Attraction of Wealth }{ [Yasmin & Veasna Crew]

[Syeira Duvont]

[November 22nd, 2522]

Here they were, stuck on Greenleaf. It was a wonderful planet, the gypsy captain loved it. There was so many varieties of plant-life here. Many of them, if not all, could be used in a medicinal manner too. It was a dangerous place though also, the cartels and all.

At least the ship had decided to breakdown while they were in one of the major cities. The Veasna hadn't seen a decent mechanic in quite awhile, Syeira had been having trouble pinning down someone to stay on-board and take care of the ship. Not to mention their former doc had decided to settle down and start a family a few months back. Luckily no major injuries had occurred since then. Not for lack of trying on the crew's part of course. The captain couldn't blame the man, he'd found love and love was a great thing.

Captain Duvont wasn't sure what the rest of her crew was up to at the moment. She was enjoying the sunshine, while it lasted. They didn't normally have a whole lot of down-time in between jobs. Though Syeira didn't wander too far from the Veasna's cargo bay, which was open and inviting, she did find herself pacing slowly in front of it.

Syeira had decided to go all out today, fancy outfit and all. Perhaps she'd attract a medic or a mechanic if it looked like she had an abundance of cash. Which she did not. Most of her money was invested in the ship, given to someone in need or used to purchase a blade that caught her eye.

---------------
Outfit

[Sam Grady]

^{no attorneys
to plead my case
no opiates
to send me into outer space}

Broken. Just like that. Hours had been spent, tirelessly, trying to get the ship to run - to spark some life into the engines, using shear will to get it into the air. Any skills Grady had were rudimentary, and involved the cockpit panels. That was as far as her understanding usually went with mechanical matters - even her own arm was beyond her own maintenance. The Nyx had also been the only ship's cockpit she'd learned how to fix things in. A completely different class of vessel. There was a good chance that no amount of electrical tape could patch whatever was wrong with the engine. They needed a mechanic - they needed a gorram miracle. This overdue amount of land-time was wearing on the pilot's nerves. Sure, she liked shore-leave as much as the next person, but flying wasn't so much of a job to her as it was what she liked to do. Controlling something that big through the largest expanse of nothingness known to man was like being the master of your own Universe. If you could fly? You could go anywhere. This brings us back to the Veasna's current state of being stalled.

An aggravated noise heralded the approach of the resident pilot. All that time spent in the cockpit seeing if it'd magically pass through the flight check and preparations had only left her more and more frustrated for hoping on such a stupid thing. No one could fix the engine, they were stuck here. On Greenleaf. A variety of curses sure to make a Shepard blush sounded as she kicked a small container to the side. A rattle of metal on metal before she stomped into the cargo bay.

There but for a brief moment, she checked her anger - a weak attempt - and brushed black skeletal fingers through her coarse, thick hair, all tangled and curled in it's usual fashion. Heavy combat boots were roughly tied and the cause of such loud stomping, her combats hugging her form and a loose grey overshirt hanging off the pilot's frame. Those two leather half-sleeve gloves almost masked her replacement, if you didn't notice the miss-matched hands of metal and flesh.

She came upon her Captain with a disgruntled expression - a familiar one - and folded her arms with a loud sigh.

"Cap'. What're we doin' 'bout this engine? We've been here for days. She needs a mechanic- a medic- a priest- a qing wa cao miracle!"

Maybe she should go throw a punch at something. Her bag, strung up in her bunk, was the sensible choice. Some drunks in a bar would be ideal... But she was pretty stuck if she caused trouble with no quick getaway. Then again, barflies weren't exactly known to remember a lot; let alone faces. It was probably evident from her pacing and tensed shoulders that she was ready to blow. A ticking time bomb of restlessness.

Sam Grady, everyone.

______________________________

^{qing wa cao} -- _frog-humping

[yasmin]

Yasmin leaned over the pool table, most if not all of the men were watching her, thinking she didn't notice. Yas sunk the eight ball into the corner pocket after a few bounces, the drunken man she had just fooled into betting on the game stormed off with a slur of profanities. She watched him go happily. Normally a man got a might edgy when he took such a blow to his pride and wallet. Her hand closed on the money the man had thrown down on the table, she counted out a decent bit and walked to the bar keep.

Yas smiled and handed him about a quarter of her earnings, like she had done every day for the past few months. "Your getting better." He told her. Yasmin just smiled, she didn't want small talk right now. He knew what she was about to ask. The bar keep gestured to a man at the end of the bar. "Man down there says he heard of a doc job like you been lookin' for. Wouldn't pay much mind to him though, hes a drunk." Yasmin gave a nod of thanks before walking over to sit next to the man.

She put her arm over his shoulder and leaned against him. "Nihao, Bao bei." Yas purred. The drunkard man looked at her confused. "What?" she kept smiling at him, not bothering to translate her statement to the man. "So I hear your lookin' for a doctor." She said. "Weren't me that's lookin'. Twas the gypsy lady" He said, taking another drink. "I'm going to go get me that job though, there's a ship put down not far from here. I'm going to go and get me a job. Right after this beer." He finished it in one huge gulp, then tried to stand up. The man wobbled and fell back into his chair. Yasmin rubbed his back. "I think you have had a bit too much to drink. How about you just sit here, i'll go tell the captain that you will come by tomorrow, i'll make a point of what a great doctor you are." She kept rubbing his back. "Strong, brave and skilled. You just sit here, i'll be back in a bit and we can have a drink together to celebrate." She patted the man on the back and practically ran out the door.

Yasmin was not dressed for a job interview, the short shorts and revealing top were not exactly ideal but she didn't want to miss a ship looking for a medic while she wasted time changing clothes, it had happened before. She slowed to a jog, all she had to go on was that the lady was a gypsy. What did a gypsy even look like any way? Yas looked around and a woman caught her eye. If any one here was a gypsy it was likely to be her. You could tell by the clothes. Yasmin walked up to her. "Pardon, but would you happen to be looking to hire on a medic by any chance?"

[Syeira Duvont]

Syeira was brought out of a semi-daze by her pilot, Sam, she grinned. Of course she was upset about the ship, she wasn't flying. If Sam had her way they'd never land. The Captain sighed slightly before answering her, "I've been here too Sam, I know it's been days. Poor girl does need a mechanic, but right now we can't afford one of the shops to do it for us. Other than that there's nothing we can do, unless you've got some secret mechanic genius I didn't know about." Syeira's grin moved more into a smile as she poked a tad at her pilot. Truth was she didn't have any clue about the mechanical workings of her ship anymore than Grady, possibly even less really.

The gypsy put her hands on her hips, she realized that Sam was probably getting a little worked up, angry even, about the ship. While her stance had changed to one that said -don't take that tone with me-, her voice softened. "Look, I put the word out that we need a mechanic, same as I did for needing a new doc. We'll find someone to hire-on that way we don't have to pay them up front. Then we'll have the Veasna back in the sky and on our way to another job."

There were a few moments of silence between the women before Syeira noticed someone approaching them, her eyes went to the woman. At her inquiry about hiring on a medic the Captain looked the woman up and down. Doctors she usually came across didn't dress this way, but she wasn't really usually one to judge someone by their clothing. Just making note was all. She held her hand out to the woman and introduced herself, "Name's Syeira Duvont, Captain of the Veasna here. We are looking to get ourselves a medic indeed."

She'd let the woman introduce herself before continuing, nodding at Sam when she'd introduce her as well; it was only polite, "This is Sam Grady, my pilot. You running a message for someone or are you said medic looking for work?"

[yasmin]

Yasmin reached out and shook her hand perhaps a little to aggressively. She was just excited is all, finally a ship looking to hire a medic. "I'm Yasmin Hayama. Most people just call me Yas." She let go of the woman's hand and tried to pull her shirt down to show a little less midriff, it didn't work. Yas tilted her head a little bit when the captain asked her if she was delivering a message. Could gypsy's read minds or something? No, no one could do that... Either way, Yas figured it best not to start out any kind of relationship with a lie. "Truth be told there is a man in the bar, that's where I heard 'bout you from. He had his eye on this job sure enough. Was drunk as ever a man could be though, I told him that I was going to recommend him to you. Then come back and share a drink."

Yasmin smiled a little bit, she did actually enjoy playing men a bit. "'Course I want this job for myself. That other man. Well, he's... Tian di wu yong. Totally useless. I have never seen him or any others here pull out a bullet, or stitch shut a wound. Weren't to long ago that I was a combat medic. I'm the best doc you will find on this planet. I'm certainly not going to wish any harm on you or your crew by saying that you absolutely need me on board. I hope you don't, but if the time ever comes when you do. You can rest assured I won't let you down." Yasmin finished her little speech and took a deep breath to release some of the tension building up inside her. Either she was finally getting out of this place and make a somewhat honest living, or the captain would turn her down and Yasmin would head back to some poorly lit bar to cheat more men out of their money. She could make a living either way, but the first was preferable.

[Sam Grady]

It was easy to see that Grady was trying to quell her frustration, trying not to blow up in front of her Captain and create cause for reprimand. Mostly because it wouldn't fix the ship any quicker. Sure, if she had some kind of problem with the way Syeira ran things, of course she'd say. Sam was open and blunt like that, but with Duvont... she did sort of have to give her some grudging respect. Maybe a little more than that. No way would she admit there was anything there, but Sam was like that. The seething lessened a touch as Syeira's words permeated through her thick skull. The look was noted, and she raised her hands up, relenting and turning away for a spell. Hands planted on her hips as she took a breath. Mechanic. Genius Mechanic. Hell, even Sam would take a bad one if they could at least get them off the ground. For however long that lasted. The boiling pot of emotions simmered down to a controlled bubble as Sam twisted back the other way.

"Okay... okay..." She thought for a second, skeletal fingers tapping out a rhythm on the nearest crate as she tried to think of a way to solve this problem. Sam was never good at solving things that didn't involve some kind of violence or flying as a result.

The pilot opened her mouth once more to continue, but her sentense was derailed before it even left the station. Instead, she was cocking her head, mouth a little open as the stranger approached. Sam looked her up and down, too. But was more obvious and still with that gormless expression on her face. Shaking her head, she remedied that pretty quickly. Arms folded once more as she stood to one side, letting the Captain do all the talkin'. Grady was always told her social skills weren't family friendly, and was best to keep it to herself when there was possible crew involved. So she did her best to clam up.

Her very best, but then that was never good to start with. As Syeira introduced her, Sam just had to say something.

"You know.. I would'a pegged ya more as ah... workin' girl. But we'll go with medic, sure." Terrible manners, Grady! Just terrible. The grin she had on her face didn't help none, either.

Still learning from her Captain to have a little class, Grady tried holding out her hand for the newcomer to shake. Short-shorts or no short-shorts, if she could take a bullet out of Sam or patch up her usual numerous wounds - amazing how someone who spends most of her time in a cockpit can get so damaged - then she could be in her Birthday Suit for all Grady cared. Of course, the hand she held out first was her dominant one, the left, and that didn't exactly look like a normal hand. The dark metal, spidery fingers curled back when she realised, swapping for the other hand with a quickly pasted-on grin.

"Nice ta meet ya, Doc."

The pirate will get the hang of things. Eventually.

[yasmin]

Yasmin stared at the pilot for a moment, from her experience pilots were usually a little more guarded with what they said compared to the rest of the crew. This one was a bit more forward then most, some could take offence to that sort of talk but Yasmin wasn't bothered much, weren't the worst thing she had been called today.

Besides this pilots remark applied so Yasmin took it graciously. "Near enough." She replied to her with a grin to match the pilots. "I can be a bit of both at times I s'pose." Yas could have spit a few playful remarks back at the pilot herself, but now was hardly the time.

She reached out and shook her hand, not even noticing the pilots metallic limb. As a doctor she should have, it was her job to learn all about the crew but Yas wasn't their doctor just yet. Besides Yasmin was far too busy looking at the ship now. It seemed a bit cumbersome to her, not exactly the finest ship in the 'verse. Seemed like it would be a pain to fly. She was tempted to share that thought but decided otherwise. Pilots, mechanics, captains and the like had a funny way of seeing beauty in a ship that every one else viewed as a flying heap of junk. Best for Yasmin steer clear of any remarks that may offend them at the moment. "Look's like a solid ship." Yas said, choosing her words carefully.

"What's she called?"

[Syeira Duvont]

Sam's reaction was rather expected, the captain let out a tired sigh. There wasn't really a way to calm the pilot down it seemed, not any way she could muster anyway. Syeira pondered the thought of joking with her telling her to go borrow someone else's ship, but decided against it to avoid Sam actually doing that. No reason to give her that kind of idea.

After being introduced Sam chimed in, of course. Syeira hid her grin as best she could at her pilot's comment, she put her hand over her forehead. Her dark brown curls swayed slightly as she shook her head. It would seem they needed to work on Grady's manners, at least with new people.

Syeira was glad that Yasmin didn't seem offended, relieved really, she didn't want to deal with a fight right now. She smiled at the doc's mention of the ship, her ship. Most folk weren't sure what to think about it since she was a might larger than the majority of ships. The Veasna was meant for the long haul though, and passengers. Syeira loved taking on passengers, it put alot of life into the large ship. "She's the Veasna, means 'good fortune.'"

Looking back at the woman the captain made a decision, like the other quick decisions she was famous for. Which was the reason for the unique mix of crew she had. "Well doc, seeing as how you aren't offended at my pilot's attempt at a greeting, I think you'll get along rather well here with us. If you're sure you want to be putting up with her on a daily basis." Syeira was joking about Sam, her voice was obvious of that. She looked over to the pilot with a smile and a wink.

[Sam Grady]

The pilot had her own kinds of little tests when it came to people. Those likely to get uppity with her lack of manners might not abide living in the same ship as her. Those that swung a punch might - but Sam was always good at dealing with violence. And, of course, there were those like this here medic, which took it in their own humoured way. At Yasmin's response, Sam folded her arms and grinned a little more, maybe even chuckled. One hand would indicate towards her in a pointing gesture as she inclined her head towards Syeira a little.

"I like this girl." The Sam Grady seal of approval.

However her somewhat good cheer - hard to believe she had any in her after her display of annoyance moments ago - dropped a little, with an innocent, yet surprised expression. A mockery of someone who might actually be insulted by the good lady Captain's terrible definition of character! Sam's mouth opened a bit in mock shock.

"Me? ah'ffensive?" The innocent look dropped back into a sly smirk, "Why, Cap'.. y'give me far too much credit."

The twinkle of mischief in her eyes stayed for now, but the newcomer had been indicating to the ship. The Veasna was a vessel that made Sam proud to be the pilot of, and she beamed as she stood, legs shoulder width apart and leaned back a little with her arms still crossed. Her head jerked in a general motion to the ship around them.

"She's a beaut an' knows how ta run... well... if she were runnin' tha' is." A glance was passed over to Syeira, another small indication she was still sore about that part. There wasn't much either of them could do about it, though. Until they hit the streets and hunted one down.

Grady's head twisted back towards Yasmin.

"Say... wouldn't be a crack grease monkey at tha' bar you came from?" It was a long shot, but it couldn't hurt to ask. "Even a drunk one would do..."

Sure, Sam might've seemed desperate, but even she wasn't about to subject the ship to that... maybe... Either way she was probably talking too much. She cleared her throat, forgetting this was all probably supposed to be the Captain's area. Organising crew and such.

[yasmin]

Good Fortune, that was a fitting name for any ship. Of course, good fortune could not simply be gained by bestowing its name upon your ship. Yasmin was a firm believer in karma, good fortune would come to a ship who did good deeds. Of course, by the same token, good fortune would not come to Yasmin, she hadn't exactly been very morally sound as of late. She was just about to see this as an omen of why she had not been able to find work when the captain spoke.

Yasmin blinked a few times as she went over the words that had been said. Good fortune indeed! She had finally found work. "How shi sung chung!" She exclaimed, reverting to her first language as she often did when excited. "Oh thank you." Yasmin turned to the pilot then. "If your lookin' for a mechanic then the bars would be the place to start. That's where most 'round here find their work. 'course many of 'em are drunks, but that's just 'cus they ain't got nothing to work for." She turned back to the captain then. "I got a few friends here, some on other planets to, I wandered for a bit before I ended up here. Their mostly barkeeps, they know whose lookin' for work. If ya' want I can send out a few waves." It was the least Yasmin could do, this was the first captain to show any faith in her or give her a shot.

[Syeira Duvont]

When Sam's comment about the ship reminded the Captain about their current situation she sighed and rolled her eyes at the glance from her pilot. "Yeah, she's been under the weather a couple days now. The mechanic shop wants a bit too much than we can afford right now." When Grady inquired with the doc about a mechanic, Syeira didn't argue. At the moment it didn't matter who found the mechanic, so long as they could fix the Veasna.

Syeira smiled happily at Yasmin's reaction, it was a good sign. "You're welcome, we're glad to have you." Not that she was looking forward to the situation that would call for her medical skills, it was good to have a doc around though. Her herbal skills were vast but that wouldn't take a bullet from a leg either.

She listened to what the doc told Sam, she wasn't against drinking in the least. Hell she loved a drink like alot of folk, what mattered was if they could work without being drunk. If someone had the skills it mattered very little what they did when the ship wasn't needing attention. "That's a nice offer Yas, we'd need a mechanic that's here to fix the ship. I don't think Sam here can hold out too much longer without swinging fists." For some unknown reason whenever Sam was annoyed or upset Syeira always seemed to pick on her more than usual.

Perhaps they should take some time away from the ship, the Captain had spread a bit of word about looking for a medic and a mechanic but they hadn't actually left the ship. "Maybe we'll all go out tomorrow afternoon for some drinks, see if we can rustle up a mechanic while we're at it. We could all probably use an evening away from the ship."

[Sam Grady]

So that was one more down for a medic. Maybe they would get this crew off the ground? Higher than they were currently, Sam hoped. Being this low was making her feel just as low, but ready to do some low-down and dirty deeds just to get to flying again. She always took Syeira's little digs and 'compliments' in her stride. A lot of them did seem like nice things to Sam anyway. She was used to being called all the gorram names under the gorram suns in all the gorram 'Verse for years - and it wasn't ever gonna end. Much worse. Names and the like. Grady grinned in the face of insults, though. The Captain's picking usually just made her grumble semi-seriously. Mostly because she was already ornery.

"Hey. We ain' tried kickin' the engine.. maybe that'll work..." Sometimes worked, right? Sam was well and truly kidding, though. Life had taught her never to try and damage a ship to make it work.

...everything else was fair game. Just not ships. Door locks, computers, PDAs... safe doors... What? That last one? Psh. Must'a been readin' things...

"Now... tha' is why they call you Cap'n... Cap'n." Sam beamed at Syeira's brilliant idea. It was like full-blown permission to go start a bar-room brawl.

"An' if Hayama can help find us a fixer, then all th'better, right?"