RP: "Adventures in Gunrunning" - Act 13

POSTED BY: Channain
UPDATED: Monday, April 5, 2004 14:04
VIEWED: 19436
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SQUEE

Sunday, March 28, 2004 8:45 AM

Damon's turn:
LOCATION - BRIDGE

Quote:
“Do I understand that you find my appearance inappropriate? Humm . . . I will remember it in the future. On my last posting, I was assured that among associates this was merely an indication of trust. I did not intend to distress anyone. I shall, of course, take care of this at once. My apologies Captain.”

Trust? Yeah, definitely a sign of trust. You have nothin' to hide, you can walk around as carefree as you want.

Damon steps aside, trying to keep his eyes off of Merz as she passes.

Quote:
Originally posted by Geezer:
MAL: "Well, put your eyes back in your head an' come in. At least you're dressed. An' you do know what a Shepherd is, right?"

Damon clears his throat, as he looks up at Mal, and walks onto the bridge.

"Yes- well no, but I heard him being called Preacher so..."

He is quiet a moment as he pulls himself back together and reminds himself of why he is here.

"I came up to ask what I can do to pay for the ride. I don't know if you're lookin' for a hired hand but I'd be willing to work hard for any coin you can throw my way after I pay off what I already owe."

I'm not broken, in my dream I win...

MERCEDESTROY

Sunday, March 28, 2004 4:18 PM

MERZ MOVE

LOCATION - BRIDGE to MERZ BUNK to LAUNDRY ROOM

Between the bridge and her bunk, MERZ is careful not to cross paths with anyone else. Bloody difficult to keep all the rules straight. Hardly worth bothering to try, let them take her as she is. oh yes, like i can do that. must maintain an appearance of normality. must blend . . . easier to shoot self and be done with it

She sneaks quietly back into her bunkroom and closes the door. She carefully removes the blanket from the bed and does a clumsy but functional wrap, covering herself. Gathering her clothing she leaves again, slowly to avoid tripping over the trailing blanket and returns to the common area to find the laundry area. Glad it is a slow hour of the day and she does not have to dodge many of the crew.

MERZ finds the correct area. Now, this is going to be the fun part. How does one go about this? First washing machine. Check. The box in the middle with a door on it. Second: probably put clothes in machine. Check. Third: Soap? Where? Ah, box on shelf marked “Laundry soap”. Good enough. Dump some soap with clothes. Fourth: Start? Hum. Yes, button marked start. Satisfactory noises from the box, well at least something is happening.

MERZ settles down on the floor and waits for the machine to fall silent again, supposing that will mean the process is finished.

there, that was not so hard. learn something new every day It isn’t until some sort of foam starts emerging from under the lid that she suspects that something is not quite right.

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

CIARA

Sunday, March 28, 2004 7:23 PM

LOCATION - INARA'S SHUTTLE
As ...

Inara stretches, rolls over, and finally allows her eyes to open. She rises to her feet and reaches over her head, stretching out all the kinks in her back.

Fully rested and more than a little famished, Inara grabs a snack from her secret stash and sits before her cortex terminal, nibbling on dried fruits. One leg pulled up to her chest, chin resting on the knee, Inara begins her research for the evening.

A much younger picture of "Rosie" Thorne appears on her screen, the Companion database providing a long list of likes and dislikes, history and prior companion interactions. Thorne's Companion history is impeccable, often visiting a companion more than once, and being quite loyal to only her in the meantime. Inara smiles and sits back, biting her lip as she ponders her choices for the evening. Finally rising and removing a shift from the wardrobe, Inara begins to undress in preparation for her bath.

EOM

Just a humble supplicant in service to all things Joss

ASTRIANA

Sunday, March 28, 2004 7:28 PM

ZOE/WASH'S MOVE:
LOCATION - WASH & ZOE'S BUNK

Zoe stirs slightly in her sleep, sated and content with Wash curled behind her ("spooning"), one arm draped across her waist. They sleep peacefully.

End Move.

OOC: Lemme know when it's time to wake 'em up!

~A~

...I'm still free,
You can't take the sky from me.

GEEZER

Monday, March 29, 2004 2:21 AM

Thorne's Move:

Location: His quarters/Laundry area

[THORNE hears someone rattling around in the laundry, and decides it would be a good time for him to take care of his washing too. He digs out his laundry bag and heads out to claim the next spot. MERZ, wrapped in a course blanket, is sitting on the laundry floor, watching with puzzlement as foam starts to overflow the washer. THORNE steps past her, pushes the lid down and flips the sealing latch. The overflow stops.]

THORNE: "Have ta' remember to seal the washer on these Fireflys. Specially if you use too much soap. Should be all right now. From the looks of it, you found a laundry just in time. Blanket's not the most convenient thing to wear, is it?"

[THORNE would like to find out why MERZ is just a blank to his empathic senses, but can't think of a way to bring it up. Maybe if he just talks to her a bit something will come up.]

"Really was impressive the way you handled that cannon yesterday. I'd guess that you're no stranger to combat. And your discipline has all the earmarks of Alliance training. So how'd you end up sitting on a rock in the middle of Serenity Valley? It's not your usual place to catch a ship, though it worked out pretty good for you."

EOM

"Keep the Shiny side up"

MANIACNUMBERONE

Monday, March 29, 2004 10:59 AM

Book's Move
LOCATION - Book's Room

Book rises, as always, at 5:00 a.m., washes, puts on a long informal tunic and sits in the half light of his room for an hour of meditation. Afterwards, taking his Bible in hand, he goes to his door, slides it open wide and goes up the aft stairs to the galley to await other early risers with coffee.

EM

MERCEDESTROY

Monday, March 29, 2004 11:49 AM

MERZ move

LOCATION - LAUNDRY AREA

MERZ is obscurely glad when someone enters the laundry, and proceeds to correct her error with the machine. Now she will know next time. And was spared asking for assistance.

Quote:
THORNE: "Have ta' remember to seal the washer on these Fireflys. Specially if you use too much soap. Should be all right now. From the looks of it, you found a laundry just in time. Blanket's not the most convenient thing to wear, is it?"

Ah, she knows who this is now. Between his scent and the voice – this is the command voice from yesterday. One of the crew (?) she has not yet met. She puzzles over how to speak to him correctly as he continues speaking to her.

Quote:
"Really was impressive the way you handled that cannon yesterday. I'd guess that you're no stranger to combat. And your discipline has all the earmarks of Alliance training. So how'd you end up sitting on a rock in the middle of Serenity Valley? It's not your usual place to catch a ship, though it worked out pretty good for you."

again with the questions. always with the questions. maybe i should just post it on a board for them all to read

MERZ looks up at him, debating smiling. Decides against it – has had enough of that ridiculous grin for one day. She sticks one hand outside of the blanket – she knows this gesture ‘see I am unarmed and therefore harmless’ and allows him to take her hand. “Mercedes Troy. They call me Merz for short. I appreciate the assist with the laundry. My wardrobe is on the limited side. I tried it without the blanket first. Apparently an error on my part.” She retrieves her hand and carefully makes sure the blanket is sufficiently protective.

“I was in the valley for a reason. Did not work out. Serenity just happened along about the time I decided was time to move on. When I came up to see if they were in a hiring mood – heard DAMON request assistance mounting the cannon. Was something I could do and had expected to try to bargain for passage anyway. Worked out well, I would not have wanted to be around when the patrol came through.”

She looks up at him, head canted to one side. “You are military yourself. You don’t learn that command voice all at once. You may think of me as ex-military, which is sufficiently accurate. Firing that cannon . . . was not something I wanted to be reminded of, but I suppose it could have been worse. Serenity would have been safe anyway – I would not be surprised if DAMON could not have manned the cannon just as well.” She pauses. “I never caught your name either.”

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

GEEZER

Monday, March 29, 2004 4:47 PM

MAL's MOVE:

Location: Bridge

DAMON: "I came up to ask what I can do to pay for the ride. I don't know if you're lookin' for a hired hand but I'd be willing to work hard for any coin you can throw my way after I pay off what I already owe."

[MAL considers what THORNE had just said about chipping in a little extra to help out the hitchers, and decides he can be generous, since it's someone else's money.]

MAL: "I figger you've been on the books since you helped get that cannon workin', an' crew don't pay room an' board on my ship. Guess I could charge for the hop from the docks to the Valley, but the bookkeepin' would cost more than the fare. If you're willing to work 'til we get rid of the cargo at New Hokkaido, you'll get a half share of this caper, an' then you're on your own. Sound fair to you?."

EOM

"Keep the Shiny side up"

GEEZER

Monday, March 29, 2004 5:14 PM

THORNE's MOVE:

Location: Laundry

MERZ: “Mercedes Troy. They call me Merz for short. I appreciate the assist with the laundry. My wardrobe is on the limited side. I tried it without the blanket first. Apparently an error on my part.”

[Without the blanket? That would have been interesting. You'd think that a women of MERZ' apparent age would know better than to walk around a strange ship in the alltogether.]

MERZ: “I was in the valley for a reason. Did not work out. Serenity just happened along about the time I decided was time to move on. When I came up to see if they were in a hiring mood – heard DAMON request assistance mounting the cannon. Was something I could do and had expected to try to bargain for passage anyway. Worked out well, I would not have wanted to be around when the patrol came through.”

“You are military yourself. You don’t learn that command voice all at once. You may think of me as ex-military, which is sufficiently accurate. Firing that cannon . . . was not something I wanted to be reminded of, but I suppose it could have been worse. Serenity would have been safe anyway – I would not be surprised if DAMON could not have manned the cannon just as well...I never caught your name either.”

[Well, that was a long speech that provided almost no information. Just that she wouldn't mind being off the Alliance's screens. Time to give a little and see if I get something back.]

THORNE: "Oh, sorry. Where are my manners? I am Roosevelt Thorne. I've chartered this ship to deliver a cargo to some friends on New Hokkaido. And yes, I've been in both Alliance and Independent service, though not since the end of the war.

I hesitate to disagree with you, but I don't believe DAMON could have handled the situation yesterday. Even unwounded, he would not have your strength or reflexes. The Crazy Ivan would have left him stunned on the floor. You obviously train hard. Any particular technique?"

EOM

"Keep the Shiny side up"

CHANNAIN

Monday, March 29, 2004 11:35 PM

Rowan's Move:
LOCATION - PASSENGER DORMS

Not hard to tell on a Firefly when it's time to be up and around. First she hears extra water intake from the stores in the general direction of the laundry, which means someone is getting pretty ambitious for what remains of the wee hours. Then one of the other dorm room doors opens and she hears footsteps on the deck grating that sounds wide-spaced and easy. Book, probably. That means the rest of the ship will be up soon. So if she's going to see to her eye, now is probably the best time for it.

Placing the black book mark with its embroidered green dragon in place - just as Bold Talent is remembering his time on foreign shores - she sets Spring Moon aside and swings her legs down to slip back into her sandals. Heading out, she finds the passageway empty and moves down across the common area and into the infirmary.

Gathering up appropriate supplies, she sits down on a handy stool and uses the shiny cone of a surgical light, manipulating it so she can see the Rapiheal patch. Carefully lifting the tape, she pulls the patch away and is surprised to see that the injury isn't nearly as bad off as she figured. Must be a number 10 patch - unusual to see more than a number 5 this far out in the black - which makes her ponder the idea of Serenity's doctor dabbling a bit in black market medicines.

The flesh around the eye is still somewhat discolored but not nearly as dark as she had imagined, and the marks left by the splinters still show, but only as the barest pink scars.

Staring at her eyes, one brown and one green, she reluctantly ducks her head to remove the dark brown contact. Looking up again, she stares at green eyes that seem strange and foreign, as if they belong to a complete stranger.

Quote:
He was reviewing the latest Revolution transmission with her, hearing his own distorted voice discussing the political aspirations of one Crofton Trihn - mining tycoon and known slave owner, in addition to being a loudly voracious supporter of Unification - and she could tell he was fascinated with the green Asian eyes she had used for the video representation of "The Exile", the Revolution's fabricated rogue reporter.

"That's incredible - how long did it take you to do that?"

She turned to look at him. "Do what?"

He gestured to the monitor. "To digitally change your eyes to green for the avatar? It looks so natural. I had no idea you were that talented."

It made her smile. "Well, it's not so much a matter of talent as genetics."

He frowned, confused. "I don't understand."

Looking right at him, she did the one thing she never thought she would do with anyone. She shifted aside the lens she had worn since she was eighteen to show him the true color of her eyes. He stared, just as she expected he would, but not with the same sense of shock or revulsion she had come to abhor from others. The fascination he had displayed while staring at the screen returned to chase his frown away.

"Lìngrén jingyì," he said softly.

Staring back at him, she saw his mouth curve and knew she wasn't looking at her former teacher, or the Independent leader anymore, but the man.

And her heart leapt for joy.

Rowan blinks both eyes, then the right one on its own to test the muscles. It still aches a bit, but not nearly as much as it could have without treatment.

ROWAN (softly, amazed): "That Simon knows his craft. Family money was well spent on that boy."

She stares at herself again, breathes a sigh and stands to go toss the last lens in the trash. She can't very well walk around with one brown eye and one green - it would be ludicrous. Nevertheless, dropping the lens feels like dropping an identity or tossing aside a shield she's held in front of herself for years. Watching it land in the trash, she folds her arms tight around her shoulders and takes another deep breath before turning away.

Food would be the next order of business, then perhaps a visit to the Companion. She may have the kind of makeup

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