Starting Anew [OPEN]

[hackanut]

Ryan shook his embarrassment and smiled, "Yes... of course you do."

He couldn't explain it, but he certainly was happy she was nice enough to give him hope. It was clear to Ryan that she didn't have to be as gracious as she had been.
'She is so... ', he thought to himself.

"My name is Ryan Hannigan." he said as he bowed. Then he slide to the left to reveal Danny-boy, "And this is my friend, Daniel Stoot.. you can just call him Stoot if you'd like."

Ryan scanned the companions face, hoping for a smile... instead he realized she had been staring at the boy that he had completely forgotten about until now. He got the feeling she truly didn't care about either of their names - especially his.. and that hurt the most, he thought.

In a somewhat defeated manner he said, "And that's, uh...", He had forgotten and had to glance at the paper in his hand for the name. "Rebel... name's Rebel. He says he can't talk... came over here looking for a job, I assume."

She seemed to be showing a lot of interest in Rebel... and he found himself oddly jealous of the boy. The feeling took him very off guard - he felt vulnerable again... like in the War. But he didn't want to think about that right now, not with her arou-- her? Oh no, he had forgotten to ask what her name was! How could he have?

"If you don't mind my sayings so, y-y-you're very pretty." he had to look away - her gaze was deafening.

"May I ask what your name is?"

[raven]

So, the tall man wasn't beneath ignoring people when a stunning woman came up to them. She smirked at the thought, annoyed. Rebel's eyes widened at Stoot's words. Whore? Whore? How dare he! She nearly said something to him about it before remembering her current place and disposition as a mute male. She flexed her shoulders, and narrowed her eyes, but remained silent. Her hazel gaze fixed on the tall man as he tried to ask for Stoot's forgiveness. The feeling of being watched brought her hazel gaze up. She stared back at Ursula before ducking her head. If anyone could uncover her secret, it would be a fellow Companion. She pulled at her sleeves, hazel gaze on the ground.

She felt the older woman's gaze come and go from her. It was quite obvious that the female was more interested in her than in the two men. She felt bad. She could tell that the woman's attention wasn't sexual, but curious and probing, but the men might not be able to. She shifted uncomfortably. She really didn't like this. At all. She reached up to cover her face by pulling down her cap. Without much thought, she shifted to the left, hiding her face moreso than before. Unease prickled at her neck as she waited for the female to speak.

[Admin Account]

Ursula's eyes didn't leave the small blonde's face as Ryan introduced himself and his company to her. His name was Rebel. What an odd name for a person to have. And he didn't speak? Why not? She quirked her brow at the young one, feeling right to suspect something different about him, before lazily returning her attention back to Ryan. The way he was reacting to her made her want to leave, just to spare him. Ursula was sure that Ryan was quite honorable at any other time. He was now a puddle at her feet; she was embarrassed for him.

"Thank you," She said as he stammered out a compliment to her. She then continued, "My name is Ursula Garvel. I can spare a few moments. But I must be on my way in a quick moment, if you don't mind."

Of course he wouldn't mind. She knew that; being polite was in her job description, though. She normally would have declined altogether. But she had a funny feeling about Rebel that she couldn't allow herself to drop until she felt appeased. However, her objective here was not to solve mysteries about young men, it was to board that Alliance Ship, once the captain decided to show up outside of it.

Until then...why not? She had almost forgotten about Stoot until Ryan shifted a little and revealed his hairy form. He was a 8=D. She would do her best to ignore him. He hadn't spoken in awhile, so perhaps he had learned his place. For now, she waited silently for Ryan to lead the four of them onto the spacecraft. This...this should be interesting.

[stoot]

Stoot's expressive eyebrow remained above his hairline throughout most of the exchange between Ryan and the woman named Ursula. His friend had always been very calm and mature around him, especially around him. And now was he going soft? Over a whore? He had a million questions in his mind but couldn't find the space to ask them. Ryan was actually shielding him from this lady!

She sure was purty, but damn! Was she THAT purty?

He got another glance at her and realized that she very possibly was. She didn't look like she liked him very much, but yet, what woman did? Stoot had never been a lady charmer. He wasn't surprised that he wasn't picking it up now.

In fact, the charmer of them all seemed to be the little squirt, Rebel. Ursula could not keep her eyes off of him! He couldn't believe it. There must be something attractive there that he, as a fellow man, could not see. Ryan invited this lady onto the ship and she eventually accepted. It was now that his taller friend stepped aside and lead the group of them up to the ship. Ursula stayed close behind Ryan, well as close as she could be, if Stoot wasn't the one who was closest. Pretty as she was, HE was the first mate. He held that position with pride.

Entering the ship, Ryan let Ursula ahead of them. Seeming to think that this formed an invisible wall between them, he leaned in towards his friend and hissed, "What in tarnation is she starin' down Rebel for? Think she wants to.." He looked behind them, at Rebel following in the rear. "...sex him?" Stoot was never one to be inconspicuous, even when he thought he was.

"And what the hell are you treatin' this lady so nice fer? You said yourself, she costs money. Money we ain't have, Ryan. No need to go all star-eyed over a wh--"he refrained, seeing how it had apparently offended Ryan and Ursula before. "Companion."

They were in the kitchen now, and Stoot was the first to sit down, not feeling at all ashamed. He looked around at the people in the room expectedly, waiting for them to sit as well.

[hackanut]

'Ursula Garvel... he thought to himself as he lead the group into his ship. 'I don't think I'll forget that name anytime soon.'

Ryan couldn't help but think Ursula was only there because of Rebel. But he wasn't going to complain.
'At least she's here at all.'

They proceeded through the Cargo hold, up its steps to the upper decks, and down the walkway to the Kitchen. Ryan let Ursula lead as to give himself a little longer to look at her, albeit from behind. Everything about her pleased him-- the air vents above them wafted the scent of her hair towards him and he almost forgot to walk, tripping slightly. It had been a long time since he'd laid eyes on someone so beautiful, he was surprised at his reaction to her this whole time-- but he thought about it a little more and it didn't seem to surprise him any longer. He was doing fine. In fact, Ryan was probably pretty well composed compared to some. He liked to think so at least.

"What in tarnation is she starin' down Rebel for?"

Ryan turned to face Stoot as he walked. "I don't know, Danny-boy, just hold your tongue for a might, shiny?"

"Think she wants to.. sex him?"

Ryan didn't even respond to Stoot's last statement, only shooting him a glare.

'Help me out -- work with me, Danny-boy'

He couldn't believe his friend was having such a hard time grasping the concept. Companions.. and most definitely Ursula, were to be treated with some gorram respect!

Finally they reached the kitchen. It was such a relief for Ryan to finally have a place to sit. Stoot seemed to be thinking the same thing and sat down right away. They would definitely have to talk alone after Ursula left.

He hurried over to the table and pulled out a chair, turning to face Ursula and motioning for her to take a seat.

"Please, sit." he said as kindly as he could.

[Admin Account]

Ursula didn't seem to hear the conversation that would probably offend her if she had. She was immersed in thought and observation at the moment. She looked at her surroundings. It was...average. Ursula rarely stepped foot on ships this mediocre, in fact, she couldn't remember the last time she had. She'd always had a silver spoon sticking out of her mouth. She couldn't help herself.

'That pipe probably needs patching...new paint there, it's chipping..' she inwardly critiqued as she passed swiftly through the corridor. Then her mind wandered to the boy in the back of the group. She turned her head around very briefly to look at him. She wanted to see him walk.

Spinning her gaze back to the front, she pondered what she thought of what she saw. Rebel did not walk like a man, not whatsoever. Rebel did not talk like a man, either. She knew the boy had a voice...but what if it wasn't a...boy's voice? That had some credibility. And what of the eyes of the child, being so large and round, with their long lashes and perfectly trimmed brows that he...she...had not had time to grow out? What of the thick hat he wore,? As if to hide his hair? And the name "Rebel"...nobody named their kids that! It was a made-up name, for sure...right?

Ursula pieced together her assumption and decided that it was worth testing. She knew her fair share of sign language..Companions needed to know an array of languages in order to have a large selection of clients. She would unmask the girl without unmasking her at the same time. She needed to know, for certain, that she was right.

Before she knew it, Ursula had made it into the kitchen area. She smiled a small smile at how minimalistic it was. In the center sat a table, and Stoot made sure to sit down first. He was such a pig. A scrape of wood on wood told her that someone was behind her, and she noticed that it was Ryan, holding out a chair for her. She smiled at him.

"Thank you," she said as she sat in the offered seat. At least there was one gentleman on this boat!

Once everyone was seated Ursula looked meaningfully at Rebel. She would state her assumption as fact instead of posing it as a question. This would put the boy, or girl, under pressure to answer truthfully. Discreetly as possible, she signed something to Rebel. She was counting on the other men present wouldn't know any sign language. This 'Verse was simple; people only learned things if they needed to learn them.

'You're a girl.' she signed meaningfully, keeping it short as to make it not-as-obvious. Hopefully this Rebel would know sign-language. Wishful thinking, perhaps, but at least she would know that Ursula was trying to discreetly communicate with her all the same. Anything else would require more elaborate hand movements. She then turned to Ryan, knowing that since this was his boat, she should speak to him. She was not rude to strangers, not usually.

"So you bought this ship on your own?" she asked, looking around with false impression. She knew it was hard for people to start out; it didn't mean she was easily impressed. That Alliance cruiser would be much nicer, she thought. The Alliance cruiser would probably be mostly metal.

"Do you have a crew yet, or are you just starting out?" Another question. She wanted to keep him talking. All the while, she made sure to keep her peripherals set on Rebel, just in case she happened to respond.

-------
OOC: Cat, if you don't want Ursula to work it out so fast, just let me know and I'll modify. I know you wanted to get that started though so I went for it.

[raven]

Rebel walked slowly behind the men and Companion. She fiddled with her sleeves, uncomfortable. She felt Ursula's gaze once... twice, and winced inwardly each time. She could almost hear the wheels turning in Ursula's head. Damn it to hell. She kept her head bowed. This wasn't supposed to happen. For once, she loathed Companions - they were too damn observant, too ready to see what was hidden. She fell farther behind, not wanting to be closer so that Ursula could see her delicate features. She was glad that the men's attention was on Ursula and not on how far behind their new mechanic lagged.

As they entered the kitchen, she rolled her eyes as Stoot plopped down and Ryan played the 'perfect' gentleman. She smirked. Well, irony was always a big part of life, and this was definitely an ironic event as the top-of-the-class Companion stood at the wall and the other was seated with grace. All playful thoughts or amusement slipped away as dread took its place. In school, it was common practice that Companions learn a range of languages, sign language being one. Ursula's small gesture made Rebel cough, eyes wide. The men weren't paying attention to her so she quickly signed back.

Keep that knowledge quiet. I can't be found.

Her frantic hand motions mirrored the fear in her eyes. If her father discovered her hiding places, not only would she be found and dragged away, but Stoot and Ryan would most likely be punished. She shook her head slowly as she tried to banish the thought.

Please. We can talk later when you're finished here. But please don't blow this.

She flipped her hand, indicating her male appearance. Worry made her brow wrinkle as she frowned.

[/size]

[hackanut]

Ursula's smile calmed Ryan completely. He was no longer trying to make up for his Danny-boy's misgivings... now they would finally get a chance to talk.

He pushed in the chair as she sat and circled round the table, sitting not quite directly across from her. Craning his chair back with one foot while the other rested on its leg support.

"So you bought this ship on your own?"

Ryan looked up and smiled at her, "Yes... yes I did ,Miss Garvel."
He looked around at the others as if to invite them to listen.

"Two years of sellin' 'em to finally get a boat of my own. I know she ain't much-- hell she don't even run but a second or two." he laughed, "... but she's mine."

Ryan motioned towards Rebel, "This one's offered to fix the engine... I reckon he's our new mechanic now."

He scanned the walls of the room, taking it all in. The actual part of the kitchen you cooked in was on the other side of them. An island in the center and behind it a sink and some cupboards. Simple-- but he wasn't askin' for fancy, he supposed.

"Do you have a crew yet, or are you just starting out?"

He thought the answer a might obvious, but he answered anyways-- small talk was better than no talk, after all.

"You, Miss Garvel, have meet me on my first day as a Captain, as it were." he smiled again, tipping the hat he wasn't wearing, and continued, letting the smile ease away as he spoke on. "Well, my first day as the Captain of my own ship, that is. Me and Danny-boy here was old war buddies... we were best friends back then, but afterwords I guess we just kinda left each other be. I finally bought a boat and figured that he'd be the best First Mate I'd--" He paused, realizing he was rambling a bit. "But you didn't come in to hear me continue on about myself, I venture."

He looked down at the floor for a bit, still rocking back and forth with one foot. Maybe he'd get to tell her about it some other time-- It was a nice idea at least, he thought.

"What brings you to Persephone?" he said looking up. "If you ain't opposed to my asking ya, that is. Don't usually see Companions round the boat docks much-- only seen a handful in my time here.. never at the Docks, though." He felt a little hopeful at this thought," If its a ship you're after, you ain't got but to say so and you've got yourself a shuttle! We'd get you around a might further than you would staying in one spot." He said smiling at her.

Ryan felt like a Salesman again. He hoped his father taught him well enough to hook her, the toughest of costumers.

He stopped rocking, letting all four legs of his chair rest on the ground and leaned forward. This was the first time he had confidently looked her in the eye. He hoped she noted the change.

"Wha'dya say, Miss Garvel?"

[Admin Account]

Ryan's pride in this heap was contagious, she mused as she smiled back at him. The kitchen suddenly felt a little more cheerful than it had a few moments ago. Even Stoot didn't look as much like a pig, knowing he had once been a soldier.

Her hands were folded in her lap, but they would not be for long. Rebel had reacted as she'd hoped; and she looked away for a quick moment to catch what she said. Ursula knew it might look rude, but if only the captain knew what his mechanic really was. She smiled at Rebel. She kept her gestures slight, again as to not attract too much attention to the conversation.

Your secret's safe with me.

She returned her gaze back to Ryan and took a moment to observe he and Stoot next to each other. War buddies. They certainly didn't look like Allies, so she felt it safe to assume that they were Independents. She liked to pretend in her mind that they had had some part in her father's demise. She'd never admit it aloud, but the bastard got what he deserved. She suddenly wondered why she was looking at an Alliance ship to board; most of them were pigs.

Then she remembered; they are where the money is. She frowned slightly as Ryan began to advertise a shuttle for her. The poor fool--he wouldn't be able to keep up with her busy lifestyle. Not on this heap. Especially if it wasn't running. He didn't know what Rebel was, but Ursula sure did...call her a sexist, but she didn't have much faith in a female mechanic.

"I usually don't venture out to the docks myself," She said honestly. "Like you, I'm sure, I am looking for work. I can't work without a ship to work from. Thus my company here at the docks."

Ursula had to let him down about the offer, and tried to think of a way to put it politely. "Not that I wouldn't love to help you out, Mr. Hannigan," she said in her clear, feminine voice. "But I believe I already have a place on another ship. I'm simply waiting for the captain to return so we can negotiate."

She smiled sheepishly, casting her gaze to the table for a quick moment before bringting her dark eyes back up to Ryan. She felt bad, but not that bad. She had a spark of reassurance for the captain...though, if she were honest with herself, it was directed more at Rebel than anyone.

"Don't worry, though. I definitely plan on returning. Hopefully you'll be flying by then, yes?"

Ursula sincerely hoped that this ship would make it off the ground. She knew how hard the Alliance had made it for all of the outer-planet folk ever since the war had been lost. This man was meant for more than wasting away on Persephone; call it Companion-intuition. She had a hunch, though, that he was a genuinely good guy. If he could afford her (she was sure he could not), she would take him in. That in itself was as much a compliment one could receive from a companion.

She looked around the kitchen and her eyes fell onto a wall clock that was hung above a doorway. In one fluid movement, Ursula was on her feet. "I'm sorry but I must be going," she said abruptly. She'd wasted too much time; what if that captain was leaving? She would have to make haste, not spend her time on a second-class ship talking to second-class folk.

"I apologize for how rude I must look, but if you'll excuse me, I do have prior engagements." She said, gesturing from the direction from which she'd come. She bowed gracefully before taking her leave. It wasn't until she was in the cargo-hold that she realized someone had followed her.

[stoot]

Stoot observed everyone around him as they all took their seats. The two old friends sitting across from the two newcomers. Not being a fancy man himself, Stoot propped his feet on the table and leaned back on the two hind legs of his chair. He smirked as he noticed Ryan was doing something similar.

He had kept his mouth shut ever since Ryan had asked him to do so. He was his boss now; he would respect that unless he felt there was a right good reason not to. He listened with interest as Ryan told Ursula all that he could tell her, and she responded accordingly. Ryan brought up the war and it brought back many good and bad memories for Stoot. The fact that they were reunited, though, made his chest puff up with pride and he grinned. The war had got 'em down, but they weren't going to stay there!

Stoot chanced an incredulous side-long glance at his friend when he started offering Ursula a place on this ship. What would they want a whore on the ship for? She wouldn't be a might useful, that was for sure! Looked like she'd be more maintenance than the ship itself, even! Sure she was a beauty, Stoot could definitely see the appeal and the urge to throw his platinum at her...but what use would she be on Atlas? Surely it'd be more of a tease than anything?

With that in mind, he felt a small-bit relieved when she declined the offer. Hookers were a drug, and Stoot was a little ashamed to see that his friend was an addict. He hadn't known Ryan to be easy-to-get back in the war days...but then again, they hadn't come across many women when they were friends. Perhaps that was the weakness he'd never before seen?

Looking back to Ursula, Stoot could see why his friend was so susceptible. She was a gorgeous little lady, that was for sure, and Stoot was sure he'd have her in his head for awhile. The only thing he could not find himself attracted to was that you had to give her money before she'd touch you. While it did not appear so, Stoot was a man of few morals, one of them being that you shouldn't have to pay women to have sex with you. Especially good-looking fellows like Ryan. He was above that shiong-mung duh kwong-run. What had him so star-struck? Fancy name, companion, or not...she was what she was. Right?

Stoot finally spoke after the conversation was over with, in response to Ursula's question. "Oh we'll be flyin' by then, sure of it." he nodded confidently, still propped lazily on the hind legs of his chair. "Won't we, Rebel?" he addressed the mute directly across the table from him. Stoot had gone completely oblivious to the hand-gestures Ursula and he had been exchanging; at the moment of it happening, he had been focused on Ryan.

He was surprised when Ursula stood very suddenly and claimed that she had to leave. Sure she did; she probably just felt too dern fancy for a boat such as this. Women were like that, if he knew anything about women at all.

"See you in the skies, purty lady," He said, nodding at her. As she stood she looked even more beautiful than she had been sitting. He didn't feel ashamed when he gawked, and still didn't feel shame as he watched her from behind as she exited the kitchen.

One of his comrades got up from the table and followed after the companion. Still staring, he whistled a low whistle of approval. "Sure was purty, wasn't she?" He asked to whoever was still sitting with him in the kitchen. "Too bad she's a gold-diggin you-know-whut." He decided that "whore" was offensive to the real-world folk. The world 'companion' still felt awkward in his vocabulary, though, so he stuck with 'you know whut' as a proper term for what she was.

[hackanut]

Ursula's decline of his proposal gave him a slight sinking feeling. It passed, however, upon hearing that she intended on returning, after all, a companion visiting the Atlas was as much as he could of hoped for, he thought. Hell, he was lucky to have this happen once - but having a promise of a return visit was just shiny!

Ryan watched as Ursula eyed the clock and suddenly rose from her seat. "I apologize for how rude I must look, but if you'll excuse me, I do have prior engagements." She hadn't even looked at him before turning and exiting down the corridor.

Not to be one to settle for that, Ryan quickly got up from his chair and followed. It wasn't until she reached the cargo-hold that he caught up with her.

"Miss Garvel," he said, looking down at her from the catwalk, "you didn't think I'd let you leave without a proper heave-hoe, did ya? Anyways, we've got words to be had."

He crossed the catwalk to the stairs and descended them, stopping a few feet from her.

"Look... I ain't sorry for who I am, and I don't need you feeling sorry for me neither - You don't have to say it for me to know that's how you feel."

Ryan stopped for a second, realizing that Ursula seemed a bit taken back at his sudden stern attitude.

"I know you ain't used to folk like us and you must think us a might lower than yourself... but, we ain't second-class. Our pay might suggest so but it don't reflect a lick on the quality of our persons, Miss Garvel. I just wanted you to keep that in mind."

It felt good to be honest with Ursula after the small-talk that had filled their time together up until now. He hoped maybe she'd think a little higher of him after doing so. He hoped a lot of things.

"Now, I understand you've got some 'prior engagements', so you can be getting along now if you'd like, to that bitch Alliance boat. I'll be seeing you, Miss Garvel. Please, don't be a stranger."

Feeling that he was done, Ryan turned to walk back up the stairs.

Ursula cleared her throat and he stopped in his tracks.

[Admin Account]

Ursula turned to face the ship captain, Ryan Hannigan. She smiled inwardly at how bold he was. It was good to see that he was the type of man who didn't let a lady leave with the last word. That showed dominance; Ursula liked dominance. She would have to note that mentally: Ryan Hannigan was bold and dominant, once he was over the initial shock.

"Miss Garvel. You didn't think I'd let you leave without a proper heave-hoe, did ya? Anyways, we've got words to be had."

She met his gaze and nodded patiently for him to go on. She didn't have all day, but he didn't seem to be a man of many words. Surely he would make this brief; she hoped for his sake that he wasn't planning on spending any platinum.

However, at his next words, her eyebrows raised in unison to show her surprise at how bold he was truly willing to be. The first thought that came to her mind at his remark was, 'If I judged your character by Stoot's, I would consider the "second-class" status a compliment if I were you.' She bit the comment back though; she was a companion and she'd keep her respectable reputation if she could in any way. There would be no arguing with Hannigan, she knew; he was proud. Why shouldn't he be? She wouldn't meddle in his life; that wasn't in her job description.

She had to suppress a grin at his obvious contempt for her joining on an Alliance cruiser. So had he noticed her eyeballing it before she'd come into contact with them outside? She didn't have time to remark upon that; he had turned his back on her, his parting words not sounding very sincere to her ears at all. Now that, she could not tolerate. She had been perfectly respectable in his ship, she had been much more generous with her company than any other companion she knew would have been. And he had the nerve to talk to her like she was a bad person for it? She cleared her throat. Where she'd humored his need for the last word before, she no longer did. She would have it.

"We come from two very different worlds, Ryan." She said firmly. "But we come from the same Universe. You keep that in mind."

Ursula meant that while they both were raised in very different environments, they still came from the same society. He was second-class. It didn't matter what sentiments he attached to it to try and prove otherwise. She didn't count his money in with his personality, even if she didn't vocalize it. Ryan didn't need to know that; perhaps it was better if he thought that she thought she was better-than-thou. If he were a smart man, though, he would know that since she planned to return to his ship, she didn't truly feel that way. Not in every aspect, at least.

[hackanut]

Ryan watched her walk down the ramp and across the harbor and towards that Alliance gou shi docked opposite his. He thought about what she had told him... Ryan hoped she knew he just wanted a fair chance - that was all. Regardless, he didn't think it'd be too long before he saw her again in the first place.

'Esteem' , he read off the side of the ship Ursula had walked towards. He could see that she was now talking to the immensely fat Captain. Frustration rose in Ryan's head, "Well ain't they a fine bunch of misfits...", he joked to himself and he returned to the Kitchen to find Danny-boy and Rebel, just where he had left them.

"Alright boys, I think we've had a might too much relaxing time and not quite enough working... 'bout time we got to work on changing that, I think."

Ryan searched around the Kitchen for his coat as he spoke, rolling his sleeves down and buttoning the cuffs in the meantime.

"Rebel, I'm gonna leave you here 'gainst my better judgment so you can sus out whatever's wrong with Atlas here, shiny? I will be locking the bridge though, so don't be conjurin' up any funny ideas while you're -- where is my damn coat? "

Ryan gave up and continued to talk, undoing his cuffs and rolling the sleeves up this time.

"Danny-boy, we're gonna work on being shady-like and gettin' us a job. 'Sfella named Murdo... just 'round the corner. Word is he's got all manner 'o work -- some legal, some ain't. Don't bother me much which kind, just wanna get this boat in the sky."

Ryan finished re-rolling his sleeves and looked at his crew.

"Any questions?"

[stoot]

Stoot drummed his fingers absently on the table as Ryan left him alone with Rebel. He just had to say a proper goodbye to that Companion. He felt he'd never understand it. The silence was just about enough to make Stoot crazy when Ryan re-entered the room, wasting no time before he was dishing out orders. This was more like it!

"'Bout time," Stoot said eagerly when Ryan addressed him and explained that they were to go find this Murdo fella and find some work. He joined his friend and he looked back at Rebel. "You get us flyin', son, and I'll make dinner tonight."

He winked before turning back to Ryan. "Let's get outta here," he said, ready to do something other than fraternize with companions, which would in the end lose them more money than they'd earn.

Once they were off the ship, Stoot turned to Ryan. "So what's the big fuss 'bout 'Companions', anyhow? I never seen you act so mussed up in all the time I've known ya. I still want to know what in she finds so appealing about Rebel back there. You seen how she was starin' him down?"

Stoot was a motor-mouth now, as all of his questions could finally be allowed to bubble up to the surface. He felt as if his friend owed him a little bit of educating in this new world. "You gotta help me out with this , Ryan, I am useless out here I think. That rock I been livin' on ain't taught me nothin' bout out here. It's embarrassin'!"

They passed the companion standing outside the Alliance ship and Stoot couldn't help but glare at her. Her back was to them though, so she couldn't see. She would be an alliance-lover.

[hackanut]

"You get us flyin', son, and I'll make dinner tonight."

"Wait, you can cook now?", Ryan joked as they left the loading ramp of Atlas.

"So what's the big fuss 'bout 'Companions', anyhow? I never seen you act so mussed up in all the time I've known ya. I still want to know what in she finds so appealing about Rebel back there. You seen how she was starin' him down?"

"Its a might easier to explain than you'd think, Danny-boy -- Companions are considered very... professional, I'd say's the word for it. Ya can't go around making a fool outta yourself in front of 'em like that. They're respected and it ain't doin' either of ya any kindness to forget that."

They turned onto the alley Ryan knew Murdo was located and came to the door they were looking for soon enough. Before they entered Ryan stopped Danny-boy and spoke again.

"Now, as for Rebel I ain't got the foggiest -- you and me both know that kid ain't much to look at. But who knows, maybe she finds it customary to offer drippings to the poor." Ryan laughed, until he realized that he had just insulted himself -- Danny-boy didn't catch it, however, and continued to erupt in laughter.

((Ryan and Stoot con't in "Questionable Biddings"))