The great wide open (All crew)

[meilinalbright]

Meilin sat perfectly still as Roger and Kalli pulled their guns, unflinching even when Kalli stumbled and dropped hers onto the table. She just gripped the knife tighter under the table. They had a comatose medic lying in the infirmary and no one had though to mention it? That seemed like something worth noting, especially if she was the type to wave a gun around.

She had to clear her throat before she could reply to Sidney, who was exceedingly calm about the whole thing. "Thanks. I- I'm glad." Her reply came out shakier and softer than she had intended. She looked down at her plate but she didn't feel like eating again just yet.

Meilin's eyes shot back up to watch the woman as the gun was lowered, and she staggered into the corner. The threat seemed mostly resolved, and now that the woman wasn't in possession of a gun Meilin felt sorry for her. She took a cup from the table and poured the tea into it. Then she stood and cautiously approached the woman, stopping several steps away and offering the cup. "Here, have something to drink."

[Sakura Kina]

Sakura's eyes were on the ground between her feet as she tried to recollect more of her memory and regain her composure, but every time she came close to either of them, the throbbing pain in her head threw her back constantly. Hearing footsteps walking towards her, Sakura's hand shot out to grab the pistol on the desk, but she forced herself to stop from picking it up, her hands simply laying on top of the pistol. Looking up, she saw girl standing a few feet away from her with a cup of liquid in her hand, steam floating up away from the liquid. She didn't know this woman nor her intentions, but her paranoia kept her from trusting her. The back of her mind kept telling her that the liquid was poisoned, that it contained drugs to knock her out or kill her. Her mind began to run through a list of chemicals that was odorless and clear that could kill her or knock her out.

Terrified of the possibilities, Sakura at first did not accept the drink, but then she looked up at the woman's face to see the mix of both fear and pity. The pity she saw in the woman's eyes brought about a boiling feeling in the bottom of her stomach. Her face began to turn red in embarrassment as well as anger as she realized that Sakura probably looked pathetic to everyone in that room. Standing up swiftly, she almost fell over from her wobbly legs, but caught herself before she could fall and slapped the drink out of the girl's hands, taking a step closer to her. "You think I need your pity? I don't need help!!" Sakura was screaming at this point and her anger was absolutely boiling from embarrassment. But at the same time, she did not know why she was so angry. Slowly she began to realize that she had taken compassion and an act of peace as a sign of pity and mockery.

"I-I'm sorry... I don't know why... I..." Sakura didn't know what to do. She had hurt the first person to attempt to aid her in any way. It definitely wasn't a good first impression to any of the other people. The throbbing pain in her head returned and it caused her to stumble back into her chair as she put her right hand over her bandaged head, as if to attempt to squelch the pain. She was getting abnormally angry and things seemed so distant, as if it was an echoed vision. Shifting her eyes between all the people in the room, her vision blurred and it became difficult to tell distinct features. Looking down, Sakura's eyes stopped at the cup of spilled tea on the ground, the water still steaming, the cup dented but otherwise undamaged.

Slowly realizing the danger she was to the others, whether they were innocent or not of any wrongdoing, Sakura picked up the pistol in front of her, unloaded the magazine, slid the slide back to release the chambered round and then threw the gun onto the ground, and threw the magazine on the other side of the table the group was sitting at. "What's wrong with me.." Sakura muttered barely audibly as she shook her head in disappointment at herself.

[Roger Davis]

Roger was initially disappointed that he was only joined by Kalli in openly responding to the threat. Even then, the young girl ended up tripping over herself and completely failed to even eventually back him up with a second gun. She certainly had the heart to be a fighter but her skills needed work.

Though he would have no hesitation in plastering the dinning room wall with this woman, Roger didn't exactly want to kill a potential crew member no matter how mentally unstable. Luckily, Art, the only one she apparently knew, came forward trying to calm her. He wasn't exactly doing a great job in the getting-her-to-drop-the-gorram-gun department and seemed to even have trouble piecing his own thoughts together explaining the situation. All Roger really got out of the few interspersed statements was that apparently Art wanted him to lower his weapon too. Yeah right. Roger was courteously not blowing her away. He wasn't going to leave himself and the rest of the crew defenseless because a mechanic he'd just met said so.

Sidney would be the only one whose words would have effect and they're exactly what came next. The defacto captain hardly even reacted, going about his meal almost as if nothing was happening. Either he really trusted the crew or he had some kind of death wish, especially considering there was a crazed woman he'd never met that was pointing a gun at his head. It made Roger think back to a family meal at home when his father would calmly settle any dispute so they could have the meal in peace. Well, life wasn't exactly on the line back then.

He gave the order to stand down. Roger could understand the calm nature and Sidney's decision that so long as someone else had a gun on her that there was no need for everyone to jump into action. They were more likely to talk her down rather than force her into a corner where shooting was the only option. Still, somebody had to be ready in case everything went to . Roger shot him a look as if to ask 'Are you serious?' He was in war mode and all his experience and training said to minimize friendly casualties. Sure, Sidney was most likely to go down if she shot but better one lost than six. And she's the one who woke up, picked up a gun, and walked in aiming at everybody. Dropping his gun would bring them back to when she walked in... and was still waving a gun around.

It took a few hard seconds before Roger slowly lowered his weapon and thankfully she did the same after a little more convincing. The gunhand didn't dare holster his piece until she had seemingly 'settled down' and placed her weapon down as well. There were a few more outbursts and muttering but nothing that exactly warranted another standoff.

"With a medic it looks like we've got a full crew then."

[Kalli Ann Bernett]

Art caught Kalli before she made any more of a fool of herself. It turned out it was better that she didn't manage to get the gun raised since Sidney promtly told them to lower it. The woman and Roger seemed to follow the request.

It surprised Kalli how calm Sidney had remained. Infact it was like nothing was happening he remained in his seat eating while all this was going on. How did he keep himself so cool in situations like this. She knew he was a war vet but it was still surprising. Even Art was calm about it. Kalli let out a sigh and just stood there for a minute as the woman found her way to a seat in the corner.

It seemed for now that things were calming back down. All Kalli wanted to do was comfort the woman she understood what it was like to be out for a long time then finally come to. It was the worse feeling ever. It was like it would have been better if you never woke up, at least at first it felt that way. "I'm sorry Sid." Was all she could let out at first. She felt like she had failed at first then she felt like she had reacted wrong as well.

SHe inched he way away from the table, away from everyone. As she looked over to Sakura she began to speak again. "We need to give her some room everyone," She said quietly. "is there anything we can get you hun? I know this is hard. I've been there too." Everyone could tell what she had said had been said with complete empathy. She had inded been there and felt a pain in her chest at the through of someone else going through it as well.

[Art Doyle]

The compassion in the room was knocked up a fair few notches, and Art found it a staggeringly better response than what he would've expected anywhere else. In the past, he probably would've just knocked Sakura out and tied her up, but Arthur wasn't about to subject her to that. Not under these circumstances. Right now, he needed her to somewhat trust him. The lost look in her eyes, and wild confusion fluttered about in her expression, and it took a long moment, but finally she lowered the gun. A little of her former senses came to her, and Art was a little relieved.

There was something to be said about how cool Sidney was as well. Art actually had thought she'd shoot someone. Sakura was that tough of a cookie with the inclination to do anything to guard herself. A soldier from the War. Sure, Art didn't fight in it, but he knew how to fight. In a... different manner. Something more subtle and unknown about his skills. Maybe she'd eventually learn some kinship with their resident Browncoat veterans. Well, all he knew was Sidney's leanings. The others, he wasn't so sure. A nod was passed over to Sidney, assuring him he... might... have it under control? The doubt didn't show on his face, though. Cool, collected, calm. Art remained at his respectable distance, listening when she asked the year, listening to her frustration and anger.

"It's January. Twenty-five, twenty-three. It's--" Art really didn't know what to say. What could you do to comfort someone who'd been out that long? Telling her the date probably did little to help the matter.

But then there was the new cook, and Kalli. The gunhand wasn't so keen on all this -- but Art wasn't going to blame him. This really was something that should have been mentioned but... there had been a lot going on lately. With James' business and the new work they were getting into... Art guessed it just slipped his mind. The thought, genuinely - for once in his life - made him feel a little terrible.

"With everything going on, I guess I got a little careless. Sorry, Sakura." He knew well enough not to patronise her in any way. She was stronger than that. He'd heard it when she'd told him she could handle herself.

He was grateful for the girls trying to help. Art even stepped back when Kalli spoke up. If there was a hand Sakura needed, then it was probably best one of the girls lend it. He wasn't sure if she'd appreciate him offering his own aid. Frankly, sitting around freezing her pigu off in the dinning room wasn't going to do her much good.

"Listen. You can kick my ass when you're up to par. Right now, you probably need something warmer on than... well than that. Your room's not been touched, and if you want a hand-- not saying you need one-- but on the off chance you could do with one, I'm sure one of the girls would help you."

A nod was given to Kalli. She sounded like she knew what Sakura was going through. Maybe that was enough to let the girl lend her a little assistance.

"Also-- we got good food. And plenty to go around. We can make a plate to go, if you'd like some time to think. Or there's always plenty room at the table."

Eyes drifted over the separated parts of her gun, then back towards the table.

"So... about that food that's gettin' cold..." It almost sounded like he'd tried for some light humour, but Art's voice had lacked any emotion. Very bland tone that seemed to add to the sombre atmosphere of this strange turn of events.

[Sidney Bainbridge]

The events continued on aroound him as he continued to eat. He gave as good of a smile as he could to Meilin as she replied to him. The noises and clatter of guns falling, dishes hitting the floor and outbursts of a frightened young woman had little effect on his eating.

After things began to calm down Sidney grabbed another plate and served it up. A little bit of this and a little bit of that. Watching as everyon closed in on the girl to offer their help Sidney continued to sit there. Finally as Art gave him a nod to let him know they were moving in a positive direction Sidney slide the plate over thier directin across the table. "Here ya go Sakura. It's good sit down and join us. We can get you cought up on what has happened over a plate of the finest food the verse has to offer." He told her in a friendly voice before he turned his attention back to his food.

To be honest had he not been enjoying the offd so much he would have gone over and knocked her back out himself so they could restart this conversation again when she woke up and was tied down. The same way Art would have. It was best though that they didn't it would just mean they would have to go through the yelling and troubles again. Not something he would care much for.

[Sakura Kina]

Sakura looked up at the crew and watched as a the crew began to offer help and begin to recognize her as a hostile. She knew that she had not made the best first impression on any of them and her mental stability was no where near normal. Looking up at Art, she did something she hadn't done to anyone but James. She smiled. "I'm fine Art. I lived on a snowy mountain for years, I'm sure I can handle a bit of cold breeze." Sakura spoke only half the truth as she really never wore a dress and so her legs felt cold, but not unbearably so. Looking over at the girl named Kalli, she shook her head as she stood up, leaving the knife behind. "I'll be okay for now, thank you." Sakura was glad to see that even the one and only man who had brandished a weapon on her had lowered his weapon, even if only on command. She took a step forward in the direction of the table, her feet still unbalanced from the long days of being in a coma. "I apologize for the scare, I guess I didn't really know what to expect.." Sakura spoke towards the man with the gun, but she had meant it to everyone.

As Sidney finally made some direct conversation with her, Sakura looked over at him, the man that she had aimed at and saw him slide a plate of food in her direction. Looking around, she saw only one person she recognized. Everyone else on the ship was a stranger, from all walks of life. The crew could have been anything. Alliance spies, turncoats, smugglers, assassins, the list went on in her mind. But... There was something with the crew, something that set her fears off balance. Maybe it was the fact that Arthur seemed to trust the crew and she trusted Arthur the most among the people she knew in the 'verse. Or maybe it was the way that almost everyone reacted enough though she was wielding a weapon aimed at them. Sakura would have surely shot anyone who pointed a gun even in her general direction without question, but most were fearful and hesitant. Even the captain didn't flinch, though that surely was due to the fact that others were already responding to the situation and a gun had already been pointed at her. She raised her back foot to take another step forward to the table, but stopped midway. Her heart began to race as she realized what she was doing. This was all against her instincts she never trusted strangers, but here she was walking into possibly a trap. She looked around her and scanned for any kind of hint of a trap. Any weapons, any people hiding, anything that seemed out of the ordinary. She then began to examine all the people in the room. If they were wearing anything that seemed odd, or the way that they moved or talked.

The more Sakura tried to examine the situation, the more paranoid she became. Her head started to hurt again and the room began to spin a bit. She planted her feet down as best she could as she tried to keep herself from falling. Closing her eyes tightly, she shifted her feet to better balance herself and slowly opened her eyes as the room stopped spinning. It was doing her no good to try and be paranoid. It was simply scaring the crew, keeping her distant from everyone and it might possibly get her killed in the long run. She decided she would decide on if she would trust the crew by asking one question. "Art," Sakura turned her head to face that very well dressed mechanic. "Do you trust them?"" Sakura asked as she took a step towards him. He was the one that Sakura trusted the most in the area and even though that was not too much still, she still trusted his opinions, almost as much as James'. Art was a renaissance man of sorts, though she refused to outwardly admit it, and in such a way, she believed that he had a sixth sense about people. He often ignored it in favor of physical attraction, but she knew she could trust his opinions.

Looking over at the table, the steaming food on the plate Sidney offered her looked delicious, but she didn't let herself move from where she was standing until she heard Art's answer. She knew what the answer would be, but she wanted to hear it for herself before she moved. As she waited, Sakura's stomach growled loudly as her mind began to recognize that she had not eaten regularly in months.

[Tari Gasha]

Tari didn't move, didn't speak. She let the others attempt to handle the woman with the gun. The thief didn't usually carry weapons, especially to a dinner. Even more-so one that was with crew that should be trusted. She simply watched the events unfold, ready to react should gunfire ensue.

She worried a little as a couple others approached her, possibly not the best course of action at the moment, but at least she recognized Art. Who knows what would have happened if he'd been late to dinner.. not something Tari wanted to think about.

Sidney didn't seem at all concerned about the situation at hand, he was actually casually eating his food! She was half tempted to throw a piece of rice at him. A sigh of relief left her when Sakura let go of the gun. When Sid made the woman a plate of food, Tari took the opportunity to follow suit to try and make her feel at least comfortable enough to sit down. Who knows how long ago she had actual food.

Tari quietly got up from her chair and shuffled things around on the table, creating an extra open spot, allowing her to take her seat next to Art. Once finished she turned to Sakura with a soft smile, "There's room right here for you, next to Art too." She gestured for Sidney to hand her the plate he'd made so she could set it in the free seat.

Sakura asked Art if he trusted them, Tari simply stood there and waited, keeping the soft smile on her face.

[Roger Davis]

Things were hardly back to normal but the situation was improving. Sakura, who has just moments ago been a threat to all their lives, seemed to be regaining her composure. The others were trying to comfort her, some successful some not, but roger stayed out of it. He wasn't emotionally closed like many in his profession or with his past but jumping up to help wasn't his way either even under more 'normal' circumstances. Besides, he'd just pointed his gun at this woman. He had good reason to but it still just happened a minute ago. That standoff was also their first meeting and clearly she didn't take too kindly to strangers to begin with. Probably most important, he didn't think she could be helped by any of them, at least not in that way.

From the few explanations and the other bits of context added, she'd been out for quite a while. Damn, Art even told her the year. She'd either been knocked out in medias res or simply didn't have memory leading up to her coma. Waking up not knowing how what must have been a high stress situation ended, being wounded, and only recognizing one person on a ship that was supposed to only contain people she knew... Roger could only imagine what that was like. You don't get over that in five minutes. Kind words can make you drop a weapon but they aren't the medicine for a shattered mind. If roles were reversed, he'd probably just want to be left alone with his thoughts.

Sidney was now inviting Sakura to the table to eat with them, be one of the crew again. That was something Roger could get behind. Treat her just like anybody else and let her work out her problems at her own pace. Roger felt like he should probably say something. He didn't have anything to apologize for but words should be exchanged to smooth over that near fatal encounter. Despite the urge to speak, the gunhand kept quiet and continued with his meal. Bringing it up now wouldn't be right. It'd be the same as rushing over to help her. He wouldn't normally bring it up in this situation so he'd make no exception because of her condition. If they met up later he'd bring it up but not now at dinner.

[meilinalbright]

Meilin stepped back with a gasp as Sakura hit the cup from her hands. An embarrassed flush lit up her cheeks as she looked down at the tea. Apparently that was the wrong move to make in this situation. She picked up the cup and moved back, closer to the table. Cleanup could wait. 

Should she apologize? Meilin started to open her mouth to do exactly that, it changed her mind quickly. It would probably be better if she just kept her mouth shut and stayed out of the situation. There wasn't much she could do anyways. Meilin had seen some of the boys who came back from the war behave lie this, all touchy and paranoid. Some got over it after time. Others didn't.

She took her seat at the table again, putting the dented cup down as Sidney offered her a plate of food. For the moment, everyone seemed to be calming down.

[Kalli Ann Bernett]

It seemed everything was becoming under control again and that Sakura was starting to calm down. If all went well they would all be sitting down soon and able to help Saruka understand everything that had gone on while she was in the coma. Kalli backed up giving Sakura some room to find her wat to the table with Art's help.

She had asked him if he trusted the crew. Though much of the crew was new to the ship Kalli, Sidney and Tari had been on the ship for a while now. Long enough for him to build some trust with them. Hopefully that fact would be enough for him to tell her so and her to calm down a bit more.

Kalli took a seat at the table again between Sidney and Roger where she was before. Everyone was working to make a place for her to pull up a chair and eat with them. It had been quite the twist to their first meal but hopefully it won't become the norm for meals. What other surprises did the ship have.

[Art Doyle]

Arthur was relieved to get that little bit of spirited back-chat. The fact she'd toughed it out on cold mountains caused him to recall her wilderness life before James had found her on Beaumonde. She would be alright, Art was slowly starting to be sure of it, now. If Sakura said she was okay for now, then Art wasn't going to push her to anything. With a small, genuine smile, he backed up and returned to his seat. Just like everyone else, he was allowing her the chance to take the new spot on her own. A smile was offered to Tari as she arranged a place for her, somewhere closer to Art than the others so that she could at least have that small amount of 'trust' from the one person she knew. A little wink was offered to the passenger, as well. A mouthed thank you following.

Staring down at his plate, the mechanic appeared to focus on it for a long time. Just clearing his thoughts. Then the thought of food settled in and he dug in with his fork. After at least a few spoonfuls, he made a rather satisfied groan-- one of someone who hadn't had good food in a long time. Almost as though the stand-off from earlier was completely gone from his mind. Maybe it would help the others settle down that much more of Art was his own self again. He felt a little bad for Meilin, who'd only tried to offer aid, and hoped this whole experience didn't scare her off. Albeit that was a small selfish desire not to see this food run out of his life.

Eventually, and Art noted the hesitation in this, Sakura found her way to the table. There was still a pause. She didn't sit, and then he heard his name. Swallowing his latest bite, the mechanic twisted back around, gaze levelling on the medic as she asked an important question.

The pause that followed was covered with the fact he briefly looked over those present. As if scanning their faces. He looked for reactions in them. While only just meeting Meilin and Roger for the first time, Doyle was starting to get a bead on them. Roger, for the most part, appeared to just want to do his job-- and do it often. An eager professionalism from a seasoned gunhand. Meilin didn't appear to have a sinister bone in her body-- though Art had almost been fooled by such in the past. It was true. He usually had this "good read" of people. As if he could tell, should they be about to turn on him.

There was one thing he did know, though.

"I trust them." His voice sounded flat and honest.

"Most of all, I trust Sidney-- and James left him in-charge. An' you know I'll trust James 'til the day he manages to steal a girl from me." Through all his severely serious expression, at the end he cracked a smirk. Art will always be Art.

He hoped that, for now, it was enough.

[Sakura Kina]

"I trust them." Art spoke in a very serious tone, something Sakura knew meant that he was talking in true earnest. "Most of all, I trust Sidney-- and James left him in-charge. An' you know I'll trust James 'til the day he manages to steal a girl from me." Sakura looked up at Sidney and watched as he simply ignored the whole debacle and continued to eat his food. He slightly reminded her of James in an odd way, but maybe it was just because he was the acting captain of the Trinity. Against every instinct in her body, she took another step forward, then another. And another step until she finally stood behind the empty seat next to Arthur. Again Sakura looked up and looked around the table, her eyes filled with skepticism yet at the same time also regret for how she had acted. There was also something else hidden within her eyes: fear. Fearful of trusting the crew, of letting herself get so close to strangers. But most of all, trust Arthur so much. She barely knew him, but he was the one she trusted the most, no matter how little or much that might be.

Her heart was racing as she pulled the chair back to sit down. Unarmed, half naked and psychologically broken Sakura dove straight into her utmost fears of trust and belonging. Sitting herself down and pulling herself forward closer to the table, she again glanced around, watching as people began to relax and take a bite of their food again. Looking down at the plate in front of her, she simply stared at the food at first, so many things swimming through her mind. There were so many questions still left unanswered... Where was Wolf? Where was the others from the Trinity? What had happened as she was out? What had happened to James? Who was Sidney and the rest of the crew? Where exactly in the 'verse were they? And lastly, where was Vicious? Her heart raced faster as she began to scare herself, and she became lightheaded and the room began to spin again. Gripping her chair tightly, she forced herself to regain her composure as she pushed all the questions out of her mind for the time being. The crew was already on edge, it wouldn't help to keep them worried about her well being, especially since she was the medic on board and some day soon they would most likely have to trust her to save their lives.

Lifting her right hand, Sakura picked up a fork and pressed into the soft, well cooked meat. Lifting it up, she took a bite of the meat, her mouth watering as she bit into the juicy meal. Bite after bite, she began to feel a lot better, the warmth of the food calming her down as she realized just how hungry she had been. "This is by far the most delicious thing I've ever tasted." Sakura complimented, something she never did but she truly believed that the cook had really outdone themselves with the meal. She kept her eyes on the food as she ate, adoring the aesthetics of the meal as well as the taste, but also because she couldn't get herself to look at anyone in the room as she ate, nor did she want to know who was looking at her still.

[Sidney Bainbridge]

Sidney Continued his meal as the crew took turns trying to figure out how to deal with Sakura. Sidney was glad the gun wasn't pointed at him anymore though better him then his crew really. He had been shot before and survived it. He wasn't going to let the world take him out that easy. Though this was ponted at his head, a far trickier task to survive for sure.

After a few moments of talking, screaming, talking screaming Art and the crew had managed to get it all under control. Now he could finally sit down with the crew and have a nice meal. Sakura finally took a seat next to Art as well. "Thanks everyone, and you Art, thenks for the resounding confedance" He took in another bite and smiled at both Art and Sakura. Sure this wasn't the best way to meet the crew for Sakura but it will be a time none of them will forget.

[Roger Davis]

It looked like Sakura had gotten beyond the homicidal freak-out phase and was now just lacking trust for people she'd never even seen before, something Roger could actually identify with. As they all, including Sakura, settled down to finish the meal, he was tempted to ask her to introduce herself, seeing as she was practically a new crew member as well, but decided against it. Even if there wasn't the threat of her freaking out again and stabbing Sidney in the eye with that fork the question could still crash against her emotional defenses that she didn't want to lower any further.

Silence at a dinner table full of so many people, many of whom hardly knew each other, was a little unnerving and only slightly preferable to getting in a gunfight over dinner. Still, Roger was too new to the crew to get anything going more than small talk. He had his suspicions that this was a ship full of Browncoats. Sidney sure was and Roger got hired so easily likely for that reason. It was probably a fair guess to say that even the missing James was a veteran and Roger was willing to venture that Sakura's trust in James was also linked, because they were comrades in arms. The others? Well most of them seemed too young, kids at the time or just coming of age when it ended, and Art didn't exactly appear to be the soldier type, certainly not Alliance. Bringing up the war and the shared camaraderie between Sakura, Sidney, and Roger might help put her at ease but then again he could miss the mark completely, have guessed the exact opposite about her relationship with James and once again ruin the situation.

Having talked himself out of his ideas, Roger just sighed and continued to eat.