Deep Space (or as close as we get)

Space
Nightfall
Common Area

Slouched on the smaller sofa with one of Katylinn's books, Charlie enjoyed the near silence. Near because she could hear the dim roar of the engine, a noise which everyone else grew accustomed to but a mechanic was always listening out for. The slightest change in tone, the merest sputter, could be an indicator of a growing problem. On an old ship like the Nightfall, Charlie needed to be alert.

The lights were off in the infirmary, the cargo bay was dark, and everyone else was...elsewhere. The only lights came from the stairwells and the solitary light on in the common area, just bright enough to read by. After their encounter with the Alliance and the fun of shore leave (injuries and all), it was nice to just relax. Now if only she knew who was supposed to be cooking dinner...


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Space
Nightfall
Passenger Quarters

Richie was cleaning and sprucing and making everything a little more welcoming in the passenger quarters. On their last stop-off, he'd asked around for a little money from each crew member who was willing, and bought a few things to make the rooms a little brighter and cheerful. It served a double purpose: happy people would be more likely to listen to him preach, and the crew could charge a little more for each room.

Maybe that would make them like him a little more.

He finished tucking the blanket around the thin mattress of the last bunk and stepped back to admire. The blanket was homemade, with a bold flower print. Not exactly Sihnon hotel standards, but warm nonetheless.

He smoothed out the last few wrinkles and went down the corridor to his own room. Time to write down more anecdotes and verses he could remember by heart from the bible; his own still hadn't been returned to him.


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Space
Nightfall
Dining Area

Katylinn came out of her quarters and straightened her tight white shirt. Since she had been able to stop off at a few of her hideouts since her rather hasty departure from Greenleaf, her wardrobe had grown from the single pair of clothes she had been wearing. Her skintight blue jeans were worn on the left from where her falcata hung and the black leather boots completed the rather casual outfit. Her black hair was loose, as she preferred and her knives were distributed throughout various hidden pockets of her clothes. Though she did not always walk around with her falcata, she was ne'er without her knives. She had recovered from her drunken escapade when they were on leave and Charlie had been kind enough to not mention if often.

She stepped into the dining area and smiled and smiled at the empty room."Evening, my pretty" she said to the coffee machine as she began to make a coffee. There seemed to be an unofficial roster of cooking dinner. Whomever was the first to succumb to their hunger was the chef of the day. And as much as Katylinn hated to admit it; cooking was calming for her. But that was probably because she got to play with knives. She searched through the refridgerated cupboard for their supplies and set down a stack of ingredients on the work bench to decide what she was going to do with it..

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Space
Nightfall
Passenger Quarters

Jaykob stretched out on his small bunk. At their last stop he had started to rig up another bunk. A single one was just too small for his activities. Having half completed the job, there was debris around his spacious quarters from the work he had been doing earlier. He pulled a shirt over his head and straightened his black trousers. His stomach had started to growl so he decided he may as well bite the bullet and see to food. With any luck someone had beaten him. It had crossed his mind to poison the crew, only minorly of course, to get out of kitchen detail but he did not have the heart. If it was found out, then there would be no chance of any action with either of the three pretties that he shared the ship with.

Common Room

Jaykob strode up into the common room and smiled as he saw Charlie sitting alone with a book. "Hello beautiful, how are you doing?" he asked smoothly as he slid past Linn check the infirmary and contemplate spiking dinner before sitting at the edge of one of the tables, facing Charlie.

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Space
Nightfall
Common Area

Charlie glanced up as Jaykob perched himself on one of the coffee tables. The way he was looking at her apparently indicated he wanted to talk or something. She considered ignoring him completely and hoping he would move. God, men, so irritating.

She finally lowered the book and nodded towards the other sofa. "There are other seats, doc. Feel free to avail yourself of them. We wouldn't want you getting table edge imprints in that spectacular little tush of yours, would we?" The sarcasm was clear.


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Space
Nightfall
Common Area

Jaykob grinned at Charlie, enjoying the fact that he seemed to be irritating her. "Oh no we couldn't have that. You're in a fine mood I see." he stated with amusement as he sat on the seat opposite Charlie. "Is it because of me, by any chance?" he asked arrogantly as he straightened kicked his feet up on top of the table and leaned back, his hands behind his head. "So whatcha reading?" he asked, deliberately talking for the pure fact that it seemed to be irritating her. He was never game enough to irritate the First Mate, she always seemed ready to stab him with that sword of hers for merely being in the same room, let alone speaking. "So what's the deal with the First Mate? She don't seem too friendly" he asked, actually curious as to the answer, rather than seeking irritation value.

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Space
Nightfall
Common Area

"Oh no we couldn't have that. You're in a fine mood I see."/"Is it because of me, by any chance?"

"Well, you're breathing, aren't you?" She muttered, raising her book to read once more.

"So whatcha reading?"

"Do you ever shut up?"

"So what's the deal with the First Mate? She don't seem too friendly"

"Oh, my-- You just don't go away, do you? Thank God you're pretty or I would have just smacked you with a wrench by now!" She took a calming breath and put the book aside. If he wanted to talk, fine. "Katylinn is nice enough to people who have half a brain located elsewhere than their privates."


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Space
Nightfall
Common Area

"Well, you're breathing, aren't you?"

Jaykob chuckled and "well last I checked, yes I was.... not too many girls are necophiliacs" he said nonchalantly. "And the few that were..." he trailed off as he shuddered, disgust on his handsome face.

"Do you ever shut up?"

"As you well know, I shut up at two times, and two times only", he flicked his eyebrows at her; "and that's when I'm eating".

"Oh, my-- You just don't go away, do you? Thank God you're pretty or I would have just smacked you with a wrench by now!"

Jaykob grinned and leaned forward, "we can try that if you'd like", he said with a wink. He was taking great pleasure in irritating Charlie. Hell, he liked irritating anyone, but none seemed as easy bait as Charlie.

"Katylinn is nice enough to people who have half a brain located elsewhere than their privates."

Jaykob leaned back and clenched his jaw. Ouch. "I did not sleep my way through med school to further my grades, nor did I achieve that qualification as young as I did from lacking intelligence" he said in a dangerously low tone. Calming himself, his regular cocky smile was on his face again, "I slept my way through for purely anatomical reasons"

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Space
Nightfall
Common Area

Jaykob leaned back and clenched his jaw. Ouch. "I did not sleep my way through med school to further my grades, nor did I achieve that qualification as young as I did from lacking intelligence"/"I slept my way through for purely anatomical reasons"

And there it was. A brief glance beneath the annoying surface of Jaykob. Charlie smiled, learning in closer to him, tutting quietly. "If you'd left that last line off, I would have been so interested in you right now. I love smart, passionate, serious men. It's a shame." She shrugged and got up to leave.


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Space
Nightfall
Common Area

"And give you a look at my vulnerable little underbelly, not a chance" he said with a smile and then hastily stood. Womaniser as he was, he was still a gentleman and could not stand for a female to be standing whilst he was sitting. "And here I was thinking that your interest in me was nothing but physical, and lets face it; you don't want to like me that much" he said jokingly.

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Space
Nightfall
Common Area

"And give you a look at my vulnerable little underbelly, not a chance"/"And here I was thinking that your interest in me was nothing but physical, and lets face it; you don't want to like me that much"

He had a point. Charlie conceeded with a tilted of her head, shoving her hands in her pockets as she stood there. "Yeah, well. Maybe I was just hoping there was more to you than being a manwhore. Can't say being on ships with your kind has ever ended pretty for me in the past. Wouldn't want to see the same happen to the girls here."


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Space
Nightfall
Common Area

Jaykob tilted his head. "Yes well I can undertsand the complications. Hasn't always ended the best for me either. Though I must say, it was much better than sleeping with a fellow classmate. That was the biggest disaster I've had to date" he said with a small shake of his head at the memory. "As for the girls here, I have nothing but heartfelt respect for each and every one of you," he said with rare sincerity. He bowed deeply to Charlie. "Now so you don't think me completely unfeeling, may I escort you to dinner?" he said as he straightened and offered Charlie his arm; no hint of sarcasm in his voice.

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Space
Nightfall
Common Area ---> Dining Area

"Now so you don't think me completely unfeeling, may I escort you to dinner?"

"Only if you never do that again," she said, gesturing in the general direction he'd bowed in. At the offer of his arm, she gave a small, tight smile and shook her head, going ahead up the stairs. What she wouldn't give for a good strong drink right about now. Whiskey or scotch or arsenic - anything would do.


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Space
Nightfall
Common Area ---> Dining Area

Jaykob laughed lightly, "deal" he said as he escorted Charlie to the dining room with a smile on his face. He admired the view as Charlie walked up the stairs ahead of him. He may be sweet from time to time, but there was no denying his nature. He entered the dining area with Charlie and smiled at Katylinn. "Ms. Mersah, I see you've started dinner. Is there enough there to share?" he asked by way of greeting as he slid out of Charlie's grasp and into one of the seats. He was doing his best to get on the First Mate's good side, but he never had much luck.

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Space
Nightfall
Dining Area

Coffee it'd have to be, it seemed. Charlie headed over to the coffee machine, thought better of it, and looked to Katylinn. "Mind if I make a coffee?" There had been threats of dire things happening to those who messed with the coffee machine.

She leaned back against the counter, glancing between the two of them to see if there was any chance of a civilised conversation. "You guys need to lighten up."


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Space
Nightfall
Dining Area

Katylinn looked up as she heard footsteps approaching the dining area to see Charlie enter on the doc's arm. She forced herself not to scowl at them as Jaykob gave her a cheery greeting and Charlie headed to the coffee machine. Katylinn smiled and pointed to a cup sitting on top of the machine to warm. "Its already done. I expected you'd be all starting to get hungry about now", she said with a warm smile. "Good evening Doctor Druitt. There will be sufficient for the entire crew and passengers" she replied icily as she continued to prepare dinner. Katylinn looked up at Charlie, not even noticing as she tossed the knife she had been using in the air and catching it again, "oh I'm full of light" she said with a grin.

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Space
Nightfall
Dining Area

"oh I'm full of light"

Charlie nursed the cup of coffee and arched a brow. "Yeah, clearly." She gestured for Katylinn to come closer, turning her back to the dining table and lowering her voice. "I know he's irritating, but can't you at least try to be nice to him? You scare even me the way you act around him."



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Space
Nightfall
Dining Area

Katylinn rolled her eyes and then leaned in closer, curiosity in her eyes, I wonder if her hair is as smooth as it looks she wondered and then forced the thoughts from her mind as Charlie spoke. She gave Charlie a small smile, "you could do with a good scare; and I'm trying" she said as she gave Charlie a placating smile. Then realising that she was still tossing the knife in the air, she gave Charlie a self-conscious smile and set it down; she was done chopping anyways. "We have chilli coated chicken for dinner tonight Doctor, I trust that is acceptable?" she asked and then looked to Charlie as if to say, "is that good enough?"

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Space
Nightfall
Dining Area

Charlie gave a 'it'll do' shrug and sighed. She got another cup of coffee and went to sit at the table, passing it to Jaykob. She still didn't exactly like him but he seemed like he could be pretty decent if he'd just drop the pretense. And besides, if she stayed where she could talk quietly to Katy, she'd have to ask what she meant by 'you could do with a good scare' and, depending on the answer, that may not end pretty.

She dug around in a pocket of her cargo pants and pulled out a small notepad and pencil, starting to write a list of things she needed to get planetside next time they landed. "Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to get a job planetside and just settle down. I can barely remember the convenience of being able to go to a shop whenever I felt like it. Or how it felt to look out a window and see the same scene, day after day," she mused to herself at random.


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Space
Nightfall
Dining Area

Jaykob looked up as Charlie and Katylinn whispered in the kitchen. "I hope its all good things" he called out, knowing full well it was about him. He was slightly nervous at the way Katylinn was tossing the knife around. If she stabs you, at least you can fix it he thought to himself, unless its fatal, now there's a grim thought. Jaykob looked up as Charlie spoke. "Its not all its cracked up to be. Take it from me, plastic people living lives that are carbon copies of each other. This is much more pleasant" Jaykob said to the two women with a genuine smile.

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Space
Nightfall
Dining Area

Katylinn looked at Charlie with a raised eyebrow as she started to make a list and then shrugged, turning back to her cooking. "Shops are overrated. I mean, I have everything I need right here, and a few other places that I have hidden things away in, but then I travel light. Shops are a neccessary evil, but not as necessary if you plan well. And the same thing day after day would become boring", she said to no one in particular even though she was answering Charlie's question. She tipped the chicken onto a paper towel and dropped in the fresh vegetables she had managed to find when they last docked. The vegetables continued to sizzle as Katylinn ate a piece of chicken, nodding as the flavour was what she had been attempting.

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Space
Nightfall
Dining Area

"Yeah, well, it might suck but I miss it. There's no denying this life is the better one, but that life is so...convenient. If you can just stop thinking and enjoy it, it's amazing." She shrugged and finished her list, putting it into a pocket for later. The coffee was cooling rapidly, so she drank half of it down in one gulp, slumping down in her seat and closing her eyes to relax.


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Space
Nightfall
Dining Area

Katylinn spooned the stir fry into bowls, leaving three on the workbench and setting the others back on the cooker to keep warm for when everyone else wandered in. She took up the three bowls and carried them over to the table and set them down. "To each their own", she said with a shrug as she slid into a spare chair in front of where she had set a bowl; she placed the other two in front of Charlie and Jaykob. "I hope you both enjoy it", she said as she mixed the stir fry with her fork to help it cool.

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Space
Nightfall
Dining Area

The stirfry was pretty damned good, and being engrossed in eating it kept them quiet for a time. Finally, bowl empty, Charlie stood to find them something small for dessert, and pour an after dinner drink, too. She was at the counter, rifling through a cupboard, when she spoke up, her tone thoughtful.

"I've been thinking about visiting home. See some old friends, maybe even find us a job or two. High risk but the money would be insane, and we need it if we're going to get this girl back to mint condition." It ended up being slightly stale cookies and New Canaan brandy for dessert. She brought it all back to the table. "Problem is, it's hard to get in even with a real ID. A little respectability always helps, like being with a doctor who got trained up in some fancy core setting. Whaddya say, doc? Up for a marriage of convenience?"

Her tone was nonchalant, like this wasn't an uncommon request for her. Chances are, it probably wasn't.


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Space
Nightfall
Dining Area

Jaykob looked up from his bowl of stir fry. He would have complimented Katylinn on it if he thought he could do it with all his limbs intact. He looked up from his bowl as Charlie spoke. "You're right of course, but high risk; I mean the Alliance is already sniffing around us, isn't high risk a little crazy right now?" he asked as he lifted the last mouthful of his stir fry into his mouth. The mouthful caught in his throat at Charlie's suggestion and he began to violently choke as the piece of chicken cut off his air supply. He fumbled for the brandy Charlie had poured and gulped the burning liquid down in an effort to dislodge the chicken. His eyes streaming, he managed to swallow the chicken and he took a steadying breath before wiping and eyes and looking to Charlie. "You ah what?" he asked with incredulity.

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