Futuristic Skypirates (Game Thread)

[Lordxana0]

It was impossible for any ship coming into one of the many ports to avoid the smell, it was the first thing those who never stepped foot onto the floating landmass were warned of, and none were ever really prepared for it. Fumes flew off from the hundreds of scrap factories dotting the inner most parts of the continent most known as a dump rather then a proper home for people, and said fumes stuck to nearly everything even when the factories entered into their rest periods for a scant few hours throughout the day. As such many first timers were known to wear masks whenever they walked outside between the businesses that charged almost as much for the clean air within as they did for any of the things actually being sold on the shelves. Being known as a 'clear air' shop was a high mark of praise.

As such when the various members of the Valley Hail filed into one of the largest clean air bars in the southern port and bought out the place for meeting the newest crew members and celebrating their last tour it was considered a not insignificant power move to both those who were planning to join on with the Skypirate Guild and for the long standing members as well. Each person inside quickly partook of drink and food, and while in high spirits kept any trouble to a minimum. Or at least as much of a minimum as they could given their joy at setting foot on true land instead of metal. Songs blasted from a jukebox that garbled most of the songs on it, for what little could be heard over those who were singing their hearts out over the music. The Valley Hail didn't have the largest crew, totaling maybe one hundred, a almost negligible number built of mostly side roles and some men and women of middling skill in any of their duties. But its captain often said that each of the men on her ship counted for a thousand on any enemies ship, and given their success in battle that hadn't been merely a compliment on her side.

For those who were waiting to join a table had been set aside for them to drink on a more limited menu then the main members of the crew, and while they weren't being given a cold shoulder many were using the time to interact with those that they knew or just to relax, so only a few greetings would be given and if a question regarding the captain arose they just would mention she was out on 'business' and to enjoy their drinks and food.


(So the scene opens within the Night Fall, a clean air bar near one of the airship ports within Ranram where the crew has bought out the place to enjoy themselves and greet the recruits. Players whose character will be freshly joining the Valley Hail have a table to themselves, and those who are already part of the crew are free to interact with them and welcome them aboard. At the moment this is the 'getting to know you' opening so feel free to use the space a bit openly. Have your character order a drink and get it, flirt with someone and have them turn them down. Essentially you have limited use of GM space within this so long as it only effects your character.

NPC's- Non-player characters are available for interaction and can be fleshed out so long as they aren't integral to the plot. If you want your character to recognize one of the engineers or side crew that act as the 'stagehands' to the main adventure you are free to, so long as you don't activally try to control the Captain or do something like say 'suddenly a Military Flight Frame busts in and starts wrecking things' you are allowed a bit of freedom of interaction. As the GM I do maintain final say if things get a bit too out of hand and will make use of the power to veto a decision if I think its too at odds with the world around it. That being said I trust you guys to talk things out with each other in the OOC and myself in private about things and will not go around vetoing things just as a power move or something weird like that.

But enough GM rambling, lets get things going!)

 

[marorda]

Keith

This wasn't the first time Keith had set foot on Ranram with the rest of Valley Hail, nor was it going to be the last time. Of that he was sure. The Stench was something he'd never get used too though. Yes, that was stench with a capital S. "How did the two of you ever survive living here?" he asked quietly to Quee and Dizzy. Quietly, because he didn't want to offend the people living in this continent. Every time he set foot in this place he understood better and better how the trash continent got its name. Ranram didn't look homely at all. Granted, he'd been used to the luxuries of Valan Ra for a fair part of his life. The contrast couldn't possibly be bigger. Yet he didn't regret boarding Valley Hail for a single moment. Keith breathed a sigh of relief as he entered the bar. Clean air at last. The trip from the ship to the bar wasn't that long, but any second spend in that horrible air outside was one too many. He settled down at a table with his fellow crew members, T0BY curled up on his lap. The clockwork cat didn't mind the crowd too much. Busying himself with T0BY also worked calming for Keith. He wasn't a fan of large crowds or noisy places. It was tiring. He only had one ear to process all the sounds around him. A cacophony of garbled music and static, many conversations and laughter. Keith kept to himself a little, eyeing the people walking in to the bar and giving polite smiles to the crew members that passed him by. If someone were to strike up a conversation with him, he'd happily engage. For now he was just trying to filter the background sounds from the things he was supposed to be listening to. There were some unfamiliar faces in the bar. Crewmembers he simply didn't recognize? New recruits? Both? Probably both.

Just as he felt like he'd settled, enjoying his own food and drink and finally able to properly focus on conversations around him, T0BY stretched. And, in true cat fashion, put his claws in the flesh of Keith's lap. "Ouch!" he jolted up, bumping into the table he was sitting at. T0BY hissed and darted off to a corner of the bar. Laughter ensued around him. Keith sank back onto the chair. I wish I could sink into the floor right about now... He made himself as small as he could at the table, like a little boy that got a scolding from a parent or teacher. Although he very much wanted to disappear right that instant, he glanced around the bar again. "Where'd that cat run off to?" he mumbled. If T0BY had somehow rushed outside, it was going to be a pain in the ass to find him again.
---
Neari

"Where'd ya think you're going, Beetle?" A man she barely knew grabbed her wrist as Neari tried to leave. It had been a long day. She was exhausted, and above all... she was late. She pulled her arm free and shot him a deadly glare.
"Piss off and leave me alone." It was tempting to spit in the man's face, but Neari knew better than to provoke the relative stranger. People in this part of Ranram didn't exactly have a reputation for their kindness. At any given time, especially in these dirt poor outskirts, one had to constantly be ready to fight for ones life. Kill or be killed was not uncommon here. The denizens of the Ranram outskirts would do anything to improve their life just a tiny little bit. Even if that meant taking the life from someone else instead. This was where the outcasts of the outcasts lived. A lawless stretch of land derived of hope.
"Or what? It's not like you have anywhere to be. Not that you have anyone who'd miss you."
That stung. Perhaps even more because it was true. Ever since "The Incident" there wasn't anyone left in this shithole that she cared about. But that was why she was looking to get away, right? And tonight might just be her only chance. The rumors of the ship that would be in the nearby port had spread like wildfire. A Sky Pirate ship. One rich and/or powerful enough to buy out an entire clean air bar for the night. One of those places Neari had never thought to ever set foot in. A lowly Scavenger such as herself had no business there, after all. Neari scoffed, a bitter taste filling her mouth. Her hands clenched and unclenched. One night. One chance. And nobody was taking that away from her. Especially not this asshole.
"Lost your tongue all of a sudden?" the man jeered.
"I told you to piss off." Neari clenched her fist again and punched the man in the face. She heard a cracking sound. Blood gushed out of the man's nose. She didn't think for another second. Neari turned on her heels and darted off. The man screamed and cursed behind her. Neari ran and ran without a pause until she reached the shack that had to pass for her home. It was tiny and likely to overflow with water the next time it rained. Or sewage, if a nearby pipe would act up again. She grabbed the bag she had prepared from the floor. Whatever little belongings she had that fit in there (really not much more than some clothes, a yellowed family picture and a couple of tools) was all she would be taking with her. It had been... how long now? About twenty years, she reckoned. Twenty long, grueling years. Tonight I'll leave Ranram at last.

She didn't even bother looking back as she closed the door behind her. Someone would claim the soon-to-be abandoned home within a week from now, that much she knew for sure. Neari moved on, determined of her goal. Not before long she reached the southern port. Now came the tricky bit: finding the right bar. There weren't that many clean air bars to choose from, but she'd make a fool out of herself if she somehow barged into the wrong place. Hah, imagine that. Barging into the wrong place, announcing you're looking for the sky pirates to join them. Ranram may be forgotten by the World Government, but that didn't mean there couldn't be spies here. Agents more than willing to "interrogate" would-be pirates to draw confessions from them. Neari recalled hearing the name, but reading it off the signs was a slightly more challenging task. After standing between a couple of buildings for a few minutes, hopping from one leg to the other, Neari made her choice. She pushed open the door and stepped inside of the clean air building. It was a relief not to breathe in the fumes she did every day for a change. A step or two later something darted in front of her feet, nearly making her trip over. The cat-like shape hissed and dashed onward to another far corner, disappearing between many legs wandering the floor. The place was crowded enough to make Neari assume she'd found the right spot in town. She awkwardly stood in the door for a moment before scooting towards a table that seemed more quiet than others.
"This is the spot?" she asked quietly to those around her.

 

[Shotgunpenguin]

TAIGA ASHARI
Night Fall - Clean Air Bar

Taiga thought that he had already smelled the worst of what this world had to offer, even before he found himself staring down at the insides of a persons stomach. Between spending hours on end shoveling manure and compost into wheelbarrows and stitching up horrific injuries there was very little that still phased the man. But no matter what stenches he had faced before the stench that permeated the air had him gagging even through his mask. It was thick enough that he swore he could taste it, a sentiment that was even more disgusting than it sounded, and between that and the smell Taiga could be excused for wondering how anyone could stand living here. "Not like they have much of a choice" he thought to himself with a grimace. "These people are living day by day in this place. Even if they wanted to I doubt they could even begin to save up enough to go somewhere better." It was a morbid thought that someone could spend their entire lives toiling away for scraps and never know what lies beyond their world of smog and dirt.

Stepping into the Night Fall, Taiga couldn't have ripped his mask off faster as he took a deep breath and held. It only took the absolute putrid air of Ranram to make him realize just how much he took for granted the fresh air everywhere else. While the outside was drab and tense the warm glow and clean air of the bar quickly melted away into active conversation and merriment as members of the crew enjoyed their food and drink. Working his way through the crowd after grabbing a drink of his own, Taiga was able to squeeze himself into the edge of a crowded table as he quickly found himself following along with a conversation between one of the ship's engineers and one of the janitors. They were each talking about their respective jobs, sharing any gossip that came their way about the ship and it's crew and sharing stories from their lives growing up. He piped up on a few occasions, sometimes to add his own thoughts to the conversation and sometimes to re-tell his story of accidentally joining a federation ship as it's doctor without realizing it. Soon though the conversation broke down after one of the engineers bet everyone at the table that he could best them in arm wrestling. Chairs scrapped across the floor as the table erupted in cheers, soon drawing a small crowd to watch the show.

Slipping out from the table before the crowd closed in, Taiga took to slowly making his way through the crowded bar in search for a quieter table. It wasn't that he didn't like crowds or contests, but it was a mix of experience and common sense that kept him from participating in the contest. Whoever won would have to keep going until everyone else was satisfied or be at risk of being heckled. No matter how strong a person was, sooner or later their body would start to get tired. Combine that with the copious amount of liquor being passed around giving everyone beer muscles he expected to see a few of these faces in his office tomorrow. Whether that be from the soreness of their bodies or a head-splitting hangover was up in the air, but for each the answer would be the same. Putting his foot down, Taiga almost yelped as something quickly scurried underneath it forcing him to hop back on one leg like a pogo stick. Looking down he was able to catch the cat-like shape of Keith's robotic companion as it darted around and through the legs of the other crew members. "Hey Keith! Make sure to grab your cat before it gets outside. Don't need you out there breathing in that smog trying to find it." He shouted out, although he was unsure if Keith could even hear him over the rowdiness of the bar. In a place like this that cat could be anywhere and he was concerned that if it got out it may end up getting itself lost deeper in the town.

Looking around he spied a woman with dirty black hair standing in front of one of the quieter tables. "Right, the new recruits were getting their own table. Might as well introduce myself, let em know who's going to be the one to patch em up if they ever need it." Making his way over to the table Taiga gave a curt cough as he stood a small distance away. "I take it you're all the new recruits. The name's Taiga, Taiga Ashari. I'm the ships doc, so if you ever need anything just stop by my quarters and I'll have you right as rain. If you have any questions I can try and give you an answer, but truthfully the captain would be your better bet. She knows pretty much everything there is to know bout this line of work." With a nod to the assembled recruits Taiga took a step back and placed himself a small distance away from the table, back leaning against the wall. Hopefully these new recruits wouldn't need to make use of his services for a long time, or barring that at least for nothing major.

Mentions:
marorda ​

 

[The Fluffiest Floof]

"Thank you ma'am, I don't know how we could ever pay you back.", the shaking voice of a young mother whispered, tears in her eyes as she hugged her child. It was a young girl, maybe 5 or 6 years old at best. She clutched to her mother, repeating phrases like "I'm fine, mom, I feel better, you dont need to cry, I feel better." Next to them stood another woman. Her thin frame was tall, but her bad posture took a lot of that height away. The pale skin perfect like marble, except for the purple bags under her eyes. "Please, its nothing. Knowing I helped is all the reward I could want." The voice of the doctor was quiet, so much so that one might almost miss her speaking entirely. On her shoulder, a grey Maine Coon cat purred and nudged its head against her neck. "I better get going now. Have a good day." The white haired medic patted the young girl on her head, before turning to leave.

A bit further down the street, there was what Magnolia had been heading for. The bar, the Night Fall. One of the few places that one could actually breathe in, at least when one was not used to the local odor. Magnolia most certainly was not, but she had a mask that helped with that. And even through that, it was hard to bear. But she did her best, not to let that get to her. She was a bit late to the party. Her colleague, Taiga, had sent her to relax and let him handle the new recruits. But as was so often the case, she did not listen to that advise and instead went out to come after the others. Though she stopped on the way to help a few people. She couldn't just walk past them after all. These people might never be able to see a doctor, who knows what terrible things might happen if Magnolia would have just ignored them. She felt it her duty to take the little time it took to help, even at the cost of exhausting herself a little by use of her ability.

The woman entered the bar, taking a quick glance around. The already established crew was present here, but so were some new recruits. She spotted Taiga sitting at a table with them, probably introducing himself. In what she knew was a foolish attempt at avoiding him, she headed straight to the bar to get a glass of water. After all this work with the locals, she was a bit tired, dizzy even. Though hiding was never going to work. Even among the skypirates, Magnolia stood out like a rainbow colored llama walking down the street. The second Taiga would turn towards the bar, he would see her. Still, she didn't want to butt into his introduction, so this seemed like the smartest thing to do.

 

[BuggaBoo]

* ~ Dizzy ~ * ~ Marquee ~ *​

---

Spoiler: Bosun and Mecha-Chief on the Valley Hail

The pair of young women strut along the catwalk, soles of their dark leather boots thudding along in time across the length of metal expanse. Smoke puffed away from the mini-cigars bopping up and down at the corners of their mouths. At the apex they stood, both taking pause to listen and stare down upon the hustle and bustle below them. For a moment longer they held poses like fuming great cats standing watchful on the spine of some kind of even greater metallic beast.

Both wore long dark leather overcoats covered in all manner of metallic studs, glowing pins and painted emblems. But of course, the largest and most noticeable marking of them all was emblazoned across their backs; the embossed and lovingly coloured emblem of their proud and powerful vessel, The Valley Hail. The purple-headed one rubbed at the insignias at her shoulders to spurn on some more warmth as the shorter indigo-headed other undid the clasp and buckle of the belt holding closed her overcoat.

The taller purple-headed one stopped rubbing at her arms and reached for the brim of her leather cap and snugged it tighter on her head. A small cat-sized bot stirred at her shoulder; it was as if its 6 gun-metal blue legs rippled in time to the cacophony of workers and labourers below. A few pets she gave her little helper mecha then her blue eyes lowered to stare at the young woman beside her. An upward chinbob she tossed then waited for a reply.

The indigo-headed one adjusted her own cap, a brimless, crested one, and cocked it downward over a lone eye. Without turning her head, her dark eyes met the other female's blue eyed gaze and nodded. No, they were not of the same blood, but they were sisters through and through. The mere look shared between them right now was the knowing look that siblings gave each other when each knew what the other was up to.

Both women smiled, pulled the cigarettas from their mouths, touched them together and simultaneously tossed the smelly things on the metal surface beneath them. Suddenly and with much force, they ground out the embers neath boot heels. The purple headed-one, flashed a grin before pulling at the dirty and frayed rope. The reverberating sound of the old work bell sounded out sharply in welcome relief to those working below. The indigo-headed one put a hand on a curvy hip and with the other hand, she picked up the comm-sender, drew it close to dusky lips and clicked the button. She was met first with static then a momentary screech of feedback.

The commotion slowed to a halt as the workers slowed and stood in place waiting for the announcements.

"This is Botswain Marquee, presidin' on the cross beam..."

Several wolf-whistles and even more jeers than cheers sounded out from below in the loading area of the cargo hold below.

The purple-headed young woman scratched at the skull n' crossbones shaved into the side of her head and giggled. "'Tis love n' respect I ain't ne'er seen nor heard for any Bosun's start o' speeches... O but my poor sis...!"

Her sister scoffed, rolled her eyes and shook her head. The hand on her hip raised up and began to wave around accenting each word she spoke, "Alright, alright, enough with gracing Her-Sexiness in all her glory with your spit n' stink... now listen up, loading crew. We are about to make ground with ETA of: yer mother's stankhole o' clock. Both o' thems..."

Genuine smiles, hearty laughs and blown kisses off middle fingers from below.

"So all of yous know we under some kinda' time crunch. Axxie, you have the invoices n' dossiers, y'know that we gots more inventory coming in with the new recruits and defectors. And Miko, y'seen the depleted kits. That mean more munitions and Frame parts incomin'. Bottom line: we needs more space. Double-time then...! Once you grubbers are done here, get to the hangar stat and reconfigure the storage there--"

Loud groans, curse-laden protests and hands thrown up in the air from below.

"EY!!! Stow it, you inch-wormy lot!! Keep cryin', stop flyin' policy. You lot signed on to the greatest of them all in the high-skies so you cloud-suckers best be the greatest out here!! So!! If the task ain't done, pack it up, pack it in, n' overboard to ground then, grubbers!! Alright settled...? Turn all y'eyes, minds n' hearts to me up here then...! Now! Double-time makes twice the space..." -- an impregnated pause then followed by a grin flashed so bright, they could all see it from down below-- "make it so n' double the free rounds on Her-Sexiness' tab when we hit Trashcan then...!"

Raucous cheers, forearm bumps and fists pumping from all below.

"Ey, Crew, let Her-Sexiness know.... Shout it out for Captain Moorse, if it please ye..!"

"Ne'er fail! We, the Valley Hail!!"

"Diz... sound it out for the greatest crew o' the high-skies...! Aye, one time for me, girlie!!"

"Aye n' 1000% more aye, Quee...! Sing it with me, sister!!" Instantly the reverberations of the old, worn workbell clanged away, echoing throughout the cargo holds.

AA lone arm of each of the young women shot straight up simultaneously, then curled slightly, 2 fingers up in the shape of a V but with the backs of their hands facing forward... turning the V into a double-fingered flip off. This was the informal salute of the blooded SkyPirates of the airship.

The signature 'Vail' Salute.

"NE'ER FAIL!!"

"WE, THE VALLEY HAIL!!" the salute was returned with intensity and exuberance in full from all crew mates.

The chanting and cheering continued to echo out as the sisters nodded at each other, grinned and strut their way off to the other side of the catwalk, arm in arm. Elevated by the rising morale of the crew, pride and happiness seemingly radiated from their Infernium coloured heads. A sigh they shared together; the sound was a mixture of excitement and exasperation... but listen hard enough and you could hear the overtones of melancholy too. After all this time, the sisters were finally heading back to their homeland.

---

Spoiler: Sisters entering the Night Fall

Dizzy patted the chest of the huge, barrel of a man and then rushed into his arms and embraced him tightly. Muffled laughing and squealing could be heard as the massive man mussed up her purple locks. Marquee let out a battle cry and jumped onto his back and reached upward placing that all-too-familiar feigned choke hold on him. Easily enough, he yanked her off his back and with a meaty arm, he expertly tossed her over his shoulder like a sack of ground-apples. Then he did the same to Dizzy just before turning 180 degrees to promptly march them into Q-section of the Night Fall. Both young ladies whooped and laughed away, legs kicking freely. Somewhat roughly, but not unexpected, the big guy tossed them into the Fabreezy chamber to have them 'sanitized' before entering the main entry doors of the pub proper. KA-thump. Diz rubbed the back of her head as her cat-sized bot Squiggle ran diagnostics on her injuries. Quee groaned as she tried to rub the soreness off her rump. The big fella shook his head, sending the multitudes of his multicoloured beard braids swinging, then paused to promptly spit onto the ground. Thick, tatted and scarred arms were folded but a smile twinkled away in his lone green eye

{{Only a lone cheek be bruised this time...?! Ey, Swats...! Love, y'gettin' soft inya old age, fella... aye, Diz-girlie?}} teased Marquee in the continent's trade language, making sure to thicken up her Nor'Wes Heaps accent of the 'Trashcan' continent..

{{Aye, sis... mayhaps softy is he cuz o' them lil' grubblies? An' so the babbie count tis' what now, Mr. Swatter?}}

The doorman held up 9 sausage sized fingers and grunted a laugh..

Both sisters raised eyebrows at the same time. Diz reached into her inner pockets and tossed him a sack. {{...for the 10th... n' for the poor, poor wifey, no doubt, kind sir... hahahahah...!}}

A gentle nod he bestowed them. Diz flashed a smile and waved. Quee winked and blew a kiss.

The quarantine doors slid shut.

---

Marquee leaned into the serving girl and whispered something into her ear before giving it a nibble.

The cute, portly thing giggled and quivered as Quee slipped something between and down into her generous cleavage. A dark-eyed wink she tossed the serving girl before snatching the drink tray. Above her indigo-coloured head she lifted the drinks and did her best to curse and shove her way back to the table through the droves and droves of crew here.

Keith: The Stench was something he'd never get used too though. Yes, that was stench with a capital S. "How did the two of you ever survive living here?" he asked quietly to Quee and Dizzy. Quietly, because he didn't want to offend the people living in this continent.

Diz sat there, chin tucked neatly into her fists as her elbows lay planted on the crooked tabletop. And as per usual, Squiggle was on her shoulder... any spot on her would suffice really as long as they were as far away as possible as that basic bot, T0BY. A slow smile unfurled from her lips and she nodded gently at Keith's question, blue eyes lighting up as would any eyes asked the same questions a thousand times before.

"'Tis all in strategy and compromise of course, Mr. Smokey..." she was combatting the ever increasing ambient noise, however,the sound of her raised voice should seem weird to any that were used to the the Mecha-Chief's normally soft, almost purring vocal tones, "fer instance; these here clothes? 'Twould be maggoty to wear your bestest of thread when out and about in Trashcan... All about layers and protectin' your washables--"

"That and you cannot keep trying to pose prim and proper up in here, Smoke-stacks...!" Marquee's voice on the other hand was grainy yet always bubbly. The shorter of the sister duo was notorious for the sound of her voice. And whether the Bosun's vocal volume was raised or not, you best be ready for the unstoppable flood of words from out her mouth.

"You just cannot be more obvious than obvious be to show that--" She set the drinks down onto the tabletop then one hand cupped her mouth as the other pointed accusingly at Keith "--ya be native from VALEN RA?! BOO n' WORM SHARTS to ya, mista'!"

A couple dozen of loud boos an hisses sounded out. Even a lone random boot was tossed in their direction too. Although in a near fit of laughter, even Dizzy joined in the chorus of disdain.

"Smokey, come nowwwww...! Doncha worry none! You Valley Hail proper. Act like it, mista' and nobody and their Auntie Crawlie pay you nary nothin'!! All ears to this here lass now. Hear her manner of talks and her accent and wordling play abouts? 'Tis North-Western Region Heaps, Smokey! Be tryin' it: "From the Heaps ye be ey...?" Fit ya in better, says I! Nor'Wes Heaps represent!! Aye, Diz?"

"Heeeeaps!! Aye, buzzin' true ye be, sis! O! And shave yer head if ya feels improper, mista'. Show ye be scavengerous-type tick and flealess proper!!" Diz gruffed up her voice and thickened her accent as well.

"She say: tick and flealess!! Why not...?! Hahahahah...!"

Both girls burst out laughing, grabbed a drink and hoisted it up high before clinking them together: "Tick and Flealess, Trashcans!!"

Only true locals would find humour in that and follow suit with a loud toast as well. All who got the inside joke knocked back a drink and scratched the their chins with their mugs or empty shot glasses before settling down their bevvies empty or not. Diz leaned into Keith, lassoed an arm around him and squeezed. She had an idea that he had no clue what was going on, but she wanted to make sure he did not feel as if he was being pushed away. Several pats on the back she gave him too before leaning back and allaying Squiggles concern that they were getting too close to the lowered-standard T0BY.

"Enough with the silly-wigglins' then... off to make me some new maties, maties..." Quee knocked back another drink and Diz stopped smiling. A lone eyebrow raised as she gave the look at her sister and pointed with her eyes at the emptied glass. An exaggerated and exasperated sigh Quee tossed in her sister's direction and lit up a cigaretta. The smoke she blew right into Diz's face.

>>Whatever, "Mom..." Keep count if you want,<< Marquee spoke in their own Ingraved language now, but undoubtedly Keith could catch the barbs from one sister to another, >>I'm fine so you be fine too. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go work...<<

Marquee took one final drag, then shoved the slender stogie into her sisters mouth, kissed her on top of her precious head before patting Keith's shoulder. An upward chinbob she donned them, T0BY included, before backing away. She smirked, winked, then turned about face heading back into the mess of bodies packed in the Night Fall.

A puff on the cigaretta she took before letting out a sigh. Dizzy regained her composure and turned back to face Keith. Maybe now was a good time to go over her new meal plan with the cook ever since they had picked up the new formul--

For whatever reason, T0BY shot up from Keith's lap and bolted straight away from them. Slowly but surely, Diz cast her gaze towards her shoulder and immediately locked onto her own little 'familiar.' Her eyes narrowed as soon as she caught the multi-armed bots attention. "Squiggie...!!"

Two of Squiggles arms went up in protest, chirps and whirs came from its sound box seemingly claiming its innocence.

"...What. Did. You. Do....?"

---

Maggie: Even among the skypirates, Magnolia stood out like a rainbow colored llama walking down the street. The second Taiga would turn towards the bar, he would see her. Still, she didn't want to butt into his introduction, so this seemed like the smartest thing to do.

"And there be me fly-girlie, right there... Valkie..!!" Marquee yelped out, then quick as could be, she sidled right up to the silvery-headed woman just before the crowd swallowed her from sight. Indigo eyebrows popped up in greeting, followed by a casual, chin-high Vail Salute. And of course, in no time she was offering up a drink to her fellow Frame pilot. Whether or not the other woman took it, Quee would knock another one back.

"Rock-a-bye, bay-beeeee!! Wooooo!!" this was the usual Frame pilot exclamation of utter agreement or job-well-done, but Quee used it to address the amazingness of yet another drink down the hatch. "Soooooo.... see any new bugger that catches yer eyes, Vals?"

She pulled out a cigaretta and sparked it. After taking a couple puffs from it, she offered to pass it around because this one in particular was definitely laced with 'sharable pleasures' in it. Quee's dark eyes followed from where Maggie stared and then back to her.

"Oopie-oops. Lookin' like me Val-girlie aiming her guns high," a small hip-bump nudge she gave the pale woman, "doncha' worry, love. Mayhaps the good Dr. Ducky just be lip-servin' with the new bugger. Odds are he still single. And if no, then best be sure, Pixie will wingwoman for ye and take the other Miss-a-pillar out of the picture hahahahah... follow with me, fly-girlie..."

Taiga: If you have any questions I can try and give you an answer, but truthfully the captain would be your better bet. She knows pretty much everything there is to know bout this line of work." With a nod to the assembled recruits Taiga took a step back and placed himself a small distance away from the table, back leaning against the wall.

"Ahem ...ey, quack-quack, Duck-tor..." a casual, forehead-touching Vail Salute she gave to Taiga, a mischievous smile lurking at the corners of her mouth, "room for one more...?"

Invading his personal space, she leaned up right beside him, bobbing her head to the crappy, tinny music screeching away above them. A quick flick of her hand tossed the loose indigo hair from her face, then she took a hit from her cigaretta. Exhaling a plume of smoke, she offered the laced blunt to the good doctor. Glassy, red-rimmed, dark eyes twinkled and Quee just could not help but let out a small laugh in response to his reply. Then she shook her head and turned to look at him. "'Tis all goods, medicine man... just wants to be droppin' the payload for ye--" she mimed pulling at an invisible item near her mouth and leaned forward as if on comms in her Frame "--Valkyrie...! Fly-girlie, shoot ya shot... Pixie, out."

A smile. wink and a nod she cast him before she waltzed off. A lone finger Marquee kissed then pointed at Maggie, mouthing the words: 'Rock-a-bye, baby' at the other woman before moving on to intercept the target for her fellow frame-pilot.

---​

Neari: She awkwardly stood in the door for a moment before scooting towards a table that seemed more quiet than others.​

Oh, there she was... Yes, that woman just had to be the one she saw talking to Taiga. Dark-haired and mysterious enough to catch a doctors eye, she supposed. "Hail. So be needin' directives then...? And if not the captain, new bugger, then mayhaps Her-Sexiness, Botswain Marquee gunna be helpin' ye with all yer grubble drops then...?"

A lone eyebrow raised as soon as Quee caught the look in the new recruit woman's eyes the moment the words 'grubble drops' were spoken. Most SkyPirates landing on Ranram would know it as a saying that meant 'issues.' But if a local said it to another local, it ususally meant 'useless whining' and was usually given out as an insult. Quee moved in and took in a deep inhale of the new recruit.

{{You be from the Trashcan then, missy? You be blooded by a name around, here? You look red-roachin' to me... }} Marquee switched to the 'Trashcan' language and looked intently to see if the woman was 'red-roachin' or not, {{...hailing from the Heaps I be. Got hive-mommy'ied offa the Trash . And yourself? You fleeing Mantis?

---

• blooded by a name - (earned a respected bug-title - Marquee was know as "Buzzer" for a time on Trashcan)
• red-roachin' - (suvivor/freedom fighter against the World Gov't Sails)
• hive-mommy'ied offa th'Trash - (hired on by a good AirShip)
• Mantis - (Mafia)

---

 

[Shotgunpenguin]

TAIGA ASHARI
Night Fall - Clean Air Bar

Taiga nodded his head as one of the new recruits asked a question about the ship and it's captain. "Captain Moorse takes good care of the ship and her crew. She pays on time and in full, and as long as you do your job and don't cause problems for other's you're pretty much set." Taking a sip of his drink he was pleased that none of the recruits seemed to be having second thoughts. You see it sometimes, young starry eyed people who dislike the world government and come to these sort of meetings. They come in with fire in their hearts, but when they actually have to come to face the fact that their lives would be in danger they would suddenly get cold feet. He never held it against any who decided to drop out, becoming a pirate was pretty much ending any chance of having a normal life ever again. That is if you didn't end up dead before you could get out.

Scanning the room of the bar once again, Taiga's eyes locked on to a familiar pale figure trying to busy herself by the bar and the grey cat doing it's best impression of a scarf. He let out a sigh of displeasure as he weighed whether he should go over to her or not. Magnolia was another doctor who worked on the Valley Hail, although the difference in their abilities were like night and day. With her ability to heal nearly anything that ails a person short of a fatal injury she was miles above what Taiga could do. However, because the use of her power drains her own vitality, he prefers to handle any non-emergency treatments himself. As such, when told that a batch of new recruits would be arriving he insisted that she let him handle the introductions and for her to take the night off. Obviously though she had decided to come despite his request, and from the looks of it she just couldn't have helped herself on the way over. She was slightly slumped against the bar and the ever present bags underneath her eyes were just a little deeper than usual.

Before Taiga could remove himself from the wall and make his way over to Magnolia the space next to her was quickly filled by another familiar mop of blue hair. Pinching the bridge of his nose he let out another sigh, although this one was for the headache that he'd soon be experiencing. "Ahh great. Why couldn't it have been the other one." Marquee or "Pixie" as she liked to be called was one half of the ships pair of sisters. He often attended to Dizzy whenever the girl suffered a scrape or ailment, and often enough her sister would be right there in the room with him. He would have thought it cute if not for the fact that she constantly encouraged Dizzy to ask questions about every single part of her treatment. That, and her nickname for him didn't exactly help especially when he tries to keep an air of professionalism while being called "duck-tor".

It was only a matter of time before she made her way over to him, although Magnolia trailing behind her was a bit of a surprise. Taiga let out a quick groan as Pixie called him his unofficial nickname as she quickly invaded what little amount of personal space he had. A strange smell assaulted his senses and as he quickly found out it was coming from the lit cigarette that was now being waved in front of his face. "I doubt that people come to these types of places just to breath in a different kind of smog." He lightly pushed her arm away with the back of his free hand before continuing. "Besides, you shouldn't be smoking these things anyway. They'll do more damage to you than you think." His voice took on a concerned tone as he said this, eyes scanning the bar in search for Dizzy. Regardless of how much of an annoyance she could be Pixie was still an important member of the crew, both to the ship and to her sister. Even if she didn't want to hear it Taiga still felt the need to try and get her off of those things. Pixie simply laughed off his words before saying something to Magnolia and taking off to talk to one of the new recruits.

"Honestly, sometimes I can't tell what's going through that girl's head." Although he would never say it to Pixie's face for concern of a negative reaction, he had raised concerns about both of the twins mental states to Magnolia in the past. Exactly what happened to the twins before they joined was unclear, but after interacting with them for an extended period of time it was clear that whatever happened had left it's mark. Unfortunately there wasn't much that either of them could do unless one of the twins came to them and asked for help. Neither of them had the authority or right to force them into therapy, and even if they did unless the patient wanted to get better any treatment they administered would be for nothing. Shaking his head, Taiga walked to Magnolia's side and asked "So, how many times did you use your power on the way here? And don't try and tell me you didn't, I think we've worked together for long enough that I can tell when you're drained."

MENTIONS
The Fluffiest Floof
BuggaBoo ​

 

[marorda]

Neari

Definitely the right place. If it wasn't the man introducing himself to her and the other people standing near the table, it would be the general atmosphere of the place. Neari hadn't set foot in bars like these before. With all the pirates here the Night Fall seemed very much like the type of bars that were more affordable for a Scavenger to frequent. A few tables over some pirates started to drunkenly sing a shanty. Neari gave a polite nod to Taiga before downing her drink. The alcohol burned in her throat and filled her stomach with warmth. Getting drunk was quite a common way for people from her area of Ranram to finish the day. Drink to forget, work 'till you're dead. Tonight getting drunk did not seem to be the best course of action, though. If she was to join the pirates and finally find her way out of this shithole of a place, she'd very much like to be aware of doing so.
"I'll keep it in mind if I need fixing," Neari said. "If there's anything on board that needs fixing that's not a person, I'll give it a look." She scratched the side of her nose, eying the tavern's interior again. The singing some tables over was getting louder and a little more rowdy. Trouble was brewing somewhere in the Night Fall, it seemed. Or maybe she was just nervous. Neari shook the feeling off and watched another pirate approach. Indigo-haired and kind of loud, definitely a good couple of years younger than Neari herself.

Neari stared at the woman introducing herself as "Her-Sexiness", brows knitted together. What sort of welcome was it supposed to be when you're starting off insulting the possible new recruits? She quickly glanced beside her, seeing that a few more recruits had similar thoughts. To her surprise, the woman switched to a language that had become so familiar to Neari over the last twenty-or-so years. {{Depends. Born 'ere? Nay. Lived here most o' me life? Aye. Cast to the Trash as a wee las. Not much time for red-roachin' when yer just tryin' to scrape by. Jus lookin' for a way out o' this ol' shithole 'ere. I be hailing from the Outskirts. Used to be the Dumps 'till that went down in a blaze. The name's Neari, but most 'round 'ere call me Beetle.}}

---

Keith

It was hard to keep up with the conversation in all the ambient noise. Keith mostly just nodded along and hummed. Something about maggots in their washables? Someone ought to check that out. Maggots were a pest, and if they found their way into the kitchen and pantry, the food would be ruined! The thought of finding those slimy, squiggly things in his vegetables made Keith a little queasy. Aaaaand of course someone was going to point out he's originally a Valen Ra native. Keith wasn't the only one to originally hail from what the World Government considered the best continent. Certainly it was the most privileged one. Keith had become well aware of that after he ran off ten years ago. Despite not being the only Valen Ra native on the ship, and despite being among the crew members that had been on board the longest time, every once in a while someone decided to hold it against him. And only him too, it felt like. Joke or not, being the only one to publicly get "harassed" about it made him far from comfortable. Invalidating the fact it made him feel that way didn't exactly improve his mood, either. Maybe I should've just stayed on the ship.

He finished his drink and wiggled his way away from the table. It was packed here. ''Scuse me. I'm going to find T0BY before he rushes out and falls into an incinerator or something."
Keith didn't think Squiggles was responsible for T0BY getting spooked. Yet at the same time he would not be surprised if the critter had done something to chase away his cat. The two didn't exactly get along, after all. Despite being made out of clockwork, T0BY acted quite a lot like a regular cat. Keeping rats out of the kitchen, chasing bugs. Napping one moment and suddenly dashing off seconds later. It was not at all an excuse to get away from the table. No, not at all! Keith quietly cursed himself for not sticking up for himself as he scoured the tavern for a sign of his companion. He passed the new recruits. "Anyone seen a cat rush around by any chance?" Keith asked them. "Not a real one," he added as he spotted Magnolia with Silver wrapped around her shoulders like a scarf. Keith absolutely adored Silver, but he couldn't stand being in the cat's presence for a prolonged period of time without his eye watering. Curse allergies! It wasn't as bad as with some other cats, though. So at least he could occasionally pet Silver for a little while.
"Thought I saw something scurrying thereabouts," a dark haired woman with hollow cheeks said, gesturing to another corner of the tavern with her free hand. Her other hand held a drink which she downed after pointing. "You'd best fetch it before it gets out there. Plenty of folks there eager to take it apart for scraps or sell it on the Black Market. Trust me, I'd know."
"Yeah, thanks. That's what I was trying to do." The idea that someone would destroy T0BY or sell him filled Keith with a sense of worry. He'd had his clockwork cat for years now, and wasn't planning on parting with the bot. He quickly moved onward, hoping he'd find the cat before someone he didn't like did it first.

---
MENTIONS
BuggaBoo
Shotgunpenguin

 

[The Fluffiest Floof]

Magnolia had barely gotten her drink, when she heard a voice exclaim from behind her. "And there be me fly-girlie, right there... Valkie..!!" It was no miracle work to recognize who it was. If the voice or accent wouldn't have been enough of a telltale, the nickname 'Valkie' really narrowed down the possible suspects. In a matter of moments, Marquee, a fellow frame pilot on the Valley Hail, was next to the doctor almost immediatly, ordering drinks for them both, even though Magnolia tried to object. When the alcoholic beverages were delivered, she gently pushed hers back towards the barkeeper with an apologetic expression, before sipping at her water. The barkeeper seemed not to mind her rejection of his drink, most likely because she already looked like a walking zombie.
The drinks had barely been delivered, when Marquee had already downed hers, exclaiming in excitement and pulling forth a cigarette. The energy on the girl was a polar opposite to Magnolia, who looked like she would just keel over any second, like her eyelids could barely sustain the task of staying up. That was, of course, mostly due to Magnolia's altered biochemistry, but the thought of their age different couldn't help but come to the doctors mind.

While Marquee was enjoying herself to the fullest, Silver, the cat that had laid around Magnolia's neck, resting comfortably, was now visibly less relaxed. The young frame pilot was loud and hyper and Silver was not exactly the most keen on those characteristics. He remained where he was, playing scarf for the time being, but his tail swished back and forth, indicating he was unresting. Magnolia herself also seemed to be struggling, as the woman before her suddenly started babbling something about her colleague and the new recruits. The white haired woman could barely follow when she was already being dragged along towards Taiga's table, not even managing to fully stutter out her "Oh no, you misunderstand...".

They arrived at Taiga's table, though Magnolia managed to keep a bit of distance to the group, while Marquee was immediatly talking to the other medical expert of the Valley Hail crew. Though the man did a way better job than Maggie at being overwhelmed by the flood of words that blubbered out. Magnolia was always a bit slower in conversations, usually due to her regular exhaustion, which led to her always needing a bit of time to fully understand the words that were said to her.

While Magnolia was pondering the difference in their conversation habits, she was taken out of her thoughts by Marquee, who whispered something to her. She had not paid attention and was going to ask the frame pilot to repeat her words, but she was already gone. A bit lost, the woman let herself sink into the chair that was now freed up, looking at Taiga with apologetic eyes. "Honestly, sometimes I can't tell what's going through that girl's head.", the man said, earning a nod from Magnolia. Silver finally moved from his position as a scarf, hopping to the floor to brush himself around the mans legs, greeting him happily and with a purr. Then, a lot more stern, Taiga came to what she had feared for him to say.

"So, how many times did you use your power on the way here? And don't try and tell me you didn't, I think we've worked together for long enough that I can tell when you're drained." She hated it when he worried about her. Or rather, she hated to make him worry. But she could not change who she was, either. "There were so many people in need of help, Taiga... Children, too... I couldn't have left them to die, not when I can help so easily. It wouldn't have been right." She did not give a straight answer, yet at the same time she did. There was no clear number, but knowing her, Taiga would understand that she had helped each and every person she had found to be sick or injured along her way to the bar.

Shotgunpenguin
BuggaBoo

 

[BuggaBoo]

* ~ Dizzy ~ * ~ Marquee ~ *​

---

He finished his drink and wiggled his way away from the table. It was packed here. ''Scuse me. I'm going to find T0BY before he rushes out and falls into an incinerator or something."

Diz sighed, concern pulling down at her eyebrows as Keith made his way from the table. Nontheless she smiled and nodded, "Of course, Mr. Smokey. I'll just go check up on me sis then. Hopin' best things only for you n' Tiptoes then!"

Smoke wafted up over her head whilst she took a few more puffs from the little cigar. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed it down and crushed it under her boot like a Night Fall patron proper. The woman then stood, strecthed out to her full lithe 5'9" frame and called over the voluptuous server that Quee had been flirting with and asked for the bill. The little thing cheerfully headed on over and dropped it off, giggling and laughing. She bowed and thanked Diz profusely over and over, curtsying adorably in time before making her way back to the bar counter.

A soft, uncertain smile held perched at Diz's lips as she nodded back politely. But once she lifted up the bill and saw the numbers on it, her blue eyes bulged out from her head. Slowly her head tilted back and just as slowly her eyes closed. The expression on her face looked like she had swallowed burning hot shards of glass. Soon thereafter her hand wiped downward, dragging from hairline to chin and yet still the sour taste in her mouth remained. Squiggle checked her vitals and began to fan at her red face.

She stood there both hands running through her hair, scowling in full, scanning about for her oh-so-precious sister. A small growl and huff she let out as she spotted the oh-so-precious thing. Eyes narrowed, Diz stormed off in the indigo-headed thing's direction.

---​

Glassy and red-rimmed dark eyes lit up. Marquee tossed up a backhanded V salute at the new recruit and nodded in earnest upon hearing the other woman speak perfect Trashcan. She then called over to the bar for a couple more shots.

{{Blooded ya be then...! Had been blooded as 'Buzzer,' meself, truth told. But yesteryears that be. Forgetten tis best, hahah... Aye, true as true... well then glad ye be Hive-mommied by Cap'n Moorse, ya be. Queen-Bee leader, honey pay, stingin' crew. }}

As soon as the shots arrived, she took one, raised it high and angled towards Neari, "Welcome aboard n' Vail to ye then, Beetle..."

Another downed drink another whoop of pleasure. "Alrighty then, matie... let's do this then proper..." she patted Neari's shoulder before waltzing off, "fancy another drink...? Then gather up with the new buggers, Beetle... you'll see..."

Quee craned up her neck and tossed a hand up. Through the crowd bounced the cute server, a grin fully formed on her rosy-cheeked face. Marquee leaned in, whispered, then nibbled on her ear once more. A nod and wink of course, then she smacked her rear. The short girl giggled, nodded back and blushed as she gave a copy wink back at Quee before strutting off. The server then motioned for many other servers to pass out drinks to the new recruits. A kiss she blew back at Quee once half the drinks had been passed around.

On that cue, Quee made her way into the middle of the new recruits and climbed up rather ungracefully onto a table. And by now it was apparent the indigo headed woman was swaying in the wind... even though there was no wind blowing in here.

Spoiler: Morale boosting yet again

The sound of the crappy, tinny jukebox 'music' faded away finally. A loud clanging sounded out as she hit her mug with a tarnished bent fork several times until the loudness of the crowd had settled a bit."Ahem, ahem. Eyes, minds and hearts to me now!! Hail! This be Botswain Marquee presiding from the tabletops...

"Now. Assuredly, all of yous are here for only the greatest of the greatest there is to offer in the high-skies, aye? Well sorry to disappoint but ye find yeselves has missed that boat and ye be stuck with me and this here maggot-slop lot..."

Raucous laughs, wolf-whistles, more jeers than cheers and chorus of 'here-here's' came from the labourers and loaders under her care from the back. "Aye, aye... but you probably thinking "Better aboard this bucket of spareparts and rusty bolts than on Trashcan, it be?" And... aye. You be right, you be. Because of one something I be spoutin' about now. 'The Bosun's policy. Tis simple. Goes a little something like this:

"Keep cryin', stop flyin'.

Savvy that?"

So. Ya gots no creds. You gunna cry, or you gunna fly...?

No family to love you. You gunna cry, or you gunna fly...?

No handouts nor mercy from the World Gov't Sails--" several hisses and boos "--you gunna cry... or do tell her, right here right now... you gunna fly?"

Several mumbles that sounded like the word: "fly."

"Mayhaps it sounding like you do wanna step on deck of the Valley Hail proper then to me...

Ya know there be danger and death abound if ye stalk bountiful booty servin' her... you gunna go home cryin' or you gunna be Valley Hail and keep flyin'?"

"Fly..."

"Bleedin' from the guts, butts and struts. We got the best meds on the Valley Hail, you gunna cry or fly?"

"Fly..."

"Guns so loud, break yer ears and ya mommies heart and holes they so powerful, you gunna cry or fly?

Laughter and with a bit more force: "Fly!"

"Drones so many and terrfying, they put the enemy to bed with the shivers n' shits! Cry or fly?!"

"Fly!!"

"Frame pilots, Aces high!! Get out of the way or get shot down, ROCK-A-BYE-BABY!! Cry or fly?!"

A chorus of: "Rock-a-bye-baby!" and an even more cocky: "Fly!!!"

"Engineers, Soldiers, and Navs, oh my! Blooded SkyPirates! All o' thems. Do they cry? Or. Do. They--"

"FLY!!"

"Crew of the Valley Hail under command of one red-roachin' Captain Violet Moorse!!! Cry or--"

"FLY!!!"

"Cry or--"

"FLY!!!"

"And now all ye know.

And aye. Tis true. The lot of you recruits missed boardin' the one and only boat made of the greatest of the greatest there is to offer in the high-skies...

...and sadly, that be because of what transpired before we landed on Trashcan... aye, tis true...

We shot that bitch down..."

Marquee kissed her middle finger, shot it towards the sky and made an exposion sound.

Raucous cheers and middle fingers aimed skybound in response.

"That's right. Give it up one time for Her-Sexiness... Shout it out for the good Captain Moorse, if it please ye: NEVER FAIL!!"

WE THE VALLEY HAIL!!

"This here round be on yer Bosun Marquee. Drink up then and welcome one and all to tonight. Be you make the cut. Then welcome aboard the greatest of the greatest of them all in the high-skies. Welcome to the crew of the Valley Hail..."

Marquee raised high her drink and downed it one go. The young woman swooned and swayed as she attempted to dismount the table. Fortunately she was immediately attended to and helped down by other crew mates. Upon setting her boots down on solid ground she was going to reach out and pull the cute, little serving girl into her arms and plant a huge kiss upon her mouth and let it ride from there.

But she was staring up at a face full of angry purple-headed, redfaced Dizzy instead. On her shoulder, even Squiggle was leaning forward, tapping their feet impatiently.

"Dare to explain how all these drinks ye, the crew and the new recruits have enjoyed are going to be paid, sister?"

"Calm the winds, Dizzy... I took care of it--"

"With me own share of credits!! Ye bug-brained mad?! How dare ye, sister?!"

"Don't like the tone of how ye say 'sister' truth told. But nary ye mind. We will discuss after I 'settle' the rest of the bill with some new server girlies of mine--"

"Nay and a thousand times nay. You not to be happy till I be happy, sister!"

"Diz...! Would ya please stop sayin' 'sister' like that--"

"Will not, 'sister.' Truth now, sister: Why in all of the sky-currents did you not use you own cred?!"

"Wellllllll... may or may have not used them to pay for an old debt... or..."

"Or. Or...? OR WHAT, SIST--"

"For pissin' out loud, please stop saying it like that! Alrighty then fine. Fine! Or mayhaps I did gamble away a lot of me earnings...but I have a plan--"

"NAY!! Correction; "wasted." Ya wasted away yer earnings, sis. And now yer high and drunk and how in all worm-sharting ways am I going to afford my newest Infernium doses, sis? Think of that when ya bug-brained yer 'plan, sis?!'"

"Well saying 'sis' tis no much better... but anywhos! Diz, with the new recruits on board, captain be findin' a huge score and the payout be mega-anthill piles!!"

"For true? Marquee, she let you in on that...?"

"Well... nay, but I--"

Dizzy shrieked and turned fully away from Marquee. But just then she faltered and had to hold onto a tabletop to steady herself.

"Easy now. Dizzy... come here, you--"

"Touch me not and away you go!"

"Diz-girlie--"

>>Leave me alone. I just need to lie down. Apparently you don't need "Mom" here. I'm heading back to quarters. Do enjoy the rest of the night with your girlies. You've truly outdone yourself and deserve whatever you get, sister.<<

Dizzy was about to continue speaking in their Ingraved speech, but instead just sighed and shook her head. Without once looking at Marquee, she shoved her way through the crowd, eyes low. Squiggle took her vitals and checked her levels before injecting her with a booster.

Taiga: walked to Magnolia's side

Maggie: at Taiga's table

Marquee looked down and gave her head a good shake. A deep breath she took before she trudged over to the pair of Medics.

"Worry not, doctors. Be going to her I will. Settle her in and have her sent to medbay if need be. Be using comms to contact you if she in difficulty," she then looked over to the three serving girls waiting for her, closed her eyes and shook her head. Then she turned back to the Medics with eyes still closed. "Believin' I've drinked enough, I have..."

Marquee swooned, steadied herself and made a fist. With her knuckles she rapped on her forehead a few times. Another head shake, another sigh. Upon opening her eyes she gave a nod and apologetic smile for Taiga. A pat on the arm and a friendly grin she donned Maggie. And finally she turned to see where Neari was, waved in her direction then turned away to bumble along back to the ship after her sister.

---