kept walking past the women. After a moment, Ilana saw the curvy brunette follow him. She barely had time to process that one, because Ray seemed to get more and more irritated the longer he stood there listening to the man speak. She was debating on how to stop the fight that she figured was inevitable when Ray spoke.

"God dammit," Ray said aloud, obviously getting angry.

"Sorry friend, but what can you expect? The selection here is limited. A collection of trophy wives with anti-depressants in their bloodstream," the deep voiced man said, in a tone Ilana took as belittling, and she felt her own anger rising. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Auseon F-"

That seemed to be the last straw for Ray. "You wanna ruin someone else's day...pal?" Ray said, interrupted the man, sounding impatient and angry.

The deep voiced man stared at Ray, in shock. After a moment he said "I don't belie-"

But Ray cut him off again, "You're gonna get outta my face."

Ray's eyes were blazing with fury and hatred. She had to fight the urge to take a step away from him. He looked frightening. She knew though, that she had to do something. She had to stop Ray from starting a fight. Longstreet would not like that at all. Dammit, she thought. Why do men always have to have fuckin' pissing contests? Because assholes like this Auseon what ever his name was, acted like they were better than they were just to be a dick. Same reason women do it, mostly.

Ilana stepped closer to Ray despite the almost overwhelming urge to back away from the terrifying look in his eyes. She had been close to him to begin with, but now, as she took that step forward, the bare skin of her arm brushed against Ray's suit coat. She put her hand gently on his back to draw his attention to her, and looked up at his face. Forcing her anger, and inexplicable fear, away from her, she said with a soft, wanton tone, "Why don't we get ourselves a drink, Ray?"

Hoping beyond all hope to calm him, and get him back to the happy Ray he had been only moments before, she winked at him slyly, and added, "No need to fight over a kitten when you can find a tiger elsewhere."

[Marcus O'Terra]

Marcus and the woman walked quietly for a moment, as the sound of the party and the music faded swiftly into the background. The woman led him by the arm toward what must have been the garden, a balcony at the rear of the house with plenty of greenery to brighten it.

The woman's voice had dusky tone to it; her words were strong but not commanding.

"I think we should sit over there." She nodded at wide bench to her left; Marcus had to gaze over her chest to see it, hidden among the leaves.

"Looks comfortable." Marcus said with a smile; the woman's teeth gleamed. He made took the initiative to led her toward the bench.

Sitting down, the stone felt more like a bed; he ran thumb over it while looking into the woman's dark eyes. It felt soft, despite it's stony appearance.

"Surprised?" She asked. Marcus smiled.

"No. You looked like you wanted a change of pace." He deflected from the techy bench.

The woman smiled, but didn't laugh. Her fingers traced his cheek and down his neck; shivers lit up his back. Her eyes caught the light as her smile deepened. She pulled at the neck,

"Covering your weaknesses, Captain." It wasn't a question, and Marcus paused at the title.

"Idon't recall introducing myself." His hand reached up her back, fingers pressing and massaging knots he found. She purred and narrowed her eyes like a cat, but her hand didn't stop traveling.

"Longstreet speaks well of you: A survivor, and one who gets things done at that." Their hands competed for territory on each other, Marcus's concerns dissipated as he found a seam in her dress that peeled down the side.

[Ray Hudson]

Ray hadn't even noticed Marcus walk away with the girl he'd been eyeing, he was to focused on the man in front of him. The more he stared the more he felt that he had recognized the man. He had never seen him before or heard his voice but the name rang a bell and the estate he was in seemed fitting. Nothing specific came to mind and he assumed it was all in his head.

The thought crossed Ray's mind, what if this man was dangerous? If Ray was right and he had heard of him than there was a chance that he could be from the same side of the law as him. Auseon might be just some politician from Verbena or he could be a big fish in some shady part of the universe. Ray made the conscious decision to not use his head and just take a risk. He didn't back down and he kept staring at the man. He couldn't read Auseon, he was just standing there, a barely visible smile on his face and Ray desperately wanted to know what he was thinking.

Ray thought he was about to sweat. Auseon wasn't moving and his face maintained that faint smile. This nosey, chatty man wasn't saying a word now and it was beginning to bother Ray. He kept his ground and tried to keep himself cool. Ray was now unsure what he had gotten himself into as he never dealt with this before. He expected Auseon to walk away with a scowl or fire off more words, try to end the hostility or add fuel to the fire. He felt something brush on his arm but he kept staring but once he felt a hand on his back he knew he'd have to turn away. Maintaining his gaze for a moment, he eventually looked down at Ilana.

She was short.

Ilana said sweetly that they should go get a drink. She obviously wanted to avoid a fight and Ray wondered about what he should do. His pride tried to keep him from backing down but his judgement told him that there was no point to any of it. Walking away would be the better thing to do. Apologizing was out of the question though.

Ilana continued and said that there was no point in fighting over a kitten when there were tigers to be found. The wink really caught him off guard. She was trying to help him, trying to keep the day from being ruined. He didn't want her efforts to be wasted and more importantly he didn't want to disappoint her.

Ray looked back at Auseon and his face didn't look like it moved since he last saw it. Ray was beginning to wonder if he had broken him but that was to keep him from being intimidated. He looked back at Ilana and sighed with a smile. "Alright..." Ray said softly. He kept his mouth open, wanting to say something else but he couldn't find any words. He wished he was sharper so he wouldn't look like such an idiot at that time. He closed his mouth and smiled at her. I gotcha. Ray thought to himself, understanding her desire to keep him out of trouble and he appreciated it.

Ray considered walking away with Ilana arm in arm, to try to spit in Auseon's face. He already failed with one gorgeous woman and couldn't even start working with another but he had a beautiful woman right next to him. Someone he actually liked for that matter. However Ray decided against it, reminding himself how the night had already been going. He put his hands in his pockets, his thumbs hanging outside and he started walking.

As Ray walked away he fought the urge to turn back to Auseon but he eventually gave in. He slowly turned around and saw that he was still staring at him. Ray couldn't hide all of his surprise and a sign of confusion showed on his face.

Never breaking eye contact, Auseon's lips finally moved.

He silently mouthed a name,

Ray

Facing forward Ray now regret another decision. He assumed the man was just trying to spook him and Ray continued walking.

[Ilana Logan]

Ilana thought for a moment that Ray wasn't going to respond. That he was just going to keep staring at this man until one of them exploded and beat the other to death. Ray's face turned from anger, to angry uncertainty, and she held her breath, hoping he would let this go.

Finally, he looked down at her. She felt truly small with him gazing down at her. Even in heels, she was a good four inches shorter than he was. He looked a bit surprised when she winked at him, and she could clearly see different expressions warring for control of his face. She desperately wanted to avoid a fight, but she wouldn't say another word until Ray made his own decision.

Ray looked away from her without responding, back to Auseon, the asshole that had pissed Ray off in the first place. She wanted to hit the man herself. She'd been having such a good time until this guy walked up and ruined it. Instead of giving the man a glance, she never too her eyes off of Ray.

Ilana held her breath, convinced that if she moved so much as to breathe, all hell would break loose. Ray looked back down at her and sighed. She noted that in spite of the sigh, he was smiling, and she let out the breath she'd been holding. "Alright..." he said softly.

She smiled back at him, in both relief that the situation had been diffused and a small hope that the night might return to her the happiness she'd had earlier. Ray's mouth was still open slightly, as though he wanted to say something else. Ilana waited, her eyes locked on his, but in the end, he said nothing.

A strange feeling came over her. After a moment, she realized she was disappointed. She thought it was odd that she would feel disappointment at that moment. She knew it wasn't that he had decided to walk away from the fight, but that he hadn't finished what he was going to say.

He closed his mouth and smiled at her again. He understood, then. That's something at least, she thought.

He appeared to think about something, and she'd never in her life wished she could know someone's thoughts as badly as she wished it then. Ray was so inscrutable most of the time, and this was no different. Finally, he turned and walked away, and Ilana matched his pace and walked beside him. She noticed out of the corner of her eye that Ray looked back at the man. Ilana did not.

Then Ray turned back and they continued walking. The silence felt uncomfortable to her for a moment. Not one for uncomfortable silences, she broke it, of course, "So, what now? Get smashed and make a scene? Or should we stick to getting you laid?" Ilana said, smiling.

She really hoped the evening would get back to being fun. If it was tense and uncomfortable all night because of this, she decided she would find that guy and kick his ass herself. Even if she had to use her gun to do it.

[Jay Fuller]

After his comment, Ilana looked shocked. He drank it in. He looked back and grinned at her and popped one of the d'oeuvres into his mouth. It tasted like bananas.

"So, I'm helping all of you get laid tonight. What the hell do I get out of this?" Ilana said. Jay thought of something snarky to reply with, but his mouth was full so he kept it shut. Instead, he watched as a tall woman in blue began to approach them.

"Jay," Marcus called.

"Yes, Captain?" Jay asked, looking over.

"Your leg's still a bit sore, I wager. I'll lend you my cane."

"Oh! " Jay said. It was obvious what Marcus' intent was, so Jay continued, "You're right Captain. Ow. Thank you."

Jay leaned onto the cane as he took it. He looked down at his napkin that still had a couple tasty morsels on it. He began to ponder how he would get them from the napkin to his mouth while still being polite.

Jay snorted a laugh at Ray and Ilana's little exchange.

He did look up when a man came up behind them and began talking to the group about the women and their husbands. When they all did as he mentioned, Jay raised an eyebrow. Robots? he thought. Then, Ray became his dick self. Jay turned and took a step back.

You gotta be fuckin kidding me, Jay thought. He rolled his eyes. It was stupid, really. He was checking out a couple girls, and they turned out to be married. Who the hell cares that much about sex? Or romance or whatever?

Oh right. Probably every man in the 'Verse. He thought about saying something, but he decided it would be best. Then again, Ray didn't exactly have the best track record ever. When he actually paid attention to Ray's face, he saw that he was legitimately angry. Like, fuming angry. Jay glanced to Ilana as if to say, He gonna shoot someone again?

Thankfully, Ilana jumped into action. She asked Ray to go get a drink. After a minute, he agreed and Jay tried not to sigh in relief. He followed them away. While following, Ray looked back at the man and a look of surprise on his face. Jay looked back to the man but didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

Jay thought about asking about it, but he decided to leave Ray alone. He was stressed out enough, it looked like. Jay ran up to catch up with the other two, stepping to the other side of Ray as Ilana.

"So, what now? Get smashed and make a scene? Or should be stick to getting you laid?" Ilana asked Ray.

"Or both is always a good plan," Jay added, grinning. He twirled Marcus' cane and rested it on his shoulder. "There's gotta be at least one single lady here, right?"

[Ray Hudson]

As they walked in silence Ray thought about what he did. He lashed out at someone who told him something he would have figured out on his own anyway. Would he attack Ilana or Jay if he weren't around? How would he have reacted? Ray felt embarrassed, ashamed of his immature action and how he brought down the night. He felt like a child who couldn't tolerate any sort of rejection. He thought about everything that happened so far. He was subject to disappointment not an hour before and he got hit in the head with it again. Ray began to think on the futility of his efforts and how he seemed destined for misery. He went to that place frequently and he tried to crawl his way out of his own head. He hated himself and every decision he's made. He was wondering if the Guide would show up, if he would remind him how effort was truly meaningless but it looked like he didn't need the guide to tell him that.

There was no visit from the Guide since the assault on the compound and Ray felt at ease for a while. He didn't have a force he couldn't combat telling him what to do and judging his every move, there wasn't really anything to use against him so far. Up until tonight. Ray thought about how the threat of death wasn't the only thing that caused regret and uncertainty of the future. He felt a little human then and thought he could enjoy a normal problem. No contraband, no terrorist cells or gun smoke polluting the air. He was just having problems with woman, it had been a few months since he had an issue that was so simple.

Ray's thoughts bounced around his head rapidly for a bit, going from acceptance to regret to embarrassment and self loathing. It all bounced around so quickly and several emotions were coming and going. It had been a rough few months and maybe when it all calmed down so would his mind.

Ilana asked what the plan was now. If they should get hammered and tear the place up or just continue to help Ray find a woman for the night. Jay mentioned that both were an option and that a single woman must be wandering around and Ray forced a smile.

"I think I'd prefer to stay sober tonight." Ray mentioned. He had given up drinking a few months ago, due to some complications and he thought It might improve his life. He appeared to be mistaken. "And helping me get lucky..." Once again Ray thought about what had already occurred. He thought it best to spare himself the embarrassment. "I think we should probably...give up on that." Ray said, a forced little smile on his face.

God, quit your bitchin'! A voice popped in Ray's head. A girl with a green stripe in her hair reminded Ray that he was brooding. Even when he felt legitimately happy earlier he was still brooding for nothing. He remembered when the girl said that to him, he was sitting alone and was staring at his hands. She approached him and yelled that at him. She just wanted to help, but Ray kept her away.

He was hurting the night and Ray didn't want to keep being a problem. "Unless you really think you can help me?" Ray said to Ilana, an eyebrow cocked. He stood infront of Ilana and Jay and brought his arm to a 'T', presenting himself. "I mean, who wouldn't look at this and immediately fall in love?" Ray asked with a bright, cocky smile. He was a problem and he would fix that if he could. He would not ruin something good.