Find me a way...

[Ari Deschain]

Persephone.
It had never felt like home to her, but for the ties she had to her father. Nowhere was home. She was a traveler at heart, a wanderer with no strings attached anywhere in the 'verse. Or so she tried to tell herself whenever a ship she was hitching on stopped on this dump. She stood on the docks, looking out at the land surrounding. A bag was slung over one shoulder; it carried all of her possessions. Crossing her arms, she sighed heavily. Being back here was suffocating; she wanted to turn tail and race back into the ship she'd just left. All the memories came flooding back: the love of her father, the panic when he never came home, the loneliness and despair of being alone on the streets, and the apathy that eventually set in just before she left.

A hand on her shoulder broke into her thoughts, and she turned to glance at the man that had come up behind her. "You alright?" She shrugged the hand off and gave him a careless smile, stepping on tip-toe to give him a quick peck on the cheek. "Thanks for the ride, Cap. Maybe I'll catch a ride again some time." He winked at her and strutted off, whistling. She smiled, watching him go. A nice man, but not her type. But then again, she didn't really have a type. She liked her men, and her women for that matter, the way she liked her life. Impulsive and no strings attached. She'd had fun with the Captain, but that was all it was, and now it was time to move on.

One of the nearest buildings to the docks was a bar, of course. She and her father had lived near the docks; as they watched the ships coming and going, he used to tell stories of what they'd do and where they'd go when they got one of their own. They'd go to the bar afternoons after he got off work or she came home from school, and they'd both go in and he'd get a big soda for them to share. A man named Torren had worked there; he would always give her a slice of apple if he had one around. She walked to the bar now, hands shoved in her pockets. Walking down the stairs into the cool darkness of the building, Ari gazed quickly around the bar. The Captain from the ship she had just hitched on was in there with a couple of the crew. They waved at her, but she just nodded, smiled, and continued to the bar. Her business with them was done.

Sitting at a stool at the bar, she glanced about hopefully for Torren. She didn't seem him, and her lips turned down in a frown. Torren was her only real connection to her father she had left. The old and very familiar sadness threatened to fog her mind; she impatiently pushed it away. A bartender came to her and she almost ordered a soda, but that would have been too much for her to deal with. She ordered hard alcohol instead, and turned around, elbow on the bar. Downing the shot, she washed away the pain and became herself again. Alone but strong, and free.

She leaned slightly to the left as she sat, so that she could take in the whole room with her good right eye and no one could sneak up on her periphery. This had become such habit to her that it didn't even seem a conscious decision anymore; it came to her as easily and naturally as drawing in breath or blinking. Hopefully she could find another captain here, one that would take her somewhere else in the 'verse. And maybe, just maybe, she'd find her captain here, a person who would inspire loyalty on her and take her in as permanent crew. That would be an adventure.

[stoot]

Stoot's arms were filled with two paper bags, which contained several bottles of alcohol within them. He, Faye and Ryan had just finished unloading and re-loading the supplies for Murdo's job, and even though Atlas still wasn't flyable, Stoot was still determined to make good on his promise. He was making dinner tonight, and he was going to do it right.

You couldn't have a house-warming shindig without booze. You just couldn't.

Stoot left the small store and was on his way back to the boat when he heard a familiar clinking sound drifting over from a small building, its door propped open by a sand-filled bucket. Several people had wasted their cigarettes in the sand. Stoot recognized the business immediately: a bar. Back home, Stoot had been a regular at his local bar, as it was the only real form of recreation for a mudder such as himself. Hitching the bags up in his arms, he figured a little self-celebration was appropriate before he started dinner at the real one. Reminiscing, if you will.

He set the bags down on an empty seat and sat heavily into the one next to it. He looked around at the first familiar atmosphere he'd experienced since leaving the small town of Canton. It felt nice to blend in again.

Stoot ordered mudder's milk from the bartend. It was habit, it was like water to him. He wouldn't spoil the real celebration by ordering something stronger. He swiveled on his stool to observe the atmosphere around him. If he were at home he knew that he'd be surrounded in friends right now, laughing and carrying on. It felt foreign to be a stranger to everyone in this bar. It almost made him homesick. That was, at least, until he remembered his former life outside of the bar.

Shifting, Stoot noticed for the first time that he'd sat down next to a tough-looking blonde. At least the women here were pretty; at home, women didn't take care of themselves. They were just one of the guys who happened to be able to have babies. Stoot knew that he wasn't a desirable-looking man. This made life easier, actually, rather than harder. He didn't feel shy about talking to women in the way most men did; they'd never regard him as more than a friend. He accepted this, and never treated them as anything more. It was a humble way to live.

The woman downed a shot of a strong whiskey, and Stoot let out a low whistle of impression before he spoke. "Never pegged a lady to be able to drink like that," (He never considered the women back home 'ladies'). "What're you drinkin' off, purty?" Stoot had used the word 'purty' a lot today. He didn't seem to notice; it fit all of the women he'd come into contact with so far. Persephone was great.

[Ari Deschain]

Movement caught her good eye, and she glanced towards the entrance. A man had entered the bar, two bags swinging from his hands. To her surprise, he came and sat directly next to her without even seeming to notice her. His mind was obviously otherwise occupied. He ordered mudder's milk, and she smiled lightly at that. Unlike some other girls, she saw people with his background as her people; she had grown up on the streets, and had found out that some of the coarsest, poorest people were also some of the kindest.

The man finally seemed to notice her, and his calling her "purty" didn't bother her as much as it should, her being a strong and independent woman. She knew it wasn't a reflection on his character; she was willing to cut him some slack because of where he came from. More than likely, that kind of language was as rampant on the place he'd come from as it was here in the streets of Persephone. Turning slightly in his direction, she took him in with her good eye. A little portly, but his smile was charming and his eyes friendly. She held out a hand, smirking a little. "Name's Ari, not purty, yeah?" Holding up a finger for the bartender with her other hand, she ordered a water.

Waiting for her drink, she held up her empty shot glass. "I'm drinkin' to mem'ries. I was born here. Persephone. Just stoppin' by for a visit." Her water arrived and she sipped at it, keeping herself turned towards the man so her good eye could see him at all times. Motioning towards the bags, where she could see the bottles of alcohol peeking out, she rose an eyebrow in amusement. "Although...looks like you're havin' a party yourself. So, why are you here?"

[stoot]

Stoot took a deep pull from his mug and wiped his lip with the back of his sleeve. He grinned at her correction of her name. He waved her off. "You're still purty, but s'nice to meet ya Ari." He swapped his mug from his right hand to his left and offered her a large, rough hand to shake.

"Born here, ya say, but don't live here?" He asked baldly after another swig of beer. He wouldn't pry by drilling her about the memories she was drinking to. That sort of thing, he had come to know, was private. "What do ya do with yourself, then? Oh, and these?" He now addressed her query towards himself, and he patted the bags of booze affectionately. "Havin' a house-warmin' party o'sorts. More like a boat-warmin' party, but s'all the same. My new home, ya see. We ain't got her runnin' yet, but we're hopin' a find someone who knows a lick about engines. Fer now, we'll sit back and enjoy some booze n' pray that we get her flyin' afore we gotta get started on our job tomorrow."

He shrugged and drank again from his mug, draining it and setting it down heavily onto the bar. He let out a loud belch before reddening slightly, remembering present company was more of a lady than he was used to. "Erh, sorry." He excused himself. "Oh hey," he said, brightening. Stoot felt friendly enough around the lady, and he'd already invited Faye to dinner, too. Why not another? "I'm fixin' dinner tonight if you're hungry. Ain't a date invite or nothin'; juss' makin' some dinner and I'm too eat-up with pride to not invite ya. Don't haveta accept, though. Kinda new to this whole crew stuff. I'm goin' back now though, I just had some memories a my own to drink to first."

[Ari Deschain]

His hand was more calloused than even her mechanic's hands, and she shook it warmly. She didn't mind his prying at all; although she was private about her hope to find her father one day, her past was nothing to be ashamed of. Clearing her throat, she glanced behind the bar again, as if hoping Torren might've shown up. "I left when I was a teen. I wanted work, y'know? Wanted to fly." She closed her eyes a second, as if drinking in the feeling of freedom that had finally come with going on board her first ship. "Got caught up in the war, then after went lookin' for more work. Never stay in the same place long."

His next admission caught her by surprise, and she sipped her drink with a grin curving her lips. She couldn't believe her luck! Maybe she wouldn't have to stay on this planet long. Sure, she didn't find Torren to ask on any news of her father, but she had a rule that if she wasn't meant to find him, she'd come back another time. No luck today, so another time then. She was lost in thought, and was shaken up by his belch. Snickering, she shrugged off his apology. "Better out than in." She was hardly going to let a silly little burp offend her. Ari was definitely not that kind of person.

When he offered her a meal, she knew he had the best intentions. And if he didn't, it wasn't as if she was completely helpless. Not at all. "Hell, I wouldn't say no to a home-cooked meal." She clapped him on the shoulder like they were best friends already and flashed him a grin. Finishing her water, she set the mug on the counter along with a small tip. "Besides, it must be a lucky day for the both of us, 'cause you sat next ta the best mechanic on Persephone." Okay, a little fibbing never hurt anyone...not the best, perhaps, but she was good. "And it just so happens, I'm sorta in between jobs at the moment." Biting her lip, she hoped he'd offer to see what she could do. He may or may not even be the Captain, but maybe he could help her out.

[stoot]

Stoot grinned toothily at Ari when she complimented his burp. She was one hell of a lady, he'd give her that. He quite liked that she was both pretty and didn't have a stick up her ass.

At her acceptance to his invitation and the hand that clapped down on his shoulder, Stoot stood from his stool. "Well let's get goin' then, I wouldn't want ya to starve," He said proudly, gesturing towards the door in a 'ladies first' sort of way. She paid for her drink and turned to him as they turned to leave the bar.

"Besides, it must be a lucky day for the both of us, 'cause you sat next ta the best mechanic on Persephone. And it just so happens, I'm sorta in between jobs at the moment."

Stoot was momentarily frozen to the spot with surprise at the sheer luck he had stepped into. His eyes brightened and he hugged her to his side with one arm, shaking her a little, and then letting her go. It was his rough form of affection. "Hell girl, you just made my day," He said as he took the brown paper bags filled with liquor in his arms. "I ain't the captain, but I bet you a thousand credits that if you get the boat afloat, you'll be pickin' out your bunk tonight."

This thought made Stoot feel very pleased indeed. Not only had he found a mechanic, he had found a good mechanic, and one that could speak to boot! The most pleasurable part of it all was that he had found her; he had done something useful. He swelled with excitement to show Ryan the good deed he'd done, to show him Ari. Stoot liked her, not in a romantic way, but he definitely saw a new friend in her. Her beauty did not intimidate him nor did she try any intimidation games at all. She was the first lady he'd met so far that he could say that about. She was independent, but not snobby about it. She'd do well on Atlas, and he really hoped Ryan would keep her. Furthermore, he hoped Ryan wouldn't mind his recruiting new crew members without his presence; he wasn't sure how the whole system worked. Hopefully, he hadn't broken any rules.

"So how old are ya?" he asked conversationally as they walked. It was getting dark out now. "You're gonna love the ship by the way. Ryan, too. Hell of a guy he is; he's the captain. We fought in the war together. We picked up a kid recently too, but he's just a kid. Ain't got a lick a sense, I don't think, I ain't even heard him talk yet. Don't know where he's at right now, but we plan ta find somethin' he's good at; sure as ain't engines. We came back from Murdo's an he was still in the gorram thing." Stoot shook his head, almost amused. "Musta been a big fix, looks like you got a challenge on your hands. You're gonna love the ship." He repeated it, for he truly meant it. He had a lot of pride in Atlas. He had high hopes for her.

[Ari Deschain]

She was caught off guard when he grabbed her, but relaxed quickly when she realized he was just happy at what she had told him. Laughing, she shoved him off playfully. "If this works out, it'll have made mine too." She bent over, picking up her bag and slinging it over one shoulder. What he was saying was promising, and she hoped like hell she wouldn't let him down. Her mind was already running fluidly over all the parts and problems that could cause an engine to just up and quit. She held out a hand, helpfully offering to carry one of the bags for him. "Want me ta get one o' those?"

He seemed to swell with happiness at their shared luck, maybe even a little pride, and she grinned. If she could fix the problem with their engine, it would be great. He seemed like a very nice guy, from their short meeting, and she was fond of him already. His question broke her thoughts, and she glanced at him. She was on his right so that she could keep her good eye on what was happening on the side that he was not next to, so she had to turn her head completely to meet his eyes. "27. 28 come October 30th." She readjusted the strap of her bag and looked ahead once more.

He started rambling about the ship, and she listened in amusement and a little bit of hope. If this Ryan guy was even half as shiny as this man here, she was sure she'd like him fine. The ship itself was a non-issue. Anything that could fly, she loved. Well, that just meant she'd have to get it flying again. "I'm sure I'll like it fine... It was then she realized that he hadn't told her his name. She let the sentence trail out like a question, hoping he'd catch the hint and insert his name for her.