RP: ISC Phoenix [Mission 8] Dawning Concerns

[Luca]

"Liquorice," Melissa told the Patrician, pointing to the offending fineries, "Is somethin' that candy makers were not suppose t' make!"
"Yeah, unless it's raspberry flavour," Luca nodded in agreement.
In the distance, Gamma's Diner was within about five hundred metres of the SUV convoy, and the smell of mouth watering food and strong alcohol was only getting closer, making Sebastian grin in anticipation.

The pair of BigCat SUV's then touched down just a few metres shy of the front entrance of the Diner, and the interior of the diner was about half full, packed with Origin employees having their lunch break, alongside travellers and civilians that lived on the station. There were more than enough seats for the crew, and even more choices of what to consume.
The doors of the SUV's then flipped open with a satisfying 'pshh', and allowed the crew to step out and stretch their legs. Luca was the first to hop out, followed by Sebastian, Melissa and the others. Their arrival was fairly quiet, and didn't seem out of the ordinary.

Aerin made her way out along with Luca, and stood beside him as they looked at the Restaurant. "Well, go on in, I don't actually own the Diner, so you're on your own in there, but, the prices are as good as the food, and I've had trouble finding better." the CEO admitted, somewhat sheepishly. Instead of ruling over the station with an Iron fist, Origin allowed for the free reign of capitalism within its bounds, encouraging people to come and bring their businesses here to create a robust and thriving economy.

"Fair enough, I suppose it encourages more people to come here anyway," Sebastian said, "The same can't be said for a lot of places I've been, though."
"Oh, like those privately owned despot space stations?" Melissa cut in, "I 'ad to deal with one a couple years back 'fore I met you lot, an' I gotta say, it wosn't pleasant."
"Save the conversation for lunch," Luca said as he pushed the doors of the Diner open and took a good look at the scenery, and spotting a series of empty tables that'd fit the crew, and spotting a menu with a steak prominently displayed on it. He smiled in delight, "There's steak!"

The crew took their seats and Sebastian hastily snatched up a menu. He unfolded it and it was as big as an A3 sheet of paper when laid on the table. The choice was massive, and crippling. The old man scratched his head as he looked at all of the options, ranging from homely Yamataian meals to no-nonsense Nepleslian tucker, and even some more exotic alien imports, some of them couldn't even be pronounced.

Aerin followed along, politely, and asked Luca: "May I sit with you? we can discuss business and whatnot, if you'd like." the CEO offered, waiting on Luca as if she were his guest, not the other way around. It seemed that in her excitement, the Yamataian had forgotten who was in charge at the moment.

Luca had a spare space next to him for the taking, but Sebastian seemed a little sceptical about the idea, "Sure, don't see why not," The captain said as he moved a little to make room for the CEO, "Although, I'm not really the business go-to guy," He admitted.

"Who would the business guy be, then?" Aerin requested of her charge, slightly disappointed, but she hid it well. The black-haired woman seemed to be pressing herself to entertain or at least keep her charges busy.

Luca made a thumbing motion to his father, "That'd be him."
"I suppose you could call me that, I'm usually responsible for keeping the books balanced and items in check," He sighed, "Either way, it keeps me out of the fray," He put his hands down on the table and leaned towards Aerin, over Luca, "So, what's the first order, then?"

"Well, that would be up to you, I suppose." the fairy-like woman admitted. "After all, you came here for a reason, and my job is to fulfil your needs in whatever way is available to me. So, is there anything pressing you would like to get?"

Sebastian shook his head, "Aside from some peace and quiet, we're in the market for a Courier 2A ship, and some other items from your company," He nodded as he looked over to Seiren and Luca.

"That is something we can easily fulfil. There are several Couriers awaiting sale, and if you want, we can customise one for you fairly quickly. Other items, probably have a better time for discussing than here and now, and, as for Peace and Quiet, we do have several venues you may try out, though I daresay the hotels are the easiest way to do it, and the lightest on the wallet." Aerin explained to Sebastian.

"Sounds easy enough," Sebastian smiled as he motioned to Seiren, "Are the LEAF frames still in production? Our resident tinkerer is interested in one."
"He's compensating for something," Luca snickered.

"I do believe those are still in production. once Styrling's order was fulfilled, we found other buyers for the model, so there are probably at least a few here if not more." the CEO answered, grinning at Luca's joke. She could easily tell what he meant, or at least, she thought, anyway.

"Well, I think that settles all of the immediate issues," Sebastian said as a waitress wandered over to the table to take everyone's orders. She was just able to keep her cool around the CEO, asking for everyone's orders.

 

[Nevaraon]

Robert gave a quick look over the menu. He gave up and just told the waitress. "I'll have what he's having" and pointed a thumb to Luca. He smiled at Zeta and told her. "I think one of us owes the other one a dinner. Remember?"

 

[Lamb]

"So's we can moves on to my issues," Enzo jumped into the conversation about business. He had slipped up right behind Aerin and moved along side of her when Sebastion finished speaking. "My Mule gots stolen by pirates, an' I bets yous guys gots some fancy trackin' devices or somethin' I can use to gets it back right. It's Origin Industries tech, just like every other ship I ever had so's I knows it's got fancy stuff on it."

The greasy vagabond crossed his arms and tapped his feet as he awaited a response. A cigarette hung loosely from his lips and bounced in time with his foot. When the waitress came by he broke his pose for a moment to tell her; "Booze and meat, baby. Lot's of it."

 

[Blackbird Lore]

"Mm." Liqourice certainly didn't appeal to his eyes, and besides he was certainly jonesing for something heavier, more fulfilling. Walking into the diner and sitting down at the table at the seat farthest from Luca he realized that this place would be simply fantastic.

By the time the waitress arrived, he had planned out his meal. Recent injuries and the "workload" had left his metabolism in overdrive. Needless to say his order was quite large; still, it was nothing his recent paycheck couldn't easily cover.

In the end he ordered a few Yamataian seafood dishes over rice, a large Nepleslian meat (he had learned quickly they cooked it best), and a few side dishes that he was certain were Abwehran- and for once, he even let himself indulge in an Abwehran pastry for dessert.

Content that he'd taken care of everything, he looked for Naoko. With food on the horizon, he was in a good mood and this in turn amplified his desire to make friends with one he would have considered antagonistic in mere passing. He offered his hand for her to use in surmounting the table.

"I have quite the meal ordered, and you are welcome to take any if it so pleases you."

 

[Gallant]

Naoko gracefully accepted the hand up, apparently having resigned herself to this particular necessity, despite her aversion to 'patronization'. No amount of pride could get her up onto the table, without making a small scene.

She settled on an empty part of the table near the Duplicarii, crouching on her haunches and examining the rest of the resteraunt from her new perch. Although she was mildly curious, it wasn't long before the weight of the curious world staring back curbed her interest somewhat and she shifted her crouch into a full sit, folding her hands in her lap and pretending for a little while that she wasn't, in all actuality, only the size of someone's forearm. It was somewhat embarassing.

"Thank-you," replied the two-foot nekovalkyrja, "I am sorry to be imposing like this."

 

[ShotJon]

Zeta sat at across the table from Luca to cover his back. If they were by the wall or in corner, she would sat next to him. This way she can check what is behind him and other dangers. Too bad she can't cover her own back too, but Luca is looking that way and she was very certain he can pinpoint any danger to himself that is in his field of vision. Veteran soldier like him is even more competent to that than her. Especially when she is out of shape like this. She really has to find some time to train with Vincentr in hand to hand and Ror with knifes. Maybe Enzo could tell her few tricks about pistols. She was too programmed and less versatile. And that was not good right now.

She was scannin their surroundings with both her eyes and ears looking at other people and even staff. She was as always looking for anything out of ordinary or anything that would be too ordinary. Also checking for bumps under people clothing suggesting where their guns are being holstered. She unzipped her jacket ready to draw her revolver quickly.

Suddenly Robert disrupted her focus. She looked at him still in her serious mode. Realizing it, she smiled quickly. "Oh there was something about you broking things and then buying dinner right? Well if I remember even though that handle under GR was in pretty bad shape, but it really didn't broke off," she said and smiled a little more. She then sweeped through menu with her eyes. She found a goulash and she liked goulash. So she ordered goulash.

She then went into her mind againt. Realizing that she has real problem relaxing or enjoying herself was a problem. Was she human or just a programmed clone? Even while thinking about that she un-conciously slipped into checking her surroundings again. That put a little fear into her mind.

 

[Moogle]

In response to the earlier comment about 'making up for something, Seiren replied with an unintimidating glare and an "I HEARD that. . ." before taking a seat at the bar of the diner. I took him several minutes before he could convince the bartender that he was actually as old as he said he was, and even then he was only allowed to buy cheap, weak, beer.

 

[Nevaraon]

Robert patted Seiren's shoulder. "If it makes you feel any better, I hear that one all the time." Then he turned to Zeta. "Yeah, as I remember it, you owe me dinner." he gave her a rougeish grin.

 

[ShotJon]

Roberts comment awakened her again. She looked at her with a devilish look in her yes. "Oh do I?" was her first answer. "Well if I remember it rith, we said that if you will break anythign you will buy dinner, and not that that if nothing gets broken I pay you. But well okay, if you wanted I will find restaurant with spiciest food on this station and treat you. Don't cry then," At the end of her monologue she grinned and winked at Rpb with smile. THey won't probably find time for that dinner anyway.

 

[Scot]

Panther took a corner seat and ordered some fish. With the recent explosion earlier his sense of danger was on alert, keeping his eyes and ears trained for sudden movements. He attempted to keep a low profile about it, his hood raised far below his forehead which casted a shadow over his eyes.

 

[Blackbird Lore]

The Patrician offered an abrupt and genuine smile. "It's no imposition, I speak true. Enjoy, free of restraint." He gestured with a wave of his arm to the plates that were not on the table. Then he propped his elbows on the table and clasped his hands together.

 

[Gallant]

Naoko looked up at the patrician for a moment, then followed his motion to the bare table with her eyes, politely interested. Afterwards she got the joke and seemed to accept the situation, visibly relaxed, and allowed the ambience to soak in again. It wasn't that she didn't like the resteraunt - under normal circumstances she would probably have very much enjoyed it.

In fact, she couldn't really place what was making her uneasy. Gently moving her hair back over her shoulders, so the whole brown hank rested en masse against the small of her back, she looked up over her shoulder at the Duplicarii.

"I am capable of paying for my own things, so, please accept a meal from me at some later time, ne?"

 

[Luca]

"Alright, we'll have your meals ready in fifteen minutes or so!" The waitress said, her hands were trembling a little from getting so many orders and writing them down, and meeting so many customers in one burst, accompanied by the fact that the CEO of Origin Industries was present. To her credit, she was keeping a straight face, but her trembling hands were a give-away.

She slipped away without another word before disappearing into the kitchen and placing her orders down on the line. She then slipped out the back, closing the door behind her quietly, where someone was waiting for her.
"So, can you confirm that they're there?" A female voice asked, oozing with interest.
"Y-y-yes," The waitress stammered, now the fear in her was elevating rapidly as she nodded, "Both of them."

"Eeeeeexcellent..." She smiled as she produced a cold, hard wad of 2000 DA and placed it in the waitress' front pocket, giving her a pat on the chest with a very cold hand, "You've done well, now go free, and don't speak of this."
The mysterious lady then slipped away into the space station, whilst the waitress decided to take the rest of the day off, grabbing her coat and leaving quietly.

-

Meanwhile, inside, Luca was telling a story about what he and John got up to in their college years.
"...so then by the end of the assembly, everyone was glued to everyone else. It was the only reason I took chemistry classes," He was snickering to himself in admiration of his past misdeeds.

"That has nothing compared to what I got up to," Sebastian wanted to one-up his son's mischief, leaning in on his personal space, "One time, me and all of me buddies had a lecturer who hated us, and we decided to hand-lift and wedge his car between two pieces of scenery,"

Luca rolled his eyes, tutting the pedestrian story, "Oh come off it, everyone and their dog has put vehicles between trees."
Sebastian shook his head, and it took Luca a moment to realise that he had grander plans, "Maybe, but can you attest to having a car stuck in the mouth of a fissure, painted bright pink, wheels and windows included and laced with rotten shrimp in strategic locations in the middle of Summer?" He smiled wistfully as the boy was awestruck, "Didn't think so. I have pictures in case you think I'm lying."

"Ladies and gents, my dad, the magnificent bastard," He gave him a round of mock applause under duress, "Can someone top his story, please?"
It'd be a while until lunch arrived, so some further stories to lighten the mood would've been welcome.

 

[Nevaraon]

"Stories? I guess I could think of a couple." Robert leaned back in his chair and thought. "Ok, I got one. Now I just happened to see this. I was on the other side of the street. This guy was sitting at a bus stop, waiting on the bus. When he got up to get on the bus, his backside pants ripped off. Apparently, somebody had slapped a bunch of quick-bonding glue on the seat and it had bonded to his pants. Poor guy had to walk around with no pants."

 

[ShotJon]

"I am not much for pranks," said Zeta. "But I remember this one story when guy tried to mug me in my cab. I took his pistol, bent the trigger and shoved it up his arse, literaly. Then i kicked that wanker in front of police car." Zeta didn't even realized that her story really wasn't that funny. All she was thinking about was that these stories were about humiliation and that goon was humiliated. Very humiliated. And in pain. Now that she thought about it, she probably shouldn't have tell the story.

 

[Lamb]

Despite its rather melancholy ending, Enzo threw up his arms in laughter at Zeta's story. "Oh, you!" he declared, tousling Zeta's hair.

"I thinks I can one-ups this ones, though. This happensed when I were a crewmans on dis' freighter-- The Barnaby. This was before the Successions so we's was all in Yammie Space alls the time. So, me an' this business partner of mines is runnin' goods under the cap'ns nose an' scrapin' some offa the top, if yous guys knows whats I mean. Anyways, the Cap'n finds out we was runnin' goods an' he gets all paranoid that he's gonna get in trouble ifs he doesn't turn us in, yeah? So we sets him up good, see? We sets up a fake corridor outside his quarters made to looks like the rear airlock-- so it's like he walks out the door and BAM! He's stuck in the rear airlock. Then we rigs up the ship PA and make like he's in a Yammie prison ship headin' back to Yamatai for proccessin'. We actually waved a Neko blow-ups doll in fronts of the window a few times to really create the scene for him. Eventually, we had a signed confession from him for all of his 'crimes' just to keep on hand in case he trieds to rats us out."

Enzo smiled at the final statement, showing his teeth in a macabre manner that seemed to slice up his face. It was obvious that he had really done this, and was quite proud of it. "Blackmail!" he said wistfully, "It gets a person outta any trouble in the world."

 

[Blackbird Lore]

Uriel nodded. "If you like. Is all well? You seem..." He paused briefly as Enzo finished his story and reminded the Patrician why the two would never be anything more than co-workers. "...Anxious. Fidgety, even." His gaze scoured the room, but no one or thing appeared out of place, so he glanced to Naoko once more.

 

[Gallant]

To that, Naoko nodded and said, "I feel very out of place."

It was a simple thing to say, but it was said in such a low, such a defeated voice, that it carried some unseen weight. The small woman was sitting very straight, but it wasn't an easy sit - she did figit, and she did occassionally glance one way or another. After speaking, however, she focused on the patrician, excluding the rest of the world.

"I do not feel comfortable, here," she added, quietly, "I am considering whether or not to return to the ship."

 

[Nevaraon]

Robert happened to hear the small Neko over the general conversation. He leaned over to tell her "Aww, don't leave us now, we hardly ever see you. If it makes ya feel any sort of better, I didn't really feel
like I belonged here either at first. This group just kinda grows on you and you'll feel like there's no place you should be other than here. It might be even easier for you. What with a beautiful face like that instead of my ugly mug, or his." he gestured towards Enzo with a grin. "My point being, whether ya know it or not you are exactly where ya ought to be." he gave her a friendly smile.

 

[ShotJon]

Zeta looked at Rob. "Rob I think that she meant that she is not comfortable in this restaurant." she said but her voice was somewhat unsure. Neko being uncomfortable made Zeta uncomrtable again. From what she heard about Nekos, they were good in sensing danger. Zeta felt more uneasy and started to be more careful again.