Matthias Jayne
Aegis Settler
Posts: 15
Character Gender: Male
Character Starting Age: 31
Height / Weight: 5'9" / 250lbs
Expertise: Security and Combat
|
Post by Matthias Jayne on Jun 9, 2021 11:28:09 GMT
When she mentioned having augmentation done to herself, Matthias took the opportunity to survey her from head to toe, before looking her in the eyes again. "I'd recommend at least some hidden weapons. Perhaps some palm blades. Nothing as large as my forearm blades, but something that can extend out from underneath your hands. Good way to surprise anyone trying to grab you. Not sure about any other augmentations. I've only looked at stuff good for combat."
She went on about verbal honey and blah blah blah, he just twisted his mouth a bit in semi disgust. "No honeyed words for me. No one wastes them on us soldiers." He leaned against the bar, drinking some more of his water. When she mentioned the thing about the nuts, she finally got a small chuckle out of him. Well, it's to be expected. Soldiers have some messed up senses of humor.
"I'm not worried about the drip. I plan on flushing my system out before I go into whatever form of stasis they plan to put us into. No real idea how long it is. I was handed an info packet but I didn't bother to read it. I'll figure it out as I go." When he stopped and thought a moment, he had a question.
"How do you know these nuts will give you a case of the runs? Personal experience?"
|
|
Eden
Aegis Settler
Striking sultry poses in the wasteland...
Posts: 17
Character Gender: Female
Character Starting Age: 23
Height / Weight: 1.73 m / 57 kg
Expertise: Propaganda
|
Post by Eden on Jun 9, 2021 17:24:39 GMT
"Nah," Eden shrugged at the suggestion of hidden palm blades. The thought itself disgusted her; visualizing some sharp bionic weapons coming out of her flesh to slice and dice someone made the young woman feel nauseated. "I think I will stick with what I can achieve naturally. But if I ever get desperate enough to reach for tech enhancements, at least I have someone to recommend the good stuff, right?"
Rhetorical question required no answer, though Eden assumed Matthias would offer more on the subject of cybertech. It certainly seemed the right solution for him, but she saw the choice as a highly individualistic one. They were not cut from the same cloth. Even now, her newfound acquaintance seemed bored listening to her with an air of lethargic indifference oozing out of every orifice.
"I don't consider words a waste. Sometimes, it's all we have."
Turning to the bar briefly, Eden made sure she had settled her tab before pulling a small vial of hand sanitizer from the inner pocket of her light purple jacket and utilizing it on her palms. After pocketing it back, she turned to Matthias and shrugged.
"You do you, then. I haven't bothered checking into the flight myself but I suppose I should. Don't want to miss my flight." At this point, Eden did not state how much she hated being put into stasis - giving up any semblance of control was something she secretly abhorred. "Thanks for the reminder, by the way... I almost forgot about the information packet."
Eden suspected the whole trip and events leading up to the final take off might be a real drag, as most such business dealings usually ended up being. The flight did not come cheap, and there had to be some kind of 'orientation' preceding it. Best get on it, then! Looking to Matthias in an afterthought, Eden recalled that the man actually asked her a question which also sounded like a jab at her eating habits.
"In my line of work you sometimes have to rely on mother nature to slow down the progress of obstinate resolve. And there is nothing like oily discharge to get an unwanted admirer off your back."
With that statement, Eden seemed to have reached a dead end in the conversation, unless Matthias felt like dragging his bruised backside to her next destination - but she saw that as highly unlikely. It was time to brave the public restrooms as she could already feel the wine demanding to be excused.
"Well, I best get on. I guess I'll see you around... Matthias."
Sweet voice was perfectly disciplined, not a hint of regret or hesitation - just a little soft in the way she pronounced his name. It had to be some kind of test...? Yes, a test to see if he would catch the nuance - although Eden highly doubted that he could. Maybe he was just a simple grunt for hire, after all.
Don't do anything I would do.
|
|
Xahra Skye
Aegis Settler
Posts: 17
Character Gender: Female
Character Starting Age: 36
Height / Weight: 5'6 / 140lbs
Expertise: Procurement
|
Post by Xahra Skye on Jun 10, 2021 0:04:47 GMT
Xahra watched the whole ordeal, casually glancing at the other two Aegis settlers in the bar as they seemed to flitter back and forth in conversation. She, of course, knew who Matt was, but the other woman was new, someone she'd never seen before. She filed it away as something to check into when they got planetside, but for now she turned her attention back to Varis and her conversation with the server. The girl had apparently meant bathroom Gin, or was it bathtub. Didn't matter.
When the server came back with something that looked like it belonged in one of those, your money can help this family drink clean water, commercials, she just shook her head and grabbed the actual Gin and water before the server could take it back. "I'll just keep this one for myself," she said, not about to let good alcohol go to waste. Xahra held it up in a toast to Varis, "To personal tastes," she said, trying not to sound snarky. It hadn't been so long ago that Xahra had been on the verge of drinking her own waste water, so who was she to judge.
She listened as Varis spoke about Australia, confirming everything she'd ever heard about the third world country. Pacha had done a number on the place and then fooled the populace into thinking they were actually trying to make life better. That was Pacha though, smile on the surface, hand extended in greeting, and a dagger behind their back waiting for you to get in close. She kept those opinions to herself. Girl was already wearing a red armband, nothing she was going to say would change that.
"I grew up in The Free City of Berlin in the old German Republic. They like to fool themselves in thinking they have no corporate masters, but the place runs the same. People who make the rules have everything, and the rest of us fight for a scrap to eat. Corps are just too big for any place to claim they are free of their influence. Put enough money in anyone's hand and they will see things the way you want them to. Where I lived wasn't much different from what you describe." She shrugged of the thought and took a large swing of the Gin. Stuff still tasted like plants to her.
|
|
Matthias Jayne
Aegis Settler
Posts: 15
Character Gender: Male
Character Starting Age: 31
Height / Weight: 5'9" / 250lbs
Expertise: Security and Combat
|
Post by Matthias Jayne on Jun 10, 2021 1:19:19 GMT
Matthias simply shrugged. "Fair enough. Not everyone likes cybernetics, I get that. At least it gives us something to turn to if we ever lose a limb or something like that."
He watched her sanitize her hands as if it was perfectly normal, then glanced down at his own. They weren't exactly clean, but they weren't filthy either. He didn't really worry about it all that much, what with the synthetic flesh and all. Still, maybe he'll add a shower to his pre-flight plans as well.
When she talked about using diarrhea to get someone to leave her alone, and he just chuckled, a low growl of a chuckle as he could easily see her doing something like that. "I'd have just tased'em and left them laying in their own piss."
When she indicated she was leaving, he figured he was done here as well. Pushing back from the bar and settling his relatively small tab, he turned towards her. "I'm done here and heading back to my quarters to prep for the flight." He let his gaze fall past her towards the Pancha people on the far side of the bar, before looking back to her. "Want an escort?"
|
|
Eden
Aegis Settler
Striking sultry poses in the wasteland...
Posts: 17
Character Gender: Female
Character Starting Age: 23
Height / Weight: 1.73 m / 57 kg
Expertise: Propaganda
|
Post by Eden on Jun 10, 2021 4:02:04 GMT
In perfect agreement with Matthias' opening statement, Eden just nodded. Surely, they could agree to disagree and still find some common ground, somewhere? Time would tell, Eden thought. They were both about to embark on a journey that could very well toss them far apart. They might never see one another again... never could have a pointless (or vapid) conversation, never meet up at a strange bar, never... NEVER... never.
Apart from speculation, Eden held fast to a belief in Fate. That no matter what happened on people's various walks of life - if something was meant to be - it would be. It was the same for her and her new 'friend'. At this juncture, she was not too concerned about it, anyway. First and foremost, Eden yearned to embark on her journey to help humiliate, humble and perhaps even destroy, Pacha.
When her Swiss-movement, wrist-mounted chronometer beeped a full hour at her, Eden sneaked a peek at the time. Still too early for dinner, but she could use a shower and a nap. Matthias was keen on heading back to his quarters and prep for the flight.
"Sounds like a smart thing to do. I suppose it couldn't hurt for me to do the same - although I am not getting on board that thing on an empty stomach."
If the flight did not make it to their destination, at least she would go down well fed.
"And..." Eden eyed the man warily, "I know that was not an invitation." In that moment, he seemed more machine to her than man - as she caught him peering over her shoulder toward some people on the other side of the bar.
"So why do you offer yourself as escort; do my clothes scream whore on the corner or are you just growing inordinately fond of me?"
|
|
Varis Allaria
Pacha Settler
Distilled ethanol with water is (NOT) a girls best friend!
Posts: 14
Character Gender: Female
Character Starting Age: 27
Height / Weight: 160cm / 65kg
Expertise: Lockpicking | Biological Science
|
Post by Varis Allaria on Jun 10, 2021 4:40:32 GMT
"I suppose," Varis commented, nodding at Xahra's recollection of The Free City of Berlin, "that's why we are all here. What resources that are left here, what isn't being destroyed, won't last a lot longer. Planet B becomes the only viable option, another planet that will sooner or later, look exactly like this one, a ruined wasteland, except further away. What, pray tell, is Planet C?"
You didn't really drink what Varis drunk with the intention of tasting it, though it was definitely an acquired taste. She downed it in a single effort, then stood up to get the attention of the server. She stumbled slightly, even though she didn't actually walk anywhere, uneasy on her feet. Varis almost fell back into her chair, a child like giggle appearing. She brushed aside her purple highlights, and looked at Xahra with firey eyes, "The ground must be a little uneven here. Can't trust anyone! Building codes aren't up to.... codes... standards, and stuff."
Another drink appeared, but she didn't touch it immediately. Her eyes were closed, the room beginning to move slightly. There was a blur, the edges of her vision were becoming less clear. She lifted her glass, "Lets drink to ruining another planet, and dying for nothing. To hell with Planet A!"
She laughed, but it wasn't funny. Her eyes were watery, and no smile appeared, despite the forced laughter. Because, despite the strength she tried so desperately to convey, despite everything she was saying, she was frightened beyond all measure. She was being forced across the galaxy, when even now, this was the furthest from New 'Stralia that she'd ever been. Desperate not to cry, desperate not to seem weak or cowardly, she yelled loud enough for everyone in the bar to hear, "Cheers to Astreus! Earth be damned!"
|
|
Xahra Skye
Aegis Settler
Posts: 17
Character Gender: Female
Character Starting Age: 36
Height / Weight: 5'6 / 140lbs
Expertise: Procurement
|
Post by Xahra Skye on Jun 10, 2021 6:22:33 GMT
Great, Varis was a depressing drunk. Angry or sloppy would have been much better, because now there was a part of her that felt bad for the girl. If she'd have been an Aegis settler, maybe Xahra would have offered to watch out for her, tell her it was going to be ok because she had her back, but as things stood. Unless the higher ups asked her to go "Procure" Varis services, there wasn't much chance.
Still, Varis wasn't wrong, the corps were pretty much picking over the bones of Earth at this point. Definitely screw earth, and screw Tallon, she'd be free of their threats soon enough, and yeah Astreus was probably doomed as well someday, but she'd be long dead before that happened so what did she care.
Xahra looked around at the patrons who weren't settlers to see them all glaring in their general direction. "Oh frak off," she said so they could all hear her, using her glass as if she were giving a toast, "Each and every one of you would trade seats with us in a second, so don't act all high and mighty in here."
She downed the rest of the Gin in one gulp and gave a thumbs up to the Server. Her eyes seemed to glow for a moment as she ran the transaction on her heads up display, transferring funds from her account to the bar. "I think it's probably time we were leaving," she said to Varis.
|
|
Varis Allaria
Pacha Settler
Distilled ethanol with water is (NOT) a girls best friend!
Posts: 14
Character Gender: Female
Character Starting Age: 27
Height / Weight: 160cm / 65kg
Expertise: Lockpicking | Biological Science
|
Post by Varis Allaria on Jun 10, 2021 7:25:00 GMT
Varis stood up, falling in Xahra's direction, her head lolling to the side as the tears she was holding back pushed their way to the surface. The red headed woman signalled to the server that they were done, and she knew that it was the right move. The world was spinning a little more than she would have liked, even more than she normally would after a night on the Gin and water in New 'Stralia. What Varis didn't know, what she couldn't know, something she had never experienced before, was the mixing of different types of drinks. And it was affecting her.
"I think..." she murmured, keeping as much of her wits about her as possible, "that I should escort you to your room," she paused, blushing, "I mean...," another pause, "Its only right to escort you back to your room. To make sure you get back there safely. Safety in numbers. I..."
"Thank you for being so kind. I have been a little silly tonight, I have... drunk... a little more than I ought to have. And I'm not making sensible decisions," she straightened up, trying to compose herself now, using all the inner strength that she was capable of, "Are you familiar with the layout of the station. I'm not..." get it together, seriously, "I need to... what's the word... walk... some of it off. The Gin. Maybe another bar! No, walking. Yes, that's the ticket. To somewhere."
She was swaying. Her eyes were blurred, and her speech, while somewhat sensical, slurred. One step in front of the other, chances were, she'd never see this Aegis contract again, "Unless you'd prefer to skip the walk."
|
|
Matthias Jayne
Aegis Settler
Posts: 15
Character Gender: Male
Character Starting Age: 31
Height / Weight: 5'9" / 250lbs
Expertise: Security and Combat
|
Post by Matthias Jayne on Jun 10, 2021 12:11:23 GMT
Matthias just snorted. He had no intention of being awake for any part of their flight, as they'd be in cryolockers of some sort. He'll come out of there with ice cubes for balls by the time the flight was over. He'd make sure to stash some MRE's in the locker with him. He'd probably be famished when he woke up.
"Well, we're going into some sort of cryo stasis during the flight. So whether we have a full stomach or not will be a moot point. But when we wake up, I imagine we'll be pretty damn hungry. It's why I'm stashing some MRE's in there with me. That way I'll have something to eat when I'm no longer a meat popsicle."
When she got all defensive about his offer to escort her back to her quarters, he just looked at her, his cybernetic eyes not blinking. "No, I don't think you're a whore. You look too good to be one. The only ones I've ever come across are disheveled, starving wrecks that barely make ends meet and more often than not, get killed by their pimps for trying to keep any of the money they earned. I was just offering it because one, trying to be nice, and two, I AM security and looking after Aegis employees and property is part of my job. But if you'd rather walk back by yourself, well that's fine too."
He went out the door of the bar, making sure to go out ahead of her. Not going first this time...
|
|
Eden
Aegis Settler
Striking sultry poses in the wasteland...
Posts: 17
Character Gender: Female
Character Starting Age: 23
Height / Weight: 1.73 m / 57 kg
Expertise: Propaganda
|
Post by Eden on Jun 10, 2021 17:27:41 GMT
"Yeah, I figured it would be something like that. Sealed coffins, plenty of dreamless sleep and stiff joints - so it would make sense that we'd wake up hungry. Perhaps I will grab something to stash away on board. Wouldn't want to pass out before I can set foot on this new rock."
Eden was not defensive about being escorted but neither did she want to appear all too eager.
"Well, that's good at least - I know my clothing isn't haute couture but in this day and age if you have clothes on your back - period - you're already ahead of the game. And now that you put it that way, sure - I wouldn't mind security detail..." Pulling a stick of gum out of nowhere, Eden peeled off the wrapper and stuck it in her mouth just as she tossed the covering in a nearby refuse.
Unfortunately for her, Matthias had already taken off, walking toward the exit of the bar.
Hey... wait up!
Eden's legs finally found their momentum, propelling the young woman to follow after Jayne. Once she managed to catch up with him, she took a couple of deep breaths to settle the thumping in her chest. Clearly, she wasn't used to chasing after anyone. Left elbow lightly bumped against his, to let the man know she was coming with (not like he already did not know that!)
"I like... nice."
|
|
Xahra Skye
Aegis Settler
Posts: 17
Character Gender: Female
Character Starting Age: 36
Height / Weight: 5'6 / 140lbs
Expertise: Procurement
|
Post by Xahra Skye on Jun 11, 2021 4:38:51 GMT
Xahra caught Varis in her ams as the girl nearly fell over, and slowly helped her back to hear feat. Her first thought was how nice Varis smelled...natural. She'd almost forgotten what that was like. Once you climbed the social ladder into the den of the beast everyone wore something, if only to cover up the rot of the planet itself.
"I don't know that I need help finding my way back to my room, but since your new to the station I'll do you the favor of helping you find yours, and yeah maybe a walk along the open air promenade would do both of us some good." Xahra smiled and let Varis lean into her if she needed to, and if something more happened? Well, she felt bad for the girl, but she wouldn't turn down a little fun. After all, she'd probably never see the girl again, other than on the flight to Astreus, and they'd be comatose in stasis chambers for most of that flight.
"Or if you want to just skip the walk, that's fine too," she winked as she led them out of the bar.
|
|