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Post by Ilana Logan on Nov 6, 2022 14:08:39 GMT -5
Omega, Afterlife - Nightclub July 7th, 2518 AST: 8:15 PM
Ilana sat on the edge of the balcony eating a fruity oaty bar. It was neither fruity nor oaty, but it wasn’t bad. She sat looking over the crowd below. The rest of the crew was scattered about the nightclub having their own tasty treats, enjoying the sights, or both. Her leg was better, though still a bit tender at times.
She could see Roman. Of course he had quite literally stopped to smell the roses. She shook her head and looked around for the others. She spotted Jay, wandering around near the bar on the lower level. Helios was sitting on a bench, looking surly as usual, eating something she couldn't identify from this distance. Ivy was going hard on the dance floor below. She hadn't yet spotted Rina, Sam, or Jace, but figured they were either here or on their way here.
She started to stand from her position, but changed her mind when her leg twinged, threatening to scream at her. She barely heard footsteps arriving over the pounding music, but didn't look up. Plenty of people on the space station besides her crew were wandering around Afterlife. A gentle hip bump told her it was one of hers and she glanced to her right to see Roman sitting down, dangling his legs over the edge next to her.
"Are you ready to stop being angry at me?" he asked.
"I stopped being angry at you a long time ago, Rome, but it still stings a bit when I think about it." She said. After a pause, she added, "Eight years. Eight years and you never said a word. You knew what I thought, and you let me think it for eight years, and never even bothered to apologize for it."
She didn't make a move to leave, but fuck she wanted to. She leaned against the railing, fuming internally at the audacity of this man. She hated that she loved him, and yet, here she was.
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Post by Samantha Greystone on Nov 6, 2022 16:41:25 GMT -5
Aboard The Eden July 7th, 2518 AST: 8:15 PM
Three weeks, enough time to settle in. Enough time to establish a routine, of sorts. Enough time for people to start asking questions. Surprisingly, the questions hadn't come. Not about the young woman's past, how Sam knew what she knew or even why sometimes her time awake could stretch into the early morning hours giving her little time for sleep. Hacking jobs don't always wait, after all.
Her days had become busier. Once Sam realized the extent of Rina's injuries, Sam had offered to help the other woman in Engineering. The offer might have been a surprise. Perhaps a bigger one, to everyone but Sam herself, was that the cook knew what she was doing, to a certain degree.
Once Rina was able to take back doing most of the tasks herself, Sam had cut back her time in Engineering, as she had her own job to do. Still, though spending an hour or two with Rina learning more. Besides it felt good to once again get her hands that kind of dirty. In exchange, Sam offered to teach Rina more about cooking, as it was all that could be given at the moment.
Sam and Rina were currently in Engineering cleaning up after working on a particular task. It was downtime really. Three days on R&R. Most of the crew had gone out, it seemed. To Afterlife, a nightclub which Sam had been to before but not often. Still, something or more like someone awaited her there, or would soon enough.
Sam put the last tool away and turned to Rina, "Are you headed to the club?"
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Post by Ivy Evans on Nov 6, 2022 16:43:20 GMT -5
Ivy made her way through the crowd once she arrived at the party, weaving between people until she was at the bar. She ordered a drink and looked around, spotting Helios sitting on a bench. She made brief eye contact with him and quickly looked away, going as far as to turn her body in the opposite direction. She didn't know much about him, but she did know that she didn't particularly like him. Ivy shook herself out of her thoughts, chiding herself for being so judgmental when she really didn't know anything about him. She ordered a drink, something sweet and fruity(much like herself, she thought as she smiled at her own joke), and waited it's arrival.
Her drink arrived while she was making idle conversation with the patrons near her. Ivy saw the dance floor some distance away from her and immediately her eyes lit up in excitement. She tipped her cowboy hat at her conversation partners and slipped away to get her groove on. She quickly chugged her drink, setting the now empty glass on a nearby table. Then, she threw herself into the dancing, melting into a group of people her age doing the same thing.
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Post by Helios Hamilton on Nov 7, 2022 20:40:10 GMT -5
Helios was crazy, the spores had caused a permanent hallucination that kept Njord in Helio's noggin. Helios didn't know why, the nerds who showed up to make sure the crew weren't dead tried to explain it but he didn't comprehend what they said. The fish was odd but provided good company while also making him look insane.
Helios's first decree of business, sell some of these gamedisks, he sold about 40 of them netting 200c but had to give the crimelord of the station a cut so he walked away with 160c.
Helios found his way to a tattoo parlor for a new tradition, Helios got a tattoo on his arm of a mushroom, their was an eye on it, as well as a staircase in the stalk. It was an animatoo, the eye blinked occasionally, stars shimmered around the mushroom, and the grass near the bottom of it moved as though wind brushed through it.
Helios stumbled across a tailor's shop and he walked inside. Helios got himself a nice, black and green suit custom for himself, a cane with a marble mushroom grip (inside is a small pistol), a black monocle with a green lens and the capability of thermal sight, a small black fedora with a green ribbon around it. Helios left the tailor feeling pretty good as he left off towards the nightlife area.
Helios tossed his bag of money in the air before entering the black market, Helios looked over all the new potential best friends he was about to make. Helios grabbed the following items that burned a whole in his pocket, Grappler, Submachine gun, Speargun, AP rounds, Under barrel launcher, Acid, Duster, Armored, and an Encyclopedia with specialty weapons modification, explosive making, tattooing.
Then Helios saw something amazing, a laser pistol, instantly he purchased said pistol. He had all of them moved to the ship as Njord flew by.
"How much did you just spend?" Helios paused at Njord's question and took a minute to add it up.
"Um, 656c after all my purchases." Helios told him and Njord flew off into a vent. Njord was able to just disappear at times and reappear whenever it suited the fish. Njord seemed to disagree with his spending.
Helios walked into the nightclub making his way to the bar in his new fancy suit. Helios order a glass of rum and an a mango. He waited for a minute then took his drink and fruit. Helios avoided the dance floor and took a seat at a bench, sipping his drink.
Helios thoughts drifted to Ellie who he had talked to after the last job. He shook his head and downed the glass. Helios ordered another drink and began eating his fruit. He made eye contact with Ivy and instantly flipped her the bird as she turned the opposite direction.
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Post by Marina Kseniya Sebastien on Nov 9, 2022 14:21:55 GMT -5
Sam put the last tool away and turned to Rina, "Are you headed to the club?" Rina winced upon edging out from under an APU turbine. Her bandage tended to pull on her healing burns. You really should ask Jay to look them over. It’s been weeks. She put it out of mind. They weren’t infected, just taking their gorram time to heal and being a pain in the ass for the duration. Rina wiped her hands on a shop rag and gave Sam a quick tight-lipped grimace. “I dunno. Does it involve wearing eyeliner and a tight skirt? Hard pass, thanks.” No sooner had she snorted her reply, Rina reconsidered. Heartless ass! What if Sam wants to go but doesn’t want to go alone? Pull your head out and think of somebody else for a change. Rina felt beholden to the woman for all her help these past few weeks and she genuinely didn’t want anything to happen to Sam if she went off alone. “But I do wingman fairly well. Let’s clean up and go. Meet me at the airlock in half an hour?”
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Post by Samantha Greystone on Nov 9, 2022 16:04:59 GMT -5
Sam's own injury, from the hallucinations, had been, as expected, not bad and she was already healed. It hadn't escaped her notice that Rina was likely still in some pain but Sam was still treading in new crew territory and didn't think it was her place to ask.
“I dunno. Does it involve wearing eyeliner and a tight skirt? Hard pass, thanks.” Rina's response to Sam's question about the club was met with a breath of a laugh and shake of her head.
Sam was about to go get ready when Rina seemed to change her mind. “But I do wingman fairly well. Let’s clean up and go. Meet me at the airlock in half an hour?”
That response was met with a nod and a smile.
About a half hour later Sam arrived at the airlock. The brunette had little use for skirts or dresses so she went with was a black jeans, a black top and low heeled boots because that outfit worked well for a club.
As Sam waited for Rina, she hoped she could figure out how to explain the man she was meeting there. She couldn't tell the crew about the man she was meeting with. Who he was or why they were meeting. Well, this crew didn't seem overly noisy so that might help.
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Post by Marina Kseniya Sebastien on Nov 9, 2022 16:56:21 GMT -5
Rina raced through a quick shower and slapped a dry clean bandage on her burns, then skinned back into clothing suitable for a nightclub. Or rather, whatever she could find in her locker that would pass as suitable for a nightclub.
Figuring that out took a few minutes.
You’re overthinking it. You’re not looking to dance and you’re not looking to hump anyone. Cross those off the list and get dressed already!
In a few minutes she was as ready as she was going to be. Rina paused at her locker mirror and slicked back her shower-damp hair with her palms. She fluffed it a little on the top to help it dry and toed the locker door shut.
When she joined Sam at the airlock, she was dressed out in a close-fitting blood red button-down shirt, black jeans, and black mid-calf boots. A studded belt wrapped twice round her hips and some shoulder duster earrings made of oddly-shaped metal strips and wavy wire lent a punk princess vibe to her ensemble.
True to her word, there wasn’t a smudge of eyeliner in sight.
“Ready to go?” she asked Sam brightly. One might imagine a gleam of excitement in Rina’s eye. Or it could have been from the overhead lighting.
Sometimes with her it was hard to tell.
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Post by Samantha Greystone on Nov 9, 2022 22:23:39 GMT -5
“Ready to go?” Rina asked Sam brightly
Sam nodded to Rina, "Yes,"
The nightclub fortunately wasn't that far away. Upon arriving, Sam's eyes surveilled the club. Bright lights flashed, loud music played, people were mostly drinking or dancing, pretty typical.
The young woman spotted Ivy first who seemed to be dancing. Helios was at the bar. Glancing up towards the balcony revealed the Captain and Roman but currently no one else from the ship was spotted by her.
"I think I'm going to head to the bar," Sam informed Rina.
Sam made her way to the bar and ordered a beer. The woman didn't really go much for the harder stuff. Actually, she didn't usually drink much at all, as keeping her head about her was important. but she was trying to blend in a bit.
Now, where is he? Her mind pondered the fact that the man should have been there by now.
It hadn't been two minutes when a man slipped in beside her. "Buy you a drink, beautiful."
Standing at about six feet tall with blonde hair and blue eyes, the man appeared to be, possibly, in his late twenties. Some would likely say he was attractive, Sam had known him for far too long for that to play any factor in their relationship. He was at best a friend, though their friendship was tied by illegal activities.
Sam rolled her eyes. "I already have a drink and you're late."
"Better late than… well you know." He grinned at her. "It's good to see you again."
Shaking her head slightly but a slight smile crossed the woman's lips just the same. "It's good to see you as well, Max."
It had been surprising to find that Max was on Eden as the man usually stayed on Ariel. Something must have happened to get him to leave the other planet and Sam knew whatever it was likely wasn't good.
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Post by Marina Kseniya Sebastien on Nov 9, 2022 23:23:59 GMT -5
“Ready to go?” Rina asked Sam brightly Sam nodded to Rina, "Yes," The nightclub fortunately wasn't that far away. Upon arriving, Sam's eyes surveilled the club. Bright lights flashed, loud music played, people were mostly drinking or dancing, pretty typical.... "I think I'm going to head to the bar," Sam informed Rina. Sam made her way to the bar and ordered a beer ... It hadn't been two minutes when a man slipped in beside her. "Buy you a drink, beautiful." Standing at about six feet tall with blonde hair and blue eyes, the man appeared to be, possibly, in his late twenties. Some would likely say he was attractive, Sam had known him for far too long for that to play any factor in their relationship. He was at best a friend, though their friendship was tied by illegal activities. Sam rolled her eyes. "I already have a drink and you're late." "Better late than… well you know." He grinned at her. "It's good to see you again." Shaking her head slightly but a slight smile crossed the woman's lips just the same. "It's good to see you as well, Max." Standing next to Sam, Rina was witness to everything. Wow. Sidelined in two minutes flat. Some wingman you are. Not that she said that out loud, nope. Rina leaned up against the bar and faced out, elbows propping her from behind, one bootheel perched on the rail. She already knew without looking that her shirt was buttoned high enough to cover her bustline but low enough to make it interesting. She gave Sam a friendly tap on her arm and gave them both sunny smile and said, "Well, hey now. Can a girl get an introduction, Sam, or am I gonna have to throw myself at your friend and hope for the best?" She leaned back to get her drink from the bartender, showing a graceful curve of her neck (and perhaps a teensy edge of her black sports bra) as she stretched for the glass.
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Post by Samantha Greystone on Nov 10, 2022 0:04:57 GMT -5
Rina gave Sam a friendly tap on her arm and gave them both sunny smile and said, "Well, hey now. Can a girl get an introduction, Sam, or am I gonna have to throw myself at your friend and hope for the best?"
Rina leaned back to get her drink from the bartender, showing a graceful curve of her neck (and perhaps teense of her black sports bra) as she stretched for the glass.
"Tsk tsk, how rude of you," Max chided Sam, in a joking manner.
"Did you just "tsk" me?" Sam questioned him but clearly got the joke. After all, the banter between the two was definitely friendly.
She hadn't meant to be rude, and was about to introduce them but sometimes thoughts could get sidelined.
"Rina, this is Max, an old friend. Max, this is Rina, a new crewmate." Sam introduced the two.
Max turned to Rina, "Nice to meet you. So, if I can't buy Sam a drink maybe I can buy you one?"
He waited for a moment to get Rina's response before asking, "So, what is it you do on that ship?"
He's such a flirt. Sam thought as she sipped her beer.
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Post by Jay Fuller on Nov 10, 2022 14:02:21 GMT -5
In the past, Jay did not like clubs. They were loud, booming, and he often left uncomfortably drunk and with a pounding headache from the bass. Being out in the black constantly, something about being surrounded by endless silence changed his mind. His enjoyment of most things on-world increased since joining a crew, must be something about distance and heart fondness. Jay went out early to pick himself up some new clothes, a graphic shirt with some buff dude with a gun on it – over that the khaki faux-leather blazer he bought years ago and new, frayed black pants and matching shoes. A couple bracelets for effect, too.
The last time he had been to an establishment like this was at a tóng bar called Peters, on the outskirts of New Paris on Bernadette. That was right after he made the decision to find work off-world – after leaving his family on Paquin, making his way to Persephone and settling on Beaumonde before joining the crew of The Chainless. It hit him then that it had barely been a year since he met Ilana, been traveling the Verse. It felt like a decade, he was so different from the timid, young professional that worked for Longstreet.
Oh wô de tiān a. it had been over a year since he had gotten laid. No wonder he’d been riled up for weeks, he even caught himself eyeing some of the crewmembers which he did not condone. He dropped his head with a groan. Unfortunately, this was not a tóng bar, it was rather straight-laced like most places in the galaxy. Jay ordered a brightly colored drink, something herbaceous and not very sweet, but nearly fluorescent purple with a few sprigs of lavender poking out. Definitely gin, definitely delicious.
Jay began scanning the room, looking for the next thing to do. Ilana was sitting at the balcony above; Helios was near by talking to himself and wearing a very extravagant new outfit complete with hat and monocle. Jay noticed he’d been a little off since the mushroom incident, and he wondered if he should reach out; there was no way Helios would be the one to say something. Further down, Sam and Rina had taken up chatting with a gentleman near the bar – Jay swallowed a bit of jealousy.
He turned his attention back to the bar, there was a gentleman across the room Jay made eye-contact with. Definitely attractive, tall with dark skin and bright eyes and a loose-collared shirt. Jay gave him a hello nod, and he smiled softly and returned it. He was chatting with friends, Jay wondered if he could make a move if the friends left…
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Post by Marina Kseniya Sebastien on Nov 10, 2022 16:06:43 GMT -5
"Rina, this is Max, an old friend. Max, this is Rina, a new crewmate." Sam introduced the two. Max turned to Rina, "Nice to meet you. So, if I can't buy Sam a drink maybe I can buy you one?" He waited for a moment to get Rina's response before asking, "So, what is it you do on that ship?" He's such a flirt. Sam thought as she sipped her beer. “I’m good for now, thanks. Perhaps later?” Rina held up her own drink at Max’s offer to buy her one. And to answer his next question, she said with a smile, “Engineer. If it’s mechanical or technical, it’s in my wheelhouse. And Sam,” and here her smile became less a matter of etiquette and more a matter of genuine gratitude, “has been a godsend in the engine room. She’s a natural. I wouldn’t be surprised if she ran her own ‘room one day. I really wouldn’t.”Rina sipped her drink and looked up (and up) at Max and said, “My turn. What brings you to Oracle Station?” She leaned against the bar again, seemingly at ease, but the more observant might notice that while she faced who she was talking to, she remained aware of her surroundings and the people who passed close by.
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Post by Samantha Greystone on Nov 10, 2022 19:28:54 GMT -5
Rina held up her own drink at Max’s offer to buy her one. And to answer his next question, she said with a smile, “Engineer. If it’s mechanical or technical, it’s in my wheelhouse. And Sam,” and here her smile became less a matter of etiquette and more a matter of genuine gratitude, “has been a godsend in the engine room. She’s a natural. I wouldn’t be surprised if she ran her own ‘room one day. I really wouldn’t.”Rina sipped her drink and looked up (and up) at Max and said, “My turn. What brings you to Oracle Station?”"Thanks," Sam smiled softly at the compliment by Rina. Not missed by Sam was the look on Max's face, his brow raised slightly at her. "Has she now?" Max commented about Sam, then joked. "Well, she did help me fix my coffee pot once." "Why am I friends with you again?" Sam returned the friendly sarcasm. "Because, I make your life interesting." Max answered back without hesitation. When Rina asked, why Max was there, Sam could only think, This should be good."I'm here on business." Max’s voice was casual. "I'm in the business of acquisitions." If Sam wasn't so good at hiding it, she might have spit out her drink at that last statement. Acquisitions!? Well, the man was good at a acquiring stuff. Information he shouldn't have. Stolen goods. Illegally gained money. Trouble. Max was a skilled liar because he couldn't tell people what he really did. It, like Sam's fake ID, was a matter of survival. What he had told Rina wasn't technically a lie, Sam supposed. Speaking of business though Sam was wondering if they'd actually get to the business between her and Max tonight. "How long are you here for?" Max's question was directed at either woman but Sam was sipping her beer when it was asked.
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Post by Marina Kseniya Sebastien on Nov 10, 2022 20:13:06 GMT -5
Acquisitions. Interesting. That covers a lot of territory. As does the way he looks at Sam ... Rina sipped her drink to gain time to think. Someone with an acquisitions skill set was chatting up Sam like an old friend. Far be it from her to judge anyone by anything possibly shady they'd done in their past, Rina just filed that little tidbit away for examination later.
As to how long she was staying ...
"Maybe the whole night," she said, putting her drink aside. She linked arms with Sam and started to pull away from the bar. "Or maybe just another 30 minutes. Depends. But right now, please excuse me. I gotta powder my nose. Be right back. Sam, would you show me that trick with the eye shadow you used once? You promised you'd teach me how to do it and now's a really good time to use it."
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Post by Samantha Greystone on Nov 10, 2022 20:40:30 GMT -5
When Sam was led away by Rina, she caught the look by Max. The man knew the two women going to the bathroom had nothing to do with eyeshadow.
Sam was figuring that Rina wanted to talk about Max. Was the engineer interested in Max? Sam didn't know the other woman well enough to tell what this was going to be about.
When they arrived in the ladies room, Sam's curiosity was definitely peaked.
"So, what's going on?" Sam asked Rina.
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Post by Marina Kseniya Sebastien on Nov 10, 2022 22:25:16 GMT -5
"You're on my crew. That guy isn't. I don't know him. I don't know if I can trust him. With you." Why beat around the bush? Rina leaned a shoulder against the tiled bathroom wall, hands in her pockets, easy as you please. She could have been any woman just chatting with her friend. But there was a subtle tension running through her, like an idle doberman needing only a single word from its trainer to ruin some unlucky bastard's day. "But you act like you know him. He acts like he knows you. So tell me straight. Does he deserve my trust? Does he deserve yours? Because if he lays a finger on you wrong, I'll rip that finger off and shove it down his throat. And that finger won't go down alone. It'll have sausage for company."
Rina stated it quietly and clearly. It wasn't a joke. It was a promise. An incontrovertable law of the Universe.
"I'm your wingman. If you want to leave, we'll leave. If he follows, I'll make sure he regrets it. If, however, he's a friend you want to spend the evening alone with, tell me and I'll see you back on Eden when you get back. Like I said, you're crew, Sam. That means you're family. And family comes first. You're also a grown woman, so that means I'm asking you first: How do you want to do this?"
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Post by Samantha Greystone on Nov 10, 2022 23:16:40 GMT -5
"You're on my crew. That guy isn't. I don't know him. I don't know if I can trust him. With you." Rina leaned a shoulder against the tiled bathroom wall, hands in her pockets, easy as you please. She could have been any woman just chatting with her friend. But there was a subtle tension running through her, like an idle doberman needing only a single word from its trainer to ruin some unlucky bastard's day. "But you act like you know him. He acts like he knows you. So tell me straight. Does he deserve my trust? Does he deserve yours? Because if he lays a finger on you wrong, I'll rip that finger off and shove it down his throat. And that finger won't go down alone. It'll have sausage for company."Rina stated it quietly and clearly. It wasn't a joke. It was a promise. An incontrovertable law of the Universe. "I'm your wingman. If you want to leave, we'll leave. If he follows, I'll make sure he regrets it. If, however, he's a friend you want to spend the evening alone with, tell me and I'll see you back on Eden when you get back. Like I said, you're crew, Sam. That means you're family. And family comes first. You're also a grown woman, so that means I'm asking you first: How do you want to do this?" Sam figured she let Rina have her say before she commented but was thrown by Rina saying she was like family. The last crew Sam had been with that considered her family was with her actual family and that now seemed like a few lifetimes ago. So, for a moment, the brunette was speechless with no idea how to respond to Rina's words. She quickly got herself back together and responded with a relatively truthful answer. "When I was first on my own. Max was one of the first people I met that actually helped me. I won't get into details but he saved my life and I don't mean that figuratively. He's, for the most part, a decent guy. I would trust to be alone with him. Hell, I've been alone with him more than once but not in the way you think. He slept on the couch and gave me his bed. So, he's a friend but that's all. I have no interest in making it more and I really doubt he does either. He's just a harmless, incorrigible flirt. That being said, I'm guessing you noticed something about him or we wouldn't be having this conversation right now. I'll be honest there is more to him but it's not something I can talk about here." Rina had called her family after all, so, maybe the truth was better. "We don't need to leave and I don't need to be alone with him for the night but I do need to speak to him in private for a few minutes." As for Rina saying she was like family, Sam still didn't know what to say. They had spend weeks working on the ship together and if Sam was honest a friendship had formed in that time. "For what its worth, thanks for looking out for me. I've not been with a tight crew in a long time. I guess I'm still getting used to it," Was the only thing Sam could think of to say but she meant every word. That was as vulnerable as Sam could allow herself for the time being. She was possibly getting to recognize not being in the outside looking in but it would take more time.
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Post by Jace Cisco on Nov 11, 2022 15:25:29 GMT -5
Jace had just entered his bunk from securing the ship, since the fungus among us incident and stowaways, he had taken a habit of checking through the ship for anything unwanted. The ship secured and the crew out it was time for him to get ready. He refreshed himself and cleaned up leaving a blonde goatee. Suiting up in the spare suit he had, not nearly as a nice of one he had floating somewhere in the black at this current moment. Jace was able to still put his ballistic mesh on underneath, his pistols hidden in the custom holsters made, slipping his two knives up both sleeves of his suit and the newest addition the knife from Helios' hand into his boot strap on his ankle. Jace then took the time to add his tech gear concealing them on his suit before he began to head out. Jace looked down nervous, but took a deep breath he slipped an envelope into his jacket pocket. He would simply carry it for now, but when he felt the moment right he may send it off to see if he could learn anything about his mom. He hadn't thought of her in years, but that bad trip brought alot of things back that had kept Jace on the quiet side the last few weeks.
Once Jace exited the ship he made sure it was secure except to crew members. Helios had been raving in the back ground several of the less than legal items that could be purchased on the station. While walking down a few of the darken corridors Jace couldn't help, but wonder if they had already got their next job. The vibrations flowing across the smooth steel announced the club nearby. Jace shrugged and followed the poor taste in music, but he was thirsty and he wanted to see if Helios would wreck his second shopping trip before attempting to go purchase anything.
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Post by Ilana Logan on Nov 17, 2022 12:51:49 GMT -5
Aria stood in the doorway of Madame Bouchard's House of Pleasure, staring in horror. Thin streams of blood spatter could be found on everything in the room. Small rivulets ran down the walls and the light fixtures. The floor looked like it had been entirely painted in crimson. She was thankful in that moment that she didn't have a weak stomach.
"Who did this?" she asked a security guard who was checking for pulses along with the medics.
"Rowena O'Connaill," he said, showing Aria a capture of the security footage.
"I know her." She pocketed the capture and asked, "How many dead?"
"All of them," he said.
She blanched, color draining from her face. "all of them? The kids?"
He nodded sadly. "Kids too. She was screaming about god's wrath and witches."
Aria's face darkened, cool rage washing over her. "Where is she?" she asked.
"Gone. She was like a machine with that blade. Got in and out quick and was on a ship and gone," the guard said.
"I want her head," Aria growled.
She stalked out and to the nightclub. There was nearly always a merc looking for work there, and she meant to have Rowena hauled back here, dead or alive, she didn't care. She slammed the door open and saw movement on the balcony.
She took the stairs two at a time and found a man and a woman sitting on the dais on the balcony. She flung herself into the chair in the center. Her demeanor clearly stated she was in no mood to fuck around. Aria said, "If you're sitting up here, you're either looking for work or you're new here. For your sake, I hope it's the latter."
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Post by Ilana Logan on Nov 17, 2022 13:22:49 GMT -5
Ilana sat on the edge of the balcony watching the crowd below. She saw Helios flip Ivy off and a surprised bark of laughter escaped her. Sam and Rina entered below and headed for the bar. Jace came in not long after. Well, they're all here. Now where's Aria? Ilana thought.
She scooted back from the railing and stood, ignoring the twinge in her leg this time. She went to a slightly raised dais on the balcony and sat in one of the chairs, sinking into it. It was much more comfy than it looked.
She scanned the room below and after a moment, she saw Aria burst into the room. If it had been quiet, not a soul in the club would have missed the entrance. With the loud music and booming bassline, it probably went completely unnoticed. She looked upset and immediately headed for the stairs, taking them two at a time, and charging the balcony. Aria came right up to the dais and flung herself into the chair in the middle.
"If you're sitting up here, you're either looking for work or you're new here," Aria said.
"I wouldn't turn down a job," Ilana said casually.
"What about a bounty?" Aria asked.
Well that's new, Ilana thought. Out loud, she said, "As long as I'm not hauling back an escaped slave for slavers or kidnapped children, then I'm all ears."
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