VIP Pick-up [Emily + Lenore crew]

[Ari Deschain]

The Lenore bucked and bumped along in Ari's grip as the mechanic hit atmo. She held on tightly, guiding the ship as best she could. "C'mon, luv," she growled at the ship. "C'mon, you gorram beautiful bitch. I gotcha...We got this." She continued muttering an eloquent litany of loving abuse at the ship in two different languages as she struggled with its shaky entry into Haven. Finally, she was able to force it into a bumpy sort of landing, and Ari gasped in relief as it stopped at the dock.

Collapsing back into the pilot's seat, Ari groaned. "We need a gorram pilot yesterday." Then, taking up the comm as the ship powered down, she called out to Grimm and Jove, "Ladies an' gents, we landed on this ruttin' rock. Let's get the hell out." She stood up and stretched, shaking her head. She hated piloting, hated the emptiness of a ship once so full of life.

Maybe while they were here, they could pick up a few strays what could use a job. They could surely use the help, and the conversation. Ari adored Jove and Grimm was...well, Grimm, but when out in the Black for months at a time, one starts wantin' for some fresh faces real quick. As Ari made her way down to the cargo hold, she mussed up her hair a bit. It was unruly, as usual. She was wearing a long-sleeved, loose shirt and baggy pants. Neither had a trace of oil on them; she'd been piloting too long. She felt out of her element, not being as stained as usual. Her eyepatch was on, though, the one with the red stitched heart outline on it.

Ari hit the button to open the cargo door onto the Haven docks, breathing in the fresh air that rushed in. They were here to pick up some girl, a girl that a man called Duke had told them to take very good care of. Ari hoped the payout was going to be good; they hadn't been making much lately. She made her way down into the late afternoon sun, eyes narrowing as they adjusted from so much time in the Black.

[Jove Gadria]

Jove had almost forgotten how much she hated flying. The motion of take-off and landing cycle were the two worst feelings in her world. And yet, she was sure she'd gotten over it. Months spent watching from the cockpit of a very different ship, being teased and picked-on like it was supposed to distract her. Jove thought she was over it. A few nightmares in a few weeks and the lack of a real pilot-- not to fault Ari her piloting skills, she was pretty good at getting them up and down in one piece-- appeared to regress her a little. If the ride wasn't so bumpy, she'd have been walking around. Paranoid and skittish. Like the old days. Instead, Jove was inside her shuttle, the sound of her things rattling in the space behind the cockpit. A few non-breakable items tumbled off her old, bolted-down desk. A small bag of coin scattered across the floor-- even from where she was, looking out the main window, Gadria could tell when money hit the ground. An instinct, you could say.

That didn't tear her gaze from the view of her shuttle's little niche it was parked within. Ship she'd been on before this had been called the Boadicea. Shuttles had been lined on the outside. You could see the sky-- she just had to imagine the running fire of breaking atmo. Jove's mismatched eyes screwed shut. Tried to picture it. Smash. A painful thump started within Jove's chest. Heart leaping up into her throat as eyes snapped back open. Something had broken. Sounded like glass. She was sure she'd squared everything away, though. Just like that, the businesswoman didn't even register that the Lenore had landed. Already up from her seat and moving into the back to check what had taken the fall. Ari's voice was heard over the comm, but she barely heard it. Jove sat crouched on the floor of her shuttle, dropping down onto her backside as she peered down at the small pool of scotch. Broken fragments of dark, coloured glass lay about around and in it.

Fingers picked up the wet label; peering at it solemnly. Guanmian. Hadn't been touched in over a year, maybe two. Maybe more. Jove had lost count. A tear was wiped away, and the businesswoman straightened, sorted herself and her clothing out. She left the mess where it was, and headed out the shuttle bay, down and down towards the cargo hold.

Lucky day, right?

[Lady Emily Grace Rider]

Emily watched as a swan class ship setting down she grabbed her bags and turned off her cortex screen to her father. As she walked outside she waved good bye to the people around her, she knew them all by name and they knew she. She loved it there in a way, however, it wasn't a safe place for her to be now that Joshua was dead. Though that meant very little at this moment, she was ready to leave and the ship was just outside of town to get her out of this place.

She jogged toward it, she was told she was to meet the ship as soon as they landed, however, her father didn't give her a time when they would be landing. Perhaps he had, she might not remember, they had a large party last night to celebrate the reconstruction of the main hall.

It only took her a minute or two to reach the docks, and only another long moment to find the right port. She walked the length of the ship looking it over before she noticed the cargo bay doors. Emily has always loved ships, and this one was no exception. The Swarn was a large ship compared to others she had seen. However, it also had a grace about it, the design was simple and beautiful. Emily was going to love this ship, and perhaps, given enough charm, she could convince their pilot to allow her to fly it. It had been months since she had flown a ship, and the Revenge was a bulkier.

"Hello," Emily said as she walked around to the cargo bay door. "Is this the Lenore?"

[Ari Deschain]

As Jove emerged into the cargo hold, Ari caught the sound of her footfalls echoing behind her. She glanced back, arms reaching over her head as she stretched sinuously, her shirt lifting slightly to reveal a golden and almost overly-muscular stomach for just a moment. In the dim cargo hold, Ari could just see the business woman stepping in. "Hey there, sugar. Feels good to be on land, yeah?" She dropped her arms, tugging her shirt back down into place.

Ari pushed her sleeves up and grinned. Crossing her arms, she leaned against the entrance to the hold and watched Jove. "Sorry 'bout the bumpy landing. Hope you..." her eyes narrowed a bit and she ducked out of the sun, studying Jove a little bit more closely. "Hey...you okay?" She cocked her head, trying to decide if the sadness she'd seen in Jove's eyes, the slouch in her shoulders, was real or imagined.

A voice called out and Ari turned, glancing down at the woman who had spoken. Her eyes widened just a bit and she placed her hands on her hips, taking a couple of steps down towards the beautiful young woman. There may have been a bit of a swagger to her step, a slightly cocky grin tilting her lips. She couldn't help it when she met new pretties. "Well, hey there pretty lady...This is the Lenore, a'right. Can I help ya in any way?" One eyebrow raised. Was this the pick-up? That would be just too good to be true.

[Jove Gadria]

She came across the resident mechanic, pilot and all around glue that somehow held this quiet ship together. Between her, Jove and the suspect mental integrity of the current Captain, you had to wonder what they were all doing still flying about like this. Jove could've just as easily settled on a planet somewhere. Boros or Ithaca...or Fury. Somewhere nice. Yet, she hadn't. Despite all her past problems with flying, it was like she couldn't do anything else but stay on the move. Restless legs in the business woman. There were millions of planets out there! All waiting to be relieved of their hard-earned, less-than-honest coin! Cashy money. Lots of it. No one planet was enough to conquer the market in random le se. The best odds and sods in the Galaxy. All for an... affordable price.

A nod was given to confirm that she was in fact glad to be on the ground, and the mechanic's change of expression and concern were met with a smile. Whether it was forced or not wasn't easy to tell. Jove shook her head, "I'm golden, lo--"

As Ari had trailed off, so had Jove, and the pair of them peered towards the open cargo ramp. There appeared the newest vision to capture the short mechanic's interests. Jove tried to hide her smirk as the other woman was on the prowl. Poor girl didn't know what was headed her way. Jove made sure to stick by, and hopefully save her. Was this the one they'd come to collect? Was it ever that simple? Maybe it was. Just this once, right? Either way, she was considering holding Ari back.

She did have some minor business and a few supplies to pick up here, but she was willing to linger a little longer to see what was up. A small little salute was pitched off from her forehead at the newcomer in greeting, bowler hat hanging low at her side in the opposite hand. Those mismatched blue and green eyes peered between the mechanic and possible passenger. Jove stifled a chuckle, and kept buttoned up with only innocent thoughts off to one side.

"Welcome."

[Lady Emily Grace Rider]

Emily took a few steps up the ramp studying the two women. Her father sent her small files about each member of the crew. Pictures, and what their status was. Though Emily didn't spend much time looking it over she was glad to see that at least two of the pictures had been correct.

When Ari strutted toward her, Emily's eyes began to glow ever so slightly. She had a feeling she knew where this might be going, and in her opinion, why not. She had always been one to enjoy speaking with other people, flirting, or just seeing where things could take them. After all, life is one big party, and the people were half the fun.

The other woman, Emily could barley see from her stand point, but nodded to her as she spoke. This was going to be an interesting crew, and things could only get more interesting and things go.

As Ari started her way down the ramp she started her way up. "A way off his rock?" She said her confidence turning into a question only at the ending sounds of the last word. "Emily Rider" She held out her hand after she was close enough to Ari, and waited for her to take it.

[Ari Deschain]

When the mechanic glanced back at her friend, she could see Jove's amusement. She winked at the businesswoman, a light shrug tossed in her direction. Jove had seen how flighty Ari could be. The woman jumped from one thing to the next, one person to another. Before the Lenore, she'd not stayed on a ship for more than a few dockings before jumping on another. The only reason she stayed on the Lenore for so long was that her name was on the paperwork. Even so, she was plagued with restlessness. She needed some new faces.

This pretty girl would just have to do.

As Emily approached her, Ari could see the open way this woman's eyes regarded her. Her smirk became just a little bit more smug. She arched an eyebrow and took Emily's hand, shaking it warmly. "Ari Deschain," she responded, pronouncing her last name "DUH-shane. She gently tugged the woman into the cargo bay, wrapping her arm around Emily's shoulders and walking her towards Jove.

"This lovely lady is Miss Jove Gadria. She rents the shuttle out on the Lenore." she introduced her with a dramatic flourish. "I'm the mechanic of this ship, though I've had ta take to flyin' it lately. I'm not too good a pilot, but we had to...expel our last one." Ari winked at Jove.

"We're so glad ta have you aboard to break up the...monotony. It's just been us an' our...absent captain for a while, now." She struggled to keep cheery with these words.

[Jove Gadria]

"Well... a lil' absen'-minded anyway." Jove added with a small grin of mischief. She wasn't too worried about the man lurking behind her and chiding her for such a comment. Instead, she had stepped forwards to greet the newcomer, having overheard her name. Was this the person they had come to meet? Probably bad business sense that Jove hadn't taken in all the details, however she had been a little preoccupied with her own dealings. Thoughts as well. As the wily mechanic swept the young Miss Rider off her feet and led her to Jove, the businesswoman held out a hand towards her.

"Nice t'meet ya, lovey. A new face t'brigh'en up the place for a bit." She noted, making sure her hand was shook before retracting it. "Though I'll probably go remedy that s'more while I'm in the town. I'll keep an ear out for any crew-worthy folks lookin' for a ride off this dirtball."

It was probably wishful thinking for them to find anyone else on Haven, but stranger things had happened. A lot of people-- neutral and Browncoat affiliated-- had migrated to here for what it had always represented. A sense of safety and security away from the prying eyes of the Great Alliance. Where the dodgy sorts were left alone to hide away and do whatever little deals they had. Nice place for Jove to do some small-time business herself.

"Also got a small shoppin' list. Grimm added a few fings I'm... not sure about." Jove made a face, scrunching her nose a little in confusion before she shrugged it away. "I'll figure it out."

Jove didn't leave just yet, though. It was as if she was lingering a little longer. Maybe protecting the poor newcomer for the mechanic? Maybe. Or she was just being friendly and wanted to learn a thing or two about this young woman before she parted from their... modest company. Well, modest as long as they could keep Ari as reigned in as possible. Could be some good connections in this lady after all! Jove backed up down the ramp, and paused there, still facing the pair of them.

[Lady Emily Grace Rider]

"It is a pleasure to meet you." she said to Jove as their hands met.

Emily smiled to the both of them. She was learning a great reality about the pair, at least in some ways. They needed someone to fig the ship. She was indeed someone that could fly if. Then there was also a business woman, her father would be interested in any dealings there.

"If you are lacking a pilot, I have always wanted to fly a bird like this." Emily liked over to Ari again. She had just been thinking about the wonders of this ship and what it had to offer her as far as speed and movement. 'I have flow many ships, but never one like this. I might have to check l it off my list, then we will be down to the final three.' at least the three she could get a hold of that wasn't alliance.

"I'm sure my father..." she paused for a moment, "the Duke I mean. Brought up my love for ships." She wasn't sure if he had. However, she figured he would send her a ship she had never flown before. She would be so distracted by the ship, that there might be a chance she would stay out of trouble.