”It’s delicious.” Drawled Tsuan, dryly, and gestured with a hand to further insist that he have a taste. Not looking up from what he was doing, T’yzfir clarified ”At’wéie sake. Made from gold marshrice; specialty back home. And it is delicious.”
“It also really @#$%s you up. So don’t drink too much, no matter what Swan tells you. Unless you wanna’ end up dancing naked in the hall an’ screaming about how you’re the King of Space.” Sands added, albeit somewhat distractedly.
The sake, if Rin did try it, would not taste as potently alcoholic as it was. Still strong, but with stronger overtones of honey and jasmine. All the while, Tsuan had not taken his arm from around Rin’s shoulders – even when he noticed Dallen staring with something between disdain and confusion at one of the two unoccupied beds. Following her gaze, the narrow-eyed man was met with the surreal image of a cat, on its’ back, chugging vodka. It was just finishing off one of three bottles.
The two of them took in the sight for a moment. Then, shifting with guarded irritation, Dallen spoke up.
”Is that that…Laurent freak?” She growled, with hostility not even slightly concealed. It was enough to get the attention of Ty and Sands, who peered around the dividers to look around. All eyes were on the cat, now – and while only Dallen’s gaze was openly hostile, everyone else was wary and on the verge of considerably displeased.
“It also really @#$%s you up. So don’t drink too much, no matter what Swan tells you. Unless you wanna’ end up dancing naked in the hall an’ screaming about how you’re the King of Space.” Sands added, albeit somewhat distractedly.
The sake, if Rin did try it, would not taste as potently alcoholic as it was. Still strong, but with stronger overtones of honey and jasmine. All the while, Tsuan had not taken his arm from around Rin’s shoulders – even when he noticed Dallen staring with something between disdain and confusion at one of the two unoccupied beds. Following her gaze, the narrow-eyed man was met with the surreal image of a cat, on its’ back, chugging vodka. It was just finishing off one of three bottles.
The two of them took in the sight for a moment. Then, shifting with guarded irritation, Dallen spoke up.
”Is that that…Laurent freak?” She growled, with hostility not even slightly concealed. It was enough to get the attention of Ty and Sands, who peered around the dividers to look around. All eyes were on the cat, now – and while only Dallen’s gaze was openly hostile, everyone else was wary and on the verge of considerably displeased.
Laurent didn't like to be called a "freak" it was insulting to him and made him feel a bit alienated. Hell at least Rin never called him a freak to his face. After kicking the first bottle off and bringing up the second bottle to his feet, after pulling off the cork, he stuck his talon at the staring soldiers who looked at him like a "freak" he was to him continues to chug the second bottle as he keeps the talon sticking up at them similar in the way in giving them the finger or the bird. A very clear indication of "#$%^& you" to them as he continues to chug the second bottle.
Once the second bottle was dry, he looks at them with a tipsy glint in his eye and says "Piss off, I'm trying to ease my damn headache...being psychologically toyed with is not a great experience", his speech having a bit of slurs in it showing he was getting completely hammered. He then went back to struggle in getting the last bottle up towards him. Of course the bottle was just out of reach of the cat's hind legs to get it closer to him. It was a bit of an amusing sight seeing a cat on its back, drunk, trying to get after its last bit of booze using its hind legs, hearing and seeing it struggle for it as it tries to solve its headache.
Once the second bottle was dry, he looks at them with a tipsy glint in his eye and says "Piss off, I'm trying to ease my damn headache...being psychologically toyed with is not a great experience", his speech having a bit of slurs in it showing he was getting completely hammered. He then went back to struggle in getting the last bottle up towards him. Of course the bottle was just out of reach of the cat's hind legs to get it closer to him. It was a bit of an amusing sight seeing a cat on its back, drunk, trying to get after its last bit of booze using its hind legs, hearing and seeing it struggle for it as it tries to solve its headache.
Rin pursed his lips a bit, considering. That last word sounded... familiar? Sa...ke?
Sake... he mouthed, eyebrows furrowed. That... it sounds... hm, when did I hear-
... Oh.
Sake!
That drink, that mother said was from the country his mami came from- Japan, was it?- yes, and there was a hilarious story concerning the damn drink.
It was also alcoholic.
He was no stranger to alcohol- it was more common than water even, back in Yamboon. Hell, his mother found him beside a bar.
He'd just... never taken a sip of alcohol. Ever.
His mother never said not to, but she'd made him aware of the dangers, like losing inhibitions and awareness and he'd just... not. Even with his team, when they would take sips in celebrations- he'd always opt for some water instead.
He kind of wish he'd done it, in the end, but he would always talk himself out of the regret- what if something happened? Better to let them enjoy, I'll stand guard- and that'd be that.
But now...
He eyed the drink in his hand. Oh, he'd heard Sands loud and clear. Just... a sip, maybe. He... he could do this.
It was just his first drink. No big deal.
He suddenly wished the rest of his team was here- but... in a way, he guessed this was.. good. His protective instincts were all over the place when it came to them, but here... it was more... friendly? Less like family- like with Vaxur and Commander Wyr- but no less important.
They can... take care of him.
He hesitantly lifted the bottle, paused at the mouth, and...
Sip.
... Oh. That was... really nice? It had a sweet flavor to it, not as... well... alcoholic as he was expecting?
"Good, for my first time," he murmured. He took another, tiny sip. He decided he liked it.
He blinked, a bit startled, as he heard... was that Montagne? He peered around Tsuan's shoulder to see... a cat, chugging down a bottle of what clearly looked like strong alcohol. He frowned, then leaned away from the scene.
"Better not grind on me again, perverted bastard..." he grumbled, taking another sip- oh woops, that was a bit... much. He should... really give back the bottle. The bottle stayed clenched in his hand.
Sake... he mouthed, eyebrows furrowed. That... it sounds... hm, when did I hear-
... Oh.
Sake!
That drink, that mother said was from the country his mami came from- Japan, was it?- yes, and there was a hilarious story concerning the damn drink.
It was also alcoholic.
He was no stranger to alcohol- it was more common than water even, back in Yamboon. Hell, his mother found him beside a bar.
He'd just... never taken a sip of alcohol. Ever.
His mother never said not to, but she'd made him aware of the dangers, like losing inhibitions and awareness and he'd just... not. Even with his team, when they would take sips in celebrations- he'd always opt for some water instead.
He kind of wish he'd done it, in the end, but he would always talk himself out of the regret- what if something happened? Better to let them enjoy, I'll stand guard- and that'd be that.
But now...
He eyed the drink in his hand. Oh, he'd heard Sands loud and clear. Just... a sip, maybe. He... he could do this.
It was just his first drink. No big deal.
He suddenly wished the rest of his team was here- but... in a way, he guessed this was.. good. His protective instincts were all over the place when it came to them, but here... it was more... friendly? Less like family- like with Vaxur and Commander Wyr- but no less important.
They can... take care of him.
He hesitantly lifted the bottle, paused at the mouth, and...
Sip.
... Oh. That was... really nice? It had a sweet flavor to it, not as... well... alcoholic as he was expecting?
"Good, for my first time," he murmured. He took another, tiny sip. He decided he liked it.
He blinked, a bit startled, as he heard... was that Montagne? He peered around Tsuan's shoulder to see... a cat, chugging down a bottle of what clearly looked like strong alcohol. He frowned, then leaned away from the scene.
"Better not grind on me again, perverted bastard..." he grumbled, taking another sip- oh woops, that was a bit... much. He should... really give back the bottle. The bottle stayed clenched in his hand.
The four of them just watched the cat judgmentally, unaffected by the intended offense, and inherent strangeness of a cat giving them 'the bird'. They were similarly unaffected when the creature spoke - they had seen weirder. It was a hard, unfriendly stare from all directions.
It wasn't until Rin spoke that they all bristled visibly - though clearly not at him. In fact, Rin's presence was all but forgotten for the moment. At least, the attention was focused elsewhere and that he still held the bottle had yet to occur to any of them.
It was Dallen who spoke up first, harshly. "I sure's @#$% hope you ain't expectin' any of us t'feel sorry for you." she spat. "After what your sorry ass did t'this kid you deserve a @#$%ton more than jus' a headache."
Despite his eyes being focused on the cat, Tsuan's arm was still over Rin's shoulders. His grim seemed to tighten almost imperceptibly, but he held his tongue. Sands was next, still only peering around the corner of his divider. "The @#$% you even doing here, anyway?"
"Boss seems to think that we will need his...help getting into Ova's territory." Ty said, with obvious reservations about the idea. "As if there aren't a million other oily bastard traders we could get help from. 'Stead of this, this, whatever he is." Dallen cut in, with one grand, and disgusted gesture toward the cat.
It wasn't until Rin spoke that they all bristled visibly - though clearly not at him. In fact, Rin's presence was all but forgotten for the moment. At least, the attention was focused elsewhere and that he still held the bottle had yet to occur to any of them.
It was Dallen who spoke up first, harshly. "I sure's @#$% hope you ain't expectin' any of us t'feel sorry for you." she spat. "After what your sorry ass did t'this kid you deserve a @#$%ton more than jus' a headache."
Despite his eyes being focused on the cat, Tsuan's arm was still over Rin's shoulders. His grim seemed to tighten almost imperceptibly, but he held his tongue. Sands was next, still only peering around the corner of his divider. "The @#$% you even doing here, anyway?"
"Boss seems to think that we will need his...help getting into Ova's territory." Ty said, with obvious reservations about the idea. "As if there aren't a million other oily bastard traders we could get help from. 'Stead of this, this, whatever he is." Dallen cut in, with one grand, and disgusted gesture toward the cat.
Rin felt a pang of guilt. He took another sip... wait, was that- seemed more like a gulp...?
... Whatever.
"I stabbed him, once, and he died," he blurted out, voice heavy. "I didn't mean to, I didn't wanna be a murderer. S'my fault. Gotta... care for him."
He felt a little... nah, it'll pass, right.
"Owe him..." he mumbled, then abruptly pointed at the cat. "Do'wanna be a porn star, though! Tak'it back." He took another... not sip. "Do'wan the money, just geridofit!"
... Whatever.
"I stabbed him, once, and he died," he blurted out, voice heavy. "I didn't mean to, I didn't wanna be a murderer. S'my fault. Gotta... care for him."
He felt a little... nah, it'll pass, right.
"Owe him..." he mumbled, then abruptly pointed at the cat. "Do'wanna be a porn star, though! Tak'it back." He took another... not sip. "Do'wan the money, just geridofit!"
Laurent just looks at them irritated and hears Rin's little comment and was about to retaliate and make him feel incredibility embarrassed but he heard the little bit of info from Ty. He stopped what he was doing looked at them with a curious look and in his drunken state he asks "What are you talking about? What about this me getting into Lord Ova's territory? Why is her name being brought up?!" as he looks at them slowly becoming agitated because he basically out of the loop and didn't like to be used...even though enjoyed like using everyone else. "I only came because I wanted Rin's company nothing more nothing less and now explain what you are all talking about before I do something you'll all regret" he explains as he looks at them all angrily as he sits up, with the back of his neck hairs all standing up. What he was saying he was serious and not his insane antics and is willing to do something that they'll come to regret.
It was only one of the few times that Laurent was visibly and legitimately mad. He ignored Rin's drunken bursts at him wanting his own answers.
It was only one of the few times that Laurent was visibly and legitimately mad. He ignored Rin's drunken bursts at him wanting his own answers.
"But he is clearly not dead." Ty observed, astutely.
"And even ifhe was, he @#$%in' deserved it for doin' that." Dallen added, mercilessly.
"I think you're about even. I say you don't owe him anything." Sands said.
All three of them were getting a kick out of making the cat wait - he could demand explanations all he wanted, but that didn't mean they owed him a hasty and concise answer.
Tsuan, however, had said nothing. This was, of course, very strange - because he was usually the one who didn't shut up and took every opportunity to make clever comments. Presently though, he was busy subtly leaning over - wrapping the arm already around Rin's shoulders a little farther, straining to reach the neck of the bottle while unable to see it for eyes kept locked on the cat.
At last he succeeded, grabbing the bottle and easing it out of Rin's hands. Unless the Nyran actively resisted - unlikely, unless he turned out to be an angry drunk - it would come easily - and Tsuan would just hold it loosely off to the kid's side where it was just out of reach.
With that mission accomplished, he finally switched his gaze to glance in the direction of his comrades. "Should we...should we tell 'em?" He asked - sounding quite serious in his concern. Not skipping a beat, the other three looked thoughtful and uncertain for a moment. "Boss wouldn't be happy." Sands said after a moment. "It seems fair that he should know what her plans are for him." Ty said. "Tell 'im." Dallen concluded. Ty nodded. Sands and Tsuan shrugged - the latter then returning his attention to the cat.
With some hesitation, as though he were delivering some uncomfortably bad news, he said "We weren't supposed to tell you, but Ty's right, it's only fair. See, the plan is...Well, we're supposed to hand you over to Ova. You're supposed to bring us to her home planet - and once we're there - well, she said it's either you, or Rin. And Boss wants Rin."
"You kinda' owe it to him after the @#$%you pulled." Sands contributed, with a guilty shrug.
Even Dal seemed just a little bit awkward about it, but part of her still relished the 'moral responsibility' of 'keeping him informed'. "And she said she doesn't care if we bring you back, or your skin. Guess she's real @#$%ed or somethin'. I'unno."
"And even ifhe was, he @#$%in' deserved it for doin' that." Dallen added, mercilessly.
"I think you're about even. I say you don't owe him anything." Sands said.
All three of them were getting a kick out of making the cat wait - he could demand explanations all he wanted, but that didn't mean they owed him a hasty and concise answer.
Tsuan, however, had said nothing. This was, of course, very strange - because he was usually the one who didn't shut up and took every opportunity to make clever comments. Presently though, he was busy subtly leaning over - wrapping the arm already around Rin's shoulders a little farther, straining to reach the neck of the bottle while unable to see it for eyes kept locked on the cat.
At last he succeeded, grabbing the bottle and easing it out of Rin's hands. Unless the Nyran actively resisted - unlikely, unless he turned out to be an angry drunk - it would come easily - and Tsuan would just hold it loosely off to the kid's side where it was just out of reach.
With that mission accomplished, he finally switched his gaze to glance in the direction of his comrades. "Should we...should we tell 'em?" He asked - sounding quite serious in his concern. Not skipping a beat, the other three looked thoughtful and uncertain for a moment. "Boss wouldn't be happy." Sands said after a moment. "It seems fair that he should know what her plans are for him." Ty said. "Tell 'im." Dallen concluded. Ty nodded. Sands and Tsuan shrugged - the latter then returning his attention to the cat.
With some hesitation, as though he were delivering some uncomfortably bad news, he said "We weren't supposed to tell you, but Ty's right, it's only fair. See, the plan is...Well, we're supposed to hand you over to Ova. You're supposed to bring us to her home planet - and once we're there - well, she said it's either you, or Rin. And Boss wants Rin."
"You kinda' owe it to him after the @#$%you pulled." Sands contributed, with a guilty shrug.
Even Dal seemed just a little bit awkward about it, but part of her still relished the 'moral responsibility' of 'keeping him informed'. "And she said she doesn't care if we bring you back, or your skin. Guess she's real @#$%ed or somethin'. I'unno."
Rin had a very displeased look on his face. He swung up his hand to-
The bottle was gone.
He blinked slowly. He... what?
"Where's..." he tilted his head- oh everything was tipping! he leaned the other way- oh wow, that was more than he-
Swaying a bit, he looked up at the sound of a familiar voice.
It was... wazzi... Swa- Tsuan! Yes, him- why'd he sound serious? He's supposed to be- all smirky and happy, right? Like- "Hi," he said, soft, then giggled a little. "You- remind me of- someone," he whispered, almost conspiring. It was... playful.
It sounded kinda weird in his head.
He was too far gone to care. "You wanna know, huh?" he asked, tiny grin on his face. Vaxur would have cooed. If Rin was in his right mind, he would have been screaming.
The bottle was gone.
He blinked slowly. He... what?
"Where's..." he tilted his head- oh everything was tipping! he leaned the other way- oh wow, that was more than he-
Swaying a bit, he looked up at the sound of a familiar voice.
It was... wazzi... Swa- Tsuan! Yes, him- why'd he sound serious? He's supposed to be- all smirky and happy, right? Like- "Hi," he said, soft, then giggled a little. "You- remind me of- someone," he whispered, almost conspiring. It was... playful.
It sounded kinda weird in his head.
He was too far gone to care. "You wanna know, huh?" he asked, tiny grin on his face. Vaxur would have cooed. If Rin was in his right mind, he would have been screaming.
His eyebrows raised and one would guess what would come next that insanity of the cat man would wane into a more serious Laurent. More in the line, the drunken you are the better you play the piano kinda way. "I understand why I'm getting the headaches from her stupid attacks" he states as his hairs went down and began to lick his paw. "Let me clear things up that you soldiers boys don't understand" he says as he looks at them sternly with his golden eyes and continues "If the drunken Nyran over there is being attacked via the mind then it's more than lustful intention she is after...his soul has caught her attention for some reason. Lord Ova doesn't care about me very much even though I was kicked out on decent terms unlike others who were kicked out in bad terms. No it's not me or Rin, it's both of us because you know why? Because I'm #%^* only one who knows the way to get to the capital planet without everyone being blown to pieces! Of course I'm also his golden ticket on the planet because once on the ground, he has a straight pass into the castle to Lord Ova herself!"
He took a breather and adds "I can't help you on the ground that's not up to debate and you're on your own from there" as his tail gently lifts up and down as he continues to looking at them seriously. He jumps down off the bed and says "FYI that planet isn't my home, the realm of the undead is where I came from" as he walks towards the door relatively fine. "No one ever cares for me and I made him a shit ton of money and growing and what do I get? Nothing but losing my 8th life down to 7" as he turn towards the door as it opens. His tail lifts up as he turns around says "Two things. If you don't believe how much dough he has, just open up his galactic account which is Rin1234 and password is Laurentisthebest25 and one last thing is this" and with that he lets out a loud fart that smells really bad and runs out of the room laughing as he heads back to his own ship at the hanger, leaving behind the vodka he didn't open yet.
He took a breather and adds "I can't help you on the ground that's not up to debate and you're on your own from there" as his tail gently lifts up and down as he continues to looking at them seriously. He jumps down off the bed and says "FYI that planet isn't my home, the realm of the undead is where I came from" as he walks towards the door relatively fine. "No one ever cares for me and I made him a shit ton of money and growing and what do I get? Nothing but losing my 8th life down to 7" as he turn towards the door as it opens. His tail lifts up as he turns around says "Two things. If you don't believe how much dough he has, just open up his galactic account which is Rin1234 and password is Laurentisthebest25 and one last thing is this" and with that he lets out a loud fart that smells really bad and runs out of the room laughing as he heads back to his own ship at the hanger, leaving behind the vodka he didn't open yet.
"No, it's fine" Jackson said happily as he shook Kovacs hand. It was a good firm handshake...yea...he would lay his life down for this guy. Jet followed the man into his ship while looking around at everything from the light fixtures to the crew deck. "So you pilot this whole thing by yourself huh? Well that seems like one hell of an undertaking...you mentioned your line of work earlier and I didn't quite catch what it was. What are you a mercenary? Soldier? No, no, wait I have it, a Privateer?" questioned Jet as he tried to grab the attention of the sleep deprived warrior of space. "Any how, where could I drop my weights?" asked Jet as he slumped the weights back onto his shoulders after letting them accidentally fall to the ground with a large thud.
Hearing what sounded close to three hundred kilograms hit the floor, he was suddenly grateful that the interior plating was a carbon fibre nanolaminate. While the materiel was extremely lightweight, and ludicrously resilient, it wasn't able to withstand the kind of force or heat that mainline weapons could dish out. He'd still have to buff out the smudge later.
"I used to be a soldier. Now I work for the highest bidder, or whoever my company asks me to." Kovacs turned around, and picked up the bag with one hand, holding it against Jet's enormous chest. "I am not a Privateer; I don't pillage Imperial cargo ships."
It that, he kept going, pointing at the signs above each door, and making light of the color coded lines on the deck, leading the observer towards whichever destination they wanted. Taking his new passenger up the stairs, he brought him to the PT room.
"Leave them in here. They'll make a nice addition."
"I used to be a soldier. Now I work for the highest bidder, or whoever my company asks me to." Kovacs turned around, and picked up the bag with one hand, holding it against Jet's enormous chest. "I am not a Privateer; I don't pillage Imperial cargo ships."
It that, he kept going, pointing at the signs above each door, and making light of the color coded lines on the deck, leading the observer towards whichever destination they wanted. Taking his new passenger up the stairs, he brought him to the PT room.
"Leave them in here. They'll make a nice addition."
"Got anything to watch here?" Jet said as he slowly dropped the weights to the ground. He then took a seat on the duffle bag and began rummaging through the bag, to only pull a crushed box of travel cereal. He tried opening the box, but to no avail ,because of his gargantuan hands. He instead opted to tear open the box and to go from there. Without thinking twice about this ill-planned move, Jet tore open the box, releasing all of the cereal onto the floor. "Ah !@#$...sorry man...I am real sorry...I can clean that if you want me to...just point me in the direction of the custodial closet." sighed Jet as his sudden anticipation for the trip had turned to mild embarrassment and guilt. He got up and stretched...even though he had only been sitting for a maximum of one minute...and awaited directions from Kovacs. "Great, the savior of this poor lost space traveler just turned out to be a big buffoon that dirties the place, now I have to prove to this guy that I am not some chump!" Jet thought to himself as he began to feel the rush of adventurous excitement travel through his body.
Allowing a small smile to his face as the massive man had a small panic attack, Kovacs simply pointed to the cleaning supplies hanging up on their wall rack. "Sweep, mop. Sink is in the head, garbage disposal right here," he tapped on a metal slat built into the wall.
"I have various holovids and movies in the databanks that you can watch while you work out. Follow me to your new quarters, you can clean up later." They were some pretty good films, too. A few thousand of them from the twentieth to twenty-fourth century. Walking out of the gym, he went further down the hall, taking a right. Activating the door console, he changed the occupant to match his new crew.
"These are your quarters. Inspections are every morning at zero five Zulu time. Wake up at 0430, bed down at 2200. Time is now 1448, clean up the entire gym, and I'll be back down in fifteen minutes to inspect. You'll find I run a tight ship, Mr. Jackson. You use it, you clean it." Kovacs crossed his arms.
"Welcome to the rest of your life aboard my ship. I'll talk to you about scrapping your old tub when you finish in the gym."
"I have various holovids and movies in the databanks that you can watch while you work out. Follow me to your new quarters, you can clean up later." They were some pretty good films, too. A few thousand of them from the twentieth to twenty-fourth century. Walking out of the gym, he went further down the hall, taking a right. Activating the door console, he changed the occupant to match his new crew.
"These are your quarters. Inspections are every morning at zero five Zulu time. Wake up at 0430, bed down at 2200. Time is now 1448, clean up the entire gym, and I'll be back down in fifteen minutes to inspect. You'll find I run a tight ship, Mr. Jackson. You use it, you clean it." Kovacs crossed his arms.
"Welcome to the rest of your life aboard my ship. I'll talk to you about scrapping your old tub when you finish in the gym."
The cat farted, and ran off cackling - but the soldiers looked more disappointed than revolted. Each glanced to the other, giving a meaningful look - the silent consensus was that they would need to talk about what had just happened.
Nobody had mentioned that Rin had been attacked.
They had been trying to freak the cat out - Tsuan had started up on it and the others knew instinctively where he was going with it. He hadn't given the whole story. He'd blatantly lied about parts.
And yet, the cat knew everything. That was deeply concerning.
But there was time to address that later, and the group had no problem dropping the issue temporarily. T'yzfir returned to his papers, and Sands returned to his outdated gadget.
Presently, Tsuan was becoming more aware of Rin's swaying - and looking down to find a tiny, almost mischievous grin on the Nyran's lips. Much to his own surprise, it had caught him off-guard - and he simply could not resist the temptation. His usual grin returned two-fold.
"Hi." He whispered meaningfully, almost knowingly. Dallen, apparently finding something about the situation humorous, stifled a laugh - and extracated herself by going over to check out the remaining bottle of vodka.
"Oh really~?" He pulled the Nyran in just a little closer - it also had the effect of helping the poor thing keep from falling over. "Who...do I remind you of~?" It was hard to tell if he was actually enjoying the little scene, or simply amused by it.
But then, most things seemed to amuse Tsuan.
"Duck piss." Dallen muttered disdainfully to herself, tossing the bottle back onto the vacant bed - and immediately producing a flask from her back pocket instead.
Nobody had mentioned that Rin had been attacked.
They had been trying to freak the cat out - Tsuan had started up on it and the others knew instinctively where he was going with it. He hadn't given the whole story. He'd blatantly lied about parts.
And yet, the cat knew everything. That was deeply concerning.
But there was time to address that later, and the group had no problem dropping the issue temporarily. T'yzfir returned to his papers, and Sands returned to his outdated gadget.
Presently, Tsuan was becoming more aware of Rin's swaying - and looking down to find a tiny, almost mischievous grin on the Nyran's lips. Much to his own surprise, it had caught him off-guard - and he simply could not resist the temptation. His usual grin returned two-fold.
"Hi." He whispered meaningfully, almost knowingly. Dallen, apparently finding something about the situation humorous, stifled a laugh - and extracated herself by going over to check out the remaining bottle of vodka.
"Oh really~?" He pulled the Nyran in just a little closer - it also had the effect of helping the poor thing keep from falling over. "Who...do I remind you of~?" It was hard to tell if he was actually enjoying the little scene, or simply amused by it.
But then, most things seemed to amuse Tsuan.
"Duck piss." Dallen muttered disdainfully to herself, tossing the bottle back onto the vacant bed - and immediately producing a flask from her back pocket instead.
It was 2400, Jet sat on the machine bench press chomping down on some Halundan chips, which seem to have mysteriously appeared from the duffelbag, watching a Kunalsian crime movie. "Ooooohhh now I see, so that guy exchanges a body part for his life...what a stupid concept!" Jet said with his mouth filled to the brim with chips. His incessant chewing allowed for small bits of chip to fall onto the freshly sweeped, mopped, and buffed floors that Jet had done hours earlier. "Man, that movie had its flaws, but I thought the villain was cool, I mean its not everyday you see a fox guy and a master assassin team up with a blind terrorist, a mercenary, and an inventor to take down a crime boss." yawned Jet as he slipped out of the machine bench press and onto the ground, later pulling the duffel bag over him as a makeshift blanket, and eventually just got into the seemingly limitless duffel bag as if it were a cocoon. "Pfft, 0430, like I am waking up at 4:30...pm maybe...but not am." thought Jet as vision of space adventures dashed through his mind, "I have to armwrestle this guy tomorrow...". Jet then drifted off into a deep sleep.
Wondering at what exactly he just watched, Kovacs shook his head. The aliens he could understand, but the half-human things? It was already had enough that he was in a different galaxy to the one he knew well. The star charts he had compared to the pulled from Jet's old passenger ship? Vastly different. Most of the stars, and even nebulae were in different positions; there was too much time passed for even his advanced computer to calculate.
Different stars, different language. Even the time was different! 2500 seconds to an hour, one thousand minutes in a day! Now the day lasts 833 minutes, if measured in the units Kovacs was used to. To say nothing about how the metric system was considered "archaic." Bah!
The hours were now eighteen minutes shorter, and the new crewmember hadn't even bothered to correct him earlier! Did he not know his own time?
As it was, Mr. Jackson was late for bed down, by Earth standards. It was half a Galactic day since the arrangements for the smaller ship's dismantlement were made, and Mr. Jackson was still in the PT room. Perhaps the big man wanted to live there?
Kovacs keyed the intercom. "Since you refuse to go to bed, inspection is time now. Stand outside your quarters, and await further instruction." Getting up, he slapped his helmet back on, the commander still in his battle rattle.
Different stars, different language. Even the time was different! 2500 seconds to an hour, one thousand minutes in a day! Now the day lasts 833 minutes, if measured in the units Kovacs was used to. To say nothing about how the metric system was considered "archaic." Bah!
The hours were now eighteen minutes shorter, and the new crewmember hadn't even bothered to correct him earlier! Did he not know his own time?
As it was, Mr. Jackson was late for bed down, by Earth standards. It was half a Galactic day since the arrangements for the smaller ship's dismantlement were made, and Mr. Jackson was still in the PT room. Perhaps the big man wanted to live there?
Kovacs keyed the intercom. "Since you refuse to go to bed, inspection is time now. Stand outside your quarters, and await further instruction." Getting up, he slapped his helmet back on, the commander still in his battle rattle.
2:30, it was 2:30 am. The sudden intercom noise woke the sleeping giant and he arose, the duffel bag stretched around him, sleeping-bag style. "Inspectawhoha?" mumbled Jet as he began to regain consciousness. Lookin at the ground he saw bits of chips and strewn about weights. Then it hit him, the sudden realization that this heavily armored and armed mercenary was coming to a room he expects to be cleaner than a whistle. With all of his morning anger and lack of sleep, Jet decided to do the only thing he could think of in his delirious state, he was going from to stand up to Kovacs. "So what if he has guns that could make me look like a pile of Glikan Bull piss, so what if his armor could take a warship head on, I have my merit as a man to protect" grumbled Jet as he slipped out of the duffel bag. He then stretched and went back to working out and eating chips, waiting for Kovacs arrival. "If that man thinks he can tame this temple I call my body, then he has another thing coming.".
Arriving on the crew deck, he immediately noticed that Jet was not outside his room. Pulling up a video feed on his HUD, he looked in the PT room. Well, at least he's awake. Opening the billet, he walked in. Untouched, and the access log most recent activity was when he altered the credentials. Exiting the room, he marched into the gym, and started stripping his gear, heaping it next to the sparring mat.
"Mat. Now." His voice brooked no argument, and he carefully staged his armor while he waited for the big man to comply. He then walked over into the mat shirtless, prosthetic legs exposed, and began stretching out.
"Mat. Now." His voice brooked no argument, and he carefully staged his armor while he waited for the big man to comply. He then walked over into the mat shirtless, prosthetic legs exposed, and began stretching out.
There it was- Rin giggled lightly, a hand coming up to try and stifle the sound, almost shyly. He sounded a'right now! A fond, wistful look came over his features- then it was gone, eyes clearing to look up at Tsuan more closely.
"Vaxur!" The way he said the name- there was no mistaking the lilt in his tone. "He- not Nyran. Aksen. Like- aqua- aquatic-land alen-alien. Real- tall, way tall! Six... uh... fou- no, sixsix, talleren me..." He grumbled a bit about "teasing" and "height" before perking up again.
"He'swas- first-" he darted up to Tsuan's ear- or as close as he could get by tiptoeing, anyway. "Crush," he whispered, then rocked back in his heels, giggling. "En- so nice, always takin care'a me an- perce- per-" he frowned, then lit up again. "Per-cep-ti-ave. Yeah, that. Everyone's friend!"
He leaned a little closer, whispering in the the same playful, conspiring tone as before. "He's a joker, all smirky an' happy lik'ou," he said. He swayed back a bit, never breaking eye contact.
"He can also be," his voice dropped, along with his expression- low and foreboding. "Serious." He kept the dark facade- and apparently thought his sudden change of voice and mood was funny, because he giggled again, tilting to rest his head on Tsuan. He peeked up at him, grinning.
"Wan hear how'e... met? Is- funny." His eyes twinkled.
"Vaxur!" The way he said the name- there was no mistaking the lilt in his tone. "He- not Nyran. Aksen. Like- aqua- aquatic-land alen-alien. Real- tall, way tall! Six... uh... fou- no, sixsix, talleren me..." He grumbled a bit about "teasing" and "height" before perking up again.
"He'swas- first-" he darted up to Tsuan's ear- or as close as he could get by tiptoeing, anyway. "Crush," he whispered, then rocked back in his heels, giggling. "En- so nice, always takin care'a me an- perce- per-" he frowned, then lit up again. "Per-cep-ti-ave. Yeah, that. Everyone's friend!"
He leaned a little closer, whispering in the the same playful, conspiring tone as before. "He's a joker, all smirky an' happy lik'ou," he said. He swayed back a bit, never breaking eye contact.
"He can also be," his voice dropped, along with his expression- low and foreboding. "Serious." He kept the dark facade- and apparently thought his sudden change of voice and mood was funny, because he giggled again, tilting to rest his head on Tsuan. He peeked up at him, grinning.
"Wan hear how'e... met? Is- funny." His eyes twinkled.
Dallen stifled another laugh - allowing herself to flop onto the bed for a moment in a show of keeping herself from hysterics. Tsuan watched her out of the corner of his eye.
"I remind you of an aquatic-land-alien. huh?" He said softly, still grinning - and directly addressing exactly what Dallen was finding so hilarious. Or, at least, part of it. He adjusted his stance slightly to compensate for Rin's new angle of swaying.
"Well, I hope he's a good looking aquatic-land-alien." Even Sands had to snigger at that one, just a little. Affectionately, Tsuan let the arm around Rin's shoulders slide back just a little - he maneuvered the bottle into the other hand, then went about putting his fingers in about the pinkish hair at the back of the neck. He rubbed his thumb soothingly back and forth. "Sounds like a good guy though. Sure, how'd you meet?" Just as Rin had not broken eye contact, neither did Tsuan - except for that one half-sidelong-glance to the giggling Dallen. But, as usual, it was hard to pinpoint the look in his peculiarly blue eyes.
"I remind you of an aquatic-land-alien. huh?" He said softly, still grinning - and directly addressing exactly what Dallen was finding so hilarious. Or, at least, part of it. He adjusted his stance slightly to compensate for Rin's new angle of swaying.
"Well, I hope he's a good looking aquatic-land-alien." Even Sands had to snigger at that one, just a little. Affectionately, Tsuan let the arm around Rin's shoulders slide back just a little - he maneuvered the bottle into the other hand, then went about putting his fingers in about the pinkish hair at the back of the neck. He rubbed his thumb soothingly back and forth. "Sounds like a good guy though. Sure, how'd you meet?" Just as Rin had not broken eye contact, neither did Tsuan - except for that one half-sidelong-glance to the giggling Dallen. But, as usual, it was hard to pinpoint the look in his peculiarly blue eyes.
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