RP: NSS Acadia [Post Mission 1]: Shore Leave

Viktor laughed, and when it died down, a smile had replaced it. "Alright, fair enough. I can make that promise. I'm not a fucking loony, I just happen to enjoy a few smokes when I'm off duty." Obviously, he'd misunderstood Echo initially, but with his feelings clarified, Viktor felt much more comfortable. They came upon a small convenience store, so Private Kingston slipped inside, and perused the selection. "A carton of Blacks, please." With the cigarettes paid for, Viktor stepped out the door, broke open the carton. He stuffed the ten packages into the two inner pockets on his new jacket. "Alright, well that was simple. Shall we return or wander aimlessly?"

Echo shrugged and smiled. "Well, it's really up to you. I have plenty of money...but I don't know what I would spend it on anyways. Is there anything else you need?"

After Echo stopped speaking, he stood there with a blank look on his face. Something in his mind reminded him to shrug the case on his back higher onto his shoulder, so he did.

Viktor looked down at his person, tapped at either side of his ribcage, and then shook his head. "No, I'm set. I've got my money, got my gun, and my smokes. I'm set for awhile. How about you?" He gestured around. "Anything?" While waiting, he had the urge to gnaw on something soft... for example the filter on a cigarette. With a sigh, he pulled a fresh one out of his pocket, lit it, and turned at a right angle away from Echo in order to take his first breath of the carcinogens.

Echo grinned and shook his head, genuinely appreciative of the man's seemingly interested tone. "Nah...I'm used to living off of nothing. They didn't give me shit when I was growing up, so I make do with what I can. I guess we wander or head back to the shuttle then?"

"That works. I wonder how the MC's doing with that woman, eh? Didn't look too pretty when we left." He began a very casual pace back to the transport drop-off point. "I think it's a damned miracle she gets any, with a bitchy attitude like that," he told his colleague whilst they strolled. "But hell if I understand other people."

Echo shook his head and smiled. "Yeah, really is a miracle, huh? I wonder who layed her down in a bed..." After speaking, he shivered slightly. "Yeah, nevermined, done thinking about that..."

With a raised eyebrow, Echo turned to Viktor. "Are you still a virgin? I mean...I uh...am, but that's normal for my type. I don't know how normal humans do it...well, I know how they do it...but uh...how early?"

cyborgakadjmoose said:

"No...it's fine," said Phaedra, somewhat shocked at how relaxed Amelia seemed currently. She as a result felt some of the tension ease between herself and her new crewmate. She smiled slightly when Amelia apologized, but her smile faded quickly when Phaedra realized she had been clenching her left hand into a fist. She quickily dropped her arms and attempted to act like nothing had happened.

"I...uh....think I needed that walk to take the edge off and gather my thoughts. I won't deny the fact that I was intimidated by the rest of the crew; being the new gal and all. But after having instructors demand constant perfection for the five years since my creation, it is nice to try something different. I am definitely ready to prove what I can do, but I guess I should enjoy this while it lasts."

Phaedra slung the weapon case over her left shoulder and grabbed her duffel with her right hand.

"So...uh...Amelia" said Phaedra, motioning with her head. "Should we meet up with the others?"

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"If they require our presence, they'll notify us. Until then..." Amelia trailed off. She didn't seem to know quite what to do with herself. Shore leave was too short to go visit her sister.

She looked up at Phaedra as she seemed to think on her confession, "Don't let being new intimidate you. A good number of them are third class privates as well and just as new as you, seeing as how they haven't been on a mission with us yet." She paused for a moment as if thinking about something. "That said... have you ever tried singing?" This was odd of Amelia, but then again, she hadn't said yet that it was her hobby. (If you could call it that.)

"Oh...okay. I guess that makes me feel better," said Phaedra flashing her barely-existant smile again. But her smile disappeared quickly and she threw a quizzical look at Amelia when she mentioned "singing."

Phaedra had to admit she didn't know much about what was commonplace when it came to recreation; considering she'd hardly ever had any time for it since her creation.

"Is singing a common form of recreation? I had only heard a song by a group called Athersperm; it sounded more like they were screaming the whole time. When I was actually able to understand some of their words, I could not figure out what the song meant.
I've never tried singing, but it sounds rather unpleasant."

(Hopefully Amelia will show Phaedra that there is more music than just Athersperm...)

After Suku's arrival and succeeding insult, Adrian simply stood still, avoiding eye contact. It wasn't an act of shame as much as an act of trickery, in the same way one stands still when approached with a wild, ferocious animal. Once he was somewhat confident that she was "off his scent", in a manner of speaking, he sidestepped away, towards Ran.

"Psst." He whispered. He then held up a small black baggie and a small flask in front of his superior, shaking them slightly and grinning.

Amelia shook her head when Phaedra mentioned her (limited) knowledge of music. "That's not really singing. It's just instruments hitting the same notes, screaming as you said, and basically other vulgar things to attract the crudely inclined." She was silent for a moment before looking at her little map again. "Perhaps I should just show you. Come with me." Amelia started off back towards the city once again.

When they arrived to their destination, there didn't seem to be anything notable within sight. However, where Amelia was going wasn't in plain sight. It was actually down an old ruined street that hadn't been reconstructed since when the first city had been built. Compared to the other streets, it would barely pass for an alleyway. The building it went to were mostly dark, except for a small single-floor. There was the faint sound of a string instrument playing. Amelia paused outside and looked back at Phaedra. "Ever hear of Celtic music? It's very soothing. I sing it myself in my spare time, but I figure it would be better to let you listen to those who practice regularly."

Amelia knocked gently on the door. After a brief moment of silence the door was opened by a short woman with very curly orange hair. She seemed to be wearing a very non-formal dress. When she first saw the uniforms, she seemed a bit nervous, but squinting a little and seeing Amelia she brightened up almost instantly. "Ah! You came back! We thought you had forgotten about us." She moved forward and grasped Amelia's hand in a welcoming manner. (Since hugging with their height difference would just be awkward.) She looked over at Phaedra, "A friend of yours, Ms. Weynolt?" Amelia nodded, "She's never heard any real singing. I thought she might like to listen to you all."

The woman smiled widely, "Of course! Of course, come on in. Two of our members were just about to start. You're more than welcome to sit down and listen." She rushed off inside to make whatever accomodations necessary for their guests, leaving the door open for them. Amelia looked over to Phaedra, "I hope you don't mind spending a little while here."

Fian felt the cold air that washed over him after Adrian moved his slipstream. Though he heard the bottle jiggly motion through his cybernetically augmented ears. He must quickly do something within his control before the woman brought him under hers. "Ahaha, we were just about to hit the bars, you know, like the old times." The MC thought it was a win-win situation, if she didn't invite herself, he would be rid of her at least temporarily, and if she did, alcohol might slow her down.

Curse you High Command, curse you!

"No, I don't mind," said Phaedra with a small shake of her head. She once again set down her duffel and leaned her weapon case against the outer wall. She followed Amelia into the small building and the short lady pushed up a pair of chairs for two them to sit in.

After she settled into her seat, Phaedra noticed the two indivduals on the far side of the room playing instruments that she had never seen before. The smooth, melodious sounds that the instruments emitted were nothing like she had ever heard before and it facinated her.

Phaedra stared intently at the musicians, watching their delicate manipulations of the instruments produce the wonderous sounds.

While the two women played their instruments, off to their right was two other members who stood on a slightly raised section of the floor. As the tune evened out, They began to softly sing a tune that they had obviously practiced. They danced slowly in a pace similar to the song itself. The other members seated nearby watched with relaxed smiles, while a few others seemed to be sitting in a meditative position with their eyes closed. It seemed strange to think Amelia had once frequented such a place.

Halfway through, Amelia began to unconciously hum along with the music. A serene look was on her face that made her look like an entirely different person. It would be safe to say that she didn't indulge herself on this in the presence of her squadmates. (Phaedra obviously being an exception.)

As the song ended, the other members applauded quietly. There didn't seem to be a place for excited actions or noises in this place. Amelia let out a long, content sigh. This sort of thing really did wonders for her mind's health, perhaps moreso than the pills she took. She looked over at Phaedra. "That's singing." Was all she said, a slight smirk forming on her face.

Viktor laughed at Echo's distaste for his own mental imagery, then laughed again when he asked 'how early?' It's personal preference, Echo. I've heard of people having sex as young as 12, and as late as 30. Considering you're ID-SOL, I'm going to assume you were modeled to be roughly twenty-two to twenty-five, so you're in your prime, my friend." Quietly to himself, Viktor wondered if that was the exact sort of 'timing' Echo meant; if not, he expected to hear the 'how do I know when?' question, which he was already half-expecting.

Phaedra was speechless. She glanced at Amelia and quickly shut her mouth when she realized it was gaping.

"I have never heard something so...so..." She attempted to find the right word, "...so...serene!" But Phaedra admitted that words failed to convey her amazement at what she had just experienced.

"Will they perform another?" asked Phaedra, who was unusually animated. Then she realized how excited she was and forcibly calmed herself. She exhaled and returned to her normal composure.

"Do you come here often, Amelia? I'm sorry if I've overreacted; it's just that I've never heard something so amazing before."



(Major props for picking the Mummers' Dance by Loreena McKennitt, one of my favorite songs! )

Talbain had been sitting on a bench in the recruitment center for a good while since every one else had taken off on the shuttle. For the most part just looking at local adds on his datapad. Finally a man in a brown uniform walked in and was pointed to Talbain by the recruiter closest to the door. "I need to see identification and your signature on this datapad." Was all the greeting that came from the deliveryman. After signing the ID-SOL had his box made and made quick for the latrine to change into the clothes. Leaving the center in his uniform with his HAS on the pistol belt he looked like a recruitment add. He started walking down the street looking for a shop he had seen adds for while he was waiting. Someplace called Angry Ed's.

Ran's declaration seemed to rile Suku, she threw a discomforting glare in the mans direction. The way she began to shake seemed to signify that she was going to go off and stab the man, but for some reason, Anselm caught her eye. He just stood there, saluting, as if waiting for something.

"What the shit are you waitin' for? A god damn commendation? Put your hand down, I not your fuckin' boss." Suku said angrily, putting an angry line on a man that didn't deserve it. With that, she turned back to Fian, ignoring Adrian's disappearance completely. Somehow, her face returned to a warming smile as she stepped a little closer to the Master Chief.

"You sure about that? The last time I remember you boys going drinking, you all tore up the strip club you went to, left two ID-SOLs on their back, one on fire, and the police out looking for anyone just wearing the 'color' green. Y'know, I think Chiaki still has that burnt one's jacket with him." Suku giggled, putting a hand on the man's chest. "You sure you want to go through all that again? I mean, I'm pretty sure you could find something better to do."

Echo just shrugged and stuck his hands into the pockets of his uniform, his eyes trained ahead. He bit his lip and then shrugged again, keeping pace with Viktor and maintaining his personal silence for a while. Then, with a grin, he asked a question. "You didn't answer my question. Did you lose yours? Oh...and...uh....how did it feel?"

((Wow... I totally missed that. My failure = amusing conversation. SCORE!))

Viktor hadn't noticed in all honesty and nodded. "You're right. I have, and... well, I quite enjoyed it. A lot." He grinned. "Funny story actually, but um... I'll leave it at that. Maybe another time." He pointed ahead, toward Suku. "I think things are getting interesting. And for your personal amusement, I'm considering getting involved verbally."

kai said:

Trey looked at the strange woman, admitting "I'm not all that good at small talk either." He grinned at her, finally waving down a cab, and getting in, holding the door open for the woman. "It's probably just my personality, though," he continued, "what's your excuse?"

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Lilly's heart felt a heavy tremor at Trey's question. She'd been very uncomfortable with the whole subject, and wasn't quite sure how she should approach the issue of her past. This had led to something akin to agoraphobia, making her skirt social interaction for fear of conversation turning towards her own history. It took her a moment before she realized she was just standing there with an out-to-lunch look on her face. She looked to Trey and half-muttered, half-exclaimed, "Oops! Sorry..." She ducked into the cab and slid to the far end. She sat there, deeply concentrating on what she could bring herself to say. She didn't want to lie, but she didn't want...... After what was probably an uncomfortably long silence, she finally bubbled back up like nothing had happened, "Oh, well, um... I suppose I didn't have the best environment as a child. I don't know much about my father, and I was separated from my mother when I was very young... It's... not really something I feel comfortable talking about..." She ended with a slightly overwhelmed look on her face, her mind being flooded with too many thoughts to process. She felt an uncomfortable, stinging pressure somewhere in her head, and her expression took an a slightly pained tone to reflect it.




(What's kinda funny is her reactions are really mine. By the end, my brain started hurting from trying to think of how the hell I should respond.)