O'Hanrahan's Pub - Pirate Recruiting

[georgewest]

The doctor looked over the contract and filled in the blanks. He mumble the answers as he wrote, "Name, Dr. George West. Age, 33. Blood type, A positive..." he went on writing the answers to the simple questions. He got to one he wasn't expecting but thought that he should have seen coming. He filled in that he would like to have his body shipped to Paradisio if he ever died and be buried next to his parents.

A few silent minutes went by when he finally signed the end of the contract and handed it back to Ben, "I guess I'm your medic now... Captain." he emphasized the last word so that he could get used to saying it. West then turned to the waitress who was hovering nearby and asked for water. "I don't drink," he justified to the others nearby.

"I hope there's no more paperwork or we might never get off the ground..."West thought for a second before asking, "Who else is on the crew?"

[benbarrow]

"Who else is on the crew?"

"At the moment, just you." Ben answered. "But I've only been sitting here for a little while, and I've promised a commission to that waitress for every drifter looking for work she sends to me and so far she's doing a good job."

Captain. Ben hadn't been called that since the war. He wasn't too keen on ranks, although he did believe in leadership and order.

"And George, you don't have to call me captain." Ben continued. "Titles make my skin curl, so I'm gonna allow you to call me Ben. But you will respect the chain of command, understand? If you show me the proper respect, I will show you the proper respect, both as a crewmember and as a person. Disrespect me however, and you're gonna find yourself alone on a rock as far from civilization as possible. Or taking a nice relaxing walk out the airlock without a spacesuit, depending on how badly you stepped on my toes. Agreed?"

Ben meant what he said. If George behaved himself and respected Ben as his captain, he'd show George the same amount of respect. And in time, give him his full trust and even his friendship. But if George decided to be disrespectful, he would have no trouble of disposing of him. Betraying Ben would be an even worse choice, because Ben wasn't kidding about the long spacewalk without a suit. Ben would treat his crew in the same way he treated his men during the war. Those that respected him Ben would protect with his own life if necessary. But there were those few that disrespected him as their commander, and they often found themselves taking point in hostile areas or scouting ahead for minefields.

[deia]

Her head still hurt.

That was the one thing on Jaclyn's mind as she lounged on the bench in the moderately crowded pub. Even after the medic on that ship had tended to it, and gave her a shot of something that made her loopy for a day, it still hurt. Not as bad as before, true, but it was a dull pounding ache that got worse whenever she tried to focus on anything too hard.

Then again, maybe that was just the alcohol. She'd had a considerable amount of it over the past few days, celebrating her newly acquired small fortune, and spending it too. Although she'd handed over some of it to Rade, she'd kept the lion's share for herself. It had been enough to rent her a room and pay for food and alcohol for the past week. Unfortunately, the funds were starting to run low. As reluctant as she was to admit it to herself, she needed to find work, and soon.

Heaving a sigh, she set the now-empty beer bottle down on the table and motioned the waitress over. "Just water. Gotta sober up if'n I want to find work..." she muttered - alcohol tended to make her talkative.

The waitress eyed her as she collected the empty bottles and plates that littered the surface of Jaclyn's table. "Well, if it's ship work you're looking for, I'd recommend you speak to that gentleman over there." She nodded in the direction of a table where two men sat, one of whom had a definite air of authority about him. "He's looking to hire crew, if you're looking to be hired."

Jaclyn caught her bottom lip between her teeth, eyes narrowing in thought. The one who looked like he was in charge was certainly easy on the eyes, in a rugged, battleworn way. She prided herself on her ability to read people, and the single most noticeable thing she was picking up from him was competence. Probably a veteran, judging from the way he sat, and the color of his coat.

Mind made up, she stood and made her way over to his table. "'Scuse me... I was led to understand you might be looking for a crew?"

[benbarrow]

"'Scuse me... I was led to understand you might be looking for a crew?"

Ben looked up to the young girl that had approached his table. First thing he noticed about her were the guns she was packing. She seemed too young to have fought in a war, so Ben started wondering whether or not she could use them as well. But he also knew that looks could be deceiving, and not to judge a book by its cover.

Ben looked at the girl for a second. She was young. Almost too young. Ben thought about himself when he was around her age. How he ended up in jail, being tortured every now and then by Caleb Orogo. What he and his friends had to go through. Ben would spare everyone else from it if he could. And if this girl was to sign on with him, there was a chance she could end up in jail too with what he was planning.

But then it hit him that maybe this girl was just trying to do what he and his friends had to do back on Londinium: just plain surviving. And who was he to deny her that? For a second, Ben thought it over. No, he wasn't going to send her away. He was going to give this girl a fair chance. She could always quit the crew later if she didn't approve of what Ben had planned. But then again, a girl that packed so many guns probably wouldn't.

"That's right, miss." Ben answered. "Ben Barrow, captain of the Orlando. At your service. These two gentlemen here with me are Daniel Stoot of the Atlas, and this here's our newly appointed medic doctor George West. Please, have a seat and why don't you introduce yourself to us?"

[georgewest]

The doctor was gathering his things to leave when the young woman entered. While originally planning to leave, he decided he might stick around until it was decided whether or not she would be in the crew.

He put his bag down and upon hearing his name he said, "Hi." He smiled at her. She looks young, but I can tell she's tough He then noticed her weaponry and had a feeling that her profession was the opposite of his. She hurt and he healed, but West was indifferent to those feelings. He tried to always be happy, but when that wasn't an option indifference worked well enough. The doctor smoothed out his red tie and looked back toward the captain.

With that he took a sip of his water. It didn't taste too good but he didn't mind. "I'll load some of the medical equipment I've gathered over the years, Ben. I picked up a dermal mender on jiangyinthat we hopefully won't have to use," he said to the captain, addressing him as Ben for obvious reasons.

[deia]

Jaclyn took an empty chair at the table, swinging it around backwards so she could straddle the seat, crossing her arms on top of the back of the seat. She nodded to the other two men, but her attention was on the captain - Ben Barrow. He was right in thinking she hadn't fought in the war. Neither had anyone in her family, or anyone she'd ever been friends with. It was a part of the 'Verse she'd never had experience with, and she was happy to keep it that way.

The captain definitely looked military, veteran. She hoped that wouldn't be a problem, she had no love for the Alliance, but didn't particularly dislike it either. Her "home" planet - the place she'd grown up - had been far enough in the back end of nowhere that the Unification War had very little effect on them. Maybe a few more purplebellies walking the streets, cracking down on crime, but no one really paid them much attention.

"The name's Jaclyn Ruishu. I'm a drifter by trade, sharpshootin's my main marketable skill, if you follow. If'n you want me to put a bullet in something, just point - it'll get one. Just lookin' for a job, something with a bit of excitement, and hopefully the prospect of money." She spoke with the drawl of the underworld, the slang picked up from years of association with the scum of the 'Verse. Young she was, but far from naive.

[benbarrow]

"Yes George." Ben said. "Just grab whatever you need to run an infirmary, and bring it to the ship in two hours. It's the black Firefly docked in the Eavesdown docks, you can't miss it. And tell me if there's something you need but don't have yet. Then we'll get that too. I'll see ya in a bit."

Ben then turned his full attention to the young lady, who had introduced herself as Jaclyn Ruishu. It seemed she would make the perfect first mate, apart from one thing: Ben still needed to know whether or not she could lead the crew if the situation would call for it. After all, the first mate was the second in command if the captain was incapacitated.

"Well Jaclyn, if you're gonna sign on with me, then you gotta make a decision right here and now." Ben said. "See, I'm looking for people who are willing to commit themselves to my ship not for months, but for years. The prospect of money and excitement is definately there. And what I can guarantee you is that you're gonna get to put a lot of bullets in whoever's hostile to our crew. But before I give you one of these here forms, I need to know two things. First, I need to know if you're willing to give up your drifting days and commit yourself to my crew, and second: are you able to lead if the situation calls for it?"

With his ringfinger on one of the papers, Ben waited for Jaclyn's response. She seemed exactly like the kind of crew he needed. One that wouldn't mind a bit of risk if they would get a big payoff.

[jops556]

Before Jaclyn could answer, a new girl rested her arms on the table. Kinda spooky, since none really noticed her presence until she was just a few steps from ben's recruitment stand.
She looked like she's just a kid, especially 'cause she didn't even reaches the 150cm (5 ft) in height, wearing a large old poncho that covered her entirely.
Those who had a keen eye for details, however, would notice that her boots were actually real shiny stuff. Not the kind the average patron of this bar could afford.

She smiled and offered a shy wave with her hand when eyes turned her direction.
"Sorry! Didn't mean to interrupt you guys!" She said, breaking the slightly awkward silence her sudden appearance may have caused. "I just need to have a word with the lady, but i'll wait my turn. So don't mind me! Go on!"
Clearly she did rise questions and suspicions, but she's doing her best to appear harmless and not ill-intentioned, being polite and keeping her hands in plain sight all the time.

[deia]

Jaclyn had made her decision before Ben finished talking. This was where she belonged. Although she hadn't had much experience in positions of leadership before, the few times she'd put together a crew for a job had gone well enough. There was a part of her that rebelled at the idea of staying with one job for, as Ben said, years. She was a drifter by choice, after all, and had never been one to settle down anywhere. She quelled those thoughts with the knowledge that, although she'd be on the same ship, they'd be traveling who-knows-where, all over the 'Verse. And this way she'd have a reasonably steady source of income.

Jaclyn straightened in her chair and placed one hand on the table, opening her mouth to reply. Before she could, however, a diminutive girl who appeared vaguely familiar interrupted.

Sorry! Didn't mean to interrupt you guys! I just need to have a word with the lady, but I'll wait my turn. So don't mind me! Go on!"

Jaclyn lifted an eyebrow at the girl, just staring at her for a moment. She hadn't the slightest idea what the girl might want with her, but it took a backseat to what Ben wanted from her. So she cleared her throat and turned back to the captain.

"Right, well, anyways. As long as you're true to your crew, I'll be true to you. I'll be a drifter no more. And if the situation arises where leadership is needed, I believe I can take the responsibility. In other words, if you'll take me, I'd like to sign on to your ship."

[benbarrow]

"Sorry! Didn't mean to interrupt you guys! I just need to have a word with the lady, but I'll wait my turn. So don't mind me! Go on!"

Ben looked up at the girl, somewhat startled, but he didn't show it. Where in the 'Verse did she come from? And what did she want from Jaclyn?

Ben didn't like it when people snuck up on him. People that did reminded him of the Alliance assassins that were around during the war. Like that one son of a goat he had an encounter with during the war. Ben still regretted not being able to kill that piece of tzao gao back then. He would've killed that guy with his bare hands if only that mortar didn't hit so close. By the time Ben got on his feet, the guy was long gone, causing more death and misery for his side. It also reminded Ben of the fact that the Alliance still had a price on his head, even though many had already claimed to have killed "Bulletproof" Ben Barrow.

But this girl was definately too young to be an assassin. And she probably didn't even know him as well. Hell, she was probably still in diapers during the war. And even if she was, she could get a shot at him, but she would never leave alive. Not in this Independent bar, and definately not while Stoot and George were around.

"Right, well, anyways. As long as you're true to your crew, I'll be true to you. I'll be a drifter no more. And if the situation arises where leadership is needed, I believe I can take the responsibility. In other words, if you'll take me, I'd like to sign on to your ship."

Those were exactly the words Ben needed to hear. It seemed like Jaclyn knew loyalty and respect, and that was exactly the kind of crew Ben was looking for.

"That's all I needed to hear." Ben said while smiling. He took a registration form from the clipboard and shoved it toward Jaclyn along with a pen.

"Consider yourself hired, Jaclyn." Ben said. "Just fill this here form in and you'll officially be the first mate of the Orlando, and my second in command."

Whether or not Jaclyn could shoot as good as she said remained to be seen, but Ben had a feeling she could show off her ability in just a matter of time.

[roxanne]

Roxanne tucked her thumbs into the belt holes of the jeans which hugged her body nicely. She wore a black tank top with a flowing blue peasant top over it. It was tied back to it hugged her curves but still flowed nicely as her flip flops kicked up the dirt along the way. She had been minding her own business at the hotel when the Cortex in her room went off. One of the waitresses at O'Hanrahan's Pub who she was friendly with had sent her a wave. There was a man there hiring-maybe for a pilot. Roxanne jumped on that and now here she was, making her way to the pub.

She whistled a cheerful tune as she made her way into the bar. With one hand she pushed a strand of hair which fell in her face back behind her ear, but it just fell back into her face as always. Roxanne smiled at her friend. A wave of her hand was sent towards the friend who had waved her earlier. “Afternoon. Who’s looking for work?” This was one of those passing friendship-they both knew it wouldn’t last but the two girls confided in and helped each other. After a few minutes of small talk she pointed Roxanne in the direction of the man looking for workers.

There were two women and two gentlemen at the table. She was shown that the man in the jacket was the one to talk to. Roxanne found a seat at the table and made a beeline for it. With a bright smile on her face-which pretty much never left her face-and lingered around them as she picked up on a few things being said. He had a ship named the Orlando and just hired his first mate. Roxanne’s smile grew wider as she finally turned around and sat in the seat not far from the woman named Jaclyn. “Hello there. I’m Roxanne and you want me as your pilot on your boat.” She set her head in her hand with a bright smile as she stared at the women who just became first mate and another that she didn’t know. Her blue-grey eyes traveled to the other man, the one not hiring,, and finally settled back on the captain. “I’m 26 and been helping fly since I was 8 years old. I was 19 when I first started to fly on my own and only been out of a job for a month now-staying her eon Persephone. And you want me on your boat not only because I’m experienced, not because I’m a quick thinker and not only because I’m a damn good flyer but because I’ve got something all those other pilots don’t. I‘m also a mighty fine cook” Her attitude was a good one and positive-like she almost always was. Now she waited. Captain’s move.

[benbarrow]

Ben watched as Jaclyn filled out the form, and tried reading some of it. However, the smoke-filled pub was somewhat dark and there was no light on Ben's table but the small candle tealight, and it made reading difficult.

Ben looked up as yet another young lady boldly took place at his table and started talking.

“Hello there. I’m Roxanne and you want me as your pilot on your boat. I’m 26 and been helping fly since I was 8 years old. I was 19 when I first started to fly on my own and only been out of a job for a month now-staying here on Persephone. And you want me on your boat not only because I’m experienced, not because I’m a quick thinker and not only because I’m a damn good flyer but because I’ve got something all those other pilots don’t. I‘m also a mighty fine cook”

Bold. Ben liked that. But she was yet another young one. So far the only one who was a bit up to age was George, and Ben didn't expect people that came looking for work to be all so young. But he figured 26 was a nice age. Hell, when he was that age he had already been fighting a war for 3 years. But Ben knew he desperately needed a pilot, or the Orlando wasn't going anywhere. And this girl claimed to be a good cook as well, and Ben didn't have a good decent meal for quite some time now.

Still with a smile on his face, Ben looked at George, and then at Stoot, who gave him a look that said 'hey, you've gotta hire her, I don't'.

"Really? Well, looks like I'd be mighty yu bun duh if I wouldn't hire you then, would it? Just promise me you won't try to cook while flying the damn boat and you've got yourself a deal." Ben joked.

Ben's joke caused those that surrounded him to have a little laugh, a bit at the expense of Roxanne, but he didn't mean anything by it. It was just a little joke. One of many, as they all would find out later on.

"But seriously, the name's Ben Barrow." Ben continued. "And I'll be frank. I need a pilot, and I mean now, or my boat isn't going anywhere. So I'm gonna give you a shot, Roxanne. If you're as good as you tell me you are, then I'm inclined to believe you. But if I'm gonna wake up one day with my boat sticking nose first into the ground on some backwater planet, you and me are gonna have words, dong ma?"

Ben had a good feeling about Roxanne. She seemed to know what she wanted and she seemed eager enough for the job. Ben had been around many people in his life, and could read them like books with big printed letters. He was also one to trust his gut feelings, and they proved to be rarely wrong.

Ben took another form from the clipboard and shoved it over to Roxanne. He then took the second pen that was hanging on the clipboard and gave it to her as well.

"Alright, now if you'll just fill this form out." Ben said. "One's a contract, and the other one's just some personal info I'm gonna need from ya, in case you get hurt or something."

[jops556]

In the meantime Lilian tilted her head and stretched a little as she saw that Jaclyn was done with the form.
"Soooo..." She begun, stepping closer to her and leaving the others to their own business: "You happen to be Jaclyn Ruishu, the lady who announces herself in a bar by shooting up the wall, ain't you?"
The shooting part came from how her cousin described her last time he left a message on the cortex. As for her name... she did her homework. On Persephone, she noticed, people are more likely to let slip some worthy information if they think they're talking to an insignificant little kid. At least, compared to Santo, where cheaters are far more common.

"Hehe, for somebody who's new in town, you're getting quite a rep already!" She smiles, always keeping a friendly attitude towards her: "Anyway, I'm here 'cause I'm looking my cousin, Trevor! Does the name ring any bell?"

[roxanne]

Roxanne couldn’t help but also laugh at his little joke. She was relatively lighthearted like that. “Well, no promises but I can do my best.” A wink was sent the way of the captain to show she knew he was joking and that she didn’t mind it. Roxanne was that way-normally very happy and upbeat except for a select few times. Mostly around the anniversary of Nathaniel’s death.

The hand fell from her chin as she gently set it on the table. She glanced up at the men standing-she now realized there was another one. One looked like he knew Ben from the way he looked at the captain. The other seemed to have a respectable air about him. The woman named Jaclyn she gathered form hovering was around Roxanne’s age and had the look of years traveling the Verse about her. He other one was talking to Jaclyn and didn’t seem to have an affiliate with the group. Just things she gathered while listening to Ben.

“Roxanne Knightly is the full name. And if a pilot now is what you need then a pilot now is what you got. I just have to go gather my things from the hotel.” Roxanne turned to look the captain straight in the eyes. She was still in a relatively good mood, but had a serious tone about her. “Sir, every day you wake up it’ll either be in the air or properly landed where ever we are headed. If anything goes wrong I’ll do everything in my power and then some to avoid a crash on a ship I’m flying.” Not the most articulate way to say something, but she had been ship schooled in a sense-their mother taught them everything on the ship because they were always in the air.

She grabbed at the clipboard he passed over to her. As she grabbed the pen as well, she took a deep breath concerning the second form. Oh boy-emergency information. She started to scratch out all her personal information which was simple enough really. When it came to the personal information, she took yet another breath. Roxanne scratched out the information of her father’s ship-The Knight-and set the clipboard down. Her lips formed a tense smile. “If you need any references about my flying also call the man on my personal information. Been flying with him for years.”

As she pushed back from the chair she knew she had to go get her things. “The Orlando you said? What class is it? Got to go throw a few of my things in a bag and pay off for the last week at the motel. Should I head straight for the ship and get acquainted or come back here, Captain?” Better to know which he preferred over anything.

[georgewest]

George liked how things were shaping up. It had been hardly no time at all and already a crew was forming. The two newest recruits were young but that wasn't a bad thing. George found that working with younger people seemed to bring in fresh perspectives that wouldn't have been thought up with just the old school veterans on board.

The doctor looked around at the small group and realized he hadn't said but one word to either the pilot nor the new first mate. He decided early on that he wasn't going to directly address the girl trying hard to get Jaclyn's attention.

"It's nice to meet you Roxanne, I'm George West but most just call me West," he said in a friendly manner. She seemed like a happy person and that was not a familiar sight when he was working on the border moons...in fact it was uncommon while working as a doctor in general. That was one of the aspects that drew him to becoming a doctor. He wanted to make people feel better. "I'm the ship's doctor," he continued as he reached out a hand to shake.