Crash//Burn [open]

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

The dregs of Persephone. The lowest of the low-lifes, the gutter-people who thrived on being cold and hard. The pub a canister for their hollow dreams, a den of debauchery.

Briggs picked up the shot glass on the bar before him between thumb and forefinger, his other three fingers fanning out in the haphazard grasp. He waved it in front of his nose a moment, wincing at the acrid smell. Hard liquor was not his usual modus operandi, but he felt the situation called for a little brain-numbing. Taking the shot with an unmanly sort of gasp at the burn, he tried to save face by baring his teeth and striking his sternum with a balled-up fist as he set the glass back down.

His head was naked of his trademark hat, still, and he regretted giving it to that Sasha woman. She'd disappeared, it seemed, and it was looking as if he'd never get it back. He cursed his soft spot for the ladies as he ran a hand through his messy shock of brunette hair. Picking a thread fussily from one of his red fingerless gloves, he turned on his stool and surveyed the room. At this late hour, it was full of unlikely prospects and drunken fools. Little chance of finding any people here to hire or that were in the know about anything at all. He doubted, he thought scornfully, that some of them could even remember their own names with the soak of their drink.

Jack was in deep, and he knew it. Minerva Colt had the upper hand, as she always did, but this time he saw no way out of the trap she had him in. She needed information on Grimm, a seemingly good man on a ship of good people. Colt wanted his help getting the drop on him. Jack wanted out, but he had no idea what to do about it. He could not resist Colt; he had always known that. If he had the guts to go against her himself, he would. However, Jack was not courageous enough. All he could hope for was that he would find someone else who was.

[Cadan Ashdown]

Cadan had had a long tiring day on Persephone as per-standard when he was home. his family demanding everything from hos pocket book to unwavering service to the family. He had had enough and the only thing he could think to do is join the ranks of the drunkard of Persephone. Ya never know it may even turn out with a paying job but that wasn't likely with the sort at the place he was heading.

Cadan cursed his luck as it started to rain and he picked up the pace till he arrived at the door. "gor'ram Wevah just me luck." he mumbled to himself. It was midsummer and he caught the only rainy day so far. He made is way inside and slide up to the bar with a ever slumping attitude.

he turned to the bartender and raised a hand "ie, gi' me a shot of whiskey me china." he said as he turned and looked the place over as well. He had managed to find himself next to another bloke who looked down on his luck. Fancy finding someone like that in a place like this right? Cadan pulled his sleek black leather jacket up high on his shoulders covering the back of his neck. He could feel the rain water pouring from his hair down his neck and it had him wish he had never come back to Persephone. "Wot got ya wastin' ya Knife away dahn 'ere ay?" he said to the man sitting next to him. he didn't really care to much but he just felt like saying something to someone. You never know maybe this man's story would make him feel better about his day.



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China = mate
Knife = life

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

Jack didn't notice Cadan at first. After all, he was just another face in the bar, a man wasting away like the rest of him. He ordered two fingers of whiskey straight up. This one he sipped at a little more slowly as he watched the people in the bar. He just wanted to numb himself, but was a little afraid to get to drinking too fast. The last time he'd done that had ended rather badly.

When the voice interrupted his thoughts, Jack's gaze moved to the man near him. He wasn't really sure what slang he was speaking, but could infer what he meant. Bold assumption from a stranger, and one the criminal did not appreciate. "And jus' what makes you think I'm wastin' me life away? I jus' come in 'ere for a couple drinks." He finished his whiskey and ordered an ale, sliding more coin across the bar.

Spinning slightly on his stool, he faced Cadan fully. He stuck out one hand clad in a red fingerless glove for the man to shake. His grip was firm. "My name's Jack Briggs. My life is goin' pretty well. So well, in fact, I'm havin' a celebratory drink 'ere." He raised his glass in good humor before taking a long pull. "So," he said slyly. "What are you doin' here? Not wastin' your own life, I 'ope?"

[Cadan Ashdown]

Cadan was a little taken back by the man’s response. The man was confident that was for sure but that’s a good thing. Cadan took a moment as the man continued to talk. The bartender served up his drink and without a hesitation he scooped it up and downed it in one quick motion. He reached his arm to meet Jack’s as he presented it to him while knocking his other hand on the counter to signal to the bar tender to serve him another.

”Glad ta’ ‘era it Jack,” He said in reference to Jacks life going well and the celebration and all. “Me names Cadan Ashdown me life’s never a waste so long’s I’m still livin’ it. so wot ‘re we celbratin’?” He inquired as the bartender poured another shot glass and with that he raise it up to match with Jacks.

”As for as fer wot I’m doin’ ‘ere, I’m just looking for a little Kathy. Ya kna a job ta get me by.” He began to explain to him. He knew it seemed a bit odd but a bar was always a good place to find a job. The people were loosened up and willing to talk. You always got a more honest perspective of what people were really after that way. A good way to know who you are working for and someone willing to drink in a place like this never took themselves too seriously, a trait Cadan found important in an employer.

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Kathy = work

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

Briggs smiled softly at the other man's acceptance of his lie. Of course his life was not going well. His career and pride were in the gutter, his every move and job monitored by a bitch of a woman who wanted him to hurt people. Things were definitely falling apart for him, but Jack was never a one to let things like that show.

"Cadan, eh? Nice ta meet yo' acquaintance." At the man's question, Jack waved his hand around the bar, as if it were obvious. "Well, we're drinkin' ta luck. To luck and to fortune!" He clinked his glass gently against Cadan's shot, then took another heavy sip. His mind was starting to get pleasantly fuzzy.

The word 'kathy' was unfamiliar to him but for a woman's name, but the next line explained the strange slang. "Job? Right," he muttered. "Right..." Okay, maybe he'd had a bit too much. Briggs was a lightweight. He leaned a little heavily on the bar, setting his glass down.

How was it that even the strangers knew he was the go-to guy for work and such? Was he that easy to read? He ran a hand over the stubble on his chin, then closed one eye and aimed a finger at Cadan, making the motion of pulling a trigger. "What kinda...job ya lookin' for, mate? Somethin'...unsavory? Maybe somethin' on the level? Ya need to narrow it down fo' me a bit, eh? At least that much."

[Cadan Ashdown]

Cadan mulled Jack’s question over a minute. He wasn’t so such what kind of work he was looking for to be honest just something that would pay until he could find his way to a ship to fly. Though unsavory work wasn’t his fashion but those were the kind of jobs that would land you with a good ship that had a loyal crew. They had to be loyal if they were interested in the unsavory path of work less they wanted to land in an alliance prison. ” At this point i'm lookin' more fer the bloomin' pay then the type of Kathy. why ya got sumfin fer me? “ Cadan inquired as he sifted the last of his shot around the glass.

Cadan was beginning to believe he had founds his ticket in this man. A chance to move on to the next stage of his life. It might even lead him to that next ship, there was only one way he was going to find out for sure though. ” If ya got sumfin fer me i'll take it.” Cadan stated calmly not to seem too eager. Deep down though he was desperate at this point to find something, anything.

Cadan tipped the last of his shot back with a wince then slammed the glass to the counter. He contemplated another but figured it best to get business done first then on to another drink. It was always best to let the one you are talking business terms with be a little more sauced then yourself, negotiations always turned in your favor more that way.

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Kathy = work

[Sian]

The day had felt a bit off from the time Sian woke up, she couldn't place the reason behind it, until that night when she received a wave from Sihnon. It'd been the wave she'd been both waiting for and dreading, now she had to get things in order for her departure. Luckily she easily acquired transport to leave immediately as soon as she was prepared, though the captain would hardly argue when she offered to pay him four times the fee he quoted her. She gave him half the pay in advance and went on to her next task, with only a few things to pack it didn't take long. Sian knew that this day would be coming so she kept a bag packed in anticipation for her need to leave quickly.

Now there was only one thing left for her to do. "Here are my personal belongings, I expect they won't be sorted through by anyone aboard your ship." She eyed the captain cautiously as he took the bags from her.

"Of course not miss, not only are ya payin' very well to us but yer a companion to boot. Me and mine are respectable to that."

Sian tilted her head just a inch and smiled at the man's response, good then."I've one more stop to make before I'll be ready to leave, I shouldn't be too long." She gave a slight bow and turned heading towards the direction that O'Hanrahan's Pub stood. To make matters worse, it was starting to rain, it brought memories back to the young companion of the last time she'd been out wandering in the rain. At least this time she wasn't in a daze of despair, she was calm and composed.

"I do hope Jack is there, I don't have time to check any other places he might be, but I won't leave without taking care of things."[/b] Sian thought to herself as she quickened her pace, her mind still hovering over the memories that some days had haunted her. The rain didn't look like it was going to let up, she was going to be soaked. She'd probably end up paying the owner for treading so much water into his establishment. Sighing at the thought, it couldn't be helped though.

She paused at the Pub's entrance, luckily it had a small overhang shielding her from the rain, she took a moment to twist some of the water from her hair. Sian was indeed soaked, the rain had taken a toll on the curls of her hair, it was now straight. This was the best she could do without finding a change of clothing and a dryer. Sian opened the door and stepped into the building before her. Letting the door close behind her she surveyed the room, rather busy tonight, looked like most have had too much already. Her hazel eyes settled on the bar where she spotted Jack Briggs, at least he didn't appear to have had too much drink to function yet. He was chatting with another man, looked as though the rain had caught him off guard also. Sian moved the strand of pink hair that had shifted into her face to it's place behind her ear. She walked with her usual grace towards the men, determined to keep her composure even more-so than before.

"Apologies gentlemen for the interruption,' Sian offered with a smile as she came to stand just before the two men. 'Mister Briggs, I'll need just a few moments of your time, please." Making eye contact with Jack as she spoke. Her voice seemed to falter just a bit, she wasn't as calm either. Damn it, she chastised herself silently, this wasn't going as well as she'd wanted. She was perfectly calm and composed earlier, until the gorram rain came pouring down.

She hoped Jack was in good or at least decent spirits tonight, she didn't want to cross him. Not to mention it'd only been a short time ago that she had to do this very thing, it killed her to have to cancel plans once they were made. Some things were more important than her annoyance at a canceled plan though. Sian's mind was a jumbled mess; worry, sadness, anger, annoyance, nervousness, she just hoped none of it showed. Her face she could control, but her eyes probably would clash with her wishes.

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

Although Jack could not understand half of what the other man was saying to him, he could usually surmise from the context what he meant. He picked almost fastidiously at his red, fingerless gloves as he spoke. "I might 'ave somethin' for you, yeah. Gonna need a bit more input as ta what it is you think you're good at." Jack may have been a bit inept, but he wasn't green enough to hire just anyone off the streets looking for a little coin.

It was obvious the man was hard-up for something, maybe even bordering on desperate. But then, who wasn't? The 'Verse was full of drifters and vagabonds, homeless and bottom-feeders. Persephone seemed to catch a lot of them, especially around her docks. Jack couldn't afford not to be choosey.

It was then that a beautiful woman moved through the bar, a shining beacon in the sea of ruddy and muted colors. She didn't belong here, and the eyes of almost every man and some women in the room were on her. Jack was not exempt. Sian could charm him at times, and this was one of them. Despite, or perhaps because of, the way the rain had made her look a little less put-together than what was normal. His gaze locked with hers and a big grin swept across his lips as she approached, looking pleased as punch that out of all the people in the pub, it was he she was coming to speak to. Jack was a prideful man, after all.

He was also, however, a gentleman at heart. When he saw how soaked she was, he removed his coat from his seat back and twirled it around her shoulders, smoothing it down at the shoulders and squeezing her arms gently in greeting. "You can interrupt anytime, luv. Wanna sit for a mo'? Buy you a drink?" His eyes creased at the corners in concern when he realized that she seemed upset.

As much as she was valiantly trying to hide it, her eyes seemed sad, something heavy and foreboding seeming to linger about her general attitude. Jack knew how hard Companions worked at keeping up their airs, though, so he played along with false cheeriness. "O' course you can talk ta me. Do we need to speak in private, or is present comp'ny allowed?" Briggs took that moment to wave a hand at the other man. "Forgive me manners, beauty. This is Cadan. Cadan, this knockout 'ere is Lady Sian." Cadan had held his interest as a new employee or contact, but if Sian needed Jack, Cadan could wait. The woman was a far more important contact, and more than that. A friend.

[Cadan Ashdown]

Cadan listens to the request of the man for more details about himself. He wasn't to keen on the idea of talking to much about what his "talents" were but then again he needed work and this was an opportunity to make a little cash to get back off the planet. "Not ter brag ter much bout myself but I 'ave me bear share ter offer. Cadan explained to the man. If ya need information or or the discreet retrieval of sum lost property I can more then 'andle it. not ter mention I am a 'ol biggles

A smile crossed his face, the kind of smile that people could trust, that they could believe was honest. "Ya seem loike ya could use someone 'oo could keep things descreet. He ended with to reassure jack. Then though his lady friend walked in. She was quite beautiful and seemed to have completely captured Jack's attention. A perfect opportunity really, he could seal the deal while he was distracted.

Cadan stood up to greet the lady, tipping his head slightly in respect as she spoke to her. "Cadan Ashdown at your service, pleasure ter met ya me lady. He said to Sain as he reached out to shake her hand with a very gentle shake if she took it. "Your not interruptin' at aw. me and Jack were just agreein' upon a Ian Beale but I adam 'n eve we 'ave just about finished at this point, right Jack? His signature smile crossed his face again as he glanced between the two.

He could tell Jack was ready to attend to his lady friend and wouldn't want to make her wait while he finished out a deal with Cadan. He was hoping he would just agree to offering the job to him and then he could get the details after the young lady had said her peace. If all went well Candan would have himself some work and be able to finance his way to the next port. Cadan sat back down next to Jack waiting to see if they would take a private moment to deal with whatever it was.

Either way he was in for another round of drinks. he turned to face the bartender rapping his knuckles on the counter he got his attention and held up three fingers to indicate three more drinks. Odds were the lady wasn't the type to drink at least not in a place like this but it would be rude not to at least order her one.

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Bear = Fair
'Ol biggles = Pilot
Ian Beale = Deal
Adam 'n eve = Believe

[Sian]

Sian smiled as Jack sat his jacket on her shoulders; any normal day and she would have blushed. She pulled the jacket a bit to make it more snug, nodding at Jack with a smile in thanks. He was a very handsome man, many of their meetings had been wrought with flirtations between them, he was also a gentleman which was a hard trait to find sometimes. Sian shook her head at his asking her to sit, "Not this evening Jack."

Another time she would normally blush; the man had a way with words and compliments. Sian still wasn't sure after all the time they've known each other if she was genuinely interested in the man or if it was just the temptation of not being able to have him. He wasn't one to call upon a companion for their services, she learned that early on. She gave a smile in Cadan's direction as he was introduced, Sian took the hand that was reaching for hers. "Pleasure to meet you mister Ashdown." Sian took her attentions back to Jack Briggs, "It's business related, in regards to our meeting set to be tomorrow and some future prospects. No offense intended to you mister Ashdown but I think privacy will be necessary."

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

Jack sized up the situation quickly. It was obvious Sian was going to take priority, but Briggs was a good man at heart. He'd been yanking Cadan around for a few minutes on details, when all the man had wanted was a job. He took the drink Cadan had ordered for him, knocked it back, and then pressed Sian's into her hand. "Jus' take it from the lad, aye? He's tryin' ta be a gentleman." Jack winked at the Companion and stood up, reaching into his pocket for some coin. He slid a good amount across the bar and motioned to the tender to lean over. "Wha'ever this man wants, I'm coverin' his tab the rest o' the night. If this don't cover it, you know I'm good for th'rest. I'll be back tomorrow."

He turned to Cadan. "That doesn't mean ya go buyin' rounds fo' the whole bar, now. I'm sorry ta be steppin' out on you like this; I know it's bad fo' bus'ness, but I'm sure you understand. 'Ere, take this." He slid a folded paper into the man's hand before slapping him companionably on the shoulder. "You got yo'self a job. I'm easy ta get a hold of if you 'ave any questions, or ta collect the rest o' your pay when the job is done. Good luck, an' it was good meetin' you."

Jack extended an elbow to Sian, cocking his head. "Shall we, m'lady?" She would know he was going to bring her to somewhere safe, where they could speak in private. Briggs was all about discretion and chivalry when it came to the ladies.

[Cadan, you will be receiving a pm from Jack with the note's contents. Please pm Ari's account with any questions <3]

[continued in It's only business]