Cleaning and Thinking

[arabella]

[This is during the Gunfight at Whitefall Corral. Arabella is not exactly the best person to fight and she is just a passenger as far as I know for this post. So she is just hanging around.]

Arabella now had a place to at least get her somewhere else then the core. After settling her things away in the sleeping area she was shown to and told the basic rules of the ship, she was allowed to rest. Arabella cooked for the crew after resting for a bit and then they were off. Arabella didn’t know much about what they were doing and didn’t care to ask. She had plenty to clean up to keep her busy on the ship. Plus, she wanted to see what she could do to make dinner for everyone and plan for a few meals ahead. Mainly so she didn’t use up all the food too soon.

Arabella pulled her sweater around her as she looked around the kitchen. Her jeans were a little on the long side so they dragged underneath her heels. This was a lot neater and cozier then some of the last ships she had been on. Not all of them were horrible; there were a lot of nice ships she had been on. But just the last handful hadn’t been all that great. Taking the ponytail holder out of her hair, she let it fall as she began to put the pot and pan in the sink. The serving dish and some plates were still on the table. Not everyone had eaten at the same time from what she knew and not everyone had eaten the food. At least there were leftovers in case there was a meal where everyone was planning to eat at different times.

As she moved around, she began to hum a tune from a ballet she went to in her last years at her grandmother’s. While it had been mostly horrible there, there were bits she liked about living there. As Arabella put away the food, some of the memories had her grandmother in them, but she was not the main focus of the memory. The memories Arabella had created since being on her own were just as great and just as awful at times. But all in all, it was better being out traveling the ‘verse then being tied down to the proper ways of her grandmother.

She set aside her sweater and began the dishes in her tank top as Arabella’s thought over her next and inner predicament. Alliance or Independent? She had been asked that question many a times in her years of travel. And Arabella had never been able to give a straight answer. For most of her life she had been raised under the eyes and strict rules of an Alliance grandmother. But Arabella did not agree with her ways of thinking nor how she would have to act in society to be considered “accepted”. Even by her own family. Then there were her parents. Her mother had married an Independent, basically ostracizing them and being cut off. The only reason why Arabella was taken under her grandmother’s wing was she was raised under her Alliance ways. And she had mainly been traveling with Independent or neutral captains. And people in the past told her she still acted too proper to make it out in the rough for a long period of time. It felt like she didn’t fit in anywhere.

Arabella was the lone daisy in a bed of roses.

[radegrasan]

[OOC: This is during the gunfight at the Whitefall Corral and since I don't know Rade's role in it yet, I'm gonna assume he has to stay behind too since he's the pilot.]

Rade was leaning against the doorpost with his arms crossed as he looked at Arabella doing the dishes. Watching this beauty do dishes sure as hell beat staying in the cockpit, missing out on all the fun captain Faye and the rest were having with that woman called Patience. Rade didn't had quite the chance yet to talk to Arabella, since he was pretty much confined to the cockpit all this time. Rade didn't trust people too easy, but that didn't mean he'd stay away from them. In fact, he could be quite the conversationalist from time to time. As long as people wouldn't dig in too far, or if they wouldn't ask too many questions about other things he didn't felt like talking about.

Things got even better as soon as Arabella took off her sweater, seeing how this made some of her female curves more visible. Rade didn't mind. At all. He still was a normal human man after all. Although he did know better than to get it on with a fellow crewmember.

Still, she didn't notice him standing there yet, and it didn't look like she would anytime soon. Rade wondered what a person could be thinking about so deeply and intensely. He couldn't, or rather wouldn't do it himself though. In a way, Rade was afraid to be alone as long as he didn't have something to focus on. Afraid he started thinking about things that happened to him, and things he did. Or about people he met... or loved.

Rade noticed that Arabella had been scrubbing the same plate for quite some time now, and figured it would make a great excuse to break the ice.

Rade sighed and said:

"You keep scrubbing that plate any longer, and it's gonna get transparent."

[arabella]

Arabella usually got lost in her own thoughts when left to her own means. She also didn’t know her way around the ship yet. She knew the direct path from her sleeping area to the kitchen and that’s all that mattered to her. A conversation with Captain Faye wouldn’t hurt though. Maybe she could help point Arabella in the right direction towards a job. Maybe she had a connection she could talk to that would help point her in the right direction. Unless she found a job she couldn’t travel the verse anymore. She had enough to ride upon the Riley, but unless things changed at some point..

"You keep scrubbing that plate any longer, and it's gonna get transparent."

Arabella dropped the dish into the sink of water. The thud told her that it didn’t shatter which was good. She reached into the sink and looked at the dish. She wasn’t even aware that she had been scrubbing at it for so long. “Oh, right.” She rinsed it off and set it over in the strainer to dry. She started on the next one with a shy smile. “Just got lost in my thoughts.” She shook back her bangs which fell into her face. They could get in the way a lot.

Since being on the ship the past few hours the only time she really talked to anyone was when they passed by her sleeping area or just now when she had cooked. Other then that she hadn’t had much contact. She also hadn’t found Brian to explain herself to him-which she would have to do. The last night he met her she was wearing a black wig. Not exactly smart for hopping on this ship so she had to explain. Plus, Arabella tried to avoid human contact from time to time. Some people just had too many questions and then she got into sticky situations. It was easier to stay within herself.

She finished the last of the plates that were over by the sink. The pot and pan still needed to soak a bit. As she wiped at her hands, she noticed Rade was still standing there. ”Um, there’s some leftovers if you wish to have some. I can heat them up if you’d like.” Arabella set the dish towel aside. He was a good looking guy, not that it mattered. She traveled way too much to get distracted by any form of a relationship-friendship, love, sex or otherwise.

As she moved around the kitchen, she tried to fill the silence with small chit-chat. “How long have you been standing there anyways?” It irked Arabella a little that someone may have been watching her for an extended period of time.

[radegrasan]

Rade laughed as he saw Arabella dropped the dish from her hands. He didn't mean to scare her, though he knew it could be a possibility if you surprised people with your sudden presence. He didn't figure she'd be that easily spooked though.

"Oh right." she said as she rinsed off the plate. "Just got lost in my thoughts."

Rade kept standing in the doorpost as Arabella cleaned the last plates.

”Um, there’s some leftovers if you wish to have some. I can heat them up if you’d like.”

Rade wasn't planning on eating, but he sure was hungry. The sandwich that sweetheart Delilah brought him a few hours ago was a nice gesture, but it didn't quite fill his stomach.

"Sure, I'd love some." Rade replied.

Arabella moved aimlessly around the kitchen, and she didn't quite seem comfortable with his presence in the kitchen yet. For a moment there was a silence between the two, that got broken as soon as Arabella spoke again.

“How long have you been standing there anyways?” she asked.

"Long enough to hear you hum that ballet tune," Rade thought in himself. Rade had recognized the tune. It was from an ancient ballet play that was written back on Earth-that-was almost a thousand years ago. It was called 'The Swan Lake', and not too many people would recognize it. Unless they had gotten a classical education like him in an Alliance school.
They'd make the students go to a performance at least twice a year, and the performances were usually those of Alliance composers, or at rare times, those of the ancient masters.

Rade remembered that specific ballet play, because it was the one where his fellow classmates made him sit in the isle through the entire performance. The Rade from now would probably shoot every single one of them and make room for himself to sit, but the Rade from then knew his father paid a lot of money he couldn't spare to put him in that school, and would never risk to get expelled.

Yet, Rade didn't want to confront Arabella with it. Especially now since she offered him so politely to make him some food. Besides, Rade wasn't exactly telling everyone either he got practically raised by the Alliance, although he probably wouldn't lie about it if someone asked. It didn't matter who he was then, what mattered was who he was now. And the same went for Arabella, and everyone else whose eyes were opened when the Miranda scandal became exposed. Although Rade had always been a heavy supporter of the Independent cause.

"Just a little while," Rade replied. "Seemed like a shame to put you out of your thoughts, but I couldn't ignore my growling stomach anymore."

Rade smiled at Arabella, and then made his way over to the table and pulled a chair from under it. The chair creaked a bit as he sat down on it. Rade leaned backwards and crossed his arms.

"So, how about this ship, huh?" Rade asked, waiting for Arabella's opinion.

[arabella]

Arabella nodded as she moved to grab a clean plate out of the cabinet. She didn’t have the patience to dry any of the dishes just yet. She grabbed the food from the fridge-a rice pilaf mix with corn and some seasoning salt to give it a bit of a kick. There was a little bit of chicken in it-only about a thigh and legs worth. She learned in her travels how to make meat last and work with cheap side dishes to make a full-blown meal. Usually, she could make a meal last if need be. She popped it in the stove to heat it back up. Any other way would dry it up.

Arabella got tense when he didn’t answer her. That was sketchy to say the least. She wonder if where she was sleeping locked. She didn’t need some creeper watching her sleep or coming in her room. Her hands began to shake as she remembered that one ship...

Deep breaths in and out. She needed to calm down. She hadn’t been able to do anything about it-who would believe the captain of a ship would do such a thing? Made her glad that there was Faye and Delilah on board. Ah ok, much better. Delilah was such a sweetheart-very much in tune with the crew and really nice to the passengers. Arabella liked to have someone like her to talk to-even just small chit chat.

She hadn’t left because of Miranda-that was her grandmother’s problem. She left because she wasn’t an Alliance debutant. Arabella wasn’t one for the balls, tutors, dancing nor arranged marriage thing. She just wasn’t one of those girls. Cooking was what she preferred over the balls. It was just who she was-and that world didn’t understand that.

When the food was done, she pulled it out with a cloth. She moved gingerly and set it on the table on top of another dishcloth. “Well there’s something to quite your stomach. Just be careful-plates hot.” Like most ships, they had metal plates and bowls-because when the ship lurched glass items were not the smartest thing. She stepped back as he sat down. The pot and pan would take a bit more-seasoning salt really stuck when you cooked it into something.

Deciding to be friendly-but on guard-Arabella grabbed a seat as Rade at. She had left her cup of water and sipped it. “It’s nice. I’m glad Captain Faye is giving me passage. I’m hoping she can point me in the direction of a permanent or even temporary job. For now, though, I‘m happy just being a passenger.” She twirled the water in her cup in thought. “You always been a pilot?” Arabella was not the best at small talk because she never wanted to cross lines-on either end.

[radegrasan]

Rade looked as Arabella prepared the food. She seemed tense, scared. It was almost as if he caught her doing something she wasn't supposed to and she was covering up. It made Rade more suspicious about Arabella. First the ballet tune, now this... It wasn't like he did or said anything to make her upset. No, she was definately hiding something. But Rade couldn't figure out quite what it was yet. Could be he was talking to an Alliance agent at this very moment! Rade figured that Arabella's cover was pretty solid if she was an Alliance agent. There was no one in the 'Verse that would even suspect a girl like her. He decided it would be best to keep his eye on her, and wait if she would ask questions that were out of the ordinary. He didn't want to tell captain Faye yet. Could be he was mistaken about Arabella, and then he'd make a complete fool of himself. And talking to Faye would also mean possibly telling her that he too was educated by the Alliance. He was hoping to hold that off until he had at least earned enough of Faye's respect. Or until he felt comfortable enough on the Riley to start talking about it with the other crewmembers.

“Well there’s something to quite your stomach. Just be careful-plates hot.” Arabella said as she put down the metal plate in front of Rade. Rade smiled and nodded at her. The food smelled great, and Rade began to dig in. As far as table manners went, Rade had them. Sure they were a bit watered down ever since he got out of school, but Rade still respected the basic principles. And disrespected anyone who disrespected the basic principles of dining. Rade couldn't stand people who'd chew with their mouths open or didn't chew at all. He wasn't too fond either of people that played with their food, or people that would openly display their bodily functions while at the dining table. As far as taste went, Rade ate everything. Except for the mystery dish back at Han Ziao's food stall back on Persephone. Rade never believed meat should be purple and that's exactly what it was back at Han Ziao's.

To Rade's surprise, Arabella took a seat across the table from him. She took a sip from her cup of water and said: “It’s nice. I’m glad Captain Faye is giving me passage. I’m hoping she can point me in the direction of a permanent or even temporary job. For now, though, I‘m happy just being a passenger.”

The food was so good Rade had almost forgotten he asked her that question. She sure took her time to answer. Arabella twirled the water in her cup. “You always been a pilot?” she asked.

Rade cleared his mouth. Some of the rice kept sticking between his teeth so he used his tongue to get them out before he answered.

"Well I wasn't born a pilot, Miss Hart." Rade said. "I never knew what I was gonna become until I was like 18. I started working with an Independent veteran pilot who used to move... 'stuff'... from here and there you know? I started out helping him haul the cargo in and out and after a while he'd let me fly the boat from point A to point B. Before I knew it, he was teaching me how to take-off and land the bird and it wasn't too long before I could fly the boat all by myself. I found out I had quite the talent for flying."

Rade put the remaining pieces of rice back together on his plate. He then looked at Arabella.

"Soaring through the skies of Persephone, steering a small planetary cargovessel that could outrun everyone and everything... It made me realize I belonged there." Rade continued. "No one could touch me. But you'd be amazed how boring a planet gets once you've flown to every inch of it. I wanted more. See the 'Verse. That's why I'm here, and with a bit of luck, I'll be able to make the Riley my home so I can keep flying and explore every inch of this galaxy."

There were things Rade didn't talk much about, but when it came to his own true passion, flying, he could go on about it for hours.

Rade finished the last bites on his plate and wiped off his mouth.

"How about you, Miss Hart? Why is it you like cooking so much?"

[arabella]

Arabella wasn’t very open with people and she hated being on the spot. She was on the run from her life for a reason after all. She was trying to build a new life and hated being asked too much into her past. She was hoping that wouldn’t be the fact with Rade-him asking too many questions. Nor anything similar to what happened a year ago...Needless to say, Arabella had trouble being alone in a room with a man; even one she had to room with. There were times she was thrown of ships because of the way she acted when alone with the men on board. But she had her reason for it.

Arabella played with her charm bracelet. It’s on thing she vowed never to sell no matter what. She’d rather starve then sell her bracelet. She watched Rade with cautious eyes. He seemed nice enough, but she couldn’t help but wait and see where things went. Not dating wise-just trust wise. She gave the Captain her respect because she was the Captain. But she wasn’t sure about trusting them with much about her. If by some chance they hired her as a cook then things would probably change around. But that was a big if.

She liked to learn a little about other people’s stories though. Like Rade’s when it came to being a pilot. She let go of her bracelet and just continued to play with her cup of water in thought. She could see the way his eyes lit up just a little when he talked about piloting. One of her hopes was to see the Verse as well-but mostly to find a place to call home. Arabella could relate to that feeling.

Ah-on to her now.

A warm smile spread on her lips. “I learned from a woman I look up to. Everything I know I learned from her. Mostly how not to always follow the recipe. Some of the best things are made just by winging it.” There was no culinary school for Arabella-just learning from practice. “I learned when it was always right to follow the recipe-such as the main ingredients for deserts and certain main meals-meats, side dishes-if that’s what strikes someone’s fancy. But it’s ok to wing it. Works best out in the black because you can’t always afford a lot of things so you have to make a meal last. Like this.”

Arabella pointed to his now empty plate. “Most people don’t like eating rice alone. Add just a bit of corn and a little bit of meat and you can easily feed at least four people. You can always make more and feed more people-which is what I did. Over the years I’ve learned to adapt with protein and various things like rice and canned items to make them last and more widespread.” A fond smile was on her lips. Yes, Arabella loved to cook.

[radegrasan]

Rade listened as Arabella explained why she loved cooking. He liked the bit about not always following the recipe, that it's okay to do things your own way.

It seemed like the Alliance had a recipe for everyone, but there were those that were winging it, like the Independents. And after the Independents defeat, those that would do their own way, like him and the rest of the crew of the Riley.

"You're absolutely right Miss Hart." Rade said. "Sometimes we just need to do things our own way in order to get a better meal."

Doing things his own way is what Rade was all about. Although he'd never go against his captain. It didn't matter to him whether or not captain Faye liked him, what was important to him is that she showed the same respect to him as he did her. So far he had followed her every order to the letter. As long as Faye respected him, he'd follow her to hell and back.

Rade got up, took his plate and walked over to the sink. He put the plate near the sink and took a metal cup out of the cabinet and filled it with water. He took a sip and leaned against the counter, facing Arabella. She got him curious now, and he wondered what alignment she lended towards to. She seemed Alliance, although her speech she just gave about the food would suggest she was leaning toward Independent. Maybe if he could get more out of her things would become clearer, although he had to make sure she wouldn't just seize up on him and it would be game over.

Then all of a sudden the silence was broken when Rade heard Delilah singing a happy song further down the hall. Rade shook his head and laughed.

"Can you believe that girl? Must be really something to be happy all day every day. Think Faye got her on meds or something?"

[OOC: If I'm not allowed to bring Delilah into the conversation, let me know. I figured since Riley did the same in the Cast Off thread, it's allowed or something.]

[arabella]

Arabella smiled at Rade. He probably didn’t know the full extent of what she knew-but she could tell he meant it his own way. Life isn’t just about following what everyone else did-the recipe of life that everyone thought was clear cut-it was about going about it your own way.

Arabella started to daze out to the first ship she was ever on. She was much too polite for their standards-it was then she learned she had to toughen up and learn from the people she traveled with. It took a little while for her to make it so no one was suspicious of her anymore. There had been things from time to time that tipped off captains that she was much more educated then being from the rim-they just usually tossed her out the next stop. It was a process she was still working through.

All she knew though, was she didn’t want to go back to Londinium.

She wasn’t going to marry that man-she didn’t love him.

Arabella rubbed at her eyes before she got too emotional. That was one thing she promised herself-to stay strong and not get emotional anymore. If she had her way, she’d be traveling with Bettie. But, she wasn’t going to have her way. Arabella was on her own out here-except for the times she contacted her valued friend.

She pulled one foot up on the chair with her so Arabella could wrap her leg around it. Delilah really was something. “Nah I just think she’s happy. Just look at her-it’s just happiness. Must be nice.” With a sigh she finished her water she set her cup down and grabbed the dish towel. Arabella moved back to the sink next to Rade. She grabbed the plate and fork he used and washed them before moving to the items she used to cook. She shook off the water before setting them in the strainer to dry.

“So was it just your need for food that brings you down from the pit?” Arabella knew he had been up there since being picked up from Persephone-she thought he would never come down.

[radegrasan]

“Nah I just think she’s happy. Just look at her-it’s just happiness. Must be nice.” Arabella replied.

Rade sorta liked Delilah. The only one without something to hide or an own agenda. Seemed she was still innocent and pure. Rade looked down to the ground at his boots and realized Delilah made him remind of someone else. But he couldn't bring her up, ever. Even if he wanted to. Rade looked up again and sort of repressed his thoughts.

Rade watched as Arabella washed the dish and fork he used almost immediately after he put them down. They hadn't been laying there for 30 seconds, and Rade figured Arabella really couldn't stand uncleanliness.

“So was it just your need for food that brings you down from the pit?” Arabella asked.

No. It wasn't. The truth was that his thoughts were catching up to him, and he needed something to distract him. Of course he couldn't tell that to Arabella.

"Yeah, that and I was pretty much bored to death." Rade answered. "Besides, someone has to make sure that piece of tzao gao Nico isn't beating someone up for money, or destroying the ship with his dumb ideas to modify the engine."

Rade really couldn't stand Nico. He was convinced the guy had his own agenda, and that he would betray everyone else on the ship if it would serve his own purposes. He wasn't too sure about Brian either. But Brian seemed pretty much harmless, and it would be wise to keep the medic as a friend.

Rade drank the last bit of water and put it down near the sink as well. He then pulled out his revolver from his right tigh holster and started fumbling with it. He wasn't trying to intimidate Arabella or anything, playing with his revolver was just something he did to keep himself busy.

The revolver was black, with a white butt and had it the letters 'LG' engraved in it in gold. LG were the initials of Rade's grandfather: Liam Grasan. The pin and trigger were also made of gold.

Rade pushed out the cylinder and took the bullets out of the revolver. He then reloaded it again as fast as he could. It was something he trained himself in, to get the advantage in a gunfight.
He did it a couple of times before putting the revolver back in the holster. Rade then turned to Arabella again.

"So what's your excuse, Miss Hart?" he asked.

[arabella]

As Arabella was taught by Bettie when it came to cooking, there were many other things she learned as well. One was not to always follow the recipe. Two was cleanliness. Three was cleanliness. A cooks space was sacred and if you let bacteria grow then you risked getting everyone sick. She always cleaned up right after the meal was done, sometimes as soon as she was done cooking if she wasn’t allowed to eat right away. Either way, she always made sure to leave everything just as-if not better-then it was before.

Arabella’s head tilted to the side. Did Rade and Nico know each other? “Oh I didn’t know you two knew each other.” She paused almost quizzically. “Do I need to be worried?” If there was reason to be worried why would Faye let him on? Arabella was trying to process the information right now. That was until Rade pulled out his gun.

Arabella started to shake as Rade pulled out his gun. She had her own gun but had yet to use it. She had gotten it after the incident. Her hands gripped the edge of the sink as she closed her eyes. A fleeting image of two men...a gun...hands pinning her down. She got off that ship as fast as she could. Her eyes squeezed shut. “Can you please...please...play with your gun somewhere else?” She turned her head and tried to wash the dish with shaking limbs.

Her head didn’t turn as she set the plate aside to dry. Her breathing was uneasy as memories flooded her. That was the worst incident on any of the ships she had experienced-yet she still traveled on the ships. Once he put his gun away, Arabella started to breath a little easier, but the shaking didn’t stop right away. She was careful not to drop the pan or pot as she washed them. The shaking was starting to ease but didn’t go away; whenever she was in a close proximity of guns of any sort this always happened because no one had been able to change her mind on guns. Though she had one for protection, she had yet to use it and had a hard time cleaning it because her hands shook.

Another deep breath was drawn in. “Well I’m not flying the Riley so I didn’t come down from the pit.” As she set aside the pot, she turned to face him with an even face. “But I’m still here because I was taught that the space one cooks in, that one must clean. Whether they work with many other cooks or it’s just you, you clean the space you cooked it. And seeing as the crew had something to do I figured I’d wash their dishes as well.” Arabella shrugged as she finished cleaning and rinsing the last pan. She concentrated on scrubbing at the film that resided. Her shoulders lifted in a shrug as she set the pot aside. “Plus it keeps me busy for a little while.”

Her fingers pulled at the plug in the sink. She let the water drain as she turned her full attention back to Rade. Her voice was low. “I’m sorry but can you please not play, practice or whatever with your gun around me?” Her arms wrapped around her stomach and sides as her shoulders pulled upwards in a guarded fashion. But her eyes-her eyes were unguarded for once and were almost pleading.

[radegrasan]

"Alright miss Hart, it's already gone, okay?" Rade said, not knowing why Arabella made such a big deal about him playing around a little with his revolver. She seemed scared out of her mind, and Rade wondered why. His suspicions of Arabella being an Alliance agent were now gone, but quickly another suspicion arose. Rade wondered whether or not Arabella had ever been a prisoner of some sort. Perhaps she was a fugitive. If anything, Rade was gonna get it out of her. If Arabella was a fugitive, last thing he'd do was turn her over to the Alliance. And keeping in mind that some of the crew were Independent veterans, they wouldn't either. Maybe Nico, since Rade figured him for someone that would do anything for a pretty penny. Although Rade wouldn't mind Nico trying, because that would finally give him an excuse to shoot that damned bruiser.

Although now Rade had to focus on making Arabella feel at ease again. The state she was in at this very moment could make her yell 'bloody murder', and the last thing Rade needed was people to think he tried to kill Arabella. He didn't realize playing with his revolver could offset some people that much. It appeared to Rade that having a gun in this 'Verse was the most common thing, at least it was back on Persephone.

Rade looked at Arabella again and seeing her scared still made him feel sorry for her. People may have had him figured for someone that couldn't care less about other people, but he really wasn't. Even though he didn't trust easy, and never trusted someone the full 100%, he was able to show sympathy, even though he had always been a loner.
Rade wondered all the more now what Arabella's problem was, and figured maybe if he wanted her to open up a bit, perhaps he should open up a bit too, even though it's not something he did often, or to people he just met.

Then Rade got an idea. He walked over to the table and sat on it. He pulled out his revolver and laid it next to him on the table. He then looked back at Arabella.

"At the moment there's only one thing on this table that's able to hurt you, miss Hart." Rade said. He then pointed at the revolver with his finger. "And this thing isn't it. It's a dead object, and it can't work by itself. In order for it to hurt you, someone would have to hold it, and trigger its mechanics inside. Guns don't kill people, miss Hart. People kill people."
Rade put his hands next to him on the table.

"Now here's the thing: I have no desire whatsoever to hurt you, miss Hart." Rade continued. "I'm not that hellraisin' triggerhappy adrenalinejunkie everyone seems to have me figured out for. I keep this revolver, and the other two I carry, to protect myself from people who mean harm to me, in any way. People come at me with a gun, I shoot them. People try to stab me with a knife, I shoot them. People come at me with their fists, I shoot them."

Rade noticed one of the pockets on his beige shirt were unbuttoned, and he clipped it closed again.

"Now if you're gonna react that way every time you see someone with a gun, people like the ones I shoot are gonna find you an easy prey miss Hart. And also, you'd be an amazing fool trying to make it through this 'Verse without a gun. People back on Earth-that-was were hardly able to leave their homes without a weapon of some sort, and times grew more hostile every century."

Rade stood up from the table, grabbed his revolver and put it back in the holster on his right tigh.

"I suggest you try and get accustomed to weapons miss Hart. You're gonna see a lot more of them in your lifetime."

The fact that Arabella thought that he was gonna harm her bothered Rade, and he wasn't gonna stop talking until he cleared that up as well.

"Also, while you're on this boat, try realizing that not everybody intends to harm you miss Hart. I for one plan on making this boat my home, and that's gonna get mighty hard if captain Faye and the others think I want to shoot passengers."

Suddenly, Rade felt like a hypocrite. He hated getting lectured himself, and he realized he had just given Arabella one of his own. He decided that maybe now was a good time to show Arabella he had good intentions.

Rade walked up to Arabella. He put his hands behind his back and lifted up his beige shirt to grab the little sixshooter he kept conceiled on his back. It was a small, silver revolver, with a wooden handle, and it had the name 'Kylie' carved on the barrell.
Rade put his hands forward and showed the little revolver to Arabella. The little gun laid on the palm of his right hand as he said:

"Here, take it miss Hart. Why don't you keep it with you for as long as you're with us?"

[arabella]

Arabella didn’t freak out at every gun she saw-only a few. Mainly revolvers. It was revolvers the men held to her as they did what they wished. She could look at a shot gun or grenades even and be perfectly fine. But when it came to a simple revolver, well she turned into a shaking mess. Never was she a prisoner nor held captive-no. Simply and not so simply some men had had their way with Arabella one after another. She had never fully recovered nor trusted men the same way after that. Mainly when it came relationship wise, which was another good reason why she never dated while out in the verse.

She desperately wanted the shaking to stop. She tried to make them go away by scrubbing at the sink. It didn’t help so she simply rinsed everything away as she washed her hands. Arabella would have to take some time alone a little later on-depending on if she was cooking another meal tonight or not would depend on when it would be. The towel she used to dry her hands was wrung around them as she tried to distract them on something else. A few more deep breaths should help her out and ease everything. She hardly noticed that he moved and sat on the table until she looked up.

The dishtowel was tossed aside as she leaned back against the counter. Her lip was being bite down on as she tried to think. She took a deep breath of relief when she noticed he wasn’t even touching his gun and was being calm about everything. The thing about all of this which had happened was she never told anyone and never really looked for help. She just bought a small handgun-a chick gun really-and tried to move on. But Arabella never really moved on because everything sort of remained under the surface and bubbled there, waiting to come out.

She actually got a little sarcastic with him. “I’m not stupid Rade. Hence why I asked if you could take the gun games elsewhere.” No she wasn’t entirely afraid of the gun itself-just the men holding them. Though the sight of a revolver brought up the flashbacks which currently went through her mind. As she stared at him she cocked an eyebrow. This guy though Arabella was afraid he was going to take her life. No-that was far from it. He didn’t know anything. But she let him continue on his tirade and let everything she wanted to say wait.

Arabella finally broke her when Rade came up to her and pulled out another revolver. What she didn’t expect was him handing it over to her. She immediately gave it back to him and laughed. “For your information I do have a gun-I just haven’t had to use it since I got it. I know how to clean and shot it as well.” Arabella moved away from him as her temper rose. He didn’t know hew at all and here he was thinking he knew everything. And he was going to hear what she really though of everything he just said.

“For you’re information I am not afraid of all guns-just revolvers specifically. And I am not afraid when I look at a gun such as when you had it on the table. No-it’s when a man holds it, plays with it or practices with it in my presence that this happens. Don’t go assuming that just because a woman or anyone acts like that it’s because she is afraid of the gun itself. I know that guns don’t kill people-that the people do. I wasn’t born yesterday.” When Arabella got frustrated or angry like this she let it out. It’s not that she wanted to cause a problem but she didn’t like Rade and how he assumed something of her.

“It doesn’t matter if you nor anyone else on this crew doesn’t want to kill me.” Arabella started to get choked up. Her voice was cracking but no tears showed-she wouldn’t let that happen. “It’s a fear I will have probably for the rest of my life after the thing that happened to me. I do not mind weapons at well-in fact I think they are mighty fine when used for the right purposes of protection. But when someone misuses that to show power-well that’s different.”

Arabella watched him as she took in a few deep breaths. “I’m not going to tell the Captain about this. I know you weren’t trying to shoot me-it’s a simple requests. That’s why I normally spend most of my time in the bunks or sleeping area a captain shows me. I’ve never been a part of a crew-just always a passenger-so it made it easy to keep away form others when they had to clean or practice with their guns.” Arabella was pretty calm at this point-being vague about things but revealing things as well. She wasn’t trying to be a pain or anything. Just, honest.

Now she was trying to call a truce. “So um you saw me in all my glory cooking and cleaning. Show me some things around the pit? Unless the Captain doesn’t want me up there.” She knew that some places were off limits on certain ships but couldn’t remember if that was the case here or not.

[radegrasan]

Rade shook his head and faked a laugh as he put the small revolver back in his backside holster.

"Guess that's what I get for trying to help out, huh?" Rade said. "Alright miss Hart, have it your way."
Rade turned his back towards Arabella and put his hands on his hips. He never was one that appreciated ingratefullness. He was angry at Arabella, but wasn't going to give her the pleasure of showing it.
Years of experience had told Rade people never liked him, no matter how friendly he was. He didn't do it on purpose, never did. But sometimes he couldn't just help himself to at least try and be friendly again to people. But everytime he did, people seemed to dislike him even more. Seems like the whole damned 'Verse misunderstood him. He could pretend not to care but deep down it did got to him. Acting like the rogue everyone took him for at least kept his mind of it. And it kept people exactly where he wanted them to be: as far away from him as possible but still close enough to work together.

“So um you saw me in all my glory cooking and cleaning. Show me some things around the pit? Unless the Captain doesn’t want me up there.”

Was Arabella kidding? She had just turned down his help in a less than friendly way, and now she wanted him to show her the cockpit. Rade wondered what in the 'Verse this girl's deal was.
Rade turned around and faced Arabella once again. The feelings of anger faded and made room for curiosity once again. Perhaps there was still hope for Rade to get some answers today.

"I don't know." Rade replied. "She never said anything about it, so I guess it's fine."

Rade figured he could get the once more or less relaxed sphere between him and Arabella back so he decided to perhaps crack a joke and act like a smartass.

"Are you sure it's fine, miss Hart? I have to warn you though, I did put up a big scary pirateflag in there." Rade joked.

He was now fully calm once again. He nodded at Arabella, to sign her that she should follow him.

"Come on, follow me. Don't scare if you see a furry ball running around. It's Delilah's pet."

Rade turned around, took a few steps towards the door but then stopped in his tracks. Something Arabella had said came back to mind.

"It’s a fear I will have probably for the rest of my life after the thing that happened to me." That's what Arabella said. Rade got a bit too preoccupied with her turning down his help that he completely forgot she said that. But now he remembered. Clearly.
Rade turned around and faced Arabella once again. He decided to stop lollygaggin' and just ask her what that was all about.

"Wait." Rade said. "Before, you said something had happened to you. What the hell was that exactly?"

[arabella]

Arabella wasn’t trying to be rude-she was just stressing her point. “Well it was the only way I could think to get my point across. Not everyone woman is helpless. I may shake and have my problem but doesn’t mean anything. Been living on my own long enough-I know how to take care of myself.”

Arabella’s temper and frustration was always a quick one-it was there and the next minute it was gone. Mostly because of the fact of how she was raised to never show her temper. Her grandmother was very strict on that. So whenever she did get angry it was in a quick spurt-back then in private-and then she would go about doing whatever she was doing previously. Normally she could control it well but in the last couple years it wasn’t staying that way any longer.

“It’s fine if I can’t. Just-I guess that’s my way of saying I’m sorry about snapping.” Though she was a little relieved when he agreed. She didn’t want any more trouble then she already seemed to have caused. A smile tried to appear on her face but it came out oddly and she gave up-but she did chuckle at his attempt at a joke. “If you said you put up Alliance memorabilia and had revolvers hanging everywhere, well then I’d be scared.”

Though she always stated she was neutral when it came to the two sides, Arabella was not the biggest fan of the Alliance. She had grown up in that society and was groomed to be the perfect Alliance debutant-something Arabella was not. But she didn’t really know the views of an Independent clearly enough to chose that side as well; her grandmother always prevented her from seeing the other side of things-the side her mother had chosen over the life her grandmother was prepping her for.

Her thoughts were bouncing between Rade, guns, what had happened to her and her grandmother as she followed him. She was so lost in her thoughts that when Rade stopped and turned she ran into him. The only reason she didn’t topple backwards is she fall back against the wall. It took her a few minutes to register the question.

He wanted to know what happened.

Oh crap. She thought he hadn’t really heard her. But Arabella could tell there was no way around this. Her body started to shake just a little bit more as the images flashed before her. No one had ever asked her what happened before when she mentioned this before-usually they let her be or kicked her off the ship. This was going to be different wasn’t it.

Maybe....

Maybe it was time to talk about it.

Her eyes shut as she leaned her head against the wall behind her. As her eyes opened she stared at the metal ceiling above her. “It was a year ago. I was on a ship and I was the only female passenger. They….they were so drunk.” Arabella’s head shook frm side to side as she tried grip at something solid. When she found nothing but the bare wall her arms wrapped around herself as her head fell into a normal position, her eyes fixed on a random point. “There was three of them-captain included. They had revolvers...revolvers at my head.” Her voice started to crack as her emotions got the best of her. She had never talked about this but maybe it was time. Rade was the first one to ask her what had happened so maybe that was a sign that it was time to talk about things. She blinked back the tears-she hated it when she cried in front of people. “First the captain...then the medic...then another man.” Never did she directly say she was ‘raped’ to Rade. No that was a word she didn’t want to say.

“They never removed the revolvers-not even when they switched off. I hate revolvers and men holding them.” Arabella reached up and rubbed at her eyes to will the tears away.

“Can you just show me the pit please? I‘ve always been curious about what makes a ship fly.” Her voice was soft-she wanted to move on frm the topic and have the focus off of her.